The First Outing (3)
As they stepped out of the supermarket, the near-noon sunlight brushed against their cheeks. The motorcycle was still parked exactly where they had left it.
Garam climbed onto the bike, still clutching the grocery bag, and spoke.
"Mister, my heart is still pounding. I keep worrying that someone might be following us."
"There's nothing to worry about. Like I said before, killers affiliated with Unity don't kill people unless they cross a specific line."
"But you never know. Think about it—does it make sense for a 'fan' to stalk someone?"
"It can't be helped. We aren't ordinary citizens; we're killers who belong to the underworld."
As Sion replied with a stoic expression, Garam clamped her mouth shut for a moment before nodding.
"I guess. That's true, too."
"If you understand, put your helmet on. We're leaving."
"Got it."
Garam hung the grocery bag on one side, and Sion started the engine. Soon, with a short vibration, the motorcycle glided onto the road.
Once they left the front of the supermarket and merged into traffic, the scent of food wafting from nearby restaurants drifted into Garam's nose.
"Mister, I want to eat something soon. I'm hungry."
"Just hold on a little longer. We'll be there soon anyway."
"But there's a delicious smell coming from that park over there. Can't we stop by and grab a bite?"
At Garam's words, Sion glanced at the park beside the road for a moment, then turned the handlebars.
"Fine. A short stop should be okay."
Even if nothing had actually happened, Garam must have been feeling quite tense inside. To help ease her mood, Sion decided to stop by the park before heading home.
Screech—
As Sion parked the motorcycle near the park entrance, Garam took off her helmet first and looked up at the sky above the park. Soft sunlight poured over her face, and a cool breeze lightly ruffled her hair.
"The weather is so nice. It makes me want to run around in the park."
"Then should we do some physical training here before we go in?"
"...I take back what I just said."
Garam looked at Sion with a disgusted expression before getting off the bike. Then, she began to walk slowly toward the place where the scent of food was strongest.
"Oh..."
Before long, a truck selling takoyaki came into view, following the trail of the food's aroma.
Garam ran back to Sion, who was sitting on a bench checking his phone, and tugged on his sleeve.
"Mister. They're selling takoyaki over there."
"You want me to buy some?"
"Yeah! Please buy it for me... It takes a while to cook dinner when we get home. I'll be a good girl, so please buy that, okay?"
Garam looked up at Sion with sparkling eyes.
It was the kind of cute, cat-like gaze that would make most people give in immediately. However, Sion was not most people.
"Only if you promise to do more training than usual when we get home."
"...You have so much money, yet you're so stingy."
"You don't want me to buy it?"
"Fine, I'll do it, okay? Jeez."
Garam pouted and held out her hand. It was a clear request for his card.
"Alright. If you made a promise, I have to keep my end of the bargain."
Sion looked down at her outstretched hand for a moment, then pulled his card from his wallet and handed it over.
"Buy about twenty pieces, enough for both of us."
"Heh. I thought you'd only buy me five. You know how to spend when it counts, don't you, Mister?"
"If I'm not spending money on food, there's nowhere else to spend it anyway."
"...And yet you're so stingy with a kid."
Garam grumbled, but she took the card holder and ran toward the truck. Watching her, Sion let out a small laugh and crossed his arms.
"I wish she'd show that much passion during training."
The smell of grilling takoyaki spread on the wind. Along with it came the sounds of children playing in the park, the sizzle of batter being flipped, and Garam's excited voice.
Sion simply watched the scene in silence.
'It's peaceful.'
A sensation he hadn't felt in a very long time. Having spent almost his entire life in the underworld, and even when he was resting, he had been alone at home until recently. Seeing a scene like this was something that hadn't happened in over ten years.
'This isn't bad, either...'
Just as Sion was wondering if he was able to see this scene thanks to Garam, she came running back, holding two small boxes filled to the brim with takoyaki. Steam was rising from the slightly open boxes.
"I bought twenty pieces just like you said. Heh."
"Well done."
As Sion took one of the boxes, Garam sat down next to him. When she opened the box, the fragrant aroma immediately tickled their noses.
"Mister, this looks really delicious. Let's eat quickly."
Garam snapped apart her wooden chopsticks and picked one up.
"It's hot, so be careful."
"You be careful, Mister. I'm fine... Ah, hot!"
As Garam flailed, trying to cool her mouth by fanning it with her hand, the corners of Sion's mouth curled up ever so slightly.
"I thought you said you were fine."
"I-it's hotter than I thought..."
Garam exhaled, fanning her mouth with her hand to cool it down as much as possible. Sion chuckled and picked up a piece of takoyaki to eat.
"Hmm, not bad."
"Right? Ha... I knew just by the smell that it would be delicious."
After that, the two ate their takoyaki in silence. As a light breeze blew, the steam from the takoyaki scattered along with the sound of rustling leaves. The laughter of children drifted from the playground in the distance, and a pigeon slowly circled near the bench.
Garam watched the scenery for a moment, then picked up another piece and muttered.
"It feels nice being here with you, Mister."
"Is that because I bought you the takoyaki?"
"No, it's not that... It's just peaceful when I'm by your side. Even if training is a bit tough."
Garam turned her head to meet Sion's gaze and continued.
"When I'm by your side, at least I don't have to worry too much about dying."
"That only applies until you're an adult."
"Then that means you'll protect me until then, right?"
Sion nodded slowly.
"...Yes. Since I decided to take you in, I intend to raise you somehow until you're independent."
"It's reassuring to hear that from Null, the legendary killer."
Garam leaned against Sion, tilting her body to the side. A mischievous smile played on her face.
"I feel like I'm living because of you, Mister. Thank you."
"...It's somehow embarrassing to hear you say thank you. I'm not used to it."
"Jeez. I worked up the courage to say something sincere."
Garam puffed out her cheeks and turned her head away, and Sion let out a small sigh.
A moment of silence settled over the park bench. The chirping of birds and the sound of a guitar playing in the distance softly filled the void.
"Yoon Garam."
"Yes?"
"The fact that you're alive right now isn't because of me, but because of your own will. If you hadn't been so desperate to survive, I wouldn't be helping you like this either."
Sion gently stroked Garam's hair. Her black hair moved with his touch.
"So, there's no need to thank me. If you're going to thank someone, thank yourself for having that kind of will."
Garam stiffened slightly at Sion's touch, then slowly looked up.
Her violet eyes captured Sion's entire figure.
Garam's face flushed slightly as she parted her lips to speak.
"Even so... it's true that most of it is thanks to you, Mister."
"Why do you think that?"
"Honestly, I was a bit tired of living. I wondered if I even had to go through all this just to stay alive. But thanks to you, that thought changed."
Garam lifted the corners of her mouth slightly.
"Unlike Obelisk, you don't just tell me to survive; you seem to be teaching me how to live."
"...That's an ironic thing to say. I'm a killer who has taken so many lives that I don't even know how many I've snuffed out."
Sion muttered lowly, casting his gaze into the distance.
Sunlight shimmered on the grass in front of the bench. For a long time, Sion stared at the trees swaying in the wind without a word. Then, he slowly turned his head.
"So, what does this 'life' I'm teaching you feel like?"
"That you make me realize I'm still alive?"
Garam tilted her head with a small laugh. Sunlight filtered through her eyelashes, layering a golden hue over her violet eyes.
"When I'm with you, Mister, I just... I feel like I'm still a human. Breathing, eating, laughing. Things like that."
"Those are more ordinary things than I thought."
"Ordinary things can be special to someone, you know."
"That's true. Especially for people like us."
Sion also let out a small laugh, removed the hand that had been stroking her hair, and continued.
"...Still, I'm glad I'm not having a negative influence on you."
"There's no way you'd have a negative influence. You're a good person to me, Mister."
"Then that's enough."
Sion stood up from the bench, holding the box that no longer had any takoyaki left. Then, with his other hand, he handed the helmet to Garam.
"Let's go now. We have to go home and train."