The Unlikable Sixteen
The time to embrace a new role was drawing ever closer. My heart wasn't in a rush—I was preparing slowly, step by step—but time wasn't as leisurely as I was. Before I knew it, only about a month remained until I truly had to set off.
A wanderer traversing the world. That had been my role, longed for over so many years. As nothing more than a child, it had been something I could only yearn for. To someone else, it might seem like mere delusion, a meaningless dream. But to me, it was a heartfelt wish to confront everything directly. I definitely harbored such a dream.
However.
Now that I was an adult, it no longer held its original form entirely. Amidst a tangle of thoughts and worries, the shape of a certain woman had slipped in. Over time, some parts had worn away, others had solidified into something new. It now faced me in a form slightly different from what I'd originally desired.
And it whispered to me, as if it possessed a will of its own. Set out on a journey for the gray-haired woman. Embark on the path to find the ending you've always held in your heart. Even if you said you'd escape the eye of the storm, step forward once more toward the story's conclusion. Overturn the stage crafted by the gods. That is the new tale you must gain through your travels. Tearing out the tragic pages written by the divine is your mission.
To those whispers, I inevitably nodded in agreement.
And so, that influence had seeped into my role. It was no longer composed solely of curiosity and the thirst for exploration. A milestone had been etched onto what was once a goalless journey. I intended to follow that path.
In the weekend scenery.
With all the customers gone from the grocery store, only three remained, sprawled out with the hollow expressions of defeated soldiers. One was the uncle who'd been hauling groceries nonstop, another was me, who'd been guiding customers with a capitalist smile, and the last was the woman who'd stood at the counter seeing them off.
Weekends were always like a battlefield. After facing the hordes of diverse humanity swarming in, it was only when the three of us were left that we finally wailed for someone to save us.
And so.
"Ain... I'm so tired."
As always, she said that and plopped her head on my shoulder. Born with gray hair, but without the physical superiority that came with it, she always ended up limp after a busy day at the store.
"You did great."
"Yeah... I really did."
She was mature and elegant now, no longer as wobbly as before, but seeing her exhausted like this every weekend was a bit heartbreaking. So I thought to myself: Without magic, she's too fragile. I can't just leave her like this and head out on my journey. At the very least, she needed enough stamina to avoid collapsing from work.
Before long, I'd reached that conclusion and smiled at her.
"...I don't know what you're thinking, but I'm not doing it."
"Let's check out somewhere else today, Asha."
Of course, she was quick on the uptake and sensed something ominous from my smile alone.
"I have no idea where 'there' is, but just seeing your smile makes me think I shouldn't go."
"So you won't?"
"..."
She clamped her mouth shut as if she really didn't want to, whipping her face away from my shoulder.
"You really don't want to go?"
"...I have to."
When I asked again with a grin, she nodded without even a second's hesitation.
So. Asha. No, Ah-seh. I'll personally grant you the agony of muscles screaming too.
My steps as we walked together were uncharacteristically light.
"...Ain, can we turn back now?"
"You really wanna go back?"
"..."
And naturally, the fear mounting on the face of the woman following me grew, her steps slowing more and more. But she never answered "no" to my questions.
"It's all for your sake, but if you hate it, we can head back."
"...That's cheating. Total cheating."
She just trudged along with a pitiful pout.
And so we arrived.
"Hm, new customers? Female ones are rare. Thanks to you, my passion to teach with vigor is boiling over after so long, young man."
"Yes, please. Give her the full workout from day one like you did me. I'd appreciate it."
"Worry not, young man. That is the true mindset of a muscleman."
The gym owner, who couldn't calm his excitement at the sight of scrawny folks, lived there.
"S-save me, Ain... I just wanna go back."
And there was the woman instinctively recoiling upon meeting the instructor's eyes, just like I had as a kid.
It was surely survival instinct, but once inside, there were no choices left.
"Welcome to what was once a club for men alone, now a club for all. I'll make you a true woman."
"N-no, you don't have to welcome me or anything..."
"Don't look back. The path you came on is closed now."
His unchanged welcome for new members, uttered for six years straight, rang out after ages.
"No... ughk...!"
"Welcome to the club for all!!!"
It was ridiculous how he'd slyly changed it from "for men" to "for all," but whatever.
"Ain... Ain...!"
"Fighting. I'll be working out beside you, so say something if it's too much."
"Ain, you... you jerk...!"
Even as she was dragged off by the scruff, her eyes bulged toward me, so I figured today's workout would be intense.
That's what I thought.
And so time passed.
The three hours of me marveling at her screams—new even to my ears—finally ended.
"See you tomorrow, miss! Tomorrow, become a stronger woman!"
The thrilled instructor with his new customer even saw us off at the door, waving as he headed back in.
But there was no reply for him.
I spoke to her, who stared blankly at the sky as if her soul had fled.
"Asha?"
"..."
"Asha, you okay?"
"Ain, is that all you have to say, you...!"
After calling twice, life returned to Asha's eyes, which had been fixed on the sky. Though she'd forgotten her stubborn formality and slipped back into casual speech like old times.
I called it life, but really, it was eyes brimming with injustice, betrayal, and a mix of other emotions glaring at me.
I looked at her and let out a chuckle.
"Don't laugh. I'm not in the mood."
"You did great today."
Her red lips kept pouting, her eyes narrowing sharply as she glared. Her trembling hands from exhaustion poked my side, and her face drew close to lightly nip my arm.
And that was one of her rare emotional outbursts. Not true hatred, but more a demand to show her words and actions meant for her.
So I spoke to the woman still pouting.
"You did pretty well, actually. Really, great job."
"...You think 'great job' is gonna cut it?"
"Sorry."
At words she'd like, her pout slowly eased. Her glaring eyes softened into rounds, watching me. Her tone settled, and the hand that had been poking my side sneaked toward mine, fidgeting to hold it.
"...Even if you say that, it doesn't make me feel better at all..."
"Tomorrow, instead of here, let's take a walk somewhere with nice views. Spring's coming, so flowers will be blooming soon."
"Sounds good... Eep. I didn't answer yet."
In the end, she grinned widely at my words and nodded. Though she startled at her own reaction, clamping her mouth shut and trying to glare with a clumsy expression.
"Pfft."
"...Don't laugh."
"Got it. It's getting late, so let's head back to the store."
I giggled at her but took her fidgeting hand in mine. It was late, the surroundings dimming, so I planned to escort her back.
But there was a slight issue.
"Ugh... My legs hurt so bad I can barely walk..."
"Hm."
Having overdone it with the workout, she winced pitifully after one step.
"Ain, it hurts..."
"Hm."
Pushing three hours on day one had been too much for her, it seemed. I'd started the same way at ten, so I'd assumed it was normal.
"Hm? It's not 'hm,' it hurts. Let's duck into that alley and I can use one spell..."
Thinking back, I'd worried about her stamina but ended up inconsiderate.
So I looked at her, knelt, and said,
"Want a piggyback? Oh, weren't you about to say something?"
"...Ah, no, nothing."
"Hm, really?"
"Yes. Hurry and piggyback me. Stay still... Oof."
Come to think of it, she'd seemed about to say something, but she shook her head no and climbed onto my back.
I stood with her on my back. She was incredibly light.
"Hm, you're heavy."
"Ain, that's super rude."
"Kidding."
I took a whack to the back of my head and started walking.
The evening-darkened scenery. Streetlights lined up at regular intervals glowed. The footsteps of parents heading home thudded between them. Carriages rattled along the road, creating a lively bustle.
And.
"...Heehee."
The woman and I strolled through that scene too. Well, precisely, I strolled while she rode on my back, giggling idly.
Her arms, still slender, wrapped tightly around my neck like she'd never let go. The legs I supported with my arms flapped excitedly.
"Heehee."
That silly giggle had been leaking out nonstop, circling near my ear. Her warm breaths on my neck raised goosebumps. Her scent, closer than ever, fluttered teasingly at my nose.
That was why.
Even as we walked the streets together, no conversation flowed—just her laughter echoing. My mind grew jumbled, senses sharpening from needless tension. Nearby stares felt bothersome, her breaths prickled again. Somehow, I'd blanked on what to say.
And.
"Heehee, heh."
Her laughter didn't stop. Even entering the market street, drawing eyes from passing crowds, it continued. Her arms tightened around my neck, her head on my shoulder turning closer.
Instinct or thought, who knew. But by the time we reached the store and I set her down, her lips finally pressed against my neck—and bit down with an ang.
"Whoa, hold on...!"
"Haa... "
"Asha, no, that's...!"
Despite my protests, her odd behavior persisted. In the end, a red mark remained on my neck.
And.
After dismounting, she looked satisfied and spoke to me.
"Ain."
"Yeah."
"You'll piggyback me again next time my legs hurt, right?"
"..."
Her face, flushed since earlier, stayed that way as she beamed at me. The unusual vibe made me just stare, so she spoke again.
"You won't next time?"
"...If you want."
That's how I answered.