Wanna Hold Hands? Episode 3: Date Day
Im Yeonghyeon dressed with just a touch more care than usual. This should be enough, he thought. Not too casual, not too dressed up—just right in the middle.
He arrived early at the meeting spot and waited. Then she showed up.
"Did I keep you waiting long?"
"Nah, I just got here myself."
Yeonghyeon glanced at Yuha and noticed she'd put in a little effort. "Dressed up a bit, huh?"
"Me? Just a tiny bit?"
Yuha usually favored tracksuits and long padding jackets for comfort, but she figured a minimum of courtesy was in order and had dolled herself up slightly.
"Let's take one picture first."
"A picture?"
"Yeah. Proof we came to the movies. If our moms ask later, we can say we went on a date here."
Yuha nodded eagerly. Yeonghyeon focused on his smartphone screen and snapped the shot. A few clicks later, they looked pretty good.
"Nice, this'll do."
"You got the tickets, right? I'll handle the popcorn."
"Let's grab it in a bit. Plenty of time before they let us in."
They sat for a short wait, and even on a weekday, the place was decently crowded. Yuha fell silent, out of things to say, so Yeonghyeon broke the ice.
"What do you usually do to kill time?"
"Lately, I've been gaming. You?"
"Me? Home workouts, occasional gaming."
"You work out at home too? You're seriously disciplined."
"Gotta stay consistent after awakening. Makes a difference."
Even without fighting monsters, skipping training dulled the body. And given how much he'd honed himself so far, it was non-negotiable.
"I've noticed it before, but you've gotten way calmer than back in the day."
"Compared to the old days?"
"Yeah. You used to talk a ton and tell all sorts of fun stories."
"Hmm..."
Yeonghyeon reflected on the past and didn't deny it. "Guess I'll study up on some jokes for next time."
"No, no. That'd probably backfire somehow. Don't."
They chatted idly until Yeonghyeon checked his watch. "Popcorn and head in?"
There was still time before entry, but they went ahead anyway. Seats taken, previews rolling—no movie yet. Yuha held the popcorn; Yeonghyeon reached for some.
"Oh."
Their hands brushed. Yeonghyeon startled slightly but played it cool and munched away.
"Hey. Wanna hold hands?"
"Why hands?"
"We're supposed to be a couple. Awkward hand-holding would raise flags."
"Practice run, got it? Gimme your hand."
Not one to shy from a girl's hand, he extended his. Yuha grabbed it right away—no sparks, really. If anything, he noticed how cold hers was.
Her hands are small.
His are big.
No words passed between them. It felt natural enough, and then the movie started.
At first, Yeonghyeon fixated on her hand, missing the opening. But then...
Damn...
The pulse-pounding action hooked him despite himself. Yuha got sucked in too.
The two-hour flick ended; he couldn't even recall when they'd let go.
"That was more fun than I expected."
Yuha, though, seemed dissatisfied. "Plot hole city... When are they gonna pay off that teaser from the last theater release?"
She muttered to herself. Yeonghyeon asked, "Not as fun as you thought?"
"Nah, just some gripes with the movie."
"Save the complaints for food?"
"Sure."
They exited the theater. Yeonghyeon shared his take. "Honestly, I figured it was kids' cartoon stuff at first—kinda immature? But it had real depth."
"Right? And those action scenes were badass."
"Gotta binge the series at home sometime."
Strolling nearby, they scoped out eateries. Yuha suggested, "Pork cutlet? You like it, right?"
"Love it. You picking for me?"
"Isn't it guy soul food? Stir-fried pork, cutlet, rice soup."
"Where'd you learn that?"
Not that he minded—they ducked into a cutlet spot. Menus showed more than just cutlets.
Pasta too. Lucky.
Solo, he'd never order it, but with her... "Pasta?"
"You want some?"
"Nah, what about you?"
"Cheese cutlet."
Yeonghyeon stared a beat. "Thought all girls loved pasta."
"Stereotype much? I prefer cutlet."
"Sorry. No idea where I got that from."
He realized he'd oversimplified. Yuha smiled faintly. "No biggie."
"Cool."
Meal done, they hit the street. Yeonghyeon walked her to the bus stop, but she halted.
"Detour before you go?"
"Hm?"
A new arcade loomed—three full floors of games.
"When'd this pop up?"
"Recently. Tons of games."
"Shall we check it out?"
Inside, games galore. Yuha led cautiously, stopping at a rhythm game.
"You play this?"
"Yeah. Wanna join?"
Drum-based rhythm scorer. Yeonghyeon smirked, fed coins. "You sure? I'm decent."
"For real? What difficulty?"
"Hard's the sweet spot."
Super Hard existed, but no way. "Hard for me too. Let's go."
Sticks in hand, game on. They hammered away, max focus. Results: slight edge to Yuha.
"Not bad, but no match for me."
Her winner's grin taunted. Yeonghyeon bristled. "Rematch."
"Competitive fire lit?"
"A bit."
He channeled magic. Yuha eyed him curiously—his right eye turned blue.
"Hold up. Magic in a rhythm game?"
"Scared?"
"Who, me?"
Blue Flame boosted his body. Childish, sure, but her win irked him.
"Grown man acting like a kid."
"Always had a silly side."
Absurd, but kinda cute, she thought. Humanizing, even. Game two—Yehonghyeon started it. Yuha refocused.
Won't lose that easy.
Time to show true human grit. Results: Yeonghyeon won.
"Cheat."
"Magic's my power too."
Easy smile, V-sign victory. Was that childish? He released the spell.
"Still, you needed it to beat me. Impressive without."
"Next time, beat me sans magic."
Chatting games, the arcade grew rowdy—not normal noise, something happening.
"Trouble?"
Phones buzzed in unison: familiar rift alert.
"That's why people are evacuating."
Music drowned it out till now. An S-rank rift nearby. Even cool-headed Yuha looked grave.
"We gotta evac!"
"No need. Stay calm."
"I'll handle it. Wait here."
"What? S-rank! Not some gacha boss!"
Civilians feared any rift; S-rank was catastrophe. Even as an awakener, solo S-rank seemed reckless.
"Whoa. I know. But if I bail, everyone's at risk."
"You can win?"
"Obviously."
Stoic confidence. "Stay safe. Got it?"
He bolted out—blazing speed. Yuha blinked, then chased. Can he really take an S-rank monster?
Not doubt, worry. News showed even S-rank hunters struggled.
Outside: colossal beast rampaging afar.
"GRRAAAAH!"
Nearby hunters tried, failed miserably. Not weak—overmatched. Yeonghyeon gauged distance, hurled a water orb.
"That's enough."
Hit, exploded, drew aggro.
"GRROOO...!"
Franken-monster mashup. Agile for its bulk, it charged. Yeonghyeon met the fist with his own.
"Danger—!"
Monster reeled. Yeonghyeon summoned his sword for a quick finish.
Water Splash Slash — Precisely twice.
Swift swings bisected it clean. Done.
Yuha rubbed her eyes. Wait—S-rank rift?
Double-check: real. Yeonghyeon dispatched it effortlessly. Those eyes again, like last time.
Empty, meaningless gaze despite the feat.
"Thanks, hunter!"
"You saved us!"
Grateful cheers. Yeonghyeon shrugged it off—no more monsters. Job done, back to Yuha.
"Waiting?"
"What... are you? That strong?"
"Dunno. Seem that way?"
Vague reply—no need to boast.
"Getting chilly. Head home?"
Leave the rest to hunters—but a suited man approached, friendly smile.
"Yeonghyeon, long time no see. That was impressive."