LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 340
If you divide magical girls into seniors and juniors, for the seniors, the things they ‘like’ are so obvious that it’s easier to match their personality to that. Just aligning with their tastes can lead to a wonderful date.
But on the other hand, I’m not sure what the juniors around my age actually like.
Having spent so much time together, I know what foods they enjoy, what drinks they prefer, how they fight, what movie genres they like, and what kind of activities they enjoy. However, when it comes to obsessing over a single thing, the juniors don’t seem to have that trait, even including myself.
So, when I was alone with Jua, I tried my best to figure it out.
Movies? Jua isn’t particularly fond of generic films. By ‘generic films,’ I mean the typical blockbusters that Hollywood churns out a few times a year or the mediocre ‘ordinary films’ that flood the Korean market.
The movies Jua likes are generally well-made but not typical, and those kinds of films don’t tend to get major releases. It’s not that they don’t get shown, but the timings are odd, or they’re only available in specific theaters.
Plus, I’m not exactly the type to keep up with all the latest movie releases, so I haven’t been scoping out currently screening films. If I were to randomly choose one and it turned out to be disappointing, that would be embarrassing on its own.
Karaoke isn’t a terrible choice, but going to karaoke right from the start of a date feels a bit off. More than anything, the two of us aren’t really here with ‘dating’ as our primary purpose. Somehow, Jua just keeps dragging me around, and it’s ended up this way.
Jua, who’s linked her arm with mine as we stroll, looks genuinely happy. The weather is delightful as well. The sky is clear with hardly any dust—an ideal autumn day. Summer has just ended, and we’re enjoying pleasant ‘cool’ weather, albeit briefly.
As I take a look at Jua, my gaze gets caught on her pretty face. The purple hair tied back sways gently behind her, and her face is glowing.
A few people around recognize us, but they don’t block our path or ask for signatures. Maybe we’re not as famous as we think?
Or perhaps they view us more like public officials or soldiers. With an idol image muddled with that kind of complex perception, it’s understandable that they wouldn’t know how to approach us.
And for us, it’s a relief. We can spend our time leisurely like this.
“Ah, we’ve been walking for too long, haven’t we?”
“I wouldn’t mind walking more,” I replied to Jua.
“We won’t tire out easily just by walking a bit.”
While it’s true that we don’t train as practically as Seo-hee and I do, the others aren’t without any training either. They do sparring and study strategies on their own to share with us.
Even if they don’t have magic, their stamina is likely above average.
“No, it’s not simply about stamina to walk like this…”
Could it be that it’s not ideal to be too focused on just one activity on a date?
I can understand that. The reason I briefly searched for movie showtimes on my phone a moment ago was exactly that.
For some reason, Jua seems as anxious as I am. Maybe even more so.
“Then, should we stop by a café for a bit?”
“Sounds good.”
As if hoping I would suggest that, Jua led me into a nearby café.
Fortunately, it was a weekday afternoon, so it wasn’t too crowded. We easily found a vacant spot on the second floor and spent some time sipping coffee.
“…”
The conversation stumbled for a moment.
Hmm.
As Jua gracefully lifted her coffee cup, our eyes met, and she quickly turned her gaze away. While it didn’t seem boring at all, I also couldn’t just keep focusing on myself.
“Jua.”
“Yes, yes?”
Why is she so tense? Jua’s nervousness makes me feel anxious too.
“Do you have any hobbies?”
“H-Hobbies…”
Jua fell silent for a moment.
“I, uh, enjoy tinkering with various equipment.”
That’s true, but,
“For a hobby?”
“Umm… it might lean more towards work-related. Well, I want to be a magical girl, not a weapon dealer, so I guess it’s more a means to an end.”
But during the conversation, she seemed to slowly regain her composure and returned to her usual pace.
“Then, what about you, Ji-eun?”
“Me?”
“Yes. Do you have any hobbies in which you dig deeply?”
Nope.
I don’t really have any one particular hobby that I’m obsessed with. I just listen to some music now and then.
Thinking back, I guess I don’t necessarily need a hobby like that.
“Um…”
It’s kind of disappointing. But experiencing strong emotions about something you love, in itself, is joyful. Like waiting for a new manga or film…
“…”
Somehow, it feels like I almost grasped a thought in my mind, but it slips away. Huh, I might actually have a hobby too, now that I think about it.
However, before I could grab onto that thought, Jua spoke up first.
“I-I have other hobbies!”
“Oh, really?”
I was a bit surprised.
Having known Jua since high school, we’ve known each other for quite a long time. Even so, I didn’t feel disheartened about not knowing one hobby of hers. It’s not like friends share everything with each other. It’s common to occasionally discover serious or new sides of friends you’ve known for years.
When I asked her out of curiosity, I noticed Jua’s face had turned slightly red.
Jua quickly glanced around, confirming that no one was nearby, and shifted to sit next to me.
She raised one hand, placing it next to her lips, which made me chuckle. It looked like a little kid trying to share a secret with their teacher while covering their ears.
I leaned slightly toward Jua, thinking to play along.
She brought her hand near my ear and—
Smooch.
Her lips landed right on my cheek.
This was nice too—such a kiss on the cheek, separate from a lip-to-lip kiss feels great. It conveys affection well enough. I’ve learned through magical girls that the way to express feelings isn’t just by connecting bodies tightly.
“Jua?”
Well, that aside.
I was slightly surprised again. While Jua tends to be affectionate, she doesn’t usually engage in such playful antics due to her straightforward nature.
She always wears her emotions on her sleeve, that’s how I see Jua.
“I’m a magical girl.”
“That’s not what you mentioned a moment ago, right?”
“It’s different. Wanting to be one and digging into it are two things.”
Jua whispered.
My ears tingled, and my neck slightly tilted to the side. But it seemed like Jua had no intention of letting up on this teasing.
“And you’re a magical girl too, Ji-eun. My favorite magical girl.”
“So, I’m the subject of your hobby, then.”
“Yes, exactly that.”
Jua giggled.
“I like looking at your face, and I enjoy watching you transform too.”
“…Thinking about it, your outfit isn’t that different from mine.”
“…Why is that relevant?”
Well, it’s just the way it is. It seems like she views me as something to obsess over.
But, given Jua’s nature, it isn’t all that odd. She has liked me since the first moment she saw me.
Before I realized it, Jua had fully leaned against me. Honestly, this isn’t an appropriate display in a public place like a café.
…Well, whatever.
I leaned slightly toward Jua. Then I reached my arm around her back and pulled her waist towards me.
“…!”
Just a moment ago, she was relaxing, but Jua stiffened up.
Just like Jua did a moment ago, I raised my hand next to her ear.
And then, I whispered into that ear.
“I understand how you feel, but do you really want to do this here?”
Jua trembled a bit, as if ticklish.
“Well, I guess that’s why you did, huh?”
Jua turned her head to glare at me.
That expression strangely resembled one from a webtoon I once saw featuring Jua. Not that I remember it too vividly now.
However, the emotions reflected in her gaze are likely completely different.
Jua turned her head back toward me.
Determined not to lose, even if my ear isn’t facing her, she awkwardly puts her hand next to her lips.
But this time, it didn’t seem like she was aiming solely at my ear.
Smooch.
Jua’s lips touched mine.
Does it even matter that she covered it with her hand? Everyone must realize there’s nothing between us in that small space.
But that isn’t what’s important.
Being concerned with how others see us might be something that doesn’t suit us at all.
Our lips lingered together for a moment before pulling apart.
We lightly bumped our heads together and let out playful giggles.
“Alright. Now I feel like I don’t know how to spend my time.”
“Me too,” Jua responded to my words.
Yeah. It’s not about what we’re doing in the first place.
What matters is who you’re with.
After all, a hobby doesn’t necessarily need to have a conclusion.
As long as that subject is next to you, isn’t that enough?