via spatial distortion. And her workout, the one she was doing right now, usually involved someone else?
My eyes snapped up from the device, darting towards the window, towards the direction of the park Lee Yuri was in. A partner? Like... a training partner?
Who would be training with Lee Yuri in a park three kilometers away, right after she popped into this reality?
Unless... she didn't arrive alone?
The implication settled like a cold stone in my gut. Another one? Or maybe... someone connected to her? Someone from her world? Were they hiding? Observing?
Just as my mind started spinning with new possibilities and potential threats, a fork clinked against a plate.
"Chi-chan? Aren't you gonna eat?" Nami's voice was soft, right beside me, pulling my attention back instantly. She was leaning in slightly, her expression one of mild concern, a smear of whipped cream on her cheek from attacking her crepe.
The anomaly, the potential partner, the new threat... it all faded into the background. Right now, in front of me, was Nami, looking beautiful in her yellow dress, wanting to know why I wasn't eating the ridiculously large, expensive crepe she'd ordered.
I quickly shoved the AI device back into my pocket, giving it a subtle nudge. Later, AI. Don't pop out terrifying updates when I'm trying not to act like the world is ending.
"Oh! Uh, yeah!" I said, forcing a smile, grabbing my fork. "Just... admiring the artistry! These look amazing."
Nami giggled, dabbing at her cheek with a napkin. "Right?! Told you! Don't just look, dig in!"
We ate. The crepe was as good as it looked, sweet and rich, a welcome distraction from the swirling anxieties in my head. Nami devoured hers with gusto, occasionally making a sound of pure satisfaction. Eating with her felt surprisingly comfortable. The earlier awkwardness of being asked about my muscles and the blush from her 'date' comment had subsided into a more relaxed rhythm.
As we finished the last bites of the crepes and moved onto the churros, sharing them from the central plate, Nami leaned back, a contented sigh escaping her lips. "Ahhh, that was delicious! Totally worth it!" She winked. "See? Told you it was a good idea!"
"Yeah, it was," I agreed, genuinely meaning it. My ¥18,500 was taking a hit, but the momentary peace and connection felt worth something.
Nami stretched, reaching her arms above her head, the yellow dress pulling slightly. "Okay! What next? I'm stuffed, but I still have energy!" She grinned, that adventurous spark back in her eyes. "Let's go to the arcade near the station!"
The arcade. Noise, flashing lights, competitive games. That sounded... fun, actually. A different kind of challenge than dodging main characters or doing hundreds of push-ups. And maybe, just maybe, my old guy skills would translate better there than they did into selecting sensible cafe outfits.
"The arcade?" I felt a genuine smile spread across my face. "Yeah, okay. Sounds good, Nami-chan."
Her grin widened. "Awesome! Let's go!"
We paid the bill (my ¥18,500 visibly decreased on my banking app when I checked later, a small, necessary sacrifice) and headed out of the cafe, back into the afternoon sun. The walk to the arcade was easy, filled with Nami's cheerful chatter about random things – a funny incident at school, a ridiculous trend she'd seen online, musings about where the best street food was.
The arcade was a sensory overload. The cacophony of electronic beeps, synthesized music, flashing lights, and the clatter of prize coins was overwhelming, but in a familiar, almost nostalgic way. I hadn't been to an arcade in years, not since before the gym consumed my life.
Nami, however, seemed right at home, her eyes scanning the rows of cabinets with practiced speed. "Okay, okay, strategy... We hit the rhythm games first, loosen up, then maybe some racing? Ooh, they have that claw machine with the giant plushies! Gotta check that out!"
Her energy was infectious. I followed her through the maze of games, feeling a strange mix of being a high school girl on a date and being my old self, rediscovering a forgotten part of my past.
We started with a rhythm game. Nami was surprisingly good, her fingers flying across the buttons with practiced speed. I, on the other hand, was spectacularly bad. My enhanced reflexes from the workout didn't translate to hitting perfectly timed buttons. I kept missing notes, my score a pathetic fraction of hers.
"Haha, Chi-chan! You're terrible!" Nami laughed, high-fiving me at the end of the song, her smile genuine. "Don't worry, practice makes perfect! Or maybe rhythm just isn't your thing. Let's try something else!"
We moved to a racing game. Here, my old motor skills seemed to kick in a little better. I wasn't winning, not against Nami who seemed to have a natural talent for anything involving controls, but I wasn't crashing constantly either.
"Nice drift!" Nami called out during one race, nudging my shoulder playfully with hers. The physical contact, casual and friendly, sent a weird jolt through me. It felt... nice. Easy. Like how friends interacted. Was that all this was? Friendship? Or was there something else?
We tried a fighting game next. This was more in my element. My old gaming reflexes, combined with the rapid improvements in my physical coordination and reaction time from the workout, meant I actually held my own. I didn't win every round against Nami, who had surprisingly quick reflexes, but I landed some solid combos.
"Whoa! Where did that come from?!" Nami exclaimed, her eyes wide as my character landed a finishing move. "Okay, that was cool! See? You're secretly good at this stuff!"
Her praise felt good, warm and validating. It was another piece of recognition for the 'me' inside, the part that still craved achievement, even if it was just a high score.
We played until my legs started to ache again from standing and moving around, and Nami declared she was running low on coins (a clear hint that I needed to buy more). The afternoon was winding down, the arcade noise starting to feel less exciting and more tiring.
We walked out of the arcade and into the cooler evening air, the setting sun painting the sky in shades of orange and purple. The contrast between the vibrant chaos of the arcade and the quiet beauty of the sunset was striking.
"That was fun, Chi-chan!" Nami said, stretching again. "We should do it again sometime!"
"Yeah," I agreed, smiling genuinely. "Definitely. Thanks for... asking me out." The word still felt weird, tentative on my tongue.
Nami stopped walking, turning to face me. The soft evening light caught her face, making her eyes sparkle. Her expression was open, soft, the usual sharp edges smoothed by the day's fun and the settling warmth of the evening.
She reached out, not for my arm this time, but gently took my hand in hers. Her fingers interlaced with mine, warm and firm. My heart fluttered, a nervous bird trapped in a cage.
"Chi-chan," she said, her voice low, serious again, completely different from her usual cheerful tone. She squeezed my hand gently, her thumb stroking the back of my hand. "About... you know. About today."
My breath hitched. Here it was. The talk. The definition.
"What... what about it?" I managed, my voice barely a whisper.
Nami's gaze was steady, intense. She didn't look away. And then she said, her voice quiet, meaningful,
"This felt... different. Didn't it?"