## Chapter 192 – A Midnight Date (2)
“S-Sorry to keep you waiting.”
He hadn’t been considerate of the other person. Ryu was aware of this, so he sincerely bowed his head and apologized. The person across from Ryu spoke in a kind tone, as if to say it was alright.
“Ah, no. Did I seem like I was rushing you by coming all the way here? I just couldn’t wait any longer.”
It was Jane, waiting for him outside with an embarrassed smile. Jane scratched her cheek with an awkward smile and said,
“Anyway, I can’t believe I actually won.”
Ryu recalled the moment. The name “Jane” was written on the ticket he had drawn. The moment the emcee called out Jane’s name, he could still hear Asel’s desperate cry of, “That’s invalid!” buried beneath the cheers of the crowd.
Her nape, revealed as she tied up her usually disheveled long hair, shone brilliantly white. Moreover, she wasn’t wearing her usual paint-stained white gown. The black dress that revealed her pure white shoulders hinted at an unexpected innocence that didn’t suit Jane, who usually had a curse word on her lips.
It was as if an artist who had been confined to a gloomy room, only painting and sculpting, had transformed her own body into a work of art and revealed it to the world. Ryu inadvertently stared at her neck before clearing his throat and changing the subject.
“Still, I’m glad it’s you, Noona. If it had been someone I didn’t know at all, we would have just eaten awkwardly and left.”
Jane burst into laughter.
“Well, Veronica still doesn’t seem to like you.”
Veronica, the Demon King of District 4 who had hurled abuse at Ryu in Asel’s mansion. Ryu couldn’t look favorably upon Veronica, who had suddenly yelled at him for walking a path he hadn’t chosen himself. It wasn’t that he couldn’t understand her feelings. However, Ryu, who was gradually developing richer emotions, could now voice some dissatisfaction.
Jane ruffled Ryu’s hair, who had a complicated expression, and, smiling, held out her hand to Ryu, showing him the back of her hand.
“Well, forget about those trivial things. Please take care of me today.”
“Y-Yes, please take care of me too.”
Ryu took Jane’s outstretched hand and headed out into the street.
The atmosphere of the street after the awards ceremony was like seeing a desolate street after a festival. The crowd that had cheered his name and the fervor were nowhere to be found, and everything had returned to normal. District 1, completely back to normal, even felt rigid.
“It’s quiet.”
“Don’t you like this kind of atmosphere better? I hate noisy things.”
If it was about noise, wouldn’t District 3, where street musicians were always playing music, be noisier? Those words rose to his throat, but he barely managed to hold them back. Ryu walked down the street and began to ask Jane about things he had been curious about.
“Are there many students who win and spend time with Noona?”
At Ryu’s question, she proudly puffed out her chest and said,
“I’m more popular than you think. Mostly weirdos, though.”
“Weirdos?”
“When I meet those kids, we almost only talk about art. So, I think it’s quite nice to be able to spend time like this freely.”
“And at the pinnacle of those weirdos is….”
Jane pressed her finger against Ryu’s lips to stop him.
“That’s enough.”
With a slightly furrowed brow and a sulky expression, it seemed she didn’t like being called a weirdo by others. Ryu nodded as if to say he understood. Only then did Jane remove her finger from Ryu’s lips and grab his wrist, pulling him somewhere as if nothing had happened.
“This way.”
Her personality, where her own feelings were more important than others’ opinions, hadn’t changed, but even that was like Jane and wasn’t bad. Guided by her, he entered a small building, opened a seemingly antique door inside, and entered a darkened space that seemed to accommodate about 50 people, where people were taking their seats.
Jane, still holding Ryu’s hand, took a seat in the very back. It was a place where the stage in the center was clearly visible.
The age range was diverse, from children to the elderly, and there were many people who came alone and couples. What is this place? As Ryu looked around, Jane whispered.
“It looks like it’s about to start.”
Before he could even ask what was starting, the lights illuminated the center of the stage. At the same time, people came out and began to talk with passionate expressions. As Ryu blankly stared at the stage, Jane spoke to him.
“It’s a play. Have you ever seen one in person?”
Ryu shook his head. There wasn’t a place that could be called a theater in District 7. Would he be able to accept the culture of ordinary people? Such worries were fleeting, and the play captivated Ryu’s heart faster than he had expected.
The gripping and intense acting, and the sometimes heart-wrenching emotional lines, seemed to be conveyed even to those sitting in the very back. Ryu, who was so engrossed in the play that he forgot the passage of time, was even disappointed that this time was nearing its end.
Eventually, in the final moment, a man and woman who had overcome many trials promised eternity and kissed. Lights turned on throughout the dark theater, and people applauded them.
Jane was no different. She seemed to be savoring the final scene with sparkling eyes. However, what she felt was different from what Ryu felt.
“The two people who played the main roles are kids who used to work under me. When did they grow up so much….”
Ryu cautiously observed her and asked with sparkling eyes.
“Are those two really dating?”
The last scene must have been quite impressive. Jane shrugged and told him the reality.
“A play is just a play. It’s amateurish to bring the emotions from the stage outside.”
Ryu, dejected, stared at the stage before poking Jane’s shoulder with his finger and saying,
“It doesn’t seem like that’s always the case.”
“What?”
Everyone had already left, and the two main actors, who hadn’t noticed Jane and Ryu, were closely embracing and sharing affectionate skinship. Jane pressed her temples and shook her head.
“Still, I’m jealous.”
“What are you jealous of?”
“Everyone has their own role on the stage called life. I wonder if I can play such a role in my life?”
Jane’s gaze was directed at the woman with a happy expression. Ryu had nothing to say to her. They were having a good time together now, but in the past, Ryu had rejected her confession. He naturally had to approach issues related to the opposite sex with caution.
Contrary to Ryu’s worries, Jane got up from her seat with a more indifferent face than he had expected.
“Was it fun? The day is still long.”
Ryu and Jane spent a lot of time together afterward. They bought simple food and chatted while eating in the park, or recklessly entered places that looked fun and enjoyed themselves once before leaving.
One strange thing was that every time Jane smiled happily, a stinging, electric-like pain occasionally flashed through his chest. Was it an aftereffect of the final? Rahart’s power wasn’t omnipotent either, Ryu thought, and he casually brushed it off each time. In fact, no other symptoms appeared except for that.
Before they knew it, dusk had fallen, and Jane, saying she had one last place to go, brought Ryu to the aerial garden, one of the highest places in District 1. It was still the time when the dim sunlight was shining, but no one was to be seen. Jane walked toward the railing and arranged her fluttering hair.
“It’s fun hanging out with you after all.”
“I also think it’s not bad to hang out with Noona.”
The two stood together at the railing and watched the setting sun.
Ryu silently looked back on the day from the beginning. He didn’t even realize how time was passing with the continuous stream of new experiences. He couldn’t thank Jane enough for making it possible for him to have this time.
“Noona seems to know a lot.”
“Is that something new?”
“I thought the Demon King was the only one who showed me a world I didn’t know… but that wasn’t the case.”
Jane snorted as if she was dumbfounded.
“Do you think you know everything about the world with just this? There’s still a lot you can do.”
“I guess so?”
Jane paused for a moment and spoke again.
“…Haven’t you ever thought about it?”
Her breathing was different than usual. He could feel that she was nervous.
“Waking up in the morning and listening to the music from the streets, spending time drawing what you like at noon, and enjoying plays like today or occasionally going to social gatherings while taking a simple walk in the evening… wouldn’t that kind of life be bad….”
Jane’s words were an extension of that day. The feelings she hadn’t been able to fully express were meeting the wind called Ryu and trying to unfold again in her excited heart. He regretted his situation, where he couldn’t respond to her feelings.
Ryu’s answer wasn’t much different then or now. Ryu took a deep breath and was about to open his mouth, but Jane flicked his forehead and said,
“Are you going to reject me for the second time right away like this? You’re still a rude guy.”
Ryu playfully replied while caressing the slight pain he felt on his head.
“That will get better as I learn about the world too, right?”
“That’s the punishment for rejecting my confession. You’ll have to dance with me here until you get sick of it.”
“Dance?”
“Yeah, is it your first time?”
Ryu nodded.
“I’ve been to balls quite a few times. Leave it to me.”
“If, if it’s okay with me.”
Jane, seeing Ryu’s stiffened appearance, covered her mouth and chuckled.
“In that case, you should bend your knees slightly and say it like this, with intonation.”
Jane personally demonstrated.
“May I have this dance, milady?”
Ryu clumsily imitated her, and Jane happily took his hand.
Ryu’s movements, who knew nothing about high society, were extremely clumsy. Nevertheless, Jane danced to match his movements. Jane smiled contentedly as she watched Ryu’s gradually improving movements, but soon muttered to herself with a sad expression.
“You have so many firsts with me….”
“Did you say something?”
“It’s nothing.”
“You know what? This clumsy dance with you in this place where there’s no fancy lighting, no good music, and only moonlight, is the most impressive dance in my life, rather than spending time in a place full of talented people.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Jane continued to teach Ryu many moves and spent time dancing with him. Ryu was confident in his stamina, so he was able to make all the moves she taught him his own.
Before they knew it, dusk had completely fallen, and the darkened District 1 created a beautiful night view with the lights emanating from the buildings.
The two, quite exhausted, sat on a bench, catching their breath and looking at the night sky. It was a shame that the final moment was approaching. Jane belatedly asked.
“But is it okay that you spent time with a woman like me today? Originally, this spot was for Asel or Low Unni….”
“Don’t say that. I had a very enjoyable time with Noona.”
“Really?”
Jane’s eyes momentarily sparkled before losing their light. At the same time, the pain he had felt all day long returned.
At the same time, Ryu realized.
Ah, how foolish.
Why did he only realize it now?
This pain that had been stabbing his chest since earlier wasn’t Ryu’s pain.
Transference.
One of Jane’s abilities.
To convey what she feels to the people around her as it is. Regardless of her will, when her emotions overflowed, she tended to affect the people around her. Jane opened her mouth with a bitter smile.
“You’ve noticed, haven’t you.”
“I was too happy today… it felt like a dream. The more I felt that the time with you was enjoyable, the more I wished this dream wouldn’t end. But that can’t be, can it? Dreams always end someday.”
Ryu couldn’t say anything.
“So, at least make me forget this painful feeling. Give me a memory that I can live with for the rest of my life….”
Jane’s lips drew closer. The sweat she had shed while dancing and her scent mixed together, creating a sweet fragrance. Just as Ryu was about to kiss her, Jane suddenly pulled away.
“No, this isn’t right after all…. I almost did something I’d be sorry to Asel for again.”
Ryu grabbed Jane’s wrist, as if telling her not to leave, as she tried to get up from her seat. Jane wiped away the tears that had welled up in her eyes and said,
“I told you before, you’re a rude guy, right? Why do you keep… when I’m giving up and trying to leave….”
Ryu’s actions weren’t solely because of Rahart’s words.
A fleeting memory? He wanted to create a continuous present with Jane.
Jane put her arms around Ryu’s neck and carefully kissed him. A sweet fragrance filled his mouth. The two people’s saliva connected like a thread, and the two melted into each other like an oil painting.
