Success, failure, and then the next mission

Important things are relative. What is important depends on the perspective. Even the greatest catastrophe on mankind’s history is not important at all compared to the universe.

If things like videogames can create such emotions, who decided they are not important? Emotions like the one they both were feeling right then.

It was an explosion of warmness coming from the chest. The mind was full of a pleasure above all the other ones. A pleasure that comes not for something fast and transient but for something that requires a lot of effort. That’s the ulterior form of satisfaction, and that’s what Ken was feeling.

Mirena, on the other hand, was at the edge of the tears. She was very empathic, so seeing someone struggling so hard and fulfill his goals was something very emotional.

He was so moved that he forgot his character and he just screamed of joy. They both stood up and shared a hug as celebration.

—You did it!

—I-I can’t believe it. I’m shaking so hard right know.

—I know, it’s okay. No wonder, that was very tense. You did great.

When he realized what he was doing, he felt very embarrassed. Now more nervous because of the hug rather than the game, he separated from her slowly and sat down again to close the game and turn off the computer.

—I’m very sweaty right now, so I’m going to have a shower, ok? —he said and rushed to the bathroom.

The only window in that room was a very small one with opaque glass, so it was pretty dark. Of course, it was so easy as turning on the lights, but he didn’t. Instead, he just opened the shower but didn’t went in. He sat on the ground, with the back leaning on the door.

“I was too weak” he reproached to himself. “I was careless and unleashed my feelings. She saw the truth behind my lies. This is very bad. Living with someone in a studio apartment and pretend to be always lying was very stupid.”

That way he was thinking. But also, another thought appeared on his mind:

“So what? She didn’t make fun of me for taking the game too serious. She was kind and seemed genuinely happy for me. Why do I keep hiding my true self to her then?”

With that battle between his divided mind he had a hot water shower.

Lesson 3.

After a day filled with emotions, they relaxed watching more of the Sekaunmei anime and then went to sleep.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, there was no second when an anime chapter wasn’t in the background. That’s the level of intensity Ken gave to Mirena. No wonder, since the time was running out and there were tons of must-see animes left yet. Because of that, the next lesson was:

—Manga?

—Manga —repeated Ken—. 90% of the animes are based in a manga. Of course, watching a story with music, voice acting, colors and animation is cool, I like it a lot more, but manga has its advantages too. The main one is time: when you watch an anime, you’re attached to the time of the chapters. But in manga, you can hurry your pace to consume more stories with the same amount of time reading in diagonal the pages you are not interested in.

—Reading in diagonal?

—Worry not, I’ll explain everything on the road.

—On the road? We’re going… out? —asked Mirena with her eyes shining like stars. She was getting used to sedentary hobbies very well, but her innate nature was still one of an adventuress.

—That’s correct. Since I’m not a regular manga reader, there are a lot that I don’t have. So we’re going to the bookstore.

That was true, but Ken had a second intention with that trip. He laughed mischievously on the inside.

They went to the bookstore while talking about manga. Meanwhile, Ken was thinking about his second plan. He had no idea if the fundamental element for it to work was going to be present. But if she was, then the plan was almost already a success. It depended more on luck than on him.

The bookstore was in front of a huge administrative building, and it wasn’t less large. It was the most important one in the city, full of classics from al the ages. From the “Aeneid” and the “Divine Comedy” to the most popular light and juvenile novels. Just stepping inside made you feel surrounded by history and culture, along with the hypnotic smell of new books and a soft carpeted floor that silenced the footsteps. Even Mirena felt the same way, even when she had no idea about civilization’s history.

Of course, if you’re looking for manga, maybe a comic store is a better option. The manga catalogue of that bookshop was big, but not too impressive. However, in a comic store you can’t find light novels. And because of that, Ken frequented that bookstore more often. And because of that, there was one person in that place that knew all his secrets: that girl, the clerk, the one who sold him the 14th volume and all the previous volumes of Sekaunmei.

Thanks to his life plan of acting, he believed that he was able to give a good image to the others. Yes, maybe a too cold and too strange guy, but still a good image compared to the real one. The only awful, disastrous image he had was towards that woman.

The first time he bought a Sekaunmei volume he was way very nervous, and he had the certainty that the girl noticed it. He wanted to avoid her, but it was futile. Somehow, she was always there, judging him (at least that was what he imagined).

“Here comes, the weird otaku buying his otaku things” he thought she thought.

And that was his second plan. If that girl was attending the box in the bookstore, she would see him entering with Mirena. That way, her image of Ken would change. She wouldn’t think he’s weird and disgusting anymore. Not after seeing him dating out with a beautiful girl. Of course, in order to that to work, he had to make it so it looked like a date. That was the toughest part.

It was a gamble! If everything went good, he would gain the respect of the woman. If wrong, then he’ll embarrass himself in front of Mirena. A risky bet, but a worthy one.

—Whoa, this place is great!

—Yes, it is. But please, try not to act so surprised. It’s just a bookstore, after all.

—Oh, that’s right. I’m a normal young woman called María, and I’m your cousin.

—You don’t need to say the cousin part.

—What? Why not? I struggled so much to learn it ‘cause you said it was important!

—I know what I said. But if you just put too much emphasis in the fact that I’m your “cousin”, people may suspect.

—Ohh I understand. Ok, I won’t tell I’m your “cousin” unless it’s strictly necessary. Let’s buy those mangas and go back home!

—Wow, why so fast? You don’t want to see more of the bookshop?

—Hmmm I guess? Is just that I thought you’ll want to leave as soon as possible. You’re acting weird today.

—No, you’re acting weird today. Usually you don’t obey me.

—Yes, it seems that we’re both weird today. Anyway, show me the bookstore!

The first thing Ken did was to make sure that clerk was there. And she was, with her long black hair and her tanned skin, talking happily with her co-workers. She didn’t seem to be paying too much attention to the costumers. Due to that, Ken made Mirena go back and forth in front of the box, with the excuse of showing her the most “important masterpiece of mankind’s history”. Of course, since he had no idea about literature, he ended up showing to her random books.

—Are really “I swear to God I was Brad Pitt’s lover” and “20 recipes to do with the leftovers” masterpieces of literature? —asked Mirena.

—Modern literature, yes. It’s a bit more abstract but it’s great anyways.

—Eh? What is that? —Mirena’s attentions was caught by something cute at the distance. She went at the very back, far from the box.

“Well, it can’t be helped. I don’t want to be too obvious anyways.” So he followed her to the child’s zone.

It was a specific part of the bookstore, more colorful than the rest. There were small chairs and tables painted with vivid and soft colors like pale pink or light blue. Also, there were some toys and carton figurines of cartoon characters. The bookshelves were full of slender books with brief tales and cute illustrations. They were perfect for children and for Mirena.

Some of the other costumers passing by were seeing with weird faces to the couple on the kid’s zone, causing Ken to blush in embarrassing.

“Ha, they are just envious that I’m here with such a cute and cheerful girl. They wish they had what we do! Well, actually we don’t have anything… We don’t have anything yet! Just wait and you’ll see!” Thinking like that, he was trying to make the moment less shameful, but it didn’t work.

—I-I think we should keep going.

—Fine… —she said, pouting.

Ken managed to return Mirena to the bookshelves close to the box, but then he realized that the clerk, that clerk, wasn’t there.

“Did her shift changed?” He quickly checked the hour. “Nah, it’s a very irregular time to change shift. So, where is she? Maybe she is arranging some books? Or maybe helping a costumer to find one? In any case, she should be somewhere around here, and this is perfect! Now it will be more easy to drag her attention! I even have an excuse to directly talk to her! That’s it, I won!”

—Oh wait, I changed my mind ­—he said to Mirena—. I want to show you another thing but I don’t know where exactly it is. Come.

And then he did something he never thought he would: handholding. He grabbed Mirena by the hand without realizing the implications of such act. He was completely engrossed in his other objective, and he didn’t think about how weird was that coming from him.

Mirena, on the other side, was very surprised. Even a tiny blush appeared on her cheeks. She felt the grip of that hand and couldn’t believe it. It felt like a strange dream. But then she smiled. That kind of gesture was the proof that Ken was feeling more confident with her, and she was glad. Gently, she closed her fingers around Ken’s hand and left him guide her through the corridors of the lovely bookstore.