The time at the restaurant naturally came to an end, and they were headed to an unexpected destination: a local amusement park.
Doug showed no displeasure when Connie asked him to go to the amusement park, and the same went for Asha, who readily accepted her request.
The car drove through the night while Doug focused on the road and Asha focused on her drawings. In this peaceful and quiet environment, Connie seemed the only one restless.
And as expected, the cause of her concern was Asha, who drew in her notebook at her side, completely ignorant of the world around her.
Connie had been living with her for a while now, and she knew how self-centered she was.
She wasn't the type to start conversations out of the blue or ask questions about others. She just focused on doing her own thing and watching her cartoons.
But that wasn't a rule.
On rare occasions, she would take the initiative. One example was how she pretended to cry to ask for more screen time from Mom. And although the reasons weren't entirely clear, she also talked to Dad in the library.
She usually didn't like pointless conversations, and her answers were succinct. She avoided physical contact and never talked about herself.
Connie could still remember the first conversation they'd had alone and how awkward it had been. When Asha entered her room, she panicked and started talking, forgetting that she was deaf and couldn't read lips yet.
She thought Asha would find her strange after that, but she treated her the same way as before, with minimal interest.
Over time, Connie grew accustomed to this behavior and even found comfort in it. Asha didn't refuse her touches or hugs when she drew, and she even went to her room to read books without showing any dislike.
But since the beginning of this trip to the library, something had clearly changed.
When Connie talked about her situation, she comforted her. And later, when Asha grew frightened after speaking with Dad, she hugged her tightly in public as if she would never let go.
Connie felt that she was finally opening up to her and seeing her as someone she could trust. This fact alone made her happy, but she imagined it would take a while to see results beyond that.
But when they went to the restaurant, the changes became even more evident.
When Asha received food, almost everything ended up on her plate. When she asked why, the reply was that she thought she was interested because she couldn't stop staring at it.
Connie was so embarrassed and touched that she could barely look at her afterward. If it had been the old Asha, she would never have noticed these actions. This was a clear sign that their bond was progressing.
She was learning new sides of Asha that she had never seen before, and this confused her, as her notes no longer matched reality.
The current Asha seemed to show more interest in her actions and would interact if something piqued her curiosity.
An example of this was when she asked her if she liked Ferris wheels, a direct question about her tastes.
Initially, she thought perhaps Asha had some intention, but she couldn't imagine how knowing this information could be beneficial to her in any way.
At this point, it was clear that she shouldn't treat her like she used to. So she decided to ask Asha questions, too, things she'd never asked before.
She asked her what she used to do, what she liked, or if she was interested in Ferris wheels too.
The old Asha would probably have tried to change the topic or ignore her, but she answered every single one of her questions.
She seemed to know what a Ferris wheel was, but she'd never been to one, much less an amusement park. She didn't go into details, but she said her financial situation wasn't good.
She didn't seem to have shown much interest in rides, or possibly never had any. When asked about her hobbies, she replied that she watched TV, which was consistent with her current hobbies. However, when asked what kind of cartoons she watched, the reply was, "I don't remember."
Connie was certain it was a lie.
Asha could draw in detail anything she saw once; she never lost her belongings or even lost a single memory game.
How could she not remember anything about a cartoon she saw as a child when she was so obsessed with Super Drill?
But if it was a lie, another question arose in her mind.
'Why would Asha lie about this?'
Connie couldn't quite wrap her head around this thought, and that was what worried her so much. Asha wasn't the type to worry about what others thought of her tastes, so it wasn't out of embarrassment.
There must be a reason for this, a fact implicit in these words.
To answer this question, there were only three possible hypotheses.
The first was that Asha actually didn't remember and answered honestly, which she found unlikely.
The second was that her hobby of watching TV was also a lie, and because she didn't know much about old cartoons, she wasn't able to back up her lie with anything real.
However, Connie didn't think this idea was valid either. Her response was almost immediate, and she didn't avoid eye contact, unlike her last answer. This lack of hesitation supported the idea that, at least up until that point, her answers were true.
And then there was the third hypothesis.
Asha did indeed watch TV, but the content wasn't something she could discuss openly. Something was preventing her from saying exactly what she was watching.
This was the most likely and worrying hypothesis, because based on the previous answers, it was possible to assume that Asha's financial condition was not good, and if added to the fact that she had no toys or experience in amusement parks, it was correct to assume that Asha's childhood compared to that of a child her age showed abnormalities.
Something that even with the level of intimacy she had built up until then, she couldn't bring herself to talk about.
Connie had some regrets about her circumstances. Her parents were always busy, and things at school weren't going well, but she still had three meals a day and a comfortable bed to sleep in.
Her parents never fought in front of her, and she had plenty of toys and books.
Did Asha even have access to the rights she considered basic?
In their brief conversation, her eyes were opened to the possibility that she didn't, and that was what led her to suggest they go to the amusement park together.
She normally wouldn't make such requests, but for some reason, she couldn't hold back those words.
Connie carefully placed her hand on Asha's head, who was drawing without a care in the world.
Her hand gently ran through the fine strands of hair. Asha kept drawing as if unaware of the gesture, absorbed in her work, while Connie's thoughtful touches remained as steady as her focus.
She hoped that with this gesture, whatever she had been through before, she could enjoy a moment of fun together.
*
When we arrived at the amusement park, the world seemed pitch black. But perhaps that was a false statement, considering my vision was always dark.
In reality, lights were scattered everywhere, and even though it was nightfall, the park overflowed with people and attractions.
It felt like I was standing in the middle of an anthill. Wherever I spread my energy, more and more people appeared on my radar.
A father carried a child on his back while a woman, presumably the mother, took a photo. Teenagers in school uniforms milled about in the distance. Even elderly people were there with children.
Regardless of age, people gathered here, sharing moments together.
It was the first time I had seen so many people in one place since I had come to this world. We had not even gone inside yet, but the sheer presence outside was undeniable.
Doug, Connie, and I occupied a large space in line, naturally drawing eyes our way. The strangest part was Doug keeping a deliberate distance from me, which only made the scene feel stranger.
Back in the abandoned world, I probably would have been tempted by such attention and human contact. But three months of lazy living, with nothing but the internet, have dispelled many of those desires.
Humans were adaptive beings, and even though I was no longer human, this truth still applied to me. For someone as reserved as I was, this environment felt nothing short of stifling.
People hurried past without looking around, and cameras dotted the area like silent sentries. Due to my dulled senses, it was all eerily quiet, but in my mind, I could imagine the chaos and noise surrounding me.
More than an amusement park, it felt like a war zone.
'I want to go home...'
The thought came naturally, as if translating the rawest desire of my soul.
I had been excited to execute my plan, but just a few minutes in that long line were enough to shake my motivation. My thoughts were growing erratic, not figuratively, but literally.
The region responsible for carrying out my daily functions was overloaded, and intermittent glows flickered from my gem.
The incidents with Doug in the library and the execution of Plan B at the restaurant weren't without their toll. While I didn't feel physically tired due to my lack of senses, I could see my thoughts slowing down and becoming erratic in real time.
I had experienced a lot of emotional fluctuations today, and all of them had been processed by my gem. Even the quality of my drawings had declined during the trip.
And though it had been my idea to come here, regret was already settling in. Just knowing I was surrounded by so many people made me feel an invisible thread of stress creeping up on me.
'I should have taken it easy and considered my condition before coming here.'
My grip on Connie's clothes tightened as my regret deepened, drawing her attention to me.
"Are you okay?"
Connie didn't push me away but instead asked about my condition while keeping me close, checking my temperature by placing her hand on my forehead.
Her actions were a bit abrupt, but I didn't react much.
In this environment, Connie was like a guide dog for a blind man like me. My vision had already been reduced, and the area around me had shrunk to about an arm's length.
Thanks to this, I was able to remain functional more easily, like a cell phone in emergency mode, with certain functions disabled.
I just saw her placing her hand on my forehead, comparing it with her own, trying to find something strange in my condition. A futile action, since this body was nothing more than a projection of my Gem.
"Your forehead feels a little hot..."
'...?'
Or at least that's what I thought, until I saw Connie's worried expression. Looking at her face, the first thing I felt was alienation.
Was my body producing heat without me knowing? But how was that possible if all my senses were blocked?
I studied Connie a little more, trying to understand her reaction, but then I realized something.
The area Connie was touching was exactly where my Gem was supposed to be. It had been so long since I'd disguised it that I'd forgotten it was there.
So my Gem was producing heat while processing energy? This was new information to me. If that were true, how much heat had my Gem generated back in the desert?
The sensation of heat was variable for Gems. They could survive in the vacuum of space, and some Gems, like Bismuths, could step into lava without harm.
I was amazed at the new information I'd just received. Thinking about it, if a Gem could produce energy with its hands, it was entirely possible to produce heat. What region would be responsible for generating this heat? Was it possible to make one part of my body hotter than others without damaging it?
A dangerous curiosity filled my mind, accompanied by images of possible new experiments.
"It's getting worse. Maybe we should visit the park another day—"
[I'm fine.]
I quickly interrupted her. Her words were enough to snap me out of my state of curiosity.
"You always say that," she sighed, reaching into her bag. "Here, take these pills."
She took out a painkiller and another for fever and cough. Besides these, there were several others in her bag for various purposes, such as stomach pain, menstruation, and other names I didn't even understand.
I was a little bothered by the random medicine, but seeing her determined face, I decided to just do as she said.
I took the pills and the bottle of water Connie offered and drank them without hesitation.
Only after confirming I'd swallowed everything did she stop threatening me with medicine.
"If you feel bad, you have to tell me, understand?" she said as if I were a troubled child. I was starting to feel embarrassed about it, but I nodded without saying much.
Although I didn't want to admit it, having Connie by my side wasn't all bad. My brain seemed more impulsive from wear and tear.
After being distracted, I realized how naive and dangerous my thoughts from seconds ago had been.
It was because I'd performed so many experiments on my body that so many misunderstandings had arisen.
I decided to just close my eyes and meditate until the line reached the end. The moment I lost focus, my mind would wander into strange directions, and the last thing I wanted was to get curious and lose control.
Fortunately, the line didn't take as long as we expected.
When the last group in front of us finally bought their tickets, it was our turn.
A man in colorful clothing, with bags under his eyes, stood behind the counter, forcing a smile.
"Welcome to the biggest park in Coast City, the land of dreams and fantasies..."
The way he said those words sounded more like someone lazily reading from a script, and his sarcasm was evident. At first glance, it was easy to tell that the man didn't really like the slogan of the company he worked for.
But despite his unprofessional attitude, the man did his job properly.
"I see you've come with your daughters. If they're under twelve, the tickets are half price, and for children with disabilities accompanied by an adult, the ticket is free."
He quickly instructed Doug with an intimidating expressionless face. The transition from his forced smile to the lifeless face of a frustrated worker was startling, but Doug, as if accustomed to such eccentricities, responded naturally.
"Oh, then I'll do as you said. My daughters are all under twelve."
"Please provide your ID."
The man quickly calculated the price and requested Doug's ID. It was a brief, direct interaction with almost no eye contact, the man's dead eyes remaining disinterested from start to finish.
"Enjoy your ride and have fun."
After the payment was completed, the man left us with these empty words.
Connie took my wheelchair, and Doug followed a little further along as he watched us. Little by little, the view of the interior unfolded before us.
I had already analyzed it before, but inside, I was even more certain. This place was huge. Even after spreading my energy thinly as far as I could, I couldn't see the end of it.
"There are so many rides..." Connie said in amazement as she looked around.
Even though she invited me, this also felt like her first time here.
Connie and her family traveled frequently, so I didn't know how long they had lived in this city, but judging by Connie's reaction, it couldn't have been much more than a year.
She looked excitedly at the attractions around her, almost as if holding back the urge to run with me while dragging the wheelchair.
"Wow, that roller coaster is almost three times bigger than the one at the last amusement park we went to, Dad. And look, they even have a haunted house there!"
Since I supposedly couldn't read her lips with her behind me, Connie talked to Doug a lot about the things she saw. She seemed in awe of each ride, constantly pointing out the differences from the last park she had visited.
Doug smiled faintly as he watched her enthusiasm, replying to each of her exclamations.
It was interesting to see Connie acting so enthusiastically.
If I had to point out a single problem, it would be her tastes. Many of the rides she liked were not exactly peaceful. Roller coasters, haunted houses, a giant moving barge, and even a bungee jump with questionable safety measures...
All of them were the kinds of rides that would make most people hesitate. Yet, Connie seemed most eager to try them, a sharp contrast to her usually passive personality.
She might not show it much in her usual behavior, but the more physical and adventurous side of her character, often highlighted in the series, was already present.
She simply did not invest much in it and instead buried herself in books.
However, despite her excitement, Connie didn't wander through the amusement park. She maintained a steady pace and gently explained each ride.
After a few minutes of simply observing, she asked me an extremely difficult question.
"Which one do you want to go on first?"
I felt immediate tension at this question. Although it was simple, it was quite important, as it would set the mood for the rest of the trip.
After thinking for a moment, I showed her the paper.
[Roller coaster.]
Connie seemed a little shocked by my answer, as if she hadn't expected me to choose that as our first ride.
I didn't particularly dislike roller coasters; my body wasn't capable of physical sensations, so whichever ride we went on wouldn't make a difference.
"Are you sure about that? It might be a bit much for your first time."
[It's fine.]
I reassured Connie, who looked at me and then at her father for confirmation.
Doug didn't seem too resistant and simply accepted without much question.
Since everyone was in agreement, we went straight to the roller coaster. There was a bit of a line, which made sense since it was one of the park's biggest attractions.
A large screen above the platform displayed several pictures of people who had ridden the coaster. It seemed you could buy these photos afterward.
Some of the images were quite blurry, and people's expressions were heavily distorted by the speed and pressure.
Most of the people around were young, between fourteen and seventeen, though a few young adults in their twenties waited as well.
We sat on some nearby chairs, waiting for the current passengers to finish their ride. During this waiting period, there wasn't much to do; most people were checking their phones or chatting with friends.
As for me, my eyes were focused on Doug, sitting two seats away with Connie between us.
Throughout the trip, he hadn't engaged in conversation like before and seemed lost in his own thoughts. The whole point of coming here was to interact with Doug, but if he kept this up, it would be difficult.
'What should I do?' I sighed internally at my own thoughts.
I had realized that starting conversations wasn't a very smart method, since I tended to become impulsive and say things I shouldn't have.
My mind flooded with worries and possible strategies.
An alternative to talking was touch, but that wasn't possible for me either.
Touch, conversation, and closeness were essential in any kind of relationship. A great example was the group of teenagers arguing next to us.
The first girl wore a school uniform, her hair down, and a sweatshirt tied around her hips. She was intimately hugging the girl beside her, who wore darker clothes and had a somewhat gothic air.
They both looked at the phone of the blonde girl in the center with a more reserved atmosphere.
They were all quite different, but their physical proximity and constant chatter revealed their level of intimacy.
This was the kind of closeness I sought. It was a shame that none of the methods they used applied to me. I looked enviously at the trio, lamenting my lack of social skills.
Just by watching, I could imagine how much personal information they exchanged in a single conversation while glancing in our direction...
'...?'
On second thought, why were they looking at us?
I scanned the phone of the girl in the center, and then a shocking image formed in my mind. On her screen, a photo of me sitting and staring in their direction appeared, my face illuminated by the park lights in a beautiful composition.
I froze as I stared at the text on her phone with a tone completely contrary to her appearance.
[I found this super cute little girl in a wheelchair at the amusement park (^///^).]
[Wheelchair-girl.png]
[My friends and I came to the park after school and found this little girl. Her expression was very serious, but isn't she cute? She stared at us for a while, and I couldn't help myself and took a picture... Is it a sin to want to take her home? (❁´◡`❁)
#cutegirl #disabledgirl #amusementpark #cuteoverdose]
[70 likes, 24 retweets, 37 comments]
'What is this...?'
For some reason, a post referencing me had been created. It wasn't anything big enough to go viral, but it had gotten some attention.
[BlushieApple: She's so serious for a kid, but for some reason, I can't stop looking at this picture...]
[GodIsReasoning: This god requests the name of the park in question (⌐■_■)]
[Hoge_007: You asked permission before taking this picture, right? The child's parents might not be too pleased.]
There were only a few general comments, some a bit suspicious and others more considered. But among them, some more worrying comments emerged.
[Kurisani: Where is she from? She appears to be a mix of Asian and Western features, indicating a mixed-race background. Those eyes are pretty unique too...]
A curious comment about my origins came out of nowhere, prompting another series of comments.
[Johnynotsofun (to Kurisani): No idea, maybe she is adopted, the two on her side are probably her family, and they don't look alike at all.]
[Sebasrock (to Johnynotsofun): This is too early to consider. We have not seen the mother yet.]
[Johnynotsofun (to Sebasrock): Well, that might be true, the girl with glasses also has some Asian features, so it's not impossible... But don't you think the difference is a little too big for her not to be adopted?]
[Load more (11)...]
Comments filled with souls eager to discuss useless facts about strangers on the internet were already pouring in.
An invisible sweat formed on my expressionless face.
'This doesn't look good... '
Without my awareness, this world seemed to have noticed my existence on an unwelcome level. Once on the internet, things were already out of control; there was nothing I could do.
What would happen if some of the main characters suddenly saw me there? What if this image caused some inexplicable butterfly effect?
A thousand worries swirled in my mind at once, but one thing was certain.
'I'm screwed.'
Things could always get worse.
*
Author's note
Hey everyone, you can find the next chapter on Patreon for free, where I release parts every other day. However, it's important to note that unforeseen events happen, and because of that, I've run out of stock.
Currently, I'm writing two stories, so this one is sharing screen time. Chapters will be released within two weeks here. When I manage to accumulate an extra chapter, I'll give a more definitive deadline.
Thank you for your understanding, love you ❤️
*
Free daily chapters: patreon.com/frowfy