Lila’s smirk widened at his pause. “Ohhh, Elias hesitated! That means he had fun!”
Elias frowned. “That is not what it means.”
“Mmmhmm, sure.” She hugged the plush toy, rocking on her heels. “You know, ifyou did have fun, that means we’re making progress.”
Elias didn’t understand why she was so fixated on this idea. Enjoyment was unnecessary. It did not provide any tangible benefit. And yet, for some reason, the moment he had won that stuffed animal, he had felt…
He didn’t know the word for it.
It wasn’t excitement. It wasn’t satisfaction.
But it was something.
—
Lila, of course, wasn’t done with him.
“Alright, let’s keep going!” she said, spinning on her heel. “There has to be something here you enjoy.”
Elias sighed. “This challenge is pointless.”
“You say that, but I know you’re thinking about it now.”
He frowned. She was frustratingly perceptive.
Before he could respond, Lila stopped in front of another game—a simple basketball shooting challenge.
She gasped dramatically. “Ohhh, I must do this one.”
Elias looked at the game. “You do not play basketball.”
“That doesn’t matter.” She tossed a token into the machine, grabbing a basketball. “Alright, Elias. Watch and learn.”
She took her first shot—
And completely missed.
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
Elias stared at her. “You are supposed to make the ball go into the hoop.”
Lila groaned. “Thank you, Elias. I had no idea.”
He watched as she tried again. Another miss. Then another.
She wasn’t even close.
Finally, she turned to him, pouting. “Okay. Help me.”
Elias blinked. “Help you?”
“Yes! You’re good at calculating things, right? So tell me what I’m doing wrong.”
Elias considered it. He supposed, from a logical standpoint, correcting her technique made sense.
“Your stance is unstable,” he said simply. “Your elbow should be aligned, and your wrist needs better control.”
Lila raised a brow. “Okay, show me.”
Elias sighed but stepped beside her. “Hold the ball properly.”
She did—clumsily.
“Like this,” he corrected, moving her hands into position.
For some reason, when he did, Lila’s face turned slightly pink.
Elias tilted his head. “Are you overheating?”
She coughed. “N-No! Continue.”
He didn’t understand her reaction, but he continued adjusting her form. “Now, when you shoot, follow through with your wrist.”
Lila nodded, biting her lip in concentration. She took a deep breath—
And shot.
The ball hit the rim—then bounced in.
Lila gasped. “I DID IT!”
She turned to him, practically vibrating with excitement. “Elias! I did it!”
He nodded. “Yes. That is what happens when proper technique is applied.”
Lila huffed. “Geez, could you at least pretend to be excited?”
Elias blinked. “Why?”
“Because!” She beamed. “I wouldn’t have made it without your help. That’s teamwork.”
Elias wasn’t sure he had done anything significant. But Lila seemed happy, so perhaps that was all that mattered.
—
After finishing at the arcade, they walked back into the mall. Lila was still clutching her stuffed animal, swinging it slightly as she walked.
“Alright,” she said, glancing at him. “We’ve ruled out games. What else?”
Elias sighed. “This is unnecessary.”
Lila grinned. “That’s what makes it fun.”
He had no rebuttal for that.
As they passed by a bookstore, Lila suddenly perked up. “Oh! Let’s go in here.”
Elias followed, not arguing.
She wandered between the shelves, eyes scanning the books.
“What do you usually read?” she asked.
“Informational texts,” Elias replied.
Lila wrinkled her nose. “Boring.”
“They provide necessary knowledge.”
She huffed. “Well, today, we’re looking for something fun.”
Elias watched as she picked up a book and flipped through it. Then she suddenly grinned.
“Ohhh, this is perfect.”
She turned the book toward him.
It was a collection of absurd hypothetical questions.
“If you were stuck on a deserted island with only a talking parrot and a single item, what would you bring?”
Elias stared at the question. “This is impractical.”
Lila beamed. “Exactly! Answer it.”
Elias considered it. “A fully stocked survival kit.”
Lila groaned. “That’s too logical! It has to be something fun.”
“Survival is a priority.”
She sighed, then grinned mischievously. “Fine. New rule. You can’t pick something practical.”
Elias frowned. “That is inefficient.”
“That is the point.”
He exhaled, staring at the question again.
If he couldn’t pick something practical, then—
“…A functional boat.”
Lila stared at him.
Then she burst out laughing.
“Elias,” she wheezed, “that’s still practical, but it’s so you.”
Elias didn’t understand what was funny.
But when Lila continued laughing, clutching her sides, he didn’t mind.
He let her enjoy the moment.
Even if he still didn’t understand why it was enjoyable at all.
