Chapter 587: Lingering Feelings
"You know how to navigate your way around the Subtheran, Aerith? How do you know which hole we should take to get to our destination?"
"Riley, I was born on this planet."
"You've memorized all the holes? I would assume there are lots of new ones since the last time you were here. You even know where Hannah is, do you have some sort of secret network of ninjas working undercover all around Theran?"
"...I feel like you really have a very skewed impression of me."
"Or perhaps you've mastered your hearing and could hear each and every living thing in the entire universe."
"What? No. I have mastered my hearing but—I don't even know why I'm explaining myself to you."
Riley and Aerith were traveling through the Subtheran, calmly flying in the air just inches below the underground world's endless ceiling. They could move faster away from the ceiling, but that would attract unnecessary wildlife that would try their luck for a meal, as well as nosy people.
Only Aerith was actually flying, as once again, Riley did what he had always done whenever he was flying with Aerith—just attach himself to her with some sort of telekinetic towing chain.
"Look, it's not anything grand like that."
And during this flight, Aerith had lost count of how many groans escaped her mouth from Riley's incessant questions. She, however, for some reason, hasn't noticed that despite her annoyance, she has been answering Riley's question with a subtle smile on her face.
"I'm just using this," Aerith then threw something at Riley.
"This…" Riley looked at the familiar thing he just caught, "...What is this black and hard—"
"Can you stop saying things people can easily misunderstand? That's a Teera X120," Aerith once again groaned as she shook her head; her hair, almost stretched back as she hastened her speed,
"It's the same thing I gave that superhero actress. So no, I don't have a network of ninjas. I've just been video calling with Hera for a while now and asked for their location."
"Video calling?" Riley looked at the Teera X120, before letting it float back to Aerith, "Are you not worried that the Kingdom will track you down, Aerith?"
"Track me down?" Aerith scoffed before her chuckles whispered to Riley's ears, "It seems you still haven't learned enough about the themarians—they hate relying on tech. We may look the same, but our civilizations could not have evolved more differently. Our entertainment outlets, as well as forms of long-range communication, are completely different from Earth."
"I recall Princess Tifa being surrounded by tech, Aerith."
"Oh, auntie? I did hear you were spending a lot of time with her while you were in the castle," Aerith nodded, before a long and deep sigh escaped her lips, "She's cool, a little speciesist though. Her children, however, are all idiots. I mean, what can I say? I'm the best out of all the cousins."
"I recall you being considered as the disappointment of the family, Aerith," Riley squinted his eyes as he placed his hand on his chin; his body, as if standing on something in the air as he started walking nearer Aerith even as she flew slowly at Mach speeds.
"What? Were you just trying to roast me?"
"You don't have to worry, Aerith," Riley nodded several times as he stood in the air beside Aerith, "If we are mentioning family disappointments, you will not be able to defeat me."
"...What?" Aerith once again let out a chuckle she couldn't control; this time, however, she started to notice. And as soon as she did so, she quickly pushed Riley back and looked away—her hand, almost trying to literally rub the smile off of her face.
Weird, Aerith thought. Were the effects of the kahn mollusc still lingering inside her? It should, that would be the only reason she would even be smiling with every word that Riley says—only teenagers with a crush do something like that, and she was already more than—she was already reaching a thousand years old.
"..." Aerith then glanced at Riley, only to see him with his head tilted as he stared at her.
Nope, no—Aerith quickly looked away. How could she even be starting to form feelings?
The only reason her mind was in a mess is because of the kahn mollusc. There was also the undeniable fact that Riley is the only man she has been in close contact with for a few years--of course, she would start thinking of unnecessary things.
"Pf—" Aerith took in a deep breath as she forcefully stopped the giggle trying to escape her mouth. Why was she acting like a hormonal teenager!?
Aerith started shaking her head several times, trying her best to physically fend off whatever it was she was starting to feel. But then, as she was doing so, the breeze that was violently wafting across her face as she flew disappeared; replaced by a gentle wind that just cooled down her face.
"I apologize, Aerith. I should have placed a barrier in front of you to avoid getting the insects on your face."
"What?"
"Is that not why you are shaking your head? To remove the insects that splattered on your face?"
No. The only thing I need to remove from my head is your face."
"What?"
"What?" Aerith rolled her eyes, before grabbing the Teera X120 and just focusing on it. Riley seemed to be saying something, but she chose to completely ignore it for the rest of their flight. And finally, after what seemed like an hour—Aerith and Riley entered through a hole and once again finally basked in the light of the sun.
"Where are we right now, Aerith?"
"Hel."
And even as they reached the surface, Aerith still kept her words unfeeling and concise; not even glancing at Riley as she started running at a speed faster than her flight back on the Subtheran. As for Riley, he was still just casually standing; his entire body, bouncing and vibrating as Aerith weaved and hopped across the surface.
Riley did not really bother looking around as it was all a blur, and just chose to stare at Aerith's back as she ran—his mind, thinking how it would look if Aerith still had her Megawoman outfit. But perhaps, he didn't have to imagine?
"Aerith," Riley said as he casually walked closer to Aerith again. Aerith, however, did not glance at him and just continued to run.
"We're near," Aerith scoffed, "Don't ask too many—"
But alas, Riley pulled something out of his suit that she couldn't ignore…
…her Megawoman outfit.
"Are you not going to wear this—"
"Give me that!"
And before Riley could even finish his words, Aerith quickly grabbed the clothes; grabbing them tight on her side as she glared at Riley.
"Why do you even have this!?" Aerith abruptly stopped running; causing her to slide on the ground as she looked Riley straight in the eyes, "And where are you putting all of the things you're pulling out!?"
"I have gained the ability to change my own and an object's size at will, Aerith. Didn't I already show you—"
"Where. Did. You. Put. This!?"
"In my pocket, Aerith," Riley squinted his eyes as he slightly tilted his head, "Where did you think I put it?"
"Don't. Don't go there," Aerith pinched the bridge of her nose. But after a few breaths to calm herself down, she shook her head and unfolded her outfit; her skirt, flowing along with the wind.
"Do you miss wearing it, Aerith?"
"No," a small smile started to crawl on Aerith's face as she shook her head, "I don't even know why I didn't upgrade my outfit. This design looks… so old."
"But so are you, Aerith."
"I am going to let that pass since you're bringing me some good memories, you little brat," Aerith could not help but chuckle as she stared at her outfit,
"...This isn't the original, is it?"
"No, I bought another one at a cosplay store, Aerith. I had that delivered directly before we left Earth."
"...But Diana's ship was inside a secure location."
"The courier said he can deliver anywhere, at any time, Aerith. I haven't actually tried asking if he can deliver on Theran."
"Wh—Never mind about that," Aerith rolled her eyes, before throwing the outfit's top to Riley, and proceeding to try on the skirt over her tight white pants,
"I wonder if this can even fit me. I think I might have gained a little weight."
"Do not worry, Aerith. I alter that every week according to your current waistline."
"...What?"
"But if it is a little tight, then perhaps you can remove your pants."
"Not in a million years, Riley. I am not going to---"
"...Megawoman? Riley...?"
And then, while Aerith was unflatteringly slightly bent over in front of Riley; with both her hands holding a skirt that was now wrapping her thighs which made it look like she was removing it instead…
...several voices started whispering from the side.
And so, Aerith could really only very slowly turn her head toward the voices, only to see Hannah and the others were standing there with their mouths slightly agape; their eyes, trailing back and forth between her and Riley.
"This…" Aerith could really only smile at the awkward, and clearly easy-to-misunderstand situation,
"...This isn't what it looks like. Riley's just a child in my eyes."
"..."
"..."
…That might have made it worse.
"I can explain. I wasn't removing the skirt, I was trying to wear it."
"..."
"..."
And now, it was even worse.