Understanding Fun

Chapter 36: Understanding Fun

Kael-X restarted the racing game, keeping Maya's words in mind.

This time, instead of focusing on pure efficiency, he let the car move more freely, taking turns at a normal pace. He didn't dodge every obstacle with perfect precision, and he didn't attempt to break the game's mechanics.

Maya grinned as she watched. "See? That's the spirit!"

Kael-X still didn't fully understand the purpose of playing without maximizing efficiency, but he noticed something strange—he wasn't displeased. There was a certain odd satisfaction in letting things unfold naturally rather than controlling every variable.

When the race ended, he hadn't set a new record. But for the first time, he felt like he had done something not out of necessity, but simply because he could.

Maya nudged his shoulder. "Not bad, right?"

Kael-X considered his response carefully before nodding. "It was… tolerable."

Maya rolled her eyes. "For you, that's basically the same as saying 'amazing.'"

---

An Unfamiliar Feeling

As they continued walking through the arcade, Maya pointed out different games.

"That one's for shooting," she said, gesturing at a first-person shooter game. "That one's for dancing." She pointed at a rhythm-based game where people were stepping on flashing tiles.

Kael-X observed silently. Humans found amusement in simulating combat, in performing repetitive tasks for enjoyment. It was… inefficient, yet strangely compelling.

Then, Maya suddenly gasped. "Oh my God, they have Battle Blitz!"

Kael-X raised an eyebrow. "Battle Blitz?"

"It's a two-player fighting game. Classic stuff." Maya pulled him toward the machine. "Come on, you have to try this."

Kael-X sat down, scanning the character selection screen. The game presented a variety of fighters, each with different skills and abilities.

Maya picked a character named Blaze, a fast-moving swordsman.

Kael-X, after brief analysis, selected Oblivion, a shadowy warrior with unpredictable attack patterns.

The match began.

Maya grinned. "Alright, let's see how good you—"

Before she could finish, Kael-X executed a perfect sequence of attacks, countering every move she made. In seconds, her health bar dropped to zero.

"W-What?!" Maya gawked at the screen. "How did you—"

Kael-X remained calm. "Pattern recognition. Your movements were predictable."

Maya groaned. "Dude, you are so unfair."

She restarted the game. "Rematch. And this time, don't analyze me like I'm an enemy on the battlefield."

Kael-X narrowed his eyes. "Then how should I approach it?"

Maya smirked. "Like a game."

This time, he didn't just focus on countering—he tried different moves, tested different strategies, and for the first time, he wasn't simply aiming to win.

Maya put up a good fight, and when she finally won a round, she threw her hands up in celebration.

"Yes! Take that, super soldier!"

Kael-X tilted his head. "You are… excited about a minor victory?"

Maya grinned. "It's not about the victory. It's about the experience."

Kael-X looked at the screen. The game was meaningless in the grand scheme of things, yet he felt something new—a sense of engagement that wasn't tied to survival or battle.

It was strange.

And yet, he didn't dislike it.

---

A Moment of Normalcy

After an hour in the arcade, Maya checked the time.

"Wow, we should probably head back. Elijah's gonna wonder where we are."

Kael-X followed her out into the streets. The night air was cool, and the city lights flickered above them.

For the first time since arriving on Earth, he felt… less like a weapon.

Maya stretched. "Man, that was fun."

Kael-X glanced at her. "Fun…"

She smiled. "Yeah. And you had fun too. Admit it."

He was silent for a moment before responding.

"…Perhaps."

Maya grinned. "See? You're learning."

Kael-X still had much to understand about Earth, about humans, about himself.

But for now, he allowed himself a rare moment of peace.

Chapter 36 (Continued): A Glimpse of Normal Life

As they walked back to Elijah's apartment, the streets were quieter than before. The city still buzzed with life—cars passing by, neon lights flickering, distant laughter from groups of people—but it felt different to Kael-X now. Less like noise. More like… something he could exist in.

Maya walked beside him, her hands stuffed in her jacket pockets. She glanced at him. "So, what did you think?"

Kael-X considered his answer carefully. "It was… not unpleasant."

Maya chuckled. "That's the most Kael-X way to say you had a good time."

He didn't respond immediately. The concept of having a good time was still foreign to him. His existence had always been about survival, combat, efficiency. But tonight, he had done something unnecessary—played games, experienced human entertainment—and yet, it had not been a waste.

That was… strange.

---

Adjusting to a Human Routine

When they arrived at the apartment, Elijah was in the kitchen, preparing something that smelled oddly pleasant.

"You guys took your time," he said, stirring a pot. "Have fun?"

Maya tossed her bag onto the couch. "Yeah, I beat Kael-X at Battle Blitz."

Kael-X corrected her, "You won one round."

Maya smirked. "Still counts."

Elijah shook his head, amused. "Well, at least you two are getting along."

Kael-X observed the apartment. It had become his temporary shelter, yet it still felt unfamiliar. The idea of home was something he barely understood. He had always been in a state of movement—either in battle or in transit to another battlefield.

Now, for the first time, he had a place to return to.

Elijah placed a bowl of food on the table. "You should eat."

Kael-X sat down, observing the meal. He had consumed food before—mostly for survival, as his body required it—but the act of sharing a meal was different.

Maya sat across from him, already digging in. "You don't have to overanalyze it. Just eat."

Kael-X took a bite.

The warmth of the food, the flavors—these were things he never paid attention to before. But now, he noticed them.

Maya smirked. "Good, right?"

Kael-X gave a slow nod. "…Acceptable."

Elijah snorted. "For him, that means it's amazing."

The three of them ate together, and for the first time, Kael-X wasn't thinking about his next fight, his next move.

For once, he was simply existing.

---

Nightfall and Reflection

After dinner, Maya stretched. "I'm gonna crash. See you guys in the morning."

Elijah nodded. "I'll clean up."

Kael-X stood, unsure what to do next. His usual instinct was to prepare—to strategize, to analyze threats. But there was no immediate danger.

Instead, he stepped out onto the apartment's small balcony. The city stretched before him, lights flickering like stars.

For years, his existence had been defined by battles. Every action had been a calculated step toward survival. But now…

Now, he was experiencing something else. Something slower.

He wasn't sure how to describe it.

But he wasn't rejecting it either.

As the night wind brushed against him, Kael-X stood there, silently watching the city, trying to understand what it meant to live.