Both of them sat there, completely quiet, not saying a word or even moving an inch. Naruto's head was buzzing with a lot of different thoughts. When he first met her, he was mostly concentrating on his own evaluation, so he didn't pay much attention to her. Because of that, he couldn't understand how she felt about him back then, at least not clearly.
But when he met her again in front of the Hunter Association Headquarters, he sensed she wasn't being truthful. There was something more going on, but he dismissed the idea because it seemed too far-fetched. Now, after she confessed her feelings for him, he was at a loss for words. His mind was tangled in confusion, and he couldn't find a way to sort it out.
Naruto suddenly had a thought. He turned around quickly, and Aria looked up at him with an innocent expression. Her eyes seemed to be asking for an answer.
"How well do you know me?" Naruto suddenly blurted out, breaking the silence in the car.
She didn't say anything, unsure of how to respond to his question.
Seeing her quietness, he shifted in his seat again. "I mean, we only met a while ago, right? We hardly know much about each other, just a few bits and pieces." Naruto fidgeted in his seat once more, thinking to himself, 'Why am I so awkward with girls? I never know what to say!'
"So, how about we get to know each other better?" Naruto suggested, turning to look at Aria, who finally let out a sigh of relief.
"I guess, okay," she replied, turning to look out the window to hide her blushing face. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts as she tried her best to calm down.
"I'll drive us to my apartment first, and then you can take over, alright?" Naruto said, knowing he was in the driver's seat but also aware that it was her car, so he couldn't just assume he'd drive her back home.
"You do have a driver's license, right?" she asked, trying to ease the awkwardness in the car with a lighthearted question.
"Yeah, I got it two months ago!" Naruto replied, as he put the key in the ignition and started the car.
[Moments Later]
"So, why did you come back from the USA? What's the goal?" Naruto asked while keeping his eyes on the road.
"I don't really know. I wanted to become a hunter, and since Choi Jong-In has his own guild, I thought I'd come here and maybe join it," she said, still gazing out the window. "I even enrolled in a college here," she added with a smile, glancing over at him.
"I see," Naruto replied.
Their conversation flowed from there, and they stumbled upon a surprising coincidence: they were both attending the same college. Initially, Naruto felt a bit skeptical, though he didn't share this with Aria. However, his instincts told him she was sincere, with no hidden agenda.
When they finally arrived at Naruto's apartment building, they realized they hadn't exchanged phone numbers or social media details yet, so they did that right away. Afterward, Naruto stepped out of the car, and Aria moved to the driver's seat. They said their goodbyes, and she headed home.
It was just the afternoon when Naruto finally got back to his apartment. He freshened up and settled onto the sofa, feeling a bit different than usual. Having completed his first raid, he was buzzing with excitement about his future as a Hunter. The experience inside the dungeon had been incredible. He couldn't help but think, "It felt like I was meant to be there," repeating it to himself a couple of times.
In addition to his excitement, Naruto knew he had two big options ahead of him. The first was signing with a guild, and right now, his top choice was the Hunters Guild. He had received several emails from other guilds, but none of them had reached out personally like Choi Jong-In did, and that was even before the news broke about him participating in a raid with the Hunters Guild.
His second option was to accept a role with the Hunter Association itself, an authority position offered by the Chairman, Go Gunhee. Naruto wondered if there were any other paths he hadn't considered yet.
And then there was the situation with Aria. As Naruto leaned back on the sofa and closed his eyes, he found himself thinking about her—her face, their first meeting, and every interaction since then. He couldn't deny that he was interested in her. He enjoyed their conversations, even if he wasn't quite ready to fully admit it to himself. But he also wondered if he could handle something more, like a relationship or even just dating, alongside his Hunter duties and studies. It was a lot to consider.
He slowly opened his eyes, gazing up at the ceiling above him. "Looks like I've got a lot of decisions to make," he thought. Before he knew it, he drifted off to sleep right there on the sofa.
After a couple of hours passed, he finally woke up. It was already evening, and the sound of his phone ringing pulled him out of his sleep. When he picked up the phone, he saw it was Woo Jin Chul calling.
"Wow, it's already 7:28 PM! I didn't even notice when I dozed off," he thought as he glanced at the time displayed on his phone screen. He answered the call and settled back into the sofa.
"Hello, this is Chief Inspector Woo Jin Chul. Is that you, Naruto?" came the familiar voice from the other end of the line.
"Yes!" Naruto answered confidently but didn't elaborate further.
"I saw the news about the raid you did with the Hunters Guild today," Woo Jin Chul continued. "But from what I understand, it was just a one-time deal, right?" He got straight to the point without beating around the bush.
"If you're wondering whether I'm open to a long-term contract, the answer is yes," Naruto replied, being just as direct.
"Are you ready to sign a contract with any guild, Naruto?" Woo Jin Chul asked, his voice steady and professional.
Naruto paused for a moment, considering his response. "Maybe, maybe not. I'm still looking for the right offer, so I'm open to possibilities," he replied, striking a balance between interest and caution. He knew it was important to keep his options open and not seem too eager.
"That's understandable," Woo Jin Chul said, acknowledging Naruto's position. "In that case, we'd like to discuss an offer from our end. Can we set up a meeting to go over the details?"
"Sure, I'm interested in hearing what you have to say," Naruto replied, open to exploring what the Hunter Association had to offer. Although they mentioned that money wasn't the primary factor for joining, he knew they wouldn't propose without offering a decent amount, even if it wasn't extravagant.
"Great. How about meeting at the Hunter Association Headquarters tomorrow afternoon, just like last time?" the representative suggested.
"That works for me," Naruto agreed, feeling a sense of anticipation about the upcoming meeting.
As the call ended, Naruto stood up and walked over to one of the windows, looking out at the moonlit sky. The moon hung high above, casting a gentle glow over everything. He found himself reflecting on the path ahead as a Hunter. It was a thrilling prospect, filled with both opportunities and challenges.
His mind wandered back to the raid, the conversations, and the potential opportunities lying ahead. The thought of balancing his studies, potential guild involvement, and personal life was daunting, yet exciting. As he gazed at the moon, Naruto couldn't help but feel optimistic about the journey that awaited him.