Chapter 67: Pretty Girl, First Date (Part 3)

I ate way too much…
People always say you have a separate stomach for sweets, but yeah, that’s a lie.
Everything has a limit. Thinking back on how many I ate… honestly, I really pushed myself. The shop’s desserts were amazing, and since we were talking the whole time, it made everything even more enjoyable.

Aoi-kun kept bringing up all kinds of topics, and he genuinely looked happy whenever I answered. That’s why—even with how shy I usually am—I could talk comfortably.

“Guess it’s about time,” he said, checking his watch.

“Then… want to head out?”

I nodded back at him.
It’s embarrassing to admit, but I didn’t want to move. I was way too full, and standing up felt like torture. Still, time is time, and we couldn’t just sit here forever.

When Aoi-kun stood, I sluggishly pushed myself to my feet and followed him. Ahh… I really want a food break…

“Sakura-san, what do you want to do after this?”

“Huh?”

We’d just stepped outside when he asked, and I froze—because I hadn’t thought ahead at all.

Right… I got so excited about the all-you-can-eat sweets that I didn’t think even one step past that! I mean, we could just go our separate ways here, but if we do, then it’s literally “we ate food and left,” which feels like kind of a waste.

…A waste of what, exactly? I asked myself, but no answer came.

I just somehow… felt like ending it here would be a waste.

“If you’re free after this, want to go see a movie? That super popular one is playing right now.”

“Yeah. Sounds good.”

A movie, huh. Honestly, I barely have any memory of watching movies in a theater. Maybe I saw an anime movie when I was really little? I’d never go alone, and I doubt I’d ever take the initiative myself. I’d only ever see one if someone invited me—so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to go.

And more than anything… sitting in a theater meant a perfect chance to rest my stomach. Pathetic reason, I know.

Going to see a movie with just the two of us is… basically a full-on date, right? Yeah. Anyone would see it that way. But after eating sweets and chatting together for so long, I was starting to feel like… maybe it’s okay if this is a date. I only get self-conscious if I call it a date. In reality, I’m just hanging out with a friend.

As long as we’re having fun together… whatever works.

With that mindset, I walked into the theater with Aoi-kun.

We printed our tickets. The seats were pretty packed, and the only ones left were near the front, off to the side—a kind of awkward spot.

I thought we were going to see some flashy spectacle movie, but apparently it was a romance set during wartime. A romance movie—seriously?

But it’s super popular, so it must be good. Plus, it’ll give me something to talk about with everyone later, and if it’s trending, I can chat with classmates about it after break. No downside to watching it!

“Wow, it really is popular. I didn’t think the seats would be this full.”

“Yeah. But hey, at least we got seats together, right?”

While I was browsing merch and pamphlets, Aoi-kun came back with popcorn and coffee. He said the coffee was on him. I tried to pay, but he refused so firmly I had no choice but to give up.

Still… popcorn right after all those sweets? That’s insane. Guess that’s the sports-club metabolism for you…!

“And caramel flavor, too…”

“Haha. I just like this one better.”

He laughed sheepishly at the words that slipped out of my mouth.

He gazed at the popcorn almost dreamily, but since he had coffee in his other hand, he couldn’t eat any until we got to our seats.

“You can still eat after all that? Don’t you get fat?”

“Hmm… well, I eat way more at home. Not snacks, but still. And the kendo club does a lot of strength training.”

Oh, right—our school’s kendo club also ran laps around campus. I remembered the first-term routine.

If he does that every day, then yeah, he’d never gain weight.

“Strength training, huh… I can’t even do push-ups.”

Not to brag, but I can’t even do ten. As a high school girl, that number bothers me more than I’d like. It’s weird—I was weak even when I was a guy, but I could at least do more than this. It’s like all my upper-body strength vanished when I became a girl.

“Sakura-san, you don’t really have much strength.”

“Ugh… yeah, you’re right.”

Hearing it stated that bluntly kind of hurts.
He’s absolutely right, though, so I have nothing to say back.

“But it’s fine. I think that makes you cuter, you know? It’s more girly.”

Seeing me droop, he gently added a little reassurance.

“R-really?”

“Yeah, exactly.”

The way he follows up like that… it makes me a little happy. I don’t know why. There’s something special in the way Aoi-kun says “cute.” I can’t put it into words, but it hits me—like a warm little jolt, a pleasant glow in my chest.

Because of that, I find myself wanting him to call me cute. And when he actually does, I can’t help but feel happy.

I’m probably grinning like an idiot right now, so in a panic, I quickly turn my face away.

“Should we head inside?”

The theater is almost completely full.

Aoi-kun and I search for our seats. They’re on the far end, so spotting them is easy.

“Sorry. These seats aren’t the best.”

He apologizes like that.

They’re really not—way up front and all the way at the side. Definitely not ideal. But that’s exactly why they were the only ones left.
Before long, the lights begin to dim. The chatter in the theater fades into silence.

My eyes naturally turn toward the screen.

It’s a story about lovers who were supposed to be together—until the man is sent off to war. Just when they finally become a couple, war breaks out and they’re torn apart. Their parting scene is so heartrending that I almost start crying on the spot. My tear ducts are way too weak… I silently scold myself while my eyes well up.

From there, it’s one intense scene after another—so serious that I can’t look away. The battle shots look frighteningly real. Well, I don’t actually know what “real” looks like, but still!

The powerful visuals make me gasp without thinking.

It’s packed with moments so tense I almost have to cover my eyes.

Then finally, things shift into a calm scene.

Wow… that was intense. I don’t think the protagonist can die in the middle of the story, but watching it still made my heart jump.

I let out a breath and rest my hand on the armrest.

…Huh? Something feels off. Kind of warm? What…?

I squeeze whatever’s under my hand a few times, trying to figure it out. Then I realize.

…This is Aoi-kun’s hand!?

“A-ah—sorry!”

I pull my hand away immediately.

Without noticing, I had placed my hand on top of his. And not just placed it—I’d squeezed it.
Which, okay, makes sense: in this theater, both armrests can’t really be used at once. Each seat has two armrests, but they’re shared with the seats beside them. So if you try to use both sides… things like this happen.

Ughhh, I can’t believe I just grabbed his hand. And I was the one who reached over!

When I glance at Aoi-kun, he seems to be looking at me with a slightly embarrassed expression… or at least, that’s how it feels. I can’t see clearly in the dark, but his face is definitely turned my way.

Being looked at like that makes me even more embarrassed. I shrink into my seat.

My heart is pounding wildly. Thank goodness it’s dark…
My face must be insanely red right now.

Calm down! Right—prime numbers. Let’s count prime numbers… two, three… fifty-nine, sixty-one…
Wow, I can count more than I expected! I’m actually pretty calm!

No I’m not! That didn’t help at all! I’m definitely not calm!

I down the rest of my coffee in one go.

Okay. Focus on the movie.

I forcibly switch gears and glue my attention back to the screen.

The movie finally reaches its end.

The protagonist survives to the very last moment and returns safely to his lover. Even though he lost so much, the fact that he lived and they were reunited… it hit me deeply.

Ahh… movies really are wonderful.
A good one truly earns its popularity. I should recommend this to everyone in the club.

The lights brighten, and the audience begins filing out.

“That was such a good movie!”

I spoke to Aoi-kun with unusually high energy—the adrenaline still buzzing through me.

“Yeah. It really was as good as everyone said.”

Aoi-kun agreed.

He turned his face toward me… and suddenly his eyes widened.

I tilted my head. What’s wrong?

“Sakura-san, were you crying?”

“Eh?”

I hurriedly touched my face.

W-wait—he’s right. There are faint streaks of dried tears on my cheeks.

Ughhh, no way. I don’t want anyone seeing my face after I’ve been crying. My eyes must be swollen, and my whole face probably looks puffy… Thinking about it only makes the embarrassment worse.

I fumble through my bag, desperate to find my handkerchief.

“I’ll wipe it for you.”

Saying that, Aoi-kun gently pressed his own handkerchief against my face, wiping away the traces of tears.

“S-sorry. Thank you…”

My heart skipped a little—just a tiny bit, but enough to fluster me.
I couldn’t bring myself to look him in the eyes.

“S-sorry. Crying at my age… it’s embarrassing, right?”

I curled up slightly in my seat, staring down.

“That’s not true at all. Being sensitive means you understand people’s feelings. I think that’s a wonderful thing.”

“…Really?”

Seeing I still didn’t sound convinced, he nodded firmly.

Somehow, today it feels like Aoi-kun has been reassuring me nonstop. Actually, it always feels like that when I’m with him. Maybe because he’s older.

I keep relying on him… am I inconveniencing him? He always helps me, always supports me—but have I ever actually done anything for him?

Hmm… I wish I could at least do something for him…

When we stepped out of the theater, it was already evening. The whole sky was dyed a soft crimson.

I guess it’s time to say goodbye.

“Shall we head home?”

Looks like he was thinking the same thing.

I felt a tiny pang of reluctance, but I nodded. We walked side by side toward the station. Wrapped in the quiet of dusk, both of us grew silent—maybe because of that gentle, end-of-the-day loneliness.

We arrived at the station. This is where we part.

“Well then, see you later.”

He gave me a small wave. Our train routes go in different directions from here.

“Yeah, see you!”

I returned the wave cheerfully.

He turned his back to me and headed for the opposite platform. I watched his figure as he walked away.

I’d been so nervous about being alone together, but… today was actually really fun. Maybe we could hang out again sometime.

On the train home, I suddenly realized I was smiling to myself—and panicked in embarrassment.