V4: Chapter 42: Is It a Movie Date...!? (Part 2)

Chapter 42: Is It a Movie Date...!? (Part 2)

The next movie is at 3 PM. I was pretty hungry, so I decided to have lunch and a post-movie discussion at a nearby cafe. I like movies, but I like discussing them just as much.

"Okay, I'll have the 'A Lunch set'... as for the drink, I'll just have tea."

"I'll have that too! And orange juice, please."

It seemed like she really enjoyed it; Jane was so cute, swinging her arms around excitedly after the movie ended, still buzzing with excitement.

"Phew... wow..."

As for me...

"That was pretty interesting, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, well... I'm glad you enjoyed it too, Big Sis!"

"Oh, Big Sis? Well, it's been a while since I've seen you... you were still cool."

... Surprisingly, I enjoyed it quite a bit.

The hour of preparation probably helped, and the movie itself was of high quality.

The final kick was especially good; there's something romantic about that kind of thing.

"Maybe I should practice kicks and long-range weapons too."

It's definitely more visually impressive to have a special move like that.

My [Satellite Smash] looks like I'm punching, but I'm just obliterating things...

I want some kind of effect. I wonder if I could do it if I tried hard enough.

"...What are you planning to defeat if you get any stronger?"

"Uh... an evil organization plotting world domination?"

"Didn't we just take down the Kaminagi Group the other day...?"

Kaminagi Something or other... I think there was someone like that. Certainly, if Squire had been kidnapped, it might have been possible to take over the world... right? Oh well, it's probably not going to happen anyway.

"Here's your Amatriciana for lunch. We'll bring the dessert after your meal." (Waiter)

"Thank you." (Satellite)

"Ama... Amatriciana? Wow, girls these days eat some pretty fancy stuff..." (Jane)

"Is it really that big of a deal...? It's just pasta with tomato sauce, so it's not that different from arrabbiata or meat sauce, is it?" (Satellite)

"That's what all young girls say these days!" (Jane)

She spoke as if she were a boy. She's clearly a cute girl, and she looks about the same age as me.

Even so, for this price, with salad, main course, drink, and dessert included, it was quite reasonable. The food was delicious, and I might come back here again when I'm in the movies.

"Jane, do you really like Kamen Rider and robots?"

"Yeah! They're so cool... I wish I could be like that. You're amazing, Big Sis... You face off against enemies much bigger than yourself without flinching."

"Well, I guess so..... maybe...?"

"Hehe, what's that supposed to mean?"

I can't exactly say I've never really considered things like size or strength when fighting. They're weaker than me anyway, and I've never seen an Enemy that moves faster than the Earth.

Ah, but the bigger they are, the bigger <self-censored> is, hehe...　

"So, actually, the transformation scene in that movie is an homage to the original...!"

"Oh, I know that too! The one that goes 'Henshin!' right?"

"That's right! And then...!"

Whoa, I almost creeped out.　

Time passed as we talked about the movie and she recommended some sentai series she really wanted me to see. Time flies when you're having fun, and before I knew it, it was 30 minutes before the movie I wanted to see started.

I bought a caramel-flavored popcorn drink at the concession stand and headed to the theater. As expected for a romance movie, there seemed to be a lot of couples. Then there was a group of girls; they were probably there purely with friends.

However, Jane seemed somewhat hesitant about going to the theater.

"Um... isn't it... kind of... out of place for me to watch a romance movie?"

"Huh? Why?"

I wondered what she was hesitating about, but it was a rather cute concern.

"Well... it's just... that it is unsuitable for me..."

"There's no such thing as 'suitable' or 'unsuitable' when it comes to watching movies. It's perfectly fine to watch Pretty Cure when you're an old man or woman, after all.."

What can you do if you're worried about what other people think? You should go wherever you want, whether it's a yakiniku restaurant or an amusement park, and do what you want.

"What you like is your own business, isn't it?"

"Is that so...?"

It's such a waste to not be able to enjoy yourself because you're worried about what others think. Besides...

"And I think Jane is cute enough, don't you?"

"C-cute...!? So... after Squire-chan, you're targeting me?"

"Of course not, I mean it honestly, no ulterior motives!"

She really has good potential; she has a boyish charm, but she'd look great in cute clothes too.

But I think I'll stop pursuing this any further. I was warned not to flirt too much...

"Mou~, let's just get to the theater!"

"Sorry, sorry, don't be shy."

"I'm not shy!"

She walked away a little faster, fuming, and there was no trace of the hesitant girl she'd been earlier.

We sat down, several commercials played, and then finally... the screening of "Kimi no Oto" began.

The heroine is a high school girl in the brass band club. The story begins when she encounters a boy playing the flute in an empty classroom on her way home from club activities...

Of course, it's a love story between a boy and a girl.

Just to be clear, it's just that my surroundings are very yuri-yuri vibe... by general standards, two girls together is definitely a minority.

["Aren't you going to join the brass band?"]

["I've already... quit brass band."]　

A boy with talent that rivals professionals, yet who doesn't join the brass band, with a somewhat prickly attitude. A bright girl who, though not particularly skilled, dedicates herself to the brass band with more passion than anyone else.　

["You're terrible. Your tonguing is bad, like this..."]

["Like this? Toot-toot."]

["Haha, you look so stupid."]

["W-well, what can I do?!"]　

These two polar opposites are drawn to each other through brass band...　

["What do you... know?"]

["I don't know, that's why I'm asking!"]

Despite their clashes, the two gradually begin practicing together in empty classrooms after school.　

But then one day... Before a major competition, one of the band members, who was wiping his flute, broke his dominant arm in a bicycle accident. She asked him to fill in, but... he refused vehemently.

["I told you, I'm not doing band anymore."]

["...I'm sorry for pressuring you."]

On the day of the competition, with the band still without a member, he showed up as a substitute and glanced at her for just a moment. Then the stage lights suddenly brightened, and the energy of the performance seemed to reach us as well.

The competition ended successfully with a gold medal, but... perhaps due to a sense of guilt, she left the venue without speaking to him that day. He appeared in the empty classroom after school, where she was waiting as usual.

["Why... did you come?"]

["No reason. I just thought that playing music with you... wouldn't be so bad."]

His cheeks were flushed, and he couldn't be completely honest. Just as the girl was about to say something, the curtain fluttered in the wind, revealing only the silhouettes of the two of them. The sound of a flute echoed through the window, bathed in the beautiful sunset... leading into the ending theme.

I watched the end credits roll in a daze.

Even I, sitting in front of the screen, felt a bittersweet feeling; it was a really good movie. Even this lingering feeling was pleasant, and I was looking forward to discussing it... when I suddenly became curious and looked over.

"That was good, that was really good..."

Seeing Jane's eyes red, I turned back to face forward. It would be rude to point it out at a time like this. I thought to myself, eating the last bit of salty popcorn I had left.

★

It was already evening, and we walked home, discussing our impressions of the movie.

"I don't usually watch romance movies, but... it was great!"

"Yeah, the romance was good, but... the music was great too, wasn't it?"

Hearing that, I was relieved, as I was the one who chose it.

"I'd like to erase my memory and watch it again...! Oh no, it's not funny coming from me."

"Haha, you're right. But I agree with you...it was a really good movie..."

I thought both movies were very good. I liked them so much that I'm thinking of watching the TV season when I get home. It's true that there are stereotypes at school, like girls watching Pretty Cure and boys watching Super Sentai...

"Isn't it a waste to worry about what other people think?"

"Yeah, you're right... If I worried about what others thought, I wouldn't have had the chance to see this movie..."

In the end, everyone thinks of themselves the most, otherwise... no, never mind.

"I understand that there are people who are interested in you, but I think it's more fun if you don't worry about them."

"Yeah... I guess so!"

We were having such a lively conversation that before we knew it, we had arrived in front of her dormitory.

"Thank you for walking me home, I had a great time today!"

"I had a great time too."

Jane waved enthusiastically at me as we reached the front of the grounds.

"Next time... will you invite me, Jane?"

"Ah, um... yes, I'll try my best!"

I suppose it's unconscious, but still... I guess she unconsciously feel burdened by the idea of ​​inviting someone out. I think we've become quite close to some people, but even so, deep down, she's still pushing others away.

This seems to be a rather deep-rooted problem.