“Whoa, I almost lost trust in you right from the start!”
“But we really are going to watch a movie. It’s a safe bet.”
Saying that, Remi started walking towards the movie theater, looking excited.
I’m starting to feel a bit of her excitement too.
It’s been quite a while since I properly watched a movie in a theater.
The nearest movie theater is a five-minute walk from the North Exit Station, and we arrived soon after we started moving.
Smelling the unique scent of popcorn, my heart leaped a little again.
“Lately, I’ve been watching movies on my smartphone, but this is nice once in a while. Even if it’s expensive.”
“The atmosphere is different, after all. This movie seems to have good reviews, so I think it’s especially worth watching.”
“Oh, is it popular?”
“It has good reviews.”
Sitting in the dead center seats, Remi raised the corners of her mouth, looking cheerful.
We placed the large size popcorn we bought (splitting the cost) in the middle, all set.
I immediately plunged my hand into the L-size box, and my palm touched Remi’s.
“Oh, sorry.”
“It’s fine,”
Remi said, barely opening her mouth without looking at me.
“It’s too late now. Besides, I’m your girlfriend at the moment.”
“…Girlfriend.”
I knew the theory that we couldn’t get used to this unless we treated it like a real date.
But hearing it again, I didn’t know how to react.
As if noticing my inner turmoil, Remi turned her gaze towards me.
Her large eyes, reminiscent of a deep sea, vividly reflected my figure.
“…Yes, girlfriend. But that doesn’t mean I’m expecting you to act like a boyfriend, Ryota.”
As I struggled to grab popcorn due to nervousness, Remi noticed and picked up a couple of pieces.
“…Just be yourself. You know, Ryota…”
Saying that, Remi put the popcorn into my mouth.
More than the salty taste, I was distracted by my tongue touching the tip of her finger. However, she showed no sign of minding it and quietly continued speaking.
“…Save the boyfriend version of you for someone special.”
“…I wish I could be that today.”
The venue darkened.
The movie trailers were about to begin in earnest.
It felt like everyone in the audience, except for us, had their eyes glued to the screen.
Remi and I gazed at each other for a moment.
I wonder what Remi is thinking now.
Despite spending so much time together since childhood, I still can’t figure her out.
“…It’s okay,”
a faint whisper raced from my ear to my brain.
“After all, you’ve managed to have a ‘good vibe’ with me.”
Just as I opened my mouth, the lighting dimmed further.
…That’s different from what you said before.
I kept that thought locked in the depths of my heart.
The movie’s story turned out to be a refreshing love story focusing on encounters and farewells rather than a typical romance.
It was about a boy and a girl who meet in high school, date for a long time, and then make a mutual decision to part ways due to differences in values when they become working adults.
While the theme had a sense of realism, the well-placed comedy scenes lightened the mood, making it understandable why the film was well-received.
Although I can’t imagine myself as a working adult yet, I wonder if I’ll have a different impression when I watch it again in a few years.
Recently, I’ve found manga that I didn’t like in elementary school interesting now, and vice versa. It feels like my values are in the midst of changing.
Towards the end of the movie.
In the dim light, I felt Remi’s knee touch mine.
When I glanced at her, I saw that Remi was crying.
It was right at the scene where the couple was breaking up.
…I wonder if Remi has memories like that too.
Since entering high school, the number of people with dating experience has increased significantly.
It wouldn’t be strange if Remi was one of them.
The Remi I don’t know.
The Remi that someone else knows.
I’m not sure if I want to know or not.
If this feeling is jealousy, then perhaps I should have aimed to fall in love with Remi, as Yuzuha suggested.
But it’s probably not jealousy.
I think this because after liking Remi, I’ve had my feelings change over time, liking one person after another.
I only had feelings for Remi for about a year in sixth grade.
Since then, I’ve been harshly rejected by Seto and Miyabi, given up on Hanazono on my own, and gone through various experiences.
Seira might condemn me for changing the person I like so often, but I haven’t disregarded my feelings. They just changed with time.
And it wouldn’t be strange if Remi had gone through various experiences too.
The strongest lingering scent of her is probably from someone I don’t know.
Just as Yuka Hanazono remains the most vivid love in my memory.
I was thinking about this while watching the end credits roll.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT gadgetizedpanda.net
As we exited the cinema, the vastness of the sky felt even more apparent.
While walking and feeling the wind, Remi and I discussed our impressions of the movie.
After a while, I voiced a question.
“I wonder what kind of atmosphere it would create if a couple watched a movie that ends with a breakup.”
“Hmm…”
Remi made a difficult face.
“It might increase the chances of breaking up. Or rather, it could be the deciding factor for couples who are already wavering…”
She might be thinking that she made a mistake in selecting the movie.
Trying to offer some reassurance, I quickly interjected.
“But you know, it’s nice that we can immediately share our thoughts after watching. I always imagined that watching a movie together meant you couldn’t talk during it, so it seemed pointless.”
“Right? I think so too. The time spent watching the same work, even if you can’t talk… it brings your hearts closer together.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
Despite our long friendship, this was the first time Remi and I had visited a cinema together. She must have chosen the movie considering this too.
“Well then, shall we go to a café next?”
“A café? What do you do at a café?”
“What do you mean, ‘what’? It’s a continuation of our date. Cafés are a staple, you know? We’ll relax and chat.”
“Café… chat…?”
I’ve heard of it, but as someone without dating experience, it doesn’t quite click.
How could I understand when I’ve never even been to a café alone with a classmate?
“How much does a café cost? I wonder if I have enough money.”
“Don’t worry about that. I found a place offering limited coupons on social media.”
“But still, wouldn’t it be expen—”
“Come on, let’s go!”
Ignoring my common folk concerns, Remi tugged at my arm.
Apparently, Remi had already set her sights on a place and checks the map on her smartphone.
“Thanks for looking it up. I’m getting excited about a popular place. If only I had enough money.”
“The air feels nice today~”
“Are you listening to me!?”
Remi giggled and pointed, saying, “It’s that shop.”
The café wasn’t a well-known chain, but a stylish one that I could understand being featured on social media.
Without Remi’s escort, I’d never be able to enter such a place.
As we entered, the staff greeted us with a casual bow.
Even after being seated, I couldn’t stop fidgeting, which made Remi smile.
“You’re too nervous. Calm down, you’ll stand out even more.”
“But this is my first time, and won’t it create a weird atmosphere if someone like me is in a place like this? Is it okay? Shouldn’t we go home?”
“It’s fine. No one is paying attention to us anyway.”
At those words, I carefully glanced around.
I witnessed a boyfriend who had been staring intensely at Remi getting punched by his girlfriend.
“Well, I guess maybe they didn’t see me…”
“Huh?”
Remi tilted her head in confusion and took a sip of water.
…She’s not aware, huh.
As I spread the menu on the table, Remi leaned in with an “Hmm.”
As she tucked her black hair behind her ear, I caught a whiff of her shampoo.
…This close proximity is dangerous in many ways.
“I’ve decided,” Remi said.
At that moment, I hastily closed the menu.
As if timing it perfectly, the waiter approached.
“May I take your order?”
“I’ll have Lunch Set A, with iced tea for my drink, please.”
“Certainly.”
“I… I’ll…”
The waiter’s smile.
…I can’t say I haven’t decided yet.
The menu I just looked at, as Remi said, had reasonable prices.
I had intended to just get a drink at this café, but having only popcorn for a meal doesn’t seem very date-like. Maybe I can splurge a bit today.
It’s not like I’m giving in to the waiter’s smile.
“Lunch Set B. And for the drink… b-black coffee.”
Even though I’ve never had black coffee before, I chose it out of nervousness, thinking it would make me look cool.
Remi gave me a puzzled look but didn’t intervene.
The waiter maintained his smile as he took the menu and left, completely missing my chance to change the order.
“Ryota, do you like black coffee?”
“I’ve never had it…”
“You’ve never had it!? Why did you order it then!?”
“I thought I should order something cool because it’s a date…”
Remi’s eyes widened in surprise.
Then, slowly, a smile formed on her lips.
“…You idiot. You should order what you want to drink.”
“But this is a date, so…”
“A date is out of the ordinary, but it’s still an extension of your everyday life. You might need some different elements, but if you can’t be yourself, what’s the point? Be more careful next time, okay?”
Having said that, Remi, perhaps remembering her behavior at school, added a bit awkwardly:
“That’s what I’d think if I were your real date. Besides, if you’re on a date, it usually means there’s already some interest.”
“True, that would be the case for a normal date.”
“Hmm…”
The upcoming date with Hanazono isn’t even certain to happen.
Even if it does, it would be meaningless if the atmosphere becomes forced.
I’m leaving those delicate matters to Yuzuha.
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