Translated: Sei, MTL-sensei-tachi
Edited: Sei, Grammarly no Danna
Source: Syosetu

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Romance Movie


　Even after the Bon Festival, summer is still in full swing.

　I was in my air-conditioned room, reading a drinking cir ... diving manga and laughing alone in my room, when I received a message on the smartphone I was holding in my hand.
　
　The sender was Kana. I immediately tapped the notification screen to see the message content.

『Are you free tomorrow afternoon? I wish you could watch a movie with me. 』

　As I recall, the other day she said she wanted to go see a movie with me.
　I think I answered the same question before, that I would go with Touka and Ike again...

　After thinking that, today's date brings back dim memories of my past.

　Maybe tomorrow is...

　I send a reply to Kana.

『Yeah, fine』

　I got a reply from Kana immediately.

『Yay! Ah, and tomorrow it's just the two of us, so definitely don't ask Touka-chan or Haruma or anyone else. Anyway, don't talk to anyone else, okay!』

　The message was something along the lines of.

『Yeah, I got it.』

『That's fine, then...』

　And then sent me the meeting place and time for tomorrow.
　Having confirmed that, I'll send a message.

　After putting my smartphone to sleep, I often think back to the summer days I used to have―.　　


☆

　And the next day.
　I was at the nearest station with a movie theater.
　It was the station I used to meet Touka when I first went on a date with her.

　I had arrived a little earlier than the meeting time.
　Kana has not yet arrived at the meeting place.
　I take my smartphone out of my pocket and decide to kill some time appropriately.

　Then, a few minutes of waiting for Kana.
　... Suddenly my vision went black.
　
"Who~ is it?"

　Then a lively voice reached my ears.
　... The only girls who would do this to me are Touka or Kana.
　I'm meeting up with Kana right now, and there's no way I could have misheard between the two of them in the first place.

"Kana"

　So I quickly responded, grabbed the hand covering my eyes, then turned around.
　There she was, as expected, Kana.

　Was it surprising that I guessed it?
　Kana looked surprised, blushed, and then said.

"C-Correct ... It was me."

"What are you surprised at? Was it that surprising that I guessed it?"

"No, etto. um ..."

　Kana fidgeted and looked away from me.
　Is she embarrassed? Why?
　With that in mind, I follow her gaze.

　And I guessed why she was embarrassed.

"B-Because Yuuji-kun suddenly grabbed my hand. ... I was so thrilled, you know??"

　I was still unconsciously holding Kana's hand.
　I caught her gaze as she looked me up with her eyes,　

"My bad"

　After saying this, I tried to let go of her hand, but this time, Kana held my hand tightly.

"Shall we continue ... holding hands today and have a date?"

　Kana asks in a sweet voice with a bashful smile.
　
"... It's hot, please forgive me."

　I say this with a firmness in my voice so as not to let her know I am embarrassed by her words.
　Then, a little too forcefully, I escaped from her hands.

"! Geez, Yuuji-kun's mean!"

　Saying so, Kana throws a disapproving voice at me.

"Let's go to the cinema for now?"

　Without going through Kana's words, I say,

"... Okay!"

　Kana nodded at my words with a somewhat dissatisfied expression on her face, and we headed for the desired movie theater.



☆


　And a few minutes later. We arrived at our destination, a movie theater.
　The inside of the building was very crowded, probably because it was summer vacation.

"Yuuji-kun. It's very crowded, and I think we should hold hands so we don't get separated."

　Kana made her appeal here.

"It's okay. I will keep an eye on you so that I don't lose sight of Kana."

　When I said that, she muttered, "Eh ...!?", With her hands on both cheeks, she writhed.
　I looked at her, wondering what was wrong,

"You keep looking at me. ... Somehow, Yuuji-kun seems to be very aggressive today."

　She said so happily.
　Somehow that's a little different from what I said, but ... Well, okay.
　If I put a tsukkomi in the light momentum, I feel that the misunderstanding may deepen again.

"... So, is there a movie you wanted to watch?"

　I ask Kana, who is still in agony.
　Then she came to her senses after hearing my words, nodded "yes," and then pointed to one poster.

"I thought maybe we could watch it together"

　It was a romantic movie based on a popular novel.
　I was actually curious about this work because I had read both the original and the manga version.

"I wanted to see it, too. Fine."

　When I answered that, Kana looked dumbfounded for some reason.

"... Did I say something strange?"

"Eh? ... I thought you wouldn't watch these kinds of movies, so I didn't expect it."

　After hearing her words, I thought that it certainly might not be the kind of movie that a man and a woman who are not lovers would watch together, and I agreed with Kana's astonishment.
　
"... Today's Yuuji-kun, I think if I push him, he could be a real hottie."

　Kana muttered quietly.
　I could have suggested that we should watch another one, but I think that would make me too conscious of her.

　We ended up buying tickets to that romantic movie, then bought drinks at the concession stand before entering the theater.

　Fortunately, there were few people around.
　This is probably because it has been two weeks since it was released to the public.

"I'm looking forward to it, watching a romance movie with Yuuji-kun ♡"

　After saying that, Kana leans on my shoulder.
　The sweet scent wafted through the air and tickled my nostrils.
　...If this was done to me while I was watching a movie, I might have a hard time concentrating.

　Thinking so, I push her head back and say.

"This kind of thing is forbidden while watching a movie"

"I get it"
　
　Laughing sloppily, Kana says ... but I doubt if she really gets it.

　While I was thinking this, the lights in the theater dimmed and a video advertising a film that was about to be released began to play.
　A short time later, the familiar movie thief appeared on the screen and the main movie finally began.

　The subject matter of this romantic film is "science fiction, youth, and romance," At best, it's a typical royal road story, at worst, it's a standard story.
　However, I don't hate this kind of straightforward romance.
　
　Although I have already subscribed to the original story and manga, I was still gradually immersed in the story by the actors' performances, each sound effect, and the film's unique direction....
　
　Suddenly, Kana, sitting next to mine, her hand touched mine.
　Was my hand in her way a little? I thought so and quickly avoided it, but my hands immediately touched Kana's again.

　... This is being done on purpose.
　I realized that, but decided to leave it alone.

　If I reacted strangely and withdrew my hand, I didn't think that would stop Kana from messing with me.
　If it escalates and she leans on me as she did earlier, I will not be able to concentrate on the film.
　
　In fact, it seems I was right, and Kana never did anything more than touch hands.


　―And so the story is nearing the end.
　In the scene where the hero and heroine reveal their feelings for each other and choose a future for each other, I couldn't help but clench my fists as I watched.

"Eh...?"　　
　
　Kana, sitting next to me, let out an agitated voice.
　Perhaps she was not satisfied with the choice between the hero and heroine.

　How did Kana feel when she saw this scene?
　I kept staring at the screen, trying not to miss even a moment of the story that was about to end, thinking we would talk about it later.


☆


　―The end roll was playing on the screen.
　My chest was simultaneously filled with a refreshing sense of loss and an inexpressible sense of satisfaction.

　And that it was a good story.
　I am glad I saw it, I thought.

　As the ending ended and the lights lit up, the audience began to get out of their seats.
　Many people were saying to each other, "It was good," and some were sobbing in their seats.
　They are probably crying because they are so moved.

　I look at Kana next to me.

　She, too, was red-faced and had tears filling both eyes.
　
"... The movie, that was great"

　I looked at Kana and then told her so.
　Then she turned her face down and then shook her head, shaking her head for some reason.

"Eh? ... You didn't like it?"

　So much so that the choice of the protagonist was unacceptable?
　Was it too much for you so that you cried?

　As I was looking confused, Kana shook her head again.
　Then, in a trembling voice, she muttered.

"... Because of Yuuji-kun, I don't remember anything about the movie."

"My fault? Sorry, what do you mean?"

　I asked, not understanding why.
　Then, Kana pointed at a certain point with her tear-stained eyes.

"... Yuuji-kun, you squeezed my hand during the emotional and atmospheric scene at the end of the film, didn't you? So that made me so nervous ... my mind went blank!"

　... I look at the place Kana points to.
　My hand was holding her hand tightly.


　From that time, huh ... The trouble was, I had an idea.
　I was so focused on the movie that I didn't realize it, but... apparently I was doing a crazy thing.


"Well, Yuuji-kun. ...If you break up with Touka-chan properly, I'm always welcome at any time."


　Kana squeezed tightly the hand she had been holding with mine, then kept her eyes down and muttered in a wistful voice.
　

　After seeing Kana like that, I explained to her with all sincerity that I didn't mean it that way, but―.
　Unfortunately, Kana never believed me.