Episode 17: The Childhood Friend Couple’s First Date
Kamijou, the bus stop one stop after Ichinose’s nearest stop is at the entrance of the Shopping Mall.
Around ten o’clock, Kamijou Yuuto and Ichinose Ayano arrived, and after watching a movie at the cinema in a corner of the entertainment complex, they squinted at the sun they hadn’t felt in about two hours.
“Ugh, that was nice. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a movie theater.”
Ayano frowned at Yuto, who stretched with a yawn.
“I’m sorry for making you watch a romance movie… It was boring, wasn’t it?”
“Hmm? No, it wasn’t. I watch those kinds of serial dramas a lot, so I could empathize with the main characters. Besides, that was based on a web novel, right? It’s amazing that a student wrote it.”
“Yeah, that’s right! It was a top-ranked work on the ‘Let’s Write a Novel!’ site. The author posted it when she was a second-year high school student, and in a few years, it was published as a book and a comic, and finally made into a live-action movie. I loved the original, and I have the book version too, so I was really looking forward to it.”
Yuto’s cheeks relaxed at Ayano’s happy smile.
Honestly, for a high school boy, watching a romance movie for almost two hours, without any particular expectations, is mentally tough before even considering “whether it was enjoyable as a result,” but it was easy enough for the sake of his beloved girlfriend.
“More than anything, if Ayano is satisfied, then it was worth holding in my pee.”
Ayano gave a wry smile at Yuto, who deliberately shrugged his shoulders.
“If you ask if I was satisfied… I’d say about 60 points.”
“Oh my, that’s a surprisingly harsh rating.”
“I enjoyed it, but that movie is about the main characters ‘from when they enter high school until they graduate,’ right? And they’re condensing that into one movie, aren’t they?”
“Ah, that’s right. Oh, wait a sec.”
Yuto bought churros from a stall in the rest area and handed them to her.
“I love boyfriends who remember the small request of ‘buying churros after the movie.’ My favorability rating went up by five points.”
“If it goes up for 300 yen, it’s a bargain. By the way, what’s the total point count now?”
“It’s already maxed out and being discarded.”
Ayano took a small bite with her little mouth, and groaned contentedly.
“…So, what was I saying? Oh, right.”
She held the churro to Yuto’s mouth,
“There are actually quite long episodes for each school year. Seasonal events like the ‘fireworks festival’ and ‘Christmas’.”
“…Hmm. It was in the movie too.”
For a moment, he hesitated, but took a bite, feeling reserved now.
“It’s nice how their relationship gets closer each year, even at the same event. At the fireworks festival in the first year, they only ‘hold hands,’ but in the second year, they… ‘kiss,’ or something?”
“Ah, I see… But the pace was pretty fast from the second to the first half of the third year in the movie, wasn’t it?”
“That’s right! They’re cutting things out!”
Ayano pouted, happy that he had actually watched the movie properly.
“Well, I think it can’t be helped that they cut it, since it’s not a volume that can fit into two hours in the first place. But it’s a waste of the ‘accumulated love between the two.’ The impression is very different depending on whether you know the original or not!”
Yuto, overwhelmed by Ayano’s enthusiasm, calmed her down,
“So, as a fan, you’re saying, ‘Instead of forcing everything into one movie, at least make it a trilogy’?”
“…I really love boyfriends who understand what I want to say.”
Ayano thought deeply and bit into the churro again.
“…Really, I love it.”
“Me?”
“The churros.”
“I lost to a fried pastry…”
“Ugh!” Yuto groaned, and Ayano covered her mouth and giggled.
“…That being said, are you okay?”
“Are you going to buy me another churro?”
If he could see that smile, he wouldn’t hesitate, but,
“No, I mean, you’ve been showing your ‘true self’ since a while ago.”
“Ah… I see…”
Ayano thought for a moment when he said that, and laughed like a child.
“I’m on a date with you, you know? It’s too much fun and I’m too happy to pretend.”
“Yeah. I’m happy to hear you say that too.”
“Besides, there are quite a few people here, so I wouldn’t even know if there were any acquaintances. And it’s not uncommon for ‘girls who are quiet at school to get excited when they’re with their boyfriend,’ right?”
“Is it that fun?”
Looking at Yuto, who had taken the last bite she offered, with affection,
“Hehe, right now I could even find a heart-throb moment in a Zombie Movie.”
“Where?”
“‘That zombie has a cute way of walking’?”
“That’s insane.”
Even such trivial conversations were fun.
“So, what are we going to do? It’s about the right time, but should we eat properly?”
“Hmm. What about you, Yuto?”
“It depends on Ayano. If we eat, I’ll eat with you.”
Then, Ayano thought,
“Then, can you come with me to do my shopping first?”