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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Nekorune
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*ding-dong! ding-ding-ding-ding-dong!*
The doorbell was ringing repeatedly.
It had to be Miyuki.
I quickly went to the front door and opened it. There stood Miyuki, arms crossed.
She looked angry.
But she was desperately trying to hide it.
“Why did you just leave?”
At her quiet, subdued question, I scratched my freshly dried hair and replied,
“I waited for an hour and you didn’t come down. I thought you had fallen asleep.”
“I didn’t fall asleep. And you could’ve woken me up.”
“I didn’t think I needed to.”
“Why?”
“Because you’d probably just space out even if I did.”
Miyuki flinched slightly at my words.
She seemed to recall her dazed appearance immediately after the kiss as she lowered her gaze.
“S-still… we were going to hang out…”
“I was thinking of waiting for you once you had woken up? I do have a car, you know? It’s not like it takes that long to go back to your place.”
“…That’s true… But still… Matsuda-kun, by any chance, did you give my sister your number?”
“My number? Yeah, I did.”
“Why?”
Miyuki’s voice rose slightly.
Could it be that she was angrier about me giving her sister my number than about me leaving without a word after our kiss?
As I tilted my head and pondered about this, Miyuki shot back at me.
“Are you interested in my sister? Are you thinking of trying something with her? Like… toying around with her?”
The moment I heard those absurd words, I finally understood what was going on.
She had gotten it all wrong.
I had a hunch… A strong hunch that something like this would happen.
It seemed Kana hadn’t explained things properly and had upset Miyuki.
“What are you talking about… By your logic, does that make me a pervert who’s thinking of trying something with your parents as well?”
“…What? Why are you bringing up Mom and Dad?”
“Because I gave them my number too.”
Miyuki’s facial muscles twisted in a strange way.
She clearly didn’t understand.
I chuckled and continued.
“As I was about to head home, your sister suggested we exchange numbers so our families could get to know each other. Your mom and dad thought it was a good idea too, so we all exchanged numbers. Why are you so angry?”
“…?”
Miyuki just stood there blinking for a few seconds.
She seemed to be racking her brain.
As she carefully considered my words, her face turned pale as a sheet.
“I-is that so…?”
Her voice was much softer now, as if everything in her mind had finally fallen into place.
“That’s right.”
“…Ah.”
She slowly nodded her head, as if she had finally realized what was going on.
Cute. So cute I wanted to tease her more.
“What’s up with that ‘ah?’ …I don’t know what kind of nonsense you heard to be acting like this, but wipe that stupid look off your face and apologize.”
“Apologize…?”
“Yeah, for misjudging me. Again. You keep holding unfair prejudices against me. It’s pretty unpleasant, you know? This is one of the things you hate, isn’t it?”
“I… I’m sorry… really, really sorry…”
Her voice was low and submissive, and from what I could see, she seemed to be genuinely reflecting on her actions.
I smirked and flicked her forehead lightly, just like I did in her room.
*snap*
Miyuki immediately covered her forehead with her hand.
It couldn’t have hurt that much, so her pout must have been due to her feelings of guilt.
Leaning my elbow against the wall next to the door, I looked at her and asked,
“Did you walk all the way here?”
“Yes… I walked…”
“In this heat? That wasn’t very smart.”
“I-It didn’t take that long…”
Clicking my tongue, I stepped out of the gate and pressed the button on my smart key.
*beep!*
The car unlocked with a short beep.
I opened the driver’s seat door and spoke to Miyuki, who was standing there blankly.
“So… you coming?”
“Oh, right…”
Her face brightened as she hurried over and got into the passenger seat.
Then, she fastened her seatbelt and asked.
“Where are we going…?”
“Let’s go watch a movie.”
“Okay…”
I started the car and turned the air conditioner on full blast. Miyuki’s upper body immediately leaned towards the vent.
She closed her eyes with a relieved expression as she enjoyed the cool air. Then, she snuck glances at me and secretly sniffed her own hair.
Worried about smelling like sweat?
That’s what you get for rushing over here in such a state.
Geez, next time, just call me instead…
And she needed to make up her mind.
It was about time.
Pretending not to notice Miyuki’s actions, I drove towards the movie theater.
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“Order 812! Your single combo with a large cola is ready!”
At the enthusiastic movie theater employee’s announcement, I got up from my seat, where I had been chatting with Miyuki.
“Matsuda-kun, aren’t we 812?”
Miyuki checked the ticket number I was holding.
Her face was full of questions.
Every time we went on a movie date, we always ordered the couple combo, so she must have been wondering why I ordered a single combo today.
“Yes.”
“Really…? 812…?”
“That’s right.”
I replied indifferently and picked up the box containing the popcorn and cola.
Miyuki’s expression gradually hardened.
It seems she has been mistakenly thinking there has been a change in my feelings.
Looking at her, I grabbed two straws and stuck them both in the same side of the cola.
Then, I casually handed it to her.
“Here.”
“Ah…”
Miyuki let out a small gasp and took the cola, her face brightening.
Despite the cup having separate straw holes on the front and back of the lid, she understood my intentions and feelings upon seeing I had put both straws on only one side.
“…”
It was quite fun to observe her reaction after creating this kind of misunderstanding by acting differently than usual and then giving it a new meaning.
“I only got this small popcorn because we already ate a lot for dinner. No complaints, right?”
Miyuki nodded her head frantically, her eyes glued to the straws.
“Complaints…? No… It’s okay…”
“Let’s go in. The movie is about to start.”
“Sure…”
I smiled, watching Miyuki become even more docile than before, and entered the theater with her.
We hadn’t booked our tickets in advance, and since it was the weekend, the theater was crowded. Our seats were at the very left end of the row.
The angle was a little uncomfortable for watching the movie, but other than that, it wasn’t bad.
Miyuki didn’t seem to mind either.
But there was a problem.
A very big problem.
‘What the hell?’
The armrest between our seats wouldn’t go up.
I wanted to get close to Miyuki and initiate some subtle skinship, but this was a terrible situation.
The other armrests seemed to go up just fine, but the one between Miyuki and me wouldn’t budge.
I couldn’t help but be suspicious. What were the chances?
Was I really not the protagonist of this world?
“Matsuda-kun, what are you doing?”
Miyuki asked with a puzzled look as I shifted in my seat, trying to lift the armrest.
I gave up on the immovable armrest and sighed, looking up at the ceiling of the theater.
“The world is against me.”
“What are you talking about…? Do you want some cola?”
“Sure, give me some.”
Even though I had spoken curtly, Miyuki showed no reaction to it and simply brought the cola to my lips.
She wasn’t telling me to speak politely today.
Considering the significant event of the kiss and her huge misunderstanding, she must have decided to let it slide just this once.
As I took a sip of the cola, I felt a heavy weight on my right arm and turned to the side.
The man sitting next to me was staring at me with a glare.
It was obvious that he was upset because I was hogging the armrest.
This was the beauty of a packed movie theater: the battles over armrests.
I frowned and glared back at the man with a menacing look.
Soon after, the man averted his gaze and pulled his arm in.
I smiled kindly at the man who knew his place enough to tuck tail between his legs, and then—
*smack!*
I turned my head abruptly as Miyuki slapped my left arm with considerable force.
“Why did you hit me?”
“Why…? I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”
Miyuki repeatedly apologized to the man and then scolded me quietly but firmly.
“Why did you do that…?”
“He started it. He glared at me for the armrest.”
“So? Just give him some space… Is it really that difficult?”
“Yes. Extremely difficult.”
“Ugh… Honestly…”
Miyuki let out a long sigh as if giving up trying to reason with me, and then chuckled, looking at my indifferent face.
“Typical Matsuda-kun…”
Her voice was incredibly gentle.
A sign that she wasn’t angry.
I pretended to be reflecting on my actions as I scratched my head and then lowered my right arm, which had been resting on the armrest.
As if I had been moved by Miyuki’s kind words.
Miyuki’s eyes, watching me, curved into crescents.
She was approving of this development.
Clearing my throat awkwardly at her reaction, I placed my left arm on the armrest between us.
“…But I get to use this one then.”
“Sure, go ahead.”
Miyuki giggled.
She seemed happy.
Soon after, the emergency exit instructions appeared on the screen, and the theater lights dimmed as the movie began.
*vroom-boom!*
The grand drumbeat marked the start of the action film.
We should have picked a sweet romance movie for today…
It was a real shame, but there were no seats left for that one.
I glanced at Miyuki, who was deeply absorbed in the movie, and then shifted my focus towards the screen, the thought that something felt a little off today dancing in my mind.
How much time had passed?
In the middle of a scene where a supporting character appeared, showcasing some simple action and cracking jokes—
*tap tap*
Miyuki’s finger tapped on the back of my left hand.
I turned my head to look at her. She swallowed a mouthful of cola and gestured for me to turn my hand over, which I did.
Then, she pointed her index finger and poked my palm repeatedly.
And then, she started to draw something on my palm.
Or rather, she wasn’t drawing; she was writing.
Her finger moved quite slowly, so I was able to easily understand what she was writing by focusing on the sensation.
【Sorry for today’s misunderstanding…】
She was conveying this message through my hand.
She was still concerned about it.
I was about to let out a chuckle at her adorable apology, which was laced with affection, when my eyes widened at her next words.
【Ken-kun.】
My name.
Not my last name, but my first name.
She definitely wrote my name.
The feeling that something was off vanished instantly.
It was just a name written on my hand… but still.
It was more than enough to make me incredibly happy.
I had no doubt that I would hear my name from those lovely lips soon enough.
I was so proud of Miyuki for taking this initiative.
As soon as Miyuki’s hand, having finished writing, slowly fell away, I pursed my lips tightly.
The corners of my mouth kept trying to twitch upwards.
I must have looked strange, but… this wasn’t the time to care about that.
Unable to contain this excitement, I grabbed a large handful of popcorn from the bucket Miyuki was holding.
Then, I shoved it into my mouth and chewed noisily.
Why? Because I felt that if I hadn’t done exactly that, I might have burst into cheers without realizing it.
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