CH 76

Movie With The Most Beautiful Girl

For a little while, she looked down while her face was bright red, but seemed to gradually calm down and her embarrassment slowly faded. When her face was peach colored, she finally looked up.

[I’m sorry to show you an unsightly me]

[Ah, no, well, you were cute…]

[P-please no more of that..]

Saito’s voice raised an octave again when I said it wasn’t unsightly, but rather cute when she blushed and looked down in embarrassment.

I nodded my head and made a coughing sound. 

[Though, I didn’t expect to show such an expression. Did I look weird?]

[Ah, no, you looked fine. I could tell you’re really enjoying it]

[The reason I’m having so much fun is because I’m with Tanaka-kun, okay?]

[Is it really?]

[Yes, I don’t go out very often, so I’m looking forward to it, but it’s also my first time with a good friend like Tanaka-kun, so that’s the biggest reason] (TN: Man got friendzoned for now, rip)

Her eyes squinted and she smiled peacefully while looking calm. I was relieved to see she wasn’t lying.

[Really? That’s a relief]

[I’m looking forward to what’s to come]

Fufun, she shrugged and looked at me with expecting eyes.

After that, the tension calmed down and we walked to the movie theaters. We walked around talking about books, school, and other trivial things.

I kept looking at Saito’s white hands over and over, in between our conversations.

I’ve decided to hold her hand later when we go to the movies, but I’m still nervous when it comes to actually doing it. These aren’t easy things to get used to.　

We kept walking, while I wondered how we should hold hands.　

After walking a while, we arrived at the theater and went inside. It was warm inside, and my cold skin was enveloped in warmth. 

[Wow, there’s quite a lot of movies playing!]

As soon as we entered, there were posters of movies currently showing. Saito rushed to them and began to look with great interest.

[Did you find anything interesting?]

In addition to the movie we wanted to see, there were all sorts of different movies. Science fiction, action, and even mystery. We gazed at them idly and wondered what we should watch. 

[No, this time I would like to watch the romance movie that Tanaka-kun recommended]

[Really? Anything else is also fine, you know?]

[No, I’m also interested in it. Also…]

[Also?]

She looked a little uncomfortable as she talked, so I asked her. Then, she turned to me with her cheeks burning red and smiled.　

[After all, a date means a romantic movie. Especially if it’s a date with Tanaka-kun] (TN: shots fired)

[O-oh, I see] 

I bit my lip as I saw her smile, which was both soft and flowery. Feeling my face heat up, a sparkling earring caught my eyes. 

I bought a ticket, and while at it, I also bought drinks and waited for the starting time. While we waited, Saito looked happily at her ticket next to me several times.

After a little while, an announcement was made that it was time to enter, and many people went in. We followed suit and sat in the designated seats.

[It’s a pretty big place]

[Yeah, you’re right. Have you been here before?]

[My mother used to take me here when I was in elementary school, but I haven’t been here since then. I usually watch movies on DVD]

[I see. I feel the same way. I haven’t seen a movie here since middle school]

[Last time you were here, were you alone?]

[Hold on. I at least have friends to go with. …Well, I did come alone though]

It was upsetting to me that she thought I was alone all the time, so I denied it, but Saito gave me a look that said [I knew it].

After a short wait, the theater began to darken and the screen illuminated. I lowered my gaze to my hand, conscious of Saito’s profile reflected with the brightness of the screen. 

On the left side, Saito was next to me, about 10 cm apart. Her right arm was resting on the arm rest, and her thin, beautiful hand was peeking out of the edge. 

I gulp, and I reach for it. Slowly. Slowly. Gradually bring my hand closer. I got close enough to touch it, exhaled, and gently touched my own hand to hers. (TN: Only novels make hand holding sessions look lewd af)

[…Mmm]

The moment I touched it, her body shook. When I looked at her to see what happened, Saito was also looking at me. Our eyes met each other. Her eyes seemed to reflect the light of the screen and gleamed with a strange color. 

She gently lowered her eyes and looked away. Then she intertwined her fingers with mine. (TN: no seriously, why does it sound lewd)

Hot. The palm of my hand felt awfully hot. If I squeeze them, she squeezes them back. Such a simple exchange was both delightful and endearing. 

As I was drowning in joy, I heard a sweet voice that gently tickled my ear.

[Did you want to hold hands?]

[Eh, ah, hmm, well…]

I was embarrassed to be asked this. I couldn’t answer, and only replied vaguely. Saito seemed to understand what I was trying to say, and she smiled, with a happy look.

The teasing look on her face makes me a little miffed. I asked her a question back to counter it. 

[Then, what about you?]

From Saito’s reaction so far, she didn’t seem to be familiar with this kind of thing. When she does it, she seems relaxed, but when I do it, she looks shy.

Then she must be blushing again this time, I concluded. Let’s make her do it. That’s what I thought, but it didn’t go that way.

[Me? Of course, I wanted to hold hands with you. But I also get nervous when we hold hands like this in a movie theater]

[I-I see…]

Her cheeks were slightly blushing and she was probably embarrassed, but she didn’t lose her cool. On the contrary, she showed me our hands linked together, and made me more aware of it. 

(How can you do that so effortlessly…)

With the heat from my face going down, we waited for the movie to start.

First of all, sorry for the rant lol. But seriously, my god did I get a heartburn doing that. Doing a Saito POV currently, but it’s very confusing, so we’ll see how that goes. More soon