Chapter 102: Assigned Seating140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmi13SoR50f
Kouya and the others picked up their tickets at the theater lobby counter, their footsteps echoing faintly over the glossy floor. The smell of buttered popcorn and soda syrup hung in the air, mixing with the faint chill of the air conditioning. They grabbed two big buckets of popcorn and a few drinks before heading toward the main screening hall together, the buzz of chatter and footsteps following them inside.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpyqBLRaAP
Although it was his first time in a movie theater, Kouya wasn’t particularly impressed. He glanced around as the group entered—the place was large, clean, and dimly lit, with the faint hum of a projector already running somewhere above. To him, it didn’t look much different from the lecture hall at school, just darker and with better seats.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5h0OFTBAhi
It was a mid-sized cinema, and the audience had already filled more than half the room. The walls were lined with soft acoustic panels, and the faint scent of fabric cleaner mixed oddly with the buttery air.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugzlxERASh
"Hmm, our seats are over here," Vigne said after checking the row numbers, leading the way with quiet confidence. "Everyone, sit according to your ticket number. No skipping seats."140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDhGsMQBmK
The seats were toward the back, which was actually ideal for viewing. They weren’t too far to feel disconnected from the screen, nor too close to strain the neck. Except maybe for Rikka, who barely peeked over the seats in front of her.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZa1imEVOhj
Anyone who’d been to a theater before knew the front rows were the worst choice. The closer you sat, the more your neck ached, and after two hours you’d feel like you just fought gravity itself. The back seats were the safe zone.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZ0q3kxlIK
Then it began.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPr9V4rrxEv
"Why do I have to sit next to this guy?" Gabriel complained, puffing her cheeks like a sulking child.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIueSbteF4
Shut up! Kouya grumbled internally. As if I want to sit next to you either!140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYqrnRKxJI
"You’re the one who picked the ticket, remember?" Vigne pointed out with a small sigh.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVADgAXe0z
"I wasn’t paying attention when I picked!" Gabriel whined, blinking her big eyes and leaning toward her friend. "Vigne-chan, can we switch seats, please~?"140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEnIfFXnEX
"Denied," Vigne said immediately, her voice firm.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDYLzWe0Yy
"Ugh! Fine! Then I’ll just move somewhere else. There are tons of empty seats anyway."140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9g08aUQ14
Vigne’s brow twitched, her perfectionist nature flaring. "No! You sit in your assigned seat! That’s what assigned seating means! Don’t mess with the order!"140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJ9XxLPW57
Gabriel groaned but ultimately gave in, dragging her feet dramatically before plopping into the seat beside Kouya. The final lineup went Gabriel, Kouya, Raphiel, Rikka, Kanna, and Vigne on the end.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcb8mfLrHB
After a few minutes, the lights dimmed and the hall fell silent. The bright screen illuminated everyone’s faces in shades of white and blue. The sound system came alive, rumbling faintly under their feet.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKujxQhi19x
Kouya leaned back in his chair. It was his first time seeing a movie on a big screen, and while he wasn’t that excited, there was a strange comfort in the atmosphere—the dark hall, the quiet murmur before the movie began, the shared sense of anticipation.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3Wgv1ATP4
On the screen appeared a cheerful, polite schoolgirl greeting classmates, smiling at neighbors, radiating that perfect model-student energy. So far, everything was peaceful.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2QQE2EKso
Then she got home.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisVFd3WHWn
And instantly transformed into a snack-devouring, soda-chugging, game-addicted gremlin.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ND7xn3Dy5
Kouya’s eyebrows twitched. Director, what the hell kind of plot twist is this?140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMB0ZOrOwf
The girl who had looked like a saint outside was now sprawled on the couch with chip crumbs all over her hoodie, laughing maniacally at a video game.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2eyDwbEEX
This wasn’t a character arc—it was a total personality switch!140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOGFBshpk6
"Ahh, no wonder Gabi-chan liked her. They’re practically twins," Raphiel whispered teasingly, eyes sparkling.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPIzbsTUXH
No, they’re not! Kouya screamed internally. At least the girl in the movie goes to school and studies! This one? Beyond saving!140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8TOtjudRv
Gabriel stuffed a handful of popcorn into her mouth. "Ugh! I want a brother like that too!" she said with a pout.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuz5l3EiZCd
“Yeah right. What you really wan is an on-demand ATM.”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDJh0aYgCs
"Tch. Isn’t it a big brother’s job to fulfill his sister’s wishes?" Gabriel retorted defensively.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLY6FlZZ2RW
That’s not a brother—that’s a slave, Kouya thought bitterly. Someone who spoils you until you forget how to function.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdCOoNFnUY
After a few minutes, Gabriel’s muttering faded. Kouya thought she’d finally settled down to actually watch the movie, but when he glanced sideways, he froze.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt63T3aFgAM
She was asleep.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEp7hBTiE9I
Right there, mid-scene, with the popcorn bucket still balanced on her lap. A lone popcorn kernel stuck to her cheek.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGaHa7fRl3
Unbelievable.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3Hgcuvw8R
Of course she’d fall asleep. She probably stayed up all night gaming again. And now she was drooling on the seat she’d fought to keep.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfgt8HKrdX
Kouya sighed. You’re wasting that ticket, you useless angel.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRO3gEyXjvC
Her arm slipped, brushing against his. The faint warmth and softness through her sleeve made him tense instinctively. For a moment, he felt the smoothness of her skin—warm and unreal.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNPz4xDgnR
Expressionless, he shifted away slightly and stared back at the screen.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPIB2KRboR
Then came a quiet giggle from his right.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviooGHUxBn
A faint buzzing followed—his phone vibrating in his pocket.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnpnnqcQiv
He pulled it out carefully. Vigne had made everyone switch to silent mode earlier, so the buzz was the only sound. On the glowing screen, a message popped up from none other than Raphiel.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JvChFkA4N
Raphiel: "Kouya-kun, Gabi-chan’s a really deep sleeper, you know~"140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7m8wVPCAfg
You’ve got to be kidding me. She’s sitting right there! Why text like some secret agent instead of whispering?140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuV7kdp2RyH
Raphiel’s lips curved in amusement. In the dim light, she gracefully crossed one leg over the other. The faint rustle of her stockings caught his attention. Even under the theater’s shadows, her pale skin contrasted sharply with the black fabric, creating a line of perfect shape from her knee down to her ankle.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBHzA7ujyK
Kouya’s mind short-circuited for a moment. He suddenly remembered a random phrase from online: “Legs so perfect you could play with them for a year.”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFsJZSVX60
He shook his head hard. Focus, damn it!140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRLoBaWlcA
He typed back one word: "What?"140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5BPdoeNdV
Her reply came instantly.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIf3Vsrdtxl
Raphiel: "Didn’t Kouya-kun just think about lifting Gabi-chan’s skirt?"140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1e1T6HiSHE
He froze, jaw tightening. What kind of perverted angel is this?! He quickly typed back, Absolutely not!140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzvETykhIA
Raphiel: "It’s fine~ Nobody can see. If you wanted to touch her leg just a little, I wouldn’t tell anyone~"140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivRaqPox1V
What the hell?! Did she think theaters were some lawless dark zone? There were cameras everywhere! He could already imagine the security room replaying footage of him getting arrested for “cinema indecency.”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQZGBLDnEU
He glared. "You’re doing this on purpose."140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cVZyIwS8Z
Raphiel tilted her head, her smile widening. "Oh no, of course not. Girls just love helping boys, that’s all."140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZwsboJ0Jk
"Helping?! That’s your idea of helping?!"140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3x4L5CWJf
She giggled softly, leaning closer until her breath nearly brushed his ear. "You’re such a hopeless leg-lover, Kouya-kun. Acting all serious while your mind’s full of filthy thoughts—it’s adorable."140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDVZcHiecZ
Kouya’s face twitched. This angel was pure evil.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VwvKJfrgC
"So why did Gabi-chan invite you, anyway?" she asked again, half-whispering.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3omJo56gr
He sighed. "Ask her yourself."140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGlrhIDzOD
Truthfully, he had no idea. Gabriel’s halo had been black for ages—she was the last person he’d expect to suggest a group outing. A movie theater full of strangers didn’t fit her shut-in aesthetic at all. 140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllqJnr4Obl
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