Chapter 102: Assigned Seating135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfYBjfr2zP
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjT6UM9f7E
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhfmqmOrJr
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoBKtLUSVT
"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."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfQ53dDw6v
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinMh3xkscl
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYulO1HI3E
Then it began.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHx0idrM8X
"Why do I have to sit next to this guy?" Gabriel complained, puffing her cheeks like a sulking child.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFBsGigwYc
Shut up! Kouya grumbled internally. As if I want to sit next to you either!135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZTeirpy3L
"You’re the one who picked the ticket, remember?" Vigne pointed out with a small sigh.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVvcMsFnRH
"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~?"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vTHN1bcgd
"Denied," Vigne said immediately, her voice firm.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37PpIxDkWw
"Ugh! Fine! Then I’ll just move somewhere else. There are tons of empty seats anyway."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5umAFWCN9m
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!"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2aLIyrBAr
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseq8tJnGmv
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosUZsMneIc
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQrkTr4PDr
On the screen appeared a cheerful, polite schoolgirl greeting classmates, smiling at neighbors, radiating that perfect model-student energy. So far, everything was peaceful.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKUmBrPnmn
Then she got home.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyX3ob2XBht
And instantly transformed into a snack-devouring, soda-chugging, game-addicted gremlin.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0mnSH2lDk
Kouya’s eyebrows twitched. Director, what the hell kind of plot twist is this?135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMw8mjJHIE
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqd5d840gLx
This wasn’t a character arc—it was a total personality switch!135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4Lx9tjTwt
"Ahh, no wonder Gabi-chan liked her. They’re practically twins," Raphiel whispered teasingly, eyes sparkling.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAoHO07RZt
No, they’re not! Kouya screamed internally. At least the girl in the movie goes to school and studies! This one? Beyond saving!135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmlrwg6Fm7
Gabriel stuffed a handful of popcorn into her mouth. "Ugh! I want a brother like that too!" she said with a pout.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHXMAjhkuy
“Yeah right. What you really wan is an on-demand ATM.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQzzMvkrDq
"Tch. Isn’t it a big brother’s job to fulfill his sister’s wishes?" Gabriel retorted defensively.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2hnfPls7a
That’s not a brother—that’s a slave, Kouya thought bitterly. Someone who spoils you until you forget how to function.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6yfHYKq4z
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VbIsTnxm7
She was asleep.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lvIJliapj
Right there, mid-scene, with the popcorn bucket still balanced on her lap. A lone popcorn kernel stuck to her cheek.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqpDmphVLF
Unbelievable.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3JlIiT4mT
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJp2ZyiU3Xw
Kouya sighed. You’re wasting that ticket, you useless angel.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eLeTQfHut
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAQKEGCgwb
Expressionless, he shifted away slightly and stared back at the screen.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGvJQRxwz1
Then came a quiet giggle from his right.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRQQ5YexP9
A faint buzzing followed—his phone vibrating in his pocket.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRqegR2ZAf
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYoqeKC8KT
Raphiel: "Kouya-kun, Gabi-chan’s a really deep sleeper, you know~"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wCPJxqh00
You’ve got to be kidding me. She’s sitting right there! Why text like some secret agent instead of whispering?135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceCSWtEFAj
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.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iQiUCMQjo
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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tTFemzQ6h
He shook his head hard. Focus, damn it!135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHNTHT2a6f
He typed back one word: "What?"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHzpWrpF0H
Her reply came instantly.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMa5A90UvDD
Raphiel: "Didn’t Kouya-kun just think about lifting Gabi-chan’s skirt?"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5ZwYFo86a
He froze, jaw tightening. What kind of perverted angel is this?! He quickly typed back, Absolutely not!135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPn1gNcKXo
Raphiel: "It’s fine~ Nobody can see. If you wanted to touch her leg just a little, I wouldn’t tell anyone~"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvetlfDoDrp
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.”135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFPyZQzoNC
He glared. "You’re doing this on purpose."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEP41C0rgL
Raphiel tilted her head, her smile widening. "Oh no, of course not. Girls just love helping boys, that’s all."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCbeIkPCtM
"Helping?! That’s your idea of helping?!"135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8QNH2x1rD
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."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnM7G0k3zTC
Kouya’s face twitched. This angel was pure evil.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zmzicTuJQ
"So why did Gabi-chan invite you, anyway?" she asked again, half-whispering.135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYtum7CckG
He sighed. "Ask her yourself."135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwlNcjiK0O
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. 135Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3Sj9QNIvp
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