Chapter 102: Assigned Seating130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JMu1t5gOY
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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClbGBDXttt
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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1p7PtMgbIg
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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWghXQ57nuf
"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."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SrDXCuTS4
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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHX5jC5fLV
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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkDh8yQV0x
Then it began.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEfaPJAWn2
"Why do I have to sit next to this guy?" Gabriel complained, puffing her cheeks like a sulking child.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ge28bLnkc
Shut up! Kouya grumbled internally. As if I want to sit next to you either!130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPbN52FEkm
"You’re the one who picked the ticket, remember?" Vigne pointed out with a small sigh.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsu0SPMlqg
"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~?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCljVoNpl2
"Denied," Vigne said immediately, her voice firm.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCPNLJhI9s
"Ugh! Fine! Then I’ll just move somewhere else. There are tons of empty seats anyway."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoQQ4SQICd
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!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyhHPk8aWT
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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5gPEOPw71
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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPCChKRjwM
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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbOn1CAsvd
On the screen appeared a cheerful, polite schoolgirl greeting classmates, smiling at neighbors, radiating that perfect model-student energy. So far, everything was peaceful.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOiYH8OPuQ
Then she got home.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kID9Mr2ZN
And instantly transformed into a snack-devouring, soda-chugging, game-addicted gremlin.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKdKBp0W9J
Kouya’s eyebrows twitched. Director, what the hell kind of plot twist is this?130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPD3VUV9G61
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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbwolgAYPl
This wasn’t a character arc—it was a total personality switch!130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7FLHwiDwD
"Ahh, no wonder Gabi-chan liked her. They’re practically twins," Raphiel whispered teasingly, eyes sparkling.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJNwdgS7MR
No, they’re not! Kouya screamed internally. At least the girl in the movie goes to school and studies! This one? Beyond saving!130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQTH5N10qG
Gabriel stuffed a handful of popcorn into her mouth. "Ugh! I want a brother like that too!" she said with a pout.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKijW6vBIFv
“Yeah right. What you really wan is an on-demand ATM.”130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8x4bUQD58
"Tch. Isn’t it a big brother’s job to fulfill his sister’s wishes?" Gabriel retorted defensively.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9ayIky1rh
That’s not a brother—that’s a slave, Kouya thought bitterly. Someone who spoils you until you forget how to function.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9wfisCDN0
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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkU5ZCl0nB
She was asleep.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12DQiJ5yEa
Right there, mid-scene, with the popcorn bucket still balanced on her lap. A lone popcorn kernel stuck to her cheek.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ldcrft2tg
Unbelievable.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOdXTuRXey
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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwCJLBvmmM
Kouya sighed. You’re wasting that ticket, you useless angel.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuvBjNTZOU
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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzTAeQrNiY
Expressionless, he shifted away slightly and stared back at the screen.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3i5a1p0S9B
Then came a quiet giggle from his right.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObrZaJ1N6p
A faint buzzing followed—his phone vibrating in his pocket.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUBRmgKoTt
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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOatA50A1IV
Raphiel: "Kouya-kun, Gabi-chan’s a really deep sleeper, you know~"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJOi0jMatn
You’ve got to be kidding me. She’s sitting right there! Why text like some secret agent instead of whispering?130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2YM8LUsBs
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.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72mILCyVC9
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.”130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0hz94wiB7
He shook his head hard. Focus, damn it!130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2MALbd9k3
He typed back one word: "What?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDtTxhP3Gb
Her reply came instantly.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYy8kvy2Wq
Raphiel: "Didn’t Kouya-kun just think about lifting Gabi-chan’s skirt?"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUEC3hbQ7M
He froze, jaw tightening. What kind of perverted angel is this?! He quickly typed back, Absolutely not!130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEdt6IPvS1
Raphiel: "It’s fine~ Nobody can see. If you wanted to touch her leg just a little, I wouldn’t tell anyone~"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDQLXDJJDe
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.”130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVI2v73Ah9
He glared. "You’re doing this on purpose."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifxWsTWbuh
Raphiel tilted her head, her smile widening. "Oh no, of course not. Girls just love helping boys, that’s all."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztBdh3DOLk
"Helping?! That’s your idea of helping?!"130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EYmRochVx
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."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9uisFDXOG
Kouya’s face twitched. This angel was pure evil.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCUu0Jgri5
"So why did Gabi-chan invite you, anyway?" she asked again, half-whispering.130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9T8tzTEe5O
He sighed. "Ask her yourself."130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOCJfMPQkt
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. 130Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL45uAae5L3
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