Chapter 102: Assigned Seating25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Vb5CZn0NN
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4fblfT2NX
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoy4J8H8QV
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8Qk3TM8al
"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."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyyVEZPu76
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6aOpipTXg
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKyv43zPzT
Then it began.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5mUZsPvOV
"Why do I have to sit next to this guy?" Gabriel complained, puffing her cheeks like a sulking child.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIysUHwwVcG
Shut up! Kouya grumbled internally. As if I want to sit next to you either!25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbH4TYADbbs
"You’re the one who picked the ticket, remember?" Vigne pointed out with a small sigh.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb86s16TuVL
"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~?"25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYKWMybw60
"Denied," Vigne said immediately, her voice firm.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbZw3DrSjm
"Ugh! Fine! Then I’ll just move somewhere else. There are tons of empty seats anyway."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKFEkGhQOR
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!"25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPvB0nsEuB
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6N6IPukB69
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoQmsmIHjT
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoXIPokVFB
On the screen appeared a cheerful, polite schoolgirl greeting classmates, smiling at neighbors, radiating that perfect model-student energy. So far, everything was peaceful.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnDFy5HrU5
Then she got home.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3E7c4UyII
And instantly transformed into a snack-devouring, soda-chugging, game-addicted gremlin.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1vDfRTS0L
Kouya’s eyebrows twitched. Director, what the hell kind of plot twist is this?25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8IDsrdAYT
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTXAVZHO0l
This wasn’t a character arc—it was a total personality switch!25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2YBssXy8d
"Ahh, no wonder Gabi-chan liked her. They’re practically twins," Raphiel whispered teasingly, eyes sparkling.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxUePADvMw
No, they’re not! Kouya screamed internally. At least the girl in the movie goes to school and studies! This one? Beyond saving!25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxihRCQRqzb
Gabriel stuffed a handful of popcorn into her mouth. "Ugh! I want a brother like that too!" she said with a pout.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7NKDQyIqq
“Yeah right. What you really wan is an on-demand ATM.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5zOvb8rRb
"Tch. Isn’t it a big brother’s job to fulfill his sister’s wishes?" Gabriel retorted defensively.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTub1HSFnm
That’s not a brother—that’s a slave, Kouya thought bitterly. Someone who spoils you until you forget how to function.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvyNrYsjS8
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYQf3fY083
She was asleep.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrwPreRFIZ
Right there, mid-scene, with the popcorn bucket still balanced on her lap. A lone popcorn kernel stuck to her cheek.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GSCAaZkeX
Unbelievable.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEdJMHM8Uv
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0baQX03nPc
Kouya sighed. You’re wasting that ticket, you useless angel.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSAEsNKXX0
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpcLbLBgPm
Expressionless, he shifted away slightly and stared back at the screen.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdPzV2sjcH
Then came a quiet giggle from his right.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPndQbgrzp
A faint buzzing followed—his phone vibrating in his pocket.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVm1as2Ynz6
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDs59hqcCZ
Raphiel: "Kouya-kun, Gabi-chan’s a really deep sleeper, you know~"25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvs1d42Rxz
You’ve got to be kidding me. She’s sitting right there! Why text like some secret agent instead of whispering?25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmrE2VsjFJ
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.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrypol6DmAD
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.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdbo5WyHon
He shook his head hard. Focus, damn it!25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CEjX1koiD
He typed back one word: "What?"25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsNcWqUorH
Her reply came instantly.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZK2keK6aU
Raphiel: "Didn’t Kouya-kun just think about lifting Gabi-chan’s skirt?"25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQE3QLeTrq3
He froze, jaw tightening. What kind of perverted angel is this?! He quickly typed back, Absolutely not!25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kK3QdpTVk
Raphiel: "It’s fine~ Nobody can see. If you wanted to touch her leg just a little, I wouldn’t tell anyone~"25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCxNMlSWzo
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.”25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR75m8FyNJt
He glared. "You’re doing this on purpose."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUa8QTZedM0
Raphiel tilted her head, her smile widening. "Oh no, of course not. Girls just love helping boys, that’s all."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfCSRr4nRM
"Helping?! That’s your idea of helping?!"25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfg8Br94RtD
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."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeq29m0FpME
Kouya’s face twitched. This angel was pure evil.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhreL7uhHRu
"So why did Gabi-chan invite you, anyway?" she asked again, half-whispering.25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdk0yQaofW
He sighed. "Ask her yourself."25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpaTSe77aP
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. 25Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cxqBTY2Wj
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