Chapter 102: Assigned Seating65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuojasBEnkt
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorOao8r2qz
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXdUOWHGCk
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMbA5ss3nU
"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."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsVa8yoo0Z
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJWgiJ58F3
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzFimIT2QC
Then it began.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNDJOFFEj4
"Why do I have to sit next to this guy?" Gabriel complained, puffing her cheeks like a sulking child.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8anqoymuFk
Shut up! Kouya grumbled internally. As if I want to sit next to you either!65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MAflGl1iJ
"You’re the one who picked the ticket, remember?" Vigne pointed out with a small sigh.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKlkhirmNi
"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~?"65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfQGS4pQC2
"Denied," Vigne said immediately, her voice firm.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySrz1Sy2vV
"Ugh! Fine! Then I’ll just move somewhere else. There are tons of empty seats anyway."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8Eex15GKM
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!"65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mgoOp3jnd
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdz0xYkQ72
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjG2pWioG9
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NxmgVfP0r
On the screen appeared a cheerful, polite schoolgirl greeting classmates, smiling at neighbors, radiating that perfect model-student energy. So far, everything was peaceful.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJf8PF4XeW
Then she got home.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5lDrf8X5n
And instantly transformed into a snack-devouring, soda-chugging, game-addicted gremlin.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hsnpD6pyg
Kouya’s eyebrows twitched. Director, what the hell kind of plot twist is this?65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeaSxxQ4EA
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtdYW9eecA
This wasn’t a character arc—it was a total personality switch!65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80CGOd2qzt
"Ahh, no wonder Gabi-chan liked her. They’re practically twins," Raphiel whispered teasingly, eyes sparkling.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94dhYHS7rI
No, they’re not! Kouya screamed internally. At least the girl in the movie goes to school and studies! This one? Beyond saving!65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6WAbRL97X
Gabriel stuffed a handful of popcorn into her mouth. "Ugh! I want a brother like that too!" she said with a pout.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYJRcVXYwj
“Yeah right. What you really wan is an on-demand ATM.”65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUxvdGxpZ9
"Tch. Isn’t it a big brother’s job to fulfill his sister’s wishes?" Gabriel retorted defensively.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8dbE0kMcW
That’s not a brother—that’s a slave, Kouya thought bitterly. Someone who spoils you until you forget how to function.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuFn20OR9K
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zK8Pv6lzA
She was asleep.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmz7oXv9t4
Right there, mid-scene, with the popcorn bucket still balanced on her lap. A lone popcorn kernel stuck to her cheek.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8e2GpBljtI
Unbelievable.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsS3C5NiDM
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5TI7dW5mM
Kouya sighed. You’re wasting that ticket, you useless angel.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0cdeCfgmR
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGAPxf6laY
Expressionless, he shifted away slightly and stared back at the screen.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWepNdHzbf
Then came a quiet giggle from his right.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdSZAcqyfq
A faint buzzing followed—his phone vibrating in his pocket.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMOvCZvwMx
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdb6tJ4Ycs
Raphiel: "Kouya-kun, Gabi-chan’s a really deep sleeper, you know~"65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPvx1iq9Pd
You’ve got to be kidding me. She’s sitting right there! Why text like some secret agent instead of whispering?65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKn2UtH0vHd
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.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLI0MN5VHig
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.”65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtVx6YPdGM
He shook his head hard. Focus, damn it!65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFx0dTX6sfv
He typed back one word: "What?"65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5EAmlUdFp
Her reply came instantly.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunusHQSLDs
Raphiel: "Didn’t Kouya-kun just think about lifting Gabi-chan’s skirt?"65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9nazW7bJI
He froze, jaw tightening. What kind of perverted angel is this?! He quickly typed back, Absolutely not!65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjX1slCqDyZ
Raphiel: "It’s fine~ Nobody can see. If you wanted to touch her leg just a little, I wouldn’t tell anyone~"65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlhuUOuGoL
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.”65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs46rVZmgyp
He glared. "You’re doing this on purpose."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bGNjQN9DG
Raphiel tilted her head, her smile widening. "Oh no, of course not. Girls just love helping boys, that’s all."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFI48Xyb0W
"Helping?! That’s your idea of helping?!"65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilFGxd4lxf
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."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcsoQF65za
Kouya’s face twitched. This angel was pure evil.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcvbQFu2WR
"So why did Gabi-chan invite you, anyway?" she asked again, half-whispering.65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00BZJ0N3Ai
He sighed. "Ask her yourself."65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4yuRD2BAH
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. 65Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3a8qwgzmoH
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