Chapter 102: Assigned Seating139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJ4fXkRy9T
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3uj3pw54u
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgWSwz2iVI
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybenJW1dng
"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."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5962VUV6y
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9R5o6N785
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ERlrfHfAY
Then it began.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflFulyps2R
"Why do I have to sit next to this guy?" Gabriel complained, puffing her cheeks like a sulking child.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWLLQ5iV33
Shut up! Kouya grumbled internally. As if I want to sit next to you either!139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IdsNWGShN
"You’re the one who picked the ticket, remember?" Vigne pointed out with a small sigh.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1UN8nzcam
"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~?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeHKj6dpln
"Denied," Vigne said immediately, her voice firm.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKsNtwSj5M
"Ugh! Fine! Then I’ll just move somewhere else. There are tons of empty seats anyway."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ga6fz03HQ
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!"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBxGVYEdgR
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwEVrhFLEk
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTXeZ4QaaI
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM28NSKjtxK
On the screen appeared a cheerful, polite schoolgirl greeting classmates, smiling at neighbors, radiating that perfect model-student energy. So far, everything was peaceful.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdT2i95x1KD
Then she got home.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ikhMBz2vg
And instantly transformed into a snack-devouring, soda-chugging, game-addicted gremlin.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIDqSB8HC2
Kouya’s eyebrows twitched. Director, what the hell kind of plot twist is this?139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2GciCcNVr
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPGg91WNdN
This wasn’t a character arc—it was a total personality switch!139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBQ3Y4cJ3o
"Ahh, no wonder Gabi-chan liked her. They’re practically twins," Raphiel whispered teasingly, eyes sparkling.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFZ04VxbRA
No, they’re not! Kouya screamed internally. At least the girl in the movie goes to school and studies! This one? Beyond saving!139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDh6Ab1WVg
Gabriel stuffed a handful of popcorn into her mouth. "Ugh! I want a brother like that too!" she said with a pout.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfV8r7TasKO
“Yeah right. What you really wan is an on-demand ATM.”139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hUQJxqyKf
"Tch. Isn’t it a big brother’s job to fulfill his sister’s wishes?" Gabriel retorted defensively.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxUT4nRb0C
That’s not a brother—that’s a slave, Kouya thought bitterly. Someone who spoils you until you forget how to function.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteX7Aw1KZV
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEbFEeXGkp
She was asleep.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2QJ3dlwdM
Right there, mid-scene, with the popcorn bucket still balanced on her lap. A lone popcorn kernel stuck to her cheek.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpzGuebgvB
Unbelievable.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjBT36Xja9
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmubGGciu64
Kouya sighed. You’re wasting that ticket, you useless angel.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQGDJsF7y6
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaT8Bhz8HX
Expressionless, he shifted away slightly and stared back at the screen.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8jnWg4gde
Then came a quiet giggle from his right.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuGqY0hWel
A faint buzzing followed—his phone vibrating in his pocket.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwARaCeKxa9
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTCA7cPRWH
Raphiel: "Kouya-kun, Gabi-chan’s a really deep sleeper, you know~"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyG3pUTZqh
You’ve got to be kidding me. She’s sitting right there! Why text like some secret agent instead of whispering?139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiex7B4jzcl
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.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OTQuTAvC1
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.”139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzf7YwbTO5t
He shook his head hard. Focus, damn it!139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3oB10LBDk
He typed back one word: "What?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoQkHs9EG9
Her reply came instantly.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpjxUWFlIg
Raphiel: "Didn’t Kouya-kun just think about lifting Gabi-chan’s skirt?"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeowZzNlJIR
He froze, jaw tightening. What kind of perverted angel is this?! He quickly typed back, Absolutely not!139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaVfgp5DfN
Raphiel: "It’s fine~ Nobody can see. If you wanted to touch her leg just a little, I wouldn’t tell anyone~"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWhqTcSzgo
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.”139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbcBtKJOvX
He glared. "You’re doing this on purpose."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcsa6NEkeI
Raphiel tilted her head, her smile widening. "Oh no, of course not. Girls just love helping boys, that’s all."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouYFY9xFzU
"Helping?! That’s your idea of helping?!"139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6bjI4bPcQ
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."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerF38yQpiy
Kouya’s face twitched. This angel was pure evil.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMSpgLwIFN
"So why did Gabi-chan invite you, anyway?" she asked again, half-whispering.139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWHyw0iETb
He sighed. "Ask her yourself."139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahnbhC0dwg
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. 139Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89WGZNSawD
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