Ch.213Episode 40. Cosplay at Home (4)

“Lulululu~”

Yeonhwa Gu hums a tune, unable to hide her excitement.

We had just finished a simple lunch at a cold noodle restaurant and arrived at the movie theater.

“What luck that an animation I’ve been wanting to see is playing in theaters. This is destiny! It’s a divine message telling us to watch it! If we don’t see it, we’ll surely face divine punishment.”

“Isn’t it strange to call it a divine message when I’m the one who bought the tickets?”

“Don’t worry about such trivial details. What matters is that I’m here! At the movie theater right now!”

The way she pointed at herself with her thumb was ridiculous, but I decided to let it slide because it was cute.

“Do you want popcorn today?”

“Umm… I’m good.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m worried my stomach might get too full and… it might be, um, uncomfortable when I c-cosplay…”

“I don’t particularly mind.”

Wouldn’t a bit of belly fat be cuter anyway? Like baby fat.

“But I care! And if we do… that kind of thing at night… Argh!!”

Thwack! Thwack!

“Ow! Ow! Hey…!”

Suddenly, Yeonhwa started hitting my arm.

As expected of someone with S-class hero potential, her punches pack quite a sting. If I keep getting hit like this, even I might end up with bruises.

“Seriously… why do you have to say such weird things…!”

She grumbles, huffing and puffing, seemingly conscious of what I said before coming here. I grinned and asked.

“…Are you thinking about it?”

“No, I’m not!”

Despite her words, her reddened ears seemed to reveal her lack of experience with men.

Both her shyness and her anger as she avoids my gaze are unbearably cute. I gently moved closer to her and whispered in her ear.

“Don’t worry. I’ll lead you properly.”

“Ugh…! D-don’t say such shameless things…!”

The fact that she didn’t outright reject me suggested she wasn’t averse to this kind of atmosphere. She even seemed curious about it.

“Let’s just go watch the movie.”

“We still have time.”

“…Then let’s walk around nearby. There’s a shopping mall right next door.”

“Is there something you want to buy?”

“Not really. I just want to look around.”

“Come to think of it, there was a figure shop inside the department store—”

“Let’s go right now! Hurry!”

She speaks with a bright face as if she was never embarrassed. I watched her walk ahead before following after her.

* * *

In the end, Yeonhwa had a shopping bag in her hand with the figure she purchased.

Considering the car was already full of luggage and she still bought a figure, it seemed Mitchell had plenty of money. I guess that’s why she’s not just a hero but also a model.

“There aren’t many people at the theater, considering it’s lunchtime.”

That’s better for me.

I can give Yeonhwa, who’s still not used to this suggestive atmosphere, a little practice run.

“Maybe this animation isn’t that popular?”

We fumble our way to our seats while advertisements play on the screen. Yeonhwa was already staring at the screen with an expectant expression.

“But I heard this was made by a famous animation studio… I’m not entirely sure though. This just opened, so there aren’t many reviews yet. Still, watching various works broadens one’s horizons, right?”

Otaku horizons, you mean…

Those were horizons I really didn’t want to broaden. Though animations and comics themselves are entertaining.

“I don’t want to become an otaku though?”

“I think you’re misunderstanding something. You already know about animation, so you’re already an otaku. In fact, you’ve already watched anime with me before. And you’re about to do it again.”

“That’s true.”

“Then admit it. Say ‘I am an otaku.'”

This isn’t some penalty game…

“I don’t want to.”

“What? You won’t admit it? Fine then. Today, I’ll make sure you fully step into this world.”

I ignored her spirited declaration and found our reserved seats. They were in a secluded corner where the lighting wasn’t great.

“Why are you ignoring me…!”

“Any other day might be fine… but not today. You won’t have the luxury for that.”

“Huh…? What do you mean?”

Yeonhwa tilted her head with a puzzled expression.

What do I mean? Just wait until the lights go out and you’ll see.

“By the way, why did you pick a corner seat again instead of the center? The screen looks a bit awkward from here.”

“You can see the screen just fine from here, can’t you?”

I smoothly dodged the real reason for the seat selection. If the screen was directly in front, we’d be more visible to others, so it couldn’t be helped.

I didn’t want to show a shy Yeonhwa to other people.

It was a kind of possessiveness, you could say.

“Well, that’s true, but generally speaking, watching a movie from the front gives the best immersion.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s right.”

“Should we change seats then? It looks like there are some empty ones.”

“No, it’s fine. If we move now and other people come, we’d be causing trouble.”

“If you say so.”

You’re the one who said it’s fine?

I hid my mischievous intentions and sat down. Yeonhwa sat beside me.

This time, there was no popcorn. Just one drink with a single straw.

It was a drink Yeonhwa bought for herself, but I planned to steal it. And observe her reaction as a bonus.

As we sat there chatting to pass the time, the advertisements ended, the theater darkened, and the animation’s intro began to play.

I leaned back fully against the seat, watching the screen, while Yeonhwa kept glancing at me.

Was she worried I’d tickle her hand and tease her like last time at the theater? Or was she hoping for some physical contact?

I wanted to find out right away, but decided to wait.

Her reaction would be more enjoyable if she was somewhat focused on the movie first.

As the movie was well underway, I lifted the armrest between Yeonhwa and me.

“Huh?”

She looked at the armrest with a dumbfounded expression.

“This can be lifted?”

“Yeah. It can be lifted, right?”

As I answered, I subtly leaned towards her. Yeonhwa seemed confused and didn’t react even as I moved a bit closer.

“But… why did you lift it?”

“Just because. It’s uncomfortable when it’s there.”

Though I answered nonchalantly, she must have guessed. That I was going to initiate physical contact like last time.

“Um… here… it’s a bit…”

“So it would be okay somewhere else?”

“N-no?”

Her flustered response showed she was clearly nervous.

“I just lifted it to be more comfortable, so don’t worry too much.”

“Oh… is that so?”

“That’s right.”

Even if it was physical contact, I had no intention of deep expressions of affection like kissing here. This was merely groundwork for what would happen later tonight.

“Eep!”

She flinched as I gently put my arm around her shoulder. I slowly patted her arm and naturally lowered my hand to her side.

“Haa…”

She felt my touch but didn’t resist. Her stiffness seemed more from tension than aversion to physical contact.

I needed to help her gradually get used to this.

“Ugh… Could you not wrap your arm around my waist? I can’t lean back against the seat and it’s uncomfortable…”

It was a small complaint with no real resistance.

“You don’t like it?”

“I-it’s not that I… Eek! I-it’s not that I don’t like it… It’s just ticklish and…”

Even as I tapped her side, Yeonhwa only flinched without pulling away or asking me to stop. She just blushed while checking my reaction.

“Isn’t this kind of thing… only for couples who are dating?”

“Usually, people who like each other have this kind of physical contact.”

“Oh… really? I didn’t know that…”

“We’re not minors or little kids anymore. Right?”

“W-well, that’s true, I guess…”

Seeing her agree despite her doubts made me want to tease her more.

Our Yeonhwa, you’re too innocent. You’d have no right to complain if I devoured you whole.

“Shall we continue watching the movie?”

“I-I can’t watch like this… It’s uncomfortable…”

“Well, can’t be helped then. Is holding hands okay?”

“That’s… yes…”

After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded.

I unwrapped my arm from her waist. Once physical contact has been initiated, the barrier becomes lower the next time.

That would be true even for first experiences.

“Oh, right. Let me have some of your drink.”

I said this while taking her hand.

“What? But this is what I’ve been drinking…”

“I don’t mind.”

When I spoke as if it was no big deal, she cautiously handed me the drink.

I put my lips on the straw and took a sip. The fizzy carbonation spread through my mouth, leaving an orange flavor.

“H-how can you drink from where I drank…!”

“You try it too.”

I held the straw up to her lips.

Yeonhwa looked back and forth between my face and the straw before exclaiming.

“Later!”

Throughout the movie, she tried several times to drink, but after checking my reaction, she finally took a sip.

“How is it? Tasty, right?”

“I don’t know…!”

When I asked with a chuckle, she snapped back and turned her head away sharply.

Her face, illuminated by the light from the screen, was still flushed.

* * *

“You’re really a pervert and a mischief-maker.”

That’s what she said as soon as we left the theater. An irritated Yeonhwa wagged her finger at me in reproach.

I smoothly countered.

“It’s okay if you like it, isn’t it?”

“W-what are you saying?”

She’s probably imagining all sorts of things right now, trying to understand what I meant.

But if I gave her time to think here, the atmosphere would become awkward. She might interpret it as a genuine confession.

So I needed to subtly hint at my feelings and move on naturally.

“Let’s go.”

“Uh, where are we going?”

“A manga cafe. Let’s spend a couple of hours there before dinner and then head home.”

At the mention of manga, her eyes immediately lit up and began to sparkle. However, conscious of my gaze, she took a step back.

“If… if you try anything weird again, I’ll really get angry…!”

It was cute how she said such things when we both knew she wouldn’t really get angry.

“Weird things?”

“W-what? Are you pretending not to know?”

“The manga cafe is nearby.”

“D-don’t change the subject! I really warned you.”

“Yes, yes.”

Despite her warnings, she ended up not knowing how to react to my physical contact at the manga cafe, and being so conscious of me, she couldn’t read a single manga before we had to leave.