Ch.94Episode 20. A Happy Day (1)

“Mmm. Mmmm! Mmmmmmm!!”

By the time I finished parking safely in the movie theater lot, Gu Yeonhwa was frowning while looking at her phone. Glancing over, I could see she was checking the movies showing today.

She looks kind of cute, making such a serious face while contemplating what to watch.

“Yeonhwa.”

“Y-Yes?!”

She jumped in surprise, placing her phone on her thigh. She turned to look at me with wide eyes.

“Why are you so startled?”

“No, it’s just, just… you suddenly ca-called me by my, my name…”

Gu Yeonhwa avoided my gaze and fidgeted with her fingers.

“Didn’t you ask me to call you that?”

“…Only those who are chosen can call my name—”

“Let’s put away the middle school syndrome concept for today.”

“It’s not middle school syndrome. And it’s not a concept either.”

When will this argument ever end?

Isn’t it about time she started acting normal? Maybe she’ll improve after becoming friends with Mitchell?

“Anyway, get out. Be careful not to ding the car next to us.”

“Do you think I’m a child?!”

“You do act like one.”

“I do not!”

Ignoring her indignation, I got out of the car. Following my lead, she looked up at the high sun and sighed.

“Damn. It’s hot…! Maybe not as hot as my dark transformation, but I feel like my whole body is going to roast! This is when I desperately wish I had ice magic.”

“…There’s no ice magic, but there is air conditioning in the theater, so let’s hurry inside.”

Yeonhwa and I entered the movie theater building. Just escaping the sunlight seemed to lower my body temperature by at least one degree.

I checked the building layout.

The theater lobby and ticket office were on the second floor, and the screening rooms were on the third floor.

After watching people waiting for the elevator in the first-floor lobby, I turned toward the emergency staircase. Yeonhwa silently followed.

“It’s spacious here. The Academy theater is really small.”

As soon as we reached the second floor, Yeonhwa commented while looking around the spacious lobby. Though it was spacious, there were enough people that it didn’t feel empty.

“But they still show everything there too.”

“That’s true. I’ve conquered quite a few movies there.”

“You mean animated movies.”

“Are you making fun of me?”

“Of course not. At this point, why would I criticize you for being an otaku?”

“I’m not a ‘shipdek’! Let’s at least agree on ‘otaku’!”

“Odekhu.”

“Ugh…”

Yeonhwa’s expression contorted. Her eyebrows furrowed and her lips pouted. She was sulking.

“It’s a compliment. It has the good meaning of someone who focuses professionally on a certain field—”

“Your intention to mock me is obvious!”

I let out a small laugh as I headed toward the ticket counter. Yeonhwa followed, protesting, but I casually ignored her.

“…Are we buying the gift after watching the movie?”

While looking at the posters of currently showing movies, Yeonhwa asked. Judging by her expression, she seemed to still be dwelling on it.

“After the movie and lunch.”

“Hmm. I see. But… I wonder if it’s okay for me to be having this much fun. Today’s protagonist should be my mom…”

Is she feeling guilty?

Her complexion didn’t look good. Her voice was also deflated. This wouldn’t do—the whole point of coming out was to cheer her up.

“Didn’t you wish her happy birthday this morning?”

“I did. At midnight. Even before 00:01! I was probably the first person to do so.”

It’s not like we’re waiting for New Year’s bell or something.

Sending messages at that hour would probably be a nuisance.

“Did she thank you?”

“She did. But that was it.”

“I see. Still, don’t worry too much. She’ll contact you soon.”

Even if she didn’t, we could always visit her directly.

I could see her trying to erase her concerns at my words.

“I guess so?”

“Right. So stop worrying and decide what to watch.”

“Hmm… I’m torn. Between this one and this one, which should we watch?”

Her mood seemed to have improved as she spoke in her usual tone, pointing at two posters on the wall.

One was an animation about the sweet yet melancholic love story between high school students, typical of Japanese style, and the other was an animation about a protagonist with special abilities fighting villains.

An animation where heroes fight villains…

I could imagine many young kids watching such animations and dreaming of becoming heroes themselves.

“Oh, but this one is a compilation edition, so you can understand the entire first season in one movie. Instructor… I mean, um… Yujin oppa probably hasn’t seen this either, so this might not be bad.”

Is she conscious about calling me oppa? Cute.

I glanced at Yeonhwa, who kept brushing her hair down while checking my reaction, and said:

“Have you seen it?”

“Yes.”

“How was it?”

“It’s fun. But it’s a typical cliché fantasy, so it might be less interesting than what I recommended before.”

“What you recommended before was also full of clichés.”

“No— mmph!”

“Then this one would be better. The sweet and bittersweet one.”

I pointed to the left poster while covering Yeonhwa’s mouth as she tried to say something. She resisted fiercely and escaped from my grasp. However, in the process, my palm got covered with her saliva.

“…”

As I stared at my dirty palm, Yeonhwa took out wet wipes and started wiping my hand. When did she bring a bag?

“Why did you cover my mouth?!”

She scolded me while still carefully wiping my hand.

“Because you’re noisy.”

“Am I noisy?”

“You’re not exactly quiet.”

“I was explaining! To continue what I was saying…”

“It’s fine. You don’t have to.”

“Acting like you don’t like it when you do.”

It wasn’t about liking or disliking; it was just that there was no point in listening. It would be better to use that time to buy movie tickets.

When buying tickets on the day of the showing, it’s common not to get good seats.

“I’ve noticed before, but Yu-Yujin oppa seems to like romantic comedy genres quite a bit?”

Shouldn’t you be getting used to it by now?

I should intentionally create opportunities for her to call my name frequently before dinner time. There’s no benefit in showing awkwardness.

“I don’t dislike them. They portray ideal situations you can’t see in reality. They provide vicarious satisfaction.”

They’re also subtly realistic, so there are quite a few moments I unconsciously empathize with.

“Mm-hmm! You understand the charm of romantic comedies! How admirable!”

I was dumbfounded seeing her stand on her tiptoes to pat my head.

“…Why do I need to be praised by you?”

I was about to give her a light knock on the head but decided to go along with her mood today.

“But, if you’re an oppa, couldn’t you make it a reality instead of just vicarious satisfaction?”

“…I’m too busy looking after you all to have time for that. Anyway, are we going with this one?”

“Yes.”

As soon as the decision was made, I bought tickets at the kiosk.

Despite it being vacation time, fortunately, being a weekday morning, there were still seats available for the 10 o’clock showing. However, the seats were on the side rather than in the center.

“Is this side okay with you?”

“Yes. It’s fine.”

Yeonhwa, who had her face close to the screen, nodded.

It wasn’t in the corner, but it was a position where we could secretly mess around if the movie turned out to be boring.

After completing the reservation, we headed to the concession stand.

“What kind of popcorn do you want?”

“Caramel, of course! You don’t even need to ask!”

“…And drink?”

“Fanta! Orange flavor!”

Her preferences are quite clear.

After I relayed only Yeonhwa’s order to the clerk, she tugged at my shirt sleeve.

“Aren’t you getting anything?”

“I’m fine. Just some water to moisten my throat is enough.”

“Hmm… Alright. Then I’ll specially bestow upon you the generosity of sharing my popcorn! I’d share my drink too, but there’s only one straw!”

I stopped her as she was taking out her card from her wallet. Any other time would be fine, but not today.

“Why are you stopping me? You bought the movie tickets… I mean, oppa bought them, so I should at least pay for the popcorn I’m going to eat!”

If she uses her card, the transaction details will all go to Mitchell, right?

That shouldn’t happen. On a birthday like today, there was no benefit in showing that she could enjoy herself sufficiently even without confidence.

“I’ll pay this time. You can pay next time.”

“You’re already buying the gift, and if you buy this too, I’ll have no shame left.”

“We can go on another date next time. You can pay then.”

“Uh…”

At the mention of another date, her blue eyes rolled around. Her face started to redden beneath her light makeup.

“W-What! Fine! Whatever!”

She fanned her face with her hand as she answered. Whether she was flustered by my words or not, she was simply adorable in her confusion.

What’s the use of showing your feelings so openly?

That’s why you end up moving according to my intentions.

She remained silent until the ordered popcorn came out, but as soon as the container full of popcorn appeared, she hugged it with both hands.

She immediately opened the plastic lid meant to prevent spills and popped some into her mouth.

Munch, munch.

“Why are you already eating the popcorn?”

“Phew. I’m calming myself down. With something sweet!”

“…Did something happen?”

“You’re quite the player, oppa. Acting like you don’t know anything, and casually setting up the next date. I was quite taken aback!”

Who would honestly say that?

I tried to hold back my laughter as I received the drinks that followed and thanked the clerk.

“It’s almost 10 o’clock. Let’s go in.”

“And there you go, brushing it off again.”

“Did you dislike it?”

When I asked with a grinning face, she answered in a mumbling voice.

“I-I didn’t dislike it…”

“Then it’s fine. Shall we go?”

We climbed the stairs to the screening room. After showing our tickets to the usher waiting in front of the theater, we were allowed to enter.

We sat in our designated seats in the theater indicated on the tickets. I made sure to place her drink on her armrest.

The huge screen was already showing advertisements that I had seen countless times on television.

“Yeonhwa.”

“Yes?”

“Since we’re on a date, I’d prefer if you didn’t think too much about your mom. I want you to properly enjoy this moment.”

“I-I am enjoying it.”

“Really? That’s good then.”

The interior of the theater was still bright as the movie hadn’t started yet, and I could see Yeonhwa’s fair skin gradually flushing.

I realized she was feeling shy as she slightly lowered her head and just munched on her popcorn.

She seems weak to direct approaches.

I thought to myself as I waited for the movie to start.