episode_0235

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Row K, Seats 8 and 9.

Even though I arrived right before the screening without a reservation, there were still decent seats left.

The reviews were fairly positive, but maybe it’s because the movie’s been out for a few days already.

After buying popcorn, an Americano, and a Coke from the concession stand, I carried them all cradled in my arms and approached Hansua, who was sitting quietly on the lobby bench. I handed her the Coke.

“You wanted a Coke, right?”

“…Ah, you really didn’t have to buy it for me…”

“It’s fine. It’s not like it’s expensive. Why are you so frugal when you’re loaded?”

“Just because I have money doesn’t mean I was raised to spend it recklessly? I was taught how to make even more with it…”

“Business, or something like that?”

“I don’t know. I’ve forgotten all of it now…”

Forgotten all of it, huh.

I had expected as much, but it was such a Hansua-like answer.

Smirking at her, I sat down beside her. Hansua, who had been eyeing the popcorn, reached out and said, “Popcorn, please—”

With a determined look on her face, as if she’d snatch it by force if I didn’t hand it over.

Weird. Why hasn’t a girl like this managed to blend in with the first-years yet?

Sure, she looks a bit rough around the edges, but if she showed even half this much friendliness to her classmates—especially the guys who think about nothing but sex—she’d have no trouble making friends.

There’d probably even be a few guys who’d want to be stepped on by Hansua, given her tough-girl look.

…Or maybe Hansua has been trying hard, but Yozora’s been sabotaging her chances of making friends?

If so, why?

…

…For my sake?

Her?

I kept up these idle thoughts until it was time to enter the theater.

“Anyway, I have plenty of smart cousins, so if they handle things…”

“…”

I pulled out my phone to check the time but swallowed my words when I saw the popcorn bucket pressed firmly against her chest.

Not only was the bucket itself squished, but a few pieces of popcorn tumbled down from the top, rolling down her chest.

…And yet, Hansua kept grumbling about her relatives while staring at me, completely oblivious to the situation unfolding on her chest.

This girl… Sometimes she’s sharp, but other times, it’s like she has zero awareness.

The people around us were already stealing glances, but thanks to you, both the men and women are staring even more blatantly now.

Earlier, you said you were embarrassed wearing a skirt and flinched at every passerby’s gaze, so why are you acting so clueless now?

Sigh…

“You still would’ve done well if you studied. A young female CEO would’ve suited you.”

“…Ahaha… Well, I’m dumber than I look…”

But I wasn’t annoyed.

If anything, I was in a good mood.

None of them dared to lay a hand on my woman—they just watched from afar with envious eyes.

That tiny sense of superiority from their stares?

I liked it. So, making sure everyone could see, I affectionately ruffled Hansua’s hair before standing up.

“Let’s go find our seats. Hand me the popcorn. Oh, do you need the bathroom?”

“N-No, I’m fine. Let’s go together.”

“You can drop the formalities outside. You were the one who suggested we speak casually when you first asked to be friends.”

“I-I’m used to this now. It just comes naturally…”

At the theater entrance, we showed our tickets to the polite staff member, then took the escalator to our assigned screen.

Since good seats were still available, the theater remained fairly empty until just before the movie started.

When I bought the tickets, it was already more than half empty, but seeing it in person really drove it home.

If I’d known, I would’ve picked the far corner seats to do something naughty.

‘Did you mute your phone?’

Leaning in close to whisper in her ear, Hansua nodded confidently.

Really? I saw her fiddling with it earlier, but I didn’t see her actually mute it.

Well, maybe she usually keeps it on vibrate or silent.

As I dismissed the thought, she suddenly flinched and then started tapping at her phone.

“…”

…Honestly, I doubt she’s expecting any messages.

Keeping that to myself, I slotted my coffee into the cupholder on the armrest.

The movie was disappointing.

Of course, I had expected as much from a romance genre film.

I’m not the type to seek out movies, but if I had to watch one, I’d prefer something with impressive action choreography or a film entirely focused on delivering a moral lesson.

But what unfolded before my eyes for 100 minutes was:

A man coincidentally meets a woman.

Fate brings them together, and love blossoms.

They doubt each other’s feelings.

Gradually become honest.

A crisis drives them apart.

They reaffirm their emotions.

Resolution.

Confession.

Happy ending.

I’m sure there are people like Hansua who enjoy this stuff, but personally, I couldn’t find anything worth paying attention to.

At best, the actress was hot.

Should I have focused on the male lead instead?

No idea.

Honestly, I’d rather have had an absurd conversation with Hansua next to me. That would’ve been more fun.

“It was so moving… Especially at the end, when the male lead hesitated for a few seconds, then slowly—after the BGM faded—waited another moment before…”

“Ah. That part.”

I know. The part where I had to press my hand to my mouth to stifle a yawn.

But I didn’t let it show. Instead, I agreed, saying that was good too, which made Hansua light up and start chattering even more.

I didn’t peg her as the talkative type…

On the bright side, it means she’s more comfortable with me than other guys.

That alone made the 100-minute investment worth it.

After gathering the empty popcorn bucket and other trash, we left the theater to find the sky outside already pitch-black, devoid of even a single star.

Checking the time: 8 PM.

We still had about… three hours to spare?

Perfectly overlaps with motel hours.

Stuffing the trash into a bin, I carefully cut off Hansua’s ongoing review and asked:

“Hey, Hansua. What do you want to do about dinner? Hungry?”

“Hmm. Maybe because I had popcorn, not really… Ah, no. If you want to eat, then I…”

“Nah, I’m not really feeling dinner either.”

“…Ah. So you’re not hungry…”

Should I just grab her wrist and drag her there myself?

Or make her say it first?

Both had their own appeal, so either was fine.

But if I had to choose, the latter was slightly more enticing.

Just like when we left the clothing store.

Or when we were the center of attention in the theater lobby.

Even though she wasn’t trying, she was eye-catching enough to draw stares.

The thought of a girl like that begging me to do something lewd first? Hot.

But given Hansua’s introverted nature, that was unlikely.

So just as I was about to bring up our next destination after quietly riding the escalator down—

“…S-Sensei!”

Hansua, who had followed me down, emphasized the -nim as she spoke up.

A few passersby glanced our way.

…I hope they don’t misunderstand the whole ‘Sensei’ thing.

“What?”

“U-Um, well, you know…”

Typical Hansua—calling me first, then hesitating.

Thinking that, I waited patiently, adding, “Take your time.”

We stood there until the crowd from our screening had completely dispersed.

“…”

Only when the noise around us faded did Hansua’s lips part cautiously.

“…Is this it for today?”

“…”

“…Sensei?”

“…Yeah. Guess so?”

I could tell where this was going from her first words.

…What guy wouldn’t tease her after this?

With that adorable question hanging in the air—

“Why? Don’t want to say goodbye yet?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to… It’s just…”

“So you do want to?”

“N-No! I do! I mean, I don’t want to say goodbye, but…!”

Even a little wordplay had her flustered, scrambling to correct herself.

Unaware of how her ears and cheeks flushed cutely.

Any man, no matter how oblivious,

Could exactly guess what was on her mind.

“Then wanna walk around a bit more? Stroll the area together?”

“No, that’s not what I… Ugh…”

That’s not what she wants.

I didn’t need her to say it—her face said everything.

Far from bright and cheerful,

Her cheeks were still red.

Her fingers fidgeted nervously in front of her stomach.

“…It’s only 8 o’clock.”

“Yeah.”

“…What time do you usually sleep, Sensei?”

“A little past midnight. Even if I stay up, 1 or 2 AM at the latest.”

“Then we still have about six hours…”

“At the latest, meaning I could sleep earlier. Why are you deciding for me?”

“A-Anyway! If you sleep late, that’s still six hours free, right…?”

I already knew where this ridiculous conversation was headed the moment she hesitated.

But just giving her the answer she wanted?

No.

The first time we had sex in the infirmary,

I was the one who pushed her down, even though she barely resisted.

When she made that cute excuse about neglecting Yozora and tried to end our arrangement, I still kept her up all night.

Because I forced her.

So today,

I wanted to see her beg for it.

I asked again.

“So, why do you ask?”

“…”

“Hansua?”

“J-Just… give me a second to mentally prepare…”

“…Who the hell says that out loud?”

“T-Thirty seconds… No, twenty…”

10.

20.

30.

By the time I reached 45 in my head,

Hansua, who had been pressing her hands against her face,

Took a few steps closer to me.

Then, in a whisper—

Even though no one was around,

Rising onto her tiptoes,

As if she only wanted me to hear—

“…D-Do you… want to see the lion?”

“…”

“I-I mean… at my place… the lion… Ah, damn… That’s not it…”

“…”

Her warm breath brushed my ear.

“Pfft… You took all that time just to say that?”

“J-Just?! That was hard…!”

“You know that’s a famous pickup line online, right? ‘Wanna come see my puppy?’ ‘Wanna see my cat?’ That kind of thing.”

“…I-It’s famous? I saw it in a webtoon and just… copied it…”

“If it’s in a webtoon, it’s already overused. Dummy.”

“……P-Pretend you didn’t hear that…”

“Too late. ‘Sensei, wanna come see the lion at my place—’”

“Eek! N-No! I didn’t say that…!”

“Okay, okay. I get it. Just step back a little. People are staring.”

“…”

“…”

“…So… do you want to?”

“…Yeah.”

“…”

“…”

“…We should take a taxi, right?”

“Weren’t you the one who said even chaebols shouldn’t waste money?”

“It’s fine… ‘Cause it’s the lion.”