How To Ruin A Love Comedy

***

My skin became a little paler.

Now I don’t look tan.

I was already missing the blond hair from the classic tan blond bully look, but now that I’m not tan either, I’m just a bully.

At least now brighter clothing will match with my skin better, so let’s just be thankful for that.

I exited the theatre bathroom and waited in a cafe beside the theatre, drinking my coffee and waiting for Miyuki to come.

Around 7:50, I saw Miyuki come up from the escalator.

She was looking around her surroundings.

As if she never went home from the arcade, she was still wearing her bag.

When I raised one hand towards Miyuki, she approached me with a bright expression and sat across from me.

“When did you get here?”

“About 10 minutes ago.”

“You got here quite early?”

“I guess I left a bit too early. You also came early.”

“I’m not the kind of person who’s late for every class, unlike a certain someone.”

I chuckled at Miyuki’s joke and gave Miyuki the ice americano I had already ordered beforehand.

“Drink it. You look like you’re hot.”

Just as I said, Miyuki’s forehead had a lot of sweat on it.

Miyuki carefully recieved the americano and spoke.

“Thanks for the drink.”

“Did you come directly from the arcade?”

“Yeah. I was only going to play for an hour… But when I was playing together, I lost the track of time.”

Is being with Tetsuya that fun?

Don’t make me jealous.

Miyuki sucked on the straw, then made a blissful expression.

“Whoa… It’s really cold… Did you buy the movie tickets already?”

“Yeah.”

“What movie is it?”

During the hot summers, is there anything better to watch than a horror movie?

It’s one of the important cliches in a love comedy.

“A scary one.”

“Huh…? A horror movie? Matsuda-kun, are you good with that stuff?”

This is the first time I’m watching one voluntarily.

If I knew what happens, I could at least be prepared for the jump scares,

But when I played Dokiaca, it just said stuff like ‘it was a horror movie.’ , ‘When the ghost first appeared…’ and then the event happened.

So that’s why I was more nervous than I usually was.

“I picked it because it had good ratings. Are you good with horror?”

“Yeah, I like horror movies.”

I guess the trope of the female heroine being scared of ghosts is a tired concept.

But Dokiaca is usually filled with that kind of cliche stuff. Thinking about it makes me feel a little depressed.

If Miyuki got scared easily, then I could have enjoyed a skinship event for free.

When I silently nodded my head, Miyuki pulled out her wallet as she spoke.

“I’ll get the popcorn. Do you want want sodas?”

“I already bought it. If I give them the ticket, they’ll give it to us immediately.”

“How much was it?”

“990 yen.”

Miyuki looked at the cafe menu.

She confirmed the price of the americano, then starting pulling out money from her wallet.

“Here’s 1370 yen.”

“I don’t need it. I’ll buy it for today, you just have to buy it the next time.”

When I started talking about having a second date, Miyuki’s hands stopped moving for a moment.

She was hesitant on what to do, then spoke feebly.

“But the money spent won’t be equal… Even the last time at the hospital…”

Between us, there isn’t a mine or yours.

If you still feel bad, book us a love hotel later.

“Whatever, I don’t like being that rigid, so just say you will buy the next movie.”

“…I understand… Then I promise that I will buy it next time. I promise.”

Emphasizing ‘I promise’ twice… Today’s atmosphere is quite good.

“I get it already. Let’s just go grab popcorn.”

“Ok.”

I got up from my seat and put Miyuki’s bag on my shoulder.

Before she could say anything, I spoke up first.

“This bag is disgustingly heavy… No wonder why you’re so short. Are you even 160cm?”

Miyuki, who was raising her hands forward as if to ask for her bag back, replied angrily.

“I-I’m 162cm…! I just seem small because Matsuda-kun is so big…!”

“A little kid shouldn’t be messing around like this. When an adult helps you, you should say thank you.”

“Wh-What do you mean adult…! Stop talking about weird stuff and give me my bag… Ma-Matsuda-kun! Wait for me…!”

When I ignored Miyuki and walked towards the stand, she followed behind hurriedly while holding on to the coffee.

After trying to take her bag from me for several minutes, Miyuki eventually gave up and reluctantly thanked me while pouting.

So cute. I want to grab and stretch her cheeks out.

I smiled at her as I gave the ticket to the stand worker.

After a very short wait, we were given two colas, popcorn and a hotdog.

“Number 837 couple set. Hope you guys enjoy.”

I laughed lightly and grabbed a the popcorn and a cola.

I pointed to the leftover things with my chin.

“You grab the other cola and hotdog.”

“Oh…? O-Ok…”

Miyuki’s face was slightly flushed.

Looks like she was embarrassed by the word ‘couple’.

I won’t be able to see these reactions when we start dating… I might come to miss them later.

Well, good thing I’ll still have Renka and Hiyori left, so I’ll continue seeing it for a while.

**

“Isn’t this colour too fancy…? I like silver-white, or black. They’re simple.”

“I’m the same. I was just looking to see what kind of empty headed idiots drive these kinda things.”

“Matsuda-kun, don’t speak like that.”

“Alright.”

We were picking out a car together while have a light chitchat, but naturally ended it when the movie started.

Creeaaaak…!

Along with the distributor’s logo, a creepy sound attacked my ears.

This is what I hate about horror movies.

The sound that was meant to make you nervous even from the beginning.

I already have goosebumps.

One good thing is that the theater is filled with people.

Before sitting down on our seats, I made sure the extras were sitting behind me.

I somewhat calmed down, and was going to drink my cola,

Crunch.

I heard Miyuki chewing on the popcorn from beside me.

I purposely flinched and acted scared.

“Ah fu…”

When I stared at Miyuki with a grimance on my face, she put her lips next to my ear.

“I guess you get scared easier than you look? Were you about to swear just then?”

Whenever Miyuki speaks, her breath kinda tickles my ears.

I can’t get an erection here. This is a big problem.

“… But I didn’t so it’s fine. Also, eat quietly.”

“But I ate really quietly…? Matsuda-kun, did you become more sensitive? Are you that scared?”

“What are you talking about… Whatever. Let’s stop talking.”

I scoffed and grabbed onto my seat, as I started to focus on the movie.

The story is… about some students trying to do exorcism in a haunted house, and they disappear one by one.

Such an obvious plot. But it’s still scary as fuck.

Kyaaa!

As soon as the main characters enter the house, screams could be heard.

I shook my head, and prayed that the ghost would show up soon.

However, contrary to my prayers, the ghost didn’t show up even after 40 minutes.

Boom!

Crash!

DUDUDUDUDUDU…!

Every time I eased my nervousness, something happened that made me hold my breath.

Wait. Why was I so focused on the movie?

I just have to think about the event.

As soon as I realized that and finally calmed down,

BOOM. BOOM BOOM BOOM!

KYAAAAA!

Along with the fmc’s piercing screams, a horribly scary ghost appeared and started the movie’s climax.

As I let out a ‘Hyuk!’ sound at the unexpected timing, getting genuinely scared,

“AHHH!”

The woman sitting behind me stood up suddenly and spilled all the cola on my head.

Finally the event happened.

I can finally relax.

The classic coke colour seeped into my t-shirt in an instant, and the ice made it’s way inside the t-shirt and touched my skin.

This was a cool summer.

“Matsuda-kun, are you ok?”

Miyuki freaked out as she looked at me.

“I-I’m so sorry…! I’m really sorry…!”

The woman bowed to me.

The entire theater was focused on the sudden commotion.

This is where you pick the choices…

I could make my own choice like in the festival, but for this event, let’s just follow the best choice from Dokiaca.

I quickly finished thinking, and turned around smiling at the woman and waved one hand.

“It’s no problem. Enjoy the rest of the movie.”

‘I-I can wipe it off…”

“I also got scared and spilled cola over myself anyways. I was already wet, so don’t worry about it.”

“I’m really sorry… I’ll pay for your laundry fees.”

I’m telling you it’s all good already.

We’re inside a movie theater! You need to be quiet!

“It’s really alright. Hope you enjoy the movie.”

“…. Sorry…”

I forcibly finished the conversation, and lifted up the t shirt that didn’t get soaked and wiped my hair with it.

Miyuki lightly tapped on my shoulder and whispered.

“I’ll give you a towel, so use that instead…”

“I don’t need it. It’ll dry as I watch the movie.”

“Haah… How come you are so positive in a situation like this… What is happening…”

“Did you get wet?”

“Only a little bit on my arm. It’s alright.”

“That’s good.”

The wet t-shirt stuck tightly to my body, showing off my muscles.

Miyuki took glances at my body with the help of the light from the movie, then looked at the cola on cup holder.

She once again put her lips to my ear.

“Matsuda-kun.”

“What.”

“You didn’t spill the cola.”

“I guess not. I thought I did.”

Miyuki didn’t speak again and just continued to stare at me.

You must have been awed at my kindness to this woman right? My affection points went up right?

I feel that the day I could call her Miyuki instead of Hanazawa is coming soon.

I pretended to watch the movie, then tapped Miyuki on the arm acting like I just came up with an idea.

“Yo, Hanazawa.”

Miyuki hesitated then flinched her shoulders.

She probably thought she got caught taking glimpses of me.

“Yeah… What is it? Do you need a towel?”

“What are you talking about… I don’t need it…”

I stretched my beige shorts to show the middle of it, which had stains from the coke.

Then asked jokingly.

“Doesn’t it look like I pissed myself cause I was scared?”

“….”

Was she at a loss for words because she didn’t expect me to joke in this situation?

Miyuki only let out an empty laugh.

She sat like that for a moment, then slightly smiled looking at my childish expression.

“Next time… I’ll buy you some adult diapers.”

“Does something like that even exist?”

“It does. It’s for people like Matsuda-kun who can’t hold it in.”

“Now that we are talking about piss, I actually need to go to the bathroom. I’m just gonna be right back, so just keep watching.”

“I’ll come with. I’ll borrow something for you to dry off with from the employees.”

“If you want to.”

“Could you please? Try saying that.”

“Nah.”

She shook her head at my flat denial, but I could still see a smile forming on her face.

Today’s event was boring, but it was meaningful in it’s own way.

Let’s just finish it by getting ice cream together on the way back.

***