What If You Spoil a High School Girl Who Looks Like a Landmine? - Volume 1 Chapter 3.2

Seeing What Shouldn’t Be Seen 2

“… Chifuji-san!”

“Yes?”

That moment came surprisingly easily.

“…I want to watch this!”

“Alright, let’s watch it.”

Raihara-san points to a movie title, and I nod.

It would be tactless to explicitly commend or praise her for this.

Naturally, I should accept her suggestion as if it was nothing.

“…But, it might not be to Chifuji-san’s taste… it might bore you…”

“Not at all. I also want to see what Raihara-san wanted to watch. …Let’s see.”

Confirming the title Raihara-san was pointing to, it was unexpectedly a hardcore action film.

It’s a blockbuster from Hollywood that’s just been released.

“…Well, do you dislike such things?”

“No, no way. Rather…”

The title of this movie is so masculine that it’s easy to think that she picked it because of me.

Maybe perceiving such thoughts of mine, Raihara-san shakes her head vigorously.

“I want to watch it, really-… actually, I’ve watched all the works of this director, even the old ones… I also have them on Blu-ray.”

“Oh? I see.”

“Yes! I usually go to watch them with my sisters, but my mother and friends don’t like these, and watching alone feels lonely…”

“Got it, let’s watch this movie.”

What becomes clear is, the time spent just now was not about her being undecided about what movie she wanted to see.

If the newly released film is by her favorite director, then for Raihara-san, the decision on what to watch is already made.

The struggle was whether to say it or not.

“…I’m glad. …this feels surreal… is this really okay…?”

“It’s okay. Now, let’s go buy the tickets. The time is… is it displayed on that monitor? …Hmm, what’s that display?”

The upcoming show has a note saying [4DX]… What’s that?

“Ah, it’s 4DX. The seat moves according to the content of the movie, there are winds, splashes of water, and even mist with fragrance, and so on.”

“Oh, that sounds interesting.”

So, there is such a thing…

No, come to think of it, I remember hearing about something like that from a friend.

“I tried it with my sisters before, it’s like an attraction…!”

“Sounds good, let’s go with that one.”

As the next show was about to start soon, we bought tickets and drinks and entered the theater.

***

I think I realize I’m at the movie theater not when I enter the building but when I’m watching commercials before the main feature in the dim theater.

It’s a thrilling time, but there is a different thrill in my chest today.

——I said it! I said what seemed like my selfish desire!

It was an amazing feeling.

I can sense the machinery made of many gears within me making a grinding noise in surprise, as if something strange has been caught in it.

I feel nervous, and my heart is racing… No.

To be perfectly honest… it doesn’t sit well with me…

For now, I think I shouldn’t ignore this feeling. I must face it and change.

I have to seal and bury the me who only thinks about doing favors for others and doesn’t act selfishly.

I must do it, I surely can. Surely.

As I think these thoughts, the pre-show commercials changed to a new one, and sweet words from the commercial softly melted into the air in the theater

It seems like a youth romance movie.

…as expected, even for me…

Being in a dim, classic dating spot with a boy of the same age doesn’t mean I feel nothing.

The thrill before the movie screening, the thrill of having done something seemingly selfish, and the thrill of this situation.

All are different kinds of excitement.

‘Amane will eventually come here on a date with someone she likes’——that’s what my mother said on the way home from the movie theater before.

I wondered about it back then.

“…What’s wrong?”

Chifuji-san asks in a low voice.

It’s because I was intently staring at his profile.

“N-no, it’s nothing.”

While also speaking softly, I shake my head.

… A date, huh?

A date refers to an outing between lovers; it shouldn’t refer to just a man and a woman going out.

So, this is different, right?

No-no, even thinking such a thing is very rude to Chifuji-san.

He’s accompanying me to help me overcome my weaknesses, and here I am, frivolously thinking it’s a date.

…I think Chifuji-san is a wonderful person. Rather, I think he might be too kind.

I was stalking him, but he still listened to my story and cooperated with me.

Thinking he is a nice person, and feeling very grateful. These two things are certain.

Then…as a man?

Since yesterday, I have talked a bit about such things with my sisters, and even if it’s rude and unacceptable, I inadvertently still think about it.

But honestly, I don’t know.

To begin with, I don’t know if it’s something that I can understand or recognize.

…Well, even if I were to like him, whether Chifuji-san would consider me… including being a stalker, I’ve exposed so much disgrace…

“Look, we barely made it!”

“But…”

“No buts!”

…Oh my.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I did not even know that the commercials were over.

I was brought back to reality by voices from beside me.

After a quick glance and to my left (Chifuji-san is on my right), a parent and child had arrived.

A mother and a boy who seemed to be in lower elementary school.

As they hurriedly took their seats, the main feature of the movie started right in time.

The opening scene was a flashy action sequence.

A flood of sound unique to movie theaters rolls in.

The air vibrates intensely, and the seats shake back and forth.

Yes, this is the impact of 4DX.

Peeking to my right, Chifuji-san also seemed impressed.

It seems like the corners of his mouth are slightly raised.

Noticing my gaze, he told me, ‘This is amazing,’ with only the shape of his mouth without making a sound.

I’m glad, he seems to be enjoying the movie.