Chapter 102: Assigned Seating134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRKMgKOQSD
Kouya and the others picked up their tickets at the theater lobby counter, their footsteps echoing faintly over the glossy floor. The smell of buttered popcorn and soda syrup hung in the air, mixing with the faint chill of the air conditioning. They grabbed two big buckets of popcorn and a few drinks before heading toward the main screening hall together, the buzz of chatter and footsteps following them inside.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZk2mkoRYD0
Although it was his first time in a movie theater, Kouya wasn’t particularly impressed. He glanced around as the group entered—the place was large, clean, and dimly lit, with the faint hum of a projector already running somewhere above. To him, it didn’t look much different from the lecture hall at school, just darker and with better seats.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpgFHuO5De
It was a mid-sized cinema, and the audience had already filled more than half the room. The walls were lined with soft acoustic panels, and the faint scent of fabric cleaner mixed oddly with the buttery air.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvihMjv3I5e
"Hmm, our seats are over here," Vigne said after checking the row numbers, leading the way with quiet confidence. "Everyone, sit according to your ticket number. No skipping seats."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEK4w2XDJwz
The seats were toward the back, which was actually ideal for viewing. They weren’t too far to feel disconnected from the screen, nor too close to strain the neck. Except maybe for Rikka, who barely peeked over the seats in front of her.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bEKL69fIg
Anyone who’d been to a theater before knew the front rows were the worst choice. The closer you sat, the more your neck ached, and after two hours you’d feel like you just fought gravity itself. The back seats were the safe zone.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAe9iZ9mPq
Then it began.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2L73eqbLs
"Why do I have to sit next to this guy?" Gabriel complained, puffing her cheeks like a sulking child.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuP5lN1H8PC
Shut up! Kouya grumbled internally. As if I want to sit next to you either!134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkewegniQsN
"You’re the one who picked the ticket, remember?" Vigne pointed out with a small sigh.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHi4Wpq11ZO
"I wasn’t paying attention when I picked!" Gabriel whined, blinking her big eyes and leaning toward her friend. "Vigne-chan, can we switch seats, please~?"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHdU9AesjY
"Denied," Vigne said immediately, her voice firm.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3H2BoyVvr
"Ugh! Fine! Then I’ll just move somewhere else. There are tons of empty seats anyway."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNTmh51uPD
Vigne’s brow twitched, her perfectionist nature flaring. "No! You sit in your assigned seat! That’s what assigned seating means! Don’t mess with the order!"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNC7EKKXmAr
Gabriel groaned but ultimately gave in, dragging her feet dramatically before plopping into the seat beside Kouya. The final lineup went Gabriel, Kouya, Raphiel, Rikka, Kanna, and Vigne on the end.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oHSNz5rfI
After a few minutes, the lights dimmed and the hall fell silent. The bright screen illuminated everyone’s faces in shades of white and blue. The sound system came alive, rumbling faintly under their feet.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡge2C3VP05I
Kouya leaned back in his chair. It was his first time seeing a movie on a big screen, and while he wasn’t that excited, there was a strange comfort in the atmosphere—the dark hall, the quiet murmur before the movie began, the shared sense of anticipation.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQRNVslBIt
On the screen appeared a cheerful, polite schoolgirl greeting classmates, smiling at neighbors, radiating that perfect model-student energy. So far, everything was peaceful.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlhujdH5bl
Then she got home.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbf1OxBppcT
And instantly transformed into a snack-devouring, soda-chugging, game-addicted gremlin.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSrtJUZRwu
Kouya’s eyebrows twitched. Director, what the hell kind of plot twist is this?134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYHd7c61qO
The girl who had looked like a saint outside was now sprawled on the couch with chip crumbs all over her hoodie, laughing maniacally at a video game.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Q7dMyhEIY
This wasn’t a character arc—it was a total personality switch!134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpwysrGhH3
"Ahh, no wonder Gabi-chan liked her. They’re practically twins," Raphiel whispered teasingly, eyes sparkling.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfDnMXZZlu
No, they’re not! Kouya screamed internally. At least the girl in the movie goes to school and studies! This one? Beyond saving!134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxy81YdBFE
Gabriel stuffed a handful of popcorn into her mouth. "Ugh! I want a brother like that too!" she said with a pout.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekEFVRMb7I
“Yeah right. What you really wan is an on-demand ATM.”134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNtpDUgxQK
"Tch. Isn’t it a big brother’s job to fulfill his sister’s wishes?" Gabriel retorted defensively.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYGVlB2WOz
That’s not a brother—that’s a slave, Kouya thought bitterly. Someone who spoils you until you forget how to function.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3m2oxouVx
After a few minutes, Gabriel’s muttering faded. Kouya thought she’d finally settled down to actually watch the movie, but when he glanced sideways, he froze.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoFATP06O4
She was asleep.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmIdrY6OPA
Right there, mid-scene, with the popcorn bucket still balanced on her lap. A lone popcorn kernel stuck to her cheek.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3veirIvGN0
Unbelievable.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmhjsPnFSD
Of course she’d fall asleep. She probably stayed up all night gaming again. And now she was drooling on the seat she’d fought to keep.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6rV61UfOy
Kouya sighed. You’re wasting that ticket, you useless angel.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqay9QiTcfF
Her arm slipped, brushing against his. The faint warmth and softness through her sleeve made him tense instinctively. For a moment, he felt the smoothness of her skin—warm and unreal.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1XWbtlTj7
Expressionless, he shifted away slightly and stared back at the screen.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pb6QTVH0t
Then came a quiet giggle from his right.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbi8HxAmea
A faint buzzing followed—his phone vibrating in his pocket.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyynZlGlkd
He pulled it out carefully. Vigne had made everyone switch to silent mode earlier, so the buzz was the only sound. On the glowing screen, a message popped up from none other than Raphiel.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lVkZz7QnK
Raphiel: "Kouya-kun, Gabi-chan’s a really deep sleeper, you know~"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNwXa8qvyl
You’ve got to be kidding me. She’s sitting right there! Why text like some secret agent instead of whispering?134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDjqBTlKwu
Raphiel’s lips curved in amusement. In the dim light, she gracefully crossed one leg over the other. The faint rustle of her stockings caught his attention. Even under the theater’s shadows, her pale skin contrasted sharply with the black fabric, creating a line of perfect shape from her knee down to her ankle.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxt37AlsxYA
Kouya’s mind short-circuited for a moment. He suddenly remembered a random phrase from online: “Legs so perfect you could play with them for a year.”134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMWok5DI44
He shook his head hard. Focus, damn it!134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8f6YPva0x
He typed back one word: "What?"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0BWk6MNiJ
Her reply came instantly.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLNuFOPzfw
Raphiel: "Didn’t Kouya-kun just think about lifting Gabi-chan’s skirt?"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcvFMNbdH8
He froze, jaw tightening. What kind of perverted angel is this?! He quickly typed back, Absolutely not!134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LETtuu8xM
Raphiel: "It’s fine~ Nobody can see. If you wanted to touch her leg just a little, I wouldn’t tell anyone~"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8q7R8JpjUs
What the hell?! Did she think theaters were some lawless dark zone? There were cameras everywhere! He could already imagine the security room replaying footage of him getting arrested for “cinema indecency.”134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3HWbWpAyD
He glared. "You’re doing this on purpose."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SmC9XtT9v
Raphiel tilted her head, her smile widening. "Oh no, of course not. Girls just love helping boys, that’s all."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiX6wYCkNwe
"Helping?! That’s your idea of helping?!"134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbKlo4739Q
She giggled softly, leaning closer until her breath nearly brushed his ear. "You’re such a hopeless leg-lover, Kouya-kun. Acting all serious while your mind’s full of filthy thoughts—it’s adorable."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpzJzdtouS
Kouya’s face twitched. This angel was pure evil.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytUmsPOK9s
"So why did Gabi-chan invite you, anyway?" she asked again, half-whispering.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vzZMsxrXM
He sighed. "Ask her yourself."134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOb413Z3c5
Truthfully, he had no idea. Gabriel’s halo had been black for ages—she was the last person he’d expect to suggest a group outing. A movie theater full of strangers didn’t fit her shut-in aesthetic at all. 134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzF20ciD1z
1234 copyright protection130ＰＥＮＡＮＡkksOUTnOMq 尼

216.73.216.38