Just a little longer... please, just a little longer...
It wasn't until the movie was literally about to start—the lights beginning their slow fade to darkness—that Mochizuki Haruka finally, reluctantly, put down the microphone with all the enthusiasm of someone surrendering their most prized possession.
She really got into the whole karaoke thing, didn't she? Note to self: find more excuses to see that excited expression of hers.
We made our way back to the cinema on the fifth floor, our first stop being the concession stand where we dutifully performed the sacred ritual of movie-going: acquiring beverages and the all-important popcorn.
Because what's a movie date without the classic snacks? It's like... a law of nature or something.
"We have three flavors available: salt, butter, and caramel. Which would you prefer?" the uniformed staff member asked with practiced efficiency.
Before Mochizuki-san could even open her mouth, I found myself speaking up with the confidence of someone who'd cracked an ancient code.
"We'll take the caramel, please."
Sure enough, Mochizuki Haruka, who was standing beside me, couldn't suppress a delighted smile that spread across her face like sunrise
"What are you laughing at, Mochizuki-san?" I asked, though I was pretty sure I already knew the answer.
"I was just thinking... Ginjo-san really does understand my taste perfectly," she replied, her voice carrying that warm tone that made my chest feel funny.
After the clerk finished packing our large bucket of caramel-coated ammunition, we checked our tickets and entered the theater like two conspirators about to witness something magnificent.
Not long after we settled into our seats, the pre-screening reminders began playing across the darkened screen, and then the main feature commenced.
This time, we were watching an honest-to-goodness romantic drama—no surprise genre switches or unexpected plot twists. Mochizuki Haruka, seated beside me in the intimate darkness, watched with the focused attention of a scholar studying sacred texts.
As the touching storyline began to unfold on screen, I noticed something glimmering in the corner of my eye. Tears were beginning to well up in Mochizuki-san's eyes like morning dew gathering on flower petals.
When the film reached its emotional climax—you know, that moment where every romance movie pulls out all the stops to destroy your feelings—her emotions seemed to reach their absolute peak as well. Tears were streaming down her cheeks in earnest now, and soft, barely audible sobs escaped from her lips.
"Are you okay, Mochizuki-san?" I asked softly as the credits rolled and the theater lights gradually brightened, revealing her slightly tear-stained face.
"I'm... I'm fine... it's just... I seem to get a bit too sentimental sometimes... haha," she managed between gentle sniffles, letting out a long sigh before forcing what was clearly meant to be a reassuring smile in my direction.
After leaving the cinema, the night had already settled over the city like a comfortable blanket. We barely managed to catch the last train back to our apartment complex, sliding into seats just as the doors hissed shut.
The familiar rhythmic swaying of the train car seemed to lull Mochizuki Haruka into a contemplative mood. As I watched her from the corner of my eye, I could see her expression gradually shift from tired contentment to something approaching pure joy. The corners of her mouth turned upward naturally, and she even began humming softly under her breath without seeming to realize it.
What's going through that head of hers right now?
If I could have read her thoughts at that moment, I would have discovered a beautiful mental replay of our entire day together:
The fitting room adventure where we'd tried on clothes together, including those matching outfits that made us look like an actual couple...
The teppanyaki restaurant where Ginjo-san had fed me with his own chopsticks...
That magical moment in the outdoor courtyard when he'd kissed me...
Every single millisecond of that kiss was burned into my memory with photographic clarity—the way his eyes had looked just before he leaned in, the gentle firmness of his approach, the moment their lips had actually touched...
The fountain incident where he'd pulled me against him to shield her from the spray...
The karaoke duets, the romantic movie...
It really had been a perfect date.
"You seem very happy, Mochizuki-san," I observed, unable to keep the amusement out of my voice.
Maybe because she was still riding the emotional high of our date, Mochizuki Haruka had been humming without realizing it—a dead giveaway that had been caught by her observant companion.
"Yes! Because my date with Ginjo-san was absolutely wonderful!" she replied without any attempt to hide her feelings.
There was something different about the way she responded—none of her usual careful reserve or polite deflection. She was being completely, refreshingly honest about her emotions, as if she'd decided that pretending to be cool and collected was more trouble than it was worth.
After expressing her inner joy so openly, Mochizuki Haruka tilted her head with an almost cat-like grace and leaned it against my shoulder, settling into the space beside me like she belonged there.
I reached out and wrapped my arm around her, pulling her just a little closer.
---
Back at our apartment complex, our usual goodnight gesture received a significant upgrade—from a simple farewell to a proper goodnight kiss that left both of us a little breathless.
As I climbed the stairs to my own floor, I could sense Mochizuki Haruka lingering by her door below. If I'd looked back, I would have seen her leaning against the doorframe, gently biting her lower lip as she savored the lingering sweetness of the moment.
After returning to my room and washing away the accumulated experiences of our adventure, I collapsed onto my bed with the satisfaction of a job well done. Time to check in with my ever-present digital companion.
Let's see what today's efforts accomplished.
I concentrated and opened the system interface that had become as familiar as my own reflection:
[Target: Mochizuki Haruka's favorability +10, reward: 10000 yen]
[Current target: Mochizuki Haruka, favorability 95]
[Current favorability has reached target: Matsumoto Tomoko, Kobayakawa Kana]
[Current daily fixed output: 10000 yen]
[Currently mastered skills: Super-speed recovery]
Ninety-five... we're almost there.
When the second target's favorability maxed out, I gained a new skill. I wonder what kind of changes will happen when the third target reaches maximum favorability...
Something to look forward to, I guess.
The night had fully settled over the city now, stars twinkling with faint light like scattered diamonds against black velvet. Under the bright moonlight streaming through my window, the entire world looked mysterious and enchantingly beautiful.
The gentle breeze flowing in through the open window carried hints of coolness and comfort, the kind of natural air conditioning that made you want to sink into deep, peaceful sleep...
---
The Next Morning,
"Ah, it hurts!"
"Tomoko-san, please just lie down! Didn't I tell you to leave this to me?"
"I always feel so embarrassed making Sosuke-kun take care of me like this..."
"Tomoko-san, you don't need to be polite with me. Please, go back to the sofa."
Under what could only be described as my firm 'medical orders,' Matsumoto Tomoko had no choice but to comply and settle back onto the sofa obediently, though clearly not without some reluctance.
She looked down at her visibly swollen ankle with a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of the world.
That looks painful...
As for how my beautiful landlady had ended up injured, well... that's a story that began two days ago...
--
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