Chapter 38

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

I have fixed the link to the previous chapter. This chapter is very lewd. Enjoy.

Title: Me, the movie, and Satou-san.

Satou-san is an unrefined child. Today is a date in spite of the fact that she’s wearing a dull beige dress, a childish pochette like a junior high schooler, and low-heeled sandals. Of course, she’s not wearing any makeup. I said I wanted to wear a skirt for today’s outfit, so I’m sure they took that into consideration. But I have one more request. At the very least, she could have worn something a little more adult-like. I’ve put a lot of energy into my outfit, and standing next to me is going to make me feel very uncomfortable. It’s always and everywhere that Satou-san is happy. But that doesn’t mean she’s not cute. She is cute.

In the lobby of the cinema complex, Satou-san is standing there staring at the monitor in a daze. A trailer for an upcoming movie was playing on the screen. She keeps her mouth open and is occasionally blinking, giggling, and twitching her shoulders. Every time the film switched in the high monitor, the light flickered and changed color, illuminating her profile and her dress. It was unrefined and plain and wild, but that’s not to say the look wasn’t pretty.

I had just bought popcorn in one hand and was wondering when I should call out to her. We were planning to watch a movie together. But Satou-san, who was absorbed in the endless trailers, looked strangely happy even after seeing them over again. I’m sure she would be satisfied with the trailer alone. If that’s the case, it’s very cheap, isn’t it? But it was almost time for the screening. All the seats are reserved at the cinema complex, so there’s no need to panic, but if Satou-san is with us, it’s a different story. We’d better hurry for her to get to the movie in time.

I sighed and then called out to her as she watched the trailer.

“Satou-san.”(Y)

“Oh, Yamaguchi-kun. Welcome back.”(S)

Turning to me, Satou-san smiled at me. Her smiling face flickered into the colors of the screen. A trailer for a horror movie was just playing, and it was green.

“Did you enjoy the trailer?”(Y)

When I ask, Satou-san gets a big smile on her face.

“Yes, very much! It all looked interesting and very worthwhile.”(S)

“Well that’s good to hear.”(Y)

After all, it’s simple. It’s just like Satou-san.

“I’ve never been to a place like this before, so I’m pretty excited.”(S)

Satou-san’s eyes sparkled as she glanced around. This recently opened multiplex in the suburbs seems to be quite popular due to its newness and convenience. The benches in the lobby were packed, and there was a long line of people waiting in line at the concession stand. We were going to watch a science fiction movie today, but there were not many empty seats, so we ended up in the last row. It seems uncomfortable for a date, but I guess it’s okay for the first time.

“I used to go to a regular movie theater when I was a kid. I’ve never seen such a beautiful, big place. It’s nice to be able to choose what movie I want to see.”(S)

I nodded my head in agreement with Satou-san’s sincere remarks

“I think there are more of these multiplexes these days. It’s convenient, clean and has a nice atmosphere.”(Y)

“Yeah, really. It’s a pretty amazing place to be.”(S)

I’m relieved to see Satou-san looking so excited. I’m glad she’s enjoying herself. It was worth it to bring her along – I can’t be sure of that until I’ve finished watching the movie, but whatever.

“I guess we should go now.”(Y)

If I left her alone, she might not want to leave the lobby. I urged Satou-san to come in with my fears, which could not be considered a joke.

“Can we go inside now?”(S)

Satou-san tilts her head back, and is in a daze as usual.

“It’s fine, it was on the announcement earlier. Didn’t you hear that?”(Y)

“Oh yeah I was just caught up in the trailer.”(S)

It certainly looked like that. If I left her alone, she’d probably just watch the trailer all day long. If that’s better, I’ll do it. I’m inwardly dumbfounded, but I walk out to the screening hall. Of course, I don’t want to leave her behind.

“Let’s go, Satou-san.”(Y)

I’ll remember to talk to you once you walk away. Because today is a date. I’m not going to forget to enjoy it, even if she’s still the same as usual and the crowded movie theater is uncomfortable. Satou-san smiled and followed me around.

Inside the screening hall, a flashy commercial had already begun. The mascot character of the cinema complex is explaining the rules and etiquette of movie watching with exaggerated movements. The lights were not yet dimmed. I sat down in the last row of seats as indicated on my ticket, and Sato-san sat down right next to me. She sits to my right, just as she did in the classroom. I offer her a piece of popcorn and she happily picks it up a bit and nibbles and then says,

“Thank you. After all you get popcorn at the movies.”(S)

“Yes.”(Y)

No disagreement on that point. I nodded.

“When I was a child, my mother used to bring me to the movie theater with her. Whenever I came to the theater, she would always buy me popcorn.”(S)

“Yeah.”(Y)

So when you think of movie memories, the first thing that comes to mind is popcorn. The fact that the first thing that brings back memories is sweets is also very typical of Satou-san. [I don’t think popcorn is a sweet but whatever floats your boat]

“Do you have anything other than popcorn? Memories of the movie theater?”(Y)

“What else? Ummm…..”(S)

I ask, and Satou-san thinks for a while, then,

“Speaking of which, it’s about the time I came to see the movie with my mom.”(S)

She began to speak with a sigh.

“My mom warned me once that I didn’t watch movies without telling her.”(S)

“What do you mean?”(Y)

I asked back, and Satou-san cowered shyly.

“You know, I talk out loud very easily. When I’m startled, or on edge, or when I can’t stop myself, or when I’m freaking out. My mother told me to stop because I would raise my voice while watching a movie.”(S)

Speaking of which, Satou-san, who had been watching the trailer in the lobby, had an open-mouthed expression on her face, occasionally blinking, giggling, or jerking her shoulders. She seemed so engrossed in the film that it was immediately obvious that she was engrossed in it when looking at her. It seemed that Satou-san wouldn’t be able to sit back and watch a movie like that.

“Well, as long as it doesn’t bother the people around you, I guess it’s okay.”(Y)

I told him, holding back a laugh.

“Luckily we’re in the back seat and I don’t mind. As long as it’s not too loud.”(S)

“Yeah…”(S)

But Satou-san looked somewhat uneasy, and then the lights suddenly went out.

The trailers for other films began on the screen. One by one, the ones showing in another hall, and those that hadn’t yet been released, were buzzing on the screen. It’s eye-catching, and while it might be interesting to Satou-san, it’s just boring to me. The film takes a long time to start is what I always think.

“Hey, Yamaguchi-kun,”(S)

She was looking at me with serious eyes, wondering if she was going to be engrossed in the trailer again. Satou-san’s face, illuminated by the light from the screen in the darkness, seemed to emerge white.

“I need to ask you a favor…”(S)

The voice whispered back to me in a serious manner, and I asked, throbbing.

“What? Please?”(Y)

“Uh, here.”(S)

Saying that, Satou-san offered me her left hand. It was a white hand.

“It’s fine if you can’t, but……..can I hold your hand?”(S)

I was glad I wasn’t eating popcorn. If I had eaten it, I probably would have swallowed it without chewing. I gasped, and immediately afterwards, I replied, trying to stay calm.

“What? Why?”(Y)

I couldn’t dress it up and my voice flipped over. I was surprised. Why would Satou-san say such a thing, that she would take the initiative?

“You know, I just remembered that my mother used to do that for me.”(S)

Satou-san calmed down more than I did and whispered,

“She told me that if I was about to scream, I should squeeze her hand so I wouldn’t have to scream. Whenever I felt like screaming, I squeezed my mother’s hand and tried not to scream, even when I was startled or upset, or when I felt like laughing. So today, I thought it would be nice to have Yamaguchi-kun holding my hand.”(S)

I don’t know what she means by that. Maybe she doesn’t think too much about it because she’s Satou-san. Even so, I hope she thought I was close to her and asked me to be a part of it, at least in some small way.

“I haven’t been to a movie in a while. I’m not sure I can be quiet… if you can, please.”(S)

Satou-san’s earnest expression is faintly illuminated in the gloom. I wonder what my face looks like now in her eyes. Doesn’t it reveal my turmoil and ulterior motives? Well, you could say it saved me a lot of trouble. And I don’t feel bad about it.

“It’s fine.”(Y)

I put the cup of popcorn on the stand between me and Satou-san’s seat. Then I touched her proffered hand. Satou-san’s left hand, which she lightly squeezed, was cool and cold. Maybe it was because my hand was hot. The palm of her hand is smooth and softer than I expected.

“Thank you, Yamaguchi-kun.”(S)

In a relieved voice, Satou-san said.

“It’s kind of exciting, isn’t it?(S)

The words that followed were, of course, about the content of the film. I nodded my head honestly, though it meant something different to me. It’s definitely a thrill.

The sci-fi movie that was being talked about was much more powerful than I thought it would be, and Satou-san seemed to have a hard time not raising her voice. Each time she squeezed me tightly, as if clinging to me, I couldn’t concentrate on the movie. I couldn’t help myself, so I squeezed her soft hand back a few times during the movie as if it were a prank. But Satou-san didn’t move a bit. Even though I tried to put a little pressure on her, or entwined our fingers together like two lovers, her attention never wandered from the screen. In the end, I didn’t understand the content of the film, which lasted less than two hours, until the end. All I remember was the softness of Satou-san’s hand, the pain in my chest when she squeezed it, and the seriousness of her profile as she watched the film. She looked different from the usual Satou-san, who had been dressed as usual, but in the movie theater, she looked somewhat different from the usual.

When the screening was over and the lights came on in the theater, Satou-san turned to me.

“That was an interesting movie.”(S)

“Well yes.”(Y)

I nodded, even though it hadn’t entered my head at all. Then I looked to see what to do with my hands that were still linked together, and she let go of my hands first.

“Oh, thank you, Yamaguchi-kun”(S)

Satou-san looked embarrassed, as if she’d just come to terms with the fact that,

“I’m sorry, you ended up helping me the whole time…”(S)

“I don’t mind. I’m glad I could help.”(Y)

“Yeah, sure. You’re very reliable.”(S)

I look at the popcorn left on the stand with an unexplained look. We held hands for the entire movie, and honestly, I barely touched it because I didn’t have time to eat it. Satou-san didn’t eat it either, but I guess she was simply engrossed in the movie.

“There’s extra popcorn.”(Y)

“Oh, I’ll eat it. I’ll eat it in the lobby.”(S)

Satou-san said so, and we went back to the lobby and sat down on a bench to eat away the rest of the popcorn.

I was secretly planning to take a break at a cafe after the movie, but at this rate, I’ll be full of popcorn alone. In addition, the amount of popcorn I’ve consumed when I’m not watching a movie is not good. Maybe it’s partly because it’s getting cold. In the first place, if we call it a plan, it was messed up when Satou-san took the lead.

“I had a good time today. I’d like to come back with you.”(S)

Satou-san was ready to go home and started talking about the next meeting. Well, if you’re this full, you probably don’t feel like stopping by afterwards, do you?

“Then I’ll invite you again.”(Y)

I grabbed a handful of popcorn and then

After saying that, I filled my mouth like a desperate eater. The movie is no good when I’m with Satou-san. I can’t watch movies with her, it disrupts my pace and I don’t remember the content after all. All I remember is the feel of Satou-san’s hands. It was cold, smooth, and soft.

“Other than movies… what kind of place would you like to go?”(S)

Sato-san’s hand picks up a piece of popcorn and brings it to her mouth.

“I’ve never had a date before today…so maybe you know more about it than I do, Yamaguchi-kun?”

After a few unanswered words, she swayed her legs. The wild beige dress, the legs stretching out from the hem of the dress are still white and smooth. I was in a panic as my eyes were focused on such things – my hands and which one – and I was alone. It’s okay to say that I’ve lost today. It’s a shame that such an unrefined looking girl made me do it, though.

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