After I Picked up a Notebook Filled With Intense Emotions, the Girls Started Acting Strange - Chapter 20

I, Shindou Arata, had been looking forward to this day.

Yukina invited me out, and I even skipped the basketball club to hang out with her.

Our basketball team had a really tough schedule during Golden Week. Some days were half-day practice, some were full-day, and yesterday we even had a practice game against another school.

And even today, it is the last day of the holidays, and we were supposed to practice again, going over the mistakes from that match.

Normally, I shouldn’t be skipping. But I’m the team’s ace. I work hard every day, so taking a break once in a while shouldn’t hurt.

I didn’t play great yesterday, but that’s because I was worn out from all the hard training.

Think of this as a day to refresh myself. No problem there. Besides, the coach is kind of old-fashioned anyway. Pushing too hard doesn’t make anyone better.

And more than that, how often do I get to go on a date with a girl like Yukina?

The girls I used to hang out with in middle school were maybe average or a little above. Yukina’s on a whole different level.

Mizuki is just as cute, but since she’s my childhood friend and I know she likes me, I’ve been putting her off.

Anyway, I could say I’ve been working hard in practice just for today.

“Hehe, I can’t wait.”

“Ah! Shindou-kun! I’m sorry for the wait~”

Just as I was thinking that, Yukina came running toward me through the crowd.

The moment I saw her, I almost forgot to breathe.

Oh crap… she’s so hot…! And it looks like she actually dressed up for me!?

Her blonde hair sparkled in the sunlight, her skirt was short, and my eyes were immediately drawn to her legs.

Her loose jacket showed a bit of her chest, too. Is this what people call fashion?

She always wears her school uniform loosely, but in casual clothes, she looks even flashier and is clearly putting in effort.

And, whoa. She’s sexy. So this is her date mode…!

Wait, does this mean she’s seriously into me?

This might actually turn into something big today.

I couldn’t help but grin inside.

“What is it, Shindou-kun? You’re kind of smiling weirdly. Oh. Were you staring at me?”

“Eh? Ah, no? Not really?”

I hadn’t really hung out with a gal before.

If I said something awkward, she might think I’m not used to girls.

So I tried to act cool, like I was used to this kind of thing.

Girls like guys who look confident.

“…”

“Alright, let’s go. There are a lot of people, so we should hurry.”

Yeah, this is my chance to take the lead like a man. Even with a gal, I can probably handle this.

“Come on, follow me.”

“Ah, wait up!”

And with that, I led the way toward the mall with the movie theater, trying to look cool from behind.

A real man speaks with his back, after all.

After a few wrong turns, we finally made it to the theater.

“W-We made it somehow.”

“Didn’t you get lost a bunch of times?”

“Well, the map app was acting weird.”

“Hmm…”

That was close. It had been a while since I came here, but since I’d been before, I thought I still remembered the way.

But once I started walking, I couldn’t find the place I thought I knew. I had to rely on the map app, and we somehow made it just in time for the movie to start.

If I hadn’t thought fast, we probably would’ve missed it.

“Alright, let’s grab something from the snack stand─”

“Ah! Isn’t that Mizuki-chan over there?”

“M-Mizuki?”

I turned to where Yukina was pointing.

“The guy next to her…”

“W-why is she with him…!?”

My childhood friend, Mizuki, was there and was smiling brightly as she hugged Shiomi.

◆

A romance movie.

It was my first time watching one in a theater, especially with a girl.

Inside, the lights were dim compared to the lobby. The screen was already showing commercials, and the reflections of light and the sound system made it feel so real, like we were part of it.

Following Sena-san’s lead, we walked to the seats printed on her tickets. I thought she’d pick the middle seats where the view was best, but they were surprisingly on the side.

Still, it wasn’t bad at all. Even from the side row, the screen looked fine.

At first, I thought maybe she couldn’t reserve the center seats, but that didn’t seem to be the case. Actually, it felt kind of nice and quiet, with fewer people walking by. That section only had two seats, so it felt almost like a private space, just for the two of us.

As expected from Sena-san, she really planned this out well.

…If a couple sat here, they could totally flirt and no one would notice. No, wait. This isn’t the time or place for that.

Before I could think too much about it, the commercials ended and the movie began.

“It’s starting!”

I glanced at Sena-san beside me, her face glowing softly from the light of the screen. She looked so excited with her eyes sparkling.

The title appeared, “Even Though You’re Beside Me, You Feel So Far Away.”

From what I’d heard, it was a childhood-friend romance that had become super popular among high school girls.

…Makes sense.

I grabbed a few pieces of popcorn from the bucket in the middle and focused on the story.

＊

Yuuma and Mika had been together since they were little. Their houses were next to each other, and spending every day together had always been normal for them.

But after they entered high school, things started to change. Mika made new friends, and Yuuma joined a club. Bit by bit, they began to drift apart.

＊

It’s the usual kind of childhood-friend story.

I can already guess how it’s going to end.

Still, maybe it hits differently when they’ve got a childhood friend themselves.

Thinking that, I glanced over at Sena-san beside me.

“─!”

“…?”

She was looking right at me.

Why!?

The soft glow from the screen reflected in her gentle smile as she stared straight into my eyes.

“Um, Sena-san?”

“Hehe.”

She just smiled mysteriously and turned her gaze back to the screen.

…What was that about?

Before I could think more, she suddenly reached her hand toward me.

I turned my head, wondering what she was doing, then something soft pressed against my lips.

A sweet caramel taste spread in my mouth.

Popcorn.

“Is it good?”

“Y-Yeah, it’s good but…”

“Eat more!”

“I will. I can feed myself!? You should eat too!”

“Yeah. Thank you. But I bought caramel flavor just for Shiomi-kun. You have to eat it! I only eat the salty kind.”

Then why did she buy only caramel!? There was a half-and-half option!?

I held back the urge to say that out loud.

“A-Anyway, look. Let’s just watch the movie. It’s already moving along.”

“Yeah, I’m watching. I know the story anyway. This is my fifth time seeing it.”

“…”

“Hehe, I’m just kidding!”

…Maybe I should stop thinking too hard about everything.

Somewhere in the back rows, I thought I heard people talking, but I didn’t bother turning around.

I just looked back at the screen again.

For a while, I managed to focus on the movie, which was now reaching its final act.

＊

After going through all kinds of misunderstandings, Yuuma finally realized his true feelings.

He decided to confess to his childhood friend, Mika.

But right at that moment, fate played another cruel trick on him.

It turned out that Mika had already fallen in love with another boy, and they were dating.

Yuuma wondered what he had done wrong while questioning himself over and over. In the end, he could only wish for their happiness.

And Mika looked a little sad as she said softly, “You’re too late for everything,” before walking away with her new boyfriend.

END

＊

What the!?

I thought it was just a normal childhood-friend love story, but she basically cheated on him. Well, maybe that’s not the right way to say it. It didn’t go that far. She just fell in love with another guy.

And that guy came out of nowhere! He barely even showed up in the story!

Is this really okay? Is this what’s popular with high school girls now? Has humanity entered some kind of mental destruction phase?

From beside me, I heard someone sniffle. When I glanced over during the ending credits, I saw Sena-san quietly shedding tears.

“That was such a good story…”

She was apparently moved by it.

W-well, everyone has their own taste.

From Yuuma’s point of view, it was a total tragedy. But from Mika’s side, maybe it made sense.

After all, that guy Yuuma kept missing her hints. He ignored every chance to notice her feelings.

So in the end, Mika gave up on him and found someone new. I mean, it can’t be helped.

“What part of this made it so popular, anyway?”

“Oh, the actor who played Yuuma had a bit of a scandal recently. People said it felt satisfying to see him end up miserable, so it went viral on SNS.”

What kind of reason is that? SNS is terrifying.

“The credits are almost done. Do you still have some popcorn?”

“Yeah, just a little─”

When I reached into the bucket, I felt something strange inside.

A small plastic bag. With a folded letter in it.

…No way?

“Make sure you read it, okay?”

I turned to see Sena-san smiling sweetly at me.

…Was this part of her rehearsal, too?

◆

The two of them sat in what could only be called the best seats while acting completely like a couple.

But there was one guy who wasn’t watching the screen at all. He kept glaring at them, his face full of annoyance, and he was screaming inside his head.

T-those two are flirting in a movie theater!!!

Do they even know where they are!? Focus on the movie, damn it!!!