Do You Like Romantic-Comedy Protagonists? - Chapter 27: Do You Like Tailing? 4

Chapter 27: Do You Like Tailing? 4

Akaishi emerged from the movie theater with a satisfied expression.

Rarely visiting theaters, he was slightly thrilled by watching a film on the big screen after years.

Glancing at Hachiya, he noticed her staring elsewhere.

He remembered they were here to tail Sakurai.

Snapping back, he considered various factors.

He thought about why Sakurai chose a horror movie.

In rom-coms, protagonists often pick horror movies for dates.

Many women dislike horror, clinging to the guy afterward out of fear.

No…

Even that’s suspicious.

It’s not that women get scared and cling after horror movies.

They act scared to justify getting close, an excuse.

It also lets them seem cute and feminine by appearing frightened.

“…Overthinking?”

Maybe I’m reading too much into it, Akaishi thought, halting his speculation.

Constantly analyzing deep motives was exhausting, and he snapped out of it.

Sakurai choosing a horror movie, Suijou agreeing—maybe it’s all overthinking.

Suijou clinging to Sakurai now, hugging him at every sound—it’s all innocent.

Really… Is it really?

Going to a horror movie for a date feels forced.

Isn’t it odd to pick a movie that could disrupt the date’s flow?

Isn’t it strange Suijou agreed?

Isn’t it all as I imagined?

Sakurai invited her with ulterior motives, and Suijou, seeing through them, went along.

It worked—look at Suijou all over Sakurai.

Isn’t that how it is…?

“…”

“The horror movie was scary, so Shiorin’s clinging like that… I’m jealous.”

Hachiya’s thoughts, completely different from his, were voiced beside him.

Akaishi envied Hachiya’s pure, unsuspecting heart but wondered if darker emotions were necessary.

“Let’s go.”

“Got it.”

Still unclear, Akaishi followed Sakurai.

※

“What’s Sousuke doing…?”

“He’s buying a keychain.”

After the movie, Sakurai and Suijou shopped in the large mall housing the theater.

Akaishi and Hachiya watched from a distance.

“Can’t hear what they’re saying…”

The distance and the noisy mall drowned out their conversation.

Sakurai picked up a hairpin from a display and held it near Suijou’s hair.

“Oh… Sousuke’s putting a hairpin on Shiorin…”

“This would look good on you, Suijou, right?”

“…What?”

Akaishi, watching Sakurai, muttered suddenly.

Hachiya glared at him for speaking out.

“You can hear?”

“No, lip reading and a guess.”

Akaishi could read lips—at a basic level.

“You can read lips!? That’s amazing!”

“It’s just vowels. I guess the rest from context and their personality. Not sure if it’s right. You could do it too.”

It worked because Sakurai was predictable, always charming and prone to misleading actions.

Only with someone as transparent as Sakurai could he use this crude lip reading.

It was more like mind reading, using lip movements as a guide to guess what Sakurai would say.

Hachiya, as told, stared at Sakurai.

Suijou took the hairpin, putting it in her hair.

“Oh… wow… ah-e!”

Catching fragments, Hachiya picked out vowels from Sakurai’s lips.

Akaishi filled in what Sakurai likely said.

“Oh, it looks great!”

“Looks great… Cheater, Sousuke!”

Sakurai would say that. Even without lips, it’s obvious.

Sakurai took back the hairpin, tilted his head, and held it up.

“I-ou… oshi, a-e… oa?”

“I got your help today, so should I buy it for you?”

“A gift!? It’s totally a date…”

Giving Suijou a gift as a thank-you.

Isn’t it a sign of possessiveness, claiming “Suijou’s mine”?

A tangible gift feels like marking her.

If Suijou wears that flashy hairpin, others will call it cute, leading to talk of Sakurai.

Isn’t it all orchestrated?

Sakurai bought the hairpin and left the store.

“If your lip reading’s right, it’s kinda gross…”

With a sour face, Hachiya stared at them.

“Sakurai’s easy to read. Normal chatter’s unclear, but that was probably right. He did buy the hairpin.”

“Maybe he’ll wear it himself…”

“If you believe that, I’m fine with it.”

“…”

Sweating profusely, Hachiya wiped her forehead.

Akaishi’s unspoken urging to face reality shamed her escapism.

She glanced at him with narrowed eyes.

※

“They’re leaving.”

“Right… Let’s follow.”

Akaishi and Hachiya trailed Sakurai as they exited.

※

The sun set, and the surroundings darkened as Sakurai and Suijou walked through an ordinary street.

Akaishi and Hachiya hid in an alley, tailing discreetly.

Near a building visible from the alley, Sakurai stopped suddenly, and Suijou followed suit.

Sakurai reached into the paper bag, pulled out the hairpin, and gently touched Suijou’s hair to put it on.

“uwyuu…”

Hachiya let out a pained sound.

Sakurai stepped back, framed Suijou with his hands like a photo, and stepped closer, smiling brightly.

Akaishi read his lips and translated.

“Suijou, you’re cute!”

“I could tell without looking!”

Hachiya shouted, voice laced with irritation.

Repeating Sakurai’s words via lip reading, she didn’t need it—it was obvious what he said, and she yelled at Akaishi for translating.

“Sousuke… He’s having way too much fun…!”

Hachiya clenched her fists, trembling.