Non-Human Girls Are Fighting Over Me ~ Do I Get to Refuse? “Nope!” “No Way!” “Not a Chance!” “Absolutely Not!” - Chapter 8: Dance of Madness

Chapter 8: Dance of Madness

Ever since that day, Towa-san and I have been messaging on RINE almost daily.

The chats are trivial. New movies, complaints about classes, occasional sticker exchanges—just that, yet my heart leaps every time her name lights up my screen.

In class, we keep a certain distance. We don’t talk more than necessary, and to others, we’re just classmates.

But sometimes, when our eyes meet, she gives a small wave.

That gesture squeezes my heart in a way I can’t resist.

—This feels kinda like we’re boyfriend and girlfriend, doesn’t it?

Every time that fleeting fantasy crosses my mind, I scold myself.

No, don’t get the wrong idea. I’m just a loner nerd. Don’t get cocky.

Friday night. Sprawled in my room, ignoring homework, my phone buzzed.

The sender, of course, was Towa-san.

Wanna go to a movie tomorrow?

There’s one I wanna see. It’s a revival screening, only showing late at night.

A girl alone might feel uneasy coming home late, so will you come with me?

I hurriedly typed a reply.

Sure! What’re we watching?

After a brief pause, a mischievous response came.

It’s a secret~

I’ll pick you up at your place!! You have to come!! No arguments!!

At the end, a playful sticker.

I couldn’t stop the grin spreading across my face.

※

The next day.

As promised, she came to my house.

When the intercom rang and I opened the door, there stood Towa-san with a bright smile.

Needless to say, my mom’s excitement went through the roof.

“Oh my goodness! You really came? Come in, come in!”

“Thank you! I’m taking Kazuto-kun to the movies!”

Mom, in high spirits, ushered her into the living room.

Blushing, I tried to stop her, but it was too late.

On the way to the theater.

Towa-san was laughing, clearly amused.

“Wow, your mom letting me in makes it so much easier to ‘drop by’ from now on, right?”

“…Huh?”

“I mean, it feels like I can ‘come over anytime’ now.”

She looked at me with teasing eyes.

My ears burned red as I stammered.

“If it’s you, Towa-san… you’re always welcome.”

“Really? Then I’ll come back. ‘Soon.’”

Her smile felt brighter than the streetlights.

My heart was already hitting its climax before we even reached the late show.

※

The Tarantino movie was beyond expectations.

I knew the title. I’d heard it was a masterpiece. But seeing it on the big screen, its intensity overwhelmed me.

“That was so good!”

Leaving the theater, I couldn’t hold back my excitement.

“The whole thing’s mostly in one room, but it’s that gripping… He’s a genius.”

Beside me, Towa-san chuckled softly.

“Right? Michael Madsen’s the best in this one. That dance of madness—insane, right?”

Her eyes sparkled. She was always so vibrant talking about movies, almost blindingly so.

But a glance at my watch showed it was past 10 p.m.

True to the late show’s name, night had deepened.

“Guess we should head home,” I started to say.

“By the way.”

Towa-san suddenly pointed at my pass case.

“Where’d you get that keychain?”

“Oh, this? The film club president gave it to me.”

I answered casually, but her expression darkened instantly.

“Oh? Is this person a guy?”

“No, she’s a girl.”

“Huh… Really… So there’s a girl like that.”

Her tone dipped, tinged with subtle displeasure.

I tried to backtrack, but words failed me.

Then, with a playful grin, she spoke again.

“So, what’s next?”

“Uh, well, we should probably head home… Nowhere else to go.”

“Hmm…”

Her eyes narrowed, and her voice turned serious.

“Then, wanna come to my place? No one’s home right now.”

“What… But…”

I started to refuse.

—Her eyes changed.

The light vanished from Towa-san’s gaze, like she was reenacting that mad scene from the movie.

In a low, cold voice, she cut through.

“You’ll come, right? You wouldn’t say no, would you?”

The air grew heavy in an instant.

It wasn’t a joke or teasing. Her shadow seemed to stretch under the streetlights, engulfing me.

“…Yes.”

Before I knew it, I’d nodded. Swallowed by an atmosphere that allowed no refusal.