I Just Want a Single Ending [60]
Ikuyo Kita nodded enthusiastically.
"That's a weird title for a movie. Cool and unpopular don't exactly go together!" Kamigawa Saku couldn't help but comment. "As long as someone's good-looking, how could they be unpopular?"
"It is a bit odd, but I just went with my gut when picking this one," Kita replied with a smile.
"Somehow, I have a bad feeling about this…"
Kamigawa felt a creeping sense of foreboding.
"It seems like it's a romantic comedy," Kita said after a quick search on her phone, "and it even has some horror elements."
"Oh, that explains the title if it's a comedy."
When it came to comedies, strange titles were par for the course.
"But if it's a comedy, why would it have horror elements?"
"I don't know, but it sounds like fun!" Kita's eyes sparkled with interest, and Kamigawa felt a similar excitement.
"Yeah, let's go for it."
With that, Kita pulled the tickets from her bag and handed one to him. "Kamigawa-senpai, could you exchange the tickets? I'll get us some popcorn and soda."
Since it was a holiday, the theater was packed.
Splitting up seemed like the fastest way to get everything done.
"I'll handle the snacks; you go exchange the tickets," Kamigawa offered, not wanting her to spend any money.
"Nope, this is my treat as part of my thanks," Kita insisted firmly.
Originally, she'd given him two tickets to use with someone else, but now she was the one joining him, using one of his tickets instead.
So, buying snacks felt like the least she could do.
"Alright, let's meet back here in a bit."
With a small nod, Kamigawa took the ticket and headed for the ticket counter, while Kita joined the line for popcorn.
---
A moment later.
Kamigawa Saku, having already exchanged the tickets, waited for a minute or two before seeing Ikuyo Kita approaching, holding a tray with a large tub of popcorn and two cans of soda.
"Thanks for grabbing these."
Kamigawa quickly took the tray from her.
"Um… I think I'll go back and get a second popcorn," Kita said, her face slightly flushed, looking a bit embarrassed.
"But you already bought popcorn—why go back for more?" Kamigawa asked, puzzled.
"Because I only bought one tub…" Kita explained, pointing at the tray.
"Then why didn't you just get two to begin with?" he asked, catching on to her hesitation.
Kamigawa had a pretty good guess: she probably felt awkward about sharing a single tub of popcorn with him. Usually, sharing like this was something you'd see with couples, family members, or friends of the same gender.
Between a guy and a girl who weren't dating, it was… well, a bit intimate.
"...I sort of misspoke."
Looking away shyly, Kita explained the situation.
When she'd asked for two tubs of popcorn and two sodas, the server had casually asked if she was there with a friend.
She'd replied with a "yes," and then they'd suggested a "couple's combo" with one large popcorn and two sodas at a discount.
Without thinking, she'd nodded and accepted the combo.
It wasn't until she'd paid and received the tray that she realized the awkwardness of sharing popcorn with the only guy friend she had.
Kamigawa pointed out, "But the movie's about to start. If you line up again, you might miss the beginning."
He'd chosen the earliest available showtime when he exchanged the tickets.
The advantage was they'd get to watch the movie without waiting; the downside was they didn't have any buffer time for situations like this.
Kita glanced at the long line of people still waiting to buy snacks and reluctantly let go of the idea.
After looking down at the large tub of popcorn in her hands, she took a deep breath. "As long as you don't mind sharing popcorn with me…"
[Mind]
[Don't Mind]
"I don't mind at all," Kamigawa said easily.
Sure, it was a bit intimate, but it was also a good chance to get closer.
[Strength +5]
"Oh, good."
Kita visibly relaxed, realizing it really wasn't such a big deal to share popcorn with him.
---
After getting their tickets checked, they found their seats, with Kamigawa placing the sodas between them and leaving the popcorn for Kita to hold.
"It's a romantic comedy, but there aren't many people here," Kita noted, glancing around the sparsely filled theater. It was surprising, considering this genre usually attracted a crowd.
"Maybe it's been out a while, so most people have already seen it… or maybe it just didn't get good reviews?"
Kamigawa didn't know much about the movie either, so he offered a casual guess.
"Hopefully, it's the former," Kita sighed, popping a piece of popcorn into her mouth.
After all, she'd chosen the movie herself—and with Kamigawa as her companion, she wanted it to be a good one.
"Yeah, here's hoping."
Kamigawa grabbed a handful of popcorn and popped it into his mouth.
Not bad, actually.
As he reached for more, his hand accidentally brushed against Kita's.
"…"
Kita turned to look at him, and their eyes met.
Her cheeks instantly flushed pink, and she quickly pulled her hand back, pretending nothing had happened.
Guess I was right.
Kamigawa stifled a small, amused smile as he grabbed a piece of popcorn.
With only one tub to share, it was practically inevitable they'd bump hands occasionally.
Even though they weren't a couple, it certainly felt a bit like they were.
Definitely… a bit intimate.
"Kamigawa-senpai, do you come to the movies often?" Kita asked, as if trying to cover her own nervousness and divert his attention from their brief hand contact.
"Not really. I only come occasionally, and when I do, I'm usually on my own," Kamigawa replied offhandedly.
"On your own?"
Kita sounded a little surprised.
"Yup."
Kamigawa nodded, then added, "Actually, this is the first time I've ever come to see a movie with a girl."
"Huh?"
Kita froze, eyes wide in surprise.
---
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
Posture and water check!
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