Chapter [26]

"Hey, guys," said Hiro, with an excited smile. "How about we go to the movies? There's a new film playing that looks really good."

Yumi and Ami exchanged looks before agreeing.

"That sounds great," said Yumi, smiling. "I'm always up for a good movie."

Ami, more shy, nodded with a small smile. "Yes, I'd love to go to the movies."

"Great," said Hiro, "let's buy the tickets. Do you two want anything before we go?"

Yumi smiled and shook her head. "Actually, we need to go to the bathroom. We'll be back in a few minutes."

Kaito and Hiro nodded as Yumi and Ami headed to the bathroom. While they waited, the two friends decided to play a few more games at the arcade.

"So, Kaito, what do you think of the girls so far?" Hiro asked while trying to win another round of a shooting game.

Kaito smiled, observing Hiro's enthusiasm. "Yumi is interesting, but you should be the one to talk about Ami since you spent more time with her."

Hiro laughed, still focused on the shooting game. "Ami is very cute and shy. I think she just needs a bit more time to feel comfortable. But she's definitely good company."

Kaito felt genuine joy seeing his friend so excited and happy. He knew how much this date meant to Hiro, and the satisfaction of seeing him enjoy himself was a great relief for Kaito.

"You really seem to like Ami, huh?" commented Kaito, watching Hiro still focused on the shooting game.

Hiro smiled without taking his eyes off the screen. "Yeah, she's great. I'm glad everything is going well so far."

Kaito smiled, feeling infected by his friend's excitement. "That's great, Hiro. I'm happy for you."

Suddenly, Hiro gave Kaito a challenging look. "But you should focus more on the game, Kaito. You're going to lose easily if you keep like this."

Kaito laughed, accepting the challenge. "Oh, yeah? We'll see about that."

With renewed determination, Kaito focused on the game. His sharp reflexes and coordination skills began to stand out. Within minutes, he started racking up points quickly, surpassing Hiro by a significant margin.

Hiro looked at the screen, surprised, and then laughed. "Alright, you won this one, Kaito. Good game!"

Kaito smiled, satisfied with the victory.

Before they could continue their conversation, Yumi and Ami returned from the bathroom, looking more relaxed and ready to continue the night.

"Sorry for the delay," said Yumi, smiling. "Are we all set for the movies?"

Kaito and Hiro nodded, ready to move on. "Yes, we're ready. Let's go," said Kaito, smiling at the girls.

The group left the arcade and headed to the nearby cinema. The line for tickets wasn't very long, and they managed to buy their tickets quickly. Hiro chose an action movie that was showing, and everyone seemed excited to watch it.

"Shall we get some snacks before the movie?" suggested Hiro, looking at the concession stand.

Yumi and Ami agreed, and the group went to the counter to buy popcorn, sodas, and other snacks. After getting everything they wanted, they entered the theater and found their seats.

The cinema was relatively full, but they managed to find a good spot for everyone to sit together. The lights began to dim, indicating that the movie was about to start.

As the movie began, Kaito looked around, feeling the excitement in the air. He was happy to see Hiro and Ami sitting together, sharing a tray of popcorn and looking more comfortable with each other. Yumi, sitting next to Kaito, was focused on the screen.

As the movie progressed, Kaito started to realize that the plot and action scenes didn't excite him as much as he expected. Compared to the intense and exciting experiences he had recently, the movie seemed dull and predictable. He tried to focus on the screen, but his mind kept wandering.

Kaito thought about how he had hoped to have his first kiss before turning 16. The idea of a romantic kiss had lost some of its shine now that he was amidst so many twists and turns in his life. He glanced at Yumi, realizing that although she was interesting, he wasn't interested in kissing her at all. His heart simply wasn't in that direction.

Time passed slowly for Kaito, but he noticed that Hiro and Ami were clearly having fun. Hiro seemed enchanted by the movie and enjoying Ami's company. This brought a smile to Kaito's face, who felt satisfied seeing his friend happy.

When the movie finally ended, the lights came back on, and people began to stand up. Yumi stretched and smiled at Kaito. "What did you think of the movie, Kaito?"

Kaito gave a polite smile. "It was interesting," he lied, trying to be kind. "And you, did you like it?"

Yumi nodded, excited. "Yes, I loved it! It was full of action."

Hiro and Ami joined them, still chatting excitedly about the scenes they liked the most. "That part where the hero jumped off the building was amazing," said Hiro, excited.

Ami, a bit shyer, agreed. "Yes, it was really thrilling."

Kaito smiled at the group. "How about we go get some ice cream to end the night?"

Everyone agreed, excited about the idea. They left the cinema and walked to a nearby ice cream parlor. As they served themselves ice cream and chose their favorite flavors, Kaito felt grateful to have friends like Hiro and to be able to provide pleasant moments for everyone.

Sitting at a table in the ice cream parlor, they laughed and talked about the movie and other topics, enjoying each other's company. Kaito, although not completely satisfied with the date, felt happy to have been part of a pleasant evening for everyone. When they finished their ice cream, they realized it was getting late.

"We should start heading home," suggested Kaito, checking the time.

Yumi and Ami nodded, agreeing. "Yes, it's a good idea," said Yumi.

Kaito hailed a taxi, and while they waited, he smiled at the girls. "I'll pay for the taxi to take you home. That way you'll get home safely."

Yumi and Ami thanked him, looking relieved. "Thank you, Kaito. It was a fun night," said Yumi, while Ami nodded shyly in agreement.

When the taxi arrived, Kaito helped the girls get in. He closed the door and turned to Hiro, who was watching with a grateful smile.

"Thanks, Kaito," said Hiro, sincerity evident in his voice.

Kaito raised an eyebrow, curious. "Why are you thanking me, Hiro?"

Hiro sighed, still smiling. "I know you weren't very excited about this date. I know you did it for me. It means a lot to me, man."

Kaito gave a warm smile, putting a hand on Hiro's shoulder. "That's what friends are for, Hiro. But from now on, you'll have to go out with Ami on your own."

Hiro laughed, nodding. "Got it, Kaito. I'll take care of it."

The two friends said goodbye with a quick handshake, and each went their way. Hiro headed in one direction, while Kaito began to walk alone toward his home.

As he walked, Kaito reflected on the night. Although he was happy to have provided a good time for Hiro and Ami, he couldn't help but feel a pang of melancholy. He lamented his own luck in love, feeling that he had yet to find someone he truly connected with.

Lost in his thoughts, Kaito noticed some strange movement in a nearby alley. He stopped and looked closer, seeing two drunk men harassing a girl dressed as a nun. The girl seemed frightened and tried to move away, but the men surrounded her, laughing and making unpleasant comments.

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