TLN: Just to clarify, this appears to be told from Yuunagi’s perspective\n
It happened just the end of last year, at the beginning of the winter break of my high school freshman year.\n
An anime movie with a unique worldview and slightly grotesque scenes had just been released. Though I don’t usually watch movies that often, I had stumbled upon the trailer while browsing the web and had been really taken with it, so I had really wanted to see the movie in theaters.\n
I bought my ticket, and, spoiling myself a bit, I grabbed some popcorn as well. I had absolutely wanted to see the show alone, so I had tried to hide my face as much as possible. Wearing sunglasses, a hood, and even a mask, I stood around, waiting for the theater doors to open.\n
It might be presumptuous for me to say this myself, but I am actually pretty good looking. Because of this, when I come to places like this alone, most of the time people I know or even strangers call out to me, trying to get me to join them.\n
Of course, it isn’t really possible for me to entirely brush off strangers or intentionally avoid people I know, so I’ve gotten used to that kind of thing.\n
But even so, I still really wanted to be able to go out without worrying about such thing if possible. At the very least, I wanted to be able to not worry about the eyes around me when I watched this movie I had been looking forward to for so long.\n
And in the end, when the theater doors began to finally open, I still hadn’t been approached by anyone. Once I get inside, I really should be okay.\n
I got up from the seat I was waiting in and headed towards the gate. But due to the sunglasses and hood impairing my vision, I ended up bumping into a group of three guys, spilling my popcorn in the process.\n
At that time, I really regretted being greedy and buying the large size popcorn. I didn’t really care about not being able to eat it, but, if I had to clean it up, the movie would start without me. And I was scared of the many pitiful and amused gazes that surrounded me.\n
If I left the mess alone, the staff would probably come clean it up, but I also wasn’t sure if I could watch the movie comfortably with these lingering feelings of guilt. I stood there, unmoving, and was just beginning to panic when someone called out to me.\n
“Are you okay?”(Sakuraba)\n
I had seen this person with a thin, gentle face before.\nSame school, same grade, name….I don’t remember.\n
He appeared to glance briefly at my ticket in my hand. Then, as if he had realized something, he suddenly bent down and began to gather the scattered popcorn with both hands.\n
“U- Um! I’m okay! It’s fine!”(Yuunagi)\n
As I was saying this, he continued to quickly pick up the popcorn, seemingly unconcerned about his hands getting dirty and the gazes around him.\n
I was just standing there, not doing anything.\nHe, on the other hand, tossed the regathered cup of popcorn into the trash and walked over to the cashier to order something. A few seconds later, he returned with a new large size popcorn in hand and gave it to me, rendering me astonished.\n
“Now, let’s just put this behind us. I’m looking forward to the movie.”(Sakuraba)\n
“Eh….Oh, But!”(Yuunagi)\n
“Please don’t worry about it. I bought that with the points I get every time I watch a movie. I don’t really eat anything while watching movies, so I ended up with quite a lot of them. This just lets me get rid of them, so it isn’t a big deal.”(Sakuraba)\n
“Bu-, But!”(Yuunagi)\n
“It’s starting, you know.”(Sakuraba)\n
That was all he said before he quickly entered the movie theater.\n
Unable to chase after him, I entered the theater a bit after him and watched the movie as well. I felt like it was the most comfortable I had ever been watching a movie.\n
It’s just that I wasn’t really paying attention or processing the contents of the movie though.\n
After the movie ended, I searched the crowd for his figure, but I couldn’t find him at all.\n
So, after winter break ended and we began attending classes again, I searched for him.\nAnd I found him.\n
Yuunagi, who was illuminated by the evening sun, looked as beautiful as a painting as she beamed with pride.\n
Long, charming black hair, big yet attractive eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips.\n
Yuunagi, checking all the boxes of a beautiful woman while also being way too cute. To top it off, the situation seemed to enhance her beauty even more.\n
To be honest, although the anime movie was interesting, I didn’t really remember much of the situation she was talking about. And even if what she was saying is true, I don’t think it’s as big of a deal as she makes it out to be.\n
“…….But you probably experience kindness of this level all the time right? Since you’re as popular as you are. I think that falling in love with me just because of that one situation and without having any other contact beforehand is, excuse me for saying this but….It makes you seem easy.”(Sakuraba)\n
Hoping that she’d end up hating me, I said that.\n
“That’s true. But, at that time, my face was concealed you know?”(Yuunagi)\n
“Eh…..”(Sakuraba)\n
“It’s exactly as Sakuraba-kun says. If I got into trouble with this appearance, someone would surely help me. In fact, the people who bumped into me back then probably would’ve helped me as well. Because people like my face after all.”(Yuunagi)\n
In contrast with her words, Yuunagi’s expression seemed terribly sad as she said this. But I felt like I understood what she was trying to say.\n
“But on that day, when my appearance was concealed behind sunglasses, a mask, and a hood, the one that first reached out to help me was you, Sakuraba-kun. But even after that, your mind immediately wandered to the movie, making it seem as if you weren’t interested in me whatsoever.”(Yuunagi)\n
Yuunagi’s miserable face was already gone.\nNow, she wore a rather joyful and shy expression.\n
“That’s why…….That’s why I fell in love with you. If it’s you, you’d be able to properly look at the real me….is what I thought…..!”(Yuunagi)\n
“…..!”(Sakuraba)\n
A part of me wished I hadn’t asked.\nI had unconsciously gotten caught up in what she had been saying as well as her embarrassed gestures and expressions, and it had made my heart skip a beat.\n
“So I have a request Sakuraba-kun! Please go out with me!!”(Yuunagi)\n
Yuunagi turned directly towards me and clasped her hands together as if she was praying.\n
I was in trouble.\n
I had already rejected Yuunagi 3 times, saying “Sorry, I can’t go out with you.” And each time, she has refused to back down, saying “It’ll work out somehow.”\nAnd, judging from what’s happened so far, it seems unlikely that she’s just going to give up if I reject her again.\n
Yuunagi’s eyes reflected the evening sun, showing me just a hint of the tears welling up in them.\nSeeing this sight, I unconsciously crossed my arms.\nHow in the world do I get this girl to give up on me……\n
TLN: Bro give me a raise this chapter was wordy as shit, and there were a ton of things that were annoying to translate. And I was translating with a headache. Pain.\n
Anyway, enough complaining. As always, lmk if something’s off in the comments. As for the new series I’m picking up, I now have a series in mind, but I’ll keep it a secret until it releases(mostly cause idk if I’ll be able to start translating it for a bit). Hopefully I’ll be able to get another chapter in before the week is over though.\n\n\n