Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093094088809262/episodes/16818622171075815637
The cinema seemed to have been recently renovated and was a different world from when I visited before.
The exterior walls were covered with glossy panels, and the automatic door at the entrance revealed the opulence of the interior through the glass.
Stepping into the lobby, I saw chandelier-like lights casting a soft glow and a deep red carpet on the floor.
The sweet aroma of popcorn mingled with the smell of coffee wafting in from somewhere, creating a strangely uplifting atmosphere.
“Oh, wow. It’s been a while since I’ve been here, but I didn’t realize how gorgeous it had become.” I muttered to myself as I looked around.
“What kind of genre do you like, Senpai?” Aira asks, tilting her head beside me.
“Me? Mystery, I guess.And action isn’t bad either.” I answered, to which aira widened her eyes and laughed a little.
“Heh, mystery, huh? It seems like it would be too difficult for me to use my brain, so I’ll pass ! Let’s go with action !” She rushed toward the digital board with the screening schedule.
Akin -san followed with a blank expression on her face.
On the other hand, Yua chan was holding my hand and gazing at the gorgeous atmosphere of the movie theater.
Her eyes, which are usually nearly expressionless, are sparkling today.
She looked up at the large chandelier and stamped her foot a little harder as if to check the softness of the carpet.
I can feel her hearts pounding at her first visit to a place she has never been before.
“You’ve never been to a movie theater before, have you?” When I gently spoke to her, she nodded her head a little shyly.
“…Yes. It’s amazing.” she murmured in a small voice.
Her eyes followed the people walking in the lobby and the colorful movie posters on the walls.
“Yeah, it’s amazingly beautiful.” I said, and I couldn’t help but reach out and pat her head with my hand, just for the cuteness of it.
Then Yua chan’s cheeks puffed up a little and she said, “…I’m not a kid.” she protested.
The expression on her face was so adorable that I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
“I see, I’m sorry,” I apologised, taking her hand again and heading towards Aira and the others.
Aira and Akino san were excitedly discussing the list of movies being shown.
“Isn’t this good !?” Aira pointed to the latest action movie.
A poster showing a flashy explosion scene caught my attention.
“Oh, I’ve seen that series too.” I said, and Aira turned to me with shining eyes.
“Seriously !? Then let’s go with this one !” As she was getting excited, suddenly my hand was tugged. I looked down and saw Yua chan pointing at another poster with her small finger.
“…Hm? What’s wrong?” I asked, and she said, hesitating a little.
“…I want to see that.”
At the tip of her finger was a poster for a horror movie, no matter how you look at it.
An eerie figure floating against a dark background, the title text as red as blood.
Are you serious…?
“….Eh, Y-Yua chan. That’s…um…the scary one, you know? I’m actually not good at scary things…” When I looked at Aira and Akino san as if asking for help, they both looked away from me.
Aira even pretends to whistle exaggeratedly, but no sound is being produced.
Yua chan tilted her head a little after hearing my words and turned her sparkling eyes upward.
She says in a small but confident voice, “You’ll be fine because I’m here.”
The sheer cuteness of her words hit me as if my heart had been shot out of my chest.
How could I refuse?
“….Okay. Yeah, let’s go see it…..” I muttered as if giving up, and Yua chan muttered softly, “Yay” and shook my hand again with a look of satisfaction.
Thus, Aira and Akino san were going to watch an action movie, and Yua chan and I were going to watch a horror movie.
◇
We bought our tickets and grabbed drinks and popcorn, but my stomach was already churning.
I felt as if I were a prisoner waiting for my death sentence.
Yua chan, next to me, picks the popcorn with her tiny hands and repeatedly tells me, “Don’t worry, I’m here.”
Each time, I respond with a weak “Thank you…”
I was a miserable 23-year-old being cheered up by an 11-year-old girl.
The lobby of the movie theater was crowded with families and couples chatting happily.
Yua chan looks at them with interest, and then, perhaps feeling hungry, she puts a piece of popcorn in her mouth.
I can tell by her little gestures that she is excited to be in a movie theater for the first time.
Her hand gripping the straw of her drink is a little strong, or she lets out a small “Wow…” whenever she looks at the poster.
It was refreshing to see her in such an innocent mood, as she usually doesn’t show much emotion.
Eventually time came and we headed to our respective theaters.
Holding hands with Yua chan, we made our way through the dark corridors, and she started to walk a little as if she were skipping.
She couldn’t contain her excitement before the movie started.
As I watched her, I thought to myself, [She’s so cute…] but at the same time I was terrified of what was about to happen.
◇
What appeared on the screen was a horror movie about a creepy girl who calls herself the stepsister and leads a family to destruction.
It is the type of film that surprises the audience with sudden loud noises and grotesque images rather than a story.
Within a few minutes after the movie started, my body jumped and I involuntarily gripped Yua chan’s hand tightly.
“….Are you okay?” she asks in a small voice.
The dark light from the screen illuminates her face, and strangely enough, she does not look scared, but rather curious.
She looks curious rather than frightened. I lied and leaned closer to her, clinging to her. My shoulders jumped at every loud sound, and my eyes squeezed shut at the scary scenes.
Yua chan’s hand was small and soft, my only relief.
As the movie progressed, my heart continued to race and cold sweat trickled down my back.
When the scene where the stepsister holds the knife in her hand, I let out an involuntary scream, and Yua chan giggles.
She whispered, “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.” and I felt a mixture of pity and gratitude.
After an hour and a half, the movie finally came to an end.
I walked out of the theater, exhausted and dizzy on my feet, supported by Yua chan.
She appears calm and has a rather satisfied smile on her face.
What kind of 11-year-old can enjoy a horror movie….I was inwardly dismayed, but her dependability soothed me a little.
Aira and Akino san’s movie was supposed to run for two hours, and I had about a half hour left.
As I was about to sit down on a small sofa in the lobby, Yua chan tapped her knee and silently appealed, “I’ll give you a lap pillow.”
The gesture was so natural that I wondered for a moment if she would be sad if I refused.
[…Isn’t this a reportable offense?] I thought to myself.
“…I’ll use your lap,” I murmured, and gently rested my head on it.
“…Yes. There there,” Yua chan said, stroking my head with her small hand.
Normally I’m the one comforting her, but today it’s completely the opposite.
I close my eyes and feel the softness of her lap and the warmth of her small hand comforting me, calming me down a little.
“….Thank you.”
“…No, no. I’m always grateful for your help.” she replies softly.
I was about to doze off, soothed by her voice.
“Oh my〜, meeting in a place like this is quite a coincidence.”
I heard a voice that sent a chill down my spine.
The voice sounded familiar, but I had a bad feeling about it.
When I sat up, I found Detective Shindo standing there, dressed in casual clothes.
He was wearing jeans and a casual jacket, as if he was really enjoying his private life.
“…There’s no way it’s a coincidence.” I spat out, and Shindo grinned.
“No, no, it’s really just a coincidence. Even I have my days off.”
“….If it is a coincidence, we’ll leave.” I was about to stand up when he took a step toward me.
“You’re free to do that. But…can I just ask you one question? That girl’s father…seems to have gone missing. I was wondering if you knew anything about him.”
My heart jumped.
Yua chan’s grip on my hand unconsciously tightens and she looks up at me, a little surprised.
Shindo’s eyes are smiling, but there is a sharp light in them, as if he is trying to see right through me.
All I could do was reply briefly, “….I don’t know.”
“I see. I’m glad to hear it.” Shindo turned on his heel with an eerie smile on his face.
As I watched his back, I felt a cold sweat break out all over my body.
I hurriedly called Aira and left the place, pulling Yua chan by the hand.
I checked Shindo’s movements from afar and saw that he was indeed going into the movie theater.
I don’t know if it was for personal reasons or if they were up to something, but I decided to keep my distance.
I met up with Aira and Akino san and left the movie theater as quickly as I could.
Although there was no sign that we were being tracked, the four of us went home to my place, unable to release the tension.
Looking at my watch, it was a little after 16:00.
When I arrived home, the buzzing in my heart did not subside.
I couldn’t get that detective’s eerie smile out of my mind, and my grip on Yua chan’s hand was getting a little tighter.
She looked at me with such concern and asked, “…Are you all right?” in a small voice.
“Ah…yeah, I’m fine. Thank you.” I replied with a smile, but inside my mind, Shindo’s words were going round and round.
I couldn’t help but feel that a shadow was creeping into our peaceful daily life.
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