Chapter 102: Assigned Seating131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMgbe96JLa
Kouya and the others picked up their tickets at the theater lobby counter, their footsteps echoing faintly over the glossy floor. The smell of buttered popcorn and soda syrup hung in the air, mixing with the faint chill of the air conditioning. They grabbed two big buckets of popcorn and a few drinks before heading toward the main screening hall together, the buzz of chatter and footsteps following them inside.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxuXIpOwey
Although it was his first time in a movie theater, Kouya wasn’t particularly impressed. He glanced around as the group entered—the place was large, clean, and dimly lit, with the faint hum of a projector already running somewhere above. To him, it didn’t look much different from the lecture hall at school, just darker and with better seats.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdhMs6kert
It was a mid-sized cinema, and the audience had already filled more than half the room. The walls were lined with soft acoustic panels, and the faint scent of fabric cleaner mixed oddly with the buttery air.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGovHFoteHr
"Hmm, our seats are over here," Vigne said after checking the row numbers, leading the way with quiet confidence. "Everyone, sit according to your ticket number. No skipping seats."131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyplqFpgZR
The seats were toward the back, which was actually ideal for viewing. They weren’t too far to feel disconnected from the screen, nor too close to strain the neck. Except maybe for Rikka, who barely peeked over the seats in front of her.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKPdvWioZv
Anyone who’d been to a theater before knew the front rows were the worst choice. The closer you sat, the more your neck ached, and after two hours you’d feel like you just fought gravity itself. The back seats were the safe zone.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrUZqXUXcS
Then it began.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pSsdgIy6B
"Why do I have to sit next to this guy?" Gabriel complained, puffing her cheeks like a sulking child.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSifsK6fYR
Shut up! Kouya grumbled internally. As if I want to sit next to you either!131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5pryTtJkB
"You’re the one who picked the ticket, remember?" Vigne pointed out with a small sigh.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ud6QPDAY4
"I wasn’t paying attention when I picked!" Gabriel whined, blinking her big eyes and leaning toward her friend. "Vigne-chan, can we switch seats, please~?"131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAR0i02Ok16
"Denied," Vigne said immediately, her voice firm.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CpZ7WhjoE
"Ugh! Fine! Then I’ll just move somewhere else. There are tons of empty seats anyway."131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7sPKxZeWC
Vigne’s brow twitched, her perfectionist nature flaring. "No! You sit in your assigned seat! That’s what assigned seating means! Don’t mess with the order!"131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fiCeHfqSe
Gabriel groaned but ultimately gave in, dragging her feet dramatically before plopping into the seat beside Kouya. The final lineup went Gabriel, Kouya, Raphiel, Rikka, Kanna, and Vigne on the end.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fyc7kEvw9
After a few minutes, the lights dimmed and the hall fell silent. The bright screen illuminated everyone’s faces in shades of white and blue. The sound system came alive, rumbling faintly under their feet.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRHbuwKGZ0
Kouya leaned back in his chair. It was his first time seeing a movie on a big screen, and while he wasn’t that excited, there was a strange comfort in the atmosphere—the dark hall, the quiet murmur before the movie began, the shared sense of anticipation.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGG7VHc4L7N
On the screen appeared a cheerful, polite schoolgirl greeting classmates, smiling at neighbors, radiating that perfect model-student energy. So far, everything was peaceful.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32I6aMtzuu
Then she got home.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RR8OFkhnD
And instantly transformed into a snack-devouring, soda-chugging, game-addicted gremlin.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqh8DkjXTTb
Kouya’s eyebrows twitched. Director, what the hell kind of plot twist is this?131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEf3Z5y7s2e
The girl who had looked like a saint outside was now sprawled on the couch with chip crumbs all over her hoodie, laughing maniacally at a video game.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxo3ZRMGuxb
This wasn’t a character arc—it was a total personality switch!131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wUyAzqsaJ
"Ahh, no wonder Gabi-chan liked her. They’re practically twins," Raphiel whispered teasingly, eyes sparkling.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkqVDf8pJP
No, they’re not! Kouya screamed internally. At least the girl in the movie goes to school and studies! This one? Beyond saving!131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFdkPZ1oh8
Gabriel stuffed a handful of popcorn into her mouth. "Ugh! I want a brother like that too!" she said with a pout.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjKngibPPz
“Yeah right. What you really wan is an on-demand ATM.”131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUN1QBzo2k
"Tch. Isn’t it a big brother’s job to fulfill his sister’s wishes?" Gabriel retorted defensively.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMi6XcERPSV
That’s not a brother—that’s a slave, Kouya thought bitterly. Someone who spoils you until you forget how to function.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTzkg2tJvr
After a few minutes, Gabriel’s muttering faded. Kouya thought she’d finally settled down to actually watch the movie, but when he glanced sideways, he froze.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CQd9loWqP
She was asleep.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakV1EdXKS0
Right there, mid-scene, with the popcorn bucket still balanced on her lap. A lone popcorn kernel stuck to her cheek.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqW8irDPX4t
Unbelievable.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysheT5uYT1
Of course she’d fall asleep. She probably stayed up all night gaming again. And now she was drooling on the seat she’d fought to keep.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26kEKWuHkG
Kouya sighed. You’re wasting that ticket, you useless angel.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrUOSI821V
Her arm slipped, brushing against his. The faint warmth and softness through her sleeve made him tense instinctively. For a moment, he felt the smoothness of her skin—warm and unreal.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehk1ngdNps
Expressionless, he shifted away slightly and stared back at the screen.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8gp1Sw9bw
Then came a quiet giggle from his right.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCx7B2oneFo
A faint buzzing followed—his phone vibrating in his pocket.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbbIrhYdnj
He pulled it out carefully. Vigne had made everyone switch to silent mode earlier, so the buzz was the only sound. On the glowing screen, a message popped up from none other than Raphiel.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWc8vt2DmV
Raphiel: "Kouya-kun, Gabi-chan’s a really deep sleeper, you know~"131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWDuux1SIC
You’ve got to be kidding me. She’s sitting right there! Why text like some secret agent instead of whispering?131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrCefukTdz
Raphiel’s lips curved in amusement. In the dim light, she gracefully crossed one leg over the other. The faint rustle of her stockings caught his attention. Even under the theater’s shadows, her pale skin contrasted sharply with the black fabric, creating a line of perfect shape from her knee down to her ankle.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0l0LP9ph7
Kouya’s mind short-circuited for a moment. He suddenly remembered a random phrase from online: “Legs so perfect you could play with them for a year.”131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdRwfrYNLz
He shook his head hard. Focus, damn it!131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mvd4706zZ
He typed back one word: "What?"131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVedQHIrwJW
Her reply came instantly.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiS3VnCNmAh
Raphiel: "Didn’t Kouya-kun just think about lifting Gabi-chan’s skirt?"131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKax0egPwnv
He froze, jaw tightening. What kind of perverted angel is this?! He quickly typed back, Absolutely not!131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnkW4KdUhU
Raphiel: "It’s fine~ Nobody can see. If you wanted to touch her leg just a little, I wouldn’t tell anyone~"131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcFvmhrfxA
What the hell?! Did she think theaters were some lawless dark zone? There were cameras everywhere! He could already imagine the security room replaying footage of him getting arrested for “cinema indecency.”131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObqZK1mb3H
He glared. "You’re doing this on purpose."131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMRXgNJfFW
Raphiel tilted her head, her smile widening. "Oh no, of course not. Girls just love helping boys, that’s all."131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFqXhoIWKs
"Helping?! That’s your idea of helping?!"131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVKr8S7j9t
She giggled softly, leaning closer until her breath nearly brushed his ear. "You’re such a hopeless leg-lover, Kouya-kun. Acting all serious while your mind’s full of filthy thoughts—it’s adorable."131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Cio3zg0sE
Kouya’s face twitched. This angel was pure evil.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcR0P1rChag
"So why did Gabi-chan invite you, anyway?" she asked again, half-whispering.131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROvYI0wWXi
He sighed. "Ask her yourself."131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFQlbRtwr2
Truthfully, he had no idea. Gabriel’s halo had been black for ages—she was the last person he’d expect to suggest a group outing. A movie theater full of strangers didn’t fit her shut-in aesthetic at all. 131Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1RUEWE22K
1234 copyright protection127ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhew1KwfOg 尼

216.73.216.67