75 – The Lady and the Prince. And then – 3
I saw a poster on the wall. There were all kinds of genres, but there wasn’t anything she particularly liked, and when I thought about it, I looked back at her, thinking that it had been a long time since I’d been to her theater.
“…… Shiraishi. “Is there something you want to see?”
“Yes!”
It was a little awkward just a moment ago, but after entering the building and looking around the theater, the tense atmosphere gradually relaxed.
“I want to see that up close!”
“No, not popcorn, but a movie….”
Her eyes lit up as she looked at the glass container full of popcorn. After she chose the movie, she planned to buy some snacks.
“…… “It doesn’t matter.”
The senior said with a grin.
“Because we gathered today for Shiraishi. “Let’s do whatever we can.”
“…… Yes.”
Ticket booths, claw machines, brightly lit arcades, etc… As she dealt with Shiraishi, who pointed at this and that and asked what this was, she forgot about the incident she had just experienced.
As Senpai said, today we decided to follow what she wanted to do and stood behind Shiraishi.
“Excuse me!”
We stand in line to buy popcorn and it’s our turn.
Shiraishi confidently spoke to her staff, pointing to her popcorn machine.
“Can you give me that?”
Even though she was such a person, she treated us kindly and her staff recommended a set menu that included her drink.
“I see. “If that’s the case, that’s what I’ll do.”
Shiraishi nodded and held out her card, not knowing what she was doing. After completing her payment, Shiraishi raised her hand as her employee moved to bag her popcorn.
“Hey… ! “There seems to be some mistake!”
I look at it anxiously, as if a child had been released into the water. My senior and I watched with the intention of going out and helping as soon as a problem occurred, but it seemed like it was already going to happen.
“I asked for that!”
“…… This one?”
Her staff looked puzzled as they looked at Shiraishi pointing to the popcorn machine.
“Yes! And the drink would be a non-alcoholic cocktail. “Where’s the bartender?”
“Shi, Shiraishi!”
After watching her with her mouth open, I decided I couldn’t go any further and walked out. I leave her tilting her head behind her and finish the calculation for her. I took the popcorn and drinks and looked back at them.
“Oh my. “You couldn’t buy the whole thing.”
“…… Huh. Of course.”
He held out a container full of caramel popcorn. Shiraishi took it, stretched out his fingers, carefully grasped one, and put it in his mouth.
“……… How is it?”
I asked her as she closed her eyes and murmured, savoring the taste of her.
“This…” “This taste!”
Shiraishi opened his eyes and shouted.
“It’s delicious!”
“…… “Then I’m glad.”
It felt like introducing Earth’s civilization to people from another world. If you think about it, Shiraishi lives in a different world from Nana-senpai.
“This is what it tasted like! Sweet… Salty… !”
But I’ve never even eaten popcorn.
I wonder how well I must have grown up to be able to see this place for the first time.
I watched Shiraishi’s back as he repeatedly picked up popcorn one by one and brought it to his mouth, looking at the posters lined up on the wall.
“Is the manager doing something like this?”
The senior said with a chuckle.
“Yes. Tell me how to use the bus… “Or try walking home yourself.”
“I’m happy, but… “The manager looks like he’s having a hard time.”
“That’s why I asked my senior for help.”
There are some parts that are a bit difficult for me alone. I thought that if an emergency were to arise, my senior would be able to help me in a strong way.
“…… I was sorry about earlier. “For causing such a commotion because of me.”
The senior muttered calmly.
“No… “Why is that your fault?”
I heard that while you were taking a break from club activities due to an injury, you accepted a request and did an interview with a magazine. She had forgotten because it was quite a while ago. I found out that the magazine came out just yesterday. It’s not just a simple interview, it’s also the content of her main page, which contains several pictorial photos.
“I wasn’t interested in such popular topics, so I didn’t know much… “I had no idea it was such a famous place.”
The magazine itself was quite famous.
When she passed a large bookstore on her way here, she was startled by the sight of her senior there. On the large poster was Eri Takase, dressed in stylish clothes and with a haughty expression. On top of her counter were piles of magazines with her on the cover.
“No… That means it’s doing well. “Isn’t that a good thing?”
It felt quite unfamiliar to meet a senior like that who I had only seen at school and through her club activities.
While looking at it, Shiraishi casually mentioned that she had also modeled for this magazine.
“Now that I think about it, walking around like this seems like walking around shouting, ‘Please recognize us.'”
People passing by glance at Shiraishi in a fancy dress.
And right next to me is a famous sports player who modeled for a magazine that only features popular stars.
“…… “Aren’t we going to be able to hang out together like this next time?”
My senior became so famous.
She said with a playful smile, but her senior shook her head.
“Why do you think that?”
“…… That’s right….”
“Manager. “Don’t worry, that will never happen.”
From noble mtl dot com
“……… ….”
I wasn’t even worried.
It felt a little strange to be called manager at a time like this.
“I chose it!”
At that time, Shiraishi turned to us and shouted.
“Oh, really?”
“Yes! “I want to see this!”
The movie Shiraishi chose was the one attached at the end among the many, many posters.
In other words, it doesn’t reach everyone’s attention. In terms of popularity, it was a movie that seemed to be the last priority.
“……… “It’s an old classic.”
Looking at that, the senior muttered.
It doesn’t matter what I see….
“Romeo and Juliet?”
“Yes! “It’s my favorite play!”
“…… Well, the seats look spacious. “Should we do that?”
It was a foreign film from a long time ago that was recently re-released.
The time slot was right, and it seemed like it wasn’t that popular, so we easily bought tickets and took a seat.
“Minsu, is this a theater exclusively for us?”
“No… “We’re probably the only ones who made reservations.”
Three digits in the middle.
I was in the middle and the girls sat on both sides.
I wasn’t specifically trying to create a harem situation, and this was also a position chosen by Shiraishi. Because it was my first time using a kiosk.
“The seats are narrow… “It’s a little uncomfortable!”
Shiraishi said with a smile. So it wasn’t a complaint, but in her case, it was really pure appreciation for this place.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“This is the movie theater that Minsu was talking about… “It’s a place like this where friends get together and watch the same movie!”
“That’s right.”
Although there was trial and error, she was glad to see Shiraishi happy.
“This is my first time… “This kind of experience.”
“Okay. Next time, let’s come with Haruna and Yuuki.”
“No, it’s the same in movie theaters….”
She said while looking at the large screen that showed nothing.
“Watching a movie with someone.”
“……… ….”
I have never seen a movie with someone else.
It was a confession that somehow left me speechless.
More than just that, I feel like I can vaguely see her past.
“Ah… “All the lights are out!”
The theater darkens and the screen lights up.
I packed a lunch and rode the bus. She felt a strange feeling while watching Shiraishi, who said that it was her first time watching a movie together.
Yes, I knew what kind of person she was.
I was roughly predicting the upcoming developments.
Akira Shiraishi is the daughter of a famous conglomerate. She has a connection from her past with Yuuki and she likes him.
A proud and arrogant woman who lives in a different world from that of ordinary people.
After experiencing her right next to her, what I knew was not wrong.
“……… Wow… !!”
Her child-like innocence and joy with her eyes shining every time was also a part of her that I didn’t know about.
There was nothing special about the movie; it followed the story of a popular play that everyone knows.
Two conflicting families. The tragic ending of the two men and women who belonged there.
Even if we haven’t really seen it, we know this romance.
So, I didn’t think there was anything to be very moved or impressed by the scene.
But
“……… Black….”
At the climax. I turned my head when I heard the sob while watching the scene of Juliet committing suicide in the face of Romeo’s death.
“…… Sniff… Ugh… Wow….”
Shiraishi was crying.
Well, even if it doesn’t touch me, I think it could be a touching movie for someone else.
“……… Hi… Ugh….”
Should I say that it is not at the level of shedding tears while watching a sad movie?
“Well… Boo….”
Red cheeks and tears flowing non-stop. I was shocked to see her sniffling, making choking noises, and looking ready to wail loudly on the spot.
“…… Poetry, Shiraishi. Are you okay?”
To the point where I lowered my voice and asked without realizing it.
As she was crying profusely, I held out a tissue to her and looked at her complexion.
“Ah… ….”
Only then did Shiraishi look at me and take the tissue, then said while rubbing his eyes.
“…… Excuse… “You showed your ugly side.”
“No… Things like that happen, too.”
“…… I… “Can I go to the bathroom for a moment?”
The movie was almost over.
When Shiraishi asked that question, I looked at the senior on the other side.
Over there, he was dozing with his arms crossed and his head bowed.
“…… Come with me.”
“Yes? There’s no need for that….”
“You don’t know the location. “I will guide you.”
So, I quietly leave the theater with her.
We can’t go to the bathroom together. I’m sure something won’t happen in there.
I guess Shiraishi was embarrassed to see me crying, with tears streaming down his face. After a while, Shiraishi came out of the bathroom and faced me, giving me an embarrassed look.
“…… Come on, let’s just go in. “Thank you for your patience.”
“No.”
I follow her as she hurries ahead.
“Shiraishi. There’s no need to be shy. “Anyone can do that in sad scenes.”
“……….”
I said that before she opened the door to her theater.
“…… One thing. “Can I ask you something?”
“Huh?”
She turned her head slightly and looked at me.
“Mr. Minsu… ….”
“Yes.”
The eyes move downward as if they have nowhere to go.
“No matter what happens…….”
Nod your head.
Shiraishi hesitated, but then opened his mouth with difficulty.
“Can you stay next to me?”
“……… Uh?”
I was dumbfounded by that completely unexpected question.
Looking at her quietly, Shiraishi’s face was tinged with embarrassment.
“Ah, ah, ah… !!!”
She said as she opened the theater door wide.
“Excuse me… ! Excuse me! “Please forget what I just said!”
I quietly watched her back as she hurried inside.
Without fully understanding the intent of her question… I followed behind him slowly.