"Then, Fujiwara, you stay here for now. I'll go get my ticket."
Hayasaka Ai smiled brightly.
"Okay~"
Fujiwara Chika didn't notice the subtle shift in Hayasaka's expression. Even now, she believed her friend didn't know Takamine Rinji at all—maybe hadn't even t him before.
As soon as Hayasaka turned around, the cheerful look on her face disappeared, replaced with her usual calm and distant expression.
She walked to the ticket counter and asked about the screening that would start in 30 minutes.
When she saw the reserved seating map, her eyes narrowed in thought.
'Fujiwara's seat is F-17, which ans Rinji must be next to her in either F-16 or F-18… F-17 and F-18 are marked red, while the others around them are still blue. That confirms it—Rinji is sitting in F-18. In that case…'
"I'd like to book a ticket for that showing, seat F-19."
"Of course. Thank you for your purchase."
The staff mber swiftly processed her ticket. Hayasaka took it and slipped it into her bag.
Now all she had to do was wait for the movie to start.
---
Takamine Rinji had already bought popcorn and two drinks. He and Fujiwara Chika were now inside the screening room, waiting for the movie.
The place wasn't even half full. It was a small romance film—no blockbuster hype, not many people even knew about it.
Rinji wasn't interested in love stories at all. If it were sci-fi, maybe he'd care. But small-budget romance movies didn't move him in the slightest.
For most guys and girls, watching a movie together was just a way to spend ti and maybe spark sothing more—but to Rinji…
He really was just here to watch a movie.
Even if the person beside him was a drop-dead cute girl like Fujiwara Chika—or a guy like Ishigami or Shirogane—as long as the movie was good, he didn't care.
"I miscalculated…"
"You don't like this kind of movie, Takamine-kun?"
"Sothing like that. Romance films just don't do it for ."
"Ehh~ I think this is a good opportunity to learn from experience! You could imitate the male lead's actions in real life!"
Chika grinned.
"Bringing ideas from fiction into reality rarely works. One of my bros—Ishigami—has finished over a hundred gal gas, and he's still single."
"...That's just a hopeless shut-in. It'd be a miracle if he got a girlfriend."
Ishigami who is clueless, got roasted for free.
"Ehh~ what a coincidence~"
A cheerful voice rang out next to them. Rinji and Chika both turned to see Hayasaka Ai walking toward them with a ticket in hand.
Rinji: "…"
His eyes widened in surprise. He definitely hadn't expected Hayasaka to show up here.
"Oh! Hayasaka! You bought a ticket for the sa showing?"
"Yup~"
Hayasaka waved the ticket in her hand and sat down in the empty seat right next to Rinji.
"What a coincidence~"
Of course, it was no coincidence at all. She had deduced Rinji's seat and booked the one right beside him.
"Wow, I didn't expect you to be sitting in the sa row as us."
"I just happened to get a seat here."
Now the seating arrangent was: Fujiwara Chika on one side, Rinji in the middle, and Hayasaka Ai on the other.
"Hayasaka, you probably haven't t Takamine-kun yet, right? He's…"
"Oh, we've known each other for a long ti," Hayasaka said with a smile. "Isn't that right, Rinji?"
Rinji: "Yeah. We've known each other since four years ago."
"Four years ago? That would've been when Hayasaka was still in middle school, right?" Chika said in surprise. "So you already knew each other back then?"
"Yup."
Hayasaka answered calmly—but her eyes were locked onto Chika's expression.
'I revealed that I've known Rinji for a long ti, even called him by na—but Chika didn't react oddly. Looks like they really aren't dating… Makes sense. Chika is super cute and popular, but she's rarely seen as a romantic target.'
Whoosh—
The lights in the theater suddenly dimd, and the large screen lit up with comrcials. The movie was about to begin.
Love Refrain was a small-budget romance film about a young couple navigating the ups and downs of love.
Chika was very into romantic plots—she leaned forward as soon as the movie began, eyes glued to the screen, nodding her head repeatedly.
As for Rinji—he wasn't drawn in at all. Bored, he took out his phone and started playing with it.
Hayasaka, anwhile, kept sneaking glances at Rinji as she watched the film.
After her unexpected entrance and bold move of sitting beside him, he had shown little more than surprise—he had remained completely calm, which left her a bit disappointed.
She was fairly confident that Rinji and Chika weren't dating—but whether she still had a chance was a whole different question.
Feigning casual conversation, she said, "Hey, Chika, did you know? According to reports about this movie, there's a 50% chance that people who watch it together will beco a couple afterward."
"Ehh? Really?"
"That's what the report said." Hayasaka smiled and glanced subtly at Rinji.
The comnt seed aid at Chika, but was clearly ant for Rinji. She wanted to see how he would react.
But before Rinji could say anything—
"Fifty percent chance of becoming a couple just by watching a movie together…? Then doesn't that an and Takamine-kun might actually beco a couple?"
Hayasaka: "…"
'No one asked you to say that out loud!'
Still playing with his phone, Rinji replied, "Probably just marketing hype. Just hear it and don't take it seriously."
"Y-Yeah, you're probably right."
As ti passed, the hour-long film reached its final act.
In the last scene, the couple embraced in the sunset and kissed each other.
"Ooohhh!!!"
Chika's eyes lit up—clearly loving this scene, eyes glued to the screen.
Hayasaka's cheeks turned slightly red, and she murmured, "I wonder… what a kiss feels like."
She turned her gaze to Rinji—
"ZZZZZZZZZZ…"
"YOU FELL ASLEEP!?"
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