The movie's ending song was about to finish playing, and the credits on the screen had rolled to the end.
The lights in the screening hall snapped back on, pulling the audience immersed in the darkness back to reality.
The ambiguous atmosphere that had been built up also dissipated in this light like a receding tide.
Shioyaki Lemon let go of the hand that had been tightly interlaced with Imaizumi Keita's and hid it under her thigh.
Her movement was a bit deliberately fast, and the forced calm expression on her face was instantly betrayed by the pink at the tips of her ears.
Imaizumi Keita turned his head to look at her cute appearance; his palm seemed to still retain the slight sweat from her nervousness.
He didn't get up immediately, leaning against the back of the chair as he broke the silence.
"I say, Lemon."
"W-what is it?"
Shioyaki Lemon's body stiffened slightly, her eyes drifting elsewhere, not daring to meet his gaze.
"Was the movie's ending really that moving?"
Imaizumi Keita's gaze fell on her still-reddened cheeks, his smile deepening a bit, "I see you still haven't... come out of the plot yet."
"N-no, I haven't!"
Shioyaki Lemon straightened her back and explained guiltily, "I don't really understand it, but... but I think that last scene was filmed so well!"
After she spoke, she was a little worried that Imaizumi Keita would bring up what just happened, so she hurriedly stood up from her seat and walked toward the exit of the screening hall.
"L-let's go! If we don't leave now, the exit will get blocked!"
Imaizumi Keita looked at her slightly panicked back and couldn't help but laugh.
Really, Lemon-chan...
She had already been proactive to that extent, yet now she was this shy.
However, this frank and clumsy cuteness was exactly what was most attractive about her.
He stood up and followed her at a leisurely pace.
The two of them walked out of the cinema one after the other, and the lively bustle of the mall's top floor rushed toward them.
Shioyaki Lemon walked ahead aimlessly, her pace much slower than usual.
She could feel Imaizumi Keita right behind her; the distance, neither too far nor too close, made it hard for her heart to calm down for a while.
Is Kin-chan following behind me and observing me?
Does he think my back doesn't look good...
Will he think my figure isn't that great, not as full as Anna's...
And just now in the cinema, I reached out so naturally, and even... interlaced our fingers for so long...
What does Kin-chan think about such things...
Thinking this, Shioyaki Lemon secretly glanced back with the corner of her eye, only to meet Imaizumi Keita's smiling eyes.
!!!
She was startled and quickly turned her head back.
"Um... do you want something to drink?"
Imaizumi Keita's voice came from behind, easing her embarrassment, "I'm a bit thirsty."
"Ah... O-okay!"
Shioyaki Lemon felt like she had been granted a massive reprieve and pointed to a juice shop not far away, "Then, let's go over there! My treat!"
The two stopped in front of a juice shop.
Imaizumi Keita ordered a lemonade, while Shioyaki Lemon asked for a glass of iced watermelon juice.
While waiting for their order, Shioyaki Lemon held the cold watermelon juice and turned her head to look at Imaizumi Keita.
He was holding his lemonade, watching the bustling crowd. The outline of his profile was particularly sharp under the bright lights of the mall.
He still had that somewhat nonchalant look about everything.
But for some reason, Shioyaki Lemon just felt that he seemed a little different today than before.
Was it her imagination?
As she was lost in thought, Imaizumi Keita turned his head and met her gaze.
"What's wrong?"
"N-nothing!"
Shioyaki Lemon hurriedly averted her gaze, put the straw in her mouth, and took a big gulp of watermelon juice.
The cold, sweet juice slid down her throat, calming her heart once more.
The two stood there, silently drinking their respective beverages.
After finishing their juice, the two walked downstairs side by side.
As they approached the intersection in front of the station, the number of pedestrians on the street gradually increased.
The green light began to flash, and the crowd instinctively quickened their pace.
Shioyaki Lemon looked at the five bobbing heads in front of her, then at Imaizumi Keita, who was still unhurried beside her, and a sudden impulse surged within her.
She remembered how she had instinctively grabbed his wrist outside the science museum before.
She also recalled what he had said to her in front of the station: "Next time, you can just hold my hand directly. I won't refuse, you know."
Once this thought emerged, it was difficult to completely suppress.
Shioyaki Lemon took a deep breath and made up her mind.
She didn't grab his wrist like last time. Instead, she reached out and placed her palm against his hand, which was hanging by his side.
Imaizumi Keita's steps paused slightly, and he looked at her with some surprise.
Shioyaki Lemon's cheeks were already flushed, but she still squeezed her fingers, one by one, into the spaces between his.
Eventually, their hands were interlocked, just like in the cinema earlier.
After doing all this, she looked across the road and said, feigning composure, "T-too many people. Let's walk faster."
Imaizumi Keita said nothing more, simply quickened his pace in response to her pull, joining the flow of people with her.
The two walked hand-in-hand all the way to the ticket gate at the station.
The evening glow painted the sky a warm orange-red, and the streetlights along the road lit up one by one.
"I... I'm here."
Shioyaki Lemon finally stopped, but still didn't let go of their clasped hands.
"Mm."
Imaizumi Keita nodded, and seeing that she had no intention of letting go, he offered, "Then I'll walk you home."
"N-no need!"
Shioyaki Lemon shook her head, then looked up, her eyes suddenly filled with many emotions.
Among these emotions were nervousness, anticipation, and a certain... courage not to miss out again.
Shioyaki Lemon felt that if they separated like this today,
Next time, she might never have this courage again.
In the game of love, she had already lost once due to hesitation and timidity.
This time, she didn't want to lose again.
Even if the final outcome was still unsatisfactory, she had to convey her feelings openly and honestly.
The gentle light of the streetlamp spilled onto them, their shadows overlapping.
Shioyaki Lemon calmed her chaotic thoughts, met Imaizumi Keita's slightly puzzled eyes, and launched her final, earnest offensive.
"Kin-chan, I like you."
She watched Imaizumi Keita's eyes widen slightly at her words, then added, "Not the 'friend' kind of like."
Imaizumi Keita's face showed obvious surprise. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
But Shioyaki Lemon didn't give him a chance to respond. She stood on her tiptoes, tilted her head back, and pressed her lips against his.
Currently, illustrations have been added for the daily outfits of characters from previous chapters. Below are the locations of the previous illustrations.
If there are any others that were missed before, please comment and provide feedback.
Of course, if you think my illustrations are too ugly or my outfit descriptions are too ugly, you can suggest better ones.
Because I don't really understand fashion...
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