My Overly Anxious and Devoted Girlfriend Never Gives Up on Me - Chapter 1.9

It was around the beginning of winter break during my first year of high school, near the end of last year.

An animated film with a unique worldview and slightly grotesque depictions had been released.

I don’t usually watch many movies, but I happened to see the trailer online and fell in love at first sight. I absolutely had to see it in theaters.

I booked a ticket by myself and splurged on some popcorn.

Since I absolutely wanted to watch it alone, I hid my face as much as possible with sunglasses, a mask, and a hood while waiting for the doors to open.

It might sound arrogant coming from me, but I’m quite good-looking.

Because of that, when I go to places like this alone, I usually get approached by strangers, and of course, by people I know.

It’s not like I can’t brush off strangers or avoid people I know.

I’m used to that sort of thing.

But even I would prefer to go out without having to worry about any of that, if possible.

At the very least, when watching a movie I’ve been looking forward to for so long, I wanted to escape from prying eyes.

And in the end, I made it to the opening time without anyone speaking to me.

Once I got inside, I figured I’d really be safe.

I stood up from my seat and headed toward the gate.

But with my hood and sunglasses obstructing my vision, I immediately bumped into a group of three guys and spilled my popcorn.

At that moment, I regretted being greedy and buying the large size.

It wasn’t that I cared about not being able to eat it.

But if I stopped to clean it up, the movie would start.

Plus, I was afraid of the strange, pitying, or amused stares from the people around me.

If I’d left it, maybe the staff would have cleaned it up.

But I wasn’t confident I could enjoy the movie after that.

As I stood there frozen in a mild panic, someone spoke to me.

“Are you okay?”

I’d seen him before. A boy with delicate features and a gentle face.

Same school, same grade… I couldn’t remember his name.

He seemed to glance at the ticket in my hand.

Then, as if realizing something, he immediately crouched down and began gathering the scattered popcorn back into the paper cup with both hands.

“Ah, um! It’s fine! I’m okay!”

Even as I said that, he paid no mind to his hands getting dirty or the people watching, swiftly picking up the popcorn that was already trash.

I couldn’t do anything; I just stood there.

After throwing the cup in the trash, he went straight to the concession stand and ordered something.

He handed me a new popcorn of the same size while I stood there dumbfounded.

“Let’s forget this ever happened. I’m looking forward to the movie, aren’t you?”

“Huh… ah, um!”

“Don’t worry about it. I bought it with points I accumulate every time I watch a movie. I had no use for them and was at a loss. I don’t eat anything during movies, you see.”

“B-but!”

“It’s about to start.”

With that, he quickly headed into the theater.

Unable to chase after him, I entered the theater a little late and watched the movie.

It felt like the most enjoyable movie-watching experience I’d ever had.

Although, I didn’t really take in much of the content.

After the movie ended, I looked for him, but he was nowhere to be found.

When winter break ended and I returned to school, I searched for him right away.

And I found him.

Sakuraba Aoto-kun.

From that day on, my love began.

◆　◆　◆

“…And that’s the story.”

Yunagi-san puffed out her chest proudly, looking as beautiful as a painting bathed in the evening sun.

Long, glossy black hair; large, charming eyes; a straight nose; thin lips.

Yunagi-san was almost too cute, as if she met every condition for being a beauty.

What’s more, the setting—an after-school classroom—seemed to enhance her beauty even further.

That animated movie I saw back then was certainly interesting, but honestly, I didn’t remember the incident she described very well.

Besides, even if her story were true, I didn’t think it was as big a deal as she made it out to be.

“…But for someone like Yunagi-san, receiving that level of kindness must be pretty common. Falling for someone you had no connection with until then just because of that—no offense, but isn’t that a bit too easy?”

Thinking it was fine even if she hated me for it, I said something like that.

“That may be. But at that time, I was hiding my face.”

“Huh…”

“Just as Sakuraba-kun said, if I’d been in trouble with this face, surely someone would have helped me. Heck, the people I bumped into might have even helped clean up together. Everyone likes my face, after all.”

Her expression as she said this was terribly sad, contrary to her words.

But I thought I understood what she meant.

“But that day, the first one to help me—even with my sunglasses, mask, and hood on—was Sakuraba-kun. And yet, after that, you immediately focused on the movie, as if you had no interest in me.”

Yunagi-san wasn’t making a sad face anymore.

This time, she looked happier, or perhaps shy.

“So… so I ended up falling for you. I thought… I thought you would see me for who I really am…!”

“…!”

I wished I hadn’t heard that.

Unwittingly, her story, along with her embarrassed gestures and expression, made my heart skip a beat.

“So please, Sakuraba-kun! Go out with me!!”

Yunagi-san faced me directly, clasping her hands together as if in prayer.

This was trouble.

She had already countered my “Sorry, I can’t go out with you” three times with a “Please reconsider!”

And after hearing a story like that, I doubted she’d back down even if I refused normally.

Yunagi-san’s eyes, glistening with unshed tears, reflected the evening sun.

Under her gaze, I couldn’t help but cross my arms.

Just what would it take for her to give up on me?