06: The Late Summer Movie Night — Romance Lurks in the Shadows
Near the end of summer vacation, Miu invited us over for what had somehow become a regular gathering of 〝the usual suspects〟 for a movie night and home party.
──Ding-dong!
Right around snack time in the afternoon, each of us showed up at Miu’s house, arms laden with snacks and juice.
“Hiiiii! Come on in~ ♩”
““Pardon the intrusion!””
“Welcome, everyone ♡ Miu-chan is still changing, but I’m sure she’ll be out in a second. Why don’t you head into the living room and wait?”
Momo-nee welcomed us inside.
(Wait, come to think of it... that whole incident at the summer festival... I’ve had nothing but Miu on the brain, but it all started because of that contact with Momo-nee, right? But this woman... does she just not remember? She’s acting so nonchalant... Well, if she’s not worried, I guess I shouldn’t be either...)
Since it was their first time at Miu’s place, the other two were looking around restlessly, their eyes darting from one thing to the next.
“Morishita-kun, Sana-chan, just sit wherever you like! Make yourselves at home and relax, okay?”
Momo-nee spoke to them with a gentle smile.
“I think it’s just wonderful that you’re all getting together to watch a movie. It sounds like so much fun ♩”
“Miu was the one who suggested it. She wanted to make some memories before summer break ended... so that’s why we’all here today! Oh, would you like to join us, Momo-nee? The more the merrier, after all!”
“Eh, me...? I wouldn’t be in the way...?”
“In the way?! As if that’s even possible!!”
“Morishita-kun. Your voice is too loud. ...Yes ♡ It is exactly as Miyata-kun says! Please join us, Miu-chan’s sister ♡”
It seemed the motion was passed unanimously. Everyone really did love Momo-nee...
Just then, Miu—who must have finished changing—emerged into the living room.
“She’s right! Watch the movie with us, Onee-chan~ ♩ I mean, I was kind of planning on you being there from the start...?”
“Oh, really~? I was thinking about going out, but... maybe I’ll join the party then?”
“Alright! Now we’re talking!”
“You seem awfully happy about this, Morishita.”
“Damn straight! The more girls, the better!!”
“I see... You really are a piece of work...”
──And so, the late summer movie night began.
“I’m tellin’ ya! When you think of summer, it’s gotta be that! That!”
“What...? Don’t go suggesting anything weird, Morishita-kun.”
“W-Weird...?”
“You know... like some kind of pervy anime?”
“Gah!? Miu-chan, your image of me is literally just 'creep,' isn't it?!”
“Hah... It’s a bit late for that, Morishita. Just accept your fate and give up.”
“Pff... Ahaha!”
With Miu’s sudden burst of laughter as the trigger, Momo-nee began to giggle as well.
Tachibana-san must have found it funny too; she pressed both hands over her mouth, her shoulders shaking silently.
Once the laughter died down, Miu brought up the streaming site’s lineup on the screen.
“Okay, what should we watch? I’m feeling something romantic~ ♩”
“Hmm, I vote for a hero series.”
“Horror! When I said that, I meant a horror movie!!”
“I... have an anime I would like to recommend ♡”
“Ugh... this is tough... Onee-chan! onee-chan, what do you want to watch?”
“Eh! Me...? Hmm, nothing really comes to mind...? I’m happy with whatever everyone else wants to see ♩”
“That’s the most difficult answer possible!”
“Well, how about we watch Miu’s choice first since she organized this? We’ve probably got time for two, so since it’s summer... maybe the second one can be a horror movie...!”
“Shintarou, you’re a lifesaver! Spoken like a true mediator!”
Since when did I become the mediator...?
Regardless, the movie choice was finally settled, and the long-awaited home party preparations were complete. We spread the snacks across the low table in the living room, creating a perfect atmosphere.
“Now then, the screening will begin... Today’s feature is... 〝Reunion: I Couldn’t Say Goodbye〟!”
Miu, in a better mood than usual, finished her introduction and promptly flopped down right next to me.
“You’re bad with horror movies, aren't you? I’ll sit next to you so you don’t feel lonely.”
“Hah... thanks.”
(W-What is with her... If she wanted to sit next to me, she could have just said so...)
Still, girls really do love romance movies... Personally, watching stuff like this just makes me feel embarrassed. It’s a genre I’d probably never touch on my own.
It’s always nothing but beautiful people, cheesy lines that make your skin crawl, and sickeningly sweet flirting.
And just as expected... every guy on screen was a top-tier heartthrob.
Enchanted sighs escaped both Miu and Momo-nee.
Tachibana-san, on the other hand, looked like she was struggling to hide her excitement over the cute lead actress... Oh, and Morishita was doing the same.
Honestly, these snacks are way too good.
I was so focused on eating that I was paying more attention to the food than the movie; my hand just wouldn't stop reaching for more.
“...Hey, you. Your crunching is annoying.”
Miu glared at me from the corner of her eye.
“Sorry, sorry... my bad...”
Figuring it would be rude not to watch at all, I finally turned my attention to the screen.
The plot was apparently 〝a love story depicting the complicated love triangle between three childhood friends.〟
(Three childhood friends... Why does that phrase sound so familiar?)
〝Hey, Ryu-kun... in the end, who do you like more? Me, or Ayu-chan?〟
〝I mean, choosing between you... I can't...〟
〝Ryu-kun, why don't we just start dating already?〟
〝Eh? I wonder... if I should...〟
(Wha-wha-wha! What is with this protagonist?! He’s spineless as hell! This guy isn't a man! Just pick one of them already!)
“Hey... doesn't this guy kind of remind you of yourself, Miyata?”
“Hah?! In what world?! There’s no way I’m like him!”
“Hey... Seriously, you’re being too loud! This is a good scene!”
Miu was clutching a pile of tissues, tears streaming down her face.
──I have no idea which part was supposed to be the tear-jerker.
Apparently, this movie was part of a duology, and the story came to a quiet close after about an hour and a half.
“Hey, we have to watch the sequel together too, okay?”
Miu pleaded with everyone, her eyes still watery.
To be honest, I was kind of done with it.
I barely even remembered what happened, but if I said that out loud, she’d kill me, so I kept my mouth shut.
“Miu-chan, you’re crying too much~ ♡ Your nose is all red, it’s cute ♡”
“Hnnk! So what! You were crying too, Onee-chan!”
Even while blowing her nose loudly, she didn't miss a beat in their sisterly bickering. It was a familiar sight.
“Man, you two are so close it’s adorable ♡ So this is what a sister fight looks like ♡ Hehe...”
“Morishita-kun, you’re dreaming too much. A real sister fight is not something you want to see. The moment they start fighting over a single item, it’s like a battle between two apex predators. It’s life or death.”
“I-Is that so...”
“Yes. Well, that is knowledge I gained from anime, though.”
“The hell? I feel like I might actually get along with you, Tachibana-san.”
“What?! ...Me, with Morishita-kun?! I decline.”
“Why?!”
Watching the two otakus chat away, I felt a strange certainty that they might actually hit it off.
“Alright, time for the main event... Let’s move on to the horror movie!”
Miu began the setup as if she’d been waiting for this moment.
“Nooo~! I'm scared! Shin-chaaan!”
Momo-nee came flying in from out of nowhere.
She sat down right next to me and clung to my arm tightly, refusing to let go.
“Hey! You two!! Quit flirting, would you?!”
Miu, the vanguard of the group, immediately barked out a warning.
“But~ ♩ I’m really bad with ghosts and scary things~ ♡ It’s okay if I stay next to Shin-chan, right~?”
“I-I don’t mind, but...”
“...Muuu.”
Miu, who had been in a great mood just a second ago, puffed out her cheeks and glared at me.
(How many times has this happened already?! Like I said, it’s not my fault!)
“Oh, I know! Why don't we make the room pitch black? Let's close the curtains and everything.”
“Morishita-kun, you actually have a good idea for once~ ♩”
“Hehe ♡ Hey, can I sit next to Miu-chan too?”
“My left is Shintarou and my right is Sana! We’re all full up!”
“N-No way~!”
“Morishita-kun, would you like to sit next to me? If you’re that scared, I suppose it can’t be helped.”
Tachibana-san was being unusually kind to Morishita... I guess that otaku talk really did open her heart a bit. My intuition is sharp today.
“Tachibana-san, thank you! I can't believe I thought you were a mean person... I was so wrong.”
“'I can't believe,' you say...? Actually, I take it back! Go away!”
“I told you! Morishita, you always say one word too many!”
“Hehe ♡ Everyone, quiet now ♡ Look, is everything ready~?”
It was already past 6:00 PM──with summer drawing to a close, the sky was already beginning to stain with the colors of dusk. The curtains in the living room were shut tight, sealing away every trace of light.
“Whoa, it’s way darker than I thought. The atmosphere is crazy...”
“Yeah, I can barely even see your faces.”
“The type of horror where you can’t see the entity but it scares you with sounds is the worst. You never know when it’s coming.”
“I get it~, the jump-scare types are definitely the scariest~”
I see, so Momo-nee is bad with jump scares... Wait, even though I’m acting tough, I’m getting pretty freaked out myself. But this is my chance to show some backbone. And yet... I was so scared I could only watch with my eyes half-closed.
Everyone must have been terrified because before I knew it, we were all huddling together in a big clump.
“──Wha!! You scared me... Why are you looking at me?”
Illuminated by the light of the TV, Miu’s face had turned toward me, looking pale and ghostly.
“What do you mean 'why'... I was just curious if you were actually watching, so I looked...”
“That’s bad for my heart... please don't.”
But that peace was short-lived──as the story reached its climax, the moment arrived.
“Aaah!! It’s coming! I feel it coming!! Tachibana-san, save meeee!!”
“W-Wait, Morishita-kun! Get off me!”
“Oh crap! Shintarou~!”
“Shin-chan, let me hide~!!”
(Hey, hey!! I’m being hugged from both sides... or rather, I’m basically being crushed!!)
“It’s cominggggg!”
“Aaaaaahhhhh!”
──CLANK.
“Eh? What? Was that some kind of surprise...?”
Just as the movie hit its peak, the TV suddenly went black.
“Wait, wait, the TV turned off!”
“Miu-chan, calm down...! Wait... that’s weird... the remote isn't working either...”
“Hold on, I’m scared!! Onee-chan, where are you! It’s too dark, I can't see anything!”
“I’m right here! Look! Miu-chan! I’m right in front of you. Don’t be scared... I’ll give you a hug...”
“Eh?! Onee-chan, who are you talking to?! You’re reaching out but there’s nobody in front of me?!”
“...Eh? Then who is... right... here............?”
“KYAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!”
──THUD!!
What?! I just heard a massive, dull sound! What the hell is happening where I can't see?!
“Onee-chan, are you okay?!”
“I’m fine! I don’t know what it was, but I got scared and shoved it away...! Is everyone else alright?”
“Guh-hoh... It’s... Morishita... Status: confirmed... survival... complete............ Ugh...”
“Morishita-kun?! Are you okay?!”
“You alright, man?! I can’t see a damn thing!”
“I’m... fine... More importantly, Big Sister... was so warm... and soft... I’ll never forget that moment in heaven... Please... don’t forget... me... ack...”
──Flop.
“Well, I don’t know where he is, but we can probably just leave him be.”
“Right, Morishita-kun will be fine, right?”
“Yeah, leave me behind...”
──Flop.
“He says he’s fine. For now, let’s try to get the lights on.”
“Yeah──wait, huh? The lights aren't coming on either... Looks like a power outage.”
Seriously...? What are the odds of a blackout happening at this exact moment?
I thought power outages during horror movies only happened in anime.
“Still, that was terrifying. I haven't felt my spine chill like that in forever.”
Miu started talking while using her phone’s flashlight to light up her own face. That in itself was pretty creepy.
“I... was so shocked I couldn't even make a sound... I think I’m done with horror movies for a while...”
“I know, right...? Sana-chan, you were scared, weren't you? Big Sister will give you a hug... come here ♡”
“Wa... ♡ So warm... ♡ I think I want to watch another horror movie now ♡”
What a simple girl.
Momo-nee’s all-encompassing maternal aura is just too powerful.
Come to think of it, even Morishita got "embraced," yet I’m the only one who hasn't been hugged yet.
──Zap.
“Ah, the TV’s back!”
“What, it was just a momentary outage?”
“Seems like it~”
“Wait, so it’s just picking up where we left off?”
“Oh, the movie? Probably.”
“Which means... it’s about to appear...”
『VROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRRR!!』
““GYAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!””
“This guy! This is messed up! He scared us during the blackout, and now as soon as the TV comes back, he goes for the kill immediately!! This ghost is too scary!”
Seeing Miu get genuinely pissed off at a ghost because she was so scared made my own fear vanish instantly, and I couldn't help but laugh.
“Hey, you don’t have to get that mad (lol).”
“But still~!! It’s so mean~!!”
“Now then, I hate to interrupt the fun, but I hope you haven't forgotten about my existence...?”
“Ah, Morishita-kun. I completely forgot.”
“Miu-chan, whyyyyy~!!”
Thanks to Morishita, who had now become the mood-maker, the atmosphere in the room turned bright again.
All in all, it was a pretty fun movie night.
Even if the blackout in the middle was unexpected.
“What’s next? When are we meeting up?”
“Wait, you’re already talking about the next time?”
“Well, it was way more fun than I expected ♩ Right, Sana ♩”
“Yes... ♡”
“Tachibana-san, your eyes literally turn into hearts only when you’re talking to Miu.”
“Th-th-th-that is not true! I’m sure I have the exact same face when I’m talking to her sister!”
“True enough.”
“Hmph. Morishita-kun, please stop staring at people’s faces so intently.”
“Geh?! Why is it always me?! Miyata was the one who said it~!!”
“Ahaha. Morishita-kun, the phrase 'pity is the path to love' might actually suit you perfectly ♩”
“I like Morishita-kun too~ ♩ You’re funny and wonderful ♡”
“Aw shucks... I don’t know what to do with all this attention... hehehe.”
Ugh... gross. Seeing my best friend get all giddy like that always triggers some serious secondhand embarrassment.
“Okay, let’s do a Halloween party next! Everyone in costume for a home party ♩”
“Wait, does that mean I get to see Miu-chan in cosplay?!”
“Maybe I’ll be a police officer~ ♡ I’ll have to arrest Morishita-kun ♡”
“Oho... ♡ That’s simply irresistible... ♡”
This guy... he’s basically in heat.
“Seriously, knock it off. You’re being creepy.”
I couldn't take it anymore and had to butt in.
“Well, I have to be heading home soon, so I’ll be taking my leave.”
“Aww, Sana, thanks for coming today!”
“Ah! Maybe I’ll walk back with Sana-chan?! Apparently we get off at the same station!”
“I-I am going home with Morishita-kun?! W-Well, I suppose it’s fine.”
Morishita was being watched with some level of suspicion. It was kind of funny.
And somehow, the two of them left the house looking like they were actually getting along.
Am I the only one who thinks their retreating figures look kind of heartwarming?
Maybe they really do hit it off after all.
◆◇◆
──After seeing Morishita and the others off, I was helping the sisters clean up after the party.
“Whew~ today was fun.”
“I was so happy to be included ♡ Everyone is such a good kid. If you’ll have me again, maybe I’ll make dinner next time ♩”
“Eh, I’d love to have Momo-nee’s cooking again!!”
“I’ll cook for you anytime, Shin-chan. In fact, do you want to eat here tonight before you go?”
“Ah, I have plans to eat out with my parents today...”
Dammit... I really wanted Momo-nee’s food. At least to see her in an apron...
“That can’t be helped then. Come over whenever you like ♡”
“Ah! That’s right, Shintarou! Momo-nee and I are going on a trip during a weekend in September. Do you want to come with us?”
“I’ve been meaning to invite you~” Miu said as she sat down on the sofa next to me.
“A trip... but it’s just you two, right...? A guy joining two girls... isn't that a bit weird...?”
“Is it? I don’t think anyone cares.”
“I mean... I wonder.”
“Even if we call it a trip, the goal is a hot spring inn ♩ Do you remember that inn our families used to go to all the time when we were little?”
“Ah—I only barely remember, but it sounds familiar...!”
I definitely have memories of going there a few times. It felt nostalgic.
I haven't been back once since I grew up... I have to admit, I’m a little curious.
“Then it’s settled that you’re coming too! ♡”
“──Eh?!”
“It’s already decided! Look! The reservation for three is already complete~!”
She showed me the reservation screen on her phone.
“I’m so excited~ ♩”
I hadn hadn't even said I was going yet. These sisters are way too pushy.
Besides... what are we doing about the room?
Don’t tell me............ we’re all in the same room...?!
(Ugh... I have a feeling something is about to happen again...)
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