[Warning 15+]
Part Two~Save That Old Energy Only For Me, Seriously!~Chapter 76This Way!
The building was absolutely massive.
The footprint alone was easily double the size of the school gym, and it stood 12 stories high—enough to give you a neck cramp just looking up. Its sheer scale was honestly intimidating.
"Holy crap, it's huge..."
"Whoa..."
"Ahaha, even I didn't expect it to be this crazy..."
Grand Cinema Spirits―this was the megaplex they were visiting today.
Boasting one of the biggest screens in the country, plus interactive theaters, cafes, and gift shops, the place was basically its own theme park.
"Kirishima-kun, you coming in?"
"Oh, yeah, sorry. Look, it's my first time at a place like this, so I'm just a bit overwhelmed and clueless about where the entrance is... ...there's so much going on in the lower levels."
"Floors one through three are all different shops. Eh... ...the theater entrance is on the fourth floor up that escalator next to us, this way. Looks like everything above that is part of the cinema complex."
"Right, let's go, Haruki, Himeko."
"...Mmph."
"Y-Yeah..."
Among the group, Kaidō Kazuki was the only one playing it cool. He gave the three of them—who were standing there with their jaws on the floor—an amused, friendly look as he nudged them along.
For both Hayato and Himeko, they were used to getting that kind of look since they moved here. It was the same look people gave them whenever they got shell-shocked by how different things were compared to Tsukinose.
But for Haruki, it was a different story.
Especially with Haruki's usual "disguise," this was the first time she'd ever been looked at like that. With a slightly annoyed pout, she slid herself right between Hayato and Kaidō Kazuki as they walked ahead.
"I-I was just a little surprised, okay?"
Haruki locked eyes with Kaidō Kazuki, whose face was looking even more amused now. She just huffed a "Hmph!" and looked away.
Meanwhile, both Hayato and Himeko were too busy rubbernecking at everything from the massive four-story escalator to notice. They looked like total countryside bumpkins straight out of a textbook.
"Whoa!"
"Huh, wow."
The theater entrance was another total jaw-dropper.
It was a circular floor with a high, open ceiling, and the whole place had a futuristic vibe. Tons of people were flowing through the sleek, curved halls.
Naturally, this was a first for both Hayato and Himeko. But even for Haruki, who'd lived in the city for years but was a total shut-in, this was a first, too. The three of them just stood there like deer in headlights, having no clue what to do next.
Watching them, Kaidō Kazuki chuckled and spoke to Hayato.
"Eh, so, do you guys already know what you're seeing?"
"Oh, yeah. Faith: The Movie Part 3."
"The anime one?"
"Is that a surprise?"
"A little. I figured you'd be seeing 'Nayuta no Toki,' since everyone in class has been buzzing about it lately."
Haruki's shoulders flinched as she snapped out of her daze.
"Nayuta no Toki"—for Haruki, that topic was basically a landmine.
Noticing that Haruki wasn't even trying to hide her annoyed face, Hayato scrambled to pull some bills out of his wallet and shoved them toward Kaidō Kazuki.
"Kaidō, eh, I have no clue how to use those machines, so can I leave it to you? Here, this covers Haruki and Himeko, too."
"Gotcha. Is it okay if I grab four seats in a row?"
"Yeah, that'd be a lifesaver."
It seemed like Kaidō Kazuki was also sharp enough to pick up on Haruki's bad vibe.
Matching Hayato's energy, Kazuki took the cash and headed off with a bright, refreshing smile, even if his brows were knit slightly with concern.
Hayato was seriously impressed by how well Kazuki could read the room. (No wonder Kaidō's so popular,) Hayato thought. Even from a distance, Kazuki's movements were smooth as butter as he snagged the tickets in no time. Kazuki was a world apart from Hayato, who still fumbled like a klutz at train ticket machines.
"S-Sorry about that! My Big Bro is kind of a lost cause!"
"I don't wanna hear that from you, Himeko..."
"Haha, don't sweat it. Besides, I've heard that Kirishima-kun isn't exactly a pro with this kind of stuff."
Responding casually with a smile that was almost innocently friendly, Kaidō Kazuki even managed to get the socially anxious Himeko to chill out. Kazuki was a natural at breaking the ice. Hayato was floored by Kazuki's people skills, but at the same time, Hayato couldn't help but make a face that was hard to describe.
"Screen 7... ...so that's the 8th floor. Might as well just walk up the escalators!"
"Oh, Haru-chan!"
It was pretty obvious that Haruki wasn't a fan of Kaidō Kazuki. Letting out a low growl, she wedged herself between him and Himeko, grabbing Himeko's arm with a forceful tug.
Watching Haruki, Kaidō Kazuki just shrugged with that same smile on his face and called out to her as she brushed past him, sounding like he was trying to coax a grumpy kid.
"Don't worry, I'm not gonna steal either of them from you."
"~~~~!!"
"Ow!"
Hit right where it hurts, Haruki's ears turned beet red. Glaring daggers at Kaidou Kazuki, she delivered a brutal kick straight to his shin. It was a merciless strike powered by her annoyingly good athletic reflexes.
Kaidō Kazuki instinctively doubled over, clutching his leg. Even though his eyes were watering from the pain, for some reason, he kept grinning like he found the whole thing hilarious.
Hayato aggressively ruffled his hair and let out an exhausted sigh.
"Kaidō, you're an idiot, aren't you?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Even I'm surprised by it."
◇◇◇
Even though it wasn't the massive 768-seat screen Himeko was hoping for, a capacity of over 400 was still enough to blow Hayato, Himeko, and Haruki's minds.
And once the movie kicked off, the grumpy vibe Haruki had been giving off vanished into thin air. That was just how much she got sucked into the film.
The movie was straight-up incredible.
Aside from the top-tier animation, the story managed to hook Hayato—who was jumping into the series halfway through—and pull him right in.
As for Haruki, she was gasping during the intense scenes, sniffing back tears during the emotional parts, and practically leaning into the screen.
When they finally finished and stepped out of the theater into the hallway, Haruki let all that pent-up excitement explode with a look of pure satisfaction.
"That was so freaking good!!"
As Haruki spun around, clutching her fists to her chest with stars in her eyes, even someone who wasn't Hayato couldn't help but crack a smile.
"That was way better than I expected, Haru-chan! Now I'm all hyped to see the previous stuff and everything!"
"Right, Hime-chan?! I'll bring over a bunch of stuff next time."
"Haruki, Himeko is a candidate for entrance exams, you know. Keep it within reason."
"Ugh, I know, I know..."
"Haha, but it really was interesting. Especially that line during the final battle—the way they trusted each other despite being a makeshift duo was great."
"Hmph, not bad, Kaidō! You've got an eye for detail! Actually, that part wasn't in the original work and—"
As they got all hyped up talking about the same stuff, the heavy vibe from before vanished into thin air, and she was back to being in a total great mood.
(Man, what a simple-minded girl.)
Hayato softened his gaze as he watched Haruki geeking out like that.
"―And then, you know... ...oh."
Right then, Haruki's stomach let out a loud "Grumble~," and Hayato finally lost it, unable to hold back his laughter anymore.
Catching Hayato's eyes on her, Haruki looked super embarrassed, but she still shot him a resentful glare while pouting like crazy.
"...I've been on a diet lately, okay? Plus, I couldn't eat anything this morning because I was so busy with my hair and clothes... ...This is all your fault, Hayato!"
"Huh, my bad. Anyway, looks like there's a cafe terrace with a killer view on the top floor. It's almost lunchtime, wanna go check it out?"
Saying that, Hayato gave Haruki a quick headpat like he was calming down a pet, then made a break for the escalator.
With her face turning even redder, Haruki clutched her head where Hayato'd touched it, and even though she was still pouting, she started skipping after him with a light step.
"Geez, you're not gonna wiggle your way out of this one!"
Watching those two, Himeko and Kaidō Kazuki just looked at each other and let out a forced laugh.
"Shall we head out too? We're gonna get left behind."
"Ahaha, you're right. Wait up, Big Bro, Haru-chan!"
◇◇◇
Grand Cinema Spirits felt more like a theme park than just a megaplex.
While the entrance had a futuristic sci-fi vibe, the other levels changed their look to themes like the Wild West, Medieval Europe, and Late-Edo Period Japan. It was a total feast for the eyes just walking around.
Not just Hayato, who was leading the way, but Haruki, Himeko, and even Kaidō Kazuki kept looking around as they walked, pointing at stuff and shouting in excitement. Just moving from floor to floor made the whole group naturally noisy and lively.
It was such a fun, meaningful time.
It wasn't even noon yet. Having shared this vibe and discovered new sides of one another, they were all smiles as they planned out what to do for the rest of the afternoon.
Haruki was on cloud nine, way more hyped than anyone else. Part of it was probably still the rush from the movie.
Haruki spread her arms wide, showing her joy with her whole body as she led the pack.
"So, that's why that part was―... ...huh?"
That was exactly why the change in Haruki was so glaringly obvious.
Just when everyone thought Haruki'd keep going, she came to a dead halt. The cheeks that had been flushed with excitement turned ice-cold in an instant, her face went pale, and even her lips lost all their color.
"...Haru-chan?"
"What's wrong, Nikaidō-san?"
"...!!"
While Himeko and Kaidō Kazuki looked at Haruki with confusion, Hayato was the only one who realized what was causing the sudden change.
(Takura Mao...!)
At the end of Haruki's stunned and hollow gaze stood a stunning, sophisticated woman with an overwhelming presence―it was Takura Mao.
Right now, Hayato and the group were on the 12th floor, home to the massive 768-seat screen that was the megaplex's main attraction. Glancing around, he saw posters for "Nayuta no Toki" plastered everywhere.
It was easy to guess that a stage greeting or something similar was going on.
Catching sight of Haruki, Takura Mao's eyes widened just like Haruki's had. But unlike Haruki, Mao's expression twisted into a sharp, bitter scowl in an instant, and Mao even went as far as clicking her tongue in annoyance.
―That is definitely not a good sign.
Even Hayato, who's terrible with people, could tell exactly what was happening.
When Hayato looked over at Haruki, he could see her whole body trembling like she was about to collapse, and he knew that deep down, she was on the verge of a total breakdown.
"Haruki, this way!"
"...Huh?"
It was pure instinct.
Unable to just stand there and watch her suffer, Hayato grabbed Haruki's hand and bolted toward a deserted staircase.
Author's Notes:
Meow
／l、
(゜、 。｀フ
」 "ヽ
()ιし(~)～
Oh, and I'd be super stoked if you guys just dropped a "Meow" in the comments!
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
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Support Us: https://ko-fi.com/ninjacross
Donations are very much appreciated.
Your donations really support us to finish this novel from here until the end, so please consider to support us.
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Read in other languages:
The building was absolutely massive.
The footprint alone was easily double the size of the school gym, and it stood 12 stories high—enough to give you a neck cramp just looking up. Its sheer scale was honestly intimidating.
"Holy crap, it's huge..."
"Whoa..."
"Ahaha, even I didn't expect it to be this crazy..."
Grand Cinema Spirits―this was the megaplex they were visiting today.
Boasting one of the biggest screens in the country, plus interactive theaters, cafes, and gift shops, the place was basically its own theme park.
"Kirishima-kun, you coming in?"
"Oh, yeah, sorry. Look, it's my first time at a place like this, so I'm just a bit overwhelmed and clueless about where the entrance is... ...there's so much going on in the lower levels."
"Floors one through three are all different shops. Eh... ...the theater entrance is on the fourth floor up that escalator next to us, this way. Looks like everything above that is part of the cinema complex."
"Right, let's go, Haruki, Himeko."
"...Mmph."
"Y-Yeah..."
Among the group, Kaidō Kazuki was the only one playing it cool. He gave the three of them—who were standing there with their jaws on the floor—an amused, friendly look as he nudged them along.
For both Hayato and Himeko, they were used to getting that kind of look since they moved here. It was the same look people gave them whenever they got shell-shocked by how different things were compared to Tsukinose.
But for Haruki, it was a different story.
Especially with Haruki's usual "disguise," this was the first time she'd ever been looked at like that. With a slightly annoyed pout, she slid herself right between Hayato and Kaidō Kazuki as they walked ahead.
"I-I was just a little surprised, okay?"
Haruki locked eyes with Kaidō Kazuki, whose face was looking even more amused now. She just huffed a "Hmph!" and looked away.
Meanwhile, both Hayato and Himeko were too busy rubbernecking at everything from the massive four-story escalator to notice. They looked like total countryside bumpkins straight out of a textbook.
"Whoa!"
"Huh, wow."
The theater entrance was another total jaw-dropper.
It was a circular floor with a high, open ceiling, and the whole place had a futuristic vibe. Tons of people were flowing through the sleek, curved halls.
Naturally, this was a first for both Hayato and Himeko. But even for Haruki, who'd lived in the city for years but was a total shut-in, this was a first, too. The three of them just stood there like deer in headlights, having no clue what to do next.
Watching them, Kaidō Kazuki chuckled and spoke to Hayato.
"Eh, so, do you guys already know what you're seeing?"
"Oh, yeah. Faith: The Movie Part 3."
"The anime one?"
"Is that a surprise?"
"A little. I figured you'd be seeing 'Nayuta no Toki,' since everyone in class has been buzzing about it lately."
Haruki's shoulders flinched as she snapped out of her daze.
"Nayuta no Toki"—for Haruki, that topic was basically a landmine.
Noticing that Haruki wasn't even trying to hide her annoyed face, Hayato scrambled to pull some bills out of his wallet and shoved them toward Kaidō Kazuki.
"Kaidō, eh, I have no clue how to use those machines, so can I leave it to you? Here, this covers Haruki and Himeko, too."
"Gotcha. Is it okay if I grab four seats in a row?"
"Yeah, that'd be a lifesaver."
It seemed like Kaidō Kazuki was also sharp enough to pick up on Haruki's bad vibe.
Matching Hayato's energy, Kazuki took the cash and headed off with a bright, refreshing smile, even if his brows were knit slightly with concern.
Hayato was seriously impressed by how well Kazuki could read the room. (No wonder Kaidō's so popular,) Hayato thought. Even from a distance, Kazuki's movements were smooth as butter as he snagged the tickets in no time. Kazuki was a world apart from Hayato, who still fumbled like a klutz at train ticket machines.
"S-Sorry about that! My Big Bro is kind of a lost cause!"
"I don't wanna hear that from you, Himeko..."
"Haha, don't sweat it. Besides, I've heard that Kirishima-kun isn't exactly a pro with this kind of stuff."
Responding casually with a smile that was almost innocently friendly, Kaidō Kazuki even managed to get the socially anxious Himeko to chill out. Kazuki was a natural at breaking the ice. Hayato was floored by Kazuki's people skills, but at the same time, Hayato couldn't help but make a face that was hard to describe.
"Screen 7... ...so that's the 8th floor. Might as well just walk up the escalators!"
"Oh, Haru-chan!"
It was pretty obvious that Haruki wasn't a fan of Kaidō Kazuki. Letting out a low growl, she wedged herself between him and Himeko, grabbing Himeko's arm with a forceful tug.
Watching Haruki, Kaidō Kazuki just shrugged with that same smile on his face and called out to her as she brushed past him, sounding like he was trying to coax a grumpy kid.
"Don't worry, I'm not gonna steal either of them from you."
"~~~~!!"
"Ow!"
Hit right where it hurts, Haruki's ears turned beet red. Glaring daggers at Kaidou Kazuki, she delivered a brutal kick straight to his shin. It was a merciless strike powered by her annoyingly good athletic reflexes.
Kaidō Kazuki instinctively doubled over, clutching his leg. Even though his eyes were watering from the pain, for some reason, he kept grinning like he found the whole thing hilarious.
Hayato aggressively ruffled his hair and let out an exhausted sigh.
"Kaidō, you're an idiot, aren't you?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Even I'm surprised by it."
◇◇◇
Even though it wasn't the massive 768-seat screen Himeko was hoping for, a capacity of over 400 was still enough to blow Hayato, Himeko, and Haruki's minds.
And once the movie kicked off, the grumpy vibe Haruki had been giving off vanished into thin air. That was just how much she got sucked into the film.
The movie was straight-up incredible.
Aside from the top-tier animation, the story managed to hook Hayato—who was jumping into the series halfway through—and pull him right in.
As for Haruki, she was gasping during the intense scenes, sniffing back tears during the emotional parts, and practically leaning into the screen.
When they finally finished and stepped out of the theater into the hallway, Haruki let all that pent-up excitement explode with a look of pure satisfaction.
"That was so freaking good!!"
As Haruki spun around, clutching her fists to her chest with stars in her eyes, even someone who wasn't Hayato couldn't help but crack a smile.
"That was way better than I expected, Haru-chan! Now I'm all hyped to see the previous stuff and everything!"
"Right, Hime-chan?! I'll bring over a bunch of stuff next time."
"Haruki, Himeko is a candidate for entrance exams, you know. Keep it within reason."
"Ugh, I know, I know..."
"Haha, but it really was interesting. Especially that line during the final battle—the way they trusted each other despite being a makeshift duo was great."
"Hmph, not bad, Kaidō! You've got an eye for detail! Actually, that part wasn't in the original work and—"
As they got all hyped up talking about the same stuff, the heavy vibe from before vanished into thin air, and she was back to being in a total great mood.
(Man, what a simple-minded girl.)
Hayato softened his gaze as he watched Haruki geeking out like that.
"―And then, you know... ...oh."
Right then, Haruki's stomach let out a loud "Grumble~," and Hayato finally lost it, unable to hold back his laughter anymore.
Catching Hayato's eyes on her, Haruki looked super embarrassed, but she still shot him a resentful glare while pouting like crazy.
"...I've been on a diet lately, okay? Plus, I couldn't eat anything this morning because I was so busy with my hair and clothes... ...This is all your fault, Hayato!"
"Huh, my bad. Anyway, looks like there's a cafe terrace with a killer view on the top floor. It's almost lunchtime, wanna go check it out?"
Saying that, Hayato gave Haruki a quick headpat like he was calming down a pet, then made a break for the escalator.
With her face turning even redder, Haruki clutched her head where Hayato'd touched it, and even though she was still pouting, she started skipping after him with a light step.
"Geez, you're not gonna wiggle your way out of this one!"
Watching those two, Himeko and Kaidō Kazuki just looked at each other and let out a forced laugh.
"Shall we head out too? We're gonna get left behind."
"Ahaha, you're right. Wait up, Big Bro, Haru-chan!"
◇◇◇
Grand Cinema Spirits felt more like a theme park than just a megaplex.
While the entrance had a futuristic sci-fi vibe, the other levels changed their look to themes like the Wild West, Medieval Europe, and Late-Edo Period Japan. It was a total feast for the eyes just walking around.
Not just Hayato, who was leading the way, but Haruki, Himeko, and even Kaidō Kazuki kept looking around as they walked, pointing at stuff and shouting in excitement. Just moving from floor to floor made the whole group naturally noisy and lively.
It was such a fun, meaningful time.
It wasn't even noon yet. Having shared this vibe and discovered new sides of one another, they were all smiles as they planned out what to do for the rest of the afternoon.
Haruki was on cloud nine, way more hyped than anyone else. Part of it was probably still the rush from the movie.
Haruki spread her arms wide, showing her joy with her whole body as she led the pack.
"So, that's why that part was―... ...huh?"
That was exactly why the change in Haruki was so glaringly obvious.
Just when everyone thought Haruki'd keep going, she came to a dead halt. The cheeks that had been flushed with excitement turned ice-cold in an instant, her face went pale, and even her lips lost all their color.
"...Haru-chan?"
"What's wrong, Nikaidō-san?"
"...!!"
While Himeko and Kaidō Kazuki looked at Haruki with confusion, Hayato was the only one who realized what was causing the sudden change.
(Takura Mao...!)
At the end of Haruki's stunned and hollow gaze stood a stunning, sophisticated woman with an overwhelming presence―it was Takura Mao.
Right now, Hayato and the group were on the 12th floor, home to the massive 768-seat screen that was the megaplex's main attraction. Glancing around, he saw posters for "Nayuta no Toki" plastered everywhere.
It was easy to guess that a stage greeting or something similar was going on.
Catching sight of Haruki, Takura Mao's eyes widened just like Haruki's had. But unlike Haruki, Mao's expression twisted into a sharp, bitter scowl in an instant, and Mao even went as far as clicking her tongue in annoyance.
―That is definitely not a good sign.
Even Hayato, who's terrible with people, could tell exactly what was happening.
When Hayato looked over at Haruki, he could see her whole body trembling like she was about to collapse, and he knew that deep down, she was on the verge of a total breakdown.
"Haruki, this way!"
"...Huh?"
It was pure instinct.
Unable to just stand there and watch her suffer, Hayato grabbed Haruki's hand and bolted toward a deserted staircase.
Author's Notes:
Meow
／l、
(゜、 。｀フ
」 "ヽ
()ιし(~)～
Oh, and I'd be super stoked if you guys just dropped a "Meow" in the comments!
TL: Reeze27
ED: Reeze27
PR: Reeze27
If you like our work, please consider supporting us on Ko-fi. 🙏
Support Us: https://ko-fi.com/ninjacross
Donations are very much appreciated.
Your donations really support us to finish this novel from here until the end, so please consider to support us.
Follow Our Official WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaRa6nHCsU9OAB0U370F
Read in other languages: