Chapter 14: What If I Saw the Maid's Cute Side?

I reach for the salted popcorn.

It was placed between me and Laila. She must have had the same idea as me, because our hands touched.

We look at each other. Laila gave a little chuckle, and my heart skipped a beat. ...How embarrassing.

「Ahh... sorry.」

「No, please don't apologize. It was my fault.」

As she said that and pulled her hand back, I thought her cheeks were a little red.

The movie ended. I savor the moving experience, still immersed in the afterglow.

There were no contrived plot twists and it was easy to guess what would happen next, but I was completely drawn in by the two characters' emotions and expressions as they overcame hardships, and by the words and gestures they exchanged.

No, honestly, I was more drawn in than I expected. I'm glad I saw it.

I guess I'll look for other works by the same director.

「That was great.」

「Yes, it was wonderful.」

Laila, beside me, also looks satisfied.

I share my honest impressions.

「It might be a basic opinion, but I guess my favorite part was the last scene? Up until then, there were only depictions of them holding hands, so the kiss they'd been building up to really hit hard. And what was great about it was how that one brief kiss seemed to express their entire relationship. How should I put it, like they could understand each other just from that alone.」

「I feel the same way. In that very short moment, you could see the depth of their relationship, something that can not be expressed in a single word.」

Laila and I exchange our thoughts.

This part in the middle was this way, or the director's skillful touch was that way.

What is this? This kind of time is so much fun. Is it like we're both throwing our passion for something we like at each other? I can't quite put it into words, but anyway, I feel incredibly fulfilled.

Aali-san joined the conversation part way through. Well, that's fine.

I've had plenty of experience making idle talk with Meari, but I've never had an experience like this. I'm glad I came.

It's just about noon. The audience who just finished watching the movie is probably heading to the food court all at once.

「Wanna go eat something? Though I bet everywhere is crowded right now.」

「No, it will be alright.」

Aali-san smiles and takes out her smartphone.

「Actually, I made a reservation in advance. There weren't many seats, so I thought it would fill up quickly, but luckily there was an opening. I've also secured our seats, so let's head over now.」

「O-Ohh...」

When did she do something like that? I can't hide my surprise.

As I stood there stunned, Laila spoke to me in a small voice.

「To tell you the truth, Aali-san was also very much looking forward to this movie. She was enthusiastically researching what to do for our meal after it ended.」

「Heeh~ she seems so cool, though. That's unexpected.」

「Fufu, she may seem that way, but she has many cute qualities, you know?」

Laila says, so that Aali-san can't hear. Her profile looks very happy.

「Now, let's go.」

Aali-san takes the lead and starts walking. An aura of unconcealable happiness radiates from her back. Looking at her like this, she's certainly a cute person.

「Alright, let's go.」

「Yes.」

Laila and I started walking, as if to follow Aali-san.