Chapter 44: Different Dreams in the Same Bed
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 44: Different Dreams in the Same Bed
[So when did you guys decide to go?]
On my way home.
I was urgently asking Hanbit unnie for advice once again.
[He said we should go tomorrow.]
[Wow. He's pretty forward, isn't he?]
[Ah. But... do you think it really means that?]
I had this unsettling feeling that this didn't quite align with the usual social understanding of things.
I didn't have any concrete evidence, but it was just my gut feeling.
[No, Luka-tan. Listen. There's the whole backstory to this, right?]
[He gave you back the condoms and said he wanted to take things slow, right?]
[Yeah, yeah, that's right.]
[And then you two got closer and closer, and when you suggested watching a movie, he said you should go there. What else could that mean?]
Gulp.
I swallowed hard.
[That... now it's okay?]
[Exactly. Exactly. It means he wants to get a little... handsy with you now, Luka-tan. That's what it is.]
Even though no one was watching, I could feel my face flush from Hanbit unnie's messages.
Ah, seriously.
My cheeks had been so overworked lately.
My face, which used to only turn red when I got really annoyed during streams, had been heating up and cooling down almost every day since I got involved with Taemin Oppa.
[But... then, at a DVD room... how far do people usually... go...?]
Surely we wouldn't go all the way, right?
I mean, it's still a semi-public place, doing it there is a bit...
[Ah, it's case-by-case, but still.]
My pupils quaked at her next message.
[Basically, you can expect more than just kissing.]
A kiss.
My fingers naturally traced my lips.
His lips... touching mine...?
Picturing the darkened theater in my mind, the thought of our two shadows overlapping made me feel like steam was about to come out of my head.
[Ughghghghghghghghk]
My boundless embarrassment spilled into the chat.
[LMAO Luka-tan, you have to tell me all about it afterward, you know?]
[Honestly, if this date goes well, it's all thanks to me. Agree?]
[Ah, but you're so damn cute, Luka-tan. I can see why he likes you.]
[...No. Oppa doesn't know I'm like this.]
Standing in front of my apartment building, I stopped and stared at the building right next to mine.
It had been a day where his face kept flickering at the edge of my vision.
I was supposed to meet Doah at 7 PM.
We had agreed to eat dinner at our own places before meeting up, so I quickly made some fried rice at home and headed out.
“Ah, hello.”
Seeing Doah push open the glass door, I remembered yesterday's stream and couldn't help but smile.
[Hey guys. Anyone seen the Demon Slayer movie?]
[Ooh~ Is it really that good?]
[A lot of people are saying it's moving. Ah, no spoilers. I'll ban you if you spoil it!]
This girl. She's really looking forward to it!
Honestly, just watching the trailer is enough to get your heart pounding.
Just the fact that Luka had brought up Demon Slayer was enough to make me feel pleased.
I just felt it was a shame that Doah hadn't been able to see it in theaters when it was released.
“Hey.”
A pure white knit sweater. A red plaid skirt.
I could see jet-black stockings underneath, but she still looked a bit cold.
But we're just going to watch a movie. Why did she get so dressed up?
It made me, who had just thrown on a hoodie and jeans, feel a little awkward.
“Why'd you dress up so nicely?”
Feeling awkward, I complimented her. Doah scratched her head shyly and stood right next to me.
“Just wanted to feel nice, you know.”
Right. I guess it makes sense to dress up when you're going to see the great Rengoku.
My heart was already pounding with excitement at the thought of showing Doah all those iconic scenes.
“Right. Let's get going.”
We hurried toward the back gate of the school and stopped at a crosswalk.
“Why are you blowing on your hands?”
“My hands are a little cold, and this outfit doesn't have any pockets.”
So that's why she brought a bag.
Watching Doah cup her hands and blow on them, I hesitated for a moment before putting my thought into action.
“I-Isn't this a little better?”
I took Doah's right hand and tucked it into the left pocket of my hoodie.
Inside the pocket made for one person.
Our two hands shared their warmth, the backs of our hands touching.
“...Ah.”
Doah's eyes went wide, surprised by my action.
I didn't think I could suddenly go all alpha male and just grab her hand, but this was something I could manage.
“...I think there's a better way than this.”
Doah's fingers wiggled.
Her slender fingers slipped between mine.
“Is it... okay...”
Her pinky finally settled on the back of my hand.
“...if we stay like this?”
With our fingers now perfectly intertwined, we continued talking while avoiding eye contact, each of us staring off into the distance.
“Ah! You should've worn something warmer!”
Worried it would get even more awkward if we fell silent, I raised my voice with the forced energy of a streamer.
“Ahaha. Ah, I didn't realize it got this cold at night these days.”
Doah's reply was very Luka-like, but our fingers only held on to each other tighter.
Our conversation dwindled.
It wasn't until we reached the elevator inside the DVD room building that I slowly pulled our hands out of my pocket.
“...Better now, right?”
“My left hand was outside, so it's still a little cold.”
Doah slyly moved to my other side, and I silently took her left hand.
-Ding-a-ling-
As the bell on the glass door chimed, a man who seemed to be the owner stood up from his chair behind the counter.
“Welcome.”
“Ah, yes. Hello.”
“Take your time looking around, and let me know when you've picked a movie.”
I was about to ask for the Demon Slayer movie right away, but Doah's actions stopped me.
“Whoa.”
Standing alone in front of the shelves lined with DVDs, Doah gestured for me to come over.
“Have you seen this one?”
Doah pointed to a movie by a world-famous director.
Even I, who wasn't a movie buff, had seen it.
“Yeah, I've seen it.”
“I really love this director.”
“He is a great filmmaker.”
Like a child in a toy aisle, Doah darted from left to right, telling me about all the movies she'd enjoyed.
“Is there anything you've enjoyed, Oppa?”
“Me? I...”
To be honest, I'd only ever watched movies with my parents during the holidays when I was a kid. The only times I'd gone to a theater by myself were for... anime movies.
“I don't really see any.”
For a second, my eyes met the cover of some otaku idol anime and I panicked, but I calmly suggested we go pick our movie and stood in front of the counter.
“We'll take Demon Slayer, please.”
“Go on in, it's room number 5.”
It was my first time in a DVD room, but the atmosphere felt quite similar to a karaoke place.
“Oh, this is cool.”
I was definitely glad we came here.
For one, the plush, bed-like sofa and the huge screen were major advantages.
“It's my first time here, too...”
I leaned back and sat down first, and Doah scurried over to sit next to me.
“You brought tissues, right?”
You're guaranteed to cry watching this.
I was clearly joking and smiling when I said it, but Doah's voice cracked as if she were nervous.
“...Huh?”
“Ah. It's good to have something to wipe your tears with, just in case. Should I go get some?”
The movie was about to start, so now was the perfect time to go.
Doah didn't answer, so I figured I should just go quickly and started to get up.
“...I brought some.”
Doah's hand grabbed the hem of my shirt.
“They're... in... my bag...”
I wondered why saying she'd brought tissues was so difficult, but I just nodded and sat back down next to her.
“That's a relief, then. Alright, let's watch.”
Soon, the movie began, and I watched, once again filled with awe.
Wow... the cinematography is insane...
I'd seen it in theaters and watched clips of it on video sites countless times, but it was amazing every time.
The battle scene filled me with that so-called 'hype'.
The swordsman's blade slices through the demon's tentacles as he presses forward.
Ooh, look at those effects.
The direction, which made it feel like I was actually moving along the protagonist's trajectory, doubled the immersion.
“Eek!”
But whether she found the scene gross or scary, Doah buried her face in my chest as if she couldn't watch.
Ah... is it a bit much for girls to watch?
I might be immune since I've seen it so many times, but that might not be the case for Doah.
I understood why she was acting that way, but the important thing was that the next scene was fucking awesome.
It was a scene you absolutely could not miss.
“Doah.”
Hoping it would reassure her, I stroked her hair.
Doah slowly lifted her head.
Her face was slightly flushed, but she didn't seem so scared that she was about to faint.
Her screaming seemed to have subsided, too.
I moved the hand that was stroking her hair to her cheek, and then...
“This is where it gets really good.”
I turned her head back toward the screen.