"I can't believe it's already been 2 hours!"
Kristina said as her and Aran quickly jogged across the street to get to the theatre.
"I know right? I'm pretty surprised too!"
Aran replied as he controlled his breath.
Thankfully, they still had enough time to buy some snacks before going in. Their plan was for Kristina to buy the tickets whilst Aran paid for the snacks. That way, it'd be like hitting two birds with one stone.
"Okay, I'll get the snacks!"
Aran told Kristina as he went a different way.
"Mhm! I'll do my part then!"
She replied.
As Aran walked towards the snack area, he met none other than Ed who was working there.
"Hello, sir what would you like to buy?"
Hm? Have I seen this guy before?
Unexpectedly, he didn't seem to recognize Aran at first glance. This is the first time he's seen him with his hair tied up. But as he looked a bit closer...
Oh god, it's him!!! Don't tell me he brought his scary friend along...
"Hello, I'll take two medium bags of popcorn, and... Two large sodas."
Aran told Ed, who couldn't hear it from his panic.
"Eh...?"
Ed muttered out, making Aran apologize and repeat his order, thinking he was speaking too quickly.
Now that Ed had cleared his mind a bit, he immediately went to get Aran's order.
Hoo... Okay, it looks like that blonde guy isn't with him. That's good.
My heart can't take it...
Turning around, Ed handed over the food, which was a little hard for Aran to hold all at once.
"Oh sorry, you need a bag?"
Ed asked Aran.
Still, it's a little strange he's getting that much food for himself. Despite being small, I guess he eats a lot.
Shaking his head, Aran refused the offer.
"No, it's okay. I appreciate it. See you at school, Ed!"
"O-okay..."
As Aran walked away, Ed's legs suddenly became like cooked pasta noodles as he wobbled down to the floor, sighing from relief.
Haah... Thank the gods...
He doesn't know that I cheered against him in the sparring test, right? That guy was crazy enough to stab Pincer! Even if it was just a simulation...
Well, he still cheated. In a fair fight, he wouldn't stand a chance! There's nothing to be afraid of. A loser will always be a loser—
Ed smiled.
As he stood up, his face suddenly flashed with horror when he saw a beautiful girl walk over to Aran, grabbing a drink and a bag of popcorn from his arms with a big smile on her face.
...DAMMIT ALL!!!
Although it was only him that thought it, he knew the feeling in his heart well as he fell to his knees, anger and envy swelling inside him...
Utter defeat.
________________________________________
As Aran and Kristina entered the theatre, their bodies were engulfed in a darkness, only illuminated by the dim light of the projector above.
Walking to their seats, the two try to stay quiet when they talk, trying not to disturb others.
"Mmh! The caramel popcorn here is so good...!"
Kristina whispered as she spoke.
"I knew you'd like it!"
Aran replied excitedly.
The two of them continued to talk before the movie played.
________________________________________
The theater was quiet except for the sounds of magic blasts and sweeping music coming from the screen.
Aran sat back in his seat, a warm bag of popcorn on his hand and a half-finished drink by his side. The faint glow of the screen flickered across Kristina's face, her eyes wide and focused as the story unfolded.
He let out a small breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.
This is... really fun.
Not the kind of fun that came from building model kits or pulling off a perfect combo in a fighting game.
Just fun.
Simple, genuine fun.
It's like hanging out with Elio, but it feels different. I wonder why...?
....Nah, I don't have to think too hard. I'm not worried about what comes next.
I'm watching a movie. With someone cool.
And it feels really nice.
Kristina laughed quietly at something on-screen, and Aran smiled without even thinking.
I'm glad I came here...
The movie kept playing, but for a brief moment, Aran wasn't focused on the plot or the characters.
He was just enjoying the moment.
________________________________________
""WAAAAAHHH! It's not fair!!"
Kristina cried as she stomped out of the movie theater.
Given how heartbreaking the ending was, her reaction shouldn't have seemed that strange to the people around her. After all, despite saving the world, the hero had lost everyone he loved. The entire theater had been sniffling by the time the credits rolled—even Aran shed a few tears himself.
But Kristina's energy? It was on another level. You'd think she had been the one who lost everything.
Tears still streaming down her cheeks, she clutched her sleeve like it might shield her from the heartbreak.
Aran, concerned, reached into his bag and pulled out a packet of tissues.
"Here," he said gently.
"Sniff... T-thanks..." Kristina mumbled, voice thick from crying.
"No problem," Aran nodded.
She took a deep breath and glanced around, clearly trying to get a grip. Then her eyes landed on the restroom sign.
"Sorry, Aran, I'm just going to wash my face for a bit!"
Kristina's voice was still stuffy as she darted toward the women's restroom. Aran gave a small nod in response, watching her go.
Once she disappeared inside, he let out a breath and looked around.
The crowd outside the theater had mostly thinned, people were dispersing in quiet groups as the weight of the movie remained.
The orange and pink hues of the sunset stretched across the sky like soft brushstrokes, casting a warm, golden light over the streets of Lucida.
His eyes landed on the men's restroom sign. He paused, then muttered, "Yeah… probably a good idea."
Inside, he splashed cold water on his face and stared at himself in the mirror. His eyes were a little red too—not as dramatic as Kristina, sure, but the film had left a mark.
She really got hit hard
He thought while drying his face.
"Pfft—"
Aran quietly chuckled as he recalled just how puffy Kristina's eyes were from earlier.
Drying his hands, he exited the restroom but didn't see Kristina anywhere.
She must still be inside, he thought, before quickly recognizing her brown hair shining in the gentle sunlight.
She was outside the theatre, helping an old woman cross the street.
"Ooh... Thank you dearie. These old bones aren't the same as they used to be."
"No, it's fine! I'm glad I'm able to help!"
Kristina replied, carrying a few bags in her hands.
Aran stood there, not saying a word, trying to not make it obvious he was looking at her.
________________________________________
"Later, as they met back up near the front of the theater, Kristina pouted at him, hands on her hips.
"Gosh, where were you earlier? I couldn't find you anywhere!"
"Sorry, sorry…" Aran held up his hands, amused. "I went to wash my hands and face too. The popcorn was good, but made my fingers stick together."
Kristina gave him a mock glare. "You ditched me for hand soap?"
Aran chuckled. "Can't enjoy a good movie with popcorn glue fingers."
She puffed out her cheeks slightly. The look was so unintentionally cute that it stopped him cold.
Adorable…
he thought, imagining an angry hamster waving its tiny fists.
He quickly cleared his throat and shook the image from his head.
Back to the plan. He'd been following it so far: casual conversation, shared experience, unexpected emotional connection… and now, the final phase.
A quiet meal to wind things down. Something simple. Something normal.
The next step of the flow chart: A relaxing meal to end things off.
"Would treating you to free food make up for it?" he asked.
Kristina blinked. "...Do you think I'd be the type to be easily swayed with a few fries and milkshakes?"
"Possibly."
She squinted suspiciously, then broke into a grin. "You sure know how to win someone over. Alright. Lead the way, popcorn fingers."
"Sure!"
________________________________________
Elio, whose eyes have been watching the movie theater from above like a vulture circling around its prey, kept his face glued to the binoculars for a few hours before finally spotting Aran and Kristina in his line of sight once more.
They're on the move! He thought, following them as sneakily as possible.
Lo and behold, Aran was taking Kristina to the usual restaurant that Elio and Aran frequent.
Elio was to put it simply, shocked.
"The movie theater, the arcade, and now this..."
Did... Did he just print out our usual hangout schedule and bring her along for the ride...?
He blinked, suddenly second-guessing.
"Wait, no. It's probably because he just really likes this place..."
A passing pigeon stared at him.
Elio sighed and pulled his hood up, dropping down from the rooftop and edging closer to the restaurant window, still watching, still wondering.
________________________________________
The cozy hum of chatter, clinking silverware, and soft jazz filled the air.
Aran and Kristina slid into a booth near the window, the red leather seats creaking slightly beneath them. A small jukebox sat at the corner, playing music that Brok probably listened to in his younger years.
Kristina picked up the menu and immediately perked up. "Ohhh! They still have the rainbow parfaits here! I used to beg my mom for one every time we passed this place."
"Rainbow parfaits, huh?" Aran raised a brow. "Didn't peg you for the dessert-first type."
Kristina gave him a mock-offended look. "Excuse me. I am a woman of refined taste. I simply understand priorities."
Aran chuckled, leaning back. "Right. Fries are just the warm-up act. Parfaits are the main event."
"Exactly! I knew you'd understand!"
The server came by, took their orders—Kristina proudly asking for the tallest, most colorful parfait on the menu—and left them with two glasses of water and a paper-wrapped set of utensils.
Kristina leaned forward, resting her chin in one hand. "This place is actually kinda nice at sunset."
"Yeah." Aran looked out the window for a second. "Been here a bunch of times."
"Really?" she asked, stirring her water with her straw. "With who?"
Aran shrugged. "A friend."
Kristina nodded, letting that sit for a beat before glancing back at the window.
She didn't notice the faint sound of plastic squeaking against glass from outside.
Elio had repositioned. He was now crouched behind a bush just beyond the window, his binoculars barely peeking above the ledge. If you weren't looking, you wouldn't see him.
Unfortunately for Elio—he was not as invisible as he thought.
Kristina reached for her phone when it buzzed, glancing at the screen. Her eyes widened for a moment.
It was from the same number as before. Although, Aran didn't know that.
All he knew is that her smile disappeared like earlier in the arcade. The same face of disappointment and annoyance.
And then suddenly, it felt as if everything had clicked in Aran's mind.
Kristina stared at the message, then looked up at Aran—who was watching her with a quiet curiosity.
She quickly put on a bright smile.
"W-well! Since I can't finish the parfait all on my own..."
As if on cue, the server returned with a towering glass filled with layers of jelly, ice cream, fruit, and whipped cream, topped with a slice of rainbow cake and a tiny umbrella.
Kristina scooped up a perfect spoonful and extended it toward Aran.
"Say 'ahh'~!"
Aran didn't move.
Instead, he tilted his head slightly and looked at her.
Not the spoon. Not the parfait. Her.
It wasn't obvious at first glance, but her hands were shaking.
"…You okay?"
Kristina blinked from his sudden question.
"Huh? Y-yeah! Totally!"
"You've been checking your phone a lot," he said softly. "And you flinched when a notification came in."
She froze.
"You don't have to force anything," he added. "Not for me."
Kristina's hand slowly lowered the spoon.
Outside, Elio quietly pulled his hoodie down over his face, lowering his binoculars. He wasn't sure what he'd just witnessed—but something had definitely shifted.
Kristina let out a high-pitched, awkward laugh. "Whaaat? I'm fine! You're imagining things, Mr. Serious."
Aran gave her a look — calm, steady. He didn't press. He didn't need to.
Kristina puffed her cheeks again, trying to sell the act. "I mean, it's just dessert! Lighten up! I'm allowed to have my phone out. Maybe I'm just popular, y'know!"
She chuckled.
Aran silently looked at her. His eyes seemed to peer through her soul. As if he figured things out.
Breaking through the tense silence, he finally spoke. A few words that cut through Kristina's facade.
"You're just pranking me, aren't you...?"
Kristina blinked.
"Wh—what?" she laughed, her voice cracking slightly. "Prank you? Seriously?"
Aran didn't flinch. He only spoke, not stopping.
"Yesterday, when I entered our classroom, the girls who were sitting by the window — your friend group — were quietly laughing and giggling at me. And later that afternoon, I got a very exaggerated letter..."
Kristina's smile faded completely.
Aran's voice remained calm, but his words carried weight. "I thought it was a prank," he said, then paused — a wry smile flickering across his face, tinged with something more painful beneath.
"But I went anyway... because I really was excited to get it."
Kristina's throat tightened. She lowered her head, hands gripping the edge of the table now, knuckles pale.
"And I kept noticing your mood suddenly change whenever you looked at your phone, I'm guessing feeding me the parfait is one of those messages." he continued.
"I just pieced everything together."
Silence settled between them like a curtain.
Kristina opened her mouth, then closed it again.
He wasn't angry — at least, not outwardly. That somehow made it worse. His disappointment wasn't loud or dramatic. It was quiet. Real.
"I'm sorry," she finally said, voice barely audible. "I didn't think you'd take the letter seriously."
Aran looked at her.
"Did your friends put you up to this?"
Kristina's breath caught.
Her shoulders tensed, and she hesitated — not out of denial, but shame.
"…Yeah," she admitted, voice small. "They did."
She didn't look at him. Instead, her eyes dropped to the half-melted parfait between them.
"They were joking about how I 'never do anything fun' or 'never talk to boys' and as a punishment game, they forced me to go on a date."
Aran stayed quiet, just listening.
"They picked you." Her voice tightened. "The quiet guy no one pays attention to. Someone who wouldn't make a big deal out of it."
Aran didn't care about what she said about him. Instead, he spoke in a quiet but firm voice.
"I don't think friends should force someone into something they don't want to do..."
Kristina's eyes widened before she slammed the table, silencing the other tables around them.
"What do you know?!"
Aran didn't flinch. The clatter of utensils and the murmurs from nearby tables settled into a hush, but his gaze remained steady.
Kristina's eyes were wide, angry — but behind that anger was something more raw. Something like fear.
"Common sense."
Aran tells her.
The words hung in the air, simple but heavy.
Kristina's breath hitched. The fire in her eyes flickered, softened.
"You don't understand," she whispered, voice cracking. "They're my friends… I didn't want to disappoint them."
Aran shook his head slightly.
"Friends don't make you do things you don't want to do. That's not friendship. That's pressure."
"Then what the hell am I supposed to do?! This is the only way for me to have any friends! If I don't do this, they'll leave me. And I'll... I'll be all alone again…"
Kristina's voice trembled, raw and desperate, her hands gripping the edge of the table tightly.
Aran's expression softened instantly. He leaned in just a little, speaking quietly but firmly.
"I don't think that's true…"
"You don't know a thing, so just shut up!" Kristina snapped, her eyes flashing with hurt and frustration.
"I do know," Aran said calmly.
"What…?" she challenged, voice wavering.
"You're actually a really fun person to be around, Kristina…"
"You don't know me…"
"I guess not fully," he admitted with a small shrug. "But I've seen enough. Like how you cried so genuinely at the movie's ending, how passionate you get when you talk about things you care about, and how kind you were helping that old lady cross the street."
Aran spoke clearly with a soft smile on his face.
Kristina stayed silent, her breath caught somewhere between doubt and something softer.
"You might not believe it now, but I'm sure most people would want to be around you."
Kristina's eyes widened from surprise before scoffing and looking away.
"Hmph..."
Aran scratched his head and chuckle nervously.
"Ahaha... I guess you don't want to be getting a lecture about friends from someone like me..."
He told her before sighing and looking out the window.
"...If I'm being honest with you, I didn't have any real friends until recently."
Aran said as he thought about his time spent with Elio. How genuine their friendship felt.
He chuckled nervously. "He's a good friend, and I'm lucky to know him. If someone as dumb and gloomy as me can find a friend, I'm sure you'll do even better."
Aran paused for a moment, then looked Kristina in the eyes, smiling gently.
"So… please, treat yourself more kindly."
Kristina didn't say a thing, but her face told a different story.
Eyes wide as if reality just flew by and hit her face.
Aran stood up and grabbed his bag.
"A-anyway, I should get going. Oh, and I'll cover the parfait no need to worry."
He told her. Waving goodbye with an anxious and awkward smile.
Kristina was left sitting there quietly, the words echoing in the warm, fading light.
________________________________________