A Popular Girl Confessed to Me, the Loner—Thinking It Was a Prank, I Tried to Scare Her Off... But She Was Actually Serious. - Chapter 15: When Our Hands Touched

As the movie time drew near, we entered the theater.

The space was dimly lit, and the scent of popcorn floated gently through the air.

Our seats were slightly toward the back, near the center—perfect for watching the screen.

“Wow, this theater’s really nice,”

Hiyori whispered as she sat down.

I followed and sat beside her.

(…She’s close.)

The seats were just normal-sized—I knew that.

But having Hiyori right next to me made it feel way too intense.

It was like my brain couldn’t handle all the information at once.

Between us sat a tub of popcorn and our shared drink.

Two straws poked out of the same cup.

The more I noticed it, the drier my throat felt.

The lights dimmed further, and the trailers started playing.

With the theater now dark, I could feel her presence even more clearly—

The sound of her breathing, the faint rustle of her reaching for popcorn,

Even the scent of her hair as it moved ever so slightly.

—Everything felt closer.

(Calm down, it’s just a movie… just a normal date…)

But every time I told myself that, my heart thumped louder.

The more I tried not to think about it, the harder it became not to.

***

The main feature began.

Title: “0 Seconds Until I Fall in Love.”

The beginning was calm and slow.

A college boy and girl slowly drew closer through a series of chance encounters.

I reached for the popcorn, and at the same time, Hiyori’s fingers brushed against mine.

“…Ah, sorry…”

She whispered, voice low—so close I could feel it.

My heart skipped again.

(That was just an accident… So why am I freaking out like this…)

Next, I went for a sip of the drink.

I hesitated—Which straw was mine?—and picked one at random.

Right after I took a sip, Hiyori leaned toward the same straw.

(W-Wait—)

She must’ve noticed just in time, because she let out a quiet, “Ah,” and pulled back.

Our eyes met.

We were silent for a beat—then she giggled softly.

(…No way I’m staying calm after this.)

My nervous system was running at maximum capacity.

***

The movie reached its midpoint, and the romance started to bloom.

There was a scene where the guy stared at the girl’s sleeping face.

Another where they accidentally held hands.

Quiet, gentle moments that stirred the heart.

Each time, Hiyori’s shoulders would flinch slightly, or she’d let out a soft breath.

And then, out of nowhere—her fingers lightly touched the back of my hand.

(Wait… what?)

I turned my head in surprise, but Hiyori was still watching the screen, her expression unchanged.

Only her fingertips, just barely, were resting on my hand.

(…That wasn’t my imagination, right?)

But after a few seconds, she pulled away and reached for the popcorn like nothing happened.

What was that?

Was it her being nice? Random? Or maybe—

(I can’t even focus on the movie… My heart’s too loud…)

***

The movie reached its climax.

The main character finally poured out his feelings.

After a long string of missed chances and misunderstandings, they finally connected.

In the dark theater, I glanced at Hiyori.

Her eyes were shimmering with tears, and her lips trembled just a bit.

It wasn’t the usual cheerful Hiyori—it was like she was radiating emotion in complete silence.

Seeing that side of her, I realized something.

(Ah… she really loves love.)

She cares deeply, wants to express her feelings, and truly believes in mutual connection.

…Which is the opposite of me.

I doubt. I run away. I keep testing people.

But maybe that’s why—

That someone like Hiyori, someone so sincere and kind,

Was sitting right next to me, and that alone made me feel ridiculously happy.

***

The end credits began to roll.

A short moment of silence before the lights came back on.

Hiyori sniffled softly and dug through her bag, probably looking for a tissue.

Watching her, I quietly reached into my pocket and pulled out my own handkerchief.

Without saying anything, I held it out to her.

“…Huh?”

She looked up at me in surprise.

Still saying nothing, I simply kept my hand out.

She gently took the handkerchief from me, a small smile on her face.

“…Thanks.”

That was it.

But her “thanks” felt softer, warmer than usual—

And for some reason, it lingered in my heart.