I Accidentally Saw Her Get Dumped — Now the Losing Heroine Senpai Won’t Stop Clinging to Me - Episode 15

“Alright! So today, I’ve come up with the perfect date plan to take you, dear boy, out into the real world!”

Chiharu-senpai beamed as she said this.

A… a date plan?

The words caught me off guard, and before I could hide it, she must’ve noticed because she gave a sly grin.

“You totally flinched just now when I said ‘date plan,’ didn’t you, boy?”

She said it with a teasing sparkle in her eyes.

“…Well, I mean… maybe a little.”

“Aww, being honest today, are we? Alright then, let’s get going!”

With that, she turned and began walking.

I hurried to catch up behind her.

________________________________________

＊＊＊

We ended up at a shopping mall, with our first stop being the movie theater.

Somehow—don’t ask me how—we were about to watch a horror movie.

Wait, why? This is her idea of “taking me out into the world”?

Well, whatever. Chiharu-senpai’s hard to read sometimes. This is probably one of those times.

We had about twenty minutes before the movie started.

“So, boy, are you Team Salt or Team Caramel when it comes to popcorn?”

“Uh… I guess I’d go with salt?”

“Hmm… let’s go sweet then! After all, it is a date!”

“Wait—what?”

“Just kidding~”

She threw it out so casually, then denied it just as quickly.

Honestly, this woman messes with my heart rate way too easily.

She ended up buying caramel popcorn and a fizzy drink.

We sat down on a bench in the lobby, casually munching while talking about the movie.

“It’s been a while since I watched a horror film.”

“…Wait, really? I thought you said you didn’t like them?”

“Did I?”

“Well, I mean… yeah, you kinda did.”

“Hehe, maybe just a little scared. But I figure it’s fine if someone’s sitting next to me.”

She gave me a playful wink.

(Okay, that’s just not fair…)

That hit way too hard to be a joke.

She completely had me off balance.

“Besides, if you’re the one freaking out, that might actually help me calm down!”

“…Do you even want to watch this?”

“Hmm… maybe a little? But honestly, as long as I’m watching with someone, anything’s fine!”

She just casually dropped another bomb like it was nothing.

Seriously though—why a horror movie?

________________________________________

＊＊＊

The movie started quietly.

But before long, ominous music crept in, the tension thickened, and something began moving onscreen in the unnatural silence.

“…!”

I heard a soft gasp beside me.

Chiharu-senpai gripped my arm—tight.

(Whoa—!)

It came out of nowhere and my heart nearly jumped out of my chest.

But she still had a calm expression on her face.

(Wait… is this unconscious? Like, reflex?)

Here I was, completely rattled, while she nonchalantly popped more popcorn into her mouth.

Meanwhile, I couldn’t focus on the plot at all. I was way more conscious of what was happening next to me.

Suddenly, a loud bang exploded from the screen—shoulders tensed, eyes flinched shut.

“Pfft—”

(…Huh?)

I turned and saw her trying hard not to laugh, covering her mouth.

Since there weren’t many people nearby, she whispered.

(“Hey, boy… that flinch just now? Hilarious. Your shoulders jumped like crazy! Ahaha—”)

(“P-please stop…”)

(“No no, I’m serious! Your scaredy-cat act? Absolute gold!”)

(“It’s not an act…”)

Clearly, I was taking more damage from her teasing than from the actual horror.

________________________________________

Eventually, the movie ended.

Now we were walking side by side outside the theater, chatting about our impressions.

“Man, that ghost scene was sneaky—creeped up on me out of nowhere.”

“You also downed way too much popcorn, you know.”

“Can’t help it! Sugar’s essential when you’re trying to calm your nerves. Besides…”

“…Yeah?”

“Watching with someone else makes it way more fun. Sure, it’s scary, but you laugh, your heart races—it’s a whole thing.”

She said it with a smile.

But this time, it wasn’t her usual playful grin.

It felt more like a smile that said, “I actually enjoyed this.”

“…I had fun too.”

“See? Told ya.”

“Though that… distance during the movie? That felt kind of… not normal.”

“Huh? Was that a confession just now, boy?”

“N-no! Not even close!”

“Hehe, relax—it’s a joke.”

She was teasing again.

And yet… this time, it didn’t bother me. I kind of liked it.

Honestly, compared to the scares on screen,

it was her laughter beside me that made my heart pound the most.

And still—

I found myself thinking: Next time, I want to do this again.

Just… not with a horror movie.