ALL NOVEL chapter 91
91. Follow the Philance Blue
“…Hey, what is this place?”
A dimly lit counter contrasted with the dazzlingly bright and flashy lights. The aroma of caramel popcorn wafted from it.
“What do you mean? It’s a movie theater.”
“This is a movie theater…”
It seems that I’ve come to a movie theater with Tokiwa Uguisu, a fellow hero who I tried to kill a few weeks ago. Of course, we didn’t come here for a friendly outing.
“What are those poster-like things lined up over there?”
“What’s wrong with the pamphlets…? And please don’t talk so loudly. Sora-kun and the others will find us.”
“Pamphlets”
I thought it was wrong to follow my older brother behind his back, but for some reason, I couldn’t resist Tokiwa Uguisu’s momentum and ended up coming this far with her. I don’t really understand how things turned out this way, and I can’t help but feel excited and lightheaded since this is my first time visiting a movie theater.
“Do people really eat popcorn at movie theaters? Oh, there’s something on it. I wonder what it is.”
“It’s obviously butter. If you’re that hungry, go ahead and eat it.”
When she said that, my stomach let out a loud growl. Now that she mentions it, I haven’t eaten anything since I had some cold somen noodles for lunch yesterday. I’ve been drinking plenty of fluids because my older brother told me to watch out for heat stroke, though.
“Then I’ll have that buttered popcorn and those long, thin things…”
“Stop, Koshiba-san!”
As I tried to head toward the counter, Tokiwa Uguisu grabbed my clothes and pulled me into her fluffy body. She said I could eat it. This woman is a liar after all.
“W-what?”
Of course, the liar’s serious gaze was fixed on my older brother and Sekicho Momoka. They seemed to be discussing something in front of a monitor attached to the counter where they were selling food. I think that’s probably the ticket machine.
Right next to where we were hiding, there were several large posters lined up. They must have been the lineup of movies that are currently playing.
“We need to figure out which movie Sora-kun and the others are going to see. If possible, we should also get their seat numbers…”
“Huh, you’re going to follow them inside?”
I wonder if I even have to go with them in the first place. This is my first time at a movie theater, so I wish I had come with my older brother instead.
Earlier, a friendly parent and child bought a large popcorn that was divided into two sections. I think it was for the two of them to share. If I had come with my older brother, maybe he would have split it in half with me. I’d enjoy any movie if my older brother was next to me, but I hope he doesn’t pick an English movie since I can’t read kanji very well.
Suddenly, my eyes fell on a poster for an animated movie with a gentle illustration. It said, “The Lonely Girl and the Mysterious Creature Remy’s Great Summer Adventure” in large letters, and there was a girl who looked like she was in elementary or middle school hugging a fluffy creature that looked like a cross between a rabbit and a dog.
‘What, is Himawari going to see this?’
W-what the heck.
What happened all of a sudden? I just imagined going out with Onii-chan. It’s kind of embarrassing. I guess I’ve started to think weird things ever since I realized I like Onii-chan.
I shouldn’t think about such things. I have to focus on following him now. Although I don’t really need to.
“First, which work is it… Well, when a man and a woman go to see something together, it’s definitely a romance movie. There’s a popular one that’s being talked about right now, so that’s probably it. It’s based on a popular shojo manga, and the morning drama actress is said to have given a wonderful performance.”
“Hmm.”
Tokiwa Uguisu pointed at a poster of a man and a woman in uniforms standing back-to-back like rivals. But they’re not fighting; from what I can tell, these two will end up together. I don’t really get it , and I’m not really interested.
“… But still, Sora-san, you must know that I want to see that movie, so why are you going to see it with another woman? Are you trying to find out if there are any awkward scenes before you watch it with me , your main wife? Or are you trying to make sure it’s not a terrible movie, because you know I’m looking forward to it and you don’t want to disappoint me? If that’s the case, then your thoughtfulness is very Sora- san-like, but it’s counterproductive for me. Because no matter what kind of scenes there are, or how much of a terrible movie it is, just the fact that I shared this first time with Sora-san will make it the best movie in my heart.”
Yeah, I understand that.
“However, it is the duty of a good wife to forgive her husband for making mistakes a few times. Let’s compromise and watch the same screening at the same movie theater. There’s a screening at 11:00, but I’d be able to tell where their seats are if I could just hear their voices…”
“You want to hear their voices?”
Oh, so that’s what it was.
“It’s hard to do on the train, but it’s quiet here, so it should be fine.”
As I said that, I showed her the Hero Suit I was wearing under my T-shirt.
The Hero Suit doesn’t just give us strength; it enhances our overall physical abilities. It varies from person to person, but it also greatly enhances our eyesight and hearing, so in a quiet place like this, I should be able to hear their conversation. This power was originally developed to hear the SOS calls of more people at disaster sites. It’s a power of justice, designed to not miss the slightest crack and to not leave even a single person behind.
‘Himawari, is that really a Hero’s job?’
My consciousness was instantly pulled back to myself by an answer that I shouldn’t have been able to hear.
“Did you hear something?”
“…No.”
Wasn’t I just about to do something I shouldn’t have?
“Sorry, I guess I couldn’t hear it after all. I guess I’m not very good at this kind of thing.”
The voice of Onii-chan that I heard just now was probably not real. It was just my delusional Onii-chan talking to himself, like before. But for some reason, those words really struck a chord with me. I felt like that’s what Onii-chan would say if he saw me right now.
Onii-chan likes heroes. And I’m the hero of justice, Philance Yellow. If a hero like that used his powers for his own selfish desires, I’m sure Onii-chan would be disillusioned.
I can’t do that. I have to use my powers for Onii-chan, but using them to deceive Onii-chan would be a real betrayal.
Even now, I really want to stop following Onii-chan around. But my desire to quit is mixed with my anxiety and my desire to know the truth, and I end up getting carried away by Tokiwa Uguisu. I wish I could just give up and fail.
“Maybe we should just give up.”
I suggested it casually. I felt like it would be best for both of us if we just went home.
“That’s unfortunate, but it can’t be helped. But there’s no need to give up; let’s just give up on the seats and buy tickets for the 11:00 romance movie…”
She gave up so easily during the mudslide, but is her love for Onii-chan so fake that she’s being stubborn about it? I was wondering what to do, since I couldn’t just leave her here, when a cheerful voice naturally reached my ears as she walked away from the ticket machine.
“Senpai, do a Desupink impression!”
“I can’t do it in a place like this! And why pink, anyway…”
Oh no, they’re coming this way!
We quickly hid behind the signboard.
“Aww, but I want senpai to always be a pink pusher, no matter what?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Besides, I’ve already decided that there’s only one pink I’ll ever push.”
“Eh, d-does that mean… ehehehehe.”
Onii-chan and Nadeshiko Take, tickets in hand, headed towards the counter, where the sweet smell of caramel popcorn hung in the air.
“B-but I’m surprised. Senpai and Momo want to see the same movie?”
“Even though they say things like hero booms are over and they’re tired of them, I still like the fictional Sentai series. It’s a little childish for a college student, isn’t it?”
“I wanted to see the peaches too, so we’re both the same as children, aren’t we?”
“No, because Momoko is a high school student…”
As usual, my brother has Momoko Sekichoku clinging to his arm. My brother walks, occasionally stroking her long pink hair, not showing any signs of disliking or being bothered by it. Most people would probably think they’re a loving couple.
“W-what the heck is that!?”
When I looked next to me, Tokiwa Uguisu, who seemed to have finally run out of convenient interpretations, had turned a strange color that was a mix of blue and red.