The cinema was flooded with people. Aoyama stood in the lobby, gazing at the various movie posters lining the walls with a look of genuine appreciation.
"This really is a great place," he murmured.
Since it was Saturday, the theater was packed. Groups of five or six students or colleagues laughed together; however, the majority were couples, like Aoyama and Akane.
But unlike the other couples, who leaned into each other or walked arm-in-arm, Aoyama and Akane maintained a noticeable "friends-only" distance between them.
"Right? Coming to the theater occasionally has a great atmosphere," Akane said with a smile.
"Yeah, the cinema is a special place," Aoyama agreed. "I like it because... well, if people die, they all end up in a cinema anyway."
Akane's smile faltered. She looked at him, her eyes widening in confusion. "Wait... people go to the cinema when they die?"
She tried to reconcile this with the various mythologies of the world. The Christians spoke of Heaven and Hell; the Egyptians of the weighing of the heart against a feather; the Federation's folklore of the Six Paths of Reincarnation and the judgment of the King of the Underworld.
None of them mentioned a box office or concessions stand.
'The cinema? It's only been around for a century... how does that work?'
"The moment you die, you find yourself standing in the middle of a cinema," Aoyama explained, his voice becoming animated. "You've got your popcorn and your soda, and you go looking for your seat. Once you sit down, the lights dim, the trailers start, and then... you just watch movie after movie forever. Sounds perfect, doesn't it?"
Passers-by turned to stare at the young man laughing loudly about death in the middle of a lobby.
"Aoyama-kun..."
Akane felt a surge of panic. 'Is his condition worsening? Is he becoming suicidal?'
"Isn't that just the best?" Aoyama leaned closer, tilting his head. "It's so much more interesting than some gloomy afterlife or a kingdom in the clouds."
"I've decided! My next project will be 'Fire Punch'!"
While Akane was still reeling from his talk of the afterlife, Aoyama's topic shifted with whiplash speed.
"Eh? 'Fire Punch'?"
"Yeah. I'm going to draw it so everyone understands how wonderful the cinema really is!" Aoyama gave a thumbs-up. "I'll treat it as my gift to this world!"
'A gift?'
Akane saw an opportunity. "Well, if it's a gift, you have to stay around to deliver it, Aoyama-kun. You can't... give up before then, okay?"
"I'm not going to give up easily," Aoyama promised with a beaming, sunny smile. "I still have so many movies to watch and so much manga to read before then!"
"Anyway, look at the time," Akane said, pointing to the wall clock. "We should head in."
"Wait! I need to get the snacks!" Aoyama said. "Even if we just ate, popcorn and a drink are non-negotiable for the cinema experience!"
Akane nodded. "Alright. I'll wait for you by the gate."
Aoyama sprinted to the counter, returning a few minutes later with two buckets of popcorn, a Coke, and an orange juice. They moved through the doors and found their seats just as the trailers ended.
Daredevil: The Dark Knight Rises turned out to be exactly what Aoyama remembered as Batman: The Dark Knight Rises from his previous life. In this world, the "Dark Knight" persona was adopted by the blind vigilante, but the core of the character (the brooding protector in the bat-themed suit) remained the same.
Even the actor was a familiar face, making it feel as if he'd fast-forwarded to a "Multi-verse" version of his old life.
Despite having seen the plot once before, Aoyama wasn't bored. He watched the screen in rapt silence, his eyes reflecting the flickering lights of the projector.
Akane, however, wasn't looking at the screen. She spent most of the movie watching Aoyama's profile in the shifting light. The glow of the skyscraper-sized images danced across his youthful features, highlighting the sharp lines of his jaw and a look of profound, peaceful focus that she rarely saw in the studio.
She'd never seen him this still, this... quiet.
A small, genuine smile curled her lips.
When the credits finally rolled, Aoyama stood up and stretched. "That was actually pretty good, wasn't it, Akane?"
"Yes... it really was," she agreed.
"I mean, it wasn't quite as tight as the first 'Dark Knight,' but the production value was top-tier..."
Aoyama immediately launched into a passionate analysis of the film. The "quiet, peaceful student" from five minutes ago had vanished, replaced once more by the boisterous manga geek.
"Yeah... right," Akane said, her voice slightly distracted. After all, she hadn't actually watched half the movie.
"Anyway, let's go! We can talk more over tea!"
Before he could finish his sentence, Akane reached out and grabbed his wrist.
"Eh?"
Aoyama froze. The heat of her palm against his skin sent a sudden, unexpected jolt through him. He felt the tips of his ears beginning to burn. It was the first time a girl had ever initiated physical contact like this.
Even if it was just his wrist, the sensation of her soft, cool fingers was enough to make his pulse skyrocket.
"Come on!"
Akane didn't seem to notice his internal crisis. She just laughed and pulled him toward the exit, running through the lobby like a child.
"Wait, wait, wait!"
Aoyama was caught off guard. Akane was usually so reserved, so "proper." Seeing her act this wildly was a revelation.
Akane, for her part, held onto his wrist with a fierce, quiet determination. She wanted to give him warmth. She wanted to show him that the world was worth staying in. She wouldn't let him give up on himself.
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika_Kagura]