CHAPTER 6 - Sizzling September (3)

[SECOND DATE: MOVIE VIEWING]

This time, they would be going on a typical date – watching a movie. Since there would be no more gun shooting or anything that would require them to use their assassination skills, the pressure to act around normally in a 'date' overwhelmed the two.

Besides school and assassination, they have no other common interests. Including their choice of movies.

"Let us watch this one." Chiba pointed at the poster of a sci-fi movie.

As she was not keen on watching this genre or any other movies, she could only muster a nod. She only agreed to this since Chiba had asked her out. And, the taciturn boy – having not much experience in going out with a girl – had resorted to a cliché date setting even though, same as her, he was not that interested.

Trailing behind them was Korosensei dressed as a woman. He was flabbergasted as he eavesdropped on their exchange using a listening device attached to his elongated tentacle, camouflaged to the flooring.

'Chiba-kun, you should have asked Hayami-san first! Although she is the 'whatever-you-want type, it is still better to ask for her opinion or else you will have no communication,' he thought frantically.

After buying their tickets, Hayami's gaze traveled towards the snack booth. "Do you want to buy some popcorn?" she asked her date.

"I'm good. We'll be eating after anyway," he replied.

Korosensei – 'Hayami-san, why are you not being upfront about wanting to eat popcorn? I know that you are being wary about Chiba-kun on your date but you have to know that it is okay to be honest like your usual self. Especially if it's with him!'

They entered the theater and proceeded to their seats. While the movie was playing, both of them were silent when Chiba held back his yawn. He did not know why he chose this movie in the first place. He had to make a last-minute pick or else this would have been all for nothing.

Stealing a glance at her, she was watching at the screen earnestly although he was not sure whether she liked it or not.

'I better ask her later.'

***

Hayami was skimming over the menu of the restaurant when Chiba asked her, "Did you like the movie?"

Without looking up, she answered, "It was okay."

He did not delve into it further since she seemed like she was disinterested. This made him restless – at the thought of her already getting bored. After all, he was not sociable like Maehara or charismatic like Isogai.

'What if she gets tired of me?'

An unsettling feeling churned in the pit of his stomach, which he hid by busying himself with the menu.

After deciding on her order, Hayami set down the menu when she became aware of her mistake. She was not supposed to answer his question earlier that way. Because she was too focused on the menu items, what she had blurted out was not well-thought.

She looked up, wanting to redeem herself, only to find him gazing at the menu intently. So she decided to save it for later.

And that later never came.

On the further side of the room, a certain octopus in disguise has been squirming from uneasiness on his seat while indulging in the tiramisu dessert before him. Although he fully supported the sniper pair, he could not help but feel disconcerted at them as they were now. Just as he thought, despite the improvements of his students in the assassination, they were still lacking greatly in the romance field.

But that did not mean that what he witnessed today was not good enough material for his novel.

Upon leaving the restaurant, a waiter bowed after them with an expression of gratitude. That's when the same thought pierced both minds – What is up with me?

Even if it was a given that they were introverts, that was not enough reason to have their dates ended stagnantly twice in a row.

And yet, they have no issue keeping quiet as they headed to the bus stop since they found comfort just from walking beside each other in silence like their peaceful walks in the forest.

When they had arrived, Hayami turned towards him and saw his anxious expression. Her heart skipping a beat, she waited for him in dismay.

He inhaled deeply before saying, "Let's do this again."

Relief washed over her and her soft expression gave him a startle. "I thought that you were going to end it," she said.

'Since you are already sick of whatever this is between us.'

Rubbing the back of his neck, he said, "Although it was awkward, I still want to be with you." Be it may inside or outside the school. "That's why I want to keep trying."

When he had averted his gaze back to her, she gave him a nod with a small smile on her face.

"Yeah. Let's continue to get along."