of smiles and scowls.
day three – movies.

Unfortunately for Kyon, when Koizumi had hopefully suggested going out to a movie, both of them failed to realize that there were only mediocre, low-budget films and mindless Hollywood pandering-to-the-brainless-demographic-of-the-present-day movies playing. In retrospect, Kyon supposed that they both should've researched what was showing before hopping on over to a theater and spending precious money on a title that only sounded interesting.

It wasn't a god-awful film, Kyon thought, although he was trying his best to keep his inner critic on a leash. If he approached everything with such a jaded outlook, nothing was going to meet his expectations.

Even so, he had a hard time ignoring the flimsy excuse for a plot, the cheap CGI effects, and the sub-par acting. The time he had watched Koizumi perform at the school culture festival had more believable actors than whatever they were watching.

The two were huddled in the center seats of the Western-style theater, near the bars for handicapped people. A group of children were in the rows closest to the television screen, while a few couples were speckled few and far between behind them. It wasn't much of a turnout.

Kyon's eyes wandered away from the screen to glance at Koizumi's face. Much to his unsurprised annoyance, he was met with Koizumi returning his stare, eyes twinkling as they reflected the light from the flashing images on the screen.

Kyon shot him a nasty scowl. He heard Koizumi giggle over the tedious dialogue on-screen, mocking him. The esper leaned in close, his lips brushing Kyon's ear and tickling the skin.

"You're much more interesting than the movie, you know," Koizumi whispered slyly. Each of his individual, tender breaths made Kyon's hair bristle and his entire body stiffen.

Kyon growled and flinched away. He wanted to snap at the smarmy boy, but… his deep voice would be recognized throughout the entire theater. It would carry, unlike Koizumi's murmur that could barely be heard over the beat of a butterfly's wings.

Koizumi pursued him, continuing to purr sweet lullabies into his ear. "I'm not quite that invested in the movie myself," he nearly whined, "so I would have no complaints if we ditched." The end of his sentence lingered in the air in a plead. His shoulder was snug against Kyon's, warm and inviting compared to the chill of the theater.

"This was fifteen bucks," Kyon hissed through clenched teeth, giving Koizumi an annoyed, half-glare. "We're staying." He tried to limit his tone to a hoarse whisper.

Koizumi pulled back a hair so Kyon could see his face through the darkened haze. "Is that so?" he asked, frowning dejectedly. He blinked at the other, optimism painted delicately onto his features.

"Maybe if you paid, but since this is my wallet, no."
Koizumi huffed. "Fine. I understand." Even so, a mischievous gleam still sparkled in his eye. "I'll make do."

Kyon would've quipped at him, but he didn't want to talk any more over the scene. He doubted that the couples making out in the back and the children wailing in the front row would particularly care, but his own self-consciousness kept him from acting on his brilliant sarcasm.

Also, there was now a head plopped on his shoulder that wiped his thoughts clean.

"This is fine, too."

"What—"

Kyon slapped a hand to his mouth to keep himself from yelping. He scooted away, but try as he might, he couldn't worm any further away from Koizumi's head. He was trapped between the arm rests.

"Don't do that in public!" Kyon whispered frantically, glancing around him. Not a single soul paid him any heed.

Koizumi grunted in exasperation. "If you stop moving, nobody will even notice." He sounded way too calm and way too cheeky. He deserved a punch, that bastard….

Kyon stopped his squirming for a bit to calm himself down. The theater was so dim that maybe people wouldn't be able to see Koizumi claiming his personal space as his own… he should just relax, yeah….

And, now that he had a chance to relish the feeling, Koizumi's head on his shoulder wasn't too bad. It was more interesting to concentrate on than the meaningless plot exposition that was spinning in circles.

"We can still leave, you know."

"Shut up."