Ch 9

Haruna's POV

"Where do you want to sit, Haruna?" Fumi asked, sweeping his arm across the auditorium. The auditorium was packed. Haruna scanned the room and was finally able to find 4 open seats near the right side of the movie screen.

She pointed them out to Fumi. She then turned around to ask Yoh and Asami if it was all right with them but they were nowhere to be seen.

Haruna swiveled her head back and forth, trying to find them.

"Fumi, where is Yoh? Asami? I thought they were right behind us."

Fumi turned to look around too. "Huh- I'll just text Yoh. They probably went to the bathroom or something. Let's go grab our seats, though, before anyone else takes them."

They went to grab their seats as the lights began to dim and the previews started.

Fumi took the aisle seat while Haruna sat right next to him. Haruna looked behind her trying to locate Yoh. For a second, Haruna considered the possibility that Yoh had left. Simply left, even when she had asked him to come for support. This thought gave her a strange feeling of disappointment.

That feeling immediately disappeared however when she saw Yoh walking towards her and Fumi. Haruna noted that his face was strange though. He had a frown in his face and his eyes were pinched tight. I wonder what's wrong...Haruna thought as she saw Yoh being shoved aside by Asami as Asami quickly claimed the seat furthest away from Haruna. This forced Yoh to sit right next to Haruna.

Haruna saw Yoh throw a dirty look at his sister before he lowered himself to his seat. As he did so, Haruna felt his arm brush against her own arm accidentally. Haruna felt little pinpricks of heat where their skin had touched. Haruna felt her face getting warmer, especially after Yoh said a gruff "sorry" before yanking his arm back so it was closer to his body.

Haruna was feeling unsettled. The conversation with Yoh outside had made her feel… off. Her heart was acting weird and her face kept warming up.

Trying to feel normal again, she looked at Fumi- her boyfriend- who had quickly become engrossed in the movie. Haruna turned to look at the movie trying to distract herself from whatever feeling she was having at the moment.

Also to distract herself from Yoh, as somehow Haruna was becoming more attuned to every sound or movement that he made. Every rustle of clothes as Yoh tried to make himself more comfortable, every long sip of his drink.

Once again, Haruna tried to lose herself in the movie. She slightly moved closer to Fumi, who turned to smile at her before offering her popcorn. Haruna smiled back weakly before accepting the popcorn.

Midway through the movie, Haruna began to feel her eyes drooping. She tried to hold back a yawn. The lack of sleep and the weirdness of the day had tired Haruna out. I'll rest my eyes for a little bit…. Haruna thought, as her mind began to fog up.

Yoh's POV

Yoh barely knew what the movie was about, even though he had fixed his eyes on the screen since the moment that the movie started.

Damn these too close seats, Yoh cursed as he almost brushed against Haruna again for the fourth time. He tried to move closer to Asami but she was having none of it. Asami shoved him back into his seat with a hissed, "Yoh!".

Yoh closed his eyes for a few seconds. It was torture to sit next to the girl he liked in the dark while her boyfriend (and his best friend!) sat on the other side. It was especially torturous when he saw how close she was sitting to Fumi, happily sharing a tub of popcorn.

The movie went on and Yoh's eyes became more and more glassy as he felt a sense of tiredness swept through his body. He struggled to keep his eyes open but in the end he lost the battle.

Fumi's POV

The movie ended. Fumi stretched and popped his back, brushing popcorn off his lap.

"That was such a good movie! Right, Haruna?"

When Fumi heard no answer from his girlfriend, he turned his head towards her. His eyes widen in shock at the scene before him.

Before him was Yoh and Haruna, sleeping. Together. Haruna's head rested on Yoh's shoulder while Yoh's head rested on top of Haruna's head. They were both breathing softly, almost as in sync. Soft smiles were plastered in each of their faces. They looked content. In peace.

Fumi felt a small twinge, especially after he heard an older couple from behind them exclaim in whispered tones on how cute young couples were as they pointed at both Haruna and Yoh.

"Aww, cute," echoed Asami, as she stood up and passed the sleeping pair to stand beside Fumi. "Yoh must have been tired, texting Haruna back and forth last night."

Fumi turned towards Asami, frowning slightly. "All night texting?"

"Yeah." Asami turned towards Fumi, with a smile. "Weird, right?"

Fumi turned to look back at Haruna and Yoh. Well, Yoh is her coach, Fumi tried to reason, though he still felt...something. Something he hadn't really experienced before.

Gently, Fumi tried to shake Haruna awake. Haruna grumbled, before burrowing herself deeper into Yoh's neck. This small action caused another small twinge near Fumi's heart. Fumi stepped back, not knowing what to do.

Fumi heard a huff behind him. He was slightly pushed aside by Asami as Asami stood in front of the sleeping pair. Without warning, Asami splashed Haruna in the face with the water from her water bottle.