"It's been two days since my brother said those fateful words to me..."
"Of course, I wasn't serious. I care about you, Tomoko. I CARE ABOUT YOU MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE ON THE PLANET!"
"...Please, just don't ever die..."
"Why do I feel this tingling sensation when I'm thinking about him?"
Tomoko shakes her head, "It's probably nothing."
Yu-chan butts in, "So you were saying before you took that long pause."
Tomoko resumes her conversation with Yu-chan, "Oh, sorry, today's a big date for my brother. He's finally going on a real date with his girlfriend, not some walking home or holding hands type of affair, an actual date. Attending this engagement will be his first step on his journey to becoming a man. I'm honestly pretty proud of him. It seems like only yesterday he was still in diapers. Now, he's trying to improve his courtship," Tomoko reports, with an appreciative attitude.
"That sounds great, Mokocchi! I'm really glad you're taking the initiative here and helping out your younger brother."
"I know, I know, I'm such a good person. He doesn't know this, but I'll be keeping a close eye on him too. I'm gonna visit the same movie theater and watch him from far away, you know, to see how he does and if he needs my assistance."
"Isn't that kinda creepy?"
"He shouldn't be worried. I'll keep plenty of distance between him and me. It'll be like I'm not even there."
"Still, you should probably tell him about it."
"Don't sweat it, Yu-chan. I'm sure Tomoki won't mind."
Tomoko arrives on the railroad scene, trailing behind Tomoki and Haruka.
The two collect their tickets and then visit the concession stand for snacks and refreshments. After coating the popcorn in an unhealthy amount of butter, Tomoki and his date decide to head into the theater.
Tomoko slithers along the rightmost wall past vending machines and arcade cabinets, trying her best to stay hidden, "Wow, Haruka is actually pretty attractive. I wish I had those big jugs. Good going, bro!"
Tomoki finds himself sandwiched between a middle-aged couple and four unruly children.
Tomoko works her way to the back of the room, careful to conceal her face.
Tomoki spots the cap-wearing Tomoko, "Wait, is that my sister. No, it can't be. She looks way too fashionable. They must just have the same hat wear."
"Good, he didn't notice. Operation: Support Tomoki is in full effect," Tomoko proclaims with her inside voice.
The movie begins with a battleship fight. Volatile explosions and mass carnage litter the screen. It was the perfect spectacle for the popcorn craving maniacs Tomoko and Tomoki. As Jia attempts to calm King Kong, Tomoki slowly wraps his arm around his girlfriend's shoulder. The two look each other in the eyes and provide a stimulating kiss for one another.
Tomoko reacts with joy, "Score! You did it, bro. You reached first base. Home plate, here we come. See, I knew you could do it."
She had finally completed her mission. Tomoki and his girlfriend were now together; they were a thing. That's why she didn't understand why a single tear was rolling down her cheek.
"Why am I crying?"
"Maybe they're just tears of joy."
Haruka leans against Tomoki.
Time stops for what feels like an eternity.
"No!"
Tomoko mutters a horrible phrase under her breath. A phrase she thought she'd never hear.
"That should be me!"
Time recommences, and Tomoko storms out of the theater.
Tomoki spots a girl leaving the theater, "Nope, that's definitely Tomoko. She holds the title of world's flattest ass. I wonder what she's doing here."
Tomoko inserts a dollar into a nearby vending machine. The coke drops to the floor, mimicking the fall of Tomoko's tears. She sips the soda quietly on the ground as she stares off into the horizon, "Sure, I've made advancements towards my brother in the past. But I was never serious about them. I've also read about brother and sister relationships from popular mangas, but I thought I was above that too. Little did I know that things would turn out like this..."
"A girl who's head over heels for her own brother. That's even more pathetic than buying Otome games. I should just follow my brother's advice and go die."
"No, you shouldn't!"
"Tomoki!" Tomoko screams, realizing Tomoki's presence from the other side of the soda machine.
"Don't worry; I didn't hear anything. I just sat down."
"Oh, okay."
"Um, I don't know why you're here, but thanks for helping me with my girlfriend. What you did, the advice you gave me, it all really means a lot to me."
"Oh, that, yeah, it was nothing, no need to thank me."
"And I'm sorry for telling you to burn in hell. Sometimes I say things I don't really mean."
"Thanks."
Tomoki gets up to leave. Just as he's about to depart, he hears the faint cry of Tomoko from the opposite side of the machine.
He stops.
"No, no, I lied."
"What?"
"I heard everything, Tomoko. I listened to every syllable that came out of your mouth."
Tomoko freezes, her body going completely numb.
"D-do y-you hate me?"
"Tomoki, where are you? You're missing the best part of the movie. They're finally duking it out," Haruka issues.
"I'm coming; I'm coming. Just give me a second."
"We'll talk about this later, but just know that I..."
"I don't hate you."