As time passed, the oppressive heat of the midday sun began to give way to the gentle breezes of the afternoon. People were eager to go out. Couples, lovers, and families started to venture out for strolls.
Glancing toward the Crimson Paradise, it was possible to see a couple emerging. A tall, attractive young man beside a young woman with a wry smile. Interest and curiosity were intertwined in her greenish eyes.
She had her arm looped through his, holding it very close to her breasts. It was clearly obvious that the young man felt this, but he maintained a calm smile. He looked relaxed, as if everything was under his control.
"Hmm... so your sister is a writer. Are you saying that's where the money comes from?"
As if to show her interest in the newly opened topic, her gaze regularly searched Yuu's face, his attractive coal eyes barely visible behind his black sunglasses. It was possible to sense disbelief in her words. After all, as far as she knew, making money just from writing wasn't that easy.
Yuu, surprisingly, smiled as he confirmed it.
"Something like that. More accurately, we both do it, but I just provide the main idea, and she develops it."
He paused for a moment and pointed to a billboard. Marika also stopped her steps, and her constant smile faltered, her eyes widened in surprise, and her mouth opened in shock as she looked in the direction Yuu's finger was pointing.
"W-Wait... that new movie... you're not involved with that, are you, Pretty Boy?"
Yuu's smile widened.
"Actually... yes. The agreement for the rights was signed just last week."
"..." Marika could see Yuu was enjoying her astonishment. So, unable to find any sign of him lying, she couldn't help but let out a sharp breath.
"You're serious."
Her grip on Yuu's arm tightened. The movie he pointed to wasn't just a simple film. It was a movie series, one that had many fans and one that Marika had undoubtedly heard of. She hadn't expected to be so close to someone connected with such a famous film series!
Yuu, laughing at her surprise, slightly tilted his head and rested his own head on hers.
"Yeah. Haha! You didn't expect that, did you?"
He would be lying if he said he wasn't enjoying it. Seeing Marika's astonishment as she got to know him was immensely fun. Just then, his laughter was cut short by a light punch to his ribs.
Marika slightly pulled her head back and fixed her eyes on him.
"Of course I didn't expect that, pretty boy," she paused for a moment. "Wow... that explains your extravagant spending of money," she said, smirking. She leaned in and whispered in his ear.
"You're too humble and serious for a rich person."
The corner of Yuu's ear flushed as he felt Marika's breath. The rhythm of his heart quickened.
"Because this is who I am. I wasn't born rich, after all," he replied softly, pulling his arm away, wrapping it around her waist, and pulling her closer to him. Their bodies were extremely close, with only a few inches of space between their faces.
"I'm just a little selfish."
The closeness further increased the smile on Marika's lips, and her cheeks flushed. The speed of her heart was almost synchronized with Yuu's heart rate. It was fast and strong.
She momentarily ignored the fact that there were people around, that they were occasionally being looked at. Even as a few strands of her gold-green hair fell between her eyes, her focus was entirely on Yuu's face.
"Oh... you don't look selfish to me at all."
Genuine interest could be seen in her eyes as she slightly leaned toward his lips. They both knew they wanted this right now. To taste each other... the sexual tension was so strong...
However, Marika suddenly pulled back after briefly kissing his nose, leaving Yuu stunned. A triumphant smirk was on her lips.
"Consider that the payment for the coffee, sweetie," she said, winking, and started walking ahead. She deliberately swayed her hips to the right and glanced at Yuu over her shoulder. She pointed to the large cinema ahead.
"Aren't you coming?"
Yuu blinked in astonishment, looking foolish for a moment. His brain couldn't process the suddenly changed situation, and his gaze was momentarily fixated on Marika's swaying hips. When they made eye contact as he slightly lifted his head, only one thought crossed Yuu's mind:
'Payment? I highly doubt it. This is an open war!'
A playful smile appeared on his lips.
"The cinema? Of course, I'm in!"
He immediately followed her, unhesitatingly taking her hand and tucking it under his arm.
"But I wouldn't recommend watching mine with me if you don't want spoilers," a mischievous smile danced on his lips as he said this.
"After all, I might comment too much on what I know."
Marika puffed her cheeks in a clearly playful manner.
"Aww~! So you're a scenario-writer-idea-giver who can't keep his mouth shut! Oh, how terrible!"
She laughed, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Buttt..."
She squeezed his arm tightly once more. "I'd like to see what you've cooked up," she said with a meaningful tone, and her grip on his arm tightened. Yuu chuckled.
"Then let's go."
They walked slowly together. As soon as they entered the cinema, they were greeted by the sight of various posters lined up. People were standing in front of some posters, discussing among themselves.
One of them was, of course, the movie adaptation of the story Yuu had told Marika he was connected to.
"Air conditioners are the best thing humanity has ever created!"
Yuu said these words happily as he let out a sigh of relief upon entering. The coolness that replaced the heat of the air hit his sweaty muscles, causing a pleasurable shiver.
Although Marika had a similar experience, she couldn't help but tease him about his exaggerated happiness.
"So you don't like being hot, sweetie?"
Yuu shrugged and replied, "Only the summer kind." He walked toward the ticket booth and arrived, then looked into Marika's eyes, which sparkled with naughtiness.
"Let's choose a movie first, shall we?"
Marika pressed her index finger against her lower lip, adopting a thoughtful expression.
"Hmm... hmmmm.... what should we choose...?"
Although her choice was obvious, she sarcastically drew it out. She hummed, and when she couldn't hide her playful smirk any longer, she fixed the hair that fell over her eyes. The woman at the booth looked at the two of them.
"Welcome, which movie would you like tickets for?"
Marika pinched Yuu's cheek lightly, making a small, surprised grunt escape his mouth, and said playfully:
"Two tickets for The Adventures of the Dark Wizard: Prisoner of Azkaban. Anywhere as long as they're next to each other!"
The ticket seller, looking at the side-by-side tickets, frowned in thought. Her gaze carefully scanned the seating plan, and she finally showed the screen to the couple.
"Only the back rows are empty, sir."
Yuu looked at the nearly full seating plan with a thoughtful expression.
"The back, huh?"
Marika's eyes sparkled at these words. The back was probably the best place for closeness. A perfect spot that offered a good view of the cinema, away from prying eyes... and also convenient for things that shouldn't be mentioned.
'I can't believe a spot like this is empty!' she thought, and immediately pointed to the two seats in the back center.
"Those two! Those two are good, right, Yuu?"
For Yuu, the very back or the very front didn't make much difference. As long as it wasn't the middle, it wasn't much of a problem. Experiencing it among too many people wasn't a good experience for him. He shrugged.
"Suits me."
After the confirmation process was completed, Yuu was ready to pay when the ticket employee stated the price, but Marika acted before him. With her usual smile, she said:
"I'll pay in cash."
Then she took out her wallet from her bag. She handed the cash to the employee, snatched the tickets, looked at Yuu, and winked, "I'm paying this time, rich boy!"
Yuu sighed.
"Okay, okay."
The duo, heading inside, bought popcorn and sodas on the way and found their seats. Yuu, letting out a sigh of relief at the softness of the cinema seat, spread his legs to place the popcorn box between them.
Marika's gaze lingered on his tense shorts for a while. Despite them being shorts, she could roughly make out the shape. Even in its non-erect state, it was thick... she couldn't help but roughly imagine its erect image in her mind.
However, she immediately shook her head, and the thought vanished, whispering to herself.
"I'm really... a pervert."
Yuu, hearing her whisper, smirked and rested his head on Marika's shoulder.
"Yes, you are, but so am I."
Marika felt her throat go dry upon hearing these words. Her heart pounded, and despite the lustful tone in her voice, she tried to remain sarcastic and rolled her eyes:
"What am I going to do with you? And this is only our first date."
Yuu smirked, took her hand, and their fingers intertwined. Holding her tightly, he smiled with confidence.
"But it won't be the last, will it?"
Marika opened her mouth to say something as she looked at him. However, she closed it again as she looked into his coal-black eyes. In response, she leaned her head to rest on his, took his hand in both of hers, and murmured these words softly:
"Who knows? Let's watch the movie first."
When the lights went out and the projector light shone onto the screen, all attention turned there, but Marika's mind was still on the hand she was holding, on the feeling of Yuu's head on her shoulder. She couldn't help but let an involuntary smile spread across her lips.
When the movie started, she found herself lost in Henry Foster's adventure. All her attention was finally focused on the movie.
In the middle of a tense dialogue between Henry Foster and a famous serial killer named Sirius Black, Yuu ate popcorn with one hand while casually pulling his other hand onto his lap. This hand was... the hand Marika was tightly holding.
Marika's two hands landed on his lap. When her fingertips involuntarily touched the area between his thighs, both their eyes widened. Yuu coughed lightly and put another piece of popcorn into his mouth.
However, this action was enough to grab all of Marika's attention. Her fingers gripped the length through the shorts. As the length thickened and displayed its grandeur between her fingers, a mischievous smile appeared on Marika's lips. She whispered in a teasing tone that only Yuu could hear.
"You're playing with fire, boy."
Yuu swallowed loudly as his length was squeezed. Almost in response, he placed his hand on her leg, squeezing it lightly. His cheeks flushed, and his breath caught for a moment. Still, despite all these external reactions, he managed to whisper in one breath, "I like playing with fire."
He slightly lifted his head and looked into Marika's eyes, which were no different from jade stones. His lips curved upward in anticipation.
Marika felt a great warmth descending into her stomach upon seeing this smile. Instinctively, she clenched her legs. Despite all the feelings she was experiencing, she sighed dramatically without breaking eye contact.
"You're unbelievable... in such a public place..."
Her slender fingers moved. She moved them slowly up and down. She could feel his throbbing pulse despite the barrier of the clothes. She whispered teasingly, pressing her thumb against the top of the length.
"You act tough, but your body is reacting... exhibitionist."
Yuu's body trembled at the word. Not just from the word, but from the squeezing of his length by Marika's hand. He bit his lower lip to stop a moan from escaping.
"I'm not... if I were... I'd be caressing you too..."
Hearing these words, Marika stopped rubbing her legs together. She looked at him and whispered in a voice thickened with desire.
"Then... do it..."
Her gaze briefly scanned the outside. The back area was empty. The excited and focused whispers and comments of children and adults could be heard from the front. The slightest mistake... could draw attention to them.
The excitement of being caught, mixed with the arousal, made her even bolder. She snatched Yuu's hand and, without waiting for a reply, pressed it against her denim shorts. Yuu's eyes widened momentarily at the sudden movement.
But then he smiled.
"You're really horny, huh?"
Marika rolled her eyes in response.
"Look who's talking..."