Rebirth of the Interstellar Pope <Mecha>

Chapter 46

Chapter 46

【Rufeite: Many years ago, I thought about what the final situation of Anno and I would be like. From taking away Anno's sea of ​​consciousness to being killed later, I always thought that this would be the ending of Anno and me - one day, we can each live our own lives and never be entangled again in parallel worlds. He may hate me, or he may still love me, or he may never have any feelings for me again.

I once thought that after the religious affair was over, I would step down and build a small shed next to the house where Anno lived. Maybe one day he would fall in love with someone again, a man or a woman, and they would get married and have children, and I would watch silently from the side. Until one day, I couldn't bear to watch it anymore.

I am not a pessimist, but all my experiences have pointed me in one direction - Anno and I may no longer have a future.

Anno never seemed to say that he loved me. He always smiled at me calmly, which made me feel that he didn't like me very much. But he proved to me with his actions that he would protect me, just like I protected him when he was still awake.】

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If Anno and Rufeite's date were rated on a scale of 1 to 10, it would barely score a 0.5.

Yet, adhering to the principle of starting and ending well, they decided to catch a movie after dinner, despite the complicated emotions swirling between them. The film they chose was an ancient classic that had never been remade: Titanic. Even after the collapse of ancient Earth civilization, this timeless love story continued to resonate with audiences.

In an age marked by rapid technological advancement, the evolution of cinema had not kept pace. 3D movies only became mainstream toward the end of Earth's civilization. However, in the present interstellar world, virtual effects had taken the market by storm, allowing immersive experiences that captivated viewers.

Anno and Rufeite rented a private room in the cinema. As they donned their virtual headsets, an endless ocean materialized before them, enveloping them in its vastness.

As the plot unfolded, they found themselves placed in various scenes of the movie. In one moment, Anno and Rufeite stood in an elegant restaurant, witnessing Jack wager his entire fortune on two boat tickets. Moments later, they saw Rose, adorned in a low-cut dress, disdainfully ignoring her boorish fiancé while arranging her collection of paintings with the servants.

As the tension mounted, Rose struggled to suppress her inner resentment, leading to a real quarrel with her mother. When Rose followed Jack and spat over the side of the boat, Rufeite, filled with enthusiasm, leaned over and mimicked her. "Spit now! This classic scene is really touching to me," he urged.

Anno chuckled, rubbing Rufeite's forehead playfully. He took a deep breath, tilted his head back, and with a dramatic flair, exhaled quickly to mimic the act.

Rufeite blinked, momentarily speechless. Anno's antics continuously challenged the lofty image Rufeite had constructed in his mind.

The movie pressed on, and Rufeite pointed at Rose, questioning, "Did I underestimate her, or is this girl just too weak?"

"Actually, that's always puzzled me," Anno replied, shrugging lightly.

Rufeite fell silent, momentarily contemplative.

In the film, the pivotal moment came when Jack drew for Rose. Rumor had it that one reason this classic love story remained so cherished was the powerful visuals, which had captivated audiences since the advent of virtual cinema.

However, for Anno and Rufeite, the best choice was to skip that scene altogether.

As the final forty minutes of the film approached, the intensity of the virtual experience peaked. Anno and Rufeite found themselves on the chaotic deck of the sinking ship, the clamor around them palpable. They could almost feel the icy grip of death closing in.