Her Picture

Chapter 15: Conflicting Feelings

Kurapika's POV

After Mayumi's show of concern yesterday, I tried keeping my feelings in check. Whenever I'm near her I remind myself that I should act like her friend, not a teenager with a crush.

Though that didn't stop me from getting up a little earlier than usual so I could watch her cook when she's not looking. As long as I don't come across as awkward she won't suspect a thing.

"So I'm thinking of seeing a cool action movie I've been dying to watch. Wanna come with?"

An advantage to being a friend of hers: I get to see her rare expressions whenever she talks about something she really likes. I started finding it cute at one point.

"Sure. Why not? It's been a while since I went to the movies," I said nonchalantly.

Her smile got a little wider at this. She tried not to let it show and focused on finishing her food but I noticed it immediately.

/oOo/

We looked for our seats. Yuzuki and Karin were still buying their snacks so they told us to go ahead.

Mayumi sat down, excited for the movie to start. I took the seat at her right side, leaving the two seats at her left vacant for the girls.

A loud trailer was playing and her expression was adorable. Before I could stop myself, I said, "I like you."

She didn't hear it but she felt my eyes on her. She faced me and asked, "Did you say something?"

"I just wanted to say that I like any kind of movie as long as I find it entertaining."

"What?"

"You told me to tell you more about myself, didn't you?"

She remembered our conversation yesterday and smiled. "I see. Good to know." She turned back to the big screen.

I did too, smiling sadly. 'That's as far as I'll go when it comes to confessing my feelings,' I thought. 'I'm here to help her. I won't make things harder for her.'

Yuzuki and Karin arrived not long after and we watched the movie intently, making little comments every once in a while. Halfway through the movie, I decided that it was one of the best action movies I watched and made a mental note to watch the movies that came before this.

I also decided that this was another one of Mayumi's interests that made her unique, and that I was glad to know more about her each day.

/oOo/

It was already nighttime by the time the movie finished. Mayumi and I parted ways with Yuzuki and Karin and were currently buying dinner. I told Mayumi that I wanted to watch the other movies and she was ecstatic. She suggested that we buy takeout so we could start the first movie as soon as we got back to the apartment.

After we arrived and Mayumi played the movie, she joined me on the couch and said, "You know, I didn't expect you to like the movie enough to be interested in the entire movie series. I would've been fine with you enjoying the one we saw in the cinema."

"Well, I didn't just enjoy it. I feel that I missed out on a great series and I should make up for it by watching everything."

"That's really great," she said. "Yuzuki and Karin haven't watched the previous films either. Since you're going to watch everything, I'm lucky to have you as a friend. Before today, I didn't have a friend to talk about this with."

"I'll always be here for you," I said to her, smiling. I was also trying not to react to being called a friend.

She reacted slightly at that, but she nodded and proceeded to focus on the film.

As we watched, I noted that each film was consistent; there was no dull moment where the characters had too much dialogue. I also noticed that every fight scene and car chase had her eyes lighting up.

I smiled whenever I saw her like that.

As long as I see new sides of her and see that she's happy, I'm content.

She doesn't need to hear my confession just yet.

I can take my time. I'll prioritize her feelings over mine.