The lights of the cinema lobby swallowed them whole as they stepped inside.
Velvet ropes, polished marble floors, and the low murmur of conversation filled the space. Cameras flashed intermittently near the entrance, capturing actors, influencers, and well-known heroes as they filtered toward the halls.
Midoriya looked like he was about to combust.
His eyes darted everywhere at once—famous faces, recognizable voices, people he had only ever seen on screens.
Actors. Top heroes. Industry giants.
He clenched his fists at his sides, teeth grinding as he forced himself to breathe.
Don't freak out.
Don't freak out.
Don't make a scene like before.
Then—
"Hi, Ren-kun~"
A sultry, amused voice slid between them like silk.
Before Ren could react, arms wrapped around him from behind, fingers pinching his sides mercilessly.
"Look at you," the woman purred. "You've grown up so well. So handsome~"
Ren stiffened instantly.
"—Onee-san," he said flatly, already resigned, "stop touching me, please."
The woman laughed and leaned closer instead.
She was tall and statuesque, with long, flowing blonde hair cascading over her shoulders like liquid gold. Her eyes were sharp and serpentine, irises a striking yellow-green with slit pupils that seemed to glint even in the dim cinema light. Her makeup was bold but elegant, accentuating her predatory gaze, and her dress—deep emerald, form-fitting, with a daring slit—hugged her figure unapologetically.
Uwabami.
The Snake Hero.
Midoriya swallowed.
"Th-The Snake Hero…" he whispered to himself, barely audible.
"No chance," Uwabami said cheerfully, pinching Ren's cheeks harder. "It's been such a long time since I last saw you." She chuckled. "You were so much cuter when you were smaller."
"Yeah, yeah…" Ren muttered.
Uwabami finally released him and turned her attention to the others.
"Hmm?" Her eyes flicked over Midoriya and Uraraka briefly—
Then stopped.
On Momo.
Her gaze sharpened with sudden recognition.
"Mhh…" she hummed. "…Ah!"
She snapped her fingers.
"Oh my, is that your girlfriend from elementary school?"
Momo's entire body froze.
"…Huh?"
Her face flushed violently.
"H-How do you know that?" she barely managed to ask, voice trembling.
Uwabami laughed, clearly enjoying herself.
"He wouldn't stop talking about you," she said casually. "Momo this, Momo that… honestly, it was adorable. He was a little kid completely in love."
Ren short-circuited.
His face went beet red instantly.
"O-Onee-san—!" he hissed. "Stop, please! The premiere's about to start!"
Uwabami looked at him, amused—and then laughed again.
"Oh, fine, fine," she said, waving dismissively as she stepped away. "Have a great time, you four~"
She turned, her heels clicking against the floor, and disappeared into the crowd.
Silence fell.
Ren exhaled slowly, rubbing his face.
"…I'm never escaping this, am I?"
He forced himself to focus, eyes dropping to the tickets in his hand.
"Momo," he said, deliberately not looking at her. "We're in the seventeenth row."
Midoriya stiffened.
"…R-Ren," he said slowly, dread creeping into his voice. "What do you mean by we?"
Ren's embarrassment evaporated instantly, replaced by clarity.
"That you and Uraraka are in the fifteenth row," he said plainly. "Getting four tickets was already a miracle. Same row was impossible."
Midoriya's soul left his body.
"—What?!"
Another man—an actor Ren vaguely recognized—leaned toward him.
"Hey, Ren-kun, if you want, we could rearrange the seating so you all stay—"
Ren shut him down with a single glare.
The actor flinched.
"Ah—s-sorry," he muttered, immediately looking away.
Uraraka smiled brightly.
"No problem, Ren!" she said cheerfully. "Me and Midoriya will have lots of fun!"
Midoriya turned crimson.
"R-Ren…" he whispered desperately. "Why are you doing this to me?"
Ren wrapped an arm loosely around Midoriya's neck, grinning.
"My agent said there's a romantic scene," he murmured. "When that happens—just take Uraraka's hand."
"R-Ren!" Midoriya yelped.
Ren laughed softly and released him.
Just then, the lights dimmed slightly.
"Come on, Midoriya!" Uraraka said, grabbing his arm enthusiastically. "It's about to start!"
Midoriya froze completely as she dragged him away.
"Momo! Ren!" Uraraka called back. "Have fun!"
Ren lifted a hand in farewell, then turned slowly toward Momo.
She was still red.
"Uh…" he said awkwardly. "Momo… come on. It's about to start."
"…Okay," she replied softly, following him.
They found their seats just as the opening presentation began.
The screen lit up.
Music swelled.
Momo shifted slightly, then turned toward him.
"Ren…" she said quietly. "Did you really… talk that much about me?"
Ren swallowed.
He scratched the back of his neck.
"…Yeah," he admitted.
Then, voice barely above a whisper, he added—
"My agent described my 'prototype of a perfect girl' like that because…"
"…it's based on you, Momo."
His heart pounded violently.
He didn't know it could beat that fast.
Momo's mind went completely blank.
"…Ah," was all she managed.
They didn't speak again.
The movie began.
To be continued...
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Sorry if this chapter was shorter than usual, but I really didn't have time to write more. Hope you understand.