The Twin Helix Towers of Crescent City stood as iconic landmarks in the downtown area. From afar, they resembled towering spears of Longinus—well, the Evangelion version, at least. Though "DNA double helix" might be a more accurate description. Tower A housed entertainment venues, while Tower B catered to shopping. At their intertwined peak sat a spherical, semi-open hall: the Crescent Cinema.

I yawned, glancing at my watch. Showtime had arrived. When I looked up again, a flushed, panting face filled my vision—Yuzuru Sensei looked furious.

"Why didn’t you wait for me?!"

"Huh? Lingering by the entrance is awkward. Besides, a guy hovering outside the girls’ restroom looks suspicious."

"Doubt it! Someone waltzed right into the girls’ restroom without raising an eyebrow."

Nan Dongye stated this fact with a skeptical snort—a painfully undeniable truth. Just thinking about it gave me a headache. Even an all-knowing Student Council President like Xu Lingzhu couldn’t tolerate such blatant humiliation. It was like being forced by a taskmaster to scrub the toilet until it gleamed like new after every use. Even Little Fish, who once loved splashing in the bathtub with me, had grown into a sister who now wrinkled her nose at her brother. Xu Lingzhu’s reaction upon learning the truth was predictable… and if even Teacher Gu knew, the president probably did too.

"Don’t act like you’re innocent—we’re accomplices! Partners before even being ‘boyfriend and girlfriend for a day.’ If the Student Council President gets angry, you, as class rep, are the original sin of temptation!"

I flicked Nan Dongye’s forehead and shoved a small bag into her hands. "Let’s go. The movie’s starting."

"What’s this?" She pulled out a burger from the bag. "You… went to buy me food?"

"Obviously. Can’t have my ‘boyfriend-for-a-day’ seem incompetent. I ate your lunch, after all. If you hate Burger King, tough luck. Little Fish loves it. Oh, I habitually grabbed an extra brownie too."

Nan Dongye shook her head, then gazed at me with the lost-puppy eyes of a stray.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Just got a little inspiration." She pursed her lips and took my hand.

My face warmed. I cleared my throat twice and stepped into the pitch-black IMAX hall. "Don’t underestimate an otaku’s skill tree. I’m a homemaker S+ tier boyfriend-class hero. My ultimate dream? Being the househusband behind a successful woman. Feel moved yet."

Nan Dongye snorted with laughter. "So you never have to work? Classic you."

"Absolutely!"

"Pitch dark." The film had already begun. Only dim seat lights lined the aisles. Nan Dongye’s warm palm grew slightly damp as she gripped my hand tighter. We shuffled slowly to a pair of corner seats in the back row. "By the way—what movie is this?"

"*Devil Muscle Man 3*."

Yuzuru Sensei’s muffled voice brimmed with shock. "Huh?! What garbage is that?! How’s *that* supposed to spark romantic inspiration?!"

"Just kidding. It’s *Big Hero 6*. Disney animation."

"Really?! I heard it’s amazing!" Nan Dongye swung my arm eagerly. Clearly, this high school shoujo manga writer rarely got time off for fun.

The praise made sense, though I rarely found satisfaction in Disney or DreamWorks’ relentlessly wholesome animations. Had Xu Lingzhu not forced me to watch it last week, I wouldn’t even know girls adored Baymax—that chubby, squishy mascot.

I’d deliberately chosen an edge seat. Settling in comfortably, I closed my eyes. "Alright, enjoy your snack. Wake me when it’s over."

No plans for shady couple stuff in the dark. This afternoon slot was perfect for a nap—wasted otherwise. Hopefully, no nightmares about my embarrassing past this time. Drowsily, I drifted off.

"Huh? Wait—aren’t you watching? Hey, don’t sleep—"

Neck cramps jolted me awake. Rubbing my stiff cervical spine, I saw the screen was dark. Beside me, Nan Dongye stared intently at her phone, fingers flying across the screen as she typed furiously.

"What are you doing?"

"Taking notes! Inspiration doesn’t just fall from the sky. Consistent accumulation is the writer’s true path!"

"R-right… Sounds impressive, even if I don’t get it."

Her lecture-style phrasing felt oddly profound. So she hadn’t forgotten her real purpose after all. I waited quietly in the dark as Yuzuru Sensei worked. Nan Dongye’s wide eyes sparkled with "overflowing inspiration," her lips curling unconsciously as she envisioned thrilling scenes. In that moment, I genuinely respected her dedication—and found myself mesmerized.

"Huff… Done! Almost half the draft finished. Totally worth coming. Let’s go!"

"…"

"Jiang Lan?"

Nan Dongye tugged my hand to stand, but I didn’t move. She poked my cheek. Her nearsighted eyes struggled to focus on my dazed expression in the darkness.

"Huh? Oh. Yeah, let’s go."

I turned away awkwardly. I couldn’t deny it anymore: the little shadow who’d followed me everywhere had, somewhere along the way, become dazzlingly brilliant when focused on her craft. She felt close yet impossibly distant—as if she existed in another dimension.

Yuzuru Sensei, holding my hand under the guise of "research." The class rep who’d dragged me to school countless times during breaks, nagging despite my indifference. Which one was the real her? My thoughts spiraled.

Whether it was the "rebellious" Bao Yu and Xiao Yi, Xu Xian and Little Fish, or even Nan Dongye and me—we all worked hard in ways others never saw. Right now, Yuzuru Sensei’s effort was utterly captivating.

"How was the movie?" Stepping out of Crescent Cinema, I broke our usual comfortable silence first.

"It was great ♪! Baymax is suuuuper cute!"

Nan Dongye hummed a cheerful tune, her smile bright and natural as she held my hand. Her tone was effortlessly girlish—echoing Little Fish’s exact words. For a second, I wondered if everything earlier had been my imagination. To outsiders, we were just another ordinary young couple.

I forced a dry chuckle, my expression twisting. "Yeah… Little Fish loves that white blob too."

"Little Fish… again."

Nan Dongye’s face dimmed inexplicably. I instantly regretted my words, wishing I could swallow them whole. She shook her head vigorously, her chin-length black hair bouncing like a lion cub’s ruffled mane.

"Don’t forget your role today. Saying nice things about other girls in front of your girlfriend resets your likability to zero! Sisters especially don’t count—no, *because* she’s your sister!" She poked my nose threateningly.

Her playful scolding held no real anger—just teasing charm. My heart fluttered faintly, shattering my long-held belief that ordinary girls could never make it skip a beat.

"W-why are *you* blushing?!"

Her voice softened as she spoke, growing quieter when I didn’t deflect with my usual jokes. Her own shyness deepened.

"N-nothing. Should we… go to the cat café?"

Nan Dongye turned her head away, avoiding my gaze, and gave the tiniest nod.