Chapter 162: Black
[And so, the two of you went to watch the movie together.]
[But it wasn't a romantic film for couples.]
[It was a much more intense, serious, and heavy revenge movie, with absolutely no romantic elements.]
[One might think that a refined and noble young lady like Marie would enjoy an artistic and romantic film, yet she specifically chose to watch this revenge movie.]
June 3rd, 2:00 PM.
In the screening room of the cinema in the shopping mall, the two of them sat in the double seats for couples.
The revenge movie Marie wanted to watch was quite niche, and in that large, dark, and quiet theater, it was just the two of them.
[To be honest, your reaction is the opposite of most people.]
[Compared to having the entire theater to yourselves, the airy, quiet feeling of "booking the whole place," you actually prefer the lively atmosphere of watching a movie with others—even if they're strangers, even if someone takes photos, talks, or accidentally kicks your seat...]
[What you want to feel is not only the sound system and the big screen, but the excitement and immersion that come from watching alongside a crowd.]
[Marie Antoinette, however, is almost the complete opposite. She was so quiet that she blended perfectly into the stillness. She disliked any sound outside the movie, disliked being disturbed, as if her entire being had merged with the protagonist of the film.]
Under the strong, sharp illumination of the screen, the heavy, blood-soaked scenes of revenge shone directly before their eyes.
Eikou secretly glanced over to observe Marie's reaction.
The Alter Queen—those mesmerizing, lethal eyes did not even blink once, fully absorbed in the revenge story unfolding on the screen.
Her smooth, porcelain-like skin on that side profile reflected the light, so beautiful it looked like a cinematic shot. Her eyes had turned into a darker, colder shade of gold, as though some deep emotion had been carved into the gaze of this queen.
"..."
Looking at the slender young girl beside him—fragile like a glass figure—Eikou felt something inside him tremble slightly—uncertain whether to ache for her, or be overwhelmed by her beauty.
He knew very well what fate awaited this French queen.
And he also knew her true nature.
"...I'm right here with you."
Other than that, Eikou said nothing more, only placed his warm hand over her cold, pale one.
"Thank you, Eikou."
She tilted her head slightly, offering a faint, ephemeral smile.
[You more or less understood why Marie chose this film.]
[Beneath her charming, sociable, elusive exterior—like a perfect "socialite"—perhaps she was using this method to show you the truest part of her heart.]
[Beyond the beautiful clothes and sparkling jewelry, she wanted to share with you the darker, uglier side of herself as well.]
[Yet you still did not know what mood she carried after finishing the movie.]
[But when she finished watching, although she could still smile at you, you could feel her mood had dipped.]
[It was now four in the afternoon.]
[When the two of you walked out of the theater, it was still raining outside. Because of the gloomy sky, even before four o'clock it already felt like dusk.]
...
"Shall we go eat something?"
Standing at the entrance of the theater, Eikou opened the umbrella again. He looked at the rain falling heavily from the eaves.
The rain was heavier than he had expected.
"Up to you."
Marie replied calmly.
After finishing the movie, she quietly shifted back into her Alter form, her soft white hair darkening from the roots toward the tips.
"After acting as the sweet girlfriend for so long today, you just couldn't help revealing your true self to me in the end, huh?"
Eikou didn't mind at all; he simply smiled brightly at her.
"Just wanted to change my mood,"
She slipped naturally into his arms with a soft, leisurely, and utterly effortless motion—like a kitten—gentle, slow, and completely at ease,
"Since you've experienced the cute and innocent side of the girlfriend role, how about trying the contrasting little evil vibe too, see which one fits better, what do you think?"
Oh please, halfway through you couldn't resist switching to little evil mode just to tease me, did you not notice that yourself?
"Which version of me do you like? And don't you dare answer something like 'both' or 'the real you is the one I like most'—instant disqualification."
"Black, strongest girlfriend feeling."
Eikou said,
"Besides, if you're willing to show me this side, it means you want me to like that part of you. To be precise, the white version only makes me want the black version more."
Marie Alter burst into laughter, a laugh far too unrestrained and improper for a refined young lady. "Ho hahaha, so it turns out you think my black version suits being your girlfriend more, why didn't you say so earlier?"
"I just wanted to see how you'd react."
They both gazed at the pale gray rain falling in a misty blur, then suddenly fell silent.
The patter of raindrops persisted, amplifying the quiet between them.
Time passed like that for a while.
"You're a very hard woman to please, wicked and cruel, your mind full of dark thoughts,"
Marie Antoinette said,
"You're a 'bad girl,' not the sweet girlfriend type. I don't intend to go easy on you, but there are a few things you should know."
"Uh, I thought you were about to say something serious. But 'bad girl'—so what? Who hasn't been like that?"
Whoosh!
Eikou turned instantly, tossing the umbrella he held, then grabbed her hand and stood in the increasingly heavy rain.
"What are you doing?"
Rainwater dripped through her soft hair, soaking Marie Alter entirely, yet she could only look at him with a helpless expression.
"Actually, I have a wild, rebellious side too. For example, I don't like to use an umbrella when it rains—I prefer to get wet with someone else,"
Eikou chuckled, his own hair drenched in rain.
"Tch, is that all?"
"Of course not. Later I plan to prank-call Tristan, make him think there's a party full of married women!"
"Hehe, or we could pretend to be injured patients and fake our deaths right in front of Nightingale…" Marie Alter laughed, her beautiful face glistening with rain like a dew-covered flower.
"Or have the Amazon Queen deliver right to Achilles' doorstep?" Eikou said excitedly.
"That sounds fun too. Then at dinner, do you want to run off without paying?"
"Sure, but I have an even better idea—we sneak into the cafeteria line and buy up all of Emiya-sensei's meals at once, leaving none for anyone else!"
"Then we shouldn't hesitate any longer. Come on. Darling, you must hold my hand tight."
They laughed joyfully, tossing the umbrella aside, and walked hand in hand through the pouring rain.
Cold raindrops fell on Marie Alter's face. Innocent yet mischievous, she blushed deeply, gripping his warm hand tightly, ready to carry out increasingly audacious pranks without end.
...
"Traces of life hidden by dreams"
"Baby don't worry, for you are never alone"
"Time only flows by day, there is no night"
"Tears fall down"
"He said you are the one who must leave"
"You said no one ever truly has to leave"
"Every time I look at the framed photo"
"In that gaze, so mesmerizing, it's truly difficult"
"I still believe that is love"
"The rain keeps falling"
...