Chapter 19: That Movie
A movie theater… isn’t it supposed to be a place for couples in love to show off their affection on a dark, windy night?
For single people, this place is basically full of the sour smell of romance.
So here’s a warning, if you go to a theater, don’t bring your boyfriend or girlfriend. If you do, you’re basically asking to be cursed by every jealous single person there.
Especially if it’s a romantic movie. That’s even worse.
Okay, enough joking.
Even though that was all nonsense, one thing is certain. In Mu Le’s experience, movie theaters really are places where couples show off their love.
No matter if it’s a horror movie, sci-fi, or art film, skilled flirts always seem to find the perfect moment to strike, delivering a “fatal blow” to their partner’s heart.
Of course, some try and fail, which probably ends up being extremely awkward.
But that… doesn’t really concern Mu Le.
She doesn’t actually like watching movies. Compared to that, staying in air conditioning and playing low-effort games is way more interesting.
The last time she went to a theater… she couldn’t even remember. It was with her beloved father.
She didn’t remember what movie it was, but the popcorn back then seemed pretty good.
Lost in these thoughts, Mu Le glanced at the empty seat next to her, staring off a little.
Eventually, she’d been persuaded by Xiao Yuze to come watch a movie to get some inspiration.
But… why did something feel off?
The movie he recommended felt strangely familiar.
Of course, with all the chaos going on lately, she really couldn’t remember where she might have heard about it.
Thinking about it, she probably should have checked the movie type before coming.
After a while, she gave up trying to remember. Since she was here at the theater, she might as well just relax.
Looking around, she muttered, “So many couples…”
Mu Le turned to look at the nearly full theater seats, most of them were young men and women.
From some of them, you could instantly feel the different vibes around them.
Of course, there were other combinations too, but not many.
“So, it is a romantic anime movie, huh?” She murmured, remembering the poster she saw before coming in.
Just as she was getting a little bored, a tall figure appeared in the seat next to her.
Xiao Yuze sat down and placed a huge tub of popcorn between them.
Mu Le froze slightly, as if remembering something, and suddenly asked, “Why popcorn? Shouldn’t it be tissues?”
Right, don’t romantic anime novels always go like this? You watch a romance movie with a girl, and in the end, she cries a river.
Could this be a comedy?
Even if it’s a comedy, tissues in a theater have a very special role, you know!
Hearing this, Xiao Yuze was briefly surprised, then suddenly laughed.
Mu Le didn’t understand why he was laughing… until he said:
“If you feel like crying, you can use my shoulder.”
Huh?
For some reason, Mu Le’s face suddenly felt hot.
“Who’s crying?!” Mu Le protested, “I’ve been through it all, I’ve read all kinds of tragic stories and never even frowned!”
Even so, she couldn’t help sneaking a glance at Xiao Yuze’s shoulder.
Thinking about it, with his tailored outfit and outstanding appearance, the man in front of her really was handsome.
At least, just a moment ago, a lot of girls’ eyes had been drawn to him.
Only when they realized Xiao Yuze wasn’t alone did they reluctantly look away.
“Alright, stop messing around. Quiet down, don’t bother anyone else.”
Xiao Yuze smiled apologetically at the few nearby viewers who had turned their heads because Mu Le had suddenly raised her voice, and he casually popped a few pieces of popcorn into her mouth to shut her up.
Mu Le huffed but understood the theater was a public place, so she didn’t continue misbehaving.
At this moment, Mu Le didn’t even notice that performing such naturally feminine actions felt completely smooth for her.
Change had been happening all along. Quietly, subtly, leaving traces, never stopping.
And many things, unnoticed, gradually transformed, eventually becoming something she would never have imagined before.
Of course, Mu Le didn’t realize this yet, because to her, all of it felt completely normal… didn’t it?
Yes, perfectly normal.
Talking about it now wouldn’t help, because Mu Le still hadn’t noticed that something had already shifted deep inside her.
She just wanted to watch a movie, find inspiration, and pour the emotions she was building into another fictional, yet fully formed world.
So, with curiosity and expectation, the movie… began.
Your Name. The story is set a month before a comet that appears once every thousand years passes by.
In a remote mountain town in Japan, high school girl Mitsuha lives a somewhat gloomy life. Her worries aren’t just about the election her father, the town mayor, is running. But also the old customs of her family’s shrine.
One day, however, she dreams that she has turned into a boy…
“Eh?!”
When the story progressed to the moment where the female lead Mitsuha and the male lead in the big city swap bodies, Mu Le’s eyes widened.
She turned and saw the man next to her wearing a smile he couldn’t hide.
Since everyone else was quietly watching the movie, Mu Le wanted to punch this “gleeful spectator,” but she didn’t dare.
Still, watching a movie about body-swapping as someone who had herself transformed… felt really weird!
Although she wanted to comment on it, the movie continued, and all she could do was watch quietly.
But she had already decided that once they left, she would teach the man next to her a lesson about how to “behave”!
The movie’s plot gradually unfolded. The swapped leads started living increasingly chaotic lives.
It had to be said, the movie’s visuals, backgrounds, and music were extremely detailed, easily pulling the viewer into their world.
Before she knew it, Mu Le had completely immersed herself.
The beginning was lighthearted, filled with funny moments, and the leads’ feelings for each other slowly developed.
But when the comet that appears once every thousand years arrived…
The comet was beautiful, but the story that followed completely shattered Mu Le’s initial expectations.
The comet brought not only brilliance, but also despair.
Part of the comet broke off and crashed into the small town…
The forced body swap between the male and female lead ended there.
The male lead, realizing his growing affection for the female lead, began searching for the small town he remembered.
Memories fade over time, but after searching desperately for his destination, he found… despair again.
The female lead and her family had been swallowed by the comet disaster three years earlier!
And the female lead who had swapped bodies with him… had been Mitsuha from three years ago.
Time and space quietly misaligned.
The movie moved quickly. Mu Le watched the male lead’s persistence and efforts, only to see them repeatedly end in disappointment.
Her fingers quietly curled. Then, they touched something…
Instinctively, she tried to pull away, but it was held tight.