104 Magical Minutes.

Liam roared with euphoria at the conclusion of the second and final post-credits scene. He was on his feet before he knew it, applauding like a madman. From all sides, people joined him. A glance to the right saw Shondrella up beside him, her cheeks wet with tears.

He hugged the middle-aged, shaven headed man who'd been seated on the other side of him. With the Covid restrictions waived, the LUXE staff had been able to really pack them in, meaning every seat was full, another person granted the chance to see their hero on an eighty foot screen.

"Goddamn, I love Morbius!" the older man exclaimed, a smile on his goateed mouth. It was true. They all did.

"Like there's ever been an anime that g-" Liam began, turning to Shondrella. But this time, she interrupted him, throwing her arms around his neck, she stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him.

Liam coughed. While unexpected, it was not... unappreciated. Hell, Michael Morbius had an exotic love interest himself, in the form of Adria Arjona's Dr Martine Bancroft, why couldn't he?

The euphoric atmosphere within the cinema gradually abated as the lights came on, leaving every audience member satisfied as they filtered out.

Checking his phone, Liam saw it was a little after 11pm. I Just Called To Say I Love You was blaring from the speakers in the lobby, the sweet nature of the ballad lending the place a fitting atmosphere.

"That was some kind of movie..." Shondrella said, her heart clearly still racing.

"No shit." Liam told her. "Sony always deliver."

"I think it might've even been better than Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, and I do not say that lightly." Shondrella opined. Liam had to chuckle. Comparing Morbius to an anime movie was like comparing the MCU to Scorsese flicks. It really left it in the dust.

"So, about before..." Shondrella began, as they passed the concession stand. "I'm sorry, it was just... the emotion, the crowd... Morbius."

"Don't apologise." Liam said, focusing on the path ahead. "It was... nice."

They exited the cinema. The night air was cool and refreshing. There was a curious feeling in Liam's chest. Something only a man who had just been kissed by a pretty girl, and experienced the re-definiton of what a CBM was capable of could truly experience. He'd have to make a video about Morbius, he knew. He hadn't uploaded to the channel in a while, after all the hassle, but if anything was worth another internet shitstorm, this was it.

"Maybe we could do something like this again?" Shondrella asked.

"Maybe we could." Liam said, not wanting to sound too keen.

"At the very least, swing by and see me at B&N. I'll get you hooked up with the employee discount." Shondrella said with a grin. Behind her, Outside The Lines, the Veranda's water feature, was cascading jets of H20 dozens of feet into the air, illuminated crystal blue by the lights in the water.

"We've got all kinds of comic book stuff, movies, graphic novels... Or maybe you could try some manga? I bet I could make an otaku of you!"

"You could try." Liam said noncommittal. Drawing closer to the water feature, he put a foot up on the wall. "Hey, speaking of that employee discount, something you said before is bothering me."

"Huh, really? What is it?" Shondrella said, drawing closer. In the darkness, the Kuroki Tomoko plastered on her chest took on a certain eerie quality.

"Before, you said the 30% discount you get on books at Barnes and Noble had saved you a ton on anime. That doesn't make any sense. I'm no weeb, but even I know that those black and white comics are manga, not anime. What's the deal, you're not one of those girls who pretends to be into geeky things just to seem cool, are you?" Liam said.

"Are you seriously accusing me of being a fake fan?" Shondrella asked, her normally genial tone growing more irritated. "What the hell! I could go question for question on anime trivia with anyone in Concord. I was the president of the Mount Diablo High School Anime Club. I've met Steve Blum three freaking times, but because I say the wrong word by mistake, one time, I must be lying about like the biggest part of my identity? Are you for real, right now?!"

"I shouldn't have brought this up." Liam capitulated. "I'm sorry."

Liam knew he shouldn't have said what he said next, but he couldn't stop himself.

"I'm sorry Miss Jackson." Liam said, mentally adding in the oooh!