The Nonfiction That Only You Know

Chapter 9

Original Author: ひのはら (Hinohara)
Date Submitted to Kakuyomu: 2021/06/06

Minami, who has always dutifully upheld the rule that love is forbidden, has never given special treatment to a fan even once until now.

No one would find out, but that doesn't change the fact that she favored Mii.

"...Haah."

The manager told her the bunny pose was quite well-received.

He even suggested she do that again at the next live performance, so as an idol, that was not a mistake.

From the perspective of those unaware, that was just her providing fanservice as an idol.
However, that action was loaded with strong feelings of favoritism towards a particular person.

Did she end up feeling a sense of intimacy after their meetings together? She'll have to be careful to not make that same mistake in the future.

However, Chiho wants to meet Mii.
Perhaps she started seeing Mii as a friend since she has few friends.

"...I wonder what Mii thinks."

She treats the ghostlike Chiho with kindness, but what are Mii's thoughts about Chiho?

Does she see them as friends or simply acquaintances?
Chiho notices that Mii has come to occupy her mind this much.

Isuzu Minami not only receives work as a member of Love Mill but as an individual as well.

In addition to that, she has dance and vocal lessons, so another week passed by before she could visit the rooftop again.

It has already become a familiar sight seeing Mii happily beckoning to Chiho whenever she goes there.

"Chiho-chan, it's been a while! Guess what~, the last live concert was the best!"

Perhaps still basking in the afterglow of the last live performance, she stands up and rushes over to Chiho without waiting for Chiho to sit.　

Then, she takes Chiho's hand and squeezes it.

"Minami-chan was so cute!"

Since Chiho has few friends close to her age, she is not used to this kind of skinship in her private life.

Unable to bring herself to shake her off, she allows Mii to snatch her hand.

Due to that, her cheeks gradually heat up.

"I'm really grateful that you helped me pick a hairstyle. Minami-chan even did a bunny pose!"

Chiho didn't expect Mii to be in such high spirits.

Mii seems happy from the bottom of her heart.

Even though Chiho intended to stick to her resolution, it crumbled away so easily.

If it makes her this happy, perhaps it might be okay to favor her once in a while. That's what Chiho ended up thinking.

This is strange.
Chiho knows that's not like the Chiho up until now.

However, these thoughts are certainly hers. That's why her heart feels so agitated.

Chiho has been flexible since she was a child and that's something she takes pride in. That pride extends to the flexibility of her body.

Yoga, which calms the mind and body, is one of her favorite exercises at the gym but she couldn't concentrate at all today.

At this rate, perhaps it would be better to keep her body moving. She heads for a machine and feels someone tapping her shoulder.

The only person who would do that and talk to is her friend at the gym, Seto Anzu.

"What's with that glum look? Did something happen?"

Since it's her, she knows the complicated relationship between Chiho and Mii.

While half-grumbling, Chiho explains the details and Anzu bursts into laughter.

Chiho silently glares at her and then Anzu apologizes without a hint of shame.

"Sorry, my bad... So you got agitated because of that Mii girl again?"
"No..."
"You got close to her intending to tease her but you ended up being the one at her mercy... Chiho, aren't you surprisingly dorky?"

In all her life, Chiho has never been called dorky or anything resembling that.
She's a level-headed honor student who adapts quickly and those traits serve her well even in the world of show business.

However, she has no retort to Anzu's observation.
It's as Anzu said, Chiho truly has been acting like a dork lately, doing things while not knowing what she's after.

Even Chiho did not think things would be like this.

"After all, Mii is way too direct. She says things like love without missing a beat, and her face changes expressions one after..."
"Do you love her or something?"
"I do not love her!"

She doesn't love her, but why can't she take her eyes off her?

In response to Chiho's fiery denial, Anzu lets out a loud, exasperated sigh.

"...Well, let's put that aside. Lately, you've seemed more... how do I say it... human."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You used to be so stoic before. When we met here, it was like you still wore the mask of Isuzu Minami... It felt like you lived according to what's expected of Isuzu Minami."

Even if that wasn't her intention, it's certainly true Chiho lived according to what was expected of her.

As she became aware of the appropriate responses for certain situations as a performer, that bled into her personal life as well. Instead of speaking her mind, she speaks what others wish to hear.

Instead of her own emotions, she chooses her words based on her surroundings.

It's certainly true that she has always been striving to live as Isuzu Minami.

"Though now, you don't even seem to know what you're doing... when I see you like this, I just think you're amazingly dorky."
"You called me dorky again..."
"Isn't it fine to be dorky? In fact, you were so logical up until now that it was scary. You were like a robot that never failed... following your feelings, failing, and then getting flustered like a dork seems more human. I think that's a good thing."

This is Chiho's first time hearing that it's better to be a dork.
Isn't it a given that not failing would be better? Outstanding people have more advantages in life. That's one thing she's learned in life so far.

Chiho knows that isn't wrong.
However, Chiho also can't say she dislikes her current more humanlike self.