The Nonfiction That Only You Know

Chapter 12

Original Author: ひのはら (Hinohara)
Date Submitted to Kakuyomu: 2021/06/08

That's the limited edition photo that was included in a photo set sold shortly after her debut.

This is the stuffed rabbit designed by Minami that was sold during a collaboration with a cafe to commemorate their second anniversary.

As might be expected from someone who introduced herself as a huge fan of Isuzu Minami, Kisaragi Mii's room is filled with merchandise.

Her blue-themed room is tidy, but a lot of Isuzu Minami merchandise is lined up along her dresser.

Mii's room, which Chiho is visiting for the first time, overflows with its owner's personality.

"...Delicious."

The omelet rice she received earlier seems to be handmade by Mii. The omelet, runny down the middle, was fluffy and delicious.

The ketchup rice wasn't gooey at all and Chiho finished before she knew it.

Mii is good at cooking. While envying her roommate who gets to eat such tasty food every day, Chiho's heart also fills with irritation.

"...You better watch out."

Chiho will absolutely not forgive the roommate who hurt such a gentle girl until she cried.

She glances at her watch and sees it's still 9:00 PM, a bit early for bedtime.

They'll carry out the plan after Mii's roommate falls asleep.

Bored after being here by herself for so long, Chiho lets out a yawn when the door opens with a clank and the owner enters.

"Chiho-chan, I'm sorry for leaving you in here all alone."

Of course, she couldn't respond with words so she just shakes her head.

Mii frowns apologetically, perhaps feeling guilty for having gotten Chiho involved.

"I told her what you instructed me to."

In order to make this plan a success, Chiho had a simple request for Mii.

A long-haired female ghost frequently appears in Sakuragawa Academy.

She was a former student of this school who committed suicide due to being bullied.

She bears a deep grudge against the perpetrator so she appears in front of bullies on the campus and curses them to death... mundane bogus information that goes something like that.

Chiho came up with this horror story in about five minutes and asked Mii to pass that on to her roommate.

"She pretended to be tough, but she was quite scared."

If she was too scared to watch horror movies, Chiho figured that she would easily fall for this fake story.

As expected, she fell for it and now they just need her to fall asleep.

Even though the regular students live in pairs, they only share the living room and have separate bedrooms.

Mii must have been deeply hurt by her roommate to run away even when she had the privacy of her own room.

"...I didn't want my friends like Saku and Ririna to worry. My roommate is rather isolated from the rest of the class..."

Mii truly is kind to cover for her roommate so she wouldn't be ostracized.

Others surely would have wanted to pay back those who wronged them tenfold, but Mii's too kind to wish for that.

That is another one of her virtues that makes her charming.

"...When she mocked my dream of being a hairstylist, I couldn't say anything back... I felt like she could see right through me."

Now, it seems what's necessary is to let her speak instead of interrupting her.

Without writing anything, Chiho just listens closely to Mii's words.

"The truth is... there's actually a dream I want to achieve more than being a hairstylist. However, it's an extremely unstable career, so if I become a hairstylist instead, my future will be more secure. It felt like she saw through my cowardice... so I couldn't say anything back about that."

She sits down on the floor grasping her knees and curling her toes, hiding her lovely pedicure.

She had always worn loafers up to the roof, so Chiho only learned how fashion-conscious she is after coming here.

It seems just like her to not leave an inch unaccounted for when it comes to fashion.

"You see... my mom and dad are really amazing people... so people had quite a few expectations for me."

Bit by bit, Mii's voice becomes quieter.
In order to not miss her faint voice, Chiho stares closely at the movements of her trembling mouth.

"...However, I'm not as beautiful as my mom... nor am I as smart as my dad. I'm just some half-baked daughter... so that's why I desperately tried to hide that my parents are amazing people. I hated it when people expected anything out of me... so I never told anyone about my other dream. I hated the idea that they'd just think it was hopeless anyways."

She is exposing the most vulnerable part of herself to Chiho.

This is her vital point. The place she doesn't want anyone to touch since it easily shakes her heart.

She's exposing this point that will hurt her at the slightest touch.

Completely unlike her usual cheeriness, she looks extremely frustrated and has tears in her eyes.

"My lack of self-confidence is my own fault. I... couldn't become someone I was satisfied with."

Instead of words, Chiho gently pats her head.

Again and again, gently. After moving her head past Mii's, Chiho strokes her hair to reassure her.

Chiho could hear Mii's sniffling, another indication of her feelings.

"...It's so frustrating."

Mii is truly pure.
Since she is so sincere and too kind, she gets hurt easily.

That's why Chiho will not forgive anyone that hurts this gentle girl.
She wants to protect Mii from everything that would hurt her. A thought that is not like her.