The Nonfiction That Only You Know

Chapter 14

Original Author: ひのはら (Hinohara)
Date Submitted to Kakuyomu: 2021/06/09

With the clarity that comes after the incident has passed, Chiho feels regret.

She was so desperate to protect Mii that a certain detail slipped her mind until now.

The reason Mii visited the rooftop was because of her problem with her roommate.

In other words, with that issue resolved, she no longer has a reason to go there anymore.

Mii no longer has a reason to meet Chiho anymore.

Chiho realizes this perfectly logical conclusion in the middle of filming for a variety show.

Even though she had been invited as a guest, she couldn't respond with any clever comments due to her agitated mind.

"...Am I really a dork?"

Anzu mentioned it before and now she has no choice but to consider it.

Chiho does not believe what she did was a mistake.
Mii was suffering, so the obvious thing to do was to extend a helping hand.

Yet, she almost disdains herself for getting so anxious about not being able to meet Mii because of that.

After the filming ended, Chiho changes in the waiting room.
While fixing her bangs, she hears a knock on the door.

"Minami-chan, are you in there?"
"Hang on, I'll open the door."

At the sound of this familiar female voice, Minami immediately gets up and opens the door.
Looking unbelievably youthful for someone in her 50s, this renowned actress will be celebrating her 40-year anniversary as a performer this year.

Despite this, her humble personality makes her beloved among fans and she receives many invitations to appear on variety shows.

Chiho's role model, Ayase Tsubaki, has come to see her.

As a former idol, she's extremely fond of Chiho whose career path resembles hers.

"Minami-chan, you didn't seem very lively today. Did something happen?"
"No, it's just... I was thinking about a friend."
"Oh, I see. If it was related to work, I thought I could offer some advice, but..."
"I'm sorry for making you worry."
"No need to apologize. How about we have a meal together next time?"

This sweetly smiling woman might be around the same age as Chiho's mother, but she's pretty enough to captivate Chiho if she's not careful.

Ayase Tsubaki truly is a beautiful actress known all over the nation.

Chiho would like to become an actress as great as her in the future.

Chiho is currently active in multiple fields, but if circumstances allow it, she wants to make a living as an actress.

In order to achieve that, she'll have to focus on her work.

She must complete her jobs perfectly and live up to the expectations put on her.
That is Minami's happiness and the goal she has been working so hard to achieve.

Even so, her feelings have been in complete disarray because of a certain someone.
She can no longer make rational decisions.

Even when she auditioned for a long-running popular drama series, she was not this nervous.
She puts her hand gently on her chest, which is thumping loudly.

Chiho stands still in front of a door.

What if Mii isn't on the other side once she opens this door?
That likely possibility has her frozen in fear.

After filming wrapped up, she uncurled her bangs with her hair straightner, changed into her uniform, and made her way here.

If Mii is not here, then Chiho will gracefully give up.
That's what she resolved to do, but she's not completely sure what it is that she'll be giving up in the first place.

This is the first time in her life that her heart has been in such a mess.

Chiho sighs heavily before someone suddenly taps her on the shoulder.

While refraining from shouting out in surprise, she turns her head and sees the girl she's here for.

"Are you going to open the door?"

Unlike the nervous Chiho, Mii seems as nonchalant as usual.

If there's anything different about her, it's the lovely lip gloss that she's now wearing.

Is it because she came here directly after class? Most of the time Chiho met her here, Mii wore basically no make-up.

Confused, Chiho pulls a notepad out of her pocket and writes down, 『Why are you here?』　

"Should I not be?"
『You should not be having any more problems with your roommate... so there's no reason for you to come here anymore.』

Mii reads the slightly sloppy writing in confusion.

Then, without knowing Chiho's feelings, she hits Chiho with her honest thoughts.

"Because I want to see Chiho-chan."

A strange voice almost escapes Chiho's throat, but she frantically holds it back.
She had not expected Mii to say something like that so clearly.

"If I come here, then I'll get to see Chiho-chan, right?"

Her words were pure and held no ulterior motives.
For Mii, those words might just be something she says with no special feelings attached.

Even so, Chiho's cheeks seem to redden. Her heart pounds for a different reason than before.

Badump, badump. Her heart continues to pound while making such sounds.

This is strange.
She has never felt anything like this until now.

Chiho is at a loss from experiencing these emotions for the first time.
Whenever she meets Mii, her heart always becomes confused.

Even so, she still wants to see her.
Her desire to meet Mii far outweighs her fear of losing control of her emotions.