The Nonfiction That Only You Know

Chapter 18

Original Author: ひのはら (Hinohara)
Date Submitted to Kakuyomu: 2021/06/12

Wearing a red one-piece dress, she holds chocolate towards the camera with a wholehearted smile.
It's still only November, but she's filming a commercial for Valentine's Day next year.

The story for this commercial is about a high school girl making Valentine's Day chocolate for the person she loves. A pretty standard story, but it should be well received.

Chiho also finished the photo shoot for an advertisement poster, so she lets out a sigh of relief.

"Hmm... Minami-chan and Luna-chan both have their own charms. Changing our approach was the correct choice."

Following the cameraman's words, Chiho responds with the smile of Isuzu Minami that everyone loves and thanks him.

Until last year, the one handling the commercials for this chocolate was Luna, the model that's Chiho's junior.

Since she works under the stage name Luna, which is the opposite of her real name Sani, the public expects a cool and mature image from her.

For this reason, last year's Valentine's Day commercial was made while leveraging Luna's strengths to focus on targetting female viewers.

"Luna-chan has gone out to challenge the world now. I wonder if one day her name will be known globally."
"If it's that girl, that might truly be possible."

Sani exudes such an adult-like charm that it's hard to believe she is actually one year younger than Chiho.　

She has both the abilities and attractiveness to be hired as a model by a famous French brand at merely the age of 16.

Taking over the work of such a great junior, Chiho was brimming with motivation for today's shoot.

"You'll become a big-name actress too, Minami-chan. I'm sure there will be another great reception once this commercial airs."
"...Thank you."

After bowing to everyone once again, she leaves the studio.

In her own way, Chiho could give a convincing performance. She may be considered among the more skilled of her generation, but in the industry as a whole, Minami's abilities are not particularly outstanding.

That is all the more reason she cannot afford to become complacent and must continue to polish her abilities.　

On her way to the dressing room, Chiho happens to see the woman she holds in high regard.
Chiho jogs up to her and courteously greets her.

"Tsubaki-san, thank you for your hard work."
"Thank you for your work as well. Will you be going home now?"
"That's right. I just finished filming..."
"If it's okay with you, why don't you come over to my house? The sweets I ordered ended up being too much for us to eat... I'll treat you to dinner while we're there."

Chiho immediately replies to this welcome invitation.
Chiho admires Tsubaki as a person and has a lot she wants to talk to her about.

Any of Tsubaki's advice as an actress and a former idol will undoubtedly serve as a great reference for Chiho.

When the popular former idol Ayase Tsubaki first got married, many people in the public criticized it as a mismatched marriage.

At that time, her partner was a completely unknown male scriptwriter.

"My husband won't be home today and my younger child is at a training camp for club activities."

While Tsubaki's manager drives the car, Tsubaki talks about her domestic life.

Although she is a highly renowned actress, in her private life she is a parent. She is married to a scriptwriter and they have been blessed with two children.

She has a daughter and a son. She informed Chiho that her older child is close to Chiho's age.

"Are you spending Christmas with anyone, Minami-chan?"
"I'll be working, I think."
"Oh my... you don't have any plans of getting a lover even though you're so cute?"
"I'm an idol, after all. Did you have a lover back when you were an idol, Tsubaki-san?"
"I did not. Back then, I just had feelings for my husband that I didn't act on."

Today, Tsubaki's husband is a well-known scriptwriter, but it seems he did not gain this level of recognition until later in his career.

Tsubaki had already established herself as an actress but her husband was still an unsuccessful scriptwriter.
The public thoroughly made a fuss about their mismatched marriage back then, but no one says such things now.　

These days, they are seen as a well-matched happily married couple.

"Right now, I am truly happy to have my two lovely children."

Tsubaki smiles happily from the bottom of her heart.
Captivated by her beautiful smile, Chiho notices something.

"That's..."

Why didn't she notice it before?
That strange feeling she felt towards Mii at that time.

That sense of deja vu when she thought Mii resembled someone.
When looking carefully, there are certainly similarities.
Mii looks a lot like Ayase Tsubaki.

"Umm, your daughter's name..."

Before she could finish, the car stops at its destination.
Following Tsubaki who got off first, Chiho's suspicion grows.

Once they're inside the house, they'll be able to take their time and talk.
Tsubaki will surely casually reveal her daughter's name while they're chatting.

After Tsubaki presses the intercom to her own home, the front door soon opens.

"I'm home."
"Welcome back, mom... wait, why did you suddenly call me back ho..."

The one who greeted them was Tsubaki's daughter.
Once she saw Chiho standing behind her mother, she immediately stopped talking.

Seeing the daughter frozen in surprise, Chiho feels satisfied at having her suspicion confirmed.

"Well, you know. Sometimes I just want to eat together with you, Mii."

This is Kisaragi Mii, the girl who loves Isuzu Minami beyond all else that Chiho has met on the rooftop many times.　

As Chiho suspected, she is Ayase Tsubaki's daughter.