"Yeah."
I nodded in response to Mai's words.
To make a strong impression and conquer this high-difficulty dungeon called the class reunion, I needed—Maybe it's about levels or strong skills, but I know I can't gain those overnight. Swords, shields, armor, accessories—in other words, the strongest gear you can get that doesn't depend on your own abilities.
"Everyone,"
I dropped to my knees and bowed my head.
"Please… help me become the strongest version of myself!"
***
One day in November.
The class reunion was held at a local Italian restaurant that had been reserved just for the occasion.
It was a buffet-style setup, arranged so everyone could walk around and talk freely. Apparently, class reunions happen depending on whether the organizer is motivated or not.
And since this one was held only a year after we graduated middle school, the organizer must've been pretty enthusiastic.
(I couldn't quite remember who the organizer was though…)
Given that almost no one had left town, it's no surprise the turnout was quite high.
Everyone arrived looking just a bit more grown-up, catching up and
sharing memories like no time had passed at all. Then—clack, clack—footsteps echoed.
Their steady rhythm sounded almost like applause, as if signaling the start of a ceremony.
The restaurant door opened, and everyone turned their gaze toward it. There stood a girl, beautifully dressed to perfection.
She smiled at her curious former classmates—like a blooming bouquet.
"Long time no see, everyone."
And the one who had undergone such a dazzling transformation… was me, Amaori Renako.
***
Let me explain from the top what exactly happened to me.
yuyrKkuru.. (The sound of time rewinding)
Of course, it's impossible for my whole personality to become Pretty Woman material in just a week—even if Richard Gere himself had produced me. It was all just a flimsy façade with no real substance.
But hey! There's a saying—clothes make the man!
If you dress the part, you'll look the part. That's just how it works!
Then why not? If I can pull off the look for just this one night, that's enough!
First up—the armor.
"So this is the outfit for the class reunion, huh?"
The four of us from the quintet paid a visit to Mai's house. (Satsuki-san couldn't make it—she had a part-time job.)
"Wow! Amazing!"
Kaho-chan bounced around like an adorable bunny who'd just discovered a carrot patch. Good for her, finally getting to visit Mai's place…
"Everything here is huge! Hey, MaiMai, are you secretly part of a giant race or something!? Are you like, four meters tall or what!? Is that why you need so much space!?"
"Are you kinda making fun of me right now!?"
I couldn't help but retort, but Mai just smiled warmly.
"Having this many friends over… today's a really happy day for me." "If you're okay with it, MaiMai, I'll come over every day!"
"That sounds great."
Kaho-chan happily latched onto Mai's arm.
She's seriously going to come every day...? Kaho-chan… Not that I really mind… I guess...
"Hey, mind if I take a selfie?"
"Sure, I don't mind. Just… could you not post it on social media?"
"Of course not! Betraying MaiMai's trust just for a few likes would be totally not worth it!"
"That's... incredibly well planned."
So then what's the point of the selfie...? Or so I thought—Apparently, just scrolling through a photo folder full of cute pics is enough to boost your mood. I don't usually go back and look at my own photos, so I just thought, "Huh, I guess that makes sense..."
I mean, I'm not exactly up to date with youth trends… Well, okay, I do take screenshots when I win stuff and go back to look at them later.
It makes me feel good too… So yeah, I guess we're the same, huh, Kaho-chan?
"And this… is my dressing room." "Wow…"
This time, it was Ajisai-san who let out a quiet gasp of wonder. She and Kaho-chan were both staring wide-eyed in awe.
"This is amazing… really, really amazing~!"
"MaiMai's dressing room…! This is the kind of place you could charge people just to see!"
"Every single outfit is stored so carefully… Models really are something else~."
"I wanna see MaiMai wear every single outfit here!" "Right?!~"
Their reactions were like fangirls who just shook hands with their favorite idol—it was seriously adorable, but...
Not being able to get excited with them… Am I missing something as a high school girl? I can't even manage to be a basic trendy girl…?
N-no, that's not it! Everyone likes different things—that's diversity! If this were Mai's PC room, I'd totally be like:
"Whoa—those CPU benchmark scores are insane!"
"That graphics card keeps the frame rate super stable—8K monitor for the win!"
I'd totally be hyped too! It's the same thing!
While I was lost in that strange rivalry, Mai was already standing in front of a section of the dressing room.
"If we're going for something extravagant, this section should be good." She'd already picked something out for me. I'm so grateful.
"But isn't there like a 10cm height difference between you and MaiMai? Will it be okay?"
"Of course. We might need to adjust the waist a bit, but we can use layering to enhance your figure, and tone-on-tone outfits to create a nice vertical line."
"Yeah, totally! I'm so excited to pick shoes too~ What kind of design should we go with?"
I see…
As Kaho-chan, Mai, and Ajisai-san excitedly talked, I just stood there watching like a dad dragged along on a shopping trip. Their fashion sense is on a whole other level… Maybe I'm not even a real high school girl…
"For example… look, how about something like this?"
Mai picked up a gorgeous, flared dress—something straight out of a princess movie.
"It's gorgeous~!"
Ajisai-san clapped her hands with the sparkling smile of a little girl who dreams of being a princess.
"Isn't that a bit over the top!? It's just a school reunion, not some kind of prom from a foreign movie!"
"If you're aiming to grab even more attention, this one's for you. You'd absolutely shine at any party."
Mai then pulled out a bold, bright red dress with an open back and a deep neckline.
"Wow, it's beautiful! Yeah, that one might actually be perfect!" "Wait! Wait!"
Oh no—now even Ajisai-san is getting carried away!
I mean, sure—Mai's weird and Kaho-chan always gets too hyped, but Ajisai-san is supposed to be the calm, logical one! If she doesn't stay in character, I won't be able to enjoy watching this chaos unfold!
"Hehehe… Then allow me to present my most special dress!" "Kyaa, kyaa! Rena-chan, try it on! Try it!"
"No way! I can't even fit into the waist!"
Ajisai-san was tugging hard on my arm—I've never seen her act like this before…!
Do fancy clothes… have the power to throw high school girls into chaos!? "Kaho-chan! Help me bring them back to reality! Please!"
As we scrambled around, Kaho-chan snapped a photo of the moment. "This is hilarious."
"Kahoooo-chaaan!"
And so, despite all the chaos, I somehow managed to borrow some designer clothes from Mai that would look totally natural at the reunion.
Legendary armor acquired! ( ? ) Next up—the shield.
If the gorgeous outfit I borrowed from Mai is the armor protecting my whole body, then the shield is what guards my most vulnerable point—my face.
So today, Kaho-chan and I visited Ajisai-san's house—the Sena family.
On the living room table was Ajisai-san's collection: sparkling little bottles and makeup tools packed so tightly, there was barely any space.
"Tada~!"
Ajisai-san spread her arms shyly.
"I mean, after seeing Mai-chan's outfits, this probably won't be much help… It's just a hobby of mine…"
She seemed a little embarrassed.
But the girl in front of me wasn't the dazzled angel from before—she was the calm and thoughtful Ajisai-san. And I had to treat her heart with care.
"That's not true at all!"
Clenching my fist with determination, I said,
"Being able to learn makeup from you is like winning the lottery a hundred times in a row! I'm so incredibly lucky!"
Ajisai-san puffed her cheeks slightly.
"Geez... Rena-chan, you always exaggerate things so much..."
Hehe. If it were the old me, I would've rhymed something like, "Ajisai-san, total respect! Always my top angel request!" and just kept praising her.
But now I know better. I understand that Ajisai-san's words don't always mean exactly what they say. After all, her cheeks are a little red—she's obviously happy. Heh, such a cute girl.
…Wait, now I'm getting embarrassed… I won't be able to look her in the face!
Meanwhile, Kaho-chan was busy playing games with Ajisai-san's little brothers.
"Alright! I won't lose~!"
While Ajisai-san helped me with makeup, Kaho-chan kept her brothers distracted. Well, it's probably not easy to win them over—but good luck.
They already see me as the cool older sister who's good at games. At least, I've earned that role.
"Umm… okay then…"
Ajisai-san's pale fingers trembled like a puppy's tail as she picked up a small bottle.
"Let's start with the base. We'll brighten things up a bit to match the outfit Mai-chan picked, focus a little more on your eyes, and balance everything out."
"Okay!"
Just as I nodded with a big smile— "Okay then, could you close your eyes?" "Yes! …Wait, what?"
Ajisai-san suddenly leaned in close.
Wait… what is happening!?
"Um… I thought I'd do your makeup for you while explaining. Was I wrong?"
Oh—so that's what she meant!? I thought she was going to teach me so I'd do it myself!
"No, no! That's totally fine…!"
There's absolutely nothing wrong with Ajisai-san's intentions. I accepted Ajisai-san's words completely, without even a hint of resistance
"Okay… now close your eyes for me." "Uh… y-yeah…!"
Nope—this is way too embarrassing! "Don't peek, okay…?"
This is dangerous! Even with my eyes shut, I can hear her voice right in front of me! Memories of that kiss keep flooding back, again and again!
"Heh heh! I win! Wahaha! You're 8 years too early to beat me!" "You—!"
"I'll win next round!"
Ahh... I'm really glad we're still in the living room. Thank goodness Kaho- chan and the little brothers are around. If it had just been the two of us alone in her room... I might have lost control.
Ajisai-san's soft hand gently cupped my cheek. She held my face in place and carefully began applying the base makeup.
"Nn… there we go. Are you okay, Rena-chan? It doesn't hurt, right?" "Y-Yeah… I'm fine."
"Hehe. Alright~"
I'll be okay. I'll manage somehow!
Nope, never mind! Doesn't matter what anyone says—this is just way too much! Being done up by Ajisai-san is too ticklish—I feel like my head's going to explode!
"Hey! That's a technique I don't know! No fair!" "Heh heh~!"
While the lively game sounds filled the room, I was doing all I could to keep from groaning.
Her voice was so close! She was peering right at me! If I opened my eyes now, I might just turn to stone!
"You kind of look like a little kid right before getting a shot, you know…?" Guh… was closing my eyes that tight too obvious?
"D-Don't worry about it, really…"
I mumbled a response. Ajisai-san looked at me, a little concerned. "Are you really okay? Are you forcing yourself? Is it too ticklish?"
Well… I am holding back quite a bit. Still, I can't let it look like I hate it! So I forced a smile with just the corners of my mouth.
"N-Nope, totally fine! Don't mind me—just go all in! Hehe…"
"Y-Yeah… I'm not used to doing makeup on others either, so if anything bothers you, just say so, okay?"
"Okay!"
I'm the kind of person who's never once been able to answer when asked that classic salon question,
"Is there anything you'd like adjusted?"
Even if you gave me truth serum, I'd still laugh and say, "I'm good!"
As long as I give a proper reply and make them think, 'Oh, she'd speak up if something bothered her,' then staying quiet doesn't really count as lying. After all, people see what they think you mean, not what you actually say.
While I was rationalizing all that, Ajisai-san's fingers gently moved across my eyelids, my lashes, even my lips…
All these delicate spots that no one usually touches in everyday life—she was touching them with such care…!
I mean, there was that time we went to the department store and I had makeup done, but that was different. That lady was a pro. Sure, she was a beautiful woman, and I did get flustered, but that was just business.
Kaho-chan once did my makeup for cosplay, but I was too nervous about the actual cosplay afterward to care about things like how close we were. Plus, Kaho's makeup style was more like—bam!—straight to the point, not really delicate.
But now, the one in front of me is Ajisai-san. My girlfriend.
The person I kissed.
This is bad. This is intense.
Now that I'm aware of all that, it's even harder to handle.
"Just a little more, okay~?" "Mmph—kay."
I answered like a ventriloquist, barely moving my lips.
I could feel her soft breath the whole time as I held still—for over twenty minutes.
(Though seriously, didn't it feel more like five hours?) Finally, Ajisai-san tapped me on the shoulder.
"It's done."
I opened my eyes.
"Here, take a look. How is it?"
I peeked into the mirror she gave me and— "This... is me...!?"
It was a total before-and-after.
Just like I asked—for a more elegant look than a cutesy one—Ajisai-san gave me longer, fluttery lashes, sharp eyeliner, bold red lips, and a perfectly defined nose thanks to the highlight. I looked… like a totally different person.
"It's amazing! You did such a great job!" "Ooh, let's take a look."
Kaho-chan came over, grabbed my chin, and turned my head from side to side. Ugh.
"Looks great! A-chan, you've got such amazing taste!" "Aww, it's just 'cause your base is already so pretty~"
Ajisai-san giggled shyly. She's way too cute. And her natural features are insanely good.
"Let me take a few pictures just in case," she said, snapping shots from every angle—just like they do at salons.
It reminded me of when I get new equipment in a game and spin the 3D model around to admire the details. I knew I looked different, but I had no idea how much better I actually looked...
Still, if Ajisai-san says it's good, then it must really be good. Anyway—I made it through Ajisai-san's full-on makeup session! "Alright then, this is what I'll go with on the day!"
I said it with a cheerful smile. But—
"Nope. Not yet." "Huh!?"
Ajisai-san tightened her lips and quickly grabbed a makeup remover wipe.
"We still need to try a few more styles. You asked me, remember?" "I mean, I think it's perfect already!"
"Nope."
She shook her head firmly. Her eyes were completely serious. "I haven't brought out all of your potential yet, Rena-chan." "Ajisai-san!?"
What's gotten into her!? That sounded like a line from a mecha anime or something—that's not like her at all!
"I'm gonna do my best, Rena-chan. I swear—I'll make you the most beautiful girl in the world! I really will!"
She clenched her fist. A strong sense of responsibility burned in her eyes...
"...P-please..."
I had no choice but to force those words out!
As I was getting my makeup done, I could hear Kaho-chan laughing and playing games with little brothers. Not that I was jealous or anything! Nope—not one bit!
I had my armor. I had my shield.
Now, it was time for accessories.
In RPG terms, accessories boost your stats or give you special skills. So, what's the most important skill I needed right now?
Confidence.
Sure, looking good helps. It makes people think I'm confident.
But to truly fake being an extrovert, I needed something deeper: that kind of baseless, inner confidence that just radiates from within.
But you can't change your personality overnight... Unless you cheat!
"Which brings me to you, Kaho-chan!"
I pressed my hands together and bowed.
We were in Kaho-chan's room—just the two of us this time. "Make me another hypnosis audio, please!"
"Nyaruhodo ( I see )... So that's your plan, huh..."
Kaho-chan, sitting across from me, nodded as if she completely understood.
"So that's why it's just the two of us."
"Well, I can't exactly say 'hypnosis audio' out loud when others are around…"
"You could, but Aa-chan might seriously worry about you." "Then I definitely don't want that!"
"You never know—Aa-chan might even make one for you." "Ajisai-san's… ASMR…?"
I imagined it—Ajisai-san whispering in my ear, "I love you, Rena-chan…" Like a "Rena-chan Pet Pampering Edition," where I'm her beloved pet and she pampers me nonstop…
My head spun. That's way too lewd!!
I shouted without thinking,
"I'd rather be with Kaho-chan!"
Kaho-chan gave an exaggerated shrug and said, "Well, I guess I have no choice, nya~"
It was the kind of dramatic gesture that wouldn't suit anyone but an actual beauty—
but Kaho-chan is an actual beauty, so it suited her perfectly.
"Hmm, I don't know…"
Kaho-chan folded her arms and tilted her head. Huh? What's going on!?
"Why are you hesitating all of a sudden!? This is an official request—I'll even pay you!"
"Nah, it's fine. I'll do it for free."
"For free!? That's even more suspicious! What are you trying to make me do!?"
Kaho-chan's eyes slowly scanned me from head to toe. Eep! I reflexively covered my chest.
"A-Are you planning another photoshoot…?"
Since the Makuhari Cosplay Summit, Kaho-chan hadn't invited me to do any more cosplay. Sure, hanging out with her had been fun—but the photoshoots felt like work. And when something feels like work, I get too stiff. I can't honestly say I enjoy it.
But… if it's a request from Kaho-chan—someone I owe so much—I can't just ignore it.
If she invites me again… I'll have to try. At least enough to look like I'm enjoying myself.
But then, as if reading my mind, Kaho-chan said,
"I don't really plan to ask you to do cosplay. I mean, if you bring it up and say you want to, then that's a different story."
I clenched my teeth hard and groaned. "Ugh... I do want to…"
"Not like in that sneaky 'If you want to~ I guess~ teehee' way though!" That was… a legit correction. I guess she really wasn't playing around. "Uh…?"
"I mean, you just suddenly got flooded with girlfriends lately, right? Your brain's been totally full."
What do you mean flooded!? It's just two!!
...Okay yeah, two is still pretty weird!!
"So I figured I'd stop asking you about cosplay for a while. I want you to enjoy it without pressure, you know?"
"Oh… thanks for being so considerate…"
"Heh heh. I'm the extrovert who's nice to introverts~" She posed with a backwards peace sign under her chin.
She might be joking, but she's not wrong. I am an introvert—and Kaho- chan's a certified extrovert.
"Besides, lately I feel like I've gotten a bit more popular. Before, I used to worry I couldn't draw anyone in unless I was with someone. But seeing so many people support me made me feel like... maybe that's not true."
"Ooh..."
Kaho-chan's self-confidence was rising.
I was so glad. Truly glad she was learning to value herself. "...What's with that look?"
"Ah—sorry, I just got kind of emotional." "Rena-chin, you really are such a softie, nya~"
She muttered in a tone of mock annoyance. But even that coldness was so cute... I just wanted to hug her.
"Also, I still don't buy that you used to be an introvert, you know?" "Ugh..."
Faced with Kaho-chan's flat stare, I resigned myself to the fact that judgment day had come.
"Well, the truth is..." "Aaa—!"
Kaho-chan suddenly shouted, making me jump.
Still seated, she stretched out and fell straight backward.
"You saw through my fake extrovert act right away, but Rena-chin kept secrets from me all this time! This friendship feels totally one-sided!"
"Auu auu auu..."
"You were the only one trying to look cool! I remembered everything, but Amaori-san completely forgot about me. I thought we were close again like before, but maybe it was just me all along! I'm seriously shocked!"
Still lying on her back, Kaho-chan thrashed around like a sulky child.
Uuuu... I get it. Realizing someone you thought was a sunshine extrovert was actually just like you—it would feel like betrayal...
"I-I'm sorry..."
I bowed and apologized profusely.
"Koyanagi-san is completely right. I really have no excuse." "Nope."
"Ah…"
It's over. Is this really the end of my friendship with Kaho-chan...? "Explain yourself."
"Huh!?"
Kaho-chan suddenly sat up and fixed me with a weirdly intense stare. Then, she held out her hand.
"Go on—your excuse. Give it to me." "Umm..."
She gave me a direct order—I had no right to refuse. Wrapped in guilt, I opened my mouth hesitantly.
"I... went through a rough time in middle school, so I stopped going to school for a while. I wanted to leave that version of myself behind, so I decided to completely reinvent myself in high school..."
Kaho-chan stared silently at me.
"Back then, everyone in the Quintet I met was shining so brightly, and I really admired all of you... of course, that includes you too, Kaho-chan. When I found out you were working hard—wearing contacts and pretending to be an extrovert—I thought that was amazing too..."
"Even though you bullied me in the bath." "I seriously have no excuse for that!"
I bowed so low my forehead nearly touched the floor.
Good thing she didn't ask me to explain that one too—if I'd said, "I just wanted to get revenge for being one-upped all the time!", it would've totally made things worse...
"So… basically, when I saw how hard everyone else was trying, I started feeling like, 'What am I even doing?' I couldn't bring myself to say
anything… I guess I didn't want to show the lame side of me and get rejected."
"...Yeah."
Kaho-chan crossed her arms and gave a small nod. But I wasn't sure what kind of "understand" she meant.
"I mean… I never planned on showing this whole fake extrovert thing either, not unless I totally messed up."
She pouted slightly.
"When you talked about your past, MaiMai and the others didn't ask anything, right?"
"That's probably because they already knew I used to be an introvert. Like, 'Why bring that up now? It's obvious just by looking,' kind of feeling..."
That's what Satsuki-san said too when I told her. But Kaho-chan shook her head.
"No, I think it was more like... you didn't seem like you wanted to talk about it, so they didn't want to push you."
"You think so…?"
"Yeah. Honestly, I know I should've done that too..."
Kaho-chan furrowed her brows and seemed like she wanted to say something, but then shut her mouth.
"...Well, anyway! It's fine! I'm totally okay now!"
"Huh…?"
I suddenly felt left behind, like the trial ended and everyone left the courtroom without a verdict.
"B-but—"
"It's fine! From here on, it's just my personal feelings!" "Uh… what?"
I didn't really get it, but… hasn't this whole thing been about personal feelings from the start?
That's why I felt like, if Kaho-chan was still feeling unsure, maybe it'd be better to talk it out until she felt settled…
But if she's saying "I'm fine" and I keep pushing it, that would just be self- satisfaction on my part...
Still, just backing off didn't feel right either—so I opened my mouth.
"Umm… well… if there's ever anything bothering you, just say it, okay? Because… I really do think of you as an important friend, Kaho-chan."
I tried my best to let her know how I felt.
"Because I like you, Kaho-chan... I don't want you to ever feel even a little upset when you're with me. If there's anything I can do, I'll do it. Really."
"... "
Kaho-chan stayed quiet for a moment, then suddenly flailed her arms. "Ah—!"
"W-what was that!?"
"It's nothing,"
she replied flatly, suddenly going emotionless. What was that!? That was definitely not "nothing"!
If her plan was to mess with me and make me anxious to blow off some steam, then… as my punishment, I'll accept it.
"Then! Rena-chin!"
She suddenly pointed at me. I froze up. "Y-yes?"
"You're going to answer three of my questions. And you have to tell the truth! If you do that, I'll forgive everything! Got it!?"
Three questions...
I blinked a few times. But really, I have no more secrets from Kaho-chan. She's probably figured everything out by now. If this is her way of wrapping things up cleanly, then honestly, I'm grateful.
"Okay, I understand," I nodded seriously. Kaho-chan looked serious too.
"Here's the first one." "Yes?"
"Rena-chin, have you had sex with Maimai or A-chan yet?" Excuse me!? That's way too personal!!
"I haven't!! I haven't, okay!? What's your point!?"
As I probably turned bright red and yelled, Kaho-chan nodded with a "Hmm."
"Looks like you'll answer honestly. Two more to go."
She acted like she just tested if I'd tell the truth… but did it have to be that question!? Koyanagi Kaho-san…!?
"Alright, let me grant your request—I'll make you a hypnosis audio to boost your confidence."
"Hm?"
I looked up at her like I was bracing for a forehead flick.
"What about the other questions? That was only the first one—you're done already?"
"I'm saving the other two." "You can do that!?"
"I never said when I'd ask them~" "Well... I guess that's fine."
Since I was the one asking for a favor, I had no right to complain. Kaho-chan grinned like she'd just fully recharged.
"When Rena-chin wins the lottery, I'll totally ask for her bank PIN!"
"If it comes to that, I'm not sure our friendship would survive!" "Hehe~☆"
"You're cute, but that's not the point!"
There's no way that kind of excuse should work.
Just being cute is enough to shut me up. Cuteness really is unfair. "So, back to the hypnosis audio..."
"Yeah…"
"Let's say you're, like, ridiculously easy to hypnotize, Rena-chin." "Right."
Well, it's not true, but since we're just speaking hypothetically, I'll let it slide.
"I think you've only got one more hypnosis left in you for the rest of your life."
"…What!?"
It felt like I'd just received a final warning out of nowhere.
"Of course—you build up resistance the more you do it. You can't use the same kind of hypnosis over and over. You already did that confidence-boosting hypnosis before, remember?"
"But you've been hypnotizing yourself all this time, right?"
"Mine's been reinforced through conditioning, but even that would stop working if I didn't keep it up. Besides, it's been a while since your last one, right?"
"In other words…"
"It's not going to work that easily.."
No way…
"So you're saying I can't keep depending on Kaho-chan-sama every time I face a life crisis…?"
"Obviously not! I'm not Rena-chin's personal Pokémon trainer!" "Tch…"
I grit my teeth. My whole life plan…! Kaho-chan asked again, as if to confirm.
"So like, are you sure? That's what I'm asking." "Huh? About what?"
"That one last important use in your life—are you really okay using it now?"
"Hmm…"
I see… so that's what this means.
Actually, that hypnosis audio from the last shoot worked so well—like, squirmingly well whenever I remember it—and now I won't ever be able to use it again in my life…
I paused for a moment, then nodded slightly. "Yeah, it's fine."
"Ohhh?"
"I'm okay."
"I know I can't keep going on like this forever either."
As I kept speaking, the last of my lingering doubts started to melt away.
"I might've gone overboard this time because it was for my sister... but someday, I want to become someone who doesn't need to rely on you or the others. Someone who can like herself, accept herself, and do anything... someday, probably."
I added something a little extra and gave a firm nod this time. "So I'm okay."
Kaho-chan gave a gentle smile at my words. "Roger that. For your little sister, huh?" "Huh? Yeah."
For a split second, I thought Kaho-chan looked lonely—but by the time I blinked, that look had already vanished.
Kaho-chan gave me a big smile and a thumbs-up.
"Then, as ordered, I'll turn Rena-chin into the ultimate pretty and invincible woman! So you better get ready!"
"I'll be in your care!"
I bowed deeply to the ever-reliable Kaho-chan. And just like that, I acquired the accessory.
The hypnosis audio Kaho-chan sent me soon after was an over-an-hour- long masterpiece, and thinking that it might be the last hypnosis I'd ever experience made me feel kind of sentimental.
Well, putting the effect aside, I was free to listen to it for fun... Not that I was going to! I mean, I wouldn't! I was just saying it was an option, okay!?
Armor, shield, accessory—I now had all three. The last weapon... was Satsuki-san.
Once again, I needed everyone's help… but now everything was ready. At last, I was heading into the dungeon known as the school reunion.
Just you wait, Demon King!
***
And then, the day of the reunion arrived.
Inside the reserved Italian restaurant, I stood—equipped with the strongest armor Mai had picked, the strongest shield Ajisai-san had trained me to use, and the strongest accessory blessed by Kaho-chan's power.
I'd come here to change the gloomy past I left behind.
I pulled out the trendy brand-name wallet (borrowed from Mai) and paid the participation fee.
I walked through the murmuring crowd of students and sat confidently at the most visible table by the counter, like I belonged there.
It felt like standing in the danger zone of everyone's eyes—like raising your hand to speak during a school assembly.
But right now, I wasn't afraid of anything. Not while I had the strongest gear equipped.
Sure, I stood out—but not in a bad way. Like Mai commanding attention on a city street, or Satsuki flipping pages in a library corner—I owned the atmosphere.
So this is a good kind of standing out... Yes, definitely a good kind!
Whew, I nearly lost my nerve for a second. Even if I had the best equipment—it's still just me inside!
Ugh, I can hear it... everyone's inner voices... "Huh, is that Amaori?"
"Whoa, what's with that outfit? Doesn't suit her at all…" "Who even invited her?"
"Lol."
"She's totally delusional, lol."
Aaaaaaaah!! I can't hear this! That's just in my head!
Right now, I'm a Super Lady! I never had a "high school debut glow-up" because I've always been top-tier since middle school! That's how I stand here today—to overwrite my past!
While I kept hyping myself up over and over in my head, I stood with a look that said, "Huh? So this is the place? Hmm, not bad."
I wasn't sticking out—I was standing tall.
While I was battling with my inner anxiety, a girl who had been my classmate in middle school (I don't remember her name!) nervously came up to me.
"Um… did your vibe change or something, Amaori-san?" Got her!
Wearing the confident smile of a true extrovert, I answered brightly.
"Hmm? Not sure~ But high school's been super fun lately. I'm really enjoying it every day~☆"
"Oh, really? Haha…"
After her, a few other groups came over and started talking to me. "Wait—she looked so cute I didn't even realize it was Amaori!"
"I seriously didn't even recognize you at first!"
I smiled and nodded while being surrounded by a group of guys and girls. More and more people gathered around me, forming a circle. It's a feeling I'd just recently experienced. Just like during the sports festival, when our class came together around the Quintet.
That comforting feeling—like everyone's listening to what I have to say.
"Oh, this? Yeah, a friend of mine who's a model picked it out for me☆ (⅛ not a lie). She's got amazing taste—and we even made plans to go shopping at Shibuya Hikarie☆ (⅛ okay, that part's a lie...)"
I piled on the sparkly "my life is amazing~☆" kind of bragging—the very kind of normie flexing I usually hate.
I couldn't say it out loud—she'd kill me—but the whole persona I was putting on was totally based on Youko-chan. I know Youko-chan's not the braggy type, but her shoujo manga heroine-style speech just screams "popular girl!"
"Oh, sorry~☆ Since we're all here, I want to talk to as many people as I can today. Let's catch up later, okay?"
Just as I was about to be dragged into afterparty plans, I smoothly slipped away—careful not to stammer or let my act slip.
The best part of this persona is that I don't have to constantly gauge people's reactions when I talk. All I need to do is leave a strong impression, so I go from one vaguely familiar classmate to the next.
Smiles, small talk, perfume, presence—I scatter them all as I walk by. I'm repainting my dull, gray youth in vibrant new colors.
I wave at a group of girls gathered in the corner and go join them. Even someone like me had classmates who'd talk to her—like Hirano-san and Hasegawa-san. But the looks I got now—dressed in my strongest gear—were wary. It seemed I wasn't one of them anymore.
I chose this path myself, but… it still felt a little lonely. A part of me wanted someone to say, "I was a total introvert too!" and relate.
But I can't let myself falter now.
"Oh, that reminds me☆ Has anyone seen Nashiji-san?" When I said that name, the girls froze.
"Um… I don't think I've seen her yet today…?" "Y-yeah, maybe over there or something…" The girl points at a lively corner
I gave a bright smile and thanked her.
"Thanks☆"
As I walked away, I checked the time. I had set my class reunion time limit to 20 minutes. Kaho-chan said any longer than that, and the disguise wouldn't hold up. Besides, I'd probably run out of my memorized topics.
It would've been great if I could just improvise fun talk based on the mood. But that takes people skills, and I don't have that kind of charisma...
But everyone from our entire middle school grade came to this reunion. There were over 100 in the grade—so even with half showing up, that's nearly 50 people!
If I chatted for even a minute with each of them, that's a full hour! Maybe that 20-minute rule was way too optimistic!?
Crap, I'm starting to panic—if I do, I'll mess up!
Like Cinderella guarding her glass slipper, I moved calmly, smoothly, and confidently through the venue.
"Hey, have you seen Nashiji-san?" "Eh? Oh, maybe not..."
"I see. Thanks☆"
I smiled and moved on.
"Maybe Nashiji-san didn't come after all?"
"Ah, sorry. Not sure. I'll ask around a bit, okay?"
"Yeah, thanks☆" I smiled and moved on. Something feels off.
Back in middle school, Nashiji-san was absolutely the queen—at the top of the social ladder. People like her would never miss a reunion.
After all, she can walk in and rule the room like she owns it. I feel a knot of anxiety tightening around my waist. She probably thinks nothing can start unless she's there—like it's just obvious.
She has to be on top, doesn't she?
That's why she couldn't stand anyone who dared to defy her. She targeted me—just because she didn't like me, for no real reason.
But still… why?
I even showed up 30 minutes late, just in case she did too. I was going to show up at the peak, hit Nashiji-san with a bombshell, and walk right out. No good. I can't find her. My anxiety keeps growing.
I can't breathe. The more I panic, the more my "ultimate armor" feels like it's breaking apart.
This is bad.
I decided to step outside the restaurant for a bit. At this rate, I'm getting nowhere. What I really wanted was to confront Nashiji-san here and clear up the rumors. That would've been perfect.
That way, the rumors about me being an introvert in middle school could've been cleared up through Minato-san.
If Minato-san admitted it was all fake, even the chaos around Haruna would finally calm down.
But if Nashiji-san didn't show up, there's really nothing I can do. I'll just focus on leaving a strong impression and make my exit.
If I stick around and the mask slips, they'll realize I'm still the same girl I was back then. While still getting approached by guys and girls, I made my way to the restaurant exit.
I'm almost out of breath—my mental tank is nearly empty.
But I can already see the shore. I just have to reach out and grab it. "A–maori–"
Someone's arm wrapped around my shoulder.
I turned to look. It was a tall girl with light-colored hair.
But it wasn't Nashiji-san.
She was always around Nashiji-san, and to be honest, I used to think of her as just one of her followers.
That same girl who once laughed and said, "She got rejected? Lame."
I froze up.
"Whoa, what's this? Amaori, you look amazing now! Remember me? We were in the same class――"
I couldn't catch the rest.
Maybe it was the noise. Maybe it was the ringing in my ears.
"Yeah, of course☆ How've you been? It's wild—just a year apart, and now everyone's suddenly so grown-up☆"
Talk to her like we're equals. Stand tall. Don't look away.
She probably doesn't even remember me. That's why I have to rewrite everything with who I am now.
"Yeah, seriously. I mean, ΟΟ planning a reunion just a year later? So annoying. I heard she had a one-sided crush on someone, but then she got a boyfriend right after starting high school. So lame, lol."
"Ah, so that was the reason☆ Well, whatever. I'm just happy to see my middle school friends again. And ΟΟ-san showed up too, even after all that complaining."
"Totally. They should've served alcohol or something—juice just doesn't set the vibe."
"Haha, no way. There's no hiding it with this many people☆" I can't breathe.
As I kept the energy going with her, this spot became the social hotspot. One after another, girls from Nashiji-san's old group started gathering.
Strangely enough, it was just like the time I got invited out—only this time, Nashiji-san wasn't here.
"Hey, wanna go out after this?" " "
My armor started to crack.
"Sounds good," said one of the girls behind me. "The boys'll be there too—let's make it big."
My shield crumbles away.
I was almost at the exit, but those last few steps felt so far.
She turned to me with a smile.
"Amaori, come on—hang out with us a little." Apparently, I've earned the respect of the popular girls. This time, they really saw me as one of them.
If I ran away here without caring how it looked—like I did that day I fled to the rooftop—I'd be able to protect myself.
The glow of my accesories is fading. But my goal is...
Lifting my head—unlike that day—I faced forward with a serious expression.
"I am..."
Everyone's eyes feel like daggers.
I no longer have my strongest gear. I have nothing left.
No.
I'm Amaori Renako. I'm standing right here.
I came here to change my past.
"I'm not going. Like I'd ever go with you."
The shift in my tone cracks the air around me. I gulped in a breath and blurted it all out.
"I wouldn't have any fun with you guys, so no. I'm not going. Who wants to be with people who just bully and mock others? If that's what you enjoy, go ahead and hang out together. I'm out."
With every word I said, the tension grew—almost comically so. Still, I stood there all alone.
"Ignoring someone over something like that? It's just so dumb. Really, really dumb."
I've learned now—this world is full of malice. And if I know that, then I can face it too.
Because I refuse to lose.
For the people who stood behind me.
And for me—the one who believes in herself. I'm not who I was back then.
Someone laughed.
"Getting turned down? Lame."
She glared at me like I'd just ruined her whole world. "Don't get full of yourself. You're just Amaori—"
I thought she was going to lunge at me. But even then—I didn't look away.
I stared back. "—"
And in that very moment, the restaurant door opened.
lciCnglang—the bell chimed.
Heads turned.
A tall figure entered.
Slender and poised—like a model. Sharp eyes, black mask.
An edgy vibe, like a knife. They stood over 175 cm tall.
With both hands in the hoodie's pockets, they walked straight toward me. "Amaori."
Their low, clear voice cut through the noise of the restaurant. "What are you doing? It's time. Let's go."
"You…"
But Nashiji-san's follower's voice was drowned out by the commotion. Gasps and squeals followed—
"Her boyfriend!?" "Whoa!" "He's so hot!" "Ah, but—"
The moment I even looked unsure, they grabbed my wrist. "Come on."
No room for protest.
They pulled me forward, and I fell into their chest—
Kyaa!
The room erupted with excited squeals. "Um…"
I whispered just loud enough for them to hear.
Then—
They lowered their mask. "Eh—"
They leaned over me. My vision went dark.
Screams exploded from the crowd.
When they lifted their face, I was left blushing to my ears.
I turned back to my old classmates with a sheepish smile and waved weakly.
"Ahaha… S-So yeah, I'll be heading out first! See you!" Nashiji-san's group was left speechless—
Their eyes full of envy, and just a bit of jealousy.
They couldn't move a muscle.
A little while after we left the restaurant— "W-Wait!"
I shouted in protest, not even caring that my makeup might smudge, vigorously scrubbing my lips with the back of my hand.
"Thank you for coming to help! But wasn't all that a bit too much!?" "What?"
She looked at me with bored eyes.
"If we're doing this, we go all in. Just like you asked, right?" "Still—kissing me was a bit overboard!"
"I didn't touch your lips." "Y-Yeah, but still!!"
So the kiss that grazed my lips and landed on my cheek was intentional after all.
She glanced around to make sure no one was nearby, then pulled off the hood she'd been wearing low over her face—and even removed the wig.
"…Whew."
Her long black hair burst free like a blooming flower and fell gracefully down, swaying slightly in the wind. Not a single hair out of place.
She—Koto Satsuki—had returned to her usual stunning self. My ultimate gear. My sword… was her.
"You totally panicked during your first kiss, face beet red and everything… but look at you now, Satsuki-san. What a wicked woman you've become."
"Yeah. Maybe it's because the worst role model is right beside me." I wonder who she meant… Mai? Or Kaho-chan maybe?
I was starting to feel like I was on the losing end, so I changed the topic.
"Still… I wasn't worried, but wow, it really suited you, Satsuki-san." "I know, right?"
What confidence… She treats compliments like they're just taxes paid by her loyal subjects…
"Should I have been more modest?"
Smiling under the moonlight as she said that, Satsuki-san looked just like a goddess.
Ugh… she's way too powerful…!
I had asked Satsuki-san to come pick me up wearing various crossdressing accessories that Kaho-chan provided—like 10 cm platform shoes and a tube top to flatten her chest.
Ajisai-san's vibe was too gentle, Mai's face might get recognized, and Kaho-chan didn't have the height or presence.
So the honor went to our Satsuki-san.
It's humiliating to admit, but the one thing people envy most at this age… is whether or not you've got a hot partner.
And Koto Satsuki's face? It could cut down anything. That's why she's my ultimate weapon.
Honestly, I didn't care if people thought Satsuki-san was a guy or a girl. But since Satsuki-sama said, "I'd rather wear a disguise," I went along with it.
Her beauty transcends gender—Satsuki-sama races through the heavens like a divine being.
Hoping I could share even a sliver of her beauty secrets, I asked: "…What's your secret to looking so good, Satsuki-san?"
"It's genetic."
"You're gonna get punched for that!?" Actually, I want the world to punch her.
Wait no, what am I thinking!? She saved me! That's not okay!
Begone, jealous demon in my heart!!
I mean… the person who ends up as Satsuki-san's lover gets to experience that kind of super brag session every day, right? That's insane.
In another world, countries would've been at war over her. She's basically Cleopatra.
"But still, you didn't really need me to save you, did you?" "Huh?"
"That was a pretty good speech."
Apparently the hypnosis voice effect had worn off, because just now I remembered what I said—and my face turned pale.
"Y-y-you heard that!?" "More or less."
I'm stunned… I'm seriously stunned!!
"Then come help me sooner, will you!? I seriously thought I was going to die!"
Satsuki-san gave a soft chuckle.
"If you can say something like that in a moment like that…" She brushed her hair back and narrowed her eyes slightly.
"You can be part of our group now, Amaori." This time, I was truly left speechless. "...Wait, I wasn't already part of the group!?"
I shouted, my voice trembling.
Wait… does that mean Satsuki-san and I still weren't best friends yet…!?
Some time passed. And by the time the shock of finally being recognized as a full Quintet member—seven months after April—had started to settle in…
While walking back toward the carriage, Satsuki-san turned to me and asked,
"So? How'd it go?"
"Um… I think it was mostly a success. I think I managed to shake off the gloomy image."
Satsuki-san's (almost) kiss must've made a big splash too. "Well, with that much glam, of course you did."
Satsuki-san looked me over, taking in my outfit.
"You've really transformed, haven't you?"
"Well, I had help from everyone… Wait, are you actually praising me right now, Satsuki-san?"
When I hungrily sought more praise, she gave me a smug look. "Yes. As expected from Mai, Sena, and Kaho."
"Right?! Totally! They all did such professional work—"
I knew she wouldn't just praise me directly! Still, I was happy the Quintet got recognized, so I smiled and tried to keep the conversation going.
"Ugh…"
Suddenly, Satsuki-san twisted her face like a demon splashed with holy water.
"W-What is it!?"
"No… even if it was to drag you down, I really shouldn't have said 'as expected from Mai' so casually…"
"Right, you're cursed to lose years off your life when you praise people. That must be hard…"
When I tried to sympathize, she simply brushed her hair back. "Anyway—"
Her ability to switch moods that fast is honestly enviable. Not that I'm sure I'd want to be like that…
"So that means the mission's done now, right?" "Uh…"
I stopped walking. Under the streetlight, Satsuki-san turned around to look at me.
"What's wrong?"
"Actually… I've only finished half, I guess…"
I glanced down at my phone. Everyone who helped with the plan was messaging me things like, "How did it go?" I replied, "Yeah, it went well."
"But the truth is, I was supposed to meet someone named Nashiji-san. But she didn't show up at the reunion."
"Hmm."
Satsuki-san gave a disinterested hum.
"Is that the person who made you stop going to school?" "Yeah, kind of… Wait, what!?"
I flinched back in surprise. "W-Why do you know that!?"
Satsuki-san should've only known two things about me: that I had a 'high school debut' and that I was kinda truant in middle school… So how!?
However, Satsuki-san replied calmly, like someone who had just solved a hard puzzle in seconds.
"I just connected the dots. Don't worry, I haven't told anyone else." "Th-thank you… I appreciate your thoughtfulness."
Admitting I became a truant because of someone is already hard enough... but actually talking about it is even harder.
(It's not like I'm hiding anything from you, Kaho-chan!)
It's just… I don't want the blame to fall on the wrong person. I never wanted to take revenge using the power of Mai or Kaho-chan anyway…
Satsuki-san suddenly looked up at an angle and murmured, as if asking the moon.
"Nashiji? Ah, so that's what it was." "Huh? You know her?"
"Nope. Not at all."
…What?
Tonight, more than ever, I had no idea what Satsuki-san was thinking. "Well then, we'll just have to meet her."
"I mean, I do want to, but…"
For example, should I ask Seira-san to get in touch with Nashiji Minato again and find out which school she goes to… or something?
If I tried to lie in wait and catch her… then I wouldn't be able to rely on my fake persona anymore. I'd be stuck fighting in enemy territory, totally at a disadvantage. Maybe I should just go back to the reunion and at least try to get her contact info. I really don't want to… but that still feels like it might lead to something.
"Just wait a second," Satsuki-san said, pulling out her phone. She turned her back to me and started making a call.
Looks like someone picked up.
"Hey, you," she said to the person on the other end.
"It's about Nashiji Komachi. You're investigating her, aren't you?" "Eh!?" I accidentally blurted out.
Who the heck is she calling!?
Satsuki-san gave me a little "shh" gesture. Ugh… I can't interrupt her… But I'm dying to know…!
"You're just trying to get some dirt on her, right? I don't care what happened. What we need right now is the info. Yeah. You can submit whatever you need to your higher-ups later."
Judging from the bits of Satsuki-san's conversation I could hear… she was definitely asking for something outrageous.
I-is that really okay…?
After some arguing, Satsuki-san finally nodded, like she had come to a decision.
"Alright then. Let's call it settled. I'm counting on you." She ended the call.
As she stared at her phone for a while, I nervously asked,
"Um… what just happened?"
Suddenly, a message popped up on my phone. It was from Satsuki-san. It had the one thing I needed—Nashiji Komachi's address.
"Eh!?"
W-what is going on!?
I looked at her in shock, but Satsuki-san turned her back to me, as if to say her job was done.
"Well then, this is as far as I go." "Um, uh…"
"The rest is up to you. Do your best."
There were so many things I wanted to say… but I couldn't even begin to get them out. I hurried after Satsuki-san as she quickly walked away.
"W-wait a sec! This is…"
Then I caught a glimpse of myself in a shop window.
Thanks to Mai, Ajisai-san, and Kaho-chan, I had become the best version of me—completely transformed. I looked like a different person, and that gave me courage.
It reminded me—no, proved to me—that I have friends who care about me this much.
Even if I lose all my armor, my shield, my accessories—even my sword—
I still carry the strength called friendship in my heart. What can someone like me even do?
That's easy.
I can do anything.
Because this is for my little sister.
"Satsuki-san!"
My voice, like a cry, echoed down the dark street.
She stopped walking, but didn't turn around. I waved my hand high in the air.
"Thank you! I'll do my best!"
Without looking back, Satsuki-san quietly raised her hand.
I broke into a run. Like Cinderella without her glass slipper. But I'm still here.
I'm still me.
At last—it's time for the final battle.
*** ***
On her way home, Koto Satsuki suddenly remembered something and made a call.
It connected right away. "Helloo… Haaai…"
came the voice on the other end, sounding sulky.
Without wasting time, Satsuki opened with an apology. "I'm sorry."
There was a pause. The other person seemed surprised. "So… what's with this sudden change of heart?"
"Nothing big. I knew I was asking a lot. I just thought I should at least thank you. So—thanks."
"Haaah…"
The other person—Terusawa Youko—replied, clearly not thrilled.
"I mean… what exactly are you trying to do? Our job is to split up that Queen Rose young lady and Amaori Renako, right? Though honestly, I feel like 90% of what I do now is housework… And don't you think we've strayed a bit too far?"
Satsuki didn't reply right away.
"You said you had your own goal and all… but seriously, I really can't help but feel like I'm being used here."
As she approached the station, she kept walking beneath the neon lights, tuning out the voices coming from the crowd.
"It was necessary—up to this point."
"…Was that really necessary?"
"Yes. She can't handle two things at once, so to move forward, the problems surrounding Amaori—aside from romance—need to be resolved first."
"…So that's your strategy to split them up?" "That's right."
Satsuki declared it, without the slightest hesitation.
"You always say things so convincingly… If I were a detective, you'd be the con artist."
"Don't say nonsense. I'm hanging up."
"Ah, wait—when you've got time again, help us out too, okay!? The princess won't listen unless you say it! You still owe us for that intel!"
Beep.
Her reflection caught her eye. A woman with long, black hair.
Not the kind fairy who gave Cinderella a pumpkin carriage—
but more like the witch who handed Snow White a poisoned apple.
(That's right. Just like before—unless Amaori's in perfect shape, it's pointless. Just get over that stupid trauma already.)
The wind blew, and her hair swayed.
(Is love really something so amazing… or just something pointless in the end? Am I the one who's wrong? Or is it Mai?)
The witch in the display case gave a faint smile. (You're the one who'll uncover the answer, Amaori—)
My big sister Renako had always been smart and capable. Maybe it was because we were two years apart in age, but little me couldn't understand any of that—I just looked up to her with innocent admiration.
She knew all sorts of games, and most of the fun around me started with her ideas. But more than anything, she was always kind to me. Whenever we got in trouble together, she'd step up first and take the blame.
Even though she sometimes made a face like, "Why am I the only one getting scolded?"
if I looked downhearted, she'd just smile and say:
"Because I'm your big sister."
Each time she said that,
a quiet sense of pride grew inside me. Because I'm my big sister's little sister.
So I started facing my problems sincerely—learning to work hard every day. Even if I couldn't do it well, I didn't want to be the kind of person who made excuses without trying.
Because I'm the little sister of someone truly amazing.
But even with all that noble determination, things didn't always go her way. In fact, most of the time, everything went wrong. In her early elementary school days, Haruna was constantly frustrated, and every time, her sense of justice would explode.
She scolded a classmate for littering—and they talked back, and it turned into a fight. She reported a boy who didn't clean to the teacher—and got called a tattletale.
She ignored a classmate's chore and left it undone—and the classmate cried the next day, making her the villain.
So she hit them, too. Nothing ever went smoothly.
She just wasn't as clever as her sister.
Still, she kept fighting with her immature sense of justice— until, little by little, her heart began to wear down.
Maybe she could never be the proud little sister of someone so amazing. One day, after school, at the park—
as they sat side by side on the swings,
Haruna looked up at her sister and asked,
"How can I become someone that people don't hate?" Just asking that question might've disappointed her.
Nervous, Haruna looked up to check her sister's expression.
But her sister answered, like it was the most natural thing in the world:
"I love you, Haruna. Even if everyone else hates you, I'll still love you." That sweet, grown-up smile…
It made Haruna's chest feel warm.
"I see…"
Just with those few words, She thought:
"Then, I guess it's fine."
Even if the entire class hated her—
as long as her sister loved her, that would be enough.
From that day on, the armor Haruna had worn disappeared.