Episode 30: What You’re Supposed to Answer Malice With
I finished my “Ruri” makeup right before morning homeroom was about to start.
Any longer lounging around in the student council room and I’d be late. I couldn’t cause trouble for Maria, of all people — she’s never once been late or absent in her life.
“Maria, I’m heading back to class.”
“…Riri, are you really going to be okay?”
I’d always stuck to a plain, muted look at school because I couldn’t handle being noticed and reacting well to it.
Since I couldn’t be an extrovert, I’d been living as a “secretly, unbelievably gorgeous hidden beauty” character instead. Though I was hiding so thoroughly that basically nobody ever noticed me at all.
But because of the whole Sweet Stella thing, I’d ended up getting noticed anyway.
So there was no reason left to keep dressing plain.
“I’ll be fine! …Probably.”
I don’t actually have confidence in this. If I really walk into that classroom, I might just freeze up and lose my ability to say anything at all.
Even so, that’s not a reason to give up trying.
“I decided I wanted to change. That I would change. So I’ll be fine.”
“…Riri.”
“Let’s go. Thank you for bringing me here.”
Bracing myself, I left the student council room.
◆
The moment I stepped into the classroom, every single classmate’s eyes locked onto me instantly.
Surprised voices, malicious whispering, amused laughter, worried murmurs. All kinds of reactions. Not every single one of them hates me… probably.
I took a breath and walked straight to my seat.
Shifting my gaze slightly, my eyes met Hara-san’s.
I hid my trembling hands under the desk. I can’t let anyone realize I’m scared.
Even at Sweet Stella, the more nervous and skittish I acted, the more some customers took it as an invitation to lecture me.
Still — answering malice with malice isn’t the right move.
What I’m supposed to answer it with is—
Smile.
I smiled with everything I had.
That’s right. What you’re supposed to answer malice with is an unbelievably cute smile.
“Eh?”
A dazed sound slipped out of Hara-san. Good. Proof my cuteness properly landed.
I leaned in slightly and brought my mouth close to Hara-san’s ear. Then, quiet enough that no one else could hear, I whispered.
“Thank you for realizing I’m ‘Ruri.’ I’m happy you’ve always been watching me, you know?”
“Ugh…!”
Hara-san clutched at her chest. Watching her cheeks go redder and redder, I felt certain.
She’s fallen for my cuteness. Got her, Hara-san.
◆
“N-Nanami-san, could I have a second!?”
The instant homeroom ended, Hara-san shot up from her seat. Classmates were watching us, but Hara-san’s eyes were locked on nothing but me.
“Sure, that’s fine.”
“C-come this way…”
Standing, Hara-san led me out of the classroom with the stiff, mechanical gait of a robot.
◆
Where Hara-san took me was an empty classroom on the same floor. In the empty room, she took a breath and then bowed her head sharply.
“Nanami-san! I’m so sorry for saying something so mean earlier!”
Her braided pigtails bounced with the motion.
“We all got carried away as a group, and since I sit next to you, it turned into ‘let’s just ask her directly’… no, actually, the circumstances are just an excuse. I’m sorry. What I said was rude and completely inappropriate.”
“Hara-san…”
“And, um, well, uh…!”
Hara-san took a series of exaggeratedly deep breaths.
Clasping her hands together in front of her chest, like a maiden offering a prayer, she continued.
“Would it be okay if I came to Sweet Stella too!? I’ll spend money right up to the limit, I promise!”
Of course — Hara-san, if I remember right, comes from a genuinely wealthy family too, though maybe not quite on Maria’s level.
“Sure. I mean, I’d be happy if Ruri got to see you there!”
“Hyeek, an angel descended to earth…!?”
“…Ah, um, well, so, actually, I think you probably already know this, but I’m really not that kind of character normally, so, um… ‘Ruri’ mode might not really work at school much, maybe…”
The reason I’d managed to work up the courage to talk to Hara-san just now was because, in that exact moment, I’d become “Ruri.”
Talking smoothly with everyone while staying “Nanami Riri” the whole time is still hard for me.
Also, honestly, the energy I’ve been picking up at Sweet Stella is maid-café energy specifically, not extrovert-high-schooler-surviving-school energy…!
“Nanami-san.”
“…Yes?”
“I think I’ve just awakened to gap moe.”
Nodding with a completely straight face, Hara-san’s nose started gushing bright red blood.