novellhall Chapter 42 The Real Self
Chapter 42 The Real Self
"Naomi," Miyazawa Itsuki called out to her.
"Hmm? What's wrong, Teru-kun?" Asahina looked at her boyfriend, her charming smile returning.
"Let me take you home," he said. "It's getting late."
"..."
"And I also want to apologize for being late," Miyazawa Itsuki said.
Naomi Asahina was silent for a moment, then looked up, her expression still smiling.
"Okay, let's go then."
The two said goodbye to their friends and headed towards the station.
……
Strolling through the streets of Tokyo on a spring night, Naomi Asahina and Itsuki Miyazawa intertwine their fingers.
[You don't need to force yourself anymore, do you?] Miyazawa Itsuki wanted to say that, but looking at the girl's relaxed and carefree expression, he ultimately didn't say it.
Now that we've defused the bomb that could have caused a rift in the group, let's make the guests happy for a while.
The two walked toward the station. Miyazawa Itsuki was about to enter, but Asahina Omi was completely unaware and simply walked past the station.
Heading towards the commercial street further away.
"what?"
Miyazawa Itsuki didn't know why Naomi was ignoring the site, and looked at her in confusion.
"Ki-kun must be hungry." Asahina Omi gave him a caring smile, the kind that comes with a girlfriend.
"I know, Hui-jun came without having dinner, he must be very hungry, right?"
"..."
Looking at Naomi Asahina's flawless smile, for some reason, Itsuki Miyazawa subconsciously told himself that he shouldn't say anything against it.
To be frank, he was indeed a bit hungry and had planned to go back and rely on Her Highness's cooking.
"...I'm a little hungry."
Hearing the ideal answer, Naomi Asahina's smile became even more beautiful.
"Let's go get something to eat. After all, it's not a good girlfriend to let her boyfriend go home hungry."
"No, it's already..."
"Huijun was my boyfriend until I confirmed the order was completed."
"That's what Asahina said," shutting down Miyazawa Itsuki's words.
"...Naomi is right." He acknowledged the truth of that statement, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "So, Naomi, what would you like to eat?"
Instead of giving an answer immediately, Naomi Asahina asked a question.
"No matter what I'm really like, Hui-kun won't hate me, right?"
Miyazawa Itsuki stared at her blankly.
"certainly."
"Then I don't want to act in front of Hui-jun anymore."
Naomi Asahina said softly.
"I want to be able to be myself in front of Teru-kun without putting on an act, and I want Teru-kun to see the real me, not the Asahina Mi who tries to please everyone."
The girl took a step forward.
Despite her unchangingly beautiful appearance and still impeccably dressed appearance, she seemed like a completely different person in an instant.
The model's poise gradually faded, and the flawless smile was no longer maintained.
She hugged Miyazawa Itsuki.
"I'm so tired," the girl whispered in his arms.
"Performing like this every day is really tiring."
"You have to show different smiles to different people, and you have to adjust your tone of voice, posture, demeanor, and eye contact... It's all so troublesome."
The pleasant voice was no longer lively and outgoing; instead, it sounded somewhat aggrieved.
Miyazawa looked at her.
"Will Hui-jun be disappointed in me like this?" The girl buried her face in his collar. "After all, I'm not cute at all like this."
He thought for a moment, then raised his hand and gently stroked her head.
"You've worked hard, Naomi," Miyazawa Itsuki said. "I know Naomi has always worked very hard, so take a break once in a while."
Naomi Asahina's movements froze.
"..."
Ugh, is it raining? It must be raining.
……
Inside a chain ramen shop on a commercial street.
Miyazawa Itsuki and Asahina Omi took their seats, with steaming bowls of tonkotsu ramen in front of them.
After crying in his arms for a long time, Naomi finally recovered and brought Miyazawa Itsuki to the ramen shop.
"I've always seen people on social media say that this ramen is delicious, but I never had the courage to go."
Asahina Miko put the slices of meat from her bowl into Miyazawa Itsuki's bowl.
"After all, a greasy ramen shop and [Asahi Naomi] don't go together at all. It's just that I'm too cowardly to come in for such a ridiculous reason."
"But now that Hui-kun is here, there's no problem," Naomi said sweetly.
I have so many things I want to do with you.
Miyazawa Itsuki stared at the ever-growing pile of meat slices in the bowl and remained silent for a while.
"It's okay, Naomi, just be yourself when you're with me."
"I think Naomi is cute no matter what kind of person she is."
"!"
Naomi Asahina felt that her heart must have broken down today.
The two enjoyed their ramen and chatted casually until it was all over.
After putting down her utensils, Naomi sipped her water.
"Actually, there's something else I need to tell Naomi," Miyazawa Itsuki said after a moment's thought.
"Please speak, Hui-kun."
"I failed to fulfill this contract, resulting in a serious breach of contract and lateness, for which I am very sorry."
Miyazawa lowered his head to her.
"No?...No way..." Naomi's eyes widened.
"...As agreed, I will refund the entire rental fee to Naomi," Miyazawa Itsuki said. "I'm sorry for upsetting Naomi. It's my fault."
"...?"
Naomi Asahina's expression changed.
What are you saying, Hui-kun? Why are you speaking in that tone?
I don't blame Hui-jun at all; on the contrary, it was the best date I've ever had.
"So, after this is over..."
"Wait a minute," the girl interrupted him.
"?"
Naomi Asahina's tone suddenly became very heavy.
"Why are you saying it's over?" Naomi said. "What refund? I don't understand."
"If Hui-jun really feels sorry for me, then don't try to compensate me with a refund."
Miyazawa looked at her, not understanding what she meant.
"I'll accept whatever Naomi wants to do, as long as it doesn't violate any laws or regulations."
Naomi Asahina pondered for a moment, then quickly revealed a sweet, dangerous smile.
"Since Hui-jun feels indebted to me, I want Hui-jun to make it up to me with a date this weekend."
"A perfect date, just for the two of us."
……
As I left the ramen shop, a torrential downpour began outside.
Miyazawa Itsuki didn't bring an umbrella when she went out, and neither did Naomi.
"What should we do, Hui-kun?"
Asahina Omi kept saying what to do, but she didn't seem flustered at all.
"With such heavy rain, I might not be able to get home."
Miyazawa glanced at her, but the girl's gaze remained fixed on the hotel in the distance.
"Don't worry, I will definitely take Naomi back."
Ignoring Naomi's displeased expression, Miyazawa Itsuki took off his coat.
After checking that his phone and wallet were still in his lower pocket, he draped his coat over Naomi's shoulders.
P.S.: I didn't originally plan to stop here, but the update deadline is pressing, so I'll have to postpone the big update until tomorrow. Thank you to everyone who has read this far.