novellhall Chapter 59 The Past
Chapter 59 The Past
Naomi Asahina got out of bed and stepped barefoot onto the wooden floor.
She rushed to the wardrobe, ready to choose an outfit for her date tomorrow.
The wardrobe was opened.
Inside were many exquisite and beautiful dresses.
Dresses, pleated skirts, knitwear... and even Lolita outfits for cosplay.
But Naomi didn't focus her attention on them, even though they were indeed very beautiful.
She rummaged through drawers and cabinets, eventually finding a set of old clothes deep inside.
It was a simple dress, which, in Naomi's opinion today, seemed a bit too rustic.
Naomi Asahina's eyes were complicated.
That was proof of my middle school days.
That unsophisticated, unremarkable version of myself.
If you want to travel discreetly, only your old clothes will do.
Naomi Asahina carried the entire dress out of the room and into the laundry room, where she quickly washed it and put it in the dryer.
While we were waiting, the door to the laundry room was pushed open, and Asahi Yuzu peeked out.
"Sister, so you've been here all along."
"What's wrong, Yuzu?"
"It's nothing, I just came to tell my sister that the bathwater is ready."
"I understand. Thank you, Yuzu."
"Hehehe, you're welcome. Just let me join your date tomorrow, sister."
"That's absolutely unacceptable!"
Naomi Asahina puffed out her cheeks.
"Eh—why? I won't bother my sister and Hui-ge. I'm just a third wheel."
"It's precisely because of the light bulb that it's not allowed!"
Yuzu pouted, "Big sister's so stingy."
Then, bored, Yuzu went into the laundry room and looked around.
Her attention was drawn to Naomi's pajamas, and she sighed, somewhat dumbfounded.
"Hey sis, can you at least pay a little attention to your image at home? Why are you wearing this pajamas?"
"What's wrong? This outfit feels very comfortable."
"Don't you think your taste is terrible, wearing such unfashionable pajamas?"
"What does it matter if I'm at home!"
Naomi Asahina blushed.
"Seriously, that's why Hui-ge never comes to our house as a guest."
"There's absolutely no contact, okay? I definitely won't wear this if Hui-kun comes!"
"Even if it's not about the clothes, if Hui-ge comes to visit, he might see what's in my sister's room and become disillusioned with her."
"No, Hui-jun said that I like it no matter what."
"That's something you only say when your sister looks good. If you're disappointed in your sister beneath her glamorous exterior, you won't give a reason for breaking up with her."
"Grapefruit!!"
The girl became angry and embarrassed.
The dryer finished its work in the midst of the sisters' bickering.
Naomi Asahina gritted her teeth and said, "I'll teach you a lesson later," before taking the clothes out of the dryer and putting them away.
Yuzu ran to the door, saw the clothes in her hand, and looked incredulous.
"Sister, those are your clothes from junior high school. Are you planning to wear them to see Hui-ge tomorrow?"
"Mind your own business!"
"My sister is beyond saving." Asahi Yuzu said this briefly before quickly disappearing from Naomi's sight.
Naomi Asahina closed her eyes, forcibly suppressing her anger.
He snorted and went back to his room with his clothes in his arms.
……
inside the room.
Naomi Asahina changed into a dress and twirled in front of the full-length mirror.
The mirror reflected a stunningly beautiful young woman whose plain clothes could not conceal her beauty.
Asahina Omi hummed softly, as if she had thought of something, and pulled a small box out of the cabinet under the bed.
Inside the box was a pair of round-framed glasses that Naomi hadn't worn since her refractive surgery.
Now, wearing it again and looking in the mirror, she seemed to have found a bit of her former self again.
With his unfashionable hairstyle and tasteless round-framed glasses, he looked timid and gloomy, radiating a complete lack of confidence.
This is Naomi from junior high school.
Compared to Naomi today, she's worlds apart.
Naomi Asahina looked down at a certain part of her body.
"It's still very tight..."
During my junior high school years, the weight on my chest was the source of my distress.
Years passed, and as her body developed, she didn't become much taller; instead, her annoying fat became more and more abundant.
If it weren't for it...
Memories from that time flashed through my mind.
Asahina Omi, a junior high school student, is an ordinary girl who is only good at breasts and has nothing else to offer.
She's not good at socializing, not good at dressing up, always keeps her head down, and sits alone reading magical girl comics.
She loved these kinds of stories, dreaming of the unassuming girls in comics who secretly became shining saviors.
But no one around her shares the same interests.
Even if she mustered the courage to strike up a conversation with someone, all she received in return were countless dismissive glances and mocking smiles.
"Hey, did you guys know that that country bumpkin Asahi actually wants to be a magical girl? It's hilarious."
"Are there really magical girls that corny?"
"A girl who only uses her breasts to attract boys might become a very lewd magical girl."
The harsh words upset her.
She had no choice but to suppress her desire to explore the outside world and became taciturn.
But malice did not let her off easily.
One day, a handsome but frivolous boy called her to an empty classroom.
He confessed his feelings to Naomi.
"I've been watching you for a long time. Be my girlfriend."
"That's what the frivolous handsome guy said."
Naomi Asahina was at a loss.
She does crave social interaction and friendship, but not romantic relationships.
She had absolutely no desire to be in a relationship.
Moreover, even Naomi had heard some of the rumors about that boy.
He changed girlfriends like he changed clothes, and got a girl pregnant when he was only in the second year of junior high school, and then refused to take responsibility.
Asahina Naomi would never want to have any contact with someone like that, let alone date him.
She immediately refused him and took the opportunity to run out of the classroom.
The next day, a group of delinquent hot girls in the class approached Naomi.
"So you're the one who seduced someone else's boyfriend?"
"I never expected someone who looks so honest to be so good at cheating on their partner."
"...I didn't!"
Naomi Asahina attempted to explain.
But the sexy girls didn't want to listen and simply slapped her.
At that moment, she was so frightened that she closed her eyes.
But the expected slap did not come.
When they opened their eyes, a girl was blocking their way.
She's a top figure in the class, so let's just call her the Queen.
"Let's skip the face-slapping. This face is so cute; it would be a shame to ruin it."
She spoke with a smile.
The Queen comes from a wealthy family and often gives small favors to the Spice Girls, so her opinions can almost sway their actions.
The group of sexy girls yielded to the queen and let Naomi off the hook.
Naomi Asahina was very grateful to her.
Perhaps out of boredom at having to protect the weak, the Queen began to show some concern for Naomi after that incident.
During lunch break, I would invite her to eat together and share some of the food from my lunchbox with her.
Even though it was scraps that the Queen didn't like to eat, Naomi believed it was proof of their friendship.
She made her first friend.
Friends are those who share things they love.
After talking with the Queen, Asahina discovered that although the Queen seemed cold, she was actually very easy to talk to.
They even tolerated his childish hobbies.
He would occasionally chime in with a comment or two as Naomi enthusiastically shared her thoughts on magical girls.
Although it wasn't correct most of the time, Naomi was still very happy.
The content of the conversation is secondary; the most important thing is the person who is willing to listen.
As she reveled in the joy of making new friends, the Queen's birthday approached.
Naomi Asahina asked the Queen what kind of birthday gift she hoped to receive.
"Hehe, just give me what Naomi likes the most."
The Queen said with a smile.
Naomi Asahina took those words to heart.
The Queen certainly knew what her favorite things were.
That's a classic manga from the first magical girl series.
It is no longer available on the market.
On the day of the Queen's birthday party.
Naomi arrived at the Queen's house carrying a thick volume of manga.
Her classmates were already celebrating; no one was waiting for her.
Naomi Asahina sat in the corner, forcing a smile, clutching her manga, watching the main character in the crowd.
At that moment, that girl truly seemed like a queen.
The birthday party quickly progressed to the gift-giving stage.
Everyone's gifts were in keeping with the Queen's image; they were either exquisite, expensive, or both.
Finally, it was Naomi's turn.
The crowd parted to make way, and the Queen slowly approached.
"Naomi, did you bring me a present?"
"Yes, of course I brought it." Asahina had been waiting for this moment, her stomach growling with hunger.
She handed over her prized collector's edition comic book with a smile.
"Give……"
"Huh? You're serious?"
The Queen's sharp, mocking laughter interrupted her.
Everyone at the birthday party, who had been holding back for a while, finally burst out laughing.
"Hahaha, I can't believe she actually brought all this stuff!"
"You lost the bet, Saki."
"Alright, alright, really, who knew there would be idiots who couldn't read the room?"
Naomi Asahina watched this scene with a bewildered expression.
Everyone was mocking her without restraint.
Even the Queen, who is a "friend," is one of them.
No, perhaps it is precisely because of the Queen that they are all mocking themselves.
Why...?
Naomi Asahina's eyes trembled.
The queen's mocking voice was etched into her mind.
"You don't really think I'd be friends with a gloomy woman with such disgusting tastes, do you? I was just kidding you."
"After all, it's your fault for seducing my ex-boyfriend."
"..."
The Queen's words reminded Naomi of a face.
It's that frivolous handsome guy.
It turned out to be the case.
Naomi Asahina understood.
It was all just a show directed and acted by the Queen herself.
The queen plotted this revenge out of jealousy because a frivolous man confessed his love to her.
So this is ah.
She had no friends, from beginning to end.
The so-called agreement to ask for a birthday present was all a lie.
She was prepared to make herself a laughing stock from the very beginning.
Naomi Asahina hurriedly left the birthday party amidst laughter.
driven to distraction.
After returning to school.
Naomi Asahina's situation became even more difficult.
Everyone knows she's a silly idiot, a friendless person who can be mocked at will.
Countless hurtful words flew towards her.
Because she has no friends, no one will stand by her side.
Fortunately, there's only a short time left in junior high school.
Naomi did not experience much bullying; it only involved verbal abuse.
Because she studied diligently, she was transferred to the advanced class and focused on her studies.
After graduating from junior high school, Naomi was able to attend Sakura-ryo, a prestigious school in Tokyo, just as she had hoped.
No one at that school will know about your past.
During the long holiday between junior high and senior high school.
Naomi Asahina's aunt came to visit the Asahina family and noticed her depression.
After careful questioning, Naomi recounted her past experiences.
After listening, her aunt thought for a long time and then said to her:
"Should I try to change myself in high school?"
"Naomi is actually very cute. If she changed her image, she might look different."
My aunt is a designer for a well-known fashion brand; she has a natural talent for dressing people up.
Naomi Asahina nodded.
She's willing to try different options if they exist.
After the summer vacation, the formerly unsophisticated and gloomy girl completely disappeared.
A brand new, super-beautiful girl steps out of the Asahi family's gate.
She has beautiful blonde hair, overly cute features, an outstanding figure, and the glittering label of "professional model."
From the very beginning, it was destined to be the center of attention.
"This time... I want to make friends."
I never want to be bullied and have no one on my side again.
Never again will I be ridiculed for my preferences, isolated, or ostracized.
and so……
It doesn't matter if your inner self isn't likable.
Put on the mask, Naomi.
All you need to do is make people like your appearance.
If you make friends with everyone, you won't be bullied.
The girl strode confidently toward a new battlefield.
Along the way, we passed an ancient cherry blossom tree.
The petals gently fell on her shoulders, but she didn't notice.
Unintentionally, a boy was framed in the camera's view, even though it was just a blurry image of his back.
"...This would make the shot perfect."
The boy put down his phone and gave a charming smile.
"Who says I, Miyazawa Itsuki, can't take pictures? This is pretty good, isn't it?"
Their destinies intersected here.