Chapter 17 | End of Prologue, 3rd Semester

Next morning.

“Ummmmm…”

When I woke up, the first thing I felt was…

“It’s cold!’

It was intensely cold.

I crawled under the covers and shivered.

“Shin-chan are you awake?”

I looked up from the futon to find Rika standing there with a smile on her face.

She had already changed into her casual clothes.

…Or rather, it was a coat even in the room.

“Good morning. Breakfast is already ready, so get dressed.

“Yeah, okay.”

I wriggle under the covers and change my clothes.

I put my face out with a “pfft”.

As I’m about to fold up the futon, I realize.

“Hey…? Someone’s here…?”

The futon I was initially using was curled up in a ball.

“Ngh… pururururu.”

There was a pretty woman with fluffy hair.

She has a rather childish face.

But she was wearing makeup. Heavily. What’s that?

Hmm? Hmm? I feel like I’ve met this person before…somewhere…?

“Breakfast is ready. Come to the kitchen.’

“Oh, yes.”

I go to the kitchen at Rika’s call.

The table is not spread out because the futon is pulled over the table.

I put the rice down in the kitchen and we ate breakfast.

It was toast and ham and eggs.

It was delicious.

“Hey…Rika…”

‘Hm? What?’

‘Um…you know. Who is that woman sleeping over there?”

I pointed at the baby-faced girl.

“That’s my mother, of course.”

“Oh, I see.’

Who else could it be?

She said her mother was in the entertainment business.

“I’m so glad you’re back at dawn. You always sleep till noon, so you won’t wake up.”

“Well, I wanted to say hello.”

“I’ll give him your regards.”

But why?

Why did I look at Rika’s mother and think I have seen her somewhere before…?

I don’t know…

After a while.

I was leaving the apartment with Rika.

She was going to take me to the station.

“By the way, Shin-chan. What are your plans for the winter vacation?”

Rika, who was walking next to me, asked me.

“The rest are overseas.”

“Overseas?”

“Yeah. I’m going to see my mother and father. I’ll spend the rest of my vacation there.”

“I see…”

Rika looks disappointed.

“We’ll see each other next time in the third semester, right?”

“Yes, it’s finally time to start the real thing. Our revenge.”

Oh, I almost forgot, we had a common goal.

The reason I got involved with this fake relationship was to get back at the people who made fun of me.

“I forgot that was the main focus of our relationship.”

“That’s funny, me too.”

We looked at each other and laughed.

“I’ve had a lot of fun these past few days. Thanks, Rika.”

“No, I had a great time with you too.”

We found ourselves at the station already.

Why are we so close to the station?

“You know, Shin-chan. Did you know? Actually, during the year-end and New Year’s holidays, there is no last train.”

“Hee…! Oh, really?”

Eh… So I didn’t have to stay over yesterday!

“Why didn’t you tell me!”

Then Rika’s cheeks turned red and she mumbled quietly.

“I wanted to be with you.”

With that, I couldn’t say anything.

You wanted to be with me, you say?

That’s… I wanted to be with you, too.

“………”

We are silent.

We were too embarrassed to make eye contact with each other.

“We can’t stay like this forever. So I’m going home.”

“Yes, you’re right.”

I went through the ticket gate.

Rika was smiling and waving at me.

“Rika!”

I said to her in a loud voice.

“I look forward to working with you in the third semester too!”

Rika nods strongly and gives me a big wave back.

I turn back and head for the platform.

So far, this is just the prologue.

My school life is about to begin.

I’ve been through a lot, and I’ve had some tough times.

I’m sure I’ll go through a lot at school, too.

But…don’t worry.

I have a reassuring ally named Rika.

I decided to move forward, undaunted.

[Rika’s Point of View]

Rika Matsumoto, after dropping off Shinji Ueda at the station…

Rika returned to her home.

“Shin-chan.”

Tokun, Tokun, her heart was racing.

She was too happy to have stayed overnight with him.

Her heart is still pounding in her chest even now.

Just when she was about to put away the futon…

With a snap, someone grabbed Rika’s leg.

“What is it…, Mom?”

Reaching her hands out like a zombie from the futon, my mother grabbed Rika’s legs.

“Hanya ……? Hey, Shin-chan~?”

Mother murmured in dissatisfaction.

Matsumoto Yamaga.

That’s my own mother’s name.

“He’s gone home.”

“What, ……? Why didn’t you wake me up? Yacchan hasn’t seen him in a long time! I wish I could have said hello to him.”

Yacchan is my mother’s nickname.

She’s now 30 years old, and I want her to stop doing that. Please.

“Shin-chan, you’ve become so handsome when I haven’t seen you for a while.”

“It’s no surprise. He’s already a high school student.”

Yes…that’s right.

It is only natural that Shinji would look at Yamaga and say that they look familiar.

Because Yamaga had met Shinji in their childhood.

They had seen each other many times when Shinji came to Rika’s house to play.

If Yamaga had been awake just now…

“I was about to reveal that I’m the girl he remembers from elementary school.”

“Eh, why are you hiding it from him, Rika-chan?”

“…I can’t tell him. I’m a gal now.”

When Rika came back to this city and met him again at school…

She was sincerely happy.

But she couldn’t reveal her true identity.

“What’s the matter with you?”

“No…I prefer to keep his memories clean…he’ll be disillusioned if he sees me again and I’m like this.”

Rika had a one-sided love for Shinji.

However, she could not reveal that she was Rika.

The girl she used to be was plain, a nerd, and clumsy…

When she moved to a new house, she became the gal she is today because she was an outcast.

Then, she had a fateful reunion at her current school.

But then, she finds herself… looking like this.

She had changed so much that Shinji didn’t even notice.

“I can’t tell Shin-chan the truth if I’m like this…”

That is why Rika made up her mind.

“So, this time, this time…I’m going to tell Shin-chan. I’m going to become beautiful and tell Shin-chan… that I love him!

Rika clenches her fists.

“Aim to quit being a “gyaru”! Then I’m going to win Shin-chan’s heart, and then I’m going to reveal myself to him!”

“It’s a long plan, isn’t it? Well, hang in there~♡”

Rika glanced at her mother.

“That’s why Mom? I’m not going to tell Shin-chan who I am. I won’t even let him see you!”

“Yacchan wants to say hello to Shin-chan.”

“No, you can’t. You’ll be found out.”

Her mother has not changed her appearance in 10 years.

Although he didn’t notice her, he might remember her for some reason.

For example, he might remember by looking at a picture or something…

If possible, she would like to keep it a secret that she’s Rika Kinazato.

The biggest factor in all of this is her mother.

“Okay, I’m going to make sure you don’t tell Shin-chan, okay?”

“Yacchan agreed ♡ “Yes, yes ♡ I’ll definitely keep it 100% secret!”

Rihana said to herself, “I’m worried…”

The prologue was over, and now the real show was about to begin for them.

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