After school, I was walking home along the familiar school route with Sakasegawa-kun.
Along the way, he explained how he figured out I was Hoshizuki Kaguya.
"When I first heard your voice, it felt strangely nostalgic," he said.
Hearing that made my chest feel warm.
"You know, 'Himeji' and 'Kaguyahime,' plus the 'starry moonlit night' in your name—it all connects to 'Hoshizuki,' right?"
He noticed the little wordplay I'd come up with back in middle school.
"And we both love strawberries…"
Because we shared the same silly tastes.
Who would have thought this voice—always the part of me that never matched my appearance—would be the very thing that brought us together?
I used to hate it, but now I felt grateful.
It tickled me that he remembered something so small about the name I'd chosen myself.
And finally, he pointed to the keychain dangling from my bag.
Chii-chan.
The mascot character V drew just for me.
Whenever I got discouraging comments during a stream or messed up in real life, he would post little manga panels featuring this character to cheer me up.
Looking at Chii-chan always gave me strength.
I loved it so much that I turned it into a keychain so I could carry it everywhere.
A precious memory that only V and I shared.
I never really doubted it, but seeing the keychain made me completely certain: Sakasegawa-kun really was V-san.
(By the way, I also secretly made a stuffed toy of another character he drew—Shichisan—and I sleep with it every night. I'm keeping that one a secret for now…)
"So, here's the main question. Himeji-san, you speak perfectly normally when you're streaming as a VTuber. So why is it so hard for you in real life?"
"Well… that's because… I'm tall, and I have sharp eyes… I didn't want to be like this. I wanted to be small and cute… That's why I started being a VTuber. If I'm Kaguya, I'm not really 'me'… so maybe I could talk freely…?"
I told him honestly.
Then Sakasegawa-kun's eyes lit up as if he'd just had an idea.
The next second, he grabbed my hand and started running.
W-wait! We're holding hands!?
Where are we even going?!
○ ●
He brought me to a cosmetics shop.
I'd come to a place like this once before with my older sister, but the memories weren't good.
Pushy saleswomen would swarm around me, doing my makeup so heavily that I ended up looking like an older woman—harsh and unnatural.
Since then, I'd avoided cosmetics shops completely.
"Okay, here we go. Close your eyes…"
"…Y-Yes!"
But… if it's Sakasegawa-kun… maybe it's okay to trust him.
"Himeji-san has beautiful, clear skin, so a primer should be enough!"
"B-beautiful…?"
"Yes! It's really beautiful."
"…Ugh…"
Hearing him say it so close made my face burn.
Embarrassing… but happy.
"It turned out so cute!"
"Squeak… squeaky… so tight…!"
Sakasegawa-kun explained every step carefully while applying my makeup.
Honestly… I couldn't really follow what he was saying anymore.
"Himeji-san's eyelashes are so long and beautiful they already look like falsies!"
"Sho, shodeshuka…"
My head suddenly felt hot, and everything after that became a blur.
"Himeji-san, open your eyes?"
His voice brought me back.
I opened my eyes and looked in the mirror.
A stranger stared back.
It took several seconds to realize… that was me.
"Wow… is that really me?! So cute!"
Right in front of me was the person I'd always dreamed of being—the one I thought I could never become.
I never compliment myself, but right now… I genuinely thought I was adorable.
"Amazing, you're amazing, Sakasegawa-kun! It's like I'm not myself!"
"I'm not that great at all… I still have a long way to go compared to real pros. I just took the incredible potential you already have and pointed it in a different direction."
He's so humble, but that's definitely not true!
I had to tell him, so the words came faster than usual.
"No! That's absolutely not true! It's amazing! My own makeup never turns out like this, and even when I went to a beauty counter, it wasn't this good!"
"Haha… you're exaggerating."
"Ugh… it's the truth…"
"By the way, Himeji-san… you're speaking completely normally now, aren't you?"
I suddenly realized—I was talking just like I do when I stream.
"Oh, you're right! Maybe because the makeup makes me feel like someone else? It feels like I'm speaking as V, not as myself."
"I thought so! I was hoping that would happen."
"This is the first time I've ever felt this way. I feel… reborn!"
Ahh… how many times is Sakasegawa-kun going to save me?
That was when I finally understood the feeling that had been growing inside my chest.
Yes… this is…
"Thank you, Sakasegawa-kun."
This is… love.
○ ●
"Sorry, but we have a date right now!"
"H-Himeji-san?!"
"Sakasegawa-kun, let's go!"
A beauty consultant had cornered Sakasegawa-kun, so I stepped in to rescue him.
It's nothing compared to everything he's done for me, but… I want to repay him little by little like this.
Also… I impulsively grabbed his hand, but was that too sudden?
It's fine.
He held my hand earlier too, so this is just returning the favor.
When I thought about how I wanted him to notice me, my body moved on its own.
Ugh… my face is burning. It must be bright red right now.
I just had makeup done—please don't let it be ruined…
Since I'm walking ahead of him, maybe he doesn't notice… I hope.
After that, I dragged him through the classic after-school date plan I'd seen online ages ago.
We went to clothing stores so I could learn his tastes, took purikura photos to keep the memory forever, and walked side by side eating crepes…
This is a date, right? Right? Right?!
I was secretly savoring the joy, thinking "mufufu~."
Then someone called Sakasegawa-kun's name.
We turned around.
○ ●
Behind us stood the two delinquents from yesterday, plus a boy who looked like their leader—bigger than the other two.
Sakasegawa-kun quickly took care of the situation again.
The three of them explained why they'd become delinquents.
It all came from deep insecurities.
I believe no one is born bad.
Over time, through their environment and experiences, people slowly become distorted.
Just like me.
I wanted to help them.
But there was nothing I could do alone.
If it's Sakasegawa-kun, though…
"Sakasegawa-kun… could you do makeup for everyone…?"
"Hmm? …Ah, right!"
I knew he could help them, so I suggested it.
○ ●
"Amazing!" "This is us?!" "We…!?"
My plan was a huge success!
"You can change your appearance like this, but first you have to learn to love yourself. Enhance the things you like, accept the things you don't because they're part of you, and don't give up—think about how to improve. If you keep going, both your appearance and your heart will grow little by little. Then you'll definitely become popular guys, right? Well… maybe it's not very convincing coming from me… haha."
Even though he wasn't speaking to me directly, I felt moved too.
Just like he said—I want to grow little by little as well.
The three of them decided to turn over a new leaf.
I'm so glad.
But really… Sakasegawa-kun is incredible.
Any family who threw away someone this amazing must have no sense at all.
"Phew, I'm glad the three of them aren't delinquents anymore. Oh, it's already dark! Should we head home?"
Eh? It's already this late?!
I missed my strawberry donuts…
I wanted to do so many more things with him…
"Let's hang out again next time, just the two of us, and save the strawberry donuts for then!"
We're going out again?! Yes!
Maybe it's better I didn't eat them today…
Tomorrow I'll see him at school again.
So many happy things!
I'll never forget today, the day I spent with Sakasegawa-kun.
I hope these wonderful memories keep piling up, little by little.
Wishing for that, I walked home humming a tune, this was something very unlike me.