Chapter 55

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Volume 1: First Performance: A Tragic Love Story Of A Young Lady And Spring Cherry Blossoms

Episode 55: The Cross-Dressing Boy Watches His Rival’s Growth

After that, the school day ended without incident, and I returned home.

While I was preparing dinner as usual… the familiar sound of the doorbell echoed through the room, announcing the arrival of a visitor.

I wiped my hands with a towel and headed to the entrance to greet the guest.

When I opened the door with a click, there, as expected, was Akane.

When our eyes met, Akane smiled warmly and raised her hand in greeting.

“Hey there.”

From the looks of it, she didn’t seem too hung up on what happened yesterday.

Well, she is an actress, so it’s possible she’s just putting on an act to hide her true feelings.

“Hm? Why are you staring at my face? Do I have something on it?”

“No, it’s nothing. I was just thinking that it’s good to see you looking well.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Akane chuckled softly, and I gestured for her to come inside.

“Well, come on in. I was making hamburg steak today, the one you said you liked before.”

“Really? Hamburg steak? Awesome! I can’t wait to eat a lot——Actually, no. Sorry, I didn’t come here to eat today.”

“Huh?”

For a moment, her expression softened, but then Akane suddenly turned serious.

I couldn’t help but tilt my head in confusion at the change in her demeanor.

“What’s wrong? Did something… happen?”

Of course, I knew about the incident yesterday when Akane was kidnapped by Okunozaka and her followers.

Judging by Akane’s strange behavior right now, it’s possible that what happened is still weighing on her mind.

In order to find out the truth, I decided to casually ask her directly.

“Did something unpleasant happen at school? Is it about the harassment you always talk about?”

“…No, it’s not that. I’m not feeling down or anything. It’s just… I’ve been reflecting on everything that’s happened today. And in doing so, I’ve realized a lot of things.”

“Realized… things?”

“Yeah.”

She exhaled softly and then, for the first time, I saw a gentle smile on Akane’s face—one I’d never seen before.

“When I think back on it, I’ve been really immature. Self-centered, arrogant, always picking fights with everyone. I could have handled things more smoothly, but instead, I kept making bad decisions. Yesterday’s events made me realize just how childish and weak I really am.”

“…”

“Yesterday, I was about to be put through hell by those bullies. However, in my desperate situation, I was saved by someone I always looked down on. Honestly, it’s so pathetic. The person I hated most ended up having to clean up my mess.”

After saying that and taking a breath, Akane glared at me.

“You’re a bad person too. You’ve been lying to me and deceiving me all this time.”

“….Huh? Eh, uh, a lie? What exactly do you mean by a lie….?”

“Did you really think you could fool me? Don’t underestimate me!”

‥‥.

‥‥‥‥.

……Huh? What? Ah, Akane, did you… figure out… my true identity?

Did she realize that I’m Kaede Kisaragi!?

As I stood there, my mind in confusion, Akane placed her hands on her hips and pouted.

“Why don’t you just be honest and confess already? Fuuma.”

“No, Wait, hold on… Seriously? Are you really saying that!? I didn’t think I ever let anything slip in front of you!?”

“That’s right. You didn’t show any slip up. The one who did was… Kaede Kisaragi.”

So it was… that incident yesterday, wasn’t it…?

In my anger, I accidentally reverted to my natural self and ended up yelling at Okunozaka and the others in a masculine voice.

When I reached the warehouse, I even called her “Akane” instead of “Tsukishiro-san” without thinking.

Looking back, yesterday was full of mistakes.

I sighed, raised my hands in defeat, and shook my head.

“I get it. You win, Akane. You figured it out—Kaede Kisaragi is actually――――――”

“Fufu, that’s right, I got it after all! So, Kaede Kisaragi is…. your twin sister, isn’t she!!? You can’t fool these eyes of mine!!”

“Yes, Kaede Kisaragi is my twin sister――――wait, what?”

“You and that girl look so much alike, with the same face and the same voice. It can’t be anything else, right?”

The twintail idiot answered with a proud and confident look on her face.

Hmm, she’s arrived at a bizarre and completely unexpected conclusion.

She came very close to discovering my true identity…but she ended up with a completely different answer.

With a twitching face, I nodded and opened my mouth.

“…Yes. Kaede Kisaragi is my twin sister…”

“That’s right!! As expected of me!! I’m amazed at my own detective skills!! With my intelligence, it wouldn’t be surprising if I got an offer to play detective role!!”

I was surprised, thinking that she had discovered my true identity…

“Well, I should get going. I won’t be coming here again.”

With that, she turned on her heel, but then glanced back at me over her shoulder.

“This whole experience made me realize just how immature I am. How much I’ve been relying on you, Fuuma. So… today, I’m breaking free from that dependency. I won’t see you again until I’ve become an actress I can be satisfied with.”

“…I see.”

“I’ll keep fighting until I become a great actress with enough skill to captivate you and drag you onto the stage. As a preliminary battle, I’ll start by taking down Kaede Kisaragi. So——–Fuuma, you absolutely have to come see the stage performance the day after tomorrow. It’s a promise.”

After leaving those words, she winked and walked away.

Her steps look really different from before.

She no longer saw me as her rival. Now, she saw Kaede Kisaragi as her competition.

….Well, they’re both me, but that’s beside the point.

What’s important is that she’s taken a new step forward to challenge the other me, whom she sees as a separate person.

Up until now, she had said that she had no interest in any other actors, but for the first time, she’s looking beyond me to other actors.

This change in perspective will likely become an experience and a source of nourishment that will greatly improve her abilities in the future.

Recognizing the talents of those around her and broadening her own horizons.

This will eventually help her make new friends as well.

“It feels like I’m watching my own child leave the nest.”

As Fuuma Yanagisawa, I probably won’t be seeing much of her for a long time.

For some reason, that thought made me feel…. both very lonely and very happy.