16
I’ve never told anyone this, but I have a secret complex.
To some people, it might seem like a trivial worry that they could just laugh off.
But for me, it’s a fairly big deal that sometimes weighs on my mind.
It’s something that’s inseparable from me, something that’s been with me since I was born, something that proves that I am who I am.
Misaka Mio.
I felt an indescribable sense of guilt about my own last name and first name, which were written with four kanji characters.
I love and respect my parents.
I don’t resent them. I’m sure there are many people all over the country with the same name as me.
I don’t think it’s an especially unusual name.
“But there are times when I want to say it.
I’ve always wanted to ask, why did you give me this name?
Honestly, I’ve thought for a long time that I don’t live up to it.
My name has two characters that mean beautiful.
But I’ve never thought I had the looks to match.
Big glasses and pigtails.
That’s the face I’ve been used to since elementary school.
I’ve never really cared about clothes. I thought as long as I was clean, it was fine.
Of course, when I go out with Kou-kun, I try to choose something decent, but even then, when I go out in my favorite clothes, I always end up in something plain.
I was never a confident girl who could walk with her head held high.
Basically, I’m a plain Jane through and through.
Ajimiko who has nothing to do with being in the spotlight or getting attention.
That’s Misaka Mio. A girl who could be anywhere, but is less than ordinary.
But other than my name, I was never dissatisfied with who I was.
I didn’t want to stand out, and I had Kou-kun.
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As long as I had him, that was enough for me.
Even if no one else paid attention to me, if there was someone who would hold my hand and be by my side, that was enough for me.
…Or so I thought.
“Is that so?”
Before I knew it, I was muttering to myself.
“Yes, of course! Boys want the girls they like to be pretty!”
Even though she could have ignored me, my aunt was sharp.
Or rather, in this case, should I say she had sharp ears?…Oh well, it doesn’t matter.
Either way, she had heard me.
At this point, there was no escape for me.
…Well, to be honest, I don’t think I intended to run away.
(If I can be even a little bit prettier, Kou-kun will be happy.)
At the very least, I don’t think he’d be disappointed.
I just wanted to show Kou-kun that I was a good girlfriend, that I had something good about me.
I didn’t know I had such pride as a girl until this moment, but for some reason, it didn’t feel bad.
“So, what is it?”
“That’s right, it has to be!”
My aunt was getting excited and talking a mile a minute.
I thought to myself that she was pretty energetic for it being so late at night, but it seemed her energy wasn’t just in her words.
“Come on, let’s get you changed! It’s okay, you can leave everything to me!”
“Ah…”
My aunt grabbed my hand and pulled me into the house before I knew what was happening.
“Um, I was going to do some studying for tomorrow…”
“It’s okay, it’s okay! Mio-chan is smart, so you’ll be fine!”
…What’s her basis for saying that?
I can’t fathom where my aunt gets her confidence when she herself isn’t confident.
“I’ve always thought it was such a waste. You could definitely shine if you just polished yourself, but you don’t even try. It’s been driving me crazy, but this is the perfect opportunity. It’s your chance to show yourself off to all sorts of people!”
My aunt is breathing hard, but I don’t really care about anyone else.
(I just want him to think I’m pretty…)
Just one person.
If he thinks I’m pretty, then I, we…
“Surely, we can stay together after this.”
If he likes me more, then we can keep going together.