Title: Beyond Boundaries

“H-how was it? M-my moment in the spotlight.”

While stuttering, Arina brushed her hair and tried her best to show off her elegance.

I could see that she was dripping with cold sweat while trying her best to act like the venomous tongued Arina. She awkwardly placed her hands on her hips and adopted an arrogant demeanor, glancing at me before quickly looking away.

“It was beautiful.”

I offered her a compliment, trying to hold in my laughter. The gap was massive. The once thorny Arina was blushing and looking embarrassed. She was a completely different person.

As soon as Aki-senpai looked at me, she threw in a tsukkomi.

“Sui-kun. Say something with a bit more depth.”

“If someone’s overly impressed, they’ll reach the ultimate emotion. It’s simple. It’s a unadorned heart of pure gold. Although you might get criticized for being a bit too simple. I’m very impressed.”

“Alright, zero points.”

“Understood…”

Arina, who stood beside me, was glancing between Aki-senpai and I, observing us. One was a senior who was close to her and the other was a stranger. She tried to figure out the relationship between us.

Finally, I couldn’t stand it anymore.

“Arina, let’s get back to work.”

“Oh, uh, sure.”

“Sorry, Aki-senpai. I have student council work.”

“Oh? Got it. See ya later!”

It was a little forced, but I couldn’t stop myself from asking questions. Aki-senpai left us, as if she had guessed something.

I put my armband back on.

Arina was fidgety and restless. Not like I could blame her. She doesn’t know me. I’m just someone close to her other self. That was probably all she knew.

“Sakaki, Sui-kun is fine, right?” Arina muttered.

“Yep.”

“I’m glad. That’s what I thought.”

“Why me?”

“This.”

Arina took out a small notebook.

It was a run-of-the-mill notebook with the name “Hiwa Arina” written on the cover. It looked like a study notebook.

“The other me has been writing down important things for me. I don’t want to show too much, but I can show you your page.”

“That’s kinda embarrassing.”

When I tried taking it in my hand, she pulled it back. “You can’t,” she refused, her cheeks puffing up. Apparently, I wasn’t allowed to touch it. Arina opened her notebook and held it up to my face. The page was about me.

It had detailed information about me, including my name, personality, and relationships. Apparently, in Arina’s eyes, I’m [not a bad guy, but crazy.] She’s not swearing anymore.

But I was also happy.

[This person can be trusted.]

That was written in one of the page’s corners.

Indescribable emotions washed over me. To be honest, my tear glands were about to loosen up. I didn’t even think she thought of me like that.

If you looked closer, you could see other details written on the page.

[An idiot who won’t leave me alone.]

[Was confessed to and got confused.]

[The only one who’s interesting to talk to.]

[Someone who doesn’t make fun of people.]

[Someone who will never abandon or reject you.]

The last sentence stuck with me.

Before I could dwell too much on it, Arina closed the notebook.

“Alright, time’s up.”

“That was pretty interesting. Didn’t know you thought that.”

“I was kinda surprised too. I wasn’t expecting you to be the guy I met in the infirmary. I thought we were dating, but I was relieved to find out that we weren’t.”

She rubbed her nose in a dignified manner.

I then asked her what I always wanted to.

“How do you feel about your other self?”

As I walked, I casually threw it out there. I didn’t want her to think I was serious. I did it in a kinda roundabout way so I didn’t overstep my boundaries.

“The real me.”

“Eh?”

“She’s the real me. The poisonous rose is the real me.”

I didn’t exactly understand her.

Was she referring to her unconscious self? Are you trying to say you’re like a deep sea wish, lonely wandering around in the deep sea, where no light could reach?

“Sorry, I don’t really…”

“I’m the fake. Hiwa Arina’s name is hers.”

“Uhh… so basically, you aren’t the base personality?”

“Right. So you know it too! The word base personality.”

Does this mean that what Akakusa-sensei said was a bit off?

I always assumed that the Arina in front of me was the original one.

“I don’t have any memories before sixth grade. Nothing. It was Arina who taught me about my past. She wrote it down in a notebook for me.”

“Wait a sec. The Arina I know doesn’t seem to have any memories either. It’s like she can’t remember anything before the third grade.”

“I know. But I won’t say.”

“Why not?”

“Because I don’t think Arina would want me to.”

The mystery grew deeper yet again.

We all harbor something black and painful. Even those who claim to be good people, there was always a sore spot. And sometimes it clouds the minds of others. It’s when hidden secrets and facts are conveyed verbally.

So, intruding into people’s secrets comes with responsibility. You get the power to influence someone’s destiny and even control them. You can’t go in with some kind of half-assed attitude, regardless of the merits or demerits regardless of whether that part of your mind is out of the spotlight. Still, those who reach out are ‘serious’.

Did I fall into that category?

“Sui-kun. Are you ready to step into my shoes?”