Monologue (⚠️ Spoiler Warning)

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"Please... 143, 143..."

I gripped my lucky charm. This was the prestigious high school I had always wanted to attend.

My first choice, for someone like me whose only merit was studying.

"Ha... I... I did it...!!"

"I have to... tell Mom, too."

All that hard work paid off.

I was so happy.

I felt like screaming because I passed, but of course, I didn't have that kind of courage.

And just as I was about to head home quickly, I saw it.

"...Eh."

"...Who is that person...?"

I fell in love at first sight.

I heard that person passed too.

I felt a sense of relief.

At the same time, I felt a sense of crisis.

"...I can't stay like this."

"I want to become cute and have them look at me."

Until then, I had always given up on things like romance.

I have no special merits, I'm not cute, and surely even in high school...

"...Am I going to end up as the plain old me again?"

...No. This time, I don't want to give up.

I'm going to change. Right here.

Since then, I've worked hard on all sorts of things for you.

Relying on social media for recommended hairstyles and how to talk to people.

I even practiced hard at makeup, which I had never done before.

Everything was a first for me, and at first, I didn't really get it.

I'd mess up the timing of applying cosmetics, and when I finished my makeup, I'd suddenly look like an alien.

I spent the whole spring break practicing.

But I don't regret it.

Time spent for you. When I thought of it that way, strangely, it didn't feel like a burden.

The days passed steadily, and it was already the day of the entrance ceremony.

"Yeah, I... I can do this."

I thought a "high school debut" had nothing to do with me.

But this is the only way.

The plain version of me won't be noticed by anyone. I know that.

As expected, it was scary at first.

I was bad at talking to people.

I summoned my courage and acted energetically.

It might have seemed awkward.

But unexpectedly, everyone accepted me—no, the "gyaru" me—kindly.

I fit into the class circle so easily, it was unthinkable compared to my life until now.

I thought if things kept going like this...

But still, when I see you, I get so nervous.

From the very beginning, I chose the wrong way to talk to you, the wrong distance.

Looking down on you, like that.

Since then, I've always been making fun of you, saying mean things.

I actually want to be kind. But it's too late to change now.

Because to you, I'm already just a sassy gyaru.

Even so, the fact that we have a connection makes me happy.

I even added a rule that we'd compete and the loser has to do what the winner says.

There were times I felt like vomiting at my own brazenness.

But that's who "Azusa" is now.

If I show weakness, you might hate me.

...While saying that, my heart still aches a little sometimes.

Do people like the "gyaru" me, or do they like the real me?

I'm scared, but at the same time, I want my true self to be recognized.

I wonder if you'll understand.

This might be a one-sided love.

...But.

Even so.

I love you.

For now, it's enough if you just look at the fake me.

...But, please. Someday.

Someday, please notice the real me.