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Chapter 123: Pretender
🕑 Added 2025-02-14 04:06:02 +0000 UTCRikka Takarada...?
Seeing that name, the real Minami Shouji was momentarily stunned.
She was another heroine from SSSS.GRIDMAN.
And from what he remembered, she had a rather close relationship with Shinjo Akane.
As for the finer details, Minami Shouji wasn't too sure.
He continued reading.
[When you met Rikka Takarada again, her shoulder-length hair had grown long.]
[Yamada Ryo, sensing the mood, had put on her headphones and quietly sipped her coffee on the other side, only occasionally glancing your way with an expressionless face.]
[You were more surprised by Rikka Takarada's sudden arrival, but upon hearing that Shinjo Akane had passed away, your surprise turned into shock.]
[Because you had never imagined that the girl who had been hiding behind her mask the entire time would leave so soon.]
[You comforted Rikka Takarada, whose eyes were red-rimmed, and invited her to sit down.]
[Under your steady presence, she gradually regained her usual composed, nonchalant demeanor. And as she began speaking, you slowly pieced together the entire story.]
The simulation scene transitioned into a flashback.
A café, its warmth enveloping them, soothing Rikka Takarada, who had just attended a funeral.
She stared at the tea before her as if searching for Shinjo Akane's reflection within it.
But, of course, she found nothing.
And so, she looked up and began to speak.
[Minami Shouji remained silent, simply listening.]
[At this moment, rather than an active conversationalist, a quiet listener was probably the best company for Takada Rikka.]
After recounting her past with Shinjou Akane, Takada Rikka naturally moved on to their high school days.
"I'm sure Minami-kun already knows—back when we were students, Akane always asked you about writing."
Takada Rikka stared at the tea in front of her, as if searching for traces of Shinjou Akane within its reflection.
But, of course, she found nothing.
Letting out a soft sigh, she lifted her gaze and spoke.
"...Yes, I remember."
Minami Shouji nodded in acknowledgment.
Those daily writing consultations had been one of the rare moments when Shinjou Akane showed even a fraction of her true self.
Her obsession with writing had even caught Minami Shouji off guard.
After all, she had always given off an air of complete indifference toward everything.
Disinterest meant a lack of expectation.
But when it came to writing, she had never once neglected or ignored it.
"She was so focused on writing because it was tied to the dream she had always pursued."
Takada Rikka exhaled lightly and looked at Minami Shouji.
"Minami-kun, you knew about Akane's love for tokusatsu shows, didn't you?"
"That, I did."
Minami Shouji nodded.
Unlike most girls, Shinjou Akane had an intense passion for tokusatsu.
So much so that she could recite every monster's appearance from the Ultraman series with precision, down to the exact episode they appeared in.
Thinking of this, Minami Shouji tilted his head.
"Sorry, Ryo."
"Hmm?"
Yamada Ryo removed her headphones, amber eyes blinking lazily as she looked over.
"It's nothing, just me talking to myself."
Having a current girlfriend yet still being able to clearly remember everything about his ex—this made Minami feel like he owed Yamada Ryo an apology.
He turned back around. "Let's continue."
"Mm."
Takarada Rikka nodded.
"Becoming a tokusatsu director and one day writing a script that truly belonged to her—that had always been her dream."
So that's how it was.
It was only now, hearing these words, that Minami Shouji finally understood.
Why someone who had always carefully maintained her façade had chosen to interact with him.
Why, despite her initial hostility toward him, she had still been willing to lower herself and enter a fake 'boyfriend and girlfriend' relationship with him.
So, it had all been because of this.
But—
"Although it's regrettable and unfortunate, this has nothing to do with me anymore."
Minami Shouji shook his head as he spoke.
Yes.
It had nothing to do with him anymore.
His words sounded cold, but they were true.
He had once given his heart completely to that lavender-haired girl.
But in response to his sincere devotion—
That lavender-haired girl had chosen to reject him.
She had never once revealed her true self to him, nor had she ever truly smiled in his presence.
Her interactions with him had merely been to make use of his writing skills, nothing more.
He had never truly entered her heart.
However—
"Are you really so certain that's the truth, Minami?"
Takarada Rikka asked softly.
She gazed at him with her deep sapphire eyes.
Her expression was the same as the last time he had seen her at Shuka High—full of sorrow.
She slowly began to recount what had happened to Shinjo Akane over the years.
[After graduating from Shuka High, Shinjo Akane was accepted into one of Japan's top universities, entering the film studies program within its prestigious arts department—ranking just behind you.]
[There, she continued to push forward, immersing herself in learning everything about screenwriting for film.]
"I saw Akane a few times after we graduated."
"But by then, she wasn't as lively and full of energy as she had been in high school."
Takarada Rikka fell into reminiscence.
University coursework was tedious and grueling.
And for someone as single-minded as Shinjo Akane, who had thrown herself completely into tokusatsu screenwriting, it was even more so.
Though she still smiled and acted the same as always—
As her friend, Takarada Rikka could sense the deep exhaustion that radiated from within her.
When a person is exhausted, they tend to speak more.
And back then, the person Shinjo Akane spoke about the most… was Minami Shouji.
Every time she brought up their high school days and mentioned his name—
The weariness in her voice would momentarily fade, as if she had found some renewed strength.
Soon enough, after officially graduating, Shinjo Akane entered the film industry.
Her work became increasingly demanding.
As a result, Takarada Rikka saw less and less of her.
By the time they finally met again—
It was already too late.
She had taken her own life by overdosing on medication at home.
While sorting through her belongings—
Takarada Rikka discovered countless stacks of scripts and drafts. Piled up, collecting dust. Rejected, ignored.
And in that moment, she finally understood the mental burden Shinjo Akane had been carrying all those years.
"This isn't your fault, Rikka-san."
Minami Shouji spoke softly, trying to comfort Takarada Rikka, whose eyes had begun to glisten with fresh tears.
He could more or less understand what had happened next.
The Japanese film industry was nothing like its literary world—talent and skill alone were far from enough.
Without the right mentors, without the proper connections, it was nearly impossible to make it—unless one's talent was so overwhelming that they could single-handedly change the game, like his simulated self had in a previous scenario.
For a girl with dreams of tokusatsu, this industry was nothing more than a mirage, a fleeting bubble that would vanish with the slightest disturbance.
Perhaps, unable to accept that reality—
The girl who had always hidden behind an elaborate mask had chosen to leave the world in this way.
"No, this is my fault."
Takarada Rikka let out a heavy sigh. She was completely drained.
"If I had tried harder back then, if I had put more effort into convincing you, maybe the two of you would've stayed together. Maybe Akane wouldn't have..."
"This had nothing to do with me or Shinjo. And of course, Rikka-san, it had little to do with you either. It was her own choice."
Minami Shouji stood up, patting Yamada Ryo's head, signaling her to wait outside the café.
Though usually carefree, she was unexpectedly obedient this time, nodding before stepping out.
"No, it does matter. Every time I spoke with Akane, whenever we talked about you, she would always show… something different."
Almost every single time Shinjo Akane was mentioned in their conversations—
That girl, who had always been so skilled at masking her emotions, would reveal a trace of regret.
As if even her carefully crafted smile carried a faint shadow of sorrow.
"That's just your assumption."
Minami Shouji turned his gaze toward the café's glass window.
Outside, people continued walking by.
The warmth inside, mixed with the cold air outside, blurred the glass, distorting the scenery beyond.
"It's not just an assumption! It's the truth!"
Takarada Rikka's emotions suddenly flared.
As if recalling something, she spoke up.
"Among Akane's belongings, on her phone, there was an unsent message—addressed to you. She never forgot about you!"
Hearing this—
Her sorrow, her grief, all seemed to freeze in place.
It was the kind of sadness that had reached a point where tears could no longer fall.
Silently, she pulled out a phone with a cracked screen.
Displayed on it was a draft of an unsent message.
A blank message.
With no content.
But the recipient's name—
Was Minami Shouji.
[No one could ever know what Shinjo Akane was feeling as she typed out that final message before her death.]
[Just as no one could truly understand Takarada Rikka's pain as she slumped over the table, weeping uncontrollably afterward.]
[You simply stared at that empty, unsent message, letting out a soft sigh.]
[Perhaps, back in your high school days, you really had unknowingly touched her heart, only for her to conceal it behind her usual façade.]
[Perhaps she had already fallen for you long ago.]
[Or perhaps, this was all just Takarada Rikka's wishful thinking.]
[That unfinished, unsent message could have just been a meaningless, last-minute impulse.]
[And yet, in the final tokusatsu script she left behind, there was a particular line of dialogue.]
[It was spoken by a villain, who had been consumed by despair and transformed into a monster, facing the hero who had come to defeat them.]
["There was once someone who truly loved me. But because of my own ignorance, foolishness, and arrogance… I lost them forever."]
But—
"It's too late to talk about this now."
After making sure Takarada Rikka had calmed down, Minami Shouji spoke.
"Maybe it is. Maybe it's too late. But Minami-kun, do you really believe… that you never once touched Akane's heart?"
Standing at the doorway, Takarada Rikka repeated the same words she had said years ago.
And that was the last thing she ever said to him.
Minami Shouji and Yamada Ryo stood at the café's entrance, watching her leave.
Above them, storm clouds gathered.
The dusk-tinted clouds were tinged with the color of deep, crimson-red.
[You later married Yamada Ryo, and your life together was filled with happiness.]
[Yet, in the midst of that happiness, you would occasionally think of her.]
[The girl who had always hidden her true self from others.]
[Had she truly, at some point, in some fleeting moment… fallen for you?]
[If that blank message had really been sent, what would it have said?]
[You didn't know. Perhaps you never would.]
[You would never see her again.]
[Simulation complete.]
Minami remained silent for a long time, staring at the results of the simulation.
After a while, he slowly came back to his senses.
Silently, he stood up.
Then, he sat back down.
Unconsciously, he ran a hand through his hair.
For some reason, his fingers clenched into a tight fist.
To any observer, he must have looked restless, as if caught between frustration and resignation.
Finally, he let out a long, deep sigh.
Women—They were such a hassle.
Yes.
That was Minami's honest thought at this moment.
Even though she had already fallen for him, she still acted as if she didn't care.
Even though she was interested, she kept pushing him away!
Since she already had him—why couldn't she just hold on tight?
She was given the chance, but she didn't take it!
Watching this simulation play out, Minami Shouji suddenly felt as though he were looking at his own short story, The Girl Hidden Within the Azalea Fields.
Shinjo Akane was exactly like the male protagonist in that story!
She had the chance to seize everything—
And yet, she let it all slip away!
In the end, all she could do was let out a powerless sigh, watching as things spiraled further out of control.
At the core of it all...
Why did Shinjo Akane resist other people's feelings so much? Why did she refuse to sincerely accept them, even if only to act the part?
Why did she wear a fake mask, hiding her true emotions deep within?
What was she really hiding?
Minami Shouji let out a long sigh and sat back down.
If there was one thing in this simulation that satisfied him, it was the fact that—
In the end, Shinjo Akane still couldn't help but fall for him.
This proved one thing: no woman could truly resist the charm of a perfect Tokyo man like himself.
Even a woman like Shinjo Akane, who seemed indifferent to everything, was no exception.
"Ah… as expected of me."
Minami Shouji sighed in admiration of himself.
[Your narcissism stat has slightly increased. Current Level: LV3.]
