Miyuki Shirogane Learns The Truth

A/N: Just to be clear, I want everyone to know what kind of story you all are getting into. I know the beginning was lighthearted, but we're going to be getting into some serious themes about isolation and psychological trauma from years of working as a slave.

THIS WAS A LIE

THIS IS GOING TO BE A LIGHTHEARTED FUN CELEBRATION OF ONE OF THE MOST UNDERAPPRECIATED BEST GIRLS IN MANGA, EXPLORING FRIENDSHIP, FAMILY, AND ROMANCE.

Anxiety. Fear. Worry. These are not emotions one felt living in the Shinomiya mansion. Everything here was calculated and taken care of. I, myself, was part of the system that ensured these emotions are never felt. Crises that arose were avertly smoothly and quietly. The resources here were as close to limitless as humanly possible.

For Kaguya-sama, most of these negative emotions came from her fretting about her love battle with Miyuki. She endlessly thought and rethought schemes, sent myself and others out on reconnaissance missions, and made last second adjustments when the opportunity arose. When she would go through these episodes, I was always there to comfort her. Or tease her, if I wanted to push her buttons a little. Having repeatedly dealt with Kaguya's absurd levels of fear and stress, I reasoned that I would be well equipped to deal with stress of my own.

It seemed like I was gravely mistaken.

Ai: Will you call me Ai-chan? That's the real me.

I hit send. The Line message went through. Miyuki-kun must have stepped away from his phone, because the read receipt didn't appear immediately. The bright phone screen faintly illuminated my room.

The gravity of my message fell upon me. Did I just ask a boy to call me by name? And not just any boy, the boy Kaguya-sama is in love with. How shameful. What utter lack of propriety.

Miyuki: Ai-chan, huh? You know, I assumed you had told me a false name for Shinomiya's sake. I bet you don't even go to Farris Academy, do you?

He expected this? I smiled. It was fine, we're friends. Perhaps even Miyuki using my name will encourage Kaguya to use his. Although I highly doubt it. Encouraged, I continued.

Ai: I actually go to Shuichin Academy, I'm in 2-A, same as Kaguya-sama.

Miyuki: Wait! That was you!

Miyuki: During the reelection!

It seems that I flustered Miyuki sufficiently enough to cause him to send his texts in multiple messages. How cute.

Ai: Honestly, I was surprised you didn't notice.

Miyuki: well... There was a lot going on at the time... With the reelection and everything...

Ai: My, my. After I confess to you and everything, you can't even remember my face.

Ai: I'm heartbroken.

Ai: How cruel.

Ai: How horrible.

Miyuki: Knock it off!

I smiled, and couldn't help but give a slight laugh. Miyuki Shirogane, fearless leader of our school, righteous and noble, couldn't handle even a little teasing.

Miyuki: I'm sorry I didn't recognize you sooner

Ai: It's okay, it's okay.

Ai: In all honestly, I did my very best to keep my presence hidden from you. I only even met with Kaguya-sama when we were sure nobody else was there.

Miyuki: Well, I'm glad you told me.

I felt myself blush slightly, still a little embarrassed by my brazen action.

Ai: It felt nice to, honestly.

Miyuki: I like the true you, honestly. I much prefer Ai-Chan to Haysaca-chan.

I sighed. It was a nice sentiment, but what did he know of me? What if this Ai-chan was yet another mask? Miyuki's words would be for nothing if all it took for me to be loved was to switch to a different role.

Ai: Oh? And what do you know about Ai-chan, that you'd prefer her over Haysaca-chan?

There was a pause in Shirogane's texts. I took the opportunity to finally change out of my uniform. I threw on a set of soft wool pajamas. Elegant and soft, made of the finest fabrics. The rich truly have mastery over this world. And I requested the sleeves be too long, so I can slip my hands inside when it was too cold.

My phone pinged a minute after I had finished. I grabbed my phone and lied back down on the bed.

Miyuki: I thought about that. You could still be lying to me. But at the kareoke place, you seemed very adamant about showing me your real self. Plus, this you is different?

So he had thought about it.

Ai: Different how?

Miyuki: Looking back, everything Haysaca-chan did was calculated. Every sentence and every piece of body movement served a purpose. It's as if you were acting as the perfect woman.

Miyuki: But just now you said I was heartbroken and called me horrible. I can't think of any reason why you'd do that, except for that you thought it was funny.

I thought about that for a minute. All I wanted to do was make him feel bad, and watch him squirm a little. I was following no orders. I did something because I wanted to.

Ai: I suppose you are right. But that still does not mean you know anything about me.

Miyuki: You see, it means I know you like to be cruel and possibly sadistic. And that's more of a personality that I knew from Haysaca.

Ai: Cruel?

Such a strong word. So many bad connotations. Before he could reply, I added.

Ai: However, I will gladly accept being sadistic.

It's funny how similar Miyuki and Kaguya's minds worked, describing me in the same way. I had never seen two people so perfectly matched yet so far apart.

Miyuki: Very well. Hayasaka Ai-chan has a sadistic sense of humor.

I could approve of that. Kaguya-sama frequently disapproved of my sense of humor. Which of course only reinforced the behavior.

Ai: I see you are astute as ever, Miyuki-kun.

Miyuki: Now if only I could be as clever for this Japanese history paper.

Ah yes. There's a history paper due in two days. Which sadly, is four days fewer than the time it would take for me to build up the motivation to do that. Miyuki, number one in the class, would of course want to do well on it.

Ai: Yes, I finished that a while ago.

Miyuki: No way. You're lying.

Guilty. But it seems we have been talking until 1 am, and I actively avoid doing any homework after the sun has set. Or ever, if I could help it.

Ai: Why yes, I am. I have very little intention of writing that paper. However I know that it's getting late and you should finish yours.

Miyuki: I am suddenly worried about you. But yeah, I really need to finish this a couple other things tonight. I'm glad you're doing okay, and if you ever need a sequel to my funky beats, you know where to find me.

Ai: I'd rather jump into a pit of leeches.

Ai: I'd rather have those leeches breathe fire.

Ai: I'd rather have those flaming leeches burn hotter than magnesium.

Miyuki: Harsh! You said I had much improved!

Ai: A worm that improves itself is still just a worm.

Miyuki: Even harsher!

Earlier today I thought hard about Miyuki's actions and words. About how people function. How people are. Maybe I don't need to change for other people.

I don't know if I believe him yet. But maybe I can try.

Ai: Thank you for today, Miyuki-kun. I will let you finish your work now.

Miyuki: Anytime! Don't stay up too late! Don't end up like me.

I shuddered at the thought. Those deep, imposing dark circles that Kaguya-sama was somehow attracted to. No amount of makeup could ever be able to hide it.

Ai: Never. I would not even think about it.

Ai: Goodnight, Miyuki-kun.

Miyuki: Goodnight, Ai-chan.

I put the phone down. It's been a while since Miyuki-kun and I had such a long conversation. It felt good. I was smiling.

The exhaustion had caught up with me. At some point while talking with Miyuki, I had pulled the covers over myself. And their warm embrace was calling me.

I reached over, grabbed the charger cable, and clicked it into my phone. With no danger of running out of battery, I almost reflexively opened YouTube. My sleepy brain had just enough energy for one final though. Maybe a couple of videos before bed.

A/N: hello again. Texting conversations are really fun to write. Looking at their conversations in there manga, there would normally be a lot more emoji use, which frankly I don't even really know how to use. So see that as artistic license on top of my already ever-growing mountain of artistic license.Thank you to everyone who favorited and reviewed the last chapter! See you in the next one!