That was unexpected. Also, her words are a bit difficult to understand immediately.
I slowly organize my thoughts and ask about the things I’m curious about.
「Seniors at work, that means… Could it be that they’re giving you a lot of power harassment…?」
「N-No, it’s not like that! …It’s like, it’s painful to be compared. Even when I’m praised, it’s like, “As expected of Mr./Ms. so-and-so’s daughter” …I hate that kind of thing.」
…I’m embarrassed. I feel a little ashamed of myself for asking something so off the mark, and I repeat her words in my mind.
Being compared, huh. I don’t know much about her parents, but I’ve at least heard their names.
Sophia is their daughter. …If they work in similar industries, I guess there are times when she’s compared to them.
Thinking back to the conversation during lunch break in the classroom, it’s true that Sophia seemed to lose her energy after she was compared to her parents.
…Now that I’ve heard her story, I have to say something.
But, what words can I say to cheer Sophia up?
I want to share her pain, but honestly… even though I can empathize with her feelings, I can’t feel the same way.
In such a half-hearted state, I probably can’t say anything that will resonate with Sophia.
But if I leave it like this, I’ll end up just listening to her, even though I said I would.
W-What should I do?
「N-No, you don’t have to make a face like it’s the end of the world. …It’s just that I’m overthinking things.」
「T-That… might be true, but.」
Ah, I messed up. I wanted to say something, so I just replied without thinking.
I immediately tried to deny it, but Sophia burst out laughing.
「You’re… bad at lying, aren’t you?」
「…I don’t think so.」
「It’s okay, I’m not angry. …Actually, I think you’re right, I’m overthinking it. But, I can’t help it.」
Sophia let out a small sigh and rested her elbows on the table.
…She says she knows it herself, but she’s worried enough that it can’t be helped, so my reply earlier was definitely a mistake. As I was thinking about apologizing for that, Sophia starts muttering.
「That’s why I didn’t go to a school with a performing arts department. My parents went to the same school, and their grades weren’t that great, but I’m smart. See, don’t you think that’s a clear differentiation?」
「…Well.」
Certainly, that might be true, but… I wonder if it really matters unless she specifically appeals to it in her work.
「Ah, did you just think, “That doesn’t really matter, does it?”」
「…No, I didn’t think that.」
「Ah, you looked away. You’re so easy to read, really. …Well, that’s true, but I couldn’t think of many ways to differentiate myself, you know. I look like my mother, and I’m always praised for being just like her, a reincarnation, and all that.」
「I see…」
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…It’s true, I did feel that Sophia and her mother look quite alike.
Could it be that because they’re in the same profession, she’s being compared to her mother even more as a daughter…? As I was thinking this, Sophia narrowed her eyes playfully.
「That’s right. Because I’m doing the same thing as my mother, I understand that I’m being seen as her daughter even more, but I’m competitive. I don’t want to be “like my mother”, I want to be thought of as “better than my mother”.」
「Could you please stop having a conversation with my inner voice…?」
「You’re so easy to read. It’s not my fault.」
Sophia giggles.
I’ve been incredibly rude, so there’s no point in trying to make excuses now.
Sophia was laughing heartily. …I was completely being played by Sophia, but it gave me time to think, and I came up with something I wanted to say.
「What Sophia said earlier… Well, I did think that way too. I’ve never had a similar experience, so… I’m sorry I couldn’t really empathize with you.」
「…Yeah. I’m sorry too for consulting you about something so troublesome. But, I’m glad I was able to talk to you about it. It was a bit hard to talk to my parents or my friends about it.」
「Your friends too?」
「Well, yeah. I feel like they don’t want to shatter their ideal image of Sophia.」
The ideal Sophia, huh.
I recall the Sophia in the magazine that Totsuka and the others brought.
That’s probably a Sophia I don’t know. The ideal Sophia that Sophia’s fans see.
But, Totsuka and the others, who deliberately brought the magazine and compared it to the real Sophia──
「…I felt like Totsuka and the others were supporting Sophia as a friend. Unlike your fans, I think they’ve seen various sides of you and become your friends. I think… it’s okay to talk to them.」
「I see, I hope so.」
She seems anxious… Well, I’ve only seen the superficial aspects of Totsuka and the others’ relationship with Sophia. To begin with, my words probably don’t have much weight coming from someone like me who doesn’t even have a single friend.
Besides, I think it’s fine if Sophia doesn’t talk about it if she’s worried about it.
But, since she confided in me, I need to tell her what I think.
I was nervous and embarrassed, but I felt like I would regret it if I didn’t say it now.
「Sophia.」
「…What?」
When I call her name again, she tilts her head, seemingly a little puzzled by my demeanor.
「I didn’t decide to become your fiancé because of your parents.」
「I know. It’s because I have big breasts and twintails, right?」
「I-It’s not like that!」
When I reply loudly to Sophia’s teasing, she laughs happily.
She’s completely back to her usual self, so I guess she was just a little unsettled.
So, maybe I don’t need to worry about it that much anymore, but I tell her what I was thinking.