The Lying Counselor’s Eloquent Reasoning - Chapter 46
“… happened at school today.”
Now, a few hours later, at the usual place. Takahiko Uroma’s Counseling Room. Tomomi was unusually recounting the events of today’s lunch break to Uroma. Ordinarily, she would not discuss what happened at school with this man.
“After all, I still think that I shouldn’t upload my face photo on the Internet unnecessarily. But Akane said that such things are common, and apparently everyone else is doing it too… What do you think, doctor?”
“Of course, you are right, Tomomi. An ordinary person, who is not a celebrity or anything like that, spreading selfies and personal information on social networking sites is detrimental and not beneficial.”
Uroma also fully supported Tomomi’s opinion, which was a rarity today. Under regular circumstances, she would have been snickered at for her twisted metaphors and insights.
“What’s wrong with you today, doctor? You sounded like a decent person.”
“Haha. What are you talking about, Tomomi, after asking the question yourself? As an adult, I was merely expressing my opinion in a very sensible manner.”
At last, Uroma replied with a snicker, as he always did.
“Well, there’s likely only one reason you think it’s a bad idea, Tomomi. That is, if you spread your personal information on the Internet, there is a possibility that some unscrupulous person might catch your attention and involve you in a crime.”
“That’s true, I suppose. There have been a number of such incidents on the news lately, haven’t there? Some of them are thugs who have murdered many girls they met on the Internet.”
“That’s right. It is absolutely horrible. But actually, besides being involved in crimes, there’s another significant risk associated with SNS. In particular, people who upload selfies that have been heavily modified with the functions of apps should be cautious.”
“Oh, what’s that?”
“If you keep repeating such things, you will gradually turn into an alien.”
Uroma grinned meaningfully. She wondered what he meant by an alien. She was unsure.
Then a client showed up in the counseling room. She seemed to be a young woman, but her face was not visible at all since she was wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and a mask. Her clothes were the average youth fashion; a flowered tunic with seven-minute sleeves, denim Sabrina pants, and mules. She had long, brown dyed hair. Her figure was rather thin.
The woman was silent and seemed unsettled right after she stepped into the room.
“Welcome. This way, please, take a seat.” Uroma pointed to a folding chair that conveniently appeared in front of her while he was sitting at his desk, and the woman settled down on it.
“U-Um, I’m trying to convince my… parents, but I have no idea what to do.”
When she finally opened her mouth, she spoke in an incomprehensible way. Through the mask, her voice sounded muffled.
“I see. Something your parents are against, and that’s distressing you, isn’t it?”
“Yes. My parents are quite self-centered and never listen to me at all. Even though I told them I would provide the money.”
“Money?”
“I got a part-time job and saved it.”
“Oh, you have a part-time job… Excuse me, but how old are you? You seem pretty young to me.”
“Seventeen.”
“So you’re the same age as that girl over there, the chore worker.”
Uroma gestured at Tomomi, who was standing nearby. The girl, too, lifted her head and looked at Tomomi – and then, “Huh!” she exclaimed in surprise.
“Ah, Ayasaki? Why??”
Somehow, she seemed to know Tomomi.
And from her voice, Tomomi finally realized who the girl was.
“Oh, could it be you, Tsubaki? We were in the same class in the third year of junior high school, right?”
Indeed, she was one of Tomomi’s former classmates. They must be attending different high schools now.
“Tsubaki? Is that your name?”
“Y-Yes… My name is Tsubaki Moeka.” Moeka faced down again and awkwardly replied to Uroma.
“I understand. Well, you two young people have just been reunited by fate. Why don’t you take off your mask and sunglasses and reveal your face to Tomomi?”
“N-No way! I can’t show my face like this!”
Moeka instantly grabbed the brim of her hat with both hands and pulled it down, making herself shrink.
“Your face like this… what happened to you, Tsubaki?”
Tomomi tilted her head at her reaction. Yes, according to Tomomi’s memory, Moeka was supposed to have a fairly well-defined face.
“Did you get a scar or a burn on your face, by any chance? Is that what’s bothering you, Tsubaki?”
Tomomi became somewhat worried and approached Moeka, but she shrunk back and silently shook her body to the side to deny it.
“I-I am extremely ugly. I don’t have a face like yours, Ayasaki.”
“What are you talking about?”
She was astonished. She wasn’t even ugly at all.