At first, let me confirm you that this is my delusion.

Are you home?

Yeah.

Eh?

Welcome home.

I wasn't aiming to become a pro or anything.

But thinking about it, I've always liked drawing simple drawings.

Main character

My drawings... Well, they weren't very good.

They sucked.

That's me, right?

Am I cute?

You were designed to be kind, cute and stylish.

So, naturally you're a really beautiful girl.

Alice in Peripheraland First Part

This girl is my delusion.

I designed her, but I didn't really give her a name.

Smooth silky hair, big round eyes, beautiful skin...

It's embarrassing, but she's the exact opposite of me.

I wonder if I can meet him again tomorrow...

She's the main character of the story I'm currently drawing.

She's...

She's my aspiration...

Ok, see you later.

Ah, ok.

Hey, will I get to meet him again tomorrow?

...I don't know.

I want to meet him again.

This delusion talks a lot.

Yuuko's a good name.

Tomoko, Takako, Minako...

It's cute.

Year 2, Class 4, Kagami Alice-san, Year 2, Class 4, Kagami Alice-san. Kagami = Mirror

Please come to the teachers' lounge.

Did you hear that broadcast just now?

What? Is that her real name? Or a pen name?

Eh, wasn't that name just now really cute?

I know her, we went to middle school together.

Seriously? What kind of girl is she? Is she cute?

Nah, she doesn't live up to her name.

I'm Kagami Alice!

Nice to meet you!

When I was little, having a cute name

Didn't bother me at all.

But gradually, the mismatch between my introverted personality and my name

Made me embarrassed and want to disappear every time I was called.

There were days where I didn't talk with anyone in my class.

I was never directly made fun of or teased.

I just worried about it too much.

Whenever I was inconvenienced, I always blamed it on my name.

Like talking to my delusion.

Comics

Ah

P-P-Please take it...

Sorry for swooping in.

N, I'll... buy it from a different bookstore...

Ah

I met you here before.

Right?

Didn't you let me have the book then too?

...Huh? Am I mistaken?

Was that someone else?

That was me...

I thought so.

It's a book by the same author as back then.

That uniform is from a different school.

He's talking even though he looks quiet.

And he likes the same manga as me, so...

So, for the first time

I thought I wanted to get to know more about someone else.

Give me your e-mail address.

I got to meet the bookstore guy again!

And I got to talk to him!

And he even told me his e-mail address!

I'm super happy!

That's not something to get so excited over.

Maybe he tells that to just anyone.

Maybe in the depths of his heart he's laughing at you,

Thinking that you're just a manga-loving otaku girl.

I wonder if I'll get a text soon.

Stop it...

I don't think that...

Kagami-san.

Hey, do you have your math book?

A girl from class 1 wants to borrow it.

Eh... Math, hold on...

...Sorry, I didn't bring it.

Ah, ok. Sorry.

Yeah...

Kagami-san said she didn't have it either.

I see.

She kind of seemed like she was in a bad mood. She's kind of scary.

"In a bad mood?"

"That person is scary."

"I don't know what she's thinking."

"She seems boring."

Even though I was a little happy about being talked to...

And I don't have any self confidence, so my voice inadvertently gets quieter. I don't mean to do it.

I'm bad at showing my emotions.

That night, I got a text.

Hey, hurry up and read it.

Hey hey, it's him right.

Shut up...

I want to know his name. I wonder what I should call him!

He says his name is Gotou-kun...

He's the same grade as me.

He said that his friend works part time at that bookstore, so he comes there often.

Let's reply.

Tell him thank you for letting me have the book.

A reply...

Gotou-kun

Thanks for the text. I...

Alice?

I'm such an idiot, there's no way that I can get closer to him.

I'm such an idiot.

You still haven't told him your name, have you!

He'll make fun of me.

I'll change bookstores. I won't go there anymore.

Why! I don't understand why!

You were so happy that you could talk to him.

Why are you lying to yourself?

Alice.

Even though you actually want to get closer to him, using such a reason...

Just introduce yourself, idiot!

O-Ok...

Why are you getting so mad?

This delusion

Gets really angry when I lie.

When something good happens, she gets excited just like a kid.

If there's something painful, she has a sad look in her eyes.

She's a girl who immediately says what's on her mind.

And, sometimes,

Ah

I'm sorry about earlier, Alice.

She's really direct.

I told you not to write on drawing paper.

Geez...

She's completely different from me.

Hey

Hey

Aren't you going to draw the manga today?

Nothing happened today.

The bookstore guy didn't go too?

Nope.

It seems like unless I tell her directly or draw it, she won't know.

I guess that's obvious.

She's a delusion.

I wonder what Gotou-kun is doing right now.

I wonder what Gotou-kun is doing right now.

I wonder if another text will come.

How do you know what I'm thinking?

Eh, I just know.

Because I'm the main character.

That's what you drew, right?

Ah, it would have been better if you were Alice...

Then you'd have fun every day for sure.

And you could get closer to Gotou-kun.

Alice, you don't get it at all.

Ah!

A text! It lit up!

Wah!

I-It's from Gotou-kun!

Read it! Hurry hurry!

W-Wait, I'm opening it now.

Now...

A-A-Alice is a cute name, it says...

And? And?

Th-The book I was looking for...

He asked his friend to order it...

He wants to give it to me, so can I come to the bookstore tomorrow?

That's what it says...

Yay! Wow!!

Yaaay!!!!

"Gyaaah"... You're a girl...

Wai, stop...!

Just like how my moping turned into conviction,

This delusion definitely reveals my mind.

But,

I can't make that kind of expression.

When I'm happy, I can't really say that I'm happy.

I can't be happy.

Alice!

Reply, reply!

Eh... Ah, ok...!

Ah, what should I reply with...

Say I'm super happy.

I can't say that!

Ah, um, earlier...

How you said I didn't get it.

What did you mean?

I meant that it's strange for Alice to envy me.

Eh, but... You're enviable.

I can't change my expression all around like you...

I can't really talk out loud...

That's because you're not used to talking with people.

And when I'm having fun, I don't fit in with the people around me...

Aren't you always hanging your head down? You should always be facing straight ahead.

But...

I...

Alice, you know all of your flaws!

But I'm the opposite.

I only know about your good qualities.

Does a delusion write words?

Those are my words.

I'm just talking to myself,

And writing messages to myself... right?

Then why don't you try writing the same thing?

I'm sorry about earlier, Alice.

That's an interesting way of writing "y".

Who are you?

I'm the main character of your story.

Alice.

Even though you modeled your story after yourself,

Why are you jealous of me?

I'm just saying

What you're thinking.

There shouldn't be any differences between us.

I wonder...

That which they call a mirror is far too beautiful.

Tomorrow I'll go see the bookstore guy.

I'm looking forward to meeting him again tomorrow! Alice, do your best!

Sometimes it's reassuring

Ok.

To be constantly pushed forward by that voice.