A male classmate calls Maho names, calling her a gloomy plain looking girl, using the same adjective that Shiori used (busu). Her friend fiercely insists that he apologize to her, but Maho just brushes it off and tells to them hurry clean up so that they can all go home. That was the time when she was used to being called such names. When her older sister was the worst person around. Shiori 1's nickname for Maho was Busu-ho then. Maho barges into Shiori doing her make up, accusing her of stealing her savings. Shiori says she doesn’t know what she is talking about, and tells her it must be due to Maho's own carelessness and she has no evidence against her. Then she continues to make fun of Maho.
The Shiori then would enter Maho's room and use her stuff for her convienience, read her diary. Since junior high, she would go out late, stay out the whole night. There were many instances where their father would physically fight with Shiori over her behaviour. She would ask Akio to stay away from her as she finds his concern gross. But when she was outside, her behaviour was the opposite, acting as a good girl. Maho thought it would be good if she just died. But the person who died wasn’t her, but their father. Shiori blamed Mizuki for locking her and causing her to be unable to go the hospital. Even when Maho saw her sister cry and be violent, her heart was cold towards Shiori. She thought, this person isn’t her sister. She has never once thought of the mother who left her when she was a baby. Her only family members in the world are her dead father and Akio. Shiori doesn’t exists- she can’t see her, she can’t hear her, is what Maho thinks as she ignores Shiori.
At graduation, the boy who teased her in the beginning apologizes to Maho for calling her a busu for the past 5 years. Maho just walks away, with the guy's cheeks red either from the cold or that he had a crush on her (up to you to decide). An essay of Maho's is published in the graduation literary compliation. The title- My Ambition. I want to become a doctor and be involved in cancer research. My father was killed by cancer, and now I will kill it. Akio is reading it, as Maho announces that she will definitely try her best to get into a national university and get a scholarship. Akio tells her not to worry about money. She wonders how Akio can have such expressions.
This spring, that person got into an accident. It was reported by the doctor that she is in the so-called state of amnesia. Maho thinks she has a motive. While Akio is shocked by the situation, Maho doesn’t believe it at all. Till now, she has only lived with her, not understanding her. She thinks Shiori's whole amnesia act is laughable. She doesn’t know how long Shiori plans to play this game.
Maho is doing her homework in the living room, while Shiori is looking for new sponges in the kitchen. Shiori comes out to the living room and asks for Maho's help in locating the sponges. Maho thinks for a while then goes into the bathroom to take a pack out from under the sink. She drops the bag into Shiori's hands. Shiori smiles and say thanks.
Maho doesnt believe in this amnesia thing. But on her way back from school, she often caught sight of that person by the bank. She starts to remember memories that she had long forgotten, and pinpoints the reason as Akio who talks about the old times once in a while in a bid to help Shiori remember the past. Maho tells Akio of her dream where when she was young, Shiori would call her Machan. Akio confirms that she did used to call her that until Shiori entered elementary school. Maho then thinks, from then on it was just busu.
Recently, there has been an unexplainable chest pain. Kai meets Maho and asks if it is just Maho alone. He plonks a box of vegetables he received from his father into Maho's arms, saying it is a gift for them since they are good. Obviously the box is too heavy for Maho and she struggles with. He tells her he is joking and that he will deliver it right to their kitchen. Looking at Kai's back, Maho thinks she really is a bit strange recently.
She has probably decided long ago, that when she can scorn the person in front of her, then can she feel proud of herself. While she may not be as pretty as that person, but luckily neither is she as stupid as her.
Today, why do I feel pitiful? Why does my chest feel tight? Maho wonders. Then she decides to go study. -.-