Is It Okay to Tell the Truth?

"Hina, happy birthday!" An thrust out a drawing. "I drew a picture of you! Hey… does it look like you?" Hina looked at the picture and — huh? she thought. The hair color, the face — somehow, it didn't really look like Hina at all. An's eyes were shining, shining.

An had spent many days on that picture. Drawing and erasing, erasing and drawing. An wasn't good at drawing. Even so, she'd wanted to make something special, just for Hina. She'd hidden it in secret, so no one would see — all for today.

An was Hina's friend. She gave everything her all. Even when it was hard, she never gave up. In the corner of the picture was a tiny heart, and in wobbly letters, "Hina, I love you." Seeing it, Hina's chest went warm. — But.

But she looked at the picture again. It really didn't look like her. The hair was green, the eyes too big — a strange-faced "Hina" she didn't recognize. If she said "I don't like it"… what kind of face would An make? Hina's chest went tight.

She could just say "It looks like me! I love it!" An would be happy. — But that wouldn't be true. If she told a kind lie, An would never know. If she told the truth, An's smile might disappear. Two feelings collided.

An pressed her hands together, waiting. "Well…?" Mofu hopped over and brought its nose close to the picture. The words had come right up to Hina's throat. The truth? Or a kind lie? Just a little more.

An's smile trembled, just a little. "Hina… what do you think?" Hina drew in a breath. Tell the honest truth? Or tell a kind lie to make her happy? …What will Hina do?