Liar's Lips Fall Apart in Love - Volume 1 Chapter 1.5

The Spring When I Met You 5

After we had tea, we exchanged LINE contacts. It was the first time I had added someone other than family to my brand new smartphone.

“Ever since I first saw you, I definitely wanted to become friends with Haruko.”

While drinking iced tea, Sacchan said this with a laugh.

There are only five girls in our seminar, including me. That a girl as pretty and stylish as Satchan talked to me made me feel happy and proud. If I had still been my former self, she probably wouldn’t have chosen me.

The words of my former classmates, “Nanase-san is different from us,” still cling to me like a black stain deep in my heart.

Walking beside me, Sacchan covered her mouth with her hand and yawned widely.

“Seriously, first period is so tiring. I was playing with my circle friends yesterday too.”

“Sacchan, it must be tough since you live so far.”

“Yeah, even though I took the last train home yesterday, I woke up at six today. My makeup is super slapdash.”

Hearing that, I scrutinized Sacchan’s face. Her slightly slanted eyes were a beautiful shade of grey, and her nose was straight. Even with casual makeup, she was beautiful. And here I am, spending over an hour on makeup.

“Haruko, you come in early. I missed the perfect timing for the Hankyu train and got here too early.”

At Sacchan’s words, I glanced at my wristwatch. The time was 8:45 AM. There are fifteen minutes until class starts, so I don’t think it’s too early. But it seems for most students, “just right” means darting into the classroom right before the lecture starts.

“It must be nice, Haruko, living on your own.”

Sacchan commutes from her parents’ home in Osaka, taking the Hankyu train and city bus. It takes an hour and a half, so waking up early is tough for her, she once complained.

“But the university is far, and it’s not that convenient.”

“If I ever miss the last train, let me stay over. Actually, I want to come over to hang out!”

“Uh, umm… My place is kind of small…”

While saying that, I thought of my six-tatami one-room castle. I’m a bit hesitant to invite friends over. It can’t be helped that I prioritized cheapness over comfort. No key money, no deposit, and a rent of 40,000 yen—it’s a bargain considering the location. I want to spend as much of my living expenses as possible on cosmetics and clothes.

Even though I knew it was run-down, I never expected cockroaches to appear.

Sagara-kun who defeated the cockroach for me was, without exaggeration, a godsend.

If it weren’t for him, I might never have been able to return to my room.

Today, I’ll buy some insecticide at the drug store on my way home.

…Now that I think about it. Inviting a boy into my room was a first for me.

Lost in such thoughts, I arrived in front of the classroom.

Today’s first period is compulsory English. We were sorted into English classes based on our initial test scores at the beginning of university, and I was placed in the top class.

Sagara-kun is also in the same class.

“Let’s have lunch together later. I’ll message you on LINE when it’s over.”

Sacchan said that, then walked away with a light step. I waved goodbye and entered the classroom.

In language classes, unlike other classes, seats are assigned. My seat is at the front by the window.

Sagara-kun’s seat is the second from the back in the middle.

I immediately spotted him, dressed in a black T-shirt and cargo pants, probably having arrived early to study on his own.

He’s always been serious.

Come to think of it, he knows me from high school, the plain and unremarkable me.

He said he wouldn’t tell anyone, and it’s not that I doubt him, but it’s unsettling to have someone unilaterally hold a secret about you.

“Hey, Sagara-kun. Good morning.”

When I called out to him, Sagara-kun looked up with a start, then frowned as if annoyed.

“…What? I’d rather you didn’t talk to me too much…”

“Um… about yesterday…”

“It’s fine, I get it. I won’t tell anyone. Not like I have anyone to tell.”

Sagara-kun said that and focused back on his textbook. Feeling his strong will to not continue our conversation, I meekly returned to my seat.

…Is it really okay, though? He says he doesn’t have friends, but…

After a while, the American native teacher came into the classroom. With a cheerful “Good morning!” the students returned a sparse and mumbled “Good morning.”

I glanced at Sagara-kun, sitting diagonally behind me, but as usual, he was taking the class seriously and didn’t even try to look my way.

◆ ◆ ◆

Sagara’s PoV

The student cafeteria bustles with students during the lunch break. Staring intently at the menu posted above the counter, from top to bottom. Among the offerings of the affordable and hearty No. 2 cafeteria, the cheapest is the plain udon for 100 yen.

I open my wallet with a prayerful heart and check the contents.

All that’s inside are two ten-yen coins. In other words, I have to get through the last day before payday with just 20 yen.

I didn’t mean to waste any money, but it seems that the expenses of starting a new life are now catching up with me.

Last month, my part-time job was still in the training period, so the hourly wage was low, which hurt because I hadn’t earned as much as I expected.

For a moment, I considered contacting my mother, but I immediately concluded that I absolutely did not want to.

No matter what happens, I don’t want to rely on my parents.

After all, I haven’t received a single yen in allowances.

…Can’t be helped, I’ll have to endure. I can get through today somehow.