Liar's Lips Fall Apart in Love - Volume 1 Chapter 1.7

The Spring When I Met You 7

Nanase let out a pained voice. Feeling unbearable under her pitying gaze, I quickly looked away.

“Then, I’ll bring some rice too. It’s a good thing I cooked extra. Just wait a little, okay?”

After a short while, Nanase returned carrying a bowl heaped with white rice.

“Will this be enough?”

I nod silently. It’s more than enough.

“Good! After you’ve finished eating, I’ll come to collect the pot and dishes. I hope it’s to your taste.”

With that, Nanase turned on her heel and went back to her room.

I placed the curry pot and the bowl on the low table, took out a curry plate I hadn’t used since moving in, and served myself rice and curry.

After putting my hands together, I took a bite of the curry. I couldn’t help but exclaim,

“Wow… this is… really delicious…”

Perhaps it was partly due to my hunger, but Nanase’s curry was exceptionally good. The vegetables cut into small pieces were plentiful and melted into the thick roux. The right amount of spiciness and flavor soaked into my empty stomach.

In the end, I finished all the curry neatly. No matter how much she had made, the amount she brought over was too much just for a neighborly share.

She must have made the curry especially for me, knowing I was hungry.

…I really have to thank her for this.

After washing the pot and bowl in the sink, I headed to Nanase’s room. When I pressed the doorbell, Nanase soon appeared.

“…Thank you for the meal.”

As I held out the empty pot, Nanase’s eyes went wide.

“W-What!? You’ve already eaten? All of it!?”

“Yeah. It was incredibly good.”

I honestly told her how delicious it was. Perhaps saying she could open a curry shop would be overpraising, but she smiled shyly at my words.

“I’m glad it taste good, so I’m happy Sagara-kun got to eat it.”

Though it’s hard to tell when she’s wearing makeup, Nanase has quite droopy eyes. When she smiles brightly, her eyes almost disappear.

She seems self-conscious about her plain face, but even without makeup, she’s quite… not bad at all. There must be guys who like that kind of face.

“…Sorry. It really helped me out. When I get my paycheck, I’ll pay you back.”

“Eh, you don’t have to do that! Making food for one or two people is the same.”

Even so, I know Nanase is living in this run-down apartment, so she probably doesn’t have much spare money either. I won’t feel settled until I make it right.

After a back-and-forth, Nanase finally conceded.

“…Okay. Then, next Friday, after the seminar. Are you free?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah.”

“Then, do you want to have lunch together? I actually, actually have a place I want to go to… I don’t have the courage to go alone, so I’d be happy if you came with me.”

“Wait a second,”

I hastily interjected. Going out for a meal with someone of the opposite sex might be a daily occurrence for Nanase since her university debut, but for me, it’s a big deal.

“No, I’m…”

I started to refuse, then clammed up. I might be able to get away without paying her back, but the curry was really good.

Leaving a debt unpaid would go against my principle of “relying on no one and living in solitude.”

“…Okay, got it…”

Reluctantly, I answered, and Nanase joyfully raised both hands in the air. “Yay!” Why she would be so happy about going to lunch with me, I just couldn’t understand.

The seminar I’m belong to meets twice a week, on Tuesdays at third period and Fridays at second period.

There are about twenty freshmen, five of whom are girls. Among them, Nanase Haruko stands out conspicuously.

“Ah, Nanase is so cute. She’s a feast for the eyes.”

The guys in the seminar in front of me whispered among themselves, looking in Nanase’s direction.

The one at the center was a showy, flashy type, rare in our seminar—his name was, I think, Kinami.

I often hear him gossiping with the others about girls—discussing who’s cute, who has a good figure, and other things that shouldn’t be said too loudly.

“Maybe I’ll ask Nanase out for a meal next time. Hey, does Nanase have a boyfriend, I wonder?”

“Who knows. With looks like that, probably. But I have no idea.”

Kinami held his head in his hands, moaning,

“Ugh, I’m so jealous of the guy who gets to like Nanase,” or something like that. What a vulgar guy.

He should just stub his little toe and die.

“…And so, we’ll start group work from next week. That’s all for today.”

As soon as the professor said that, the bell signaling the end of class rang. I listened to the signal marking the start of the lunch break with the feeling of a prisoner awaiting a death sentence.

Today is Friday. I have a lunch date with Nanase.

In such a crowded place with so many acquaintances, it would be bad to call out to Nanase. It might be better to leave the university and arrange a meeting outside. I’ve (reluctantly) exchanged contact information with her recently, so it should all work out.

Just as I was about to stand up and leave the seminar room first, I heard Nanase’s voice from behind.

“Sacchan, sorry. I’m going out for lunch today.”

I heard the sound of her heels tapping against the floor of the lecture hall. At the same time, a sweet fragrance wafted over as she tapped me on the shoulder. Nanase, with her long hair neatly tied up, looked up at me.

“Sagara-kun. Shall we go then?”

At that moment, and probably not by mistake, the seminar room buzzed with noise.