Liar's Lips Fall Apart in Love - Volume 1 Chapter 1.9

The Spring When I Met You 9

When you think about it, indeed. From what I’ve seen, Nanase’s circle of friends isn’t that wide.

She’s always with the same members of our seminar, a few other girls, moving as a group.

When guys like Kinami approach her, she always looks somewhat troubled.

Earlier too, she seemed to be forcing herself a bit.

“Being with Sacchan and everyone else is fun, but… sometimes I feel guilty, like I’m not really being myself.”

“…Your true… self?”

“But, I’m scared of showing my true face and having everyone drift away.”

I was startled to see her fists clenched on the table, trembling slightly.

What if she started crying? I peered at Nanase’s face, worried, but her cheeks were dry, and her makeup hadn’t budged at all.

The makeup that covers her plain face is, indeed, Nanase Haruko’s armor.

Nanase lifted her face, smiling brightly.

It was a perfect smile, with the corners of her mouth lifted beautifully.

“Sorry, I said something weird.”

“…No.”

“I just wanted to take a break, I guess. Thanks for going along with it.”

As I listened to her, I wondered what the real Nanase Haruko was like.

The image of her studying seriously in the high school library, the way she sparkles now as a college girl.

How she freaks out over cockroaches, and the way she almost forcefully fed me curry.

The way she eats fish with surprisingly beautiful movements.

The way her eyes shine when she talks about wanting a rosy college life, and how she spills her fear of being known without her disguise.

Aren’t all these just different facets of Nanase Haruko?

“The only one who knows my true face is you, Sagara-kun.”

“…”

“…Maybe that’s why I feel at ease with you.”

At that moment, an alarm went off in my head. This girl was threatening to fatally disrupt my solitary and comfortable university life.

Nanase pays attention to me only because I’m the one person who knows her without pretense. There’s no other reason.

After finishing my miso soup, I put the bowl back on the tray and said,

“…Then, I’ll help you out.”

“Eh? With what?”

“To make your university life rosy… I’ll cooperate with you.”

Nanase tilted her head at my words, “Why?”

“I’m telling you, it’s not just for your sake. If you become a real sparkling girl, you’ll have no need to bother with me.”

Indeed, I owe Nanase a debt of gratitude from high school days. However, my main reason is for my own peace of mind.

If Nanase becomes a true sparkling girl and attains her desired rosy college life, she’ll no longer care about me.

Then, I’ll be able to reclaim my comfortable, solitary university life.

It’s a perfect plan if I do say so myself.

“…Do you dislike being involved with me, Sagara-kun?”

Nanase asked, looking genuinely sad, which made me panic.

“Ah, no. It’s just that… It’s not just you I don’t want to be involved with.”

“What do you mean?”

“…I just don’t want to let anyone into my world. I don’t want to waste my resources on bothersome relationships. So, I try to interact with others as little as possible.”

“It makes me really happy that you’ll help me… but Sagara-kun, you’re being stubborn…”

Nanase gave me a look of exasperation. Ignoring that, I continued,

“That’s what I mean. I’m going to help you for my own sake.”

Nanase seemed to think for a bit and then nodded, “Understood.”

“I’ll try my best to become a real sparkling girl! Together with Sagara-kun.”

“…Ah, okay.”

“So, I’m counting on you from now on.”

Nanase smiled brightly and reached out her right hand to me. Instead of taking her handshake, I put my hands together and said,

“Thank you for the meal.”