Liar's Lips Fall Apart in Love - Volume 1 Chapter 2.1

The Summer When Something Changes 1

Summer has finally begun. The infamous, sweltering summer of Kyoto.

When the rainy season cleared in July, I felt like the students started to get excited all of a sudden. After the Friday seminar, I could hear the fulfilled ones in the lab, talking about going to summer festivals or to the beach. I have no connection to such things.

Nanase seemed to be discreetly reapplying her lipstick a little away from the circle. I could see her smiling at the small hand mirror.

Even though it’s not a smile directed at me, I couldn’t help but feel a thump in my chest.

“Hey! Nanase, won’t you come to the beach with us?”

At that moment, Kinami shouted in a voice that echoed through the lab. Nanase, who was suddenly addressed, flinched and responded in a high-pitched voice,

“W-what!? Uh, the beach!?”

“We’re talking about going to the beach during the summer break. Let’s go, Nanase!”

Nanase looked around with a panicked expression and then shook her head vigorously.

“Sorry… I, the beach is a bit…”

“Oh, then how about the pool?”

“I, I… um, that’s right, I can’t swim!”

As Nanase stuttered, Kinami burst into laughter.

“No, but even if we go to the beach or pool, we don’t have to swim, right?”

Nanase tilted her head, “Is that so?” wondering what exactly they do there.

She probably doesn’t know how the fulfilled ones enjoy the beach or pool. I don’t know either, for that matter.

“Anyway, it’s fine if you can’t swim! I’ll teach you step by step…”

“Yusuke, you’re persistent. You just want to see Haruko in a swimsuit, right?”

Sudo said that and lightly hit the back of Kinami’s head. Kinami didn’t seem to be offended, and just laughed, “Was it that obvious?”

… I thought as much.

However, going to the beach with seminar friends would be the very picture of the rosy summer Nanase aspires to. Why did she turn it down?

Nanase glanced at me, perhaps noticing my gaze.

She waved her hand slightly, and I gestured to her, “Don’t look over here.”

On my way to the bicycle parking area after the fourth period, I spotted Nanase from behind.

Her chestnut-colored long hair was tied up high, and large earrings dangled from her ears. Her outfit was somehow refreshing and summery. I was impressed by how she dresses stylishly in the summer.

My summer attire is basically just T-shirts.

I had been keeping my distance but suddenly, Nanase turned her head and looked around.

“Ah, it is Sagara-kun after all!”

“Whoa. What do you want?”

“I just had a feeling you were there.”

I pride myself on having a low presence, but how does Nanase always notice me?

Since Nanase stopped, I had no choice but to stand next to her. Then I asked her.

“…Nanase. You were invited to go to the beach today. You should have gone.”

“No, absolutely not! No way!”

Nanase’s voice was almost a scream. Surprised by her extreme rejection, I wondered what was so bad about it.

“Is it because you don’t want to be seen in a swimsuit?”

Well, I also think she shouldn’t show her swimsuit to someone like Kinami. Nanase mumbled, “That too,” and then said,

“…The beach, the pool… if I think about my makeup coming off at such places… I’d rather die than show everyone my bare face.”

…Ah. So that’s the reason.

It seems Nanase is excessively afraid of her bare face being exposed to those around her.

I think her bare face isn’t that bad. There are probably quite a few guys who prefer it that way.

Not that I’m one of them or anything.

“By the way, Nanase, do you have any plans for the summer break? You’re always with Sudo and the rest… It doesn’t seem like you’ve made any progress.”

Perhaps I hit the nail on the head, as Nanase pressed her chest and slumped down dejectedly.

“Plans for the summer break… I don’t have any. Maybe I’ll just go home for Obon.”

“…Huh.”

“But, you know. I do have something I want to do this summer! There’s a café near my apartment that has a tropical parfait for the summer, and I’m going to eat it!”

The goal she declared so proudly turned out to be surprisingly modest. I couldn’t help but feel deflated.

“Just go and have it now…”

“But, I don’t have the courage to order a parfait by myself.”

Nanase stopped mid-sentence, then lit up with an idea and exclaimed, “That’s right!” I had a bad feeling about this.

“Sagara-kun! Let’s go and have a parfait together right now!”

…I knew she’d say that.

“Why does it come to this…”

“Please! Eating a tropical parfait is my first step towards a rosy life!”

Nanase put her hands together in front of her face and pleaded desperately.

Somehow, I felt like I was being persuaded by some strange logic, but when she said, “You said you’d help, right?” I found it impossible to refuse.

“…I’ve got a part-time job tonight… I’m going home right after this.”

Nanase cheered “Yay!” and, humming a clumsy tune, straddled her bicycle.

With her ponytail fluttering, she rode off on her red bike, looking dashing, and I reluctantly followed her.

We arrived at a cafe with a calm atmosphere. It wasn’t as noisy as the chain coffee shops, and it seemed like a place students could easily frequent.

When we opened the solid wooden door, a bell chimed with a “clang-clang.” The aromatic scent of coffee tantalized my nostrils.

“Welcome! How many in your party?”

We were greeted by a young woman staff member, who looked slightly older than us.

Nanase, with a slightly tense expression, answered “Two.” We sat down across from each other at a window-side table.

The sofa was fluffy and comfortable. I could live here, it’s that cozy.

“See? The person just now, she was beautiful, wasn’t she?”

Nanase said, seemingly entranced. Apparently, she was referring to the female staff member we had just encountered.

Glancing back to confirm, indeed, she was a beauty. The tear mole by her eyes was distinctive, and she had a certain sensuality about her.

She seemed strong-willed, and I felt she had an aura similar to Sudo’s. I think Nanase is more beautiful, but I guess it’s a matter of preference.

“I sometimes come to this cafe to study. It’s quiet and stylish, and I really like it here.”

Nanase handed me the menu, and as I unfolded it, I saw that a single cup of coffee cost six hundred yen.

To someone like me, who usually drinks cheap, carton-packed coffee, that price was enough to make my head spin.

“Look, this is it! The summer limited tropical parfait!”

When Nanase pointed to the price of the parfait, an involuntary “Wow” escaped my lips.

“That’s expensive. Can’t believe paying so much for just a parfait. I’ll stick with coffee.”

Seeing Nanase’s face fall at my words, I immediately regretted it. It seems I had inadvertently poured cold water on her pure excitement about the parfait.

“…Then, I’ll have the parfait. Excuse me, could I place my order?”

Nanase smiled forlornly and called over the server. Having missed the chance to apologize, I silently sipped my iced water.

After a while, my coffee and Nanase’s tropical parfait arrived. The parfait was topped with a lavish amount of colorful fruits.

“Wow, it’s cute!”

Nanase exclaimed with joy. It looked delicious, but I can’t quite understand the feeling of calling food “cute.” Girls seem to be creatures that incessantly call everything “cute.”

After taking a photo, Nanase carefully inserted her spoon into the parfait that seemed difficult to eat.

“Mmm, it’s really delicious!”

Nanase said, smiling happily. Having spent quite some time with her, I’ve realized that Nanase is incredibly expressive with her emotions.

Happiness and joy; her positive feelings are openly displayed. That’s a part of her that makes watching her never dull, a perfect slice of life in action.

“I’ve always been curious about this parfait but ordering one alone seemed to require a bit of courage. Ahh, I’m so glad I finally got to eat it.”

For her, this parfait must hold a value beyond 1,500 yen.

Since what people value varies from one person to another, I shouldn’t have said anything unnecessary.