Liar's Lips Fall Apart in Love - Volume 1 Chapter 2.10

The Summer When Something Changes 10

Since last week, Nanase has been back at her parents’ home.

During the absence of my neighbor, I’ve been diligently working and studying. Although I’ve been fully enjoying the rare lonely life , not hearing the sound of the TV drama from next door or Nanase’s off-key humming while she hangs laundry makes me feel like something is missing.

Every time I eat the discounted udon, I hear Nanase’s voice in my head, “You should eat something more nutritious!” With Nanase not bringing dinner, my diet has been getting worse.

I have to try cooking for myself to prove that I can manage without Nanase.

I bought some green onions and chikuwa from the supermarket and pulled out the never-used knife and cutting board from the back of the shelf.

Tentatively, I start cutting the chikuwa and green onions. Just when I thought I had finally finished, I realized the green onions were all still connected.

Apparently, I’m not cut out for cooking. I sigh and start over.

I toss the green onions and chikuwa into the frying pan, add the thirty-yen udon, stir-fry it, and finish with a splash of soy sauce.

It’s wasnt as good as Nanase’s, but it wasn’t inedible.

After finishing the udon, I washed the dishes, cutting board, knife, and frying pan.

Cooking is one thing, but cleaning up is really a hassle. I’m newly impressed by Nanase, who does this every day. From now on, I’ll make sure to be more grateful.

After the cleanup, I lay down to sleep before work when I heard someone climbing the apartment stairs. Accompanying the footsteps were the thudding sounds of a carry-on suitcase’s wheels.

Soon after, I heard the sound of the key turning in the lock next door and a “Tadaima” that wasn’t meant for anyone in particular. Nanase had returned.

As I lay with my eyes closed, the intercom in my room rang. I got up and opened the door.

“Ah, Sagara-kun. Long time no see.”

It was Nanase, still in her sparkly, made-up mode.

She said it’s been a while, but had it really been that long? It should have been only about a week since Nanase went back to her hometown.

However, seeing her smiling face, I thought maybe it really had been quite some time.

“I missed the Gozan no Okuribi because I was back home. I wanted to see it.” (tln : Gozan no Okuribi, more commonly known as Daimonji, is a festival in Kyoto, Japan. It is the culmination of the Obon festival on August 16)

“…Ah. Yeah, they were doing something.”

“Did you see it, Sagara-kun? You can see it from near the apartment, right?”

“No, I was at work.”

I replied, suppressing a yawn. I hadn’t slept much since I had work last night.

“Sorry. Were you about to sleep?”

“…No, it’s fine.”

As I replied, Nanase handed me a paper bag, saying, “This is a souvenir.” The logo on the bag looked familiar. It was uirou from a famous shop in Nagoya. (tln : Uirō also known as uirō-mochi (外郎餠), is a traditional Japanese steamed cake made of glutinous rice flour and sugar. )

“Do people normally buy uirou for someone from the same place?”

“When you live in Nagoya, you don’t really eat it much, right?”

She’s right; I might not have eaten it much. I’ll gratefully accept it.

She seemed a bit down before she left, but I wondered if everything turned out okay.

Choosing my words carefully, I asked Nanase.

“…So, how was it? Your home…”

“Yeah, I had a relaxing time. I didn’t meet any kids from the neighborhood. It was good to eat my mom’s cooking after a long time. We went to visit the family grave with the three of us, and on the way back, we stopped by my grandmother’s house… Oh, my grandmother lives in Mikawa, by the way…”

I listened silently as Nanase happily talked about her time.

It seems her family life is quite good. Nanase must be loved by her kind parents, and she probably cherishes them as well. What a commonplace, love-filled family is like, I can only imagine.

After sharing some memories with her grandmother, Nanase suddenly stopped talking. She seemed to have something more to say and hesitated. So, I asked, “What?”

“…Aren’t you going back to your hometown, Sagara-kun?”

At Nanase’s question, I involuntarily held my breath. After moistening my lips quickly, I answered.

“…I don’t want to go back.”

“…Why?”

It was the first time Nanase had inquired about my family. Until now, she had skillfully avoided the subject, sensing that I didn’t want to talk about it.

“Nanase, it’s none of your business. Leave it alone.”

The voice that came out was much sharper than I intended. It was too late to take it back. Nanase, struck by the raw anger, widened her eyes and took a step back.

“I’m… sorry.”

No, wait, that’s not it. I want to follow up, but I can’t find the right words.

“…Then, I’ll go back to my room. Bye.”

Nanase said quickly and left my room, her long skirt fluttering.

Even though it was a topic I didn’t want to be touched on, saying it was none of her business was too much. Or was it? It really is none of Nanase’s business, so maybe it’s okay.

I didn’t say anything wrong. Why do I even have to worry about this? Damn, this is why relationships are so troublesome.

…After all, it’s best not to get involved with others.

I lay down on the tatami and closed my eyes, trying to distract myself from the frustration welling up inside.

◇◇◇

Haruko’s PoV

Back in my own room, I sat in the corner, hugging my knees, quietly reflecting.

──It’s none of your business, Nanase. Leave it alone.

Sagara-kun had rejected me with his whole being. Just like I don’t want everyone to know my true self, Sagara-kun has parts of himself he doesn’t want anyone to touch.

It wasn’t a place for someone like me to intrude carelessly.

Maybe I’ve been too dependent on Sagara-kun until now.

Even things I hesitate to say to other friends for fear of being disliked, I could strangely say to Sagara-kun.

He was the only one I could be my true self with. Despite his grudging face, he always helped me.

…But. Maybe I’ve finally been disliked…

Feeling down about my own ineptitude, my smartphone on the table vibrated. A LINE message from Kinami-kun had arrived.

〈Nanase, are you back yet?〉

Kinami-kun sometimes contacts me during the summer vacation. The content is always trivial, but somehow I can’t bring myself to end the conversation, so it drags on.

I hesitated whether to reply right away, but wanting to distract myself from feeling down, I sent

〈I got back today〉.

〈Are you free tomorrow? Want to go see a movie?〉

Underneath, a URL was attached. It led to a live-action remake of a Disney animation. I remember watching the original over and over on DVD when I was little, a favorite of mine.

I hesitated about what to do. It was the first time a boy had invited me out just the two of us.

No, maybe I’m the only one who’s overly conscious of it, and Kinami-kun didn’t intend it to be just the two of us.

I don’t have work tomorrow, and if Sacchan or the other are there, it might be nice to go for a change of pace.