Liar's Lips Fall Apart in Love - Volume 1 Chapter 2.11

The Summer When Something Changes 11

While giving a vague reply, I sent a message that said, “That sounds fun.” Immediately, a response came back.

〈Nanase, you’re on the Hankyu line, right? How about we meet at Kawaramachi?〉

Even though I hadn’t said whether I would go or not, he had already decided on a meeting place. As I was panicking, I received another message,

〈I reserved tickets for two! The showing at 2 PM!〉

He was quite pushy. Oh, what should I do?

Holding my smartphone, I slumped down. I felt bad for him, but I really wasn’t keen on going.

Feeling gloomy, I murmured to myself, “I’m such an idiot.”

“The movie was great! I only remembered the story from when I was a kid, but now I remember that’s what it was about.”

After leaving the movie theater, we moved to a nearby cafe. Kinami-kun was drinking iced coffee, and I was sipping hot cocoa.

The theater’s air conditioning was too strong, and I had gotten completely chilled. Even here, the direct blast of cold air from the air conditioner above us was cold.

I rubbed my arms, which were exposed from the sleeves of my light purple blouse, thinking I should have brought a cardigan.

Kinami-kun, wearing a khaki T-shirt and shorts, was in a good mood, talking about the movie.

I sat opposite him, nodding along to what he was saying. I had been worried about being alone with Kinami-kun, but it wasn’t as nerve-wracking as I thought it would be since he was so talkative and I just had to respond.

The glass-walled cafe was filled with lively conversations, and I could see couples looking cozy.

I wondered if Kinami-kun and I appeared the same way.

“You and Sagara are pretty close, huh, Nanase?”

“Ah, W-what!?”

Caught off guard by the mention of Sagara-kun’s name, I stiffened. Kinami-kun looked at me with a probing gaze.

“Are you two dating?”

“No, no.”

Kinami-kun smiled happily when I shook my head. “That’s good to hear!”

“Is there someone else you’re dating? Someone you like?”

“No, there isn’t.”

Kinami-kun, swirling his iced coffee with a straw, said in a light tone:

“So, why don’t you go out with me?”

My expression froze while still shaped in a smile. After looking around in confusion, I stared at the steaming hot cocoa.

…This is a confession, isn’t it? If so, this is the first time I’ve been confessed to by a boy.

A rose-colored college life should come with a wonderful boyfriend.

Kinami-kun might be a bit careless, but he’s a fun, bright guy. He’s not bad-looking, either.

He casually held the cafe door open, showing he’s attentive. Objectively speaking, he’s too good for someone like me.

The high school me would have never caught the eye of someone like Kinami-kun. Maybe being with Kinami-kun would bring me closer to a rose-colored college life.

I took a small breath before answering.

“I’m sorry. I can’t go out with you, Kinami-kun.”

Kinami-kun’s face looked momentarily pained, but then he smiled at me.

“That’s okay. My bad for asking.”

He didn’t push for a reason. He really is a nice guy.

…Even so. Why am I thinking of Sagara-kun’s face right now?

Unlike the always-smiling Kinami-kun, Sagara-kun always has a grumpy look. He’s kind but expresses it in a clumsy and twisted way.

He doesn’t match my pace when we walk, so I always have to hurry after him.

Yet for some reason, when I’m by Sagara-kun’s side, breathing feels easier.

I repeated “I’m sorry” once more and took a sip of my now lukewarm cocoa.

The overly sweet cocoa clung to the back of my throat, making my chest feel tight.

◆◆◆

Sagara’s PoV

The sunlight streaming through the gaps in the curtains was dazzling, waking me up.

It was the end of August, and the fierce heat had eased up a bit, which was a relief.

But the end of summer means I’ll have to worry about winter next. I’ve heard Kyoto gets cold in the winter because it’s a lower area, trapping both heat and cold.

Hot summers and cold winters—how can that be? It’s the worst.

I checked the time on my phone by the pillow. It was noon. I have work starting at 17:00 today. For now, I should get something to eat.

As I pondered what to eat, my eyes landed on a paper bag left in the corner of the room. I got up sluggishly and took out its contents.

It was uirou, a souvenir from my neighbor. For lunch, this’ll do.

I’m still depending on Nanase’s charity, I thought, feeling empy.

I remembered Nanase’s trembling voice saying, “I’m sorry.” Guilt pained my chest.

Since that incident, I haven’t faced Nanase. There’s no sound from the next room, so she seems to be out somewhere now.

I peeled the plastic from the uirou and took a bite.

──Aren’t you going back to your hometown, Sagara-kun?

…It’s not that I won’t go back, I don’t want to go back. I’ve felt this way ever since the days I spent in the library.

The cicadas’ cries echoed outside the room. The tepid breeze from the fan brushed against my sweaty skin.

Nanase’s sad expression was stuck behind my eyelids and wouldn’t fade.

“…ra-kun, Sagara-kun.”

Jolted back to reality by a tap on the shoulder, I saw Itogara-san waving her hand lightly in front of my face.

…Damn. I zoned out, even though I was in the middle of my shift. It was almost 21:00, time to finish up.

“Are you okay? Did the cash register tally up?”

“Ah… yes, it’s alrigh…”

Before I could finish, I flipped over the coin case with the register’s cash. Itogara-san let out a “Whoops” and a chuckle, helping me pick up the scattered coins.

While apologizing to Itogara-san, I gathered the coins and put them back in the case. As I recounted them with a sigh, Itogara-san looked concerned.

“This is weird, Sagara-kun the most reliable ones mess up, What’s up?”

“Ah… well, it’s just… that…”

“Ah, did you fight with your girlfriend?”

“Sh-she’s not my girlfriend! She just lives next door…”

I blurted out more than I should have and hurriedly shut my mouth.

Itogara-san laughed, “Is it that cute girl from Gion Matsuri?” I hesitated but nodded.

“…It’s not really a fight, I just… said something too harsh when she touched on something I didn’t want to be touched on. I made her sad, no matter how you look at it…”

Itogara-san nodded as she listened to my story.

Somehow, she has a calmness and an embracing quality that makes me want to confide in her.

“If you want to make up, why not just apologize?”

A perfectly logical suggestion. I looked down and replied, “Yeah, I guess so.”

“Ah. Maybe buy her something sweet?”

“Something sweet?”

Surprised by the suggestion, I stopped and looked up. Itogara-san continued with a serious face.

“Yeah. I often fight with my boyfriend, but we usually make up over ice cream.”

Itogara-san lives with her boyfriend from high school. For me, who doesn’t understand women at all, her advice was precious.

“Plus, that girl likes chocolate, right?”

“Huh? How do you know that…?”

Why would Itogara-san know such a thing? As I tilted my head, she continued.

“That girl sometimes comes here when you’re not around and often buys small chocolates.”

She pointed at the chocolate snacks placed near the register.

This is the closest convenience store to the apartments, so it’s not strange that Nanase comes here often. Even so, I didn’t know she liked chocolate.

Thinking about it, I realized I don’t know anything about Nanase.

I’ve never tried to learn what she likes or dislikes.

“Ah, looks like you already reached todays quota. Well, take care.”

I bowed to Itogara-san and then retreated to the back to change.

As I was about to leave—I stopped and thought for a bit, then turned back inside the store.

Staring intently at the row of sweets, I seriously examined my options.

After much deliberation, I picked up a chocolate snack shaped like mushrooms and headed to the register.

When I returned to the apartment, I could see the light on in the next room.

Taking a small breath, I rang the doorbell with a ‘ping pong’ sound.

Soon after, Nanase appeared with a bare face, hastily adjusting her slipping glasses.

“Sagara-kun?”

Without a word, I pushed the convenience store bag toward her, and Nanase peered inside with curiosity.

Seeing her face bloom into a happy smile at the sight of the snacks, I felt relieved.

“Is this for me? What brought this on all of a sudden?”

“It’s… just because,” I replied, though it wasn’t really an answer.

But Nanase didn’t press any further. “Thank you,” she said, hugging the bag as if it were precious.

I suddenly worried whether the chocolate might melt.

Looking down and scratching my cheek, I spoke up quickly.

“I’m sorry about the other day.”

Nanase’s eyes widened, then she blinked with a troubled frown.

“No… I should be the one apologizing for asking something so rude.”

“No, it’s not that. I was just on edge. It was misdirected anger.”

As I said this, Nanase slowly reached out her right hand.

“Then… let’s make up.”

I hesitantly took her small offered hand in mine. Nanase’s hand was warm. Or perhaps, it was just that my own hand was cold.

Without holding someone else’s hand like this, I wouldn’t have realized that fact.

When was the last time I had a fight with someone and then made up like this?

I didn’t want to get deeply involved with anyone, to get hurt or to hurt others. But somehow, before I knew it, I had started to worry about all sorts of things concerning Nanase.

The clumsy, hardworking, and dangerously earnest girl had, at some point, taken up a tiny seat in my heart.

And as for me… I was beginning to not mind it.

“…Nanase, you like chocolate?”

“Yeah, I love it. But actually, I prefer Takenoko over Kinoko.” (tln : mushroom chocolate type)

“Seriously? We’re incompatible then.”

“Sagara-kun, let’s share this. If I eat it all at this hour, I’ll gain weight.”

Saying that, Nanase smiled softly. When she smiles without makeup, her eyes disappear.

I’ve grown completely accustomed to seeing that face.

A cool night breeze blew between us, signaling the end of summer.