Liar's Lips Fall Apart in Love - Volume 1 Chapter 2.7

The Summer When Something Changes 7

Living on my own is hard, huh.

When Nanase entered the room, I felt a profound sense of relief from the bottom of my heart.

Now that she’s gone, I feel a little lonely. I remember the sensation of her firmly gripping hand.

…Damn. What am I getting so disheartened about? Ever since I graduated high school, I decided to live by myself without relying on anyone.

As I lay down, drowsiness slowly creeps up on me. I had a fleeting thought about the exams, but getting better should be my first priority.

I close my eyes and almost immediately fall asleep.

The sound of the doorbell wakes me up.

The sun has fully risen outside the window, and I can feel its light through the thin curtains.

The ice pack under my head has completely warmed up. I sit up sluggishly on the futon.

I’m still a bit sluggish, but my head feels clear.

Thanks to the air conditioner, I feel like I’ve had a proper sleep for the first time in a while.

The inventions of civilization are indeed wonderful. From now on, I’ll stop being so frugal.

Opening the door, there stands Nanase, perfectly made up and holding a small pot in her hand.

“Good morning. How are you feeling?”

“Much better.”

“That’s great. I made some porridge. Let’s eat together.”

Nanase comes in, takes out the bowls, and serves the porridge. The good smell of the broth wafts through the air.

Upon eating, I realize I’m hungrier than I thought. I finish it in no time. Seeing that, Nanase exhales a sigh of relief.

“Good. You seem to be doing okay.”

While eating the second bowl of porridge, I nod silently. At this rate, I should be able to go to class and work. Still, I’ve caused a lot of trouble for Nanase this time.

“… Sorry. I really appreciate it.”

If it weren’t for Nanase, I might have really died. To think, I boasted about living alone.

From now on, I need to pay more attention to my health.

“I’ll repay you properly next time.”

“Don’t worry about it. I told you, we’re even.”

“No, I haven’t done anything…”

If I weighed Nanase’s and my favors on a scale, it would tip significantly in her favor. I can’t leave it like this.

“If there’s anything I can do, just ask. I’ll do my best.”

Then, as if Nanase remembered something, she suddenly opened her eyes wide. She fidgeted with her hands on her knees before speaking hesitantly.

“… Then, can I ask you for one favor?”

“Okay. Sure.”

This time, I am ready to accept whatever she asks for.

Bracing myself, Nanase grabs my hands firmly. Her large eyes looking at me hold a serious intent.

“… Sagara-kun. Will you go on a date with me during the summer break!?”

“… Huh!?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected “favor,” I blurt out a dumbfounded response.

Nanase looks at me with an earnest expression, as if it’s the most natural request in the world.

My summer vacation, which wasn’t going according to plan, was about to begin.

◆◆◆

The exams are over, and a week has passed since the start of summer vacation.

Nanase begged me to go on a date without asking any questions, so here I am, taking the day off from work, on a city bus.

Our destination is the Kyoto Aquarium, located in Umekoji.

I sneak a glance at Nanase sitting next to me. Today, she’s wearing a dress that comes down to her ankles and has her hair tied up in a bun on top of her head.

Maybe it’s because it’s summer break, but she feels a little different from when she’s at university.

“Hey, Nanase…”

Nanase, with her perfect makeup, smiles and says, “What?”

In the end, I couldn’t ask anything and just looked out the window, saying, “Nothing.” I repeat the unasked question in my mind.

Why did she invite me?

A date is typically between people in a romantic relationship or something close to it.

Does that mean… could Nanase possibly have feelings for me?

No, no, I don’t want to get involved with others, and I have no intention of getting into a relationship…

After such thoughts, I scold myself for being too conceited. Nanase, who boasts about wanting a “wonderful boyfriend” for her rose-colored college life, wouldn’t fall for a guy like me.

I am, if anything, at the opposite end of the spectrum from “wonderful.”

As I stew in my thoughts, the bus stops.

“We’re here. Let’s get off,”

I followed her off the bus.

In front of the aquarium is Umekoji Park, a large park bustling with families, student groups, and couples despite the scorching sun.

At the entrance of the aquarium, I can see a familiar man and woman standing.

“Hey, Haruko! Over here!”

Waving at us is Sudo, with the handsome Houjo standing next to her.

…What’s going on?

I look at Nanase for an explanation, and she mutters an apologetic “Sorry.” Houjo looks at me and smiles meaningfully.

Somehow, I get the gist of the situation.

For some reason, she must have been asked by Houjo to bring me along.

…So it’s not really a date at all. What a complicated way to put it.

“Let’s go in. I’ve got the tickets, so I’ll collect the money later.”

“Haruko, Haruko! Let’s take a picture with the giant salamander!”

Sudo, overly excited, pulls Nanase along and runs off.

Leaving us behind, and then the handsome Houjo turns a refreshing smile towards me.

If that smile hit any of the girls around here, it would be lethal.

Inside the polished aquarium, a massive ray glides smoothly with a school of little sardines swirling around it.

The interior of the aquarium is dim lighted, with only the tanks glowing faintly blue.

As I was looking at it and thinking it looked delicious, Hojo started talking to me.

His bangs sway smoothly.

“Hey, did you know? Rays have poison in their tails.”

…Why am I spending my summer vacation at an aquarium with a handsome guy?

Seeing my dissatisfied expression, Houjo pats my back

“Don’t make that face.”

Nanase and Sudo are happily taking pictures of the tanks a little away from us. Girls sure like taking photos, I think, as I watch them.

“Nanase ended up inviting Sagara, huh? Even though I said anyone would do.”

“What do you mean, ‘as expected’?”

“Sorry, man, for getting you involved in my stuff.”

“…So you’re the one who started this?”

I ask, and Hojo blinks in surprise.

“Huh? Didn’t Nanase tell you the situation? I told her to keep it a secret, but she could have told you.”

“… She asked me to go on a date without asking any questions.”

Houjo grins at my sullen response.

“Hmm, I see. So Sagara thought it was going to be just the two of you. My bad, I didn’t mean for us to be together.”

His teasing tone irritates me, but since I did think it was just the two of us, I have nothing to say.

“What’s the situation?”

Now that I’m here, I have the right to know. I’ve not only taken time off work but also spent money on transportation and the entrance fee.

Houjo answers casually.

“I asked Nanase for a favor because I like Saki. I wanted her to help me out.”

“… Seriously?”

I hadn’t noticed at all. I instinctively look towards Sudo. She seems like someone who wouldn’t need Nanase’s help to win anyone over. Is Sudo that tough?

“Well, that’s the situation. I’d be happy if you could leave us alone at some point.”

“If that’s the case, you should have just asked her out alone from the start.”

“If I asked her out of the blue, she’d be on guard, wouldn’t she? Besides, I wanted to hang out with you and Nanase, too.”

Houjo says this with a refreshing smile. I can understand why he’d want to hang out with Nanase, but why bother with a boring guy like me?

I can’t quite grasp what he’s thinking.

After taking plenty of photos together, Nanase and Sudo wave at us from a distance.

“Let’s take a picture with Hiroki and Sagara!”

Before I could refuse, Houjo drags me over. I’m forcibly positioned in front of the tank, and Sudo presses the shutter on her smartphone. Not knowing what face to make, I end up expressionless. I don’t really like having my picture taken.

I’m not knowledgeable about fashion, but even I can tell that the other three are stylish and stand out. And there’s me, in my usual black T-shirt, sticking out like a sore thumb in this group.

…I’m clearly out of place here. Someone like Kinami would have been better.

“Hey, can I post the photo of the four of us on Instagram?”

“No. I’ll sue you for infringement of portrait rights.”

Sudo pouts her lips and calls me a stingy in response to my firm refusal.

In a small circular tank, translucent jellyfish make strange, squishy movements, their tentacles swaying like threads in the water.

I had never been to an aquarium before, so this was my first time seeing jellyfish up close.

They’re quite interesting. The way their insides are visible, including something that looks like a faintly pulsating heart, is quite fascinating.

I’m captivated and observe the jellyfish intently.

“Sagara-kun.”

I turn around at the sound of my name, and there’s Nanase standing behind me.

“Where are Houjo and Sudo?”

“They’re over there in the deep-sea fish section. They said you were looking at the jellyfish so intently, they didn’t want to distrub you. Do you like jellyfish?”