Liar's Lips Fall Apart in Love - Volume 1 Chapter 2.8

The Summer When Something Changes 8

“Not really.”

“They’re cute, aren’t they? I like the small, round ones.”

I find them interesting to watch, but cute…? If anything, I think they have a grotesque appearance, with their internal organs visible and all.

It seems Nanase and I have a different sense of aesthetics.

I stole a glance at Nanase before turning back to the jellyfish.

“I heard from Houjo. You were used as a bait to get Sudo to hang out with him, right?”

Nanase let out a slightly exasperated sigh at my words.

“Come on, don’t make it sound so bad… Houjo-kun isn’t such a bad person.”

“…Then why me?”

Nanase tilted her head with a puzzled “What?” Her large eyes, enhanced by contact lenses, reflected the blue light of the aquarium, shining in a mysterious hue.

“I’m obviously out of place here. If you’re going to invite someone to this kind of things… there are better candidates.”

“That’s not true! I wanted it to be you, Sagara-kun.”

Nanase’s answer was earnest. She probably just doesn’t have any guy friends, that’s all.

But still, it’s kind of an itchy feeling.

Then Nanase lowered her voice a bit and continued.

“Hey, should we leave them alone soon?”

Following Nanase’s words, I looked over at the two by the deep-sea fish tank.

Houjo was talking to Sudo, who was laughing with her shoulders shaking. Watching Sudo, Houjo’s gaze indeed seemed different from the one he directed at Nanase or me.

“Houjo-kun really does like Sacchan, doesn’t he?”

“Seems like it. I don’t really get it, though.”

“Wandering off now would be too obvious… How should I explain it to Sacchan?”

“I haven’t had lunch; I’m getting hungry.”

While we whispered, Sudo turned around and shouted in a loud, clear voice.

“Hey hey! There’s a dolphin show starting soon! Wanna go watch?”

Since Sudo beckoned us insistently with her hand, we gave in and went over to them.

I actually wanted to watch the jellyfish a bit longer, but it couldn’t be helped.

After watching the dolphin show with the four of us and taking a full tour of the aquarium, we moved to the café inside the facility.

Nanase and Sudo, who ordered giant salamander meat buns, were both giddy and exclaimed, “So cute~!” I only ordered an iced coffee.

“I haven’t been to the aquarium since middle school, but it was super fun!”

Houjo smiled in response, “Then I’m glad.”

“It’s my first time at an aquarium.”

I muttered casually, to which Nanase responded in surprise.

“Huh? Didn’t you go to Nagoya Port Aquarium on a school trip in elementary school?”

“I didn’t go. I went to Meiji Village, though.”

“Ah, that brings back memories.”

Houjo seemed to have interested upon hearing our exchange.

“Ah, right. You two are from the same hometown, huh? That’s why you’re close.”

We’re not particularly close, but I keep silent since clarifying would complicate the conversation.

“Speaking of which, you said you went to the same high school!”

At Sudo’s words, Nanase nodded ambiguously. For Nanase, high school topics are probably something she’d rather avoid at all costs.

“Were you two close since high school?”

Nanase’s eyes darted around at Houjo’s question. It was a blatantly obvious reaction. Not wanting to watch her struggle, I put down my coffee glass and spoke up.

“Not really. I knew she existed, but we didn’t interact.”

“Really? What was Haruko like in high school? Was she cute, too?”

Sudo asked innocently, making Nanase’s shoulders twitch. With a slight increase in volume, she responded definitively.

“She’s the same as now. Nothing’s changed.”

Nanase glanced at me momentarily before looking down guiltily.

…Idiot, just act normal. What will you do if you make them think weirdly?

As I inwardly fretted, Houjo changed the subject with, “So, where to next?” Sudo didn’t press any further, and I felt relieved.

Before leaving the aquarium, Sudo said, “I’m going to the bathroom for a sec,” and stepped away.

Seizing the moment, I told Houjo.

“I’m heading home then.”

“Eh? Since we’re here, let’s hang out a bit more.”

“I’ve had enough. Nanase, let’s go.”

Nanase looked puzzled, “Where to?” Could she have forgotten her original purpose?

“What did you come here for? You were supposed to leave Houjo and Sudo alone together, right?”

“Oh, right! Then good luck, Houjo-kun! Fight on!”

Nanase seemed to finally remember, clenching her fist in front of her chest. Houjo waved a fluttering hand, saying, “Thanks~”

As we left the aquarium, we walked toward the bus stop. Nanase kept looking back, as if she was worried about Sudo.

“I wonder if they’ll be okay. I’ll send Sacchan a LINE message later, just in case.”

“If she really hates it, she’ll go home on her own.”

“I think… Sacchan doesn’t hate it. Probably…”

Nanase said, holding her parasol against the sun. Frankly, I don’t care what happens to those two, but I don’t want to be involved again. I hope they just get together quickly.

“Houjo-kun is handsome, and Sacchan is beautiful. They’re a perfect match, aren’t they?”

“… Yeah, maybe.”

Then I remembered something. Houjo once told me that Nanase and I were a good match.

I looked at Nanase walking next to me.

She’s a beauty, clearly out of my league.

A good match with me? That’s impossible, even if I turned myself inside out.

After a while, we arrived at the bus stop. Our bus was scheduled to come in five minutes, but Kyoto buses are never on time.

The bench, heated by the sun, was so hot it seemed like it could cause burns, making it hard to sit down.

“It’s really hot. I’m thirsty.”

Nanase said and bought a drink from a vending machine near the bus stop—a refreshing summer lemon soda.

I thought about getting something myself, but I didn’t have any change, so I gave up.

Nanase took two modest sips from the bottle, leaving faint pink lipstick marks on the rim, which made me feel oddly conscious.

“…Sagara-kun. Sorry about earlier.”

Nanase suddenly said. Her voice was almost drowned out by the loud cicadas.

The black parasol cast a shadow on her profile.

Why she was apologizing.

“For what?”

“For making you tell an unnecessary lie. That I haven’t changed at all since high school.”

“Ah… Not really, don’t worry about it.”

I already owe Nanase, and a little white lie like that doesn’t hurt me at all. If such a thing can protect Nanase’s peace of mind, it’s a small price to pay.

…Besides.

“…It’s not completely a lie, anyway.”

Nanase has changed. But there’s also a lot about her that hasn’t changed, like her straight posture and her diligent attitude towards work. Those things are the same as they were in high school.

I stared at the tips of my sneakers hitting the asphalt and continued slowly.

“You’ve always been serious and hardworking, haven’t you?”

“…I guess.”

“I mean, it’s just that the direction of your full effort has shifted a bit… The core part of you hasn’t changed at all.”

When I looked up, Nanase was still staring at me, listening to my words.

Eventually, she smiled with a soft, drooping eye, reminiscent of her unguarded self.

“Thank you.”

“…It’s not something to be thanked for.”

After my reply, Nanase leaned in to look at my face, then pressed the cool bottle against my cheek with a “there.”

“Whoa. What’s that for?”

“Sagara-kun, your face is red. …Heatstroke again?”

The lemon soda felt refreshingly cold against my skin. That’s when I finally realized that my face was surprisingly hot.