Liar's Lips Fall Apart in Love - Volume 1 Chapter 3.10

The Autumn When Love Begins 10

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Haruko’s PoV

The moment I saw the plain, unremarkable face of mine displayed on the smartphone, I felt as though the ground under my feet had vanished.

The laughter of those girls, looking at me and snickering, overlapped with the voices of my high school classmates.

No matter how much I changed, I couldn’t escape being the plain, unremarkable me. It felt like a harsh truth was being thrust in my face.

I couldn’t bear to look at Sacchan next to me. Pretending to be someone I’m not, deceiving those around me—it was karma retribution. Though I understood that, I never wanted it to be revealed in this way.

The words that saved me, on the verge of tears, were Sagara-kun’s.

“The reason Nanase is beautiful and sparkling now is all because of her efforts. Besides, even without makeup, Nanase is cuter than you guys by leagues. There’s absolutely no reason for her to be ridiculed.”

Sagara-kun’s words made me feel like crying for a different reason.

He always acknowledges me. In his awkward way, he tells me it’s okay to be myself. A warmth kindled deep in my chest, making my body temperature rise.

──Ah, please don’t make me fall for you any more than I already have.

I took a deep breath and straightened my back. Facing those girls, who looked at me with malice in their eyes, I stated clearly,

“It’s true, I was plain during my high school days. But just like Sagara-kun said… there’s absolutely no reason for you to ridicule me. I’ve always worked hard… and became cute through my efforts.”

My words seemed to make the two of them falter. Sagara-kun glared at them.

“…It’s not worth engaging with them anymore, but… don’t do anything weird to Nanase ever again. If you pull any more unnecessary stunts, I won’t stay silent next time.”

The girls muttered “What’s that” and “Let’s go” to each other and fled the scene like they were running away.

Sagara-kun, left behind, was scratching his cheek, looking a bit embarrassed. Maybe he thinks he said something out of character. Nonetheless, I was happy.

Sacchan, who had watched the whole ordeal, nudged Sagara-kun with her elbow, saying,

“Well done, Sagara.”

“You said everything I wanted to say. But it was refreshing. I see you in a new light.”

Sacchan said this with a bright smile. Sagara-kun, having lost his earlier momentum, became flustered, mumbling, “No, I didn’t really…”

Now that my bare face had been revealed to Sacchan, I faced her directly and deeply bowed my head.

“Um, Sacchan… I’m sorry.”

Caught off guard by my sudden apology, Sacchan responded with a puzzled “Why?”

“I… I deceived you.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“In high school, I was very plain and didn’t stand out at all… I didn’t have a single friend. The me you called cute was a fake.”

“…”

“…I might not be… the kind of person Sacchan would want to be friends with, after all.”

At my words, Sacchan seemed to look sad and angry at the same time. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but I stopped her with a hand and continued.

“But… I still want to be friends with Sacchan. Even though the real me is plain, unfashionable, and not cute… but, can we still be friends?”

After listening to me, Sacchan let out a deep sigh. Anxiety fluttered in my chest, wondering if she now disliked me.

Sacchan reached out and flicked my forehead lightly.

“Ow!”

“Haruko, were you really thinking that? You’re such an idiot.”

“I-Idiot…?”

“I didn’t become friends with you just because you’re stylish and cute.”

Sacchan said this and then wrapped my cheeks with both hands.

“…Haruko. Remember at the university entrance ceremony, when you were fixing the fallen signboard by yourself?”

“Uh… yeah.”

I vaguely remembered doing something like that. A welcome sign for new students at the university gate had been toppled over by a strong wind, causing a disaster, so I instinctively went to fix it. It felt like bad luck for the first thing new students to see at the entrance ceremony to be a fallen signboard.

“Everyone noticed but ignored it, yet only Haruko seriously fixed it. Even though it wasn’t your fault it fell. I thought, ‘She’s a good person,’ and wanted to be friends.”

“Sacchan…”

“Isn’t that part of Haruko’s true character? I don’t think I was deceived by Haruko. Because Haruko is Haruko. Kind, cute, honest, and a good person. I like that kind of Haruko.”

Sacchan tilted her head, peering into my face. Her greyish eyes were moist, making me feel like crying too.

Holding back tears was all I could manage, managing a nod. I blinked several times, dispelling the heat behind my eyelids.

Now, I’m sure I can show my bare face and still be met with a smile. Because here are people who say I’m wonderful just the way I am.

Turning my head, I looked at Sagara-kun. He was watching me with a gentleness I had never seen before.

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Sagara’s PoV

A week had passed since the commotion of Nanase’s real face being revealed. The comfortable autumn had ended, and the biting cold of Kyoto’s winter was setting in.

Nanase still seemed to be getting along well with Sudo and the others. Rumors that the beauty of the economics department was a university debut circulated, but most people didn’t care. After all, it’s rare for university students to mock someone’s real face.

Nanase, perfectly made up, stood straight with her back erect, facing forward.

Recently, she’s been gradually expanding her circle of friends, chatting with various people. Her university life seems to be on the right track. It’s all the result of Nanase’s efforts. My assistance was never necessary from the beginning.

“I’m looking forward to the seminar trip! I wish spring break would come sooner.”

No Make-Up Nanase said this while scooping out a daikon radish from the pot of oden.

We hadn’t eaten dinner together for a while, but today Nanase brought over a pot of oden, saying, “Let’s eat together!” The recent chill had made the warmth of the oden deeply appreciated.

While I was munching on a piece of hanpen soaked in broth, Nanase asked me,

“…Sagara-kun, won’t you come? To the seminar trip.”

Before I could reply with “I won’t go,” Nanase leaned forward, eagerly making her case.

“Um, you see! We’re going to a hot spring! There’s an inn run by Torii-kun’s relatives, and we can stay there really cheaply… I-I’ll be wearing a yukata! So, Sagara-kun, let’s go together…”

“…I don’t need to be there…”

“No, I want Sagara-kun to come too. I think it’ll be fun if we’re together…”

Nanase clenched her fists tightly on the table. I couldn’t say anything, just silently glaring at the konyaku on my plate.

I knew if I said I wouldn’t go, she would look sad. I didn’t want to see that.

“…I’ll think about it.”

Putting off an answer was just an escape, I knew that.

Nanase smiled happily,

“It’d be nice if we could stay overnight together.”

I almost spat out the konnyaku. That way of phrasing might invite some misunderstandings.

“Anyway, it’s been really cold lately! It’s so hard to get out of bed in the morning. This apartment is really going to be cold in the dead of winter. Maybe I should buy a kotatsu.”

Nanase said this, rubbing her small hands together. Her eyes, smiling with an “Ehehe,” were more relaxed than usual.

“If I buy a kotatsu… Sagara-kun, come warm up with me.”

With her cheeks flushed, Nanase said this, and I silently looked away.

Imagining bare-faced Nanase, snuggly warm under a kotatsu. I thought it must be a cozy spot, but I couldn’t bring myself to nod honestly.

After finishing my night shift, I glanced at my smartphone’s display and grimaced heavily.

A few hours ago, there was one missed call. The caller ID read “Mother.” Followed by a single message, “It’s been a while. Will you come home for the end of the year?”

I turned off my smartphone and shoved it into my coat pocket. “Take Care” I called out and left the store through the back door.

The eastern sky was already beginning to lighten.

Suppressing a yawn, I walked towards my apartment. There were no people walking around early on a Sunday morning, and there were few cars on the road. I quite liked the scene after a night shift. It felt as though I was alone in the world.

As I approached my apartment, something caught my eye. A woman, draped in a blanket over her shoulders, was leaning on the fence, gazing absently at the dawn.

Wearing glasses with no makeup, her long hair casually tied up, dressed in a tracksuit, she had somehow entered my world unnoticed.

──Ah, this is troublesome. What’s troublesome is that I don’t find it bothersome at all.

Climbing the stairs, Nanase noticed me and her expression brightened instantly.

“Good morning,” she said, squinting her eyes behind her glasses.

“…What are you doing at this time?”

“I woke up a bit early.”

“It’s dangerous to be out here alone.”

“It’s already bright, so it’s fine.”

“Is that so. Well, I’m going to sleep. Go back to your room soon.”

As I tried to pass by, my hoodie sleeve was caught. Nanase’s face seemed red, perhaps because of the sunrise. Her bare face, not covered in makeup, looked younger than usual.

Nanase opened her pale lips and whispered,

“…That’s a lie. The truth is, I was waiting for Sagara-kun.”

…She was waiting for me in the cold since morning. At that moment, the suspicion in me turned into conviction, leaving no room for doubt. Pretending not to notice was no longer an option.

“You know, Sagara-kun.”

Nanase looked at me with a resolved expression. Please, don’t say anything more. Despite my thoughts, I couldn’t interrupt her words.

“I like you, Sagara-kun.”

…Finally, she said it.

Chewing over her words, a warmth gradually spread through my chest.

“I really do… I want to be with you forever…”

Clutching her fists in front of her, Nanase repeated those words. Her small hands trembled slightly, and her eyes were a mix of hope and anxiety. How much courage did it take for her to say those words?

All I could do was imagine, as cowardly as I am.

Slowly opening my mouth to respond to her confession ── what echoed in my head was my mother’s voice.

──If only Souhei wasn’t there—

The warmth in my chest cooled instantly.

Ah, that’s right. Although I had almost forgotten, I was supposed to aim for a comfortable and lonely university life from the beginning. I can’t get involved in her rose-colored university life.

“…That’s a problem.”

I said, as if squeezing the voice out of my throat. Nanase’s expression stiffened.

“I’m sorry, Nanase. …I can’t accept your feelings.”

Nanase’s face had lost its color and turned as white as paper.

“…I understand.”

The moment Nanase nodded, a tear streamed down her cheek. It dropped to the ground as it traveled down her chin.

It was the first time I saw Nanase cry. I never wanted to see her cry, yet I was the one who made her cry.

Nanase flipped her blanket and disappeared into her room. The door closed with a bang. I crouched down right there.

In the bitterly cold air, only the chirping of sparrows echoed in the distance.

Once again, there was no one in my world but me.

Though I had supposedly longed for a world all to myself, for some reason, it didn’t feel comfortable at all.