Liar's Lips Fall Apart in Love - Volume 1 Chapter 3.7

The Autumn When Love Begins 7

…I somehow guessed the reason why the water fell. But, I don’t have time to deal with those guys right now.

“Let’s go.”

I grabbed Nanase’s wrist and forcibly pulled her, descending from the stage. Probably almost everyone at the venue is focusing on me right now. I hate standing out, but it can’t be helped.

“What…what’s this about! Suddenly, a panda invades and takes Nanase-san away! Is, is this some kind of performance!? Huh, it’s not!?”

While listening to the host’s voice behind me, I silently marched on. Like Moses parting the sea, the crowd quickly made way for us.

“Sagara-kun…”

I hear Nanase’s muffled voice. People passing by are staring at me, leading a girl wearing a panda head, with puzzled looks. Some even chuckle and say, “What’s that?” Annoying, we’re not some spectacle.

For now, I headed to the lab where our belongings were. Peering inside after opening the door, fortunately, no one was there. Entering with Nanase, I locked the door behind us.

“Nanase, are you okay?”

I asked, but she didn’t answer. Holding the panda head with both hands, she just stood there rigidly. Drops of water fell from her long hair onto the lab’s floor.

When I tried to take off the head, Nanase shook her head in refusal.

“…No, don’t look. My makeup’s all gone.”

I was dumbfounded. What is she talking about now, this girl.

“I’ve seen your bare face many times.”

“…But, I don’t want you to see now. Because, I…I’m not cute.”

“…Huh?”

“Please, don’t look…”

With a trembling voice, Nanase pleaded. Unfortunately, I can’t grant that request. Pushing aside her resisting hands, I forcefully lifted the panda head.

The completely soaked Nanase had all her makeup washed away. The fake eyelashes that rimmed her eyelids were gone somewhere. The glittery eyelids, the brightly colored cheeks, the rosy lips were nowhere to be seen. It’s the plain bare face I’ve gotten quite used to seeing.

Yet, I think the woman in front of me now is more attractive than any of the beauties who stood on that dazzling stage earlier.

“You’re cute.”

The words I uttered were not just consolations or anything of the sort. They were my genuine feelings.

Hearing my words, Nanase’s eyes snapped open. Her lips trembled as she murmured,

“Liar.”

“It’s not a lie. Whether you’re wearing makeup or not, Nanase is Nanase.”

When I firmly stated that, Nanase looked down, covering her face with her hands. I feared I might have made her cry.

“…Sorry, are you crying by any chance?”

I gently pried open Nanase’s hands covering her face. A sigh of relief escaped me the moment I saw her face. Far from crying, Nanase was smiling.

“…See, you’re laughing.”

“…Sorry.”

“What’s so funny?”

The day was already turning to dusk, and the setting sun from the west dyed our private lab an orange hue. The hustle and bustle of the cultural festival seemed far away now, and the faint sound of the Jazz Research Society playing “Moonlight Serenade” could be heard.

“No, it’s…I’m happy.”

Nanase said, softening her eyes.

The moment I saw her face, I finally realized. I’ve come to realize.

…The reason my long-cherished solitude is being threatened is because of her. Being with Nanase, I can’t stay as myself.

“…Sagara-kun. Um, you know, I…”

Nanase stopped mid-sentence, tightly pursing her lips. What she was about to say, I couldn’t ask.

◇◇◇

Haruko’s PoV

For nineteen years since I was born, romance was something distant for me.

There were boys I thought were a bit cool, but I never had much involvement to fall in love, nor was I particularly interested. Even if I had felt that way, someone as plain as me wouldn’t have been noticed anyway.

Even after entering university, watching the heroines in shoujo manga and TV dramas fall head over heels in love made me wonder why they couldn’t act more rationally.

But now, I can very well understand how they feel. Love makes person stupid. Right now, I’m at a loss in front of a mountain of fried chicken.

…No, isn’t this clearly too much? Is this for sumo or something?

Why did I bother making fried chicken, something tedious to prepare? Because it’s Sagara-kun’s favorite. Why did I get so carried away and make so much?

It’s because I like Sagara-kun.

“Haah…”

Thinking back to that day, my heart feels like it’s going to burst. The sight of Sagara-kun, leading me away while I was inside the panda mascot costume, sparkles in my memory.

Sagara-kun at that moment was like a hero out of a shoujo manga. Maybe my brain is overreact it by about thirty percent.

──You’re cute.

The moment he said that, I finally realized the love that had always been in my heart. Clumsy but kind, always pushing me forward, someone who sees me. From the start, it couldn’t have been anyone but Sagara-kun I’d fall in love with.

Unable to stay put, I crouched down and hugged my knees. Ever since realizing my feelings for Sagara-kun, something’s been off with me.

I feel like I’m constantly floating a few inches off the ground.

Just then, I heard the sound of a neighbor returning home and quickly stood up. I piled the fried chicken high on a plate and left the room. I quickly fixed my bangs before pressing the intercom.

Sagara-kun, who peeked out, looked surprised to see me.

“Why are you wearing makeup? Are you going somewhere?”

…No, I have no plans other than seeing Sagara-kun.

I didn’t remove my makeup even after returning home, waiting for Sagara-kun to come back. In fact, I even touched it up a bit.

I want Sagara-kun to think I’m a bit cute. Knowing he’s seen my real face, it might be futile effort.

I smiled to gloss it over and said, “Here, I made this,” presenting the fried chicken. Sagara-kun’s eyes widened, “Ah, that’s a lot.”

“Um, ah, I might have made too much… Can you finish it…?”

“…No, I can eat it though. Thanks.”

Sagara-kun said, accepting the fried chicken. As usual, I was about to enter his room when──I stopped dead in my tracks.

Lately, whenever I brought over something I made, we’d end up having dinner together. It would be natural to do the same today.

But, upon regaining my calm, I realized. Eating dinner alone in the room of the person I like, just the two of us, is an incredible situation. I probably wouldn’t taste the fried chicken at all.

“…Aren’t we eating together?”

“I, I…to, today, I’ll eat in my room! See you tomorrow!”

I said that and dashed back to my room at lightning speed. Once the door was closed, I buried my face in a cushion.

…Ah, I really like him! Even in his casual sweatpants, he’s too cool!

I let out a silent scream and rolled around on the floor alone. To anyone watching, I must look completely suspicious.

…Having the person you like living next door is amazing…

Just thinking about Sagara-kun being on the other side of the thin wall made me feel restless. I wonder if he’s eating the fried chicken now.

I thought about pressing my ear against the wall to listen, but decided against it for various reasons.

“Haruko. By the way, were you okay after the beauty pageant? Didn’t catch a cold or anything?”

A week after the cultural festival, during lunch break in the cafeteria of Building No. 3, Nami-chan suddenly asked.

“Yeah, I’m totally fine!”

After that mishap, the beauty pageant proceeded without me, and Kiyohara-san from the Literature Department won. The organizers apologized to me profusely, and as compensation, gave me some delicious Kyoto famous sweets, Ajari Mochi, which I enjoyed.

I wasn’t bothered at all, but Sacchan was furious on my behalf. Even now, her anger hasn’t subsided, and she puffs up her cheeks saying,

“Still, that was terrible. Making a girl all wet on stage, unimaginable. By the way, what was Sagara doing? He suddenly took Haruko away.”

“Ah, he’s kinda famous now. The ‘Panda Man’ from the beauty pageant.”

Apparently, the existence of the “Panda Man who took away the girl drenched in water from the beauty pageant” is somewhat well-known within the campus.

Sagara-kun hates standing out more than anything, so he seemed utterly fed up with being whispered about behind his back. I feel somewhat guilty for causing him trouble.

“Ah, that was…because I was in trouble on stage, he came to help. Sagara-kun, he’s always…watching over me…and helps me.”

Remembering it, I find myself drifting into a daze again. Ah, he really was so cool… Watching me daydream, Sacchan asked.

“Haruko…do you actually like Sagara?”

Caught off guard, my cheeks instantly heat up. There’s no way to hide it; my face must be beet red. It’s probably going to be difficult to keep this secret from everyone. I resigned myself and nodded.

“…Yeah. I, like, him.” (tln : honest heroine :o)

Answering in a fluster, the three of them suddenly screamed,

“Haruko, you’re so cute~!”

“Sagara-kun doesn’t deserve you!”

“Hey, it’s okay, he might look a bit plain, but if you squint, he’s got that salt-face handsome look!”

“Hey, guys, keep it down!”

I hastily looked around. Why are these sparkling girls so loud?

“Ke, keep it a secret… I still don’t have the courage to confess…”

“That’s no good, you can’t be the one to confess! Let him say it!”

“Besides, Sagara will probably confess to you sooner or later, right?”

“No, no way!”

At Sacchan’s words, my body temperature rose even more. My frantic behavior made Sacchan smirk and continue.

“Sagara definitely likes Haruko too, I think. He’s only kind to Haruko, after all.”

“Ah, ehehe…really?”

I couldn’t help but grin. Being told that made me feel a bit hopeful. It might just be encouragement, but it still made me happy.

Sacchan said earnestly, “Haruko, even if you get a boyfriend, you have to hang out with us,”

to which I replied, blushing,

“You’re getting ahead of yourself!”

TLN : AHHHHHH HARUKO IS SO CUTE