Liar's Lips Fall Apart in Love - Volume 1 Chapter 3.9

The Autumn When Love Begins 9

Haruko’s PoV

After returning home from university, I eagerly made carbonara pasta and brought it to Sagara-kun.

When he came out of his room, he accepted it with an apologetic “Thank you.” I made it because I wanted him to be happy, so I wished he wouldn’t look so apologetic.

Sagara-kun placed the plate of pasta in the kitchen and looked at me, still standing at the entrance, with a somewhat troubled expression.

Come to think of it, today he didn’t ask if I was going to “eat together.” Even though I was the one who declined last time, I wonder if he’s not inviting me this time. It felt too lonely to just go back to my room, so I asked Sagara-kun.

“…Sa, Sagara-kun… um, did you hear about the seminar trip?”

“No, nothing.”

“Everyone in the seminar is talking about going on a trip during spring break.”

“Hmm.”

As usual, he seemed to have no interest at all. Just as I was thinking he probably didn’t plan to go, he asked me instead.

“Nanase, aren’t you participating?”

“…I… want to go, but I’m worried…”

“Why? If you want to go, you should just go.”

“…But if we go on a trip, I’ll have to show my true face, won’t I?”

When I said that, Sagara-kun responded with a lackluster “Hah.” He furrowed his brows in confusion and tilted his head.

“Is that a problem?”

“It’s a huge problem! If they see my bare face… Sacchan and the others might end up hating me.”

“…You’re still worried about that?”

His voice sounded exasperated, which made me a bit angry. Even if it doesn’t seem like a big deal to Sagara-kun, it’s a very important matter to me.

“Of course, I’m worried. Because…”

“Sudo isn’t the type to hate you over something like that. Probably.”

Sagara-kun said nonchalantly, and I clenched the hem of my jersey tightly.

“…How can you say that? You don’t know. If I stayed the way I was in high school, plain and unremarkable… Sacchan definitely wouldn’t have chosen me.”

When I said that, Sagara-kun furrowed his brows in confusion.

“…You think you became friends with Sudo because you started wearing makeup and became beautiful?”

I silently nodded in response. Sagara-kun scratched his head vigorously, then slowly began to speak, choosing his words carefully.

“That’s kind of… wrong, I think… It feels disrespectful to Sudo.”

“Huh…”

“Why did you become friends with Sudo? Because she’s beautiful and bright, so you thought you could become like her by being with her?”

As soon as Sagara-kun pointed that out, my cheeks flushed hot. It felt like he had seen through a sneaky and ugly part of me I wasn’t even aware of—making me feel ashamed and wanting to flee from the spot.

“…Maybe that’s true…”

“Do you still think so now?”

I vigorously shook my head in response to Sagara-kun’s question.

Certainly, at first, I was proud that Sacchan talked to me, thinking it was proof that my efforts were recognized—but now, it’s different.

“…I enjoy being with Sacchan… I like her, that’s why I want to be friends.”

As I said that, Sagara-kun, though looking a bit perplexed, patted my head gently. His usual stern face, but his touch was gentle. Warmth spread from where he touched, and my body temperature seemed to rise.

“Then, you should trust Sudo… Not just Sudo, but… no one around you would leave you just because they saw your real face.”

“…Yeah. Everyone’s kind, aren’t they?”

“The reason there are good people around you is that you’re a good person yourself.”

I wanted to say Sagara-kun is kind too, but my lips trembled, and I couldn’t say it well. Being near Sagara-kun, my heart races, and it’s hard to breathe from the tightness in my chest. Yet, I don’t want to be apart.

…I really like Sagara-kun.

Swallowing those feelings about to burst out, all I could manage to say was “Thank you.”

◆◆◆

Sagara’s PoV

This morning, getting out of bed was so tough that I accidentally overslept for about twenty minutes, leaving me barely made it in time for my lecture.

When I entered the large lecture hall, the front seats, unusually, were taken. Looking around for an available seat, I spotted Nanase sitting in the middle. Next to her, Sudo was chatting and laughing about something.

“Ah, Sagara-kun!”

Nanase, who noticed me, waved with a full smile. Ignoring her felt rude, but waving back felt embarrassing, so I silently headed towards her.

“Sagara-kun, good morning!”

“…Morning.”

“Sagara, you wanna sit here? Next to Haruko. I’ll go to the back.”

“W-what!?, bu-but, Sacchan…!”

“…Nah, it’s fine.”

I declined Sudo’s offer and sat down behind Nanase. Her chestnut-colored long hair was intricately braided at the back of her head. I still couldn’t quite figure out how it was done.

As the lecture ended and I was about to stand up, two female students approached us. I thought their faces looked familiar, then it hit me.

…The beauty pageant when Nanase got drenched with water. The two girls who were whispering backstage.

“What are they doing here,” I thought with inward hostility.

However, they didn’t even glance at me but instead spoke to Nanase.

“Hey, Nanase-san.”

One of the girls showed her smartphone screen to Nanase. On the screen was a uniformed female student I recognized. Realizing who it was.

“A friend from my part-time job showed me their yearbook, and isn’t this you, Nanase-san? I was so surprised.”

A snickering laugh, tinged with mockery, escaped the girl’s lips.

The black-haired girl in the photo, wearing her uniform neatly and her hair braided in three, looked plain with her glasses. Below the photo was the name “Haruko Nanase.”

“…This is Haruko?”

Sudo, looking at the smartphone screen, narrowed her eyes in doubt.

I stood up briskly, thinking of how to cover for her—but nothing came to mind. Nanase’s face had gone pale, drained of all blood.

“A friend told me that you used to study alone during breaks in high school. So that’s why you’re smart, Nanase-san.”

“And your makeup skills are too good, aren’t they? Like a completely different person. Nanase-san, you always put so much effort into your makeup.”

“You were a library committee member, right? Definitely gives off that ‘library committee member’ vibe. You seem so serious.”

Their words, spoken brightly, were laced with unmistakable malice. Nanase remained silent, biting her lower lip.

They must be jealous of Nanase. Beautiful, smart, and on good terms with someone like Houjo.

They finally found something they could use to feel superior and seized the opportunity to attack her.

Sudo, frowning, was about to say something like, “Hey, enough is enough…” But I spoke first.

“…What’s so funny?”

The two girls finally noticed me, looking startled. Nanase, lifting her face, stared at me in surprise.

“Do you two have any right to dig up Nanase’s past? So what if she was plain before?”

“Huh? What’s with you all of a sudden?”

“The fact that Nanase is beautiful and shining now is the result of her effort. Plus, even without makeup, Nanase is way cuter than you guys. There’s absolutely no reason for her to be mocked.”

Nanase had always said she wanted to live a rosy university life. She always gave her all, never slacking off in anything. I had always been there to see her efforts up close.

“…Just so you know. I’m aware of what you two did during the beauty pageant.”

It was half a bluff since I had no concrete proof, but when they looked at each other with guilty expressions, my suspicion turned into certainty.

“Isn’t it embarrassing for university students to do such things?”

“What are you talking about? Do you have any proof that we did it?”

The girls retorted, unapologetically. They shrugged their shoulders, glaring at us unpleasantly. I was about to say something more when she spoke up.

“It’s okay. Thank you for getting angry for me, Sagara-kun.”

Nanase said in an unusually calm and quiet voice.