Liar's Lips Fall Apart in Love - Volume 1 Chapter 4.10

The Winter When We Take a Step Forward 10

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Haruko’s PoV

It’s been two weeks since my quick trip back to Nagoya.

Winter break has ended, and final exams for the semester are looming. I’m determined to achieve top grades once again.

Sagara-kun, as usual, seems grumpy while working his part-time job, but somehow, he looks a bit more relieved.

He used to avoid interacting with anyone, but now I see him talking with the seminar students. Perhaps going back home helped him sort out his feelings somewhat.

I was worried that I might have been meddling too much, so I’m a bit relieved.

Our relationship has seemingly returned to how it was before I confessed my feelings to Sagara-kun.

We share dinner occasionally and chat when we meet at the university. It’s as if the hug in Nagoya, both giving and receiving, never happened.

I don’t know what to call this relationship. Sagara-kun hasn’t said anything definitive to me.

It’s still dark at six in the morning. I woke up early to take out the trash and took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the cold air. I quite like the crisp air of winter mornings.

I can relate to Sei Shonagon’s sentiment about winter in her writings. (tln : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sei_Sh%C5%8Dnagon)

By the way, Sagara-kun mentioned he had a night shift at his part-time job. I wonder if he’s about to come back soon. Thinking this, I decided to wait in front of his room.

Doing this reminds me of the day he turned me down. I was waiting in the same place, exhaling white breaths, waiting for him.

Gazing absent-mindedly at the streetlight, I see Sagara-kun walking toward me. I wave, and he looks surprised. Climbing the stairs, he says in an exasperated voice,

“What are you doing?”

“…Just thinking how nice the winter morning air feels.”

“Where? It’s just cold. …You’ll catch a cold.”

It’s a lie. I was actually waiting for you, Sagara-kun.

Swallowing those words, I smile and say, “Yeah, you’re right. I’m heading back to my room.”

If I were to say I love you now, just like then, I wonder what Sagara-kun would think. Would he be happy, or… would I just trouble him?

The words he used to push me away that day still linger in my heart like a thorn, pricking me whenever I remember them.

“See you, Sagara-kun. See you at campus.”

Sagara-kun, with a sleepy voice, says, “Yeah.” He’s probably going to take a nap before his first class. It’s quite a tough schedule, especially before exams. I need to get ready soon too; it takes me over an hour just to do my makeup.

Back in my room, I sit huddled in a corner.

…What does Sagara-kun really think of me…?

The more I think about it, the more anxious I become. I don’t think he dislikes me, but whether he likes me or not… I can’t be sure.

He used to proclaim his strong belief in being a “lone wolf,” but will he really stay with me? Does he intend to? I want to give our relationship a proper name and feel secure.

…In that case, I just have to try even harder!

The old me would have given up without trying, but now I have makeup as my weapon.

After washing my face and doing skincare, I apply makeup with extra determination and draw lipstick on my thin lips.

I lift the corners of my brightly tinted lips and smile at the mirror.

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Sagara’s PoV

“Sagara-kun, good evening.”

At twenty-one o’clock, after finishing my part-time job, a dazzlingly beautiful woman, incongruous with the shabby apartment, came to my room.

Despite the late hour, she was fully made up.

“I made cream stew. Please have some if you like.”

“Ah, thanks.”

As I receive the pot from her, Nanase smiles beautifully. Her stunning appearance almost mesmerizes me, but I found myself missing her gentle, droopy-eyed smile.

Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Nanase’s bare face lately.

She used to remove her makeup as soon as she got home, but now she’s always made up.

Her attitude feels somewhat distant… or rather, completely guarded. What’s with this discomfort? After pondering, it hit me.

Ah, right. This is the sparkling Nanase I saw at the university before we got to know each other.

“Well then, goodnight, Sagara-kun!”

Nanase flutters the hem of her skirt and briskly returns to her room. Left behind, I’m overwhelmed by an inexplicable anxiety.

…It feels like we’ve grown farther apart than before…

After the incident in Nagoya, I resolved to face things with Nanase. I like her and want to be with her. I think… she knows that.

But does Nanase still like me?

It’s been two months since Nanase told me she liked me. It might seem like just two months, but in that time, Kinami broke up with his girlfriend, dated another girl, and then got back together with the first one. Do people like him live in a different timeline than me?

…And after rejecting her like that, wouldn’t it be the worst to say I like her now?

If Nanase were to say, “Ah!? I thought that was long over! I have someone else I like now!” I’d have no choice but to…

The mere thought suffocates me, making me want to scratch my throat out. If I had a time machine, I’d run up and punch my past self for turning Nanase down.

“Sagara-kun, let’s have lunch together.”

After Friday’s seminar, Nanase approached me.

Even as Nanase and I leave the lab together, no one gives us curious looks. Our being together has become a normal sight to our seminar mates.

“I made lunch for you today too. There’s fried chicken!”

Passersby glance at Nanase as she says this. Walking next to her, I feel intimidated by her flawless beauty.

Yes, with all that’s happened lately, I almost forgot—Nanase, with her makeup on, is a sparkling beauty from a different world than mine.

Crossing the fountain plaza, we spot Sudo and Houjo sitting on a bench. Sudo waves at us excitedly, calling out, “Haruko!”

“Look at you two, always together. You’re really close, huh?”

Houjo teases us with a grin, looking back and forth between me and Nanase. I turn away, muttering, “Shut up.” You guys have been hanging out a lot recently too.

“By the way, I’ve been wondering…”

“What?”

“Are you and Nanase, like, dating?”

Hojo’s question sends a jolt of tension through me.

…This guy, smiling mischievously, has a knack for hitting where it hurts. That’s what I want to know. Um, Nanase-san, are we, like, dating?

Of course, I can’t say that out loud and end up mumbling, “Uh…” Glancing at Nanase next to me, she smiles brightly and says:

“Nope! We’re not dating!”

…You didn’t have to say it so clearly…

Her words, delivered with a broad smile, pierce me deeply.

Nanase calmly says, “Let’s hurry, or lunch break will be over!” and walks ahead with light steps.

Left behind, I can only stand there, dumbfounded.

“What’s this? Did Sagara get rejected? Poor thing.”

“Ha, serves you right. I hope you learn your lesson.”

Houjo and Sudo add insult to injury. I hurry after Nanase’s shrinking figure.

We move to an empty classroom in building six and sit facing each other to eat our lunch.

Nanase’s fried chicken is delicious as always, but I’m too preoccupied to savor it.

Facing Nanase, who’s eating her tamagoyaki, I hesitantly speak up.

“…Um, Nanase. About what you said earlier…”

“Oh, did you hear? Sacchan and Houjo-kun finally started dating!”

“Uh, no. I mean, I don’t really care about them…”

The pressing issue is not about Houjo and Sudo, but about Nanase and me.

Nanase, do you still like me?

I almost blurt it out but stop myself, thinking, who do I think I am? Yet, I don’t know how to confirm Nanase’s feelings.

As I ponder in silence, Nanase smiles and leans in, saying:

“Sagara-kun, you know. I’m aiming for a rose-colored university life.”

“…I know.”

“So, if I were to date someone, I’d want it to be in a super romantic situation, with the guy I like confessing to me.”

Nanase’s eyes sparkle with expectation. A cold sweat runs down my back at her gaze.

Is this… is she waiting for me to make a move…!?

But she makes it sound so simple. “Romantic” is a word that feels so distant from me. I guess I need to start by looking it up in the dictionary.

I straighten up and ask Nanase formally:

“…Um, Nanase-san. Just for reference, if you don’t mind me asking…”

“Yes, what is it, Sagara-kun?”

“…What, exactly, is a ‘romantic’ situation?”

Nanase blushes, tilting her head coyly and leaning in close to my ear. So close, her lips almost touch my ear as she whispers:

“I won’t tell you.”

“Eh?”

“…It would make me happiest if the guy I like puts in the effort to think of something special for me.”

Her sweet breath tickles my ear, nearly stopping my heart.

Dizzy from her devilish smile and enveloped in Nanase’s scent, I foolishly nod, “Yes.”