Chapter 3: Perfect Lipstick Gets Messy with Love?

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“Thank you for your understanding!”

The day after I submitted my report. After finishing my third-period class, I headed to the professor’s office.

The professor asked with a stern expression, “Why was your submission late?”

“…I’m sorry. I had completed it but completely forgot to send it…”

“…I can tell it’s not an excuse. The content clearly wasn’t something thrown together overnight. But a missed deadline is still a missed deadline.”

“You’re right…”

As I hung my head, the professor sighed in exasperation.

“…I’ll make an exception and not deduct points this time. Just make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

“Thank you so much…!”

I felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders at the professor’s words. He glared at me with his intense gaze.

“Nanase and Sagara are both capable students. Don’t let your relationship cause you to fall apart together.”

His comment made my heart skip a beat. It seemed he had figured out that Sagara-kun and I were dating.

I bowed and left the office.

Walking to the bike parking lot, I trudged along. Even though it was summer, the air was sticky and humid from the rainy season.

A couple sitting on a bench in the grassy plaza was laughing together, their shoulders shaking. From their fresh demeanor, they were probably first-years. Remembering myself from last year made me feel like crying.

When I first entered university, I was filled with hopes of having a rosy college life. I wanted to make lots of friends and, if possible, have a wonderful boyfriend. With such vague goals, I had come this far.

I learned how to do makeup and changed my appearance, made friends who were comfortable to be around. I fell in love, and that person fell in love with me, and we became a couple.

…But the rosy college life I envisioned… surely isn’t like this.

I couldn’t even make my boyfriend happy. I hadn’t thought about my future at all. I got anxious and jealous over trivial things. And now, even my one strength—studies—was being neglected. This was far from rosy…

──Nanase and Sagara are both capable students. Don’t let your relationship cause you to fall apart together.

Was romance really something that could ruin a person so easily? If I hadn’t fallen for Sagara-kun… would I have remained unaware of my own shortcomings?

The thought crossed my mind, and I slapped my cheeks hard. Then I straightened my back and walked forward.

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On my way home from my part-time job ending at 9 PM, I noticed women in yukata waiting at the bus stop. It reminded me that it was the Gion Festival season.

Around this time last year, I ran into Nanase while working, and we walked together. It was just a year ago, but it felt incredibly nostalgic. Back then, Nanase was trying her best to have a rosy college life, even before we started dating.

…If I’m hindering Nanase, would it be better to break up?

I quickly shook off that thought.

Breaking up wouldn’t solve the fundamental issue. Dating shouldn’t be about dragging each other down. There must be something else I can do for Nanase.

When I arrived at the apartment, I saw Nanase standing in front of my door.

In her simple glasses and high school gym clothes, with her chestnut hair tied casually in two ponytails, she waved at me. Was she waiting for me to come home?

Of course, I was happy, but another wave of anxiety hit me. Was Nanase neglecting herself because she was so focused on me?

If I wanted to stay with Nanase, I couldn’t stay like this. Fulfilling her wishes wasn’t the only thing that made a “wonderful boyfriend.”

I had promised to help her achieve her rosy college life. If my presence was hindering that, correcting it was also my responsibility.

As I climbed the stairs, Nanase smiled and said, “Good job today.” Seeing her bare face after a long time, she seemed relieved and calm, as if she had let go of something.

“What are you doing here?”

“I have something important to talk to you about, Sagara-kun.”

There was no anxiety or hesitation in her eyes as she looked at me. She met my gaze firmly and spoke slowly.

“Sagara-kun. Let’s take some distance for a while.”

“…What?”

My mind went blank. Repeating her words, I felt the blood drain from my body in despair.

Was I being dumped…?

Breaking up to focus on studying was something a serious person like Nanase might think. If that was her decision, I should respect it for her sake…

No. Absolutely not. I’d rather die than break up.

I remembered breaking up with Nanase in this same spot before. Someone once said that karma comes back to you.

My head felt like it was being pounded with a hammer. Barely able to stand, I noticed Nanase’s panicked expression, “No, that’s not what I mean!”

“Let’s put our issues on hold for now.”

“On hold… what do you mean?”

Nanase continued with a serious expression.

“I’ve been overwhelmed by the joy and anxiety of dating someone I like… and I’ve let other things slide. I’m not as good at balancing things as I thought.”

“…”

“But I don’t want to ever think that I shouldn’t have fallen for you, Sagara-kun.”

“…What?”

Nanase held my hands tightly. My icy fingers warmed in her grasp, and the blood gradually returned to them.

“I want to be someone who can strive harder because I have you, not someone who falls apart.”

“Nanase…”

“Until exams are over, I’ll stop thinking about unnecessary things and give it my all. I’m already behind, but I’ll get top marks. I don’t want anyone to think my grades dropped because of you.”

Behind her glasses, Nanase’s eyes shone with determination.

…Yes, this is the Haruko Nanase I fell for. I never needed to intervene.

Nanase said she wanted to be someone who could strive harder because of me. I still didn’t know what exactly made a “wonderful boyfriend,” but at least being someone who makes her want to try harder was important.

Looking straight into her eyes, I gripped her hands firmly.

“…Me too. I’ll work hard for the exams so I can confidently be with you.”

Nanase smiled and nodded, “Yeah.”

If I had remained alone, I wouldn’t have realized this. Dating someone is about mutual support. I want to truly feel that falling for Nanase was the best thing that happened to me.

“It’ll be really, really lonely… but I’ll hold off seeing you until exams are over.”

Nanase said, squeezing my hand as if to reaffirm our bond. Then she stood on tiptoe and whispered in my ear.

“…Sagara-kun.”

“W-What?”

“I’m not very good at balancing things, so I might still trouble you… but after exams, I want to put my all into you.”

“Huh?”

“So, be ready!”

With that declaration, Nanase waved and went into her room. I slumped to the ground, overwhelmed by her words.

…Her full effort is sure to be overwhelming. Can I handle it?

As a smile crept onto my face, I forced it down. Since she was giving it her all, I had to do the same for the exams.