The Lie and What Follows

Friday

A week is short.

For a third-year student preparing for exams, every single day is extremely important.

Well, it doesn’t concern me much.

…The only thing I can proudly boast about is my grades.

I’m not too anxious about the exams. I’ve decided on two national and two private universities to apply to. I plan to take a scholarship, so I definitely want my future self to lead a bright life as a working adult.

…Good luck to me.

If worst comes to worst, I’ll live with Haruka. We’ll lead a modest life as siblings… That’s not too bad, right? I’ll do all the household chores.

Shaking off the pathetic future of leeching off my sister, I focus on the class.

Ninomiya-san in the seat in front of me is fast asleep. Invincible.

When I shift my gaze from the lectern, I meet Riko-san’s eyes.

She smiles brightly at me.

I smile back.

What a peaceful world.

Ah. I’m being scolded.

Riko-san, scolded by our athletic math teacher, reluctantly returns to the lesson. Usually, she would have gotten angry…

It seems Riko-san has started to focus on her studies.

Good for her.

Lunch break.

I usually eat in the classroom and then read or study.

The rooftop? That’s monopolized by the extroverts. What’s so fun about that?

I’ve only eaten on the rooftop once.

It was a miserable time.

Surrounded by extroverts and couples, I ate my pastry alone. I remember, even the pink devils were there. Chasing a bread bag about to be blown away by the wind, thinking littering is bad. The extroverts laughing.

Literally hell.

I, with nowhere to return, alone and without companions.

The rooftop is taboo for me.

A place I should never step into…

Yet, here I am. On the rooftop.

“Man, the weather’s great! No wind! Awesome, isn’t it!?”

“Yeah.”

“Mhm.”

…I’m having lunch with the cool boys.

Let’s rewind time.

The bell signaling the end of the fourth period rings, and I take out the bread I bought in the morning. This is where the incident happened.

“Tooru, wanna have lunch together?”

It’s Riko-san.

Even after the school trip, she hadn’t talked to me much in school. We occasionally made eye contact, but that’s it.

This was the first time she approached me during lunch break.

“Uh, um…”

This is honestly tough for an introvert like me. Being approached by Riko-san, the most popular girl and a representative of the extroverts…

…I feel piercing gazes.

“Is it… no good?”

Her way of asking is unfair. If I refuse, I’d be dealt with by her shadowy entourage.

“Ah, um…”

As I struggle to respond, salvation arrives.

“Endou is eating with us today, right?”

It’s the handsome Kondou-kun.

Eh… I might like him.

“Huh? Why?”

Riko-san gets confrontational.

“It’s fine. We want to talk about the school trip too. Right, Endou?”

I nod. Honestly, having lunch with Riko-san now is beyond embarrassing. It’s… embarrassing.

“Tooru…”

Please wait. Making such a sad face is unfair.

“…”

Silence falls between me and Riko-san. Someone, help…

“Hey, Tooru’s joining us, right? Nice, let’s go!”

The frivolous guy… As expected…

“Come on. Today’s a boys’ lunch. Sorry, Adachi.”

Kondou-kun, carried by the frivolous guy’s enthusiasm, presses on Riko-san.

“…Is that okay with you, Tooru?”

“I’m sorry, Adachi-san. I’m eating with Kondou-kun and the others today.”

Really sorry. I’m just not ready yet.

“Okay. See you later.”

Riko-san backs off and returns to Kiryuu-san and the others.

…I feel a bit guilty.

As I ponder,

“Let’s go! The rooftop’s fine, right?”

Now, a distant past.

Here I am on the rooftop, surrounded by the cool boys, eating with my shoulders hunched.

“Sorry, Endou.”

Kondou-kun looks apologetic. He doesn’t need to worry so much.

“Tooru, is that all you’re eating?”

“Yeah. I don’t burn many calories.”

My lunch is usually two pastries or one savory bread.

I don’t move much. I don’t get very hungry.

Looking at the frivolous guy’s lavish lunch…

“This? My sister loves cooking, so she packs it for me. Hey, don’t stare too much! It’s embarrassing!”

The frivolous guy blushes. I’m the only one who needs this info.

Changing

the topic, he continues.

“So, Tooru, you and Adachi are on good terms!?

I really want to know!”

…Yeah, I was expecting this.

Tamura-kun also listens while eating. He’s even leaning in. It’s obvious, you know?

“Um, well…”

I’m at a loss for words. What should I say?

If I could just say we’re friends, but I don’t think they’ll be convinced by that. But I don’t intend to talk about what happened that day…

“Well, it’s fine. Endou and Adachi are on good terms, right?”

Kondou-kun intervenes. His cover-up is a bit rough, though.

“Eh? Really!? Damn!! You were a rival all along! You should’ve said something!”

…Sorry.

“I’m sorry…”

It’s common knowledge that the frivolous guy likes Riko-san.

He’s always been so energetic. And now Riko-san calls me by my first name.

From Charao’s perspective, it must be baffling.

“No, no! Why are you apologizing! It’s fine! Though I’m jealous!”

“…Yeah, sort of. We’re friends, I guess.”

It’s the truth…

“But man, the way Adachi looks at Tooru, she’s definitely into him! Even I can tell.”

I don’t know what to say. I’ve already rejected her confession again. Anything I say might just add fuel to the fire.

“But Tooru, you’re the reason Adachi cheered up, right? That’s something!”

The frivolous guy laughs as he speaks. I wonder if he’s really okay with it.

“…You don’t want to beat me up?”

Here I am, an introvert, getting along with them.

I thought Kondou-kun and the frivolous guy wouldn’t be too pleased.

“That’s up to Adachi, isn’t it? Whatever we say, Adachi likes Tooru. That’s all that matters, right?”

“Yeah. Don’t worry about it, Endou.”

…I feel like crying. I thought they’d definitely say something.

“Thank… you.”

My voice is tearful. Why are these guys so nice?

“Hey, don’t cry! If anyone should be crying for being hopeless, it’s me!”

…Yeah. Sorry. I’m really sorry.

“Sorry…”

“Yep.”

Tamura-kun puts his hand on my shoulder…

“Thanks, everyone.”

“Seriously… Tooru, you’re too nice! But I haven’t given up on Adachi, okay? Don’t underestimate me!”

I’m not underestimating. I’m just happy. Surrounded by such wonderful people…

“…Thank you, really.”

“I haven’t admitted defeat yet, though.”

Kondou-kun smiles mischievously. He looked really cool.

Lunch ends, and as I’m about to return to the classroom, my smartphone notifies me.

“Let’s have lunch together on Monday. And let’s decide where to hang out on the weekend.”

Right, the party. I completely forgot.