The Lie and What Follows

After School

Having had the delightful experience of eating lunch with the handsome Kondou-kun and others, I was now engaged in my ‘going home club’ activities. That is, I was heading home.

Having been moved to tears by the charisma of the handsome guys, I felt embarrassingly pathetic.

I just wanted to get home quickly and clean the house.

After mentally bidding goodbye to Ninomiya-san, who was still hibernating in the seat in front of me, I left the classroom. As I reached the shoe lockers and changed into my outdoor shoes, exposed to the clear blue sky…

“Endou, can we talk for a moment?”

I was stopped by Kiryuu-san.

…Deja vu.

“Ah, yes.”

We moved to a spot a little away from the entrance, the back of the gymnasium, where confessions happened in the past. Kiryuu-san, with her arms crossed, glared at me.

The pressure was immense.

Under Kiryuu-san’s intimidating gaze, my defense seemed to plummet into the negatives.

“Looks like you’ve gotten pretty close with Kenta-kun recently?”

…I see.

She came to complain about my recent interactions with the cool guys’ group. Indeed, since the school trip, I’ve had more chances to talk with Kondou-kun and others.

Especially today’s lunch.

I never heard of such an invitation from Riko-san…

Kiryuu-san came to give me a reality check.

Don’t get carried away, she meant.

A real punch of reality.

“Yeah. I don’t know if we’re close, but we talk a bit.”

I gave a non-committal answer.

I couldn’t escape her piercing black gaze. I was cornered.

“So? You seem pretty chummy. Honestly, I don’t know much about you, Endou. If you’re planning to hang out with us, you better think twice.”

“Right, yeah. I understand.”

I did understand. I never planned on joining the cool guys’ group. It’s too much for a loner like me…

Despite the kindness of the boys, I was aware of our incompatible positions.

…It’s something I understood best. It hurt.

“Ah, sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. I wanted to ask you something.”

Her words, though unintentional, were quite damaging…

“Did you and Riko get back together?”

…Makes sense.

When Riko-san talked to me, she mentioned that her confession was a punishment game decided among them, so it wasn’t strange for Kiryuu-san to know.

“We’re not dating. We’re just friends.”

My relationship with Riko-san was just that of friends. After various events, this is where we’ve settled.

“Huh. So you’re not dating?”

…My heart fluttered a bit.

“…Yeah.”

“Why don’t you just date her already?”

…Eh?

“Um… What do you mean?”

Eh, what? She wants us to be together?

“It’s nothing, just that I wish you’d hurry up and date. Even if you have to push her down, just get it done already.”

…

“Sorry.”

“Well, it’s a long shot. But Riko seems to like you, Endou. It might work out. She seems unresolved. You’d be happy, right?”

…
Her words began to form a fog in my mind.

I couldn’t hold back.

“…It’s not like that. It’s not like that with Adachi-san.”

“Huh? You like her, don’t you…”

“Our relationship isn’t like that!

We both got hurt and finally reached this point! You have no idea how much she suffered!”

I was surprised by my own volume. Maybe I’ve never yelled this loudly before. My voice cracked, but…

“We’re finally moving forward!

Even as a joke…! Don’t belittle the connection between me and… Riko-san!”

As I finished, the words I hurled at Kiryuu-san echoed in my head. …I might have really messed up.

“…”

Kiryuu-san fell silent.

Was she thinking about how to deal with me? …No. I said what I wanted to say. No regrets.

…But I hope it won’t be too painful.

“So, what about me…?”

Kiryuu-san muttered.

“My feelings…!”

With slightly moist eyes, she said…

“It would have been better if Kenta-kun and Riko got together! I could’ve accepted that I couldn’t win against Riko!… Why did it turn out like this…? Kenta-kun still likes Riko…”

“…”

“Unless Riko dates someone, I can’t move on…”

“…”

“Because Kenta-kun doesn’t see me…”

It felt like I heard her true feelings.

Kiryuu-san likes Kondou-kun.

Kondou-kun likes Riko-san.

And Riko-san…

It was a one

-way street of feelings, where none faced each other.

Maybe Kiryuu-san had been pretending all along.

Riko-san said it was Kiryuu-san’s instigation, but that was probably her own way of resisting.

Kiryuu-san’s defense with words.

The solution seems simple. Just confess. But it’s not that easy. If it were, there wouldn’t be so much trouble. Even I, who almost abandoned human relationships, can understand.

She must have been enduring all this time.

Perhaps because I was an insignificant presence to Kiryuu-san, I was able to hear a bit of her true feelings.

If I’m just an insignificant existence…

“…I know it’s hard to move forward.”

As someone who doesn’t need to pretend…

“I probably understand the pain of carrying it alone.”

I wanted to convey the kindness of others. That there are people who will listen.

“But to unleash your frustrations and helpless feelings as malice, isn’t that painful? I think it’ll just make Kiryuu-san suffer more.”

Just take it step by step. It’s not bad to stop.

“So, I won’t say you should confide in someone, but maybe gradually letting it out isn’t a bad idea. Imamura-san, Riko-san… they’ll probably listen.”

“…”

“I can at least listen if you want to talk.”

I don’t think my words alone can sort out her feelings.

Ultimately, it’s up to Kiryuu-san. But I wanted to tell her.

What I saw was Kiryuu-san holding back tears.

“…Shut up. Idiot. Look away.”

Silence.

Yeah. I probably overstepped.

“…Really annoying.”

“…Sorry.”

“Don’t get cocky just because Riko likes you, you loser.”

Her barbs hurt.

“You’re really creepy. Who do you think you are, preaching like that?”

“…I’m sorry.”

I apologize, preparing to prostrate myself.

“…”

Another silence.

Is she reloading her verbal bullets?

There’s no life left in me, so I should prostrate quickly.

“Sincerely, I’m sor…”

“I knew it.”

“Eh?”

“I knew it. It’s hopeless. I can’t get Kenta-kun’s attention like this.”

Kiryuu-san muttered.

“…It’s the same with Riko.”

“Yeah…”

“I couldn’t hold back. Knowing Kenta-kun’s feelings, still going to Endou…”

…Right. Kondou-kun is the obvious choice.

“But I’ve changed my view of you a bit, Endou. Annoying, but…

…I still can’t sort things out, but I still like Kenta-kun. I’ll try my best. Do what I can.”

“Yeah.”

Kiryuu-san…

“I’ll apologize to Riko.”

She seemed a bit more resolute.

“Sorry for holding you up. I’ll stay here a bit longer, you can go.”

“…Okay. See you.”

I parted with Kiryuu-san.

As I headed towards the exit,

“Tooru.”

…Was it just me? I thought I heard Riko-san’s voice.

“Tooru.”

“Adachi-san…?”

…She’s here. Why?

“Shall we go home together?”

“Yes.”
Was she listening…?

———————————-

On the way home with Riko-san.

I had to ask.

From where had she been listening?

If it was from the beginning… I’d die of embarrassment.

“Um… Adachi-san?”

“…”

No response.

“Adachi-san?”

“…”

Still no response. But she must hear me.

“…We’re alone, right?”

…Right. Of course.

“Riko-san.”

“Hmm? What?”

As embarrassing as it is, right now…

“From where… were you listening…?”

“From the shouting part?”

…Ah. The very part I didn’t want her to hear.

That was my true feeling, but…

“I was happy. Thanks, Tooru.”

“I, well, you’re welcome…”

“I was looking for you. Thought I heard your voice, so I went to the back of the gym.”

“Yeah.”

“Thanks for what you said about Riko.”

“I didn’t really do anything…”

Really, I didn’t.

“No, thank you. Can you just accept that? Is it okay?”

It’s not okay. That’s unfair.

“…Yes.”

“Hehe. I’m glad it’s Tooru.”

“Huh?”

“I’m glad I fell for Tooru.”

Don’t say it twice…

“Thank you. Riko-san.”

“Our connection, right? That’s good, isn’t it?”

…Please stop. I can’t take it.

Riko-san smiled at my silence.

“Tooru?”

“…Yes.”
A slightly sulky reply, but I think it’s understandable.

“I like you.”

…That’s really unfair. Her smile was so bright.