The Lie and What Follows

On the way to the station with Riko-san, as the station came into view…

“Do you have plans this Sunday?”

I think she’s talking about the get-together. I generally don’t have plans, so it’s fine.

“Yeah, that’s fine.”

“Okay. I’ll put it in my calendar.”

She inputs the schedule into her smartphone and shows me the calendar with “Tooru (heart symbol)” written in it, taking up a whole day in pink.
…I decide not to comment on the heart symbol.

“We won’t have any interruptions this time.”

Riko-san declares this while showing her calendar, seemingly mindful. The day we had a date and Kondou-kun’s match overlapped must have weighed heavily on her.

“Yeah. Thank you. I trust you.”
I trust her.
Even if we drifted apart, we rebuilt our relationship.
Can I… muster up the courage once more?

“Hmm.”

Riko-san nods, looking like she wants to say something.

“Yeah?”

After hesitating, she looks up at me.

“Hey, you went to Ninomiya’s house before, right?”

“Yeah, it was his grandma’s house.”
It was incredibly grand.
It looked like a house where a small asteroid probe could crash.

“Right… Do you want to come to my house this Sunday?”

…Um.
Her house? Or does she mean my house? So Riko-san means her house?
A confusing syllogism, but I think I get it.

“To your house…?”

“Is that okay?”

“Y-Yeah, it’s fine.”

I blurt out my response, my voice cracking.

“Really!? Oh, if you don’t want to, it’s totally fine.”

Honestly, I’m nervous. The Adachi family, are they all like gyaru?
No, I’m just being invited to her house. No need to be nervous. Yes, it’ll be fine.

“Okay, see you at the station.”

“Yeah, got it.”

I wave goodbye as Riko-san passes through the ticket gate.
I need to buy another confectionery gift.

——————————–

Sunday

Here comes Sunday.
It arrived so quickly.
I barely remember Saturday, so I had to check the date, but it’s definitely Sunday.

Riko-san and I are meeting at the station at 12 PM.
It’s 11:20 AM.
I need to leave soon or I might make her wait.

I make my way from my room to the entrance.
The hurdle is the living room. I can’t reach the entrance without passing through Haruka’s checkpoint in front of the TV.
It’s okay. I’m just going out with a friend. I can explain. Bring it on.

With resolve, I step into the living room.
As I reach for the door leading to the hallway, I realize she hasn’t said anything yet. I think, “If you’re not going to say anything, just let me know,” and as I open the door…

“Tooru.”

Yes.

“What’s up?”

I’ve become incredibly suspicious.

“When will you be back?”

Oh.

“Before 5 PM.”

“Okay.”

“Yeah, I’m heading out.”

“Okay. Take care.”

I pass through the hallway and step outside.
Huh? I thought for sure she would ask more questions. Why didn’t she?

It bothered me, but meeting Riko-san was my priority.

I arrive at the station at 11:45 AM.
I approach the ticket gate to check if Riko-san has arrived.

She’s there.

Leaning against a pillar near the gate, waiting for me.
Her appearance, a far cry from her usual stylish self, is clad in a very modest dress.
…Yes, she’s incredibly cute.

As I stand there, our eyes meet and she smiles at me. My heart tightens.

“Tooru!”

“Sorry I’m late.”

I approach Riko-san who’s running towards me.

“No, it’s fine.”

She looks at me without any sign of annoyance for waiting.

“So?”

“Eh?”

“Your opinion on my casual clothes.”

Ah. This pattern.
Don’t worry. I’ve improved. Leave it to me.

“Nice dress.”

“Minus five points.”

…Sorry. I’m still not good at this.

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay. I’m looking forward to next time. Let’s go.”

We board the train and head towards Riko-san’s nearest station.
I offered to wait, but she insisted on coming to get me. Determined.

After a 15-minute train ride, we get off.

“My house is close. Just a bit more.”

“Ah, okay.”
…So it’s close.

A few minutes walk.

“Here.”

“… ”
We stop in front of a single-family house.
It’s an elegant, white-painted house.
…It really was close. I’m not mentally prepared.

“Come on.”

She pulls me inside.

“Welcome home.”

Entering the house, Riko-san’s

voice elicits a response.

A woman with a gentle demeanor appears, making slipper sounds.

“Welcome. You’re Endou-kun, right? Riko always talks about you.”

“Ah, hello. Thank you for having me. Endou. Ah, first time meeting. This is a small gift…”

Nervously, I offer the confectionery gift.

“Thank you. We’ll enjoy it.”

Riko-san’s mother (probably) laughs at my awkwardness.

“Come on in. Haven’t had lunch yet, right? It’s ready.”

“Sorry for the intrusion.”

I take off my shoes and enter. Riko-san’s mother (probably) says,

“Riko hasn’t brought a boy home since elementary school. So I got excited and cooked a lot. Can you eat a lot?”

Very much.

“You’re quite slim, Endou-kun. Do you eat well? There’s plenty of food.”

She was very laid-back.

“Mom, calm down! It’s embarrassing!”

I’m ushered into Riko-san’s living room and sit on a chair, shrinking as much as possible. This is true humility.

In the open kitchen, Riko-san and her mother are playfully preparing lunch. A lovely mother-daughter relationship. It’s dazzling and longing for me, who lost my parents early, mixed with a sense of loneliness.

Riko-san, carrying food to the dining table, notices my state and looks at me worriedly.
…Close.

“Tooru? Are you feeling okay?”

“No, it’s not that. Just thought it was nice.”
I can’t worry her.
I wouldn’t be so insensitive as to talk about my lack of parents here. But Riko-san seemed unsatisfied,

“Tell me.”

“Eh, but…”

“If it’s hard for Tooru, I don’t like it. If you can, tell me.”

…Riko-san looks more pained.

“…It’s something I’ve come to terms with inside. I don’t want you to worry, but…”

I state the facts.
The absence of parents.
Being taken in by grandparents.
Only having my sister as family love.
Yet, living happily.

“…So, just seeing you two made me think it’s nice…”

I’m hugged.

“…Uh, Riko-san? I’m okay, really.”

I’m really okay.
Because I knew I wasn’t alone after crying with Haruka.

“No, it’s different. Thank you for telling me.”

…

“Tooru is here now, even though you’ve been through a lot…”

“So what… I’ve always been running away.”

“It’s okay to run away. No one will blame you. If anyone says anything, I’ll deal with them. Don’t worry about it.”

She strokes my head.

“You’ve done well, Tooru.”

I, a crybaby, struggle to hold back tears.

“Right. Leave it to Riko. She’s strong in a fight. This girl.”

Riko-san’s mother agrees. Her agreement method is scary.

“Let’s eat!”

The food, now laid out, covers the dining table.
…Are we eating all of this?

After surviving the massive lunch, I sit in Riko-san’s room.
…Wow. The pace is too fast for my brain to catch up.

“Hey, don’t stare too much.”

“Sorry.”
I’ve never been in a girl’s room. It’s different from Haruka’s…

“There’s something I want to ask you.”

A request. In her room, just the two of us. A request.
Just the two of us. A request. This is bad. We’re supposed to be friends.

“Riko-san… Calm down…!”

“I am calm.”

…Really? Seriously?

“Teach me in my studies.”

I knew it.

I help Riko-san with her studies.
She’s tackling English.
Riko-san, not exactly studious, needs help even with the basics.
But her earnestness in listening to my explanations is heartwarming for me, who had only grades to pride myself on.

“Man, this is hard. How can you solve this? It’s crazy.”

After about an hour and a half of study, Riko-san shows signs of fatigue. I suggest a break and stretch.

“It’s just practice. It’s not too bad if you do it regularly.”

“That’s harsh.”

She murmurs softly. Cute.

“But why did you decide to study?”

It’s rude to ask a student, but I thought Riko-san would choose a more specialized field than academics.

“…Just a bit.”

I see. Just a bit.

“Where do you plan to go, Tooru?”

“Me? I’ve narrowed it down to four, but probably Waseda for now.”

“…Can I aim for it too?”

“… ”

“Don’t go silent. Ah, I know, it’s far. I knew that.”

Does Riko-san want to go to the same university as me?
She wouldn’t ask.