The Lie and What Follows

About a week had passed since Riko-san’s discussion with Haruka.

The news that a top-class beauty in our grade, who had never dated anyone before, seemed to have started dating someone, spread quickly throughout the school.

Rumor had it that the person was in the same classroom.
Rumor had it that it was someone from the group of attractive girls.
Rumor had it that she was violent enough to kick a fake playboy.

…Well, two-thirds of that is wrong.
It’s not the group of attractive girls, and it was Riko-san who kicked the fake playboy.
The saddest part was realizing that my classmates, who must have seen it, didn’t even recognize me.
I am in the same classroom…
Truly a loner.
Recently, it seemed like most of my classmates didn’t even know I existed, as if I had already graduated.

But thanks to Riko-san, who had become more proactive, I gradually started to be recognized in the class.

Being recognized meant attracting attention.
Boys and girls from other classes started peeking into our classroom to catch a glimpse of me.
It’s not a zoo, you know?
I thought about charging admission.
However, the group of attractive girls acted as if they were protecting me, shooing away the onlookers on a daily basis.

Riko-san was particularly noticeable.
She quelled the curious stares of the onlookers with her powerful gaze. Kondo-kun, with his refreshing handsome smile, also made the students who came to look step back.
The most surprising was Kiryu-san.
She used her proud knife and fork, along with the newly added drill, to chase away the crowd of spectators in the hallway of the classroom.
…It was probably just because they were in the way.
The playboy did nothing. In fact, he seemed the most like an onlooker, having moved on from his heartbreak.
His popularity was fluctuating wildly.

Despite such attention, I spent my days, especially Friday, with Riko-san. Since the start of the week, having lunch with Riko-san had become a routine.
I wasn’t bothered by it anymore, but there were still many gazes from other students in the classroom.
We had our lunch on the bench in the courtyard.

“…How is it?”

Riko-san sometimes made me a lunchbox.
Her cooking, with absolutely no experience, was a precious gift to me. No matter the outcome, I intended to enjoy it.

“…It’s delicious.”

Even if the food was undercooked.
Once you swallow it, it’s not a problem.

“Liars. Be honest.”

“I thought it was a new low-temperature cooking method.”

“…Sorry.”

I wanted to encourage Riko-san, who seemed dejected.
But I knew that wasn’t what she wanted.

“…Maybe you should taste it while cooking.”

I think the method itself was fine.
There were no burnt hamburgers or dark matter-like food in the lunchbox.
I just wished she would notice such dark matter-like food when packing the lunchbox.

“Hm. I’ll try harder.”

Riko-san, puffing herself up with determination, was cute.

After finishing our meal, we spent the rest of the lunch break leisurely in the courtyard.
Even if our conversation paused, it never felt uncomfortable.
While Riko-san was fiddling with her smartphone, she suddenly looked at me.

“Is it okay today?”

“Yeah, it’s fine.”
Since the beginning of the week, Riko-san and I had been studying together in the library after school. Riko-san, who decided to aim for the same university as me, was still not at a level where she could confidently pass.

“I’m sorry for taking up your study time.”

Riko-san seemed to be worried about monopolizing my time for her studies.
But I wanted to support her, facing the harsh reality of studying.
Frankly, I wanted to go to the same university as her.
Supporting her was a given.

“No, studying with Riko-san helps me too.”

It wasn’t a lie.
I couldn’t tell her that when we’re apart, I worry about her and can’t concentrate.
Noticing my state, Riko-san said,

“Hm. Thank you, teacher?”

She overlaid her hand on mine with a smile. Ah, too cute.

On the way home after studying in the library.
The early summer evening was finally seeing the sun set.
Watching our long shadows stretch out in the setting sun…

“Summer vacation.”

“Hm?”

“Shall we go somewhere?”

Summer vacation. A critical period for students preparing for university entrance exams.
Especially important for Riko-san.

“Ah, never mind. I’ll study.”

She must have noticed my contemplative expression.
If we’re aiming for the same university, we shouldn’t waste a single day.
We can always go after we get into university.
I guess it’s my weakness to want to fully enjoy our last summer of high school with

her.

“No, let’s go somewhere. Just the two of us.”

Riko-san’s face lit up, but I could see a hint of anxiety in her joyous expression.

“But, my grades are still shaky…”

“…Taking breaks is important too. Let’s go if you get a good assessment in the summer mock exams.”
The large-scale mock exams in summer. If she gets decent results, university admission could be within reach.

“…Really?”

Riko-san asked with upturned eyes. I suppressed my desire to hug her and nodded.

“I want summer memories… for us both.”
I couldn’t say the last part clearly.

“Hm? Say it again.”

She definitely heard it, but she asked again.

“…So, I want memories.”

I mumbled the “for us both” part.

“Haha. You’re so red, Tooru. You’re cute.”

…It’s because of the sunset.
Riko-san, seeing my slightly sulking, held my hand.

“I want to go to a festival.”

“Yeah.”

“And the beach.”

“The beach…”

“Dislike? My swimsuit is cute, though.”

Of course. She’s cute even now.
But just imagining Riko-san in her swimsuit attracting the gazes of many men… I might dislike it.

“…I think a swimsuit with less exposure would be better…”

A pathetic resistance. I’m sure Riko-san’s choice would be flashy and definitely cute…
Riko-san grinned at my words.

“Jealous?”

“…Yes.”

“You don’t want others to see my swimsuit?”

“That’s right.”
Is there really a boyfriend who wants his cute girlfriend’s swimsuit to be seen by others?… Probably.

“Hm. Okay. I’ll show it only to you.”

“Eh?”
Just for me?
It’s inevitable to imagine something slightly risqué. We’re still high school students.
…Or rather, already high school students.

“I’ll buy a different one for outside. The one for home is for you.”

There’s such a thing as a home swimsuit…
I imagine Riko-san playing in a backyard vinyl pool. Cute.
I don’t know much about girls’ swimsuit affairs, but it seems she’ll prepare something with less exposure for me.

“Is that okay?”

“Hm. Because it’s for showing you. I don’t want others to see it.”

Riko-san smiled, embracing my pathetic anxiety.

“Thank you. Sorry.”

…How pathetic.
I’m so troubled over her swimsuit.

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

“No, just feeling a bit pathetic.”
I honestly told the puzzled Riko-san.
The strength in her hand holding mine increased.

“I’m happy about Tooru’s jealousy, you know?”

Slightly angry.

“You want to monopolize me, right? I’m not unhappy about it.”

“…Yeah.”

“Being wanted like that by the person I like makes me extremely happy. So, Tooru, just keep looking at me.”

“Yes.”

“Stay by my side. Understand?”

Her straightforward words and kind smile made me fall in love with her all over again.

“Yeah. I understand. I’ll be by your side.”

I squeezed the hand holding mine.

“Hm.”

Grateful to be standing by her side.