The Lie and What Follows

Winter.

As the mildness of autumn fades, the coldness intensifies with each passing day in February.

Despite having passed the coldest time of the year, the relentless chill of winter still teaches us the value of warmth from the heater today.

…The cost of heating is high, you know?

I hate that the electricity bill could reach twenty thousand yen.

Having safely navigated the common entrance exams with decent scores, I was now at my university of choice for the general entrance exams.

In the large university classroom, other students were seriously contemplating their answer sheets.

As for me, having finished my answers, I was gazing out the window… more precisely, at the very front near the window.

I was silently cheering on Riko-san, who was diligently working on her answers.

Having not performed as well as she hoped in the common exams, this general entrance exam was Riko-san’s last fortress.

If she passes, we could spend our campus life together starting next spring.

I didn’t speak to her even during the lunch break, so as not to disturb her concentration.

I felt murderous intent towards the students from other schools hitting on her on such an important day, but it seemed Riko-san didn’t even notice them.

…She’s my girlfriend, after all.

The last subject ends.

The examiners collect the answer sheets and signal for us to leave the classroom.

Having watched Riko-san but not spoken, I look around the corridor to meet up with her.

“Yo, Tooru.”

It seems she found me.

“You look tired, Riko-san.”

Holding my hand with a smile, she captures my heart too.

“Yeah. I’m exhausted.”

That marks the end of the exams for both me and Riko-san.

Now, we just wait for the results.

Although I’ve been watching her efforts closely, I’m slightly doubtful about her passing. But seeing her accomplished expression, I refrain from asking.

“Hopefully, you’ve passed.”

“Yeah.”

We walk out of the university side by side.

Our hands find each other’s without a word.

About half a year has passed since the summer festival.

Most of our days were devoted to studying for exams, but we naturally started holding hands even in public.

…It was troublesome when we ran into that flirty guy once.

Didn’t he switch to Haruka? Not that I’d allow it.

“Do you have plans after this?”

Riko-san asks as we walk together.

“No, nothing. Finally free from exam prep.”

There’s a celebration with Haruka tonight, but that’s scheduled a bit later.

“Is that so? Do you want to hang out for a bit? Just on the way home.”

“Yeah.” I’m grateful.

I wanted to spend more time with her.

We blend with the crowd of students heading to the station.

“If we pass, we’ll attend the same university, right?”

“Yeah. Looking forward to it.” Campus life with Riko-san.

Seeing her in casual clothes every day.

Isn’t that just blissful? I’ll compliment her daily.

“Will you commute from home?”

“Yeah. Haruka’s still there.”

I’m not sick, by the way.

My real target is Riko-san, but…

…Yeah, that’s creepy.

“Right. I’ve always dreamed about sharing a room.”

Sharing a room.

What a wonderful idea.

Sharing a room. Sharing an entrance. Sharing a living room. Sharing a kitchen… Sharing a bedroom.

I’m seriously creepy.

“…Yeah.”

“Your mind went somewhere naughty, didn’t it?”

…Not at all?

I wasn’t thinking about seeing Riko-san in her pajamas… That’s a lie.

We board the train at the station and arrive at Riko-san’s nearest station in no time.

“See you later.”

Our intertwined hands separate in the train.

As I watch Riko-san walking towards the door, she descends onto the platform, and then…

“Eh? Why?”

I find myself getting off with her.

She turns around, staring at me with wide eyes.

…Why?

No need to ask why.

“…I wanted to stay with you a bit longer.”

…It’s embarrassing to say.

Though school is now on a flexible schedule, there have been many chances to meet Riko-san. If we go to school, we eat together, and we talk on the phone at night.

…But I wanted to be with her.

As I struggle to put this into words…

“I really… like you.”

Riko-san, blushing and looking down, is adorable.

“I’ll walk you home.”

I take her hand, probably not hiding my embarrassment.

It’s not something I usually initiate.

Riko-san’s smile quickly turns genuine.

“Fufu. You want to stay with me?”

“…Yeah, sort of.”

“You have to say it clearly, you know?”

I did say it, didn’t I?

“I really want to spend more time with Riko-san.”

I can feel my face burning red.

I tell her this and

then lower my gaze.

…It’s too embarrassing.

“I wanted to be with Tooru too.”

She grips my hand tighter.

Her clear eyes are fixed firmly on me.

“Don’t let go.”

I turn away as if to resist being drawn in.

…No, no, that was dangerous!

We almost got charged with public indecency in the middle of the street!

“Sorry. I just couldn’t help it.”

…What am I saying?

I’m getting a bit too carried away, aren’t I?

I avert my eyes, trying to make an excuse, but Riko-san keeps looking at me.

“Do you really have to hold back?”

Eh?

“I don’t mind at all.”

…Eh?

“No, it’s just… it’s embarrassing, you know?”

I’m genuinely embarrassed.

We’ve kissed before, but it was always in the right atmosphere or when we were alone. In such a public place, I, a coward, couldn’t possibly…

“I… wanted to kiss you.”

Riko-san’s eyes sparkle, making her look even more adorable.

But still,

“It’s too embarrassing! Let’s save it for when we’re alone…”

That’s all I could manage to say.

“Hm. Tooru prefers it when we’re alone. How naughty.”

Riko-san?

“Well, I prefer it when we’re alone too.”

She seems to have given up teasing me and backs off.

Good. If she had persisted, we would have ended up kissing for sure.

Then we’d be just like Tamura’s lovey-dovey couple.

“It lasts longer when we’re alone, right?”

…No comment.

Riko-san’s house isn’t far from the station.

After a short walk, her house comes into view.

I say my reluctant goodbye at her doorstep.

“See you later.”

“Hm. I’ll call you tonight.”

“Okay.”

Our nightly phone calls have become a part of my daily routine.

“I’m really going home now.”

Just as I’m about to say goodbye for what feels like the umpteenth time,

“Tooru.”

“Hm?…!”

I turn around, and Riko-san’s soft lips press against mine.

Her arms around my back feel like they’re saying she’ll never let go.

Her closed eyes tremble.

…I’m such a wimp.

She’s expressing her feelings so strongly…

The contact is brief.

As Riko-san pulls away a bit shyly, I express my honest feelings.

“Thanks. I love you.”

“Hm. Me too. I love you a lot.”

———————————-

I arrive home and am greeted by Haruka in the living room.

“Welcome back. How was it?”

The exam itself was fine.

I probably passed.

But that unexpected kiss…

“It was soft.”

“Huh? Creepy.”

…Isn’t that harsh?