The Lie and What Follows

The final day of the test.

The last subject was English. I finished filling out my answers 10 minutes before the end and started my final review. The sounds of pens still filling out answers were audible around me. After checking everything, including the dubious parts, I took a breath and looked up. Ninomiya-san was sound asleep. She must have fallen asleep about 20 minutes ago, meaning she finished her test in about 30 minutes.

She’s like this in almost all subjects, finishing early and then sleeping. Hard work, Ninomiya-san.

The tense atmosphere in the classroom relaxed as the invigilator announced the end of the test. Some stretched, others checked their answers, and the playboy was noisy as usual, already planning a get-together with the IKeJo group for the weekend.

While watching them, Ninomiya-san spoke to me.

“Good job. How was it?”

“Good, I think. And you?”

Ninomiya-san smiled. She seemed pretty relaxed.

“I did as usual. But you seem confident this time, Endo-kun. Maybe you’ll outscore me?”

Ninomiya-san usually ranks within the top five in our grade despite mostly sleeping during classes.

“I’ll aim for the top spot, in tests and mock exams.”

Ninomiya-san’s eyes widened slightly.

“Hmm, okay.”

She stared at me intently, then nodded as if she’d realized something.

“It’s good to see a bit of life in you, not just your ‘dead’ face.”

Is that a compliment…? “Dead face”?

“Do you have something on your mind?”

Yes, a lot. About Haruka, about Riko-san.

“Yeah, a bit.”

“Good luck, Endo-kun.”

Our words were vague, but the support felt nice.

“I’m heading home. I have to prepare dinner as my sister requested.”

I picked up my bag and stood up.

“Bye. I hope things go well with your sister.”

…How did she know?

Is she really an esper?

———————————-

At 7 PM.

Despite the test ending, Haruka had student council work and came home late, so we had dinner together.

“Tooru.”

“Yeah?”

“Our date, let’s have it tomorrow.”

It’s been over a week since Haruka declared this, and I’d been hoping she’d forget, but she remembered.

“Okay.”

I’ve never called our outings ‘dates’ before. Is it a change of heart, or just a casual use of the word? I don’t know… or maybe I’m scared to know.

“Let’s meet at the station at 12.”

“Why not go together?”

“We live together.”

“You’re silly, Tooru.”

“You’re right.”

And that’s it. Haruka returns to her room.

I sit on the sofa, my mind preoccupied with the word ‘date.’ It’s just an outing with family, right? Let’s enjoy it. I try to empty my mind and watch TV.

———————————-

Next Saturday.

It’s a clear, sunny day. I’m at the station waiting for Haruka. It’s almost noon. Haruka should be here any minute. I thought she was still at home when I left. Maybe she’s not a punctual type.

…She’s not still sleeping, right?

Just as I consider going back home, someone taps my shoulder.

“Tooru.”

I turn around, and there’s Haruka. Why from that direction? She should have come on foot.

“Why did you come from that way?”

“I walked from the next station over to make it feel more like a ‘date.'”

I see. Her effort to create a date atmosphere. She walked in heels… must have been tough.

“Tired?”

“Kind of. But I can look down on you, so it’s fine.”

That’s not comforting. She’s already taller, and now even more so in heels.

“Let’s go?”

We start walking, her hand in mine.

“Are the heels hard to walk in?”

She nods.

“Let’s sit and rest.”

We sit on a bench, watching the sunset. Haruka, slightly looking down, says,

“It felt like a usual day out, not much like a ‘date.'”

She seems to be reflecting.

“Yeah, it was the same. But realizing that’s the best for us is enough for now.”

I can feel my heart stir as she speaks softly.

“Let’s have more ‘dates’ like this. Just us.”

“Really?”

Haruka looks surprised. I won’t ask what she’s realized or confirmed. But I can’t ignore my growing feelings.

“As many times as you want. Just as we are.”

For now, this is enough. But someday, I want to tell her how I feel.

“If Tooru says so, then I guess we have to.”

“Yeah, we have to.”

I love Haruka.