The Lie and What Follows

On the way back from the Ninomiya residence.

“Thanks for coming today. I was really happy you could make it,” Ninomiya-san said, accompanying me in the car. My suggestion to just take the one-hour drive alone was quickly dismissed. It would have been nice if she had considered my opinion a bit more.

“No, thank you. It was incredible,” I replied, truly amazed by the experience of riding in a luxury car twice in one day, and meeting Hatsune-san, who lived in such a grand house. It made me want to help with the house cleaning. I bet I could do a good job… except maybe not the corridor mopping. I think I’ll pass on that.

“I thought my grandmother would definitely like you,” Ninomiya-san remarked.

“Yeah…” I remembered Hatsune-san’s concern for Ninomiya-san, wondering if she was lonely being alone.

“Do you ever think about making friends?” I ventured, knowing it was none of my business, especially since Ninomiya-san seemed content with our friendship.

“Huh? I have you, don’t I?”

I was taken aback. Was I no longer a loner? But wait, that couldn’t be right.

“Thanks, but do you have other friends?”

“Hmm, I don’t really need others. I talk only with people I want to talk to.”

That included me.

“Maybe I do have friends, after all,” I said, half-bragging.

“Who?”

“Adachi-san…” It wasn’t a lie. She really was a friend.

“Hmm.”

Ninomiya-san’s gaze felt colder when Adachi-san came up, reminiscent of the tense atmosphere on the Shinkansen.

“So, you’re okay with just me?” I backpedaled, realizing I had been rude.

“Yeah, it’s fine,” she said, gazing out the window. I followed her gaze and saw an airplane.

“It’s not that I have high standards. I just don’t feel the need for many friends.”

I admired her for that. She was strong and content in her own way.

“So, you’ll tell me where you plan to study?” she asked.

Back home, Haruka was waiting for me with an almost royal presence.

“You’re late,” she accused.

“I’m sorry.” I instantly apologized, knowing better than to argue.

Haruka grilled me about my visit with Ninomiya-san. I assured her nothing significant happened. Haruka then suggested we visit Kyoto together after my exams.

We ended the night watching TV, a rare treat since we hadn’t had much time for it during the trip. My phone buzzed with a message from Adachi-san, asking if we could talk on the phone.

“Is it okay if I call?” she asked.

“Yeah, that’s fine,” I replied.

“Hey, Toru?” she greeted me on the call. We talked about school resuming the next day and she asked if she could talk to me there. I agreed, pleased by the idea.

“Have you ever fallen asleep on the phone?” she inquired, referring to the practice where close friends or couples stay on the line until they fall asleep.

“No friends,” I said simply.

“Sorry…” she apologized, making me feel a bit guilty for my blunt response.

“It’s okay,” I assured her.

“I like hearing you say that,” she admitted, making me feel awkward again.

“Let’s try that another time! I’m going to sleep now. Goodnight!”

“Goodnight,” I replied, ending the call and smiling at the “goodnight” sticker she sent.

Haruka overheard and teased me, calling it ‘creepy.’

I prepared for bed, thinking about the possibility of a sleep call in the future and making a mental note to ensure Haruka wouldn’t barge into my room.