Chapter 16 ~ Two Liars

I came to that conclusion solely through Souji-sensei's assistance.

Souji-sensei's new release is part of a series about a younger brother falling in love with his older brother, while that younger brother's friend falls for him. In this newest book, the friend confesses to the older brother, not the younger, to get him to abandon their taboo, incestuous romance.

"Unless I misheard her, she muttered Ren's name when she left."

When Ai explained the confession, the first thing that came to mind was Souji-sensei's new book. Then,

"The confessor's one of Ren's teammates, apparently. I remember she was with Ren and the basketball club yesterday when we passed by them near the water coolers."

I remember her, too. A tall girl, glaring hard at us. I'd thought it was just my imagination at the time, but it seems it wasn't.

A girl resembling the one in my memory is right in front of me now, a puzzled expression on her face.

"Who are you?" Shimamoto-san asked, her meticulous face curving partially into suspicion.

"I'm Takatsuki Tomoka. Kawai Ai's friend, whom you confessed to."

Shimamoto-san looks astonished by my perfectly normal remark.^[1]

"Why are you so rude...?"

I'm delighted by her excellent response, then remember how angry I am. I start spewing words at her with a tension I can't quite put my finger on.

"You know why. Your confession to Ai aside, I've got plenty of reasons to be pissed. Like how I know it's not Ai you love, but her sister. And now you're trying to ruin their time together by stalking her."

Shimamoto-san's eyes widened. "You make it sound so... revolting," she mutters sulkily.

That egotistical response was so very human that I can't help but laugh. That's humanity for you. I'd unintentionally forgotten, spending all my time with Ai.

Fed up for the first time in a while, my anger also seeps into my words.

"Just one more thing. However much you might hate me, I despise you all the more. You're terrified of getting hurt, so you're spiraling away from your feelings, halfheartedly clinging to them and lying to yourself all the while. Don't drag other people, don't drag Ai into your cowardice."

It feels like my barbed words are actually cutting into her. In reality, Shimamoto-san looks absolutely devastated. Her lips tremble in fear as a feeble voice leaks through them.

"But there's nothing else I can do. You don't know how much it hurts being by Ren's side. My love is completely hopeless. Ren's words, her expressions, everything's focused on her sister. I don't have a chance against that bizarre obsession of hers. That's why I thought I'd bring her to her senses..."

Her monologue confirms my assumption. Astonished, I lay it all out.

"And that's why you gave Ai a fake confession. You're completely out of your mind. First of all, Imouto-chan's feelings for Ai might certainly be strong for a younger sister to feel toward her older sister, but that won't hinder your love, right? If you've been her friend for a while, then don't you know something of what those sisters have been through? That in mind, there's no way they wouldn't have gotten so close, but calling it romantic love is better suited for a novel."

Sure, I've occasionally likened those sisters' relationship to BL, but that's a stretch. It's just a stubborn, diehard fujoshi move. Something like that actually happening outside of a novel is ridiculous.

However, Shimamoto-san replies with a sneer. "You don't understand anything, do you?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It's as I said. Moreover, you're running from your own feelings too, aren't you? Even though you're in love with Kawai-san,^[2] you're hiding your feelings to stay by her side, right? You look just like Ren," Shimamoto-san says, her lips curving in triumph.

I don't know where she got that from. It's completely baseless. I'm immediately about to argue, "Hey, I'm not...!"

But a thought hits me right as I'm about to explain myself.

I can do something for Ai. Something to protect those sisters' tranquility.

Once I realize that, the words start falling out of my mouth.

"As a matter of fact, you're right. My love for Ai has always been one-sided, but I've been terrified to tell her. I've only ever run away. That's why I was so rude to you earlier; I saw myself in you and I hated that. I'm sorry."

"What's this all of a sudden?"

Shimamoto-san's bewildered by the sudden change in my attitude. I press my advantage, saying, "So, why don't us unrequited lovers help each other out? Become allies in love, so to speak."

She broods over the unexpected proposal, then declares, "All right. I don't like you, but sure, allies in love or whatever. And in exchange, I have a favor to ask."

What's with this arrogant bitch? First of all, she's so casual despite being a year younger.^[3] Compared to her solemn appearance, her manners are messed up. I won't let it show, but I'm cursing at her to myself.

It's anyone's guess what a lovesick person's gonna screw up, so I'll make up some perfunctory excuse and put her under my thumb. Imouto-chan's finally trying to get closer to Ai, so I can't let this loser get in the way. If it'll protect Ai, then it's no problem at all.

Once my resolve hardens in that instant, I realize something.

She's hopelessly in love, but I'm just lying about it.

With that self-derisive thought, I answer, "Sure. I'll listen to whatever you want."

Shimamoto-san heaves a huge sigh of relief, then announces, "Okay, then tell Kawai-san to meet me behind the gym after school again."