Chapter 20 End: The New Life the Liar Obtained

The New Life the Liar Obtained

“Good morning, Natsuki-kun. You are on time again today. That is great.”

“Ahaha, good morning, Yukina-san. Sorry for always making you come.”

“What are you apologizing for? I come because I want to, so do not worry.”

“R-right. Thank you.”

Recently, Kousaka Natsuki’s daily life had changed drastically.

Until not long ago, Natsuki had spent almost all of his time beside his childhood friend, Kurokawa Sae.

It was not that Natsuki had clung to his beautiful childhood friend of his own will.

Natsuki had been restrained by Sae and forced to stay with her at all times.

If Natsuki tried to distance himself from Sae even slightly, she would immediately become displeased, and he would receive violence both mentally and physically, through words and fists.

Even small matters made Sae shout, blame, and grow irritated. And when her emotions still were not satisfied, she would strike him without mercy.

By the time bruises covered Natsuki’s body, he no longer resisted kneeling and bowing before Sae.

Living every day like that, Natsuki remained constantly aware of Sae’s mood and acted only to avoid upsetting her.

There was no place for Natsuki’s own will. In a world where everything was decided solely by Sae, he could only obey and hide his true desire to escape, smiling beside her.

It was when Natsuki was nearing his limit.

A person appeared who offered a saving hand to him.

That person was Haga Yukina. Natsuki’s girlfriend.

“Well then, shall we hold hands and walk like a proper couple today too?”

“Um, yes. Please.”

“Mmm, in winter I just cannot let go of Natsuki-kun’s hand.”

As classmates who served as class committee members together, Yukina had spent a great deal of time with Natsuki since spring and had noticed that he was being cornered.

More than that, Yukina listened to Natsuki’s situation and reached out, saying she would help him.

For Natsuki, exhausted both physically and mentally, that hand looked like salvation itself.

So he took the hand that was offered to him.

And from that moment, Natsuki’s life changed drastically.

The days with Sae that Natsuki believed he could never escape on his own.

Yukina overturned that situation in an instant.

By becoming Natsuki’s girlfriend, Yukina separated him from Sae, who was only a childhood friend, in a legitimate and undeniable way.

Yukina’s plan, like a lightning strike, succeeded perfectly, and in a classroom filled with congratulations, Sae could not do anything.

Even afterward, when Sae came to Natsuki’s house, Yukina drove her away, and now Natsuki was able to live completely free from Sae.

Yet Sae had not disappeared.

Even now, Sae still directed a possessive gaze at Natsuki. If Yukina were not there, she would immediately reach out to take him again.

But even in that situation, Natsuki was safe.

Because Yukina was there.

Yukina was always by Natsuki’s side.

Even though becoming lovers was originally only a strategy to create distance from Sae, Yukina protected Natsuki without hesitation.

At school. In the morning when she came to pick him up. On the way home when she accompanied him. To make sure he was never alone, she never left his side.

Even among lovers, it was rare for someone to go this far. That was why Natsuki could not raise his head against Yukina.

Because Yukina always put Natsuki first, constantly stayed vigilant of Sae, and carefully arranged every detail of his daily routine so he would not encounter danger.

“Oh right, Natsuki-kun, about yesterday.”

“Hm? Yesterday?”

“Yes. The message I sent last night. Why did you not reply even after more than a minute?”

Yukina leaned close with a smile. Natsuki almost let his expression freeze, but he forced a smile at the last second.

“You did not even open it, right?”

“Sorry, Yukina-san. I had left my phone in my room at the time.”

“That is no good, Natsuki-kun. We promised you would keep it with you. Did you forget?”

“I remember. I replied as soon as I went back to my room.”

“Even a short time without a reply makes me worry. I get anxious thinking that Kurokawa-san might be attacking you. Do you understand how I feel?”

Noticing that her eyes were not smiling, Natsuki broke into a cold sweat.

He had learned that one wrong word would lead to something terrible.

“Y-yeah. I am sorry for worrying you.”

“Do you really understand? When your reply finally came, I was already near your house. I was running as fast as I could because I thought I had to save you.”

“Eh? You came to my house?”

“Of course. I am your girlfriend.”

Natsuki’s forced smile crumbled.

He could no longer maintain the expression, so he lowered his head as if reflecting.

“I-I am sorry. I caused trouble.”

“It is not trouble. I worry about you.”

“Thank you, Yukina-san. But you do not need to go that far.”

“Why would you say that? Are you saying my concern is unnecessary?”

“T-that is not it. I am really grateful.”

“Good. I thought none of my feelings were reaching you.”

Yukina smiled with relief.

Natsuki could not look directly at that beautiful smile.

“I am truly sorry. I will do anything to make up for it.”

“Then come to my house today, okay?”

“You mean after school?”

“Yes, but today I want you to stay the night.”

“Eh? B-but that is too much.”

“You said you would do anything. And there is no school tomorrow.”

Yukina had already decided.

At this point, Natsuki could no longer refuse.

He already knew what would happen if he did.

“You did not reply and made me worry. I get anxious when we are apart. If you stay over, I will be relieved.”

“No, but…”

“This time, you were clearly the one at fault, right?”

“Of course, but staying overnight is…”

“Why not? If you stay with me, I can be with you the whole time. That is reassuring. Or do you not want to?”

“It is not that I do not want to. But I am also a boy…”

“Nfufu, I see. You do not need to worry. We are lovers.”

Yukina pressed her body against his with a soft smirk.

She had nearly become angry, but Natsuki’s quick words kept her calm.

Natsuki felt a small relief.

And because he relaxed, he made a mistake.

“But even without you, I will be fine if I just stay inside the house.”

“What did you just say?”

Yukina’s smile vanished completely.

Before Natsuki could regret it, her eyes were already fixed on him, cold and dark.

The nails of the hand gripping him dug into his skin.

Yet Natsuki did not shake her off.

He already knew the consequences.

“I am sorry, Yukina-san. That was foolish of me.”

He bowed his head immediately.

He stopped walking and stayed bowed, enduring the pain, doing everything to avoid worsening her mood.

“Right? There is no way I could feel at ease like that. Are you making fun of me?”

“I am not. I was the one who was wrong.”

“Do you understand how much I think about you every day? Are you saying that means nothing?”

“It means everything. Thank you, always. I truly appreciate it.”

“Then you know that you cannot be without me, right? Are you saying you do not need me?”

“I am not saying that. I really cannot do anything without you, Yukina-san.”

Even as they spoke, her nails dug deeper.

It would leave bruises, but Natsuki no longer cared. His body already held many such marks.

His only concern was calming Yukina as quickly as possible.

“I helped you when you were controlled by Kurokawa-san, right? You could not do anything alone, right?”

“Yes. I would still be the same if not for you. I cannot do anything without you, Yukina-san.”

“Right? You need me, right?”

“Yes. I absolutely need you. I am grateful you think about me so much.”

“If you understand that, then that is fine.”

The pressure on his hand disappeared, and Natsuki lifted his head.

Yukina was smiling. Seeing that expression, he felt relief.

He had already learned what would happen if he chose wrong.

Looking at his hand, five deep nail marks remained, yet he felt only relief that it was just this much.

Larger bruises from Yukina already covered his body anyway.

“Natsuki-kun really cannot be without me. I will decide everything for you. So do not ever go anywhere alone or act selfishly.”

“I understand. I will stay by your side, Yukina-san.”

Natsuki smiled in return.

At that moment, he remembered something he once said to Sae, and something Sae had cried and said back.

“I will always stay by Sae’s side.”

“You promised you would always stay with me. Natsuki, you liar.”

Natsuki understood then.

This life was the price of being a liar.

Recently, Kousaka Natsuki’s daily life had changed drastically.

From a life spent in fear of Sae, now Natsuki spent every day in fear of Yukina.

Always watching her mood, trying not to upset her, and acting exactly as she said while she controlled everything.

On top of the bruises Sae left, new bruises from Yukina now covered his body.

In the end, the life Natsuki thought he escaped had not changed at all.

“Hey, Natsuki-kun. I will always stay by your side.”

“…Thank you, Yukina-san.”

Natsuki was already tired, so he accepted it.

He accepted the price of abandoning his childhood friend to escape and trying to be the only one who was happy.

The End.