Chapter 28: The Big Liar

「I never imagined that child had a boyfriend... She's properly being a girl. I'm relieved.」

Moving from the library to a bench on the balcony, I was telling Kyouka-san about Shigure's life at the academy.

Apparently the acquaintance Shigure mentioned was Kyouka-san, and she comes to visit frequently.

She said she knew intuitively because the characteristics of the boyfriend Shigure described matched my face.

「You know, that child has a rather difficult personality, right? She's the type to immediately say what she thinks...」

...? Says what she thinks immediately...?

「Ahaha... She certainly gives me a hard time.」

Seeing Kyouka-san look worried with lowered eyebrows, I return with a bitter smile to avoid seeming unnatural.

There was something that bothered me about Kyouka-san's statement. Says what she thinks immediately? The lying Shigure?

Certainly, recently as Shigure had begun to open her heart, she seemed to say what she thought. But that isn't toward everyone.

I was convinced. There's still one big lie hidden.

「Kyouka-san, today is she...」

「She just came yesterday, so I don't think she'll come today. Yesterday was a school day off, right? She faithfully comes even on days off, that child.」

Kyouka-san said with an embarrassed laugh. That girl lies even to her mother.

「Um, if you don't mind me asking... what reason is Kyouka-san hospitalized for?」

Kyouka-san smiled gently. Looking at the wrinkles that form when she smiles and the way she puts her hand to her mouth, I could feel that she and Shigure are parent and child.

「...Have you heard about Minato from Ren?」

「Yes.」

「Ever since that child isn't here with us, my mental state has been unstable... When I'm stable I can move around like this, but when I remember that time, my body won't move properly.」

「That's... sorry. I asked something inappropriate.」

「Ah, it's okay! I'm heading toward recovery lately, and remembering a little won't make me worse!」

Kyouka-san added hastily. The way she considers others is completely unlike that girl.

「Besides, I'm happy to talk with Tsukishiro-kun. I could only talk with that child here, so hearing stories I don't know is fun.」

「Then I'm glad. ...Could you tell me about her too, if you don't mind?」

「What would you like to hear?」

Kyouka-san asks with a gentle smile.

「...Things she likes and dislikes.」

「Hmm... Ah, romance dramas! The sisters used to watch them together.」

When I went to her house before, she was watching a romance drama. That Shigure likes romance dramas is certain.

The problem is things she dislikes.

「Things she dislikes... cats maybe?」

「...Cats?」

「That child isn't very good with animals... But strangely, cats are drawn to her.」

Before, Shigure tried to touch a cat but was disliked and ran away. That she who dislikes cats? Is liked by cats?

Coincidence can't explain the gradually spreading sense of wrongness. That's truth built from lies.

「Ah, also she's not very good with sweet things. She's had a mature personality since childhood.」

That can't be. That shouldn't be allowed.

Shigure likes sweet things enough to petition the student council. There are no lies in that expression. So these words have to be lies. And yet──

(...It's not a lie.)

There were no lies in Kyouka-san's expression.

The existence called Shigure Ren floating in my mind.

Her relationship with cats.

Her obsession with sweet things.

Her mother suffering from mental illness.

Her sister who committed suicide.

Her, who is a liar.

The gathered facts bring the truth into relief.

My brain arrived at one conclusion.

「Kyouka-san.」

「...What's wrong?」

「Whose story is that?」

「Whose, you mean──」

Kyouka-san's words cut off there.

Kyouka-san froze like a robot whose switch was suddenly turned off, staring into the distance.

Those eyes, as if seeing a past far away, gradually moisten.

Surely what's reflected there are two girls. Two precious girls who should never have been lost.

Kyouka-san looked down as if regretting the lost past. When she returned, she reflected my figure in her eyes.

「Tsukishiro-kun.」

After a pause, Kyouka-san took one step out of the past.

「Please save that child.」

▼▽

July 10th. In the middle of the day when summer heat was beginning to show its face and the searing sunlight was soaking into skin. Shigure had come to Hakumei Temple.

While Shigure usually comes here, she never misses this day each year.

This day is Shigure Minato's death anniversary. For her, it was the day that decided her fate.

As always, pudding in hand, she stands before her younger sister's grave.

And pressing her hands together, she prays. That she's doing well. That mother is steadily recovering too. That the world is moving with the correct gears.

「......」

After finishing her prayer, Shigure stares intently at the grave. She wonders what the girl she couldn't save would think seeing her now.

Would she praise her for doing well? Or would she laugh it off mockingly? Or would she hate her terribly and curse her?

She doesn't know the answer. After all, what's buried in this grave is──

「Coming even on a day like this, you're dutiful.」

Standing next to Shigure was Kanato.

Seeing Kanato appear as if he'd been lying in wait, Shigure widens her eyes and backs away. Kanato slowly approaches Shigure so the distance won't increase.

「W-Why are you here...」

「Today's her death anniversary. I heard it from Kyouka-san.」

「You met Mama? So that's how you knew I was here...」

「...How does it feel?」

At Kanato's question, Shigure was at a loss for words.

Not only because she didn't understand what the question was about. Seeing Kanato's terribly sad expression, she was surprised, but at the same time realized. The worst words that would probably be spun from his mouth the next moment.

「Praying to your dead self.」