Chapter 7: Playing Boyfriend...

With Minazuki-senpai's appearance, I somewhat grasped the reason for being called here.

「...You tricked me.」

「That person comes here every lunch break. It's annoying.」

Shigure answered without showing any remorse. It should annoy me, but her overwhelming facial deviation value keeps hitting me, making me almost entranced despite myself. The reputation of the lying beautiful girl isn't just for show.

Pushing through students and heading this way, Minazuki-senpai has what appear to be two companions by his side. They're walking strangely, trying to make themselves look as big as possible. It doesn't look like this will go as easily as this morning.

「Yahoo Shigure-chan. I was free so I came by. ...Huh, your boyfriend's here today too.」

「It's his request. ...Fufu.」

「Ah? What's that? Did you just laugh?」

「Eh? I did laugh, though?.」

I smirk at Minazuki-senpai without trying to hide it, clearly provoking him. As expected, he doesn't seem to be the patient type.

「What's with that walk? All three of you with your legs spread... Is that some kind of game?」

「Haa? What, you wanna fight!」

「Hmm, I don't think showing off here is a good idea. Just because you're in the judo club doesn't mean it's okay to get physical, though?」

I didn't miss Minazuki-senpai's hands trembling. If I keep provoking him like this, he'll reach his limit soon.

His companions look rough but thin. They don't seem like much trouble.

「Look, I don't have business with you, okay? I've business with Shigure-chan. Get it?」

「I'm her boyfriend, so... I'm not an outsider like you.」

「...Heeh, so I'm an outsider...」

Minazuki-senpai's meaningful way of speaking left a small sense of unease in me. This person knows something about Shigure that I don't.

It was an intuitive thought, but my intuition is usually right. Looking sideways at Shigure's stiffened expression made it clear that my thought wasn't wrong.

「I don't know how much you know, but if you're her boyfriend, you should probably manage that kind of thing... It's not just me, lots of people are seeing it.」

「Senpai should manage your lower half better too, don't you think? I heard you had trouble with Amanai-senpai last month. Isn't it too early to be going after other girls...?」

「You bastard...!」

「Wait!」

Just as Minazuki-senpai finally grabbed my collar, Shigure stepped in to mediate.

Minazuki-senpai, whose head was completely hot, regained his composure and reluctantly removed his hands from my collar, looking dissatisfied.

「...Remember this.」

Minazuki-senpai left those words behind and departed the rooftop with his companions.

「...Are you stupid? You were about to get punched! What if you got hurt!」

「That was the plan. If it became a problem, that person would have to behave too. It would be our win.」

Unable to deny what I was saying, Shigure swallowed her words.

It's difficult to read through the mysterious contents of Shigure's heart. I didn't try to pry unnecessarily.

「...If we keep this up, we're going to get hurt someday.」

「...I know that. Even so, I've to keep lying.」

The reason that seemed likely to follow never came from Shigure's mouth.

I can't even tell if Shigure's sad profile is real or not. I probably don't have the right to know about her when I can't distinguish between them.

「Lies become the truth if they're not exposed. I'll just keep hiding until the lies I tell become true. ...I need you to go along with those lies. To become part of my lies.」

「I'm also part of Shigure's lies, huh...」

「Feel like you're ascending to heaven?」

「...The worst. I hate lies.」

「You get to be a beautiful girl's boyfriend, so be a little happy. And be grateful.」

I swallowed the retort "You yourself said it?". I knew that even if I said it, nothing would reach her.

Shigure, wrapped in lies. She, who wears the lies I hate, was annoyingly beautiful.

「...Come on, if you keep spacing out, break time will end.」

「I know that...」

Shigure lets out a breath with her shadowed profile. Then she relaxed her expression just a little and said.

「Now, let's continue. Do you have siblings? What's your family structure?」

For the rest of break time, I enjoyed casual conversation with Shigure while eating lunch.