Chapter 9: Two People on the Bridge

Having left school, I was crossing Nagumo Bridge with Shigure, chatting casually.

The distance from the Nagumo Bridge to the riverbank is about 5 meters. If you fell, it would be high enough to cause fatal injuries.

Shigure's panties were flashing back in my mind. That we didn't get hurt when I caught her yesterday could be called a miracle.

「Hey Shigure. Why did you fall off this bridge yesterday? ...Don't tell me.」

「It's not what you're imagining.」

「Then why...」

Shigure puts her hands on the railing and looks down at the flowing river. That profile held a withered sadness that students shouldn't have.

「...Do you know about the suicide that happened here a few years ago?」

「Ahh, that became quite a commotion. I remember it.」

「The girl who committed suicide then was my younger sister.」

A shock ran through me like finding a bloody knife among flowers.

At the same time, another me appeared, suspicious of whether this was a lie, but I hadn't fallen that far. I know enough not to ask about things people shouldn't be asked about.

「...Sorry.」

「...You don't doubt it.」

「I can tell by looking at your face. If this were a lie, I'd jump off right now.」

「That's a heavy responsibility. ...It was when that child and I were in the second year of middle school. She was bright even at home, so when I heard about it, my mind went completely blank. Maybe she was a liar like someone I know.」

Her self-deprecating smile was sadly beautiful. At times like this, I'd want her to look sad at least.

「Come on.」

「W-Wha, o-oi!」

As I stare at her profile, Shigure leans over the railing and stands in the small space beyond it. When Shigure turned toward me, she relaxed her expression again.

「I often look at the scenery like this. I wonder if my younger sister also brooded here like this.」

「...So yesterday, you slipped because of that?」

「Yeah. It was raining so I slipped. ...Maybe my younger sister pulled me.」

「That's not funny...」

「But I'm glad that I fell. Thanks to that, I had a fateful encounter with my boyfriend.」

Whether lie or truth, Shigure says this and smiles at me. Her well-formed features could be either a weapon or medicine.

I quickly averted my gaze from Shigure's face. If I keep looking, I might start having strange misunderstandings.

Shigure and I are just a fake couple. There are no real feelings in this relationship. Even if it's a misunderstanding, such emotions should be eliminated.

「...Hey Shigure, why do you lie?」

I change the subject before Shigure notices the change in my expression. Shigure remains standing beyond the railing, gazing across the river.

「Lies are the greatest weapon and the greatest shield. Most inconvenient things can be handled with lies. I'm not the only one doing it.」

Unable to deny this sad world full of lies, I listen to Shigure's words in silence.

「...That senpai came after me wanting my body. So I tried to shake him off with lies. I've done it many times before.」

「But if you keep lying, you'll be punished someday.」

「Like falling from here?」

I glared at Shigure for making another self-deprecating comment. In contrast, Shigure laughed as if she had realized something.

「Just kidding. ...That senpai just wants to make himself look bigger. He just wants to show the school students that he's superior, putting on airs. That's also a lie. I'm just a tool for that. In the end, all the men who come after me are like that. There's no one who truly needs me.」

I felt I caught a glimpse of Shigure's true feelings in her words that trailed off dejectedly. I couldn't stand that resigned profile.

「...Don't say things like that, even as a joke. How many people do you think are praying for your safety? If your younger sister is gone, all the more reason. ...I'm not going out with you just for fun.」

At my words, Shigure was at a loss for words. Like a sulking child, she looked down at the river.

「...I hate lies.」

「I know.」

「So I hate people who lie. ...But there's no human who doesn't lie. Sadly.」

Shigure's mysterious eyes capture me. In the depths of those jewel-like eyes, something seemed to be smoldering.

Talking with her makes it clear that Shigure isn't just a maniac who lies. She has elements that make me accept the existence of lies, which I detest.

I want to hold her back. Even if this relationship ends in the worst way, I want to at least ensure her safety. That desire pushed my back.

「Even if Shigure's smile, words, and very existence are lies, I won't deny them. But I'm supposedly your boyfriend. At least be honest with your boyfriend.」

I was unconsciously grabbing Shigure's arm. Seeing her startled expression, I finally noticed this.

Looking at Shigure's profile that seemed like it would fly away somewhere if I let go, I naturally felt anxious.

If I leave things like this, won't she jump from here? Having such a worst-case imagination, my hand tightens with strength.

「...What's wrong? You don't think I'm going to jump, do you?」

「I'd be relieved if that's not the case.」

「...If I disappeared too, Okaa-san would be sad. So it's fine.」

Shigure climbed over the railing and returned to the inside. Seeing this, I let out a relieved breath.

「Being honest, huh. I'll consider it.」

「If possible, don't lie anymore... It's troublesome having to read between the lines every time we talk.」

「Think of that as part of the fun of talking with me too. ...Let's go.」

Naturally holding hands, we started walking again. Stronger than before, holding hands.