デカセクト

Chapter 14

Dori walked back inside, leaving Shouko there in the middle of the small garden. She was still thinking about what he meant but ultimately just tried to shake it out of her thoughts and got back inside as well.

Returning to the couch, she avoided looking at either Nijiro and Dori. She tried not to let it show that she was uncomfortable but it was hard given the fact that the two openly stared at her and no one else seemed to notice but her.

"Let's take photos!" Aya announced and got out her phone.

Everyone around the table turned to the camera and smiled as several photos were taken. Shouko, as well as Ayaka Miyoshi who played as An, were then pulled closer by Aya.

"Hey! I want to be in the photo too!" Tao said before sitting next to Ayaka.

The four smiled at the camera, taking several photos with different expressions and angles. Shouko felt so grateful that the girls included her and never treated her as an outsider, which she technically was.

An hour later, everyone started to leave as they were all tired. Kento, of course, took Shouko home. But as they were leaving the venue, Shouko looked up and noticed Dori smirk at her before he left the place first. Nijiro, who noticed this, turned around to face her. He didn't look too happy about it.

Shouko felt bad, but she knew she didn't even do anything wrong. It wasn't like she was purposely stringing them along.

"Lock the doors and windows, alright? Goodnight." Kento gave her a smile and waved before getting in the car.

Shouko returned the gesture and got inside the house so he could drive back to his place. Just like he told her, she locked the doors and made sure the windows were locked as well before going upstairs to her room.

To relax herself, she took a hot bath and the water instantly eased her body. She even fell asleep for a short time and woke up twenty minutes later.

After washing herself, she got dressed in pajamas and went to bed. Though she still wanted to think of what happened earlier, her eyelids were getting heavier and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.

When morning came, she did her usual routine and went down to cook breakfast. As she waited for the food to be ready, she checked her phone.

Just as she expected, she was tagged in the photos taken last night and the people there had followed her. She followed them back and scrolled along her feed before she noticed Nijiro's story. Without thinking, she clicked on it.

Surprisingly, it was a photo of an empty small garden from last night. She suddenly felt something strange inside her that she couldn't comprehend. There was something about the photo that made her feel that way.

Nijiro's stories often held cryptic messages and he could be telling her something with this photo. She gulped and remembered the time she was there with Dori. She couldn't think of anything she did wrong but one could have misunderstood specially when Dori whispered something to her even though they were all alone.

"Why do I feel so guilty?" She whispered to herself before putting the phone back in her pocket.

The food she prepared was already done and so she ate breakfast as she stared off into space. Then a thought hit her, she still hadn't talked to Haru yet but they had no class that day so she just invited him over via text message.

After washing the plates and such, Haru finally arrived with narrowed eyes. It could only mean that he had seen the photos already.

"I can explain." Shouko smiled sheepishly and Haru just rolled his eyes at her before taking a seat on the couch.

"I am so disappointed in you..." Haru started, making her tense up. "You should have told me you were dating him! The only guy I look up to in the industry! How could you?!"

Shouko nervously laughed and sat beside him. "Well, you see...."

"What?!" Haru widened his eyes as he impatiently waited for her to continue. "Tell me!"

"It's all just an act, Haru." Shouko chuckled at his eagerness. "I'm not actually dating him."

Haru's jaw dropped for a moment but he quickly recovered and slapped her shoulder, making her groan though he didn't really slap her that hard.

"Hey, what gives?!" Shouko glared at him and rubbed the spot he slapped.

"Tell me everything. From start to finish." Haru demanded, and so she did.

Shouko never left out a single detail. Haru's eyes would go wide from time to time but he never once interrupted her.

It took basically like half the day and Haru had to go back before the sun sets or his mom will get mad. Once again, Shouko was left alone. It felt good to actually have someone to talk about her life so she was thankful that she had a friend like him.

Since she had nothing to do, she decided to roam around the city again and stopped by at her favorite ice cream store. As usual, she ordered her favorite and sat by the table looking out the streets.

There were many people passing by, mostly couples. It was cold out so usually the couples would hug each other's side as they pass by.

Evening came and she decided to go home. That day was a rather peaceful day for her; no boy drama and all. A tiny part of her wanted to return to her life back then before she had a chance to talk to Nijiro and before she met Kento.

But, she was also grateful that she met them. Most girls she knew would do just about anything to get a chance to talk to the two.

Shouko's phone buzzed for the first time that day as she had previously turned off the notification she usually got whenever either Nijiro or Dori posted.

It was a message from Kento who had only recently followed her when the photos spread.

Don't mind the hate,
they don't know you like I do. -K

Shouko's brows furrowed and quickly scrolled through her feed. She stopped at the photos they took last night and looked at the comments.

They were some positive ones as well as rude ones directed at her but it didn't really bother her that much. She has no choice but to get used to it for the sake of Kento's career.

But, thinking about it, she shouldn't have actually agreed to the ridiculous plan he came up with. They could have just told the people they were friends.

Shouko sighed and held her head, feeling like she was about to get a headache. After thinking about it for a while, she decided to tell Kento that they should just tell the truth.

Why did you change your mind? -K

Nothing good will come out of this
if we keep lying -S

Shouko waited and waited, but his reply never came. She was starting to get worried since the message was already read.

After a few more hours, her phone finally buzzed signaling a message. She quickly opened it and her heart dropped. It wasn't what she expected at all.

What if I don't want to tell the truth?