"Don't worry about them. If we do run into them, just say hi."
Kitagawa Ryo turned off his phone. The darkened screen reflected his indifferent expression.
"...I'm a little worried, but if Ryo says so, then okay."
As always, Ichinose Honami seemed to lose a bit of her edge in front of Ryo. She leaned over to look at the map in his hands.
"If we go to the right, there's a temple. Or we could keep climbing. Which way should we go?"
"How about best two out of three rock-paper-scissors?"
Ryo recalled the game they used to play as kids, his tone light.
"Whoever wins gets to choose."
Honami didn't refuse. She hid her right hand behind her back, trying to recall Ryo's usual patterns.
"Rock, paper, scissors!"
"Rock, paper, scissors!"
The first round ended quickly. Ryo threw rock; Honami threw scissors.
"Just like when we were kids—Honami still likes to throw scissors in the first round."
Ryo wore a triumphant grin. It was just a game, but he clearly enjoyed it.
"Aren't you afraid I might've changed my habits?"
"I threw rock because I believe in you, Honami."
Ryo smiled as he put his hand behind his back again.
"Next round, I'm going to throw scissors," Honami announced cheerfully, watching Ryo closely.
"Didn't you say you trust me?"
Rock-paper-scissors isn't just a game of luck. There's a psychological battle before the throw. If someone declares their move beforehand, it becomes a game of trust—or deception.
But Honami didn't seem to overthink it. She just said:
"It doesn't matter where we go. I'll leave the decision to you. Let's end this."
She stared at Ryo's face. He smiled again.
"Got it."
What's he really thinking?
Will he truly believe me and follow through?
"Rock, paper, scissors!"
"Rock, paper, scissors."
Ryo threw rock again, without hesitation. Honami threw paper.
"So Honami can lie now too."
Ryo wasn't surprised or upset.
He knew I was lying and still went along with it.
"'Trust me'—that's a phrase liars love to use. If you hear it, you should be suspicious."
Honami shrugged and tucked her hand behind her back.
"So Ryo, be careful of girls who say they trust you..."
"Honami, are you an actress?"
"Huh?"
"You acted really well just now. No expression, completely convincing. Only liars or actors can deceive like that."
Ryo winked mischievously.
"And the better the actor, the more praise they get for fooling the audience."
A dull pain throbbed in her chest. Her throat felt dry.
"Final round."
Honami cut him off, like she didn't want to pursue the topic.
"But an audience won't fall for the same act twice. I'm good at spotting lies."
Ryo sounded confident, like victory was his.
"You just got tricked..."
Honami sighed and got ready for the third round.
Just before they threw, Ryo spoke:
"Honami."
"Yeah?"
"This time, I'm throwing rock again."
No time to think. The moment came.
Even Honami couldn't grasp her own thoughts in that instant.
"Looks like you win."
In front of them—Honami's paper, Ryo's rock.
"Why so surprised? Seems like you really trusted me."
"Honami may know how to lie now, but she's still easily fooled."
Though he lost, Ryo wasn't discouraged. He stood and patted the dust off his knees.
"So, where to next?"
"The temple."
Honami answered only after Ryo asked. Before that, she had just been staring at her open palm.
The plan had gone perfectly, but there was no joy in her heart—only a deep, silent void.
"Are you interested in temples, too? I heard you can draw fortunes there. Supposedly very accurate."
Honami bit her lip to suppress the nausea rising in her stomach and answered calmly:
"It's fine. We might even make it in time for the vegetarian meal service."
"Want to hold hands?"
Ryo smiled like a child asking his parents for candy.
"Of course."
Unlike earlier, Honami's hand was cold.
"Your hand is chilly."
"Probably from holding the ice cream."
"Hope we can still go see the fireworks this year."
"Why bring that up now?"
"Because it's almost time. And there are so many yukata shops here."
Ryo must've sensed her nervous trembling.
"I'll be back from overseas before the fireworks next year."
"Might be tough, but I'll try to come back before your birthday—July 20, right? I've already got your gift this year."
Ryo rarely made promises. It was one of the few times Honami had seen him talk about the future so enthusiastically.
Noticing her silence, Ryo scratched his head awkwardly.
"Maybe I got carried away."
He glanced sideways at her. She was texting, her face hidden by her long hair.
"...It's okay. I'm looking forward to it."
"Haven't gotten a birthday gift from you in ages."
Honami tucked her phone away, pushed her hair behind her ear, and smiled brightly.
"Just don't get me anything too fancy."
"I can't afford anything expensive anyway."
Ryo thought back to all the practical gifts he had given—umbrellas, clocks, cups.
"Would a hair clip count as fancy?"
"Mom would scold me. She never wants me accepting flashy gifts from you."
Honami sighed. Through the trees, golden temple eaves came into view.
"The vegetarian meal hours are from 11:30 to 13:00, and it's limited to 1,000 servings. It's already 12:30. Think we'll make it?"
Ryo looked nervous—they'd planned to have lunch here.
"We'll make it. Let's go."
Honami looked ahead to the temple. She could almost hear the bell.
Suppressing her emotions, she met Ryo's puzzled gaze, straightened her hair, stopped walking, turned to him, leaned forward, and said:
"Believe in me."
-------------------------------------
"Ugh, those promo photos were too good. The food totally matches the free price tag."
Karuizawa Kei groaned as she stepped out of the crowded temple cafeteria.
"Yeah, pretty bland."
Beside her, Ichinose Maki absentmindedly looked around for her cat.
"Hotaru!"
Spotting the white cat lazily perched on a tree, Maki called out.
The cat jumped down and leapt into her arms.
"Same name, same look."
Kei stroked the cat's head, recalling Ryo's story about the old cat he shared with Honami. She knew this was a different one, bought later, but still felt nostalgic.
The cat gave her a disdainful look. She awkwardly withdrew her hand.
"What time is it?"
"Almost one."
Kei checked her phone.
"Let's rest, then head up. We might not have time otherwise."
"Yeah, let's sit a bit."
They found a bench under a tree and idly chatted. The conversation drifted to Kitagawa Ryo.
"Did he really live across from you your whole childhood?"
"Yeah. We were shocked when we heard his family was wealthy—he never seemed like a rich kid. Always playing in dirt, buying the cheapest popsicles."
"He was with Honami from elementary school until middle. Once he entered junior high, he started to really stand out. He was older, became student council president, super handsome, a soccer ace. I heard he got like ten love letters a day during graduation week."
"He is impressive. And he gives off a dependable vibe."
Kei nodded. Even their fake relationship had shown her how proud one could be with a boyfriend like that. She still vividly remembered the moment Ryo held her shoulder and accepted her confession.
"He's kind, sure… but sometimes he does weird things."
Maki petted the cat in her lap.
"All because of my dumb sister."
"Eh?"
Kei blinked in confusion.
Maki stood suddenly and grabbed Kei's hand.
"No more waiting. Let's go!"
"W-wait, what?!"
They ran out of the temple toward the trail to the summit.
"What's going on?!"
Panting, Maki finally explained:
"Honami and Ryo are on their way here. I don't know what my sister's planning, but you two shouldn't meet."
She turned off her phone, face serious.
"Do you like Ryo?"
Kei's face turned bright red.
"You do, right? I know. Because I feel the same."
Maki put a finger to her lips.
"Just between us…"
"Ryo's a liar. A brilliant liar."
"He doesn't seem like the type…"
"I know several lies of his. Like…"
"I never confessed to him."
Maki said, looking Kei straight in the eyes.