A Love Longed for the Tiger Lily (GL) - Chapter 14
Taniguchi-san was really close.
Normally, having a woman this close would make me feel sick, but right now… I’m only feeling a little flutter in my chest.
That flutter might still be dangerous—but whether it’s because of her nearness or the beautiful firework sparking right in front of me, I honestly don’t know. So, I decided to just stay here a little longer.
The brilliant spark in front of me disappeared in an instant.
When was the last time I was this absorbed in something?
Living with my mother took everything I had.
Because of that, I never had the time—or the energy—to take an interest in anything, to be passionate about something.
Not that I hated it.
What I did hate… was the idea of losing my family.
My father was a very kind man, and my mother loved him deeply.
After he died, my mother cried all the time.
Even long after, she would suddenly start crying when she thought no one was watching.
I don’t think she ever got over it.
He passed away when I was six.
Even now, I remember him clearly… so I must have loved him just as deeply as my mother did.
He was always the one who played with me, took me out, spoiled me.
I was truly happy.
I don’t blame his death for how I turned out. Not at all.
But sometimes… I wonder what kind of life I would’ve had if he had stayed.
After he passed, I stopped being selfish.
Because if my mother left me too… I knew I’d break.
So I acted cheerful. I stopped complaining. I didn’t want to make her leave too.
It was Taniguchi-san who taught me how to enjoy life again.
Even though I was seven years younger, she played with me like it was nothing.
She took me to parks and on shopping trips—things that couldn’t have been fun for her.
I still remember that summer from elementary school.
The one when we did fireworks by the ocean with her mom and dad.
To her, that was probably just another ordinary day.
To me, it was something I thought I’d never forget.
So when I realized she still remembered that promise, I was honestly surprised.
Just a little… just a little part of me felt warm inside knowing she hadn’t forgotten.
“Ready to head back?”
“Yes.”
I stood and began gathering the trash from the fireworks.
Doing fireworks with her today is probably another memory that’ll be carved into me.
But if it’s a memory that only I found meaningful, someday it’ll just turn into something painful.
If I could, I’d erase it right now.
But… the sparklers were so beautiful, and I realized I actually like fireworks more than I thought.
So I decided to keep that part of the memory in my heart.
I sat in the passenger seat as Taniguchi-san drove us home, the car swaying gently as we went.
I really don’t want to spend much time with her.
The reason’s simple—being around her stirs up all these emotions, forces me to think too much.
When I was staying with her mom, I kept my distance and didn’t have to overthink things.
Her mom never pried into my feelings.
That kind of distance was easier to handle.
But now, beside me, Taniguchi-san was absolutely beaming.
Even though I’d been cold to her all day, she looked like she was in a great mood.
What was she so happy about?
Still, I found myself staring at her profile for a second—then quickly turned forward again, brushing it off as nothing.
“Sayo, do you remember our deal?”
Crap.
I’d completely forgotten…
The last sparkler was so stunning that I’d pushed the memory to the farthest corner of my brain.
And now it was back—loud and clear.
“I forgot.”
“I said no take-backs, remember?”
“…”
No excuses.
I never should’ve accepted that challenge in the first place.
Like she’d ever propose a match she’d lose.
Taniguchi-san may seem sweet and proper, but I’ve come to realize she’s actually quite sly.
“Well then, after your bath, meet me on the sofa.”
She said it in a surprisingly serious tone.
I had no choice but to obey.
After getting out of the bath, I found her already seated on the sofa.
Even from behind, I could tell she was positively glowing with excitement.
…What is she planning to ask?
She always says strange things out of nowhere, so right now, she’s honestly the scariest thing in my life.
“Hurry up, Sayo.”
She patted the cushion beside her.
I sat down slowly, choosing a spot just far enough away from her to maintain some space.
On the table in front of us… was a bottle of alcohol.
“Did you drink?”
“Yeah. I’ve got tomorrow off, and today was… fun. It made me want a drink. Don’t worry, I can hold my liquor. Does the smell bother you?”
“Not really.”
My mom used to drink often after she started working on her own, so the smell doesn’t bother me.
In fact, it even reminds me of those days, and somehow… it’s comforting.
But being this close to Taniguchi-san does bother me, so I leaned subtly away from her.
“You don’t have to be that obvious about avoiding me, you know.”
Maybe it was the alcohol, but she puffed out her cheeks and whined with a higher-pitched voice than usual.
“So? What’s your request?”
“Aw, why’re you so eager to get teased?”
When I looked at her, she was grinning more mischievously than usual.
Seriously, she’s the worst.
“I just want to get this over with so I can go to bed.”
I wanted this to end quickly.
My heart was pounding in my chest, anxious about whatever she might ask.
“My request is this—you have to answer the question I’m about to ask without lying.”
It was just a question.
And yet, the moment she put on that serious expression, my heart started racing even faster.
“…Okay.”
I gave my answer in the thick tension of the moment.
She took a deep breath, then asked with a calm but intense voice:
“If I’m wrong, I’m sorry—but… is it true that your symptoms aren’t as bad around me?
Or did you lie about being afraid of women just because you can’t stand being near me?”
“…I didn’t lie.”
That part came out instantly—but nothing else followed.
My heart was pounding so hard, I thought it might tear itself out of my chest.
I couldn’t answer.
There’s no way I could answer.
Maybe I am just imagining things.
I’d been trying to tell myself it wasn’t true… and yet, cold sweat was already forming along my spine.
“If it’s not a lie… then what about the first part of the question?”
She was smiling just a minute ago, and now suddenly she was serious.
I lost the bet.
I regretted agreeing to it more than anything.
And yet… today, I lost in every way.
I didn’t expect to enjoy the fireworks.
I didn’t expect to think they were beautiful.
I just didn’t want to lose and sound bitter about it.
I took a slow breath to calm myself.
“I’m not totally sure myself… but maybe the symptoms don’t get as bad when I’m with you, Taniguchi-san…”
I answered honestly.
As I did, she smiled again—her usual soft smile.
I stood to return to my room, but she blocked me with her arm, resting it on my side of the couch’s armrest.
She leaned closer, and the cushion sank beneath her weight.
Then she reached out and tilted my chin up with her other hand.
Now we were face to face—closer than ever.
My heart was about to give out.
I could feel it pounding all throughout my body, like I’d lost track of where it even was.
“I’ll cure your fear of women.”
…What?
As she leaned in closer, I reflexively shut my eyes.
I felt something soft touch my forehead.
Realizing what just happened made my face go hot, and I glared at her.
“Were you expecting something more?”
I thought a witch had appeared before me.
No—something worse. A demon. A devilish woman.
Being on the receiving end of her teasing irritated me so much that I sank my teeth into the hand still holding my chin.
“Ow!”
She yanked her arm away in surprise.
There was a red imprint of my teeth on her fingers.
She’s only doing this because it benefits her.
But I know I can’t stay like this.
I want to become someone who can function normally in society.
If using Taniguchi-san is what it takes to do that—so be it.
“If you think you can do it, then go ahead.”
“You’ve turned into quite the little brat, huh?”
Taniguchi-san was smiling.
And this smile—it wasn’t the fake, playful kind.
It was genuine.
And just like that, our twisted relationship began.