A Love Longed for the Tiger Lily (GL) - Chapter 3

When I opened my eyes, the ceiling looked strangely distant—and the first thing in my field of vision was a beautiful girl.

Surely this must be some divine mercy from the heavens, granted to pitiful, heartbroken me…

“Please wake up.”

Her voice instantly pulled me out of my half-asleep daze.
Oh… right.
Yesterday had been a mess.

Apparently, I’d been sleeping on the edge of the bed and somehow rolled off onto the floor.

But today, there was work to be done.
I had to help Sayo move.

I forced strength into my limbs, still numb with sleep, and sat up.

“Let’s bring everything you can carry today.”

“It’s already packed.”

Looking around my room, I saw a single carry-on suitcase sitting there.

“That’s it?”

“Yes.”

With that, Sayo left the room without another word.

I quickly got myself ready and followed her out of the house.

“Sayo-chan, Wakana might be a bit of a handful, but take good care of her, okay?”

I wanted to say, Wait, I’m the one taking care of her!
But there had already been too many things I didn’t quite agree with since yesterday.
No point arguing now, so I just left quietly.

Sayo acted polite and composed when she was around my mom, but with me, she was unbelievably cold.
Back when we were little, she was always clinging to me and super sweet.

“Mind if we stop by a furniture store before heading back?”

“What for?”

“I want to change up the furniture in my place.”

“That makes sense. Probably a good idea to toss the bed full of memories with your ex.”

Wait—how does she know about my ex?

My mom’s smug little face immediately came to mind.
Yeah… she’s definitely getting payback later.

“Well, anyway. If there’s any furniture you want, let me know, okay?”

“I told you not to talk to me.”

I had no idea why Sayo disliked me so much—
Why she was acting so cold toward me.

But if we were going to live together, I at least wanted her to communicate the basics.

“Alright. I won’t make small talk.
But can I at least have the right to talk about necessary things?”

I held back the irritation bubbling up inside me and gave her a gentle smile as I spoke.
But then—
She hit me with something completely unexpected, sweeping aside my kindness like it was nothing.

“Do you always fake smiles like that to manipulate people?”

I stood there, mouth wide open in shock.

Two harsh rejections in two days.

Yesterday, I got dumped by the woman I thought I’d spend the rest of my life with.
And today, my once-affectionate cousin hits me with this level of contempt…

“Haa…”

I was seriously worried about how I’d survive from here on.

In the end, I was too emotionally drained to buy anything and returned home empty-handed.

Later, I decided to start preparing dinner and tried asking Sayo a question.

“Do you have any favorite foods?”

“That’s small talk, isn’t it?”

Unbelievable.

Still… I had said I wouldn’t make unnecessary conversation.

So I stopped to think—how could I phrase it in a way she’d actually respond?

“Okay. Let me reword that.
Do you have any allergies? Or anything you can’t eat?”

“No.”

I guess the way I’d asked before was the problem.
Turns out she will answer if it’s something essential.

But I had to be careful with my choice of words.

This honestly felt like trying to adopt a skittish stray cat for the first time.

I threw together a few simple side dishes and served them with rice and miso soup.
When I glanced at her across the table, I saw her staring at the meal in surprise.

“Itadakimasu.”

Sayo politely pressed her hands together and began eating.
She didn’t say it was good, but seeing her pick up one bite after another gave me a small sense of relief.

“You can take your bath first, if you want.”

“Thank you.”

Her uncharacteristic sincerity warmed my heart.
I smiled slightly and took a bite of rice myself.

But then—
Sayo suddenly spoke to me, and I flinched in surprise.

“Where am I supposed to sleep tonight?”

“This won’t be a long-term arrangement, so… I was hoping you could just put up with my ex’s room.”

“Absolutely not.”

“…Then, would my room be okay?”

Sayo looked thoughtful for a moment, then let out a quiet sigh.
She gave a small nod before heading toward the bathroom.

While she was staying here, I decided to give her my room.
As much as it pained me, I’d sleep in my ex-girlfriend’s room for now.

She must have skipped the bath I drew and just taken a quick shower, because she returned from the bathroom in record time.

There was something I couldn’t hold back anymore. I had to ask her.

“There’s just one thing I need to know.”

“…What is it?”

“Why don’t you want me to talk to you…?
Do you hate me that much?”

“It has nothing to do with you, Taniguchi-san.
I just hate women.
They lie so easily… and they betray just as quickly.”

She said it with such a dark expression, then turned and walked off toward the room.

I don’t understand her at all.

But I do know one thing—That bright, cheerful girl I once knew must’ve gone through something terrible to end up like this.

And even if I asked, she probably wouldn’t tell me.

So, for now, I had no choice but to quietly coexist with her,
and wait for this strange new life we were sharing… to come to an end.