The Lion's Fang and the White Flower: A Secret Love of Missed Confessions
The summer before their second year of high school. Botan, a member of the literature club, is called out by her classmate, Raiga Shishio, who she secretly has feelings for. With a serious face, Raiga says, "There's something I've always wanted to tell you." Botan's heart races.
But his shocking confession is: "I have a crush on your best friend, Suzume. I need your help." Hiding her heartbreak, Botan forces a smile and agrees. Thus begins a week-long slapstick romantic comedy filled with tangl
The Lion's Fang and the White Flower: A Secret Love of Missed Confessions - The Sunset Rooftop and a Smiling Reply
The muggy July air seeped its way into the classroom.
Outside, the sun blazed fiercely, but even with the windows open, not a breath of wind came in. Every time the electric fan swiveled its head, a lukewarm gust lifted Botan's bangs in a soft flutter.
"Hey, hey, Botan! What's the literature club doing this year?"
Beside her, grinning from ear to ear, was Suzume.
Her slightly brownish bobbed hair swayed airily with every movement. Light as a little bird's feathers, and her large hazel eyes always sparkled with curiosity.
She really was adorable.
If I were a boy, I'd definitely fall for her, Botan thought.
"Still thinking about it. Trying to decide between a dramatic reading or a work exhibition."
Botan answered, tracing her finger along the notebook on her desk.
Her black hair, a little longer than shoulder-length, was loosely tied back in a single bunch today as well. The area around her bangs was slightly wavy, and on humid days it always seemed to spread out more than usual.
"I'm looking forward to it! I absolutely love the stories you write, Botan."
Suzume said that, and smiled airily again.
Seeing that smile, a tiny prick of pain shot through Botan's chest.
(It's not like Suzume has done anything wrong.)
Why did she feel this way?
Getting a stinging feeling just from seeing her best friend's smile.
Unconsciously, Botan touched her left earlobe.
Bzz.
The smartphone tucked inside her desk vibrated faintly.
"Hm?"
She took it out and looked at the screen.
Displayed there was a message from a boy in their class—Shishiou Raiga.
*"I have something to talk about after school on the rooftop. Please come, and keep it secret."*
Thump.
Her heart leaped.
"Huh...?"
The sound escaped her lips.
"What's wrong?"
Suzume peered over at her.
"N-nothing! I just suddenly remembered something for the literature club!"
Reflexively, she had lied.
Ever since the day of the sports festival, all along—
Botan had been in love with Raiga.
A year ago.
When she had no one to rely on and was carrying the heavy tent poles all by herself.
"You okay? Let me help."
He said that and lent her a hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
That was the first time in Botan's life—someone had reached out a hand to her.
After that, she found herself watching him before she knew it.
In the classroom, in the hallway, on the school grounds.
Every time she saw his slightly long black hair flutter in the wind, the depths of her chest tightened.
That's why.
*"After school, on the rooftop. Keep it secret."*
Getting a message like this, of course she'd get her hopes up.
Maybe—
(Maybe, he... about me...?)
Such thoughts rapidly filled her head.
The afternoon classes didn't register at all.
Even looking at the writing on the blackboard, even hearing the teacher's voice, she immediately spaced out.
Before she knew it, she was only chasing the clock's hands.
(One more hour.)
(Forty more minutes.)
(Just—)
Time that should have felt short felt terribly long.
The guilt of lying to Suzume, and the hope that she might get to meet Raiga now.
Her tangled-up feelings swirled in the center of her chest.
The chime rang.
Botan put away her textbooks as slowly as she could.
Suzume stood up.
"Botan, you have club, right? I'm heading home first."
"Yeah, see you tomorrow."
After seeing Suzume off with a smile and a wave, Botan took a deep breath.
(Okay.)
Her legs trembled.
But she had no choice but to go.
She climbed the stairs of the main school building.
In the hallway, there were already only a few students heading to their clubs. Not wanting to run into anyone, Botan walked along the edge of the staircase.
The literature club room was at the east end of the third floor.
What was there were old wooden bookshelves and two long desks by the window. Six folding chairs.
It was a small room of about fifteen square meters, but for Botan, it was a place where she could feel at ease.
Today, she didn't stop there, but aimed further up.
In front of the stairs leading to the rooftop, her feet stopped.
*"Off Limits"*
A sign saying that was hung up.
But all the students knew that you could easily get outside by going past the PE department's storage shed.
(This place is famous as a confession spot, isn't it.)
Minase Municipal Kasumigaoka High School.
There were about seven hundred students in total, with six classes per grade.
From Botan and her friends' classroom, you could see the Aoba River beyond the school grounds.
The school was on top of a hill, and the slope leading to the main gate was called "Confession Hill," or something like that.
There was even a rumor that if you walked side-by-side down Confession Hill, your love would come true.
Botan had thought it was a story that had nothing to do with her.
At least, until today.
Gently, she pushed the door.
It made a small creaking sound.
The western sun was dazzling.
The rooftop was larger than she'd thought, a concrete space of about two hundred square meters. The whole perimeter was enclosed by a fence.
Beyond the fence, the town of Minase spread out before her. The shopping district in front of the station, the Aoba River—everything was dyed orange.
The July evening was still hot, even so.
In the shadow of a water tank, Raiga stood.
He was tall, and he usually wore his slightly long black hair down. His eyebrows looked strong-willed, and when his dark eyes smiled, the corners crinkled down just a little.
His profile was illuminated by the setting sun.
Botan forgot to breathe.
(Ah, I really do love him.)
She couldn't help but think that.
"You came, Botan."
Raiga turned toward her.
He had a serious look on his face.
"Sorry for calling you out so suddenly. There's something I absolutely need to talk about."
"O-oh, no. It's fine."
Her voice was just a little high-pitched.
Raiga let out a sigh, then looked at her again.
His eyes were direct.
Just like on the day of the sports festival—when he'd helped Botan, who was carrying the tent poles alone.
Direct, and warm.
Raiga opened his mouth.
"I—"
Thump-thump.
"I'm in love with your best friend, Suzume."
—Huh?
For a moment, she couldn't understand what she'd been told.
"I've been agonizing over how to confess to her. So, I thought I'd ask you for advice. Will you help me out?"
Inside her head, the words spun round and round.
In love with Suzume.
Wants me to help.
(It's not me, then.)
The scene before her eyes went hazy.
The ground beneath her feet felt unsteady.
But.
Ever since she was little, Botan's catchphrase had been "Sure."
By being useful to someone, she could feel that she, too, had a little bit of worth in existing—because she could think that.
So.
(Don't.)
(Don't cry.)
(Smile.)
"Sure! Leave it to me! I'll root for you!"
Her voice was too bright.
An obviously forced voice, even she could tell.
Even so, Raiga showed a relieved expression.
"Thank you, Botan! I'm glad I asked you!"
He smiled.
Raiga smiled.
(Glad he asked me, huh.)
Botan flashed a smile back, showing the dimple that only formed on her right cheek.
"Well then, I've got literature club."
She turned her back on him, spinning around.
She couldn't look back.
"See you tomorrow!"
Raiga's voice flew at her back.
Botan waved her hand lightly.
Without turning around, she waved.
She didn't raise her face until she had closed the rooftop door.
(Don't you dare cry.)
Only the sound of her footsteps going down the stairs echoed terribly loud.
—That night.
Botan was lying face down on her bed in her room on the second floor of her house.
The bookshelf was tightly packed with literary works, and on her desk were the manuscript of a half-written novel and a laptop. From the window, she could see the Aoba River at night.
But right now, she didn't want to see anything.
She stifled her voice and cried.
(Why didn't I refuse?)
(Why did I smile and say okay?)
Burying her face in her pillow, Botan let out her breath in tiny, tiny puffs.
She remembered her middle school days.
Her friends had asked her for favor after favor—and she couldn't refuse.
Because of that, there was a time her parents scolded her terribly. She broke promises with her family over and over, and they got angry, asking, "Why can't you say no?"
(It's the same as back then.)
She could only feel her own worth by meeting the expectations of others.
Botan was that kind of person.
Raiga's words repeated over and over in her head.
*"I'm in love with Suzume."*
*"Will you help me out?"*
*"I'm glad I asked you."*
The pillow grew cold from her tears.
(It hurts.)
But.
Botan slowly sat up.
With her eyes swollen from crying, she looked at her desk.
The cover of the literature club's magazine caught her eye.
It was the one she'd talked about with Suzume before, saying, "The cover design is cute, isn't it."
Suzume.
Raiga.
(They're both precious people to me.)
Botan bit her lip tightly.
"Alright... I'm going to do it. I'm going to get them together."
She tried saying it out loud.
The words fell quietly inside the room.
She'd decided.
Starting tomorrow, the Great Confession Operation would begin.
Her own face was reflected in the window glass.
Her usual bright smile had completely vanished.
Even so.
(It's fine, I'm fine.)
She could only hold herself together by thinking that.
For her best friend, and for the person she had a one-sided crush on.
Botan put on an empty smile.
That was her—this girl named Botan's—way of living, with all her might.
Outside, the sound of insects was beginning to be heard.
The night in Minase quietly deepened.
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