Chapter 21 An Indefinite Lie

No one's POV

After Nhazul had noticed that Ruka had left the room, he had gone to check on her and see where she went, seeing she had gone to the bathroom.

Nhazul: Oh, there you are.

Ruka: ...

Nhazul: Are you alright?

Ruka: ...

As Ruka would remain silent, Nhazul would just sigh, before rubbing his head, however before he would be able to speak, Ruka grabs him by the shirt and pulls him towards her and kisses him, making his eyes widened in surprise. After a few moments, Nhazul would shake off his shock and quickly pushes her back.

Nhazul: What are you doing...?

Ruka: ...

As Nhazul would continue to look at Ruka, she would simply look down, before speaking up.

Ruka: I'm sorry... I know crossed a line there... But I don't want to lose...

Nhazul: Lose? There's nothing to lose. If you're talking about Chizuru, I don't-

Ruka: You may not be able to see it now, but I can tell... Sooner or later you'll realize it as well and I don't want to lose when that happens...

As Ruka went to walk back into the room, she'd speak up once again.

Ruka: I have no regrets... That stuff about your first kiss tasting like lemons and strawberries was a lie, huh? Mine just tasted a bit like booze.

Upon hearing this, Nhazul's eyes widened.

Nhazul: That was your...?

Not saying another word, Ruka would leave Nhazul alone. Soon, he would lean up against the wall, holding his head.

Nhazul: ....

After a while, Nhazul would return to the living room with the others, but everyone quickly noticed something was off about them.

Chizuru: Are you two okay? You both look pale.

Leo: Yeah, what's wrong?

Ruka: It's nothing, I just got a little embarrassed when Nhazul had to show me where the bathroom is.

Hearing this, Nhazul would glance down at Ruka putting on a fake smile.

Nhazul's thoughts: This whole situation is putting a lot more stress on her than I realized. This entire thing started because we didn't want to get exposed. Her wanting to stay at my place, her outburst with Mami, the signs were there. Between the two of them, she feels like she's backed into a corner. Regardless of how I feel about this entire situation, I wouldn't want her to feel that way. And her first... To waste it on someone like me... This needs to end...

Soon, Nhazul would just sigh, before speaking up.

Nhazul: Leo, mom, dad... There's something I need to tell you. Especially, you Leo...

Leo: Huh? What is it?

Nhazul: I know how much you love Chizuru, so I'm really sorry about this... But Chizuru and I, we-

Before Nhazul can finish his sentence, Chizuru's phone rings and interrupts them. The call is from the hospital,

informing Chizuru that her grandma lost consciousness, surprising everyone.

(Timeskip)

Nhazul and Chizuru quickly take a taxi to the hospital, but are surprised to see that Sayuri is fine,

however Sayuri apologizes for ruining the party.

Nhazul: Oh, no, you don't have to worry about that. Chizuru told me you weren't feeling well, I'm just glad you're doing alright. I feel bad for even asking. Though you nearly scared Leo to death, though.

Sayuri: Oh, my apologies. I wish I could apologize to him.

Nhazul: Well, he's been asking to come see you, so I'll bring him up one day.

Sayuri: Oh, that would be lovely. But you don't have anything to be sorry about. Given how much Chizuru looked like she wanted to go, I would've made her skip my own funeral for it.

Nhazul: Huh?

Upon hearing this, Nhazul was surprised to hear that Chizuru wanted to come to the party, making her blush.

Chizuru: C-Come on, Grandma! What are you saying?!

Soom, Chizuru would glance at Nhazul with an annoyed look, causing him to gain one as well.

Nhazul's thoughts: ...-_-... Don't get pissy with me. I'm not the one who said it... But in any case, I'm glad she's alright.

After a few moments, the doctor then comes and wishes to talk with Chizuru outside. As she leaves, Sayuri would then turn to Nhazul and start asking him how things are going with Chizuru.

Sayuri: Say, how is it going with Chizuru? Are you all lovey dovey?

Hearing this, Nhazul would just roll his eyes, thinking about all his experiences with Chizuru.

Nhazul: Sure... I guess you can say that...

Sayuri: Ah! Wonderful!

After a few minutes of talking about their "relationship", Sayuri sends Nhazul to buy them something to drink for her. As he was walking, he would sigh thinking about how he was once again unable to tell the truth about himself and Chizuru.

Nhazul's thoughts: I'm glad she's alright, but something got in the way again. Not only that, but there's the whole thing with Ruka as well. I can't let this go on anymore.

As Nhazul would return to the room, he would find Chizuru in the corridors.

Nhazul: Oh, you're back. What did the Doctor say?

Chizuru: ...

As Chizuru would remain quiet, Nhazul would simply raise a brow before she spoke up.

Chizuru: Bad news... My Grandmother's not doing too great... The Doctor said so. She seems perfectly fine, but they said she could possibly go at any moment...

Upon hearing this, Nhazul's eyes would widen in both shock and disbelief. However, he would soon shook those feelings away, looking at Chizuru.

Nhazul: Is it gonna be alright?

Chizuru: Huh? Like I said, definitely not ok-

Nhazul: No, I'm talking about you. Are you alright?

Chizuru wouldn't say anything, before she would reply to him.

Chizuru: What, you're worried about me now? Yes, I'm alright. I knew that was a possibility that could happen for a long time now. So I do everything I can for her.

Hearing this, Nhazul would close his eyes and sigh, before looking back at her.

Nhazul: Then...

Chizuru: Then?

Nhazul: Are you going to tell her? About our "relationship"?

Chizuru would remain silent once again, before she spoke up.

Chizuru: I... I don't want her to know... I don't want to tell my grandma that our relationship is fake.

Nhazul: And why is that?

Chizuru: Because... She's taken a real liking to you... She's been worried that I'll end up all alone after she's gone. I know I'm contradicting myself after being the one who started all of this, but there no point now. Telling a woman who's possibly on her deathbed that the relationship her granddaughter's been in was fake the entire time isn't going to help in anyway.

Nhazul: And you think keeping this lie going to help?

Chizuru: It's become more then a lie. I don't have it in me to make her sad at this point. So why not? As far as my grandma knows, I've found myself a wonderful guy. Why break that spell?

Nhazul: ...

After the visiting hours are over, As they head home, Nhazul knows that Chizuru is putting a brave face, but is probably weighted down by lots of emotions. As they continue to travel to their destination, Nhazul would simply think back to the promise he made Sayuri, making him sigh.

(Timeskip)

It's now Sunday, and as an apology Nhazul goes out with Ruka they eat some Rainbow pancakes.

Ruka: MMM!!! This cream just melts in your mouth! The rainbow is great, too!

Nhazul: Glad you like it.

Nhazul's thoughts: She's completely fine. It's like it didn't happen to her.

As Nhazul thought back to before, he would simply sigh, still feeling bad, however before he could speak, she beat him to it.

Ruka: Is she okay? Chizuru's grandmother I mean.

Nhazul: Yeah. Her condition stabilized last night.

Ruka: Really? That's good news.

Nhazul: But I am sorry... About last night and everything up until now... I didn't mean to make you feel that way....

Ruka: No, you don't have anything to be sorry for. But how's Chizuru? Is she having a hard time?

Hearing this would surprise Nhazul, but he would still answer her question.

Nhazul: Yeah. She's trying to keep a brave face, but this is definitely hard on her.

Ruka: Oh... I guess that should go without saying, huh?

As the two would remain silent for a moment, Ruka would be the one to break it.

Ruka: I'm calling a truce with you and Chizuru...

Hearing this, Nhazul would raise a brow confused.

Nhazul: Truce?

Ruka: Sure, I want to be your girlfriend for real, but even I know this isn't the time to go on the offensive.

Soon Ruka would begin to smile, blushing slightly.

Ruka: It made me really happy to see you draw a line in the sand with her, attempting to end the lie for my sake. But you have the wrong idea about something. I did say I didn't want to lose and have no regrets. Though, it did get to me seeing how perfect Chizuru was, but it only made me realize once again just how much I love you and don't want you to be taken away... Hence the kiss... I know you feel as if I wasted my first kiss on you despite your feelings, but that's not the case at all.

I got to kiss the person I love and push our relationship one step forward, so I've made some real progress!

Hearing this, Nhazul would just look at Ruka surprised by her level of maturity.

Nhazul's thoughts: This girl... Despite how she acts, he level of maturity is amazing...Despite how she feels about Chizuru, she still worries about her...

As the two finish their food and leave the restaurant, without warning Ruka would hook her arm with Nhazul, smiling at him.

Ruka: By the way, whenever you wanna do it, just let me know.

Nhazul: Huh?

Ruka: Kissing is fair game now, right?

Hearing this, Nhazul would look at Ruka annoyed, along with a blush on his face.

Nhazul: ...-_-... Out the question...

Ruka: Huh?! You're such a shy boy.