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The door locked behind them with a sharp click, and Arima Kana’s first thought was that someone was pulling a prank. She turned around and twisted the doorknob hard twice. It did not budge.
“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”
The room was small and empty, containing only a table, two chairs, a hanging lamp, and a line of glaringly conspicuous words on the wall:
“You will not be able to leave until you have spoken one hundred honest truths.”
“What kind of cheap prank show is this?!” Kana frowned as she read the sentence, immediately looking around for a camera. “Hey, whoever’s behind this, where are you hiding? Come out already. This is so lame.”
“Don’t bother looking,” Hoshino Aqua said from where he was leaning against the wall, glancing around the room. “I don’t think it’s a prank.”
“How are you so calm about this?”
“Because the door is actually locked.”
“…I know the door is locked!”
Kana shot him a glare, then slapped the door twice more anyway, unwilling to give up. There was no response at all from outside. At last, she let out a defeated sigh and turned back to Aqua.
“So? What are we supposed to do now?”
Aqua looked up at the words on the wall.
“Do what it says.”
“Huh?”
“Say one hundred honest things.”
“You make it sound so easy.” Kana crossed her arms. “Who knows how it even judges that? What if I say something and it doesn’t count?”
The instant she finished speaking, a mechanical voice suddenly rang out from the center of the room.
“Valid conversation detected. Current number of honest statements: 0.”
Both of them fell silent at the same time.
Kana: “……”
Aqua: “……”
“This just got even dumber,” Kana muttered.
“Agreed.”
The mechanical voice spoke again:
“Honest statement detected. Current number of honest statements: 1.”
Kana froze, then jerked her head up. “That counts?!”
Aqua lowered his head and gave a quiet laugh.
“Did you just laugh?” Kana asked suspiciously.
“No.”
“Lie detected. Please answer honestly.”
“……”
Kana couldn’t help it. She burst out laughing too. “Serves you right.”
Aqua stared expressionlessly at the wall, as if seriously considering whether he should just dismantle the entire room.
“Fine,” Kana said, pulling out a chair and sitting down. “If we can’t escape, let’s just get this over with. We’ll start with easy ones. Honest truths, right? - I’m hungry right now.”
“2.”
“I’m annoyed right now.”
“3.”
“I absolutely do not want to be trapped in a weird place like this with you.”
The mechanical voice paused for two seconds.
“Partial lie detected.”
Kana: “…………”
Aqua looked at her.
“What are you looking at?!” Her ears turned red all at once. “I don’t want to be trapped in here, but that’s not the same as saying I don’t want to be with you. Those are two different things!”
“4.”
“I see,” Aqua said.
“What’s with that look?”
“Nothing.”
“You were definitely thinking something rude, weren’t you?”
“No.”
“Lie detected.”
Kana’s grin widened, her cheek propped up in one hand as she looked at him. “Hoshino Aqua, you finally slipped up.”
Aqua was silent for a moment, then gave up resisting.
“I was just thinking that being stuck with someone like you would make things a lot more troublesome.”
“5.”
“Hah?!”
“But-”
He lifted his gaze. Under the light, his dark blue eyes looked impossibly deep.
“If the person trapped in here with me weren’t you, I’d probably be even more annoyed.”
“6.”
The air suddenly stopped moving.
The retort Kana had been about to snap back got stuck in her throat. After two seconds, she finally turned her face away. “…What kind of line is that?”
“The truth.”
“Who wants to hear a truth like that?”
And yet, the end of her sentence tilted upward ever so slightly.
Aqua walked over to the table, pulled out the other chair, and sat down too, resigning himself to this absurd game.
“Let’s take turns. It’ll be more efficient.”
“You’re really getting into this.”
“I want to get out sooner.”
“…Fine.”
Kana cleared her throat and spoke in a deliberately casual tone.
“I’m actually not very good at dealing with people like you.”
“7.”
“What kind of people?”
“The kind who look like they know everything, but never actually say anything.”
“8.”
Aqua looked at her without replying right away.
His gaze made Kana uncomfortable, and she frowned. “What?”
“I’m not very good at dealing with you either.”
“9.”
“Huh?”
“The kind who wears all their emotions on their face, but keeps saying the opposite of what they mean.”
“10.”
“I do not wear all my emotions on my face!”
“Lie detected.”
“……”
“Pfft.” This time, Aqua actually laughed out loud.
Kana stared at him in disbelief. “Did you just laugh again?”
“Yeah.”
“11.”
“It’s hard not to laugh when you make that face.”
“12.”
“Your personality is the worst!”
“I know.”
“13.”
Kana glared at him for a long moment, but somehow, her anger faded. In a much quieter voice, she muttered, “But you’re not that bad all the time.”
“14.”
Aqua: “What was that?”
“Nothing.”
“Lie detected.”
“……”
She took a deep breath, then raised her voice in surrender. “I said you’re not that bad all the time! At least-at least sometimes you’re actually pretty reliable!”
“15.”
Aqua was silent for a second.
“Thanks.”
“16.”
The word was so plain that it threw Kana off even more.
What scared her the most was always how calm he was. It took so much courage for her to say something like that, and yet all she got from him was such an easy, quiet reply.
She lowered her eyes to the tabletop. “Don’t thank me so seriously.”
“Then how should I respond?”
“At least don’t act so calm about it?!”
“Oh. Actually, I’m really happy right now.”
“17.”
Kana looked up again.
Aqua met her gaze directly, without flinching or looking away.
“Because you just called me ‘reliable.’”
“18.”
“……”
Kana’s face instantly grew hot.
“T-that level of thing is enough to make you happy?”
“It is.”
“19.”
“Your standards for happiness are way too low…”
“Because it was you who said it.”
“20.”
This time she truly had no words.
For some reason, the room’s light seemed to fall right between them, shrinking the already narrow distance a little more.
Kana looked away first, resting her chin on her hand and trying to sound composed.
“…Then I’ll say one too.”
“Ok.”
“Actually, when you praise me, I get really happy too.”
“21.”
Aqua blinked.
“Even happier than I want to admit.”
“22.”
“Sometimes I even replay it in my head over and over.”
“23.”
“I remember very clearly every time you’ve ever praised me.”
“24.”
Her voice got softer and softer until, sounding almost like she had given up, she added, “So don’t just casually say things that make people get the wrong idea.”
Aqua asked, “What kind of things?”
“Like…” Kana bit her lip. “Like saying I’m special to you, or something.”
“25.”
Aqua didn’t answer immediately.
He only looked at her, with such a calm expression that it made Kana want to run away even more.
“Arima Kana.”
“…What?”
“That was true.”
“26.”
She froze.
“You really are special to me.”
“27.”
The room went completely still.
Kana’s breathing hitched. She didn’t react at first; only after several long seconds did she slowly blink.
“…Do you even realize what you’re saying?”
“I do.”
“28.”
“You’re only saying that because you want to get out of here, right?”
“No.”
“Lie detected. Please answer honestly.”
Aqua leaned back in his chair.
“All right, I admit it,” he said. “I do want to get out of here.”
Kana was just about to relax when he continued:
“But lying won’t get us out.”
“29.”
“I could have just padded the count with boring truths, but after everything you’ve already said…”
“30.”
“I don’t want to keep pretending I don’t understand. And I don’t want to hide it anymore.”
“31.”
Kana stared at him, her heart beating so hard it hurt.
She tried to keep her expression steady. “…What is it that you’ve been hiding?”
“Plenty.”
“32.”
“But in front of you, no matter what I try to keep hidden, it gets harder and harder.”
“33.”
“When I see you upset, I care.”
“34.”
“When I see you forcing yourself to act tough, I get irritated.”
“35.”
“And when I see you smiling at other guys-like back during that stage play-I get pretty annoyed.”
“36.”
Kana’s mind went blank with a rush of heat.
“Y-you’re basically saying…”
“It’s jealousy.”
“37.”
“……”
“I admit it.”
“38.”
Kana immediately turned her face away and covered her mouth, afraid her expression was too obvious.
“Your turn,” Aqua said.
“How am I supposed to follow that?!”
“Just tell the truth.”
“…You raised the difficulty on purpose, didn’t you?”
“Sorry.”
“39.”
“But right now, I don’t really want to go back to a normal conversation.”
“40.”
Slowly, she lowered her hand. Her ears were burning red, but there was still a trace of resistance in her eyes.
“Fine. Then I’ll say it too.”
She took a deep breath.
“I’ve actually always cared about you a lot.”
“41.”
“More than I want to admit.”
“42.”
“I can stay happy for a long time because of just one thing you say.”
“43.”
“And when you act cold toward me, I start overthinking everything.”
“44.”
“I hate that version of myself.”
“45.”
“But if it weren’t you, I probably wouldn’t become like this.”
“46.”
The look in Aqua’s eyes softened little by little.
Kana grit her teeth and decided to say it all.
“I get happy because sometimes you say exactly what I want to hear.”
“47.”
“And I get disappointed because I… expect something from you.”
“48.”
“I’ve become like this because—”
She stopped.
Aqua didn’t rush her. He just waited quietly.
Kana closed her eyes, then said, almost like she was resigning herself to it:
“…Because I like you.”
“49.”
For that moment, even the mechanical voice seemed to pause longer than usual before calling out the number.
Aqua looked at her, and the faint shadow that always seemed to hang in his eyes finally lifted a little.
“Mm,” he said.
“That’s your reaction?!” Kana exploded. “I worked so hard to say that—”
“I already knew.”
“50.”
“But hearing you say it out loud makes me happy.”
“51.”
“And regretful.”
“52.”
Kana blinked. “Regretful about what?”
“That I made you wait this long.”
“53.”
“That I let you worry alone for so long.”
“54.”
“That even though I liked you too, I kept making you feel like you were the one who wouldn’t be chosen.”
“55.”
She stared at him blankly, and the ache she had barely managed to push down surged up all over again.
“…Don’t suddenly say things that unfair.”
“It’s the truth.”
“56.”
Kana sniffed and muttered, “I kind of want to cry right now.”
“57.”
“Go ahead. I won’t laugh at you.”
“58.”
“But if you cry, I’ll probably want to hold you.”
“59.”
“……”
“And I probably won’t be able to stop myself.”
“60.”
“W-what is wrong with you?!”
“I’m just answering honestly.”
“61.”
Her face was burning completely red now, but she had no comeback for him, so all she could do was glare.
After two seconds, even that failed, and she sagged in defeat.
“Then I still have one thing to say too.”
“Mm.”
“If it’s you…” Kana’s voice grew quieter and quieter. “Then being held once… might not be impossible.”
“62.”
Aqua’s throat bobbed slightly.
“Right now?”
“Who said right n—”
“Partial lie detected.”
“……”
Aqua stood up.
“Arima.”
When she looked up, she met his eyes directly as he gazed down at her. There was none of his usual distance in them now-only a gentleness that almost felt unfair.
“Can I hold you?”
“63.”
Kana hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded.
“…You can.”
“64.”
Aqua stepped toward her slowly and carefully. The moment his arms came down around her, Kana’s eyelashes trembled.
The next second, she was enveloped in a warm embrace.
She stiffened at first, but soon relaxed little by little, pressing her forehead against his shoulder. Her voice was muffled when she spoke.
“…Your heart is beating really fast.”
Aqua paused.
“I can’t help it.”
“65.”
“Because you’re in my arms.”
“66.”
Kana’s ears turned even hotter, and she muttered in protest, “You’re way too good at sweet-talking people.”
“I’m actually not.”
“67.”
“I just don’t want to make you guess anymore.”
“68.”
She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around him in return.
“Then I’ll keep going too.”
“Okay.”
“I feel really at ease right now.”
“69.”
“More than getting out, I almost wish time would just stop like this.”
“70.”
“This room is weird, but being here with you like this… I don’t hate it.”
“71.”
Holding her, Aqua let out a soft “Mm.”
“Me neither.”
“72.”
“And also,” he murmured, “if you change your mind after we get out-”
“I won’t.”
“73.”
She lifted her head from his chest. Her face was still red, but her eyes were bright.
“I’m not going to regret liking you.”
“74.”
Aqua looked at her, finally letting himself show that gentle expression openly.
“That’s good.”
“75.”
“Because I have no intention of letting you go either.”
“76.”
Kana’s chest felt hot, though she still held on to the last shred of stubbornness in her voice. “That sounded kind of overbearing.”
“You don’t like it?”
“…It’s not that I don’t like it.”
“77.”
The mechanical voice dutifully counted the number.
The two of them looked at each other and smiled at the same time.
After that, the honest truths suddenly became much easier.
“I like it when you call me Ah-kun. You haven’t said it once today, have you?”
“78.”
“Ah-kun…”
“I like how you’re sharp-tongued, but sensitive and delicate on the inside.”
“79.”
“Well, excuse me for being sharp-tongued!!”
“I also like how you can be proud and full of yourself, yet you still keep working hard with both feet on the ground.”
“80.”
“Who are you calling proud and full of yourself- ?!”
“I like the way you lose yourself in acting and shine when you’re on stage.”
“81.”
“Now that’s more like it.”
“I like the intense, straightforward way you look at me.”
“82.”
“—‘Intense’? Is it really that bad?”
“When you’re angry, I get hurt too.”
“83.”
“……”
“When you praise me, I’m happy too.”
“84.”
“……”
“I want you to come to me on your own when you’re hurting.”
“85.”
“I don’t want you to keep carrying everything by yourself.”
“86.”
“I want to see you on an even bigger stage. Whether you’re an idol or an actress, I want to see you keep shining.”
“87.”
“Whether from the audience, or from now on in general, I want to keep watching you.”
“88.”
“I want to see you smiling.”
“89.”
“And I also want to see the moments when you’re weighed down by things, the face you only show in front of me.”
“90.”
“You’re special to me.”
“91.”
“So special that I can’t keep pretending not to care.”
“92.”
“If I can, I want to stay by your side forever.”
“93.”
“Do you mean… by your side as in lovers?” Kana asked.
“What else would I mean?”
“94.”
“Then I want that too.” Kana said.
“95.”
“Ah-kun, I want to go back with you.”
“96.”
“I want to stand proudly at your side.”
“97.”
“I want you to keep looking at me.”
“98.”
“I already am.” Aqua replied.
“99.”
Kana froze for a second, then the corners of her lips slowly curved upward.
“…For the last one, maybe you should say it.”
Aqua looked at her. For a long while, he said nothing, as though considering what kind of words would be worthy of being the final line out of all one hundred.
Kana almost told him to hurry up, but the moment she met his eyes, the words caught in her throat.
They were too serious.
This was nothing like his usual listless look, the one that could blur past anything and everything. In this moment, Aqua was so serious it was almost solemn. All that remained in his gaze was the most direct, impossible-to-ignore feeling.
Then he lowered his head and pressed a very soft kiss to her forehead.
“I love you.”
“100.”
Almost at the same time, the door unlocked with a click.
“Task complete. Exit has been opened.”
Kana heard the door open. She heard the cold mechanical voice announce that the task was complete. But all of it felt distant somehow, as though muffled behind a thick layer of fog. The only thing that remained clear was the three words Aqua had just spoken.
So, with her head lowered, she walked toward the open doorway in a daze.
In the next second, a hand caught her wrist.
Aqua’s expression was calm. “I was thinking…”
“What?”
“The system only said the exit was open.” He paused, then leisurely finished the thought. “It never said we had to leave right away.”
Kana: “……”
Aqua lowered his eyes, looking at her with a dark, unreadable tenderness. “So before we go out, shouldn’t you give me a proper return gift for that last line?”
“Oh. Okay.”
The red-haired girl cupped the blond boy’s face and kissed him. Before the surprise could fully widen his eyes, her lips pressed against his.
“I love you too.”
It was a kiss that was clumsy and unpracticed, yet fervent and sweet, a grown-up kiss, in its own way.