Ouma's POV:

The drive was peaceful on the way back, some slight rain pouring down and the heater in the passenger seat was nice. Even the radio station playing wasn't to awful, Shuichi's Uncle didn't say anything after telling me...

...

Why didn't you tell me they were calling every day Shuichi? How many times did you lie to them about me...or did you even answer those messages at all? Did you know...? Did you know that something was wrong long before our engagement...? If so...why...why wouldn't you tell me...?

"Trust me" he begged me tears in his eyes, "please...don't make me lose you...."

...

Trust...

"Shuichi told me you were a liar, you know?" His Uncle finally said breaking the silence as I stared at him confused. He was pulling over near the apartment.

"But ever since I met you, you've been nothing but honest with your feelings. I was expecting to have to pry embarassing things Shuichi did out of you" he joked, forcing a laugh.

I hate liars.

"Do you now?" He asked, liars make everything worse for everyone.

"Is that so...why were you a liar then?" He asked. I shrugged, "ah come on, you must have some sort of reason, we all have a reason to lie. Even if it's a horrible reason, or just a white one meant to make someone feel better. We all lie at one point" he told me

...

Survival I guess. I lied so I could survive, until I couldn't stop lying anymore.

"Huh, that's unfortunate" he told me. I shrugged again not really enjoying the conversation.

"I knew someone like you once, she was a very sweet girl" he told me, "and she was a liar, she probably didn't lie like you for survival, but she lied because she thought it would make people feel better...I wish she told me the truth though, I wish I could have made her feel comfortable to do that" he said, his eyes seemed to be a thousand of miles away and he gripped the steering wheel a bit tighter to fight off his shaking hands.

Lying is easier.

"Is it? Is it really...?" He muttered.

It was for me back then. But I won't lie anymore, I promised my friend I would never lie again on the first anniversary of her death.

His eyes widened.

Three words would have saved her life, but I never said them. I would lie, and that lie kept putting us into worse positions until eventually we were trapped on all sides. But my friend had some kind of hero complex because instead of letting me take the fall for my own mess she took my place.

And because of that, she and my other close friend died.

I only needed to say three words to change everything, but I lied instead. So since I'm the one who got left behind, I'll only try and say the truth.

...

I felt myself growing uncomfortable as he read from the notepad before he handed it back to me.

"I see...I'm sorry for your loss" he told me. I nodded in thanks. I just wanted to go home.

"You know though..." he said as I started gathering my belongings, I looked at him curious.

"You lie for a different reason than Shuichi..than what most people would choose to lie about...think that over alright?" He told me a silent plea in his eyes.

I nodded hesitant, "and...there's something you need to know about Shuichi...why he might be doing this..."

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~♤~♡~◇~♧~

I listened to my youtube playlist as I tried to make an edible meal once again, despite it being a frozen dinner it still posed a challenge.

The pair of shoes and information was safely tucked under a floorboard in the kitchen that I knew Shuichi would never look under.

It's not like Im lying...its just...hiding some element of truth...I bit my tongue at my futile justification.

"Ko?" A voice called out as I walked over hesitantly towards the entrance, braced myself and plastered a big smile on my face as I turned to go and face my fiance.

My liar.

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....

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I like it when its quiet. When nothing is happening, that no matter what everything is still calm...so let it stay that way just a little longer...because...because I wont leave him...because I have to love him...I...do love him.

...

I'll always love him.