A Twisted Introvert loner Like Me, Mentally Wrecked One-Sidedly due to Love, Throws Away the Love Letter Sent by the foremost School's Beauty, Leading to an Unwanted Romantic Comedy

Chapter 13: Surprisingly Not Bad

The bicycle parking lot which is usually lined with many bicycles, but because of the rain, there were glimpses of open spaces.

“Maybe this spot will do.”

With those words, Ryogokuku straddled against one of the many bicycles out there.

Although the roof kept the bicycles dry, not many people like to come to such a place during their lunch break. Moreover, even when it is sunny, I don’t think this place would any popular whatsoever.

Well, but there is, actually one peculiar guy “hiding” (……) there, but let’s put that aside for the moment—-

I turn my gaze towards Ryogokuku.

What is it, are you planning to do? Ride out after stealing bike? Or are you going to ride to another school and start smashing windows? It’s probably best to avoid that kind of thing. There’s a limit to what your youthful folly can get you excused for… and also, because it’s just plain uncool.

As far as I see, it seems the bike is locked, so he should be fine, but… he wouldn’t break that lock right in front of me now, would he?

“…Nn? Ah, just to make sure, this is mine. So, don’t make such a scary face, Kazari-kun.”

Perhaps noticing my confusion, Ryogokuku gives me an apologetic smile and takes out a key.

He inserts it into the lock and turns it, and lo and behold, it unlocks with a satisfying click.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

And with that, the conversation ends. The sound of rain, maintaining its steady rhythm, becomes louder once again.

Now then, really what’s his deal? If he wasn’t some delinquent, then I’m clueless as to why he brought me here in the first place.

Judging from his empty hands, it’s unlikely he wants to enjoy lunch together over here. No, in fact, having lunch here would be something even I would want to avoid.

…I wonder what is wrong with me, standing here with a lunchbox in hand…….

“…So, what did you want to talk about?”

“Ah, um… there’s something I want to discuss about, I guess.”

Ho Ho, so he wants to talk. It’s probably something he doesn’t want anyone else to hear. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have chosen this deserted spot altogether.

But still, even though it’s unpopular, there is still someone else here—besides us there is one more person here. I wonder if it is okay to mention that person to Ryogokuku or not?

“Rather than wanting to talk about, —- it’s more like I want to confirm something, I guess.”

While I was wondering what I should do, Ryogokuku continued to talk and I thought, “Well, all right,” taking a questioning posture.

“Kazari-kun… —-are you dating Katase-san?”

“………Haaah?”

My mouth hangs wouldn’t close at all… no, I couldn’t even bring myself to close it.

Whether me and Katase are dating? What is this guy even talking about? Isn’t it more than obvious without even asking.

Who knows how he took my stunned expression for, Ryogokuku repeats the same question again.

Without hesitation, I deny it.

“There’s no way that can be true. What is it, are you teasing me?”

“No, that was not my intention at all… Sorry. It’s just that, before, when I bumped into you two together, it has been in my mind ever since.”

“At that time, Hiiragi was there too. Even Ryogokuku know about that, don’t you?”

“Yeah, it was that, but… un, that was right, I completely forgot.”

Though he doesn’t seem to have completely forgotten, yet Ryogokuku said it with a relieved expression.

Then, he dismounts from the bike and stands in front of me. It’s not the usual carefree Ryogokuku. He’s looking at me with a serious expression.

Eventually, Ryogokuku opens his mouth making his mind.

“you—you see… I like Katase-san.”

And expresses his feelings earnestly.

“…su”

The other curious person dashes away in the rain. Well, he was not good at hiding in the first place, and even if he stayed silent, he was already quite noisy. The splashing of his footsteps was clearly audible from here, and that’s why I felt uneasy about Ryogokuku, who didn’t even pretend to care about it.

[TL: What is this feeling that I am getting tling this. Can someone make me understand?]

“…You, perhaps you did all this on purpose?”

“Nn? What do you mean?”

Is he playing dumb, or does he genuinely not realize? Since I am not Ryogokuku, I can only guess.

But the unease I feel towards Ryogokuku isn’t getting dispelled no matter what.

“Nevermind, forget it, it’s nothing.”

“Really? …Well, since it went weird all of a sudden, so let me say that just once again—”

“Nope, it’s fine. I understand your feelings. I don’t get why you’re telling me this, though.”

“You don’t understand?”

“… I mean, it’s not like don’t understand, rather, it’s more like, I’m struggling to understand why in the first place. Well, don’t worry about it. Katase and I aren’t romantically involved. I am not even sure if we can be called friends in the first place… So, yeah, whether you attack or do whatever you want, I don’t care.”

“I see… Sorry for taking up your time.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“…But still.”

Ryogokuku’s gaze shifts to my right hand.

“You’re quite the peculiar guy. Wanting to have lunch in a place like this.”

“You’re the one who brought me here.”

“Ahaha, just kidding —well then.”

He raises his hand lightly and hurries back to the school building. There’s no one else in the bike parking lot except for me.

In this place shrouded in silence, the only sound reverberating was the raindrops pattering against the tin roof.

…It’s surprisingly not so bad.