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 18: The Story of Getting Rejected.

“I think I had already told you, but to say it again―――― I ended up getting rejected by Ryogokuku-kun.”

In response to Hiiragi saying that cheerfully, I reply with a short “Ah” before gently putting my can down.

“Even though I had already decided to end it, but deep down, I guess I was still hoping a little… well, it didn’t work out.”

“Aah.”

“In fact, I knew the answer the moment we faced each other. ‘Ah, I’m going to be rejected,’ I thought.”

Hiiragi’s voice faded like the receding waves. Still, she didn’t let her smile falter.

“Is that so?”

“Un. Ryogokuku-kun was, he smiled as if he had already given up. With that expression, it was impossible not to understand, even if I don’t want to… the fact that, I would cause him trouble once again.”

Her words about ‘causing trouble’ were likely spoken while thinking about the person who will be going through the rejecting part.

“You’re strong, Hiiragi.”

“Eh?”

“Ahh, I mean, even though you knew you’d be rejected, yet you still consider the other person’s feelings… That’s not something just anyone can do, you know?”

“…It’s not like that.”

Hiiragi shook her head loosely sideways, directing her gaze to her knees, as speaks as if talking to herself.

“I didn’t want to tell him. I wanted to keep my feelings buried deep inside and never convey… I wanted to run away.”

“Ah.”

Her voice was trembling. Her fists were also trembling. Perhaps her lingering feelings for Ryogokuku were causing this to happen.

In class, she pretended to be calm, pretended to be strong. But by herself, she hadn’t fully recovered yet.

It’s only natural. The stronger the feelings, the greater the recoil.

She’s still in a state where she hasn’t sorted things out within herself. She probably isn’t even ready to talk about the fact that she got rejected.

Yet Hiiragi arranged to meet me and is now telling me everything, almost squeezing out the details, as if giving herself some divine punishment.

And that in fact shows the stark difference between her and me, which in turn is making my chest go all the more tight and feels suffocating.

“But I didn’t run away. I conveyed my feelings properly.”

“…That’s commendable.”

“It’s not commendable at all.”

Hiiragi said with a smile which somehow felt lonely.

What should I even say in response? As I was pondering about that, she suddenly looks up at the sky.

“Even using my own friends for this, I must go through this pain. No, maybe it’s still not enough. After all, I’ve done so much more, that it’s not even near enough balance this out.”

“Don’t blame yourself too hard.”

“Even though you always say hopeless and worthless things every time, but today, you’re unusually kind.”

“If that’s your order, I can be just that twisted you wish me to be, you know?”

“Fufu, what’s with that? Even that remark feels so twisted already… Well, since you’re already allowing me, then can I ask for one from you.”

“In that case, don’t hold back―― or so you said, mentioning how you need this pain all the more, but you also said you were kind of expecting this even if a little, right? This sort of contradiction, how are you even willing to explain that now I wonder?”

“…Haha, you’re right, it’s so contradictory.”

Hiiragi chuckles at my sarcasm.

Because of which, my lips loosen up.

“As I thought, this is no good at all. To allow nitpicking on someone who’s already heartbroken.”

“Really? But, I think I’m quite the opposite. I prefer being treated normally rather than being overly concerned and mindful about.”

It sounded like she was saying that to me and also to the rest of the classmates as well.

“Nope, it’s not that I am being mindful of you. I’m just genuinely worried, that’s all.”

“Eh—-”

These were the words that come from, exactly because I know the pain of going through an unrequited love. Because I’ve experienced it, I and genuinely worried about her, since her heart is incredibly unstable right this moment.

Hiiragi looked stunned, as if time had stopped for her. Then, as if her second’s hand had started moving again, she quickly replies in a flustered manner.

“Wha–, stop that, stop that, don’t say stuff like that, it’s really throwing me off, it’s not good at all, absolutely not good!”

“No, like seriously. If it’s this painful, you don’t have to force yourself.”

“Stahppp, stah――pppu! I’m fine, I’m really fine now already! I’m done talking about myself now, okay! Now here, Let’s get to the main business now!”

Or so she said while giving out such huge reactions and gestures. It’s quite clear that she’s still forcing and withstanding it a lot even now. But that attitude in itself again, might also be her own way of answering to that question.

Then, I won’t say anything unnecessary. I will rather stay silent and wait for her to get to the main business she wants to talk about.

Even though the inner conflict on whether to move forward or still remain stagnant still persists. Yet, the slight feeling to just escape which had remained before has now completely subsided. It can very well be because I’ve got influenced by her right now.

“…I think you have probably already figured it out by now, but everything, everything that has happened till now was all true―― it’s not some prank or anything like that.”