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 26: The Difference Between The Both Silence

Chapter 26: The Difference Between The Both Silences

Katase, who was running towards us moment us, stopped abruptly upon noticing me. She turned around and seemed to be adjusting something—is she doing something with her hair?

It looks like she was out on a walk with her pet. Upon looking at her master go stationary all of a sudden, the dog walked around her anxiously, as if asking, “What’s wrong? What happened?”

“Did you know Sayo-chan, Kazari-san?” Maybe because Katase mentioned of my name, which prompted the elderly lady to inquire.

“Ah, yes. We go to the same school.”

“I see.”

“More importantly, earlier you were called ‘grandma’ by Katase, is it… um, are you both related as grandmother-granddaughter?”

“Yes.”

Are you kidding me? So, you mean that, the same blood is flowing through Katase as well? But they just don’t look alike at all.

“—-Kyaa!”

As I was being inwardly surprised that Katase and her grandmother — or rather, Elderly Katase, were related by blood, I heard a short scream.

When I looked over, I saw that Katase had fallen down hard. I guess she didn’t realize that the lead was wrapped around his leg.

[TL notes: Lead here refers to the pet’s lead. Remember how her pet was going around her in worry~]

Seeing her grandson act like that, elderly Katase puts her hand on her cheek and chuckled happily.

“Arra Arra, this girl’s being really being mischievous and clumsy now,”

“Is she always like that?”

“I’m (shamefully and) afraid so. Honestly, I wonder who she takes after.”

Well at least, it’s definitely not you.

Replying to her in my thoughts, I returned my gaze over to Katase.

After struggling to stand up on her own, then brushing the dirt off her clothes. Meanwhile, her dog wagged its tail eagerly, waiting patiently beside her.

“……”

Eventually, Katase made her way over to us, with shoulders slumped. Perhaps this was way too embarrassing for her, her ears had turned complete red as she looked down.

“Here, grandma…”

“Thank you for bringing it, Sayo-chan.”

“You must remember to take it with you all the time. What if something happens and we can’t reach you?”

“I’m just not used to carrying my phone with me. I’ll make sure to remember next time.”

“Un…”

Katase seemed completely deflated, but on the other hand, her grandmother smiled elegantly, saying, “Oh dear, dear.” (Arra~ Arra~)

—Oh.

Unlike its master, the dog seemed full of energy. It leaned on the bench with both hands, sticking out its tongue and looking at me.

What’s with this creature! It’s way too cute!!

“—Ah, Hey Taro! Don’t bother Kazari-kun!”

“No, It’s okay, it’s not causing me any trouble, really.”

Even though his master had warned him, he didn’t give a damn about it, what’s more, and even though he was the cause of his master’s fall, he didn’t even show any signs of being apologetic.

While looking at the unapologetic dog, I asked Katase, “Is his name Taro?”

“Eh… ah, un, that’s right.”

“He’s a Shiba Inu, right?”

[TL: SHIBA INUU!!!!]

“Un.”

HOHO~, A Shiba Inu with the name of Taro, huh? Quite fine I say, yes very good. Not getting too imaginative, and a sense to give a name that can even appear in some resume of some applicant. Truly Outstanding.

A down-to-earth name which is in fact easy to get familiar with and has a good ring to it. You’ve got yourself a great name, Taro.

“Good boy~, good boy~,” I said as I pat Taro’s head.

He seemed pleased, or perhaps he was getting angry, he was wagging his tail hard in response. I hope it’s the former.

“I’m glad you’ve taken a liking to our family’s idol,” Elderly Katase said happily as she stood up.

“Well then, I’ll ask you two to excuse me with this then.”

“Eh? Grandma, you’re leaving?”

“Yes. All the best, Sayo-chan.”

“W-W-What do you mean by, A-a-aAll the best?”

“Fufu~—Kazari-san, see you later.”

“Ah, yes. See you later.”

As I nodded lightly, Elderly Katase-san smiled with a grin and walked away.

“”……””

Perhaps you can call it inevitable. I distracted myself from the ensuing silence by playing with Taro.

“……Do you like pets?”

Katase’s sudden and simple question caught me off guard. For a moment, my heart skipped a beat, but I tried to maintain my composure as I answered.

“Well, I don’t dislike them. It’s easy to be genuine with animals, and they don’t speak, so it’s reassuring. Plus an added benefit is, they’re cute.”

“…Your reasons for liking them are quite unique.”

“I often get told that… or maybe not actually. Because I don’t quite really have any friends to begin with, so I had no chance to speak about it to anyone at that.”

“Ah… I–I’m sorry.”

“Nope, it’s okay to laugh about it. Otherwise, I’ll look like a lonely guy. Well, I actually am, though.”

“T—That so, that’s true… ahaha…”

No matter how you look at it, Katase was clearly forcing a laugh. Her personality unintentionally broke my mental barriers.

“”……””

And then silence befalls. It was as if completely different from the silence that occurred when I was with Katase’s grandmother. I felt pressured to say something, lest I could succumb to this awkward feeling.

Whether it’s true or not, the information that Katase likes me adds to the awkwardness of the atmosphere. It’s a feeling of having my already low communication skills further diminished. The feeling that it might cause my next words to shudder makes it a bit scary.

If this is going to continue like this, maybe it’s easier to just reject her right here and now…

[Treasure this time when you can be honest with yourself. So that you won’t have any regrets later on… Therefore, treasure it.]

I don’t feel like I can do anything in my current state after all.

I released my hand from Taro’s head and shifted my attention to Katase.

Katase, who was looking down, seemed both ashamed and embarrassed.

…Aren’t there still dirt in your clothes?

Turning my gaze back to Taro, he tilted his head and stuck out his tongue as if to say, ‘What’s wrong? Pet me already!’

I gently patted Taro’s head and headed towards Katase.

“……Please use this.”

“……Eh?”

I took out a handkerchief from my back pocket and offered it to Katase.