In the middle of my part-time shift at the end of the year, I couldnāt concentrate well because I remembered the events that occurred earlier today.
I need to continue my work, I thought. But suddenly the feeling of patting Saitoās head came back to me.
I couldnāt forget the indescribably soft and silky feeling of her hair.
I thought she would hate me when she knew I patted her, but I was surprised when she forgave me.
I understand itās wrong to carelessly pat a girlās head, and thatās why Iāve been hesitant all the time.
The fact that she trusts me enough to allow me to pat her makes me both happy and nervous.
Thatās why I felt like I wasnāt in the right place at the right time, and as if she was worried about it, Hiiragi-san started to talk to me.
Her eyebrows lowered in a heinous manner, and she peered at me with a bit of concern.
[Whatās the matter? Youāre acting strange today]
[Actually, I canāt concentrate because I patted my friendās head that I talked about beforeā¦]
[I seeā¦ What did it feel like to pat it?]
She shrugged at the sound of my voice and asked me a question, while biting her lips and raising her voice a notch.
Her voice was a mixture of anxiety and curiosity, and she glanced at me questioningly.
Her cheeks were slightly red, and her eyes lit up a little in anticipation.
[It was good, if not better, than I imagined. Her swaying hair was so beautiful to look at, and it was so smooth it felt good just to touch it]
Just remembering it now makes me want to pat it again.
Her hair was so charming it made me want to stroke it again. (TN: this is literally the author saying, not me. Donāt blame me ;-;)
[I-Is that soā¦]
At my words, her cheeks blushed even more, and her eyes began to wander around as if she was surprised.
She seemed to relax her mouth slightly, and slowly turned her head.
She turned her head away and wriggled uncomfortably, then glanced as if she still wanted to ask more questions.
[So why did you decide to pat it? From the way you talked to me before, it sounded like you were reluctant]
[Her sleeping face was so cute. It was like a little animal, and thatās why I wanted to pat her. Of course, there was also the fact that her hair was so alluring]
I couldnāt say āShe was sleeping and defenselessā, so I had to lie.
Of course, her sleeping face was so cute that I wanted to pet it in a loving way.
[W-Well, is that soā¦]
She shut her mouth and turned away with an indescribable expression.
When I wondered what was going on, she faced me again with a wry look on her face and blushed a little.
[Youāre not telling her that sheās cute or something?]
[Iām not going to. Itās embarrassing. Besides, I think sheās gotten used to being told that, so even if I said it, she wouldnāt think anything of it]
She sees me as someone she trusts. Of course, I feel the same way, but if I make such a statement, she might distance herself from me.
And she looked like she disliked being seen in that way. Of course, I couldnāt say that.
Itās okay to compliment someone, but if I say it so easily, Iād be seen as a frivolous person. I wouldnāt want to be seen like that.
[Is that soā¦]
When she heard my explanation, she gave me a reluctant look, and dropped her shoulders with a sigh.
She lowered her eyes and looked a little depressed.
[Whatās wrong?]
[ā¦Itās nothing]
I asked her why she was acting that way, but she refused to talk.
She said [Iāll do some work over there] and walked away.