The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

Chapter 589: ’SMALL TALK’

But still, Casey felt it was unfair of him to just sit here and wait for lunch to be prepared. After all, heʼs not some customer at a restaurant. The one cooking over there was one of his newly recognized nephews. As an uncle, shouldnʼt he at least help?

”Itʼs fine. Youʼll only get in the way if you insisted on helping,” Reas suddenly said, as if reading whatʼs on Caseyʼs mind.

He looked at his other nephew, who had a bored expression on his face. The two of them were the only ones in the small living room. Tommy went out to wait for Nicolʼs arrival. So, he was alone with Reas now.

The two of them hadnʼt really talked properly since he and Tommy had arrived here. This would probably be the only chance he could talk to the other, so he should take this chance to start a conversation rather than stay silent.

”Ahm, so... how is the academy?” he started.

Reas lifted his head. Casey thought that the other would just ignore him, but surprisingly, he responded.

”Itʼs fun in its own way.”

”Youʼre in the Mecha Department, right? Have you always been interested in Mechas?”

”I guess so?”

”I heard youʼre at the top of your class. You must be a really great Mecha pilot.”

”Well, I do put in a lot of effort. So, that only mirrored my performance in class.”

After that answer, silence prevailed once again. Casey scratched his cheek in an awkward manner. He, unsure of how to proceed, felt a growing sense of awkwardness and disconnect, like trying to navigate a conversation in a dense fog where every attempt to connect was met with an elusive barrier.

He truly wanted to have a proper conversation with Reas, but it was quite obvious that the other didnʼt feel the same. Maybe he even felt annoyed by Caseyʼs attempt at normal conversation. Argh. He wanted to be the cool uncle, not the annoying one.

Seeing Caseyʼs gloomy expression was like watching a balloon slowly deflate, the initial excitement and color fading away, leaving behind a sense of deflation and disappointment. Reas sighed at the sight.

Itʼs not that he was responding that way because he didnʼt like the other person. Itʼs more like he didnʼt know how to engage in small talk. He was never a good conversationalist. Luckily for him, the people he mostly interacted with were all the exact opposite. Like his brother, or his roommate, and there was also Lauren.

But even then, the main reason he could have proper conversation with those people was because he was comfortable with them. The same couldnʼt be said about Casey.

Itʼs not about liking the other or not. Maybe if they spent more time together, that would gradually change. But it certainly wouldnʼt change at this moment.

”Ah, Uncle Casey? Iʼm not giving you these short replies because I donʼt want to talk to you. Iʼm just--”

”Heʼs not good at small talk, Uncle Casey,” Astrid said from the kitchen, obviously listening to their conversation while preparing lunch. ”Itʼs not because he doesnʼt like you, so donʼt worry.”

Reas glanced at his brother. The other only raised his brow as if saying ʼWhat? Did I say anything wrong?ʼ. He sighed once more and turned to Casey. ”What he said.”

Casey blinked. So, Reasʼ manner of speaking was mainly due to that reason and not because he simply disliked him? After comprehending Astridʼs explanation, he visibly relaxed with relief.

”Thatʼs why thereʼs no need to try so hard to make conversations like how you did earlier,” Reas added. ”If you want to get closer to Aster and me, just let it happen naturally. Donʼt force yourself to act a certain way. Allow time to do its work.”

”I second that,” Astrid showed his agreement while chopping vegetables.

Casey fell silent for a moment. Truth be told, he was really thinking of just acting according to what the two liked. Because he felt like thatʼs the fastest way to get closer to them. But according to his two nephews, that wasnʼt the right method. He felt like he was hit at the back of his head and was now totally awake.

ʼAllow time to do its work.ʼ

A smile crossed Caseyʼs lips. ”Thank you, I will try my best to follow that advice wholeheartedly.”

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Just before Astrid finished cooking, Thomas returned to the apartment with Nicol. The first the kid after he walked inside was to run in Astridʼs direction and hugging him. Astrid was sauteing vegetables then. He had to step back from the stove so any stray cooking oil wouldnʼt hit Nicol.

”Nicol, that was too reckless,” Thomas quickly chided his son.

Nicol, who seemed to not hear what his father said, just raised his head and looked at Astrid with shining eyes. ”Dad said that Brother Aster is the son of my aunt. Does that mean that Brother Aster is really brother?”

Before Astrid could answer, Reas snorted. ”What kind of brother? Heʼs your cousin, thatʼs different.”

Nicol, looking annoyed, turned to Reas. ”Weʼre still related, so itʼs the same thing!”

”If youʼre talking that way, then shouldnʼt I also be your brother?” Then Reas smirked, obviously trying to annoy Nicol on purpose. ”After all, Iʼm Asterʼs twin ʼbrotherʼ.”

Nicolʼs eyes widened in shock, as if a sudden realization had just dawned on him. He then nervously bit his lower lip, the reluctance evident on his young face. ”Fine. Then you can also be my brother.”

Everyone looked at each other after hearing that. And then they just burst into laughter.

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After finishing work, Wulfric was now in his study reviewing surveillance footage of the entrance of Asterʼs apartment building, a routine check he did as the owner to ensure no unauthorized individuals entered.

Itʼs for Asterʼs safety, after all.