My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 109

A look of worry flashed across Yuihama's face, and she stopped talking. But Yukinoshita is so afraid of dogs, even if she doesn't go back to her original home, she'll probably refuse... oh no, she might just say "Leave it to me" and reluctantly agree, then nervously feed the biscuits.

Just as I was happily imagining that scene, Komachi noticed that Yuihama was silent and urged her to continue.

"What happened to Yukino-neechan?"

Yui hesitated for a while, then looked at me uncertainly.

"Um, um... you autistic guy, do you keep in touch with Yukino?"

"No, I don't have her contact information at all."

I don't keep carrier pigeons either. Unless I put the letter in a bottle and throw it into the sea, I have no way to contact her. I looked at Komachi and asked, "What about you?" Komachi shook her head as well.

"I sent her a ton of text messages and called her many times..."

"What's the result?"

"Every time I call her, I either go to voicemail or she replies later... And Yukino replies very slowly... Her messages are also colder than before, or rather, she doesn't respond much... I want to ask her out, but for some reason, she always says she's too busy and can't find the time..."

"Whoa whoa……"

She's definitely avoiding you; she doesn't want to see you. The letters I exchanged with my classmates when I was in middle school were exactly the same as your situation—I really wanted to tell Yui Hama that, but in the end, I decided against it.

Given Yui's personality, it's impossible that she wouldn't notice when someone wants to distance themselves from another. She's an expert at reading people's expressions and catering to them, and she would never overlook this fundamental skill.

"Did I do something I shouldn't have done? Hahaha..."

She smiled weakly.

"Don't worry too much about it. She might be busy with something important at home. She'll naturally go back to how she was after school starts."

I blurted out these words of comfort, which are out of character for me. I'm most prone to spouting baseless ramblings like this. This is more than just nonsense; I might as well coin a new term: "utter nonsense."

However, I wasn't entirely lying; there were indeed quite a few problems in Yukinoshita's family.

That happened more than two weeks ago.

In early August, as everyone finished their training at the Service Club and headed home, Yukinoshita was taken back to her original home by her older sister, Haruno. I never saw her again after that.

Only the car that took them both flashed through my mind, awakening my memories.

About a year and a half ago, a rental car involved me and Yui in a traffic accident. I don't know if the rental car at that time was the same one that appeared in front of us that day... I just vaguely remember that the two cars were the same.

I have no concrete evidence, and no one has testified or explained it clearly.

In that ambiguous atmosphere, only time continued to pass.

Even after hearing my perfunctory words of comfort, Yuihama was still worried.

"R-Really...?"

No, I don't know either.

"What? That's too casual!"

She smiled helplessly.

But I really don't know.

I know absolutely nothing about Yukino Yukinoshita.

Of course, I do understand her outward appearance, such as her name, her looks, her excellent grades, her unapproachable personality, her love for cats and Johnny the panda, and her sharp tongue.

However, that’s all.

We cannot call this level of understanding a person. Just as those around me do not understand me, I do not understand those around me. This is something we must never forget.

To what extent must one reach a level of true "understanding"...?

Just as I was about to fall into a maze of thoughts, I suddenly heard an annoying dog barking.

After the barking, the dog switched to a low, growling sound. There, Su Bing and Xiao Xue were circling around Komachi, threatening and challenging each other.

Xiaoxue set up a "Don't come any closer" barrier, but it was destroyed by Sumimoku's "Xiaoxue, I love you so much" beam of light, and a chase between the cat and the dog began. Komachi, on the other hand, was enjoying it, watching them with a smile, and had no intention of stopping them.

It seems this situation will continue for quite some time...

Yuihama, probably noticing my annoyed expression, said apologetically:

"Ah, haha, I'm so sorry. I did consider pet hotels, but it's peak tourist season now, and everything is fully booked."

"So, brother, it's time for Komachi to make her appearance!"

Komachi clenched her fist and patted her rather flat chest, tilting her head back and letting out a soft "humph" laugh. What was this strange sense of trust? Are you the captain?

Sigh... After all, she often exchanges text messages with Yui Hama, so it seems that Yui Hama must have mentioned this to her a long time ago.

"If we don't do this now, we really won't have a chance during summer vacation. How about some shortbread?"

Komachi spoke softly, her eyes seemingly flickering, but my attention was completely drawn to Zaimokuza's catchphrase, "No, no." Could it be that I've been influenced and then spread this? I don't want this thing to become popular... a complete sacrifice.

"...Alright, if Komachi thinks it's okay, I have no objection."

My sister is really shrewd; she must have already spoken to our mother in private. If she can even win over our mother, then all that's left is a father who dotes on his daughter.

In the Hikigaya family, the eldest son has no decision-making power. The family hierarchy, from top to bottom, is: Mother, Komachi, Father, and finally me. Oh, and at the top of the hierarchy, of course, is that cat-lord! That guy only treats humans like servants.

"If it's just about taking care of Crispy, I have no problem with that. What brand of food does it eat? VITA-ONE? FRONTLINE? It can't be Pedigree, can it? We're not some upper-class family."

"Why do you seem so familiar with this... Wait a minute, FRONTLINE is a flea exterminator! I still don't feel entirely at ease..."

Yuihama was starting to have second thoughts, her face full of worry. Komachi responded with a smile, easing her anxiety.

"Don't worry, the Komachi family used to keep dogs too."

“Really?”

"That's right."

Komachi is right, but that was a long time ago, and my memory is already blurry. Besides, back then, it was almost entirely my parents and Komachi who took care of me.

Yuihama listened and gave a warm smile.

"Oh, that's a bit unexpected."

"My brother likes cats and dogs, the only thing he hates is humans..."

Am I the first Spirit Detective (Note 8 refers to Shinobu Sensui from Yu Yu Hakusho, who harbors resentment towards humans)...?

However, what Komachi said is definitely not wrong. I certainly don't dislike dogs and cats; in fact, I'd say I like them.

I especially love cats.

Everyone, I love cats! Everyone, I love cats the most! I love American Shorthairs, I love calico cats, I love Sphynx cats, I love Ragdoll cats, I love American Curls, I love Scottish Folds, I love Persian cats, I love Singapura cats, and I love Russian Blue cats.

I love cats everywhere on Earth: in alleyways, in straw cat houses, on climbing frames, on refrigerators, under beds, on balcony railings, in cardboard boxes, in paper bags, on people's backs, in blankets...

...That being said, I can never forgive people who abuse animals. I hope all those who don't value life die. I hate people who don't value life!

As I was giving my inner monologue about how everything was fine, I suddenly heard Yuihama chuckle softly.

"Then I'm relieved. Anyway, my family's pastries seem to be very close to you."

"You'd better not get your hopes up too high. I'm better at being taken care of than taking care of others. You could call me a professional gigolo."

I've been kept by a sugar daddy for seventeen years, and I can't think of any other way of life. If this crucial stage of personality development during adolescence is spent being kept by a sugar daddy, there's probably no way to correct it later.

I answered Yuihama like that, while scratching and fiddling with Mochi, who was lying to the side with its belly turned up. The next second, Mochi was taken away by Komachi.

"It's alright, please give the shortbread to Komachi! Komachi will make it so that it can't live without her for long!"

It seems Komachi is determined to steal her away.

"That would be a bit of a hassle for me... Well then, thank you for your help."

Yuihama still looked somewhat uneasy, but she still bowed and then looked at her watch.

"Ah, I should go now, I can't keep Mom and the others waiting too long."

"Then, Komachi will see Yui-neechan downstairs."

I glanced at them as they walked down the stairs, then reached into the bag Yui had left behind and rummaged through it. Inside, besides dog food, there was a whole bunch of pet supplies—you name it, they had it. Incidentally, Yui's dog food brand is SCI-ENCE DIET. Maybe even this dog is healthier than me…

Shortbread wandered around the room, sniffing around. Ah, right, it's because there's a cat in the house that Shortbread reacts to its scent.

As for my cat Xiaoxue, she had somehow escaped to the top of the refrigerator and was looking at me and Subing below with tired eyes.

It's not that it dislikes shortbread, nor that it's uninterested; it's just that it's wary and keeps its distance because it doesn't know how to interact with it.

I recognize that look in someone's eyes when they take a step back and create distance.

That day was Yuihama's birthday, so I remember it very clearly.

After days of continuous rain, the sky cleared up that day, a rare treat. Bathed in the crimson glow of the setting sun, a young girl wore a lonely smile.

At that moment, she seemed to have drawn a line to separate them.

To distinguish between us, who are also victims, and ourselves, who are not victims.

What exactly does that line separate?

Now, I'm finally starting to understand.

FROM ☆★Yui★☆ 19:23

TITLE nontitle

Goodnight, woof! How are you doing, Crispy?

FROM Hachiman19:45

TITLE Re

It's only been a day, it can't be that bad. You're overprotecting it.

FROM ☆★Yui★☆ 19:48

TITLE Re2

Isn't it said that not using emojis makes you look angry (ˋ˙ω˙ˊ)?

FROM Hachiman19:50

TITLE Re3

Who would use that kind of thing? Also, how do we take care of it? Are there any things we should be careful about? If we don't understand its strengths and weaknesses first, it will be difficult for us to handle it.

FROM ☆★Yui★☆ 19:55

TITLE Re4

Strengths...physical (ˊ˙ω˙ˋ)?

FROM Hachiman19:55

TITLE Re5

Goodbye.

FROM ☆★Yui★☆

TITLE Re6

Wait a minute! That doesn't count! ∑(°Д°|||)

FROM Hachiman19:58

TITLE Re7

Otherwise, what about its shortcomings?

FROM ☆★Yui★☆

TITLE Re8

Foot (。|ω|。)！

FROM Hachiman20:00

TITLE Re9

Idiot^^

FROM ☆★Yui★☆ 20:01

TITLE Re10

Your emojis are infuriating! (*ˋωˊ)