My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 13

How should I put it?

According to the logic of "The Solitary Gourmet" (a Japanese manga that was also adapted into a TV drama), one should appear happier and more joyful while eating. Although I didn't want to help at all, seeing a girl I knew on the verge of tears in front of me made my stomach involuntarily upset, making the food taste bad.

People always want food to taste good! Besides, I should be the one being attacked like that, how could I just give it to someone else?

Oh, right, and... she really annoys me.

So I suddenly stood up from my seat.

"Hey, that's about right—"

"So verbose!"

"Shouldn't you stop now?" Just as I was about to say that, Miura glared at me with eyes like a viper.

"...Well, I guess I should probably go buy a drink...no, but I think I'll pass."

That was terrifying! Where did that giant python come from...? I almost blurted out, "I'm so sorry!"

I silently sat back down in my chair. Miura completely ignored my presence, looking disdainfully at the timid Yuihama.

"This is for your own good. Your ambiguous attitude is annoying to people."

Miura claims it's for Yui's sake, but isn't it also for her own feelings and interests? That statement is fundamentally contradictory. However, for Miura, it's not a contradiction, because she is the queen among that group. In feudal society, the ruler is the absolute rule.

"……Feel sorry."

"Another apology?"

Miura was both angry and helpless, and laughed loudly, which made Yuihama even more timid.

Enough already? This is so annoying! Even the bystanders are affected. I can't stand this awful scene. Don't drag the audience into your teen drama, okay?

So, I mustered my last bit of courage. Since I was already hated to the extreme, a zero-risk showdown didn't seem so bad.

I stood up to walk towards the two of them, and at the same time, Yui looked at me with teary eyes. Miura seized the opportunity and questioned me in a cold voice:

"Hey, Yui, what are you looking at? You've been apologizing the whole time—"

"You've got the wrong person to apologize to, Yuihama-san."

This voice might be even colder than Miura's previous words, like a gale in the Arctic, making the listener shrink back, yet it was also as beautiful as the aurora borealis.

She merely appeared at the classroom door, yet she seemed to attract everyone's attention as if she were standing at the center of the world.

In this world, no one but Yukino Yukinoshita can make such a sound.

I stood up halfway and froze, like I was in a horse stance. Compared to that, Miura's intimidation was practically child's play. If it had been Yukino, she probably wouldn't have even had time to be scared. That feeling transcended terror, reaching a realm of beauty.

Everyone present was mesmerized. Suddenly, the sound of Miura tapping on the table stopped, and the classroom fell silent. Then, Yukinoshita spoke first.

"Yuihama-san, you invited me but then stood me up. Don't you think that's wrong? If you're going to be late, you should at least let the other person know."

Upon hearing this, Yuihama smiled with relief and looked at Yukinoshita.

"I'm sorry. But I don't know Yukino's phone number..."

"...Is that so? Well, it's not entirely your fault. Let's just let this matter go."

Yukinoshita completely disregarded the situation and started talking. Her self-centered manner was truly admirable.

"Wait, wait a minute! We're not finished yet!"

Miura finally came to his senses and protested to Yukinoshita and Yuihama.

The Queen of Fire grew even angrier. Her fire intensified, roaring loudly.

"Is something wrong? I don't have time to talk to you, I haven't even had lunch yet."

"W-What? You suddenly showed up and messed things up, and what nonsense are you spouting? I was talking to Yui!"

"Speaking? That's just screaming! Do you think that's speaking? I think it's just a hysterical outburst, unilaterally forcing the other person to accept one's own opinion."

"what?"

"I apologize, it was my oversight. Because I was unfamiliar with your habits, I naturally assumed it was an ape threatening you."

Even when the enraged Queen of Fire met the Queen of Ice, she could not escape being frozen.

"Ugh..."

Miura was furious and glared fiercely at Yukinoshita, but Yukinoshita remained indifferent.

"It's fine if you want to act like a mountain king and bluff, but please don't overstep your bounds. Otherwise, you'll be exposed immediately, just like your current makeup."

"...Hmph, what are you talking about? Who can understand you?"

Defeated, Miura remained defiant, then plopped back into her chair. She tossed her long, curly hair and huffed as she played on her phone.

No one spoke to her; even Hayama, who was very good at reading people, yawned to brush it off.

Yuihama stood to the side, clutching the hem of her skirt tightly, looking like she wanted to say something. Yukino noticed this and deliberately left the classroom first.

"I'll go first."

"Me too..."

"...Whatever makes you happy."

"Um."

At that moment, Yui laughed, but she was the only one there who laughed.

Hey, hey, hey, what's with this atmosphere? The awkwardness in the classroom was unusually high, almost unbearable. Most people either pretended to be thirsty or needed to use the restroom and left the classroom, leaving only Hayama, Miura's group, and bored onlookers.

So, I had no choice but to follow the trend. To be honest, if things got any worse, I might suffocate. I tiptoed past Yui as carefully as possible. Then, she whispered to me:

"Thank you for speaking up for me."

× × ×　

Stepping out of the classroom, I saw Yukinoshita leaning against the doorway. She had her arms crossed over her chest, her eyes closed, listening intently. Perhaps because she gave off such a cold impression, there was no one around, and it was very quiet.

Therefore, we can hear the voices inside the classroom from here.

"...Um, I'm sorry. I feel uneasy if I don't cooperate with others...and as a result, I'm always trying to read people's expressions...that's probably why I made you angry."

"…………"

"Huh? How should I put it? I've always been like this. When playing Little Witch Doremi, I really wanted to be Doremi or a note, but because other classmates wanted to be, I chose Hazuki... Maybe it's because I grew up in a large residential area, and being around people every day made me feel like it was the natural thing to do..."

I don't understand what you're trying to say.

"I... I think so too. Actually, I don't really understand it myself... But after seeing the autistic boy and Yukino, I realized that even though they don't have any friends, they seem quite happy. They bicker without holding back, but they get along very well..."

Then came intermittent sobs, and Yukinoshita's shoulders trembled. She slightly opened her eyes, trying to peek into the classroom. Fool, you can't see from here! If you're so worried, go inside! This girl is so dishonest.

Seeing them like that made me realize that my way of desperately trying to please others was wrong... Look, that autistic guy is so withdrawn, he spends all his free time reading and laughing to himself... It's kind of disgusting, but he seems really happy.

To say I'm disgusting... However, Yukinoshita laughed when she heard that.

"I thought your quirks only manifested in the clubroom, but it turns out they're the same in the classroom. It's really disgusting; I advise you to change it."

"Since you noticed, you should have told me back then..."

"No way. You're disgusting enough already, I don't want to talk to you anymore."

I really need to be careful next time. I will never read light novels with evil gods appearing at school again.

"So, I also want to try living life on my own terms and stop forcing myself... But, I don't dislike Yumiko, so, can we... be good friends from now on?"

"...Hmm...I see. Okay."

Miura snapped his phone shut.

"...Thank you, I'm sorry."

And so, the conversation in the classroom ended, followed by the sound of Yuihama's footsteps. Upon hearing this sound, Yukinoshita immediately moved away from the wall.

"...Honestly, how could she even say it?"

In that instant, a smile appeared on her face, leaving me speechless.

It was not self-mockery or blame, nor was it out of sadness; it was an extremely simple smile.

However, that smile vanished instantly, replaced by her usual cold and indifferent expression. I was engrossed in watching her when she nonchalantly strode into the corridor, presumably heading to the place she had arranged to meet Yui.

Just as I was thinking about what to do next and taking a step forward, the classroom door suddenly opened.

"Huh? What are you doing here, you autistic guy?"

"Hi."

I awkwardly raised my right hand as if to greet her, and Yuihama's face turned red with embarrassment.

"Did you hear that?"

"H-What did you hear...?"

"You were eavesdropping! Disgusting! Stalker! Pervert! You...you...disgusting monster! I can't believe it! So disgusting, utterly disgusting!"

"That's enough!"

Even I would be upset if I were verbally abused to that extent. And please don't do it with such a serious face; it really hurts me.

"Ha! Of course not! Don't you even think about who's to blame, you idiot!"

Yui stuck out her little pink tongue, gave me a cute, defiant look, and ran off. Are you an elementary school student? And don't run in the hallway!

"Who did it... it was Yukinoshita, of course."

I muttered this to myself. Because I was all alone, that was to be expected.

I glanced at the clock; my break was almost over, and the parched lunchtime was about to end. Time to buy a can of Sportop to quench my thirst and soothe my soul.

On my way to the welfare center, something suddenly occurred to me.

Otaku have their own otaku communities; they are not alone.

It's very tough to live a realistic life; you have to be careful about the balance of power and class among people.

In the end, I was all alone.

There's really no need for Hiratsuka-sensei to isolate me, since I'm already being ostracized by the class. Therefore, sending me to the Service Club wouldn't make any difference.

...What kind of tragic conclusion is this? Reality is far too harsh.

Only SPORTOP brings me sweetness.

Yukino Yukino

yikino yukinoshita

birthday

January 3rd (Because my birthday falls during winter break, no classmates have ever helped me celebrate it.)

Specialty

Cooking, laundry, cleaning, and other household chores; Aikido.

interest

Reading (general literature, British and American literature, classical literature), horseback riding.

Holiday activities

Reading and watching movies.

Yuigahama Yui

yui yuigahama

birthday

November 18st

Specialty

Sending text messages, singing karaoke, and having to read other people's faces.

interest

Karaoke, cooking (working on it).

Holiday activities

Shopping with friends, singing karaoke with friends, taking photo booth pictures with friends, and slacking off with friends.