My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 155

She doesn't try to please others, but upholds what she believes to be the "right belief" and uses her own sword to defeat her opponents—this is Yukino Yukinoshita.

Yang laughed, seemingly quite pleased.

"So, what kind of punishment will be given to those who don't fulfill their obligations? There's no enforcement power, is there? Even if you disqualify me from the performance, it's no longer my concern. Or are you going to tell the teacher?"

She seemed to be mocking how naive Yukinoshita's beliefs were, at best a kind of justice confined to a miniature garden (Note 87: a shallow box containing elements such as trees, human figures, bridges, and buildings to simulate a garden or scenic spot, similar to a scaled-down model). But unfortunately, this statement is very realistic, so realistic that it is completely unrefutable.

From a principled perspective, Yukino's argument represents the most original form and the goal pursued by many. In other words, we can call that argument "idealism."

This idealism cannot be reconciled with Yang Nai's realistic viewpoint.

Oh no, this isn't good. The situation under Yukina is somewhat unfavorable. Fighting against realists is the domain of a nihilist like me.

Just as I was about to speak, Yukinoshita noticed the movement and gestured for me to keep quiet. She turned her head slightly and smiled gently at me.

Don't worry, I'm strong—that's what she hinted at with a smile.

Yukinoshita turned back to look at Haruno, and said in a more determined tone:

"There's no punishment... but there will be benefits if you help."

"Hehe, what are the benefits?"

Yang Nai laughed with great interest, her beautiful yet twisted smile radiating a certain pressure. Yukinoshita ignored that pressure and placed her hand on her chest.

"That way, I'll owe you a favor. What that means is entirely up to you, sister."

Yukino's brazen words made Haruno stop what she was doing instantly.

"oh……"

Yang Nai wiped the smile off her face and stared coldly at Yukino.

"...Yukino, you've grown up."

"No……"

A smile appeared on her face as the snow fell.

"I've always been this way. You've been with me for seventeen years, haven't you ever noticed?"

"Is that so..."

Yang squinted her eyes, making it difficult for me to read what she was thinking.

"ha……"

I accidentally laughed.

“…Is there something wrong?”

"No……"

Yukino glared at me unhappily, which made me laugh again.

—That's right, that's exactly what Yukino Yukinoshita is like.

Yang Nai also returned to normal, and the way she crossed her arms looked just like Yukinoshita.

"So, what do you plan to do?"

"Buy time."

Yukinoshita's answer was direct, but it wasn't really an answer.

Yang Nai pressed on, clearly displeased:

"So, what are you planning to do?"

"My sister and I... and then we'll find two more people; we should be able to figure it out. If possible, it would be best to have one more person."

Yukino glanced at the instruments backstage and I roughly understood what she was planning.

"Hey, Yukinoshita, are you serious?"

This was so unexpected that I even doubted my own ears. Haruno, too, saw through Yukino's intentions at a glance, a smile of excitement spreading across her face.

"Oh, that's an interesting idea. So, what are you going to perform?"

"If we're going to go on stage without practicing, we can only choose a piece that everyone knows. Do you still remember the piece your sister performed at the school anniversary celebration?"

Haruno reminisced about her performance that year and hummed a melody for us. As expected of Haruno Yukinoshita, she captivated everyone with just a few notes.

"Ahhh, that's the one!" Yui Hama exclaimed, completely captivated and full of admiration. Even I could recognize the tune; there was no way she wouldn't know it.

After humming the tune, Yang Nai turned around and asked Xue Zhi with a provocative smile:

"Who do you think you're talking to? Do you even know how to talk to someone?"

"I have no problem with most of the things my sister has done."

This guy... he must have practiced secretly.

Yang nodded.

"Well then, shall we find one more person?"

Upon hearing this, the others exchanged glances.

Wait a minute, Yukinoshita clearly said that she needed two more people, I heard her clearly! This is no longer a matter of math ability.

At that moment, someone next to him let out a heavy sigh.

Yang immediately called out the name of the person who sighed.

"Xiao Jing~"

"...Well, I'll take the bass. If it's the piece we performed together, I should be able to play it now."

After the teacher said that, I remembered that when we met during the summer vacation, she mentioned that Yang Nai had dragged her to participate in the school anniversary band performance.

Then, Yang turned to ask Xun, the senior student.

"Xun, can you be the keyboardist?"

"No problem, leave it to me!"

Xun-senpai answered with clenched fists and full of energy. She had admired Yang Nai's performance and was used to appearing in front of others, so there was no hesitation in her tone.

"So, there's only one lead singer left?"

Upon hearing Haruno's words, Yukinoshita looked troubled and spoke:

"...Yuigahama-san."

"Huh?"

Yuihama was taken aback when she was called on, and gave a strange reply.

Yukino took a step closer to her.

"This time, can I rely on you?"

"Ah, well... I'm not very confident... I might not be able to sing well, and I might end up dragging everyone down..."

Yuihama poked her finger, looked away, and spoke hesitantly and vaguely.

"but……"

She gripped Xuexia's hand tightly, her tone becoming firm.

"...I've been waiting to say this for a long time."

Yukinoshita gently returned the handshake.

"……Thank you."

"Um... well, I only remember a little bit of the lyrics (Note 83: The original text uses "うる觉え" instead of "记一只" in Japanese, which is a common mispronunciation in Japanese. The correct pronunciation is "うろ觉え"). So don't get your hopes up too high!"

"You don't even know the correct way to pronounce Japanese, I'm starting to worry..."

"Yukino, that's a bit much!"

Yui waved Yukinoshita's hand around, protesting loudly. Yukinoshita smiled gently:

"Just kidding. If I can't sing it, I'll sing it with you. So, if you don't mind, please let me rely on you..."

"Um!"

Even standing in the dimly lit backstage, I could clearly see that Yukinoshita's cheeks flushed, while Yuihama happily smiled and agreed.

Seeing this, I quietly walked towards the backstage exit leading out of the stadium and began my operation stealthily.

"Hikigaya-san."

Suddenly, someone called out to me from behind.

"Thank you for your help."

"Keep it up, you introverted guy!"

I didn't answer them, I just waved casually and walked out the back door.

Okay, the next ten minutes are my time.

A stage filled with dazzling spotlights is not where I should be.

My stage is to emerge from the dark exit and enter the road where no one can see me.

That was a stage that belonged only to Hachiman Hikigaya.

× × ×

The gymnasium's exit is directly connected to the school building.

As is customary in previous years' school anniversary celebrations, the finale performance is always given by the group with the greatest potential to attract an audience. This way, the closing ceremony can be held immediately after the performance, achieving the goal of bringing students together with minimal effort.

Therefore, at this time, almost no students remain in the school buildings.

With the closing ceremony approaching, most people will naturally choose to go see the orchestra perform and have some fun.

The sparse population within the school buildings was actually advantageous to me, meaning that if anyone was still there, I could spot them immediately from a distance. This was undoubtedly a great help in searching for Sagami.

That being said, I still couldn't look around much. Time was extremely limited, and constantly checking my watch made me restless.

I cannot slow down the passage of time.

There are also limits to the speed at which the body can move.

At this moment, the only thing that can further increase speed is thinking.

Think of something quickly!

The lone wolf's capacity for deep thinking is truly remarkable. Theoretically, this ability should be allocated to interpersonal relationships, but we possess it exclusively, without needing to share it. With this powerful ability, we can deduce certain thoughts or philosophies through continuous introspection, reflection, regret, delusion, imagination, and daydreaming. We will unreservedly exploit these resources, exploring all possibilities, refuting any desired conclusion, and ultimately negating it.

If you encounter an argument that cannot be completely refuted, then try every means to prove it is true, as if you were defending yourself.

Criticizing others and defending himself are Hachiman Hikigaya's specialties.

By repeatedly going through this process, the answer will naturally emerge.

This is not a difficult thing.

Sagami is probably alone somewhere right now.

So, all I need to do is replicate her thought process.

If we're talking about skill levels, I'm definitely thousands or tens of thousands of levels above her. My skills weren't acquired in a few days; they're the work of a seasoned veteran.

My sincere advice to you is: don't underestimate me.

Sagami must be a person with a strong sense of self. In her first year, she was surrounded by glamorous classmates, and over time, she naturally absorbed that environment and class-based habits. However, upon entering her second year, the appearance of Miura and his group caused her class to drop. Sagami must have felt uncomfortable about this, but the class consciousness that had already formed was beyond her control.

For this reason, she began to align herself with people of lower social class, striving to secure the position of leader of the second-largest group, and in fact, she seemed to have succeeded. However, once she had tasted the life of a higher class, it became difficult for her to revert to a life of lower class.

She can only seek fulfillment elsewhere.

Then, the opportunity of the "school anniversary" came to her.

If you were to ask whether the position of Chairperson of the School Anniversary Executive Committee meets Sagami's needs, I think the answer would be yes. Moreover, she became an executive committee member of Class 2-F on Hayama's recommendation; after assuming the chairperson position, she received praise from the legendary Yukino Yukinoshita; and in terms of actual operations, she has Yukino Yukinoshita as a capable assistant.

But what happens when all of this gradually falls into disarray and can no longer function properly?

What happens when you can't get what you want and lose to someone who takes your place?

She had a position on the school anniversary celebration's executive committee, making it difficult to balance her duties with class activities. Dissatisfied with this, she decided to increase her time helping with class events. However, someone on the executive committee took over the work perfectly—in fact, their efficiency far surpassed hers. The matter didn't end there; even the pillars of her confidence—Hayama and Haruno—later sided with this substitute.

What will happen to Sagami's dignity, self-esteem, and self-awareness?