My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 235

"Ugh! Nobody understands... That's right... The time periods are too far apart... Sigh..."

Professor Hiratsuka witnessed firsthand the generational divide, and his heart sank to the bottom. Wait a minute, isn't the other person's era also quite far removed from the professor's...?

"Ugh! I don't know what happened, but there are even more difficult people to deal with!"

Komachi wailed again. Fortunately, at that moment, Totsuka had an idea.

"But Hachiman, we're going to exchange gifts later, isn't that really festive?"

"Oh, that makes sense!"

I see. Exchanging gifts definitely has a Christmas feel to it. On birthdays, only the birthday person receives a gift; exchanging gifts is indeed a Christmas tradition.

When Komachi saw that I finally understood, she clenched her fist tightly.

"Yay! Totsuka-nii, you've saved the day! Now, let's exchange gifts! Come on, everyone, please prepare your gifts and place them in the center of the table—"

To dispel the previous somber atmosphere, she quickly took on the role of host.

"Is it right to put it here?"

Totsuka was the first to present a gift, followed by the others. After confirming that all the gifts had arrived, Komachi announced:

"Alright—then, let's break it up!"

"Time to shuffle the cards!"

Zaimokuza shouted, and Komachi began mixing the gifts together and explaining the rules for the next step.

"After the gifts are handed out, music will be played, and everyone will start passing the gifts around. When the music stops, the gift you have is yours. Then, please decide for yourself based on the situation."

"Although this person is very good at reading people, they are very perfunctory when explaining things..."

Just as Yukinoshita said, after listening to Komachi's perfunctory explanation, I still only have a vague understanding. If it's a fighting game and it's not beginner-friendly, customers will quickly leave!

"The fastest way is to actually try it out. So, play some music!"

Ms. Hiratsuka picked up the remote and pressed the button with a "beep". She was amazed that there were now designs specifically tailored for parties; times are getting more and more convenient.

After the music started, everyone passed the gift around clockwise without saying a word. This unusual atmosphere resembled some kind of mysterious ritual. Later, Yukinoshita spoke up first, sounding puzzled.

"What's with this silence...?"

"It feels much more boring than I imagined... Yuihama, is exchanging gifts really like this?"

"Hmm...that's about it...I guess? It'll be an event with a Christmas feel, but it might not be as festive as I imagined..."

"I think I heard something I shouldn't have... Ah, the music stopped."

"Okay, stop—now, it's my turn to open the presents!"

I was called on by Komachi, so I picked up the gift that was handed to me and unwrapped it.

"Am I the first one? Let me see... Oh, this is... a USB flash drive?"

"Clang, clang, clatter! Looks like you got my gift."

The wood-carrying stool emitted a series of eerie coughs. Wait, was he really coughing? In any case, his choice of a USB drive as a gift was quite surprising.

"Wow, you picked this gift? It's so practical... Have you taken the wrong medicine?"

I never expected him to know how to pick such practical things, and I couldn't help but want to know his true intentions. Cai Muzuo pushed up his glasses and smiled smugly.

"Hachiman, don't worry. My plot outline and setting information are already stored inside."

"Oh no, what should I do? I don't want any of those."

"Hahaha! You should make good use of this winter break to finish your studies! So, whose gift did I receive this time—?"

He ignored my reaction and automatically opened the gift in front of him.

"Oh? What is it? It's a mat!"

Yuihama recognized the soft, floppy mat he had grabbed immediately.

"Ah, it's something I saw at the 'useless sofa'."

"So, it was Hachiman who chose the gift?"

"Hmm. The original beanbag chair was too big and too expensive, so I chose a smaller one."

I answered Yukinoshita's question. Since I really couldn't think of anything to buy, I simply chose the items she recommended.

The wood maker squeezed and kneaded the cushion to check its softness.

"Hmm, it's pretty good. I'll hug it to sleep every night from now on."

"Please don't, it feels so uncomfortable."

I don't know if Cai Muzuo listened to my advice, but as soon as he finished speaking, he immediately put the cushion aside and leaned his head against it.

"Let me lie down for a bit and see... Oh? Hmm... This, this feeling—"

In the blink of an eye, his eyes widened to the maximum.

"The rising warmth and the perfectly soft touch caused the cushion to gradually deform and press against my body... Ah... I... I can't take it anymore... I'm going to... sink... in... Huff..."

Finally, he let out a muffled groan and then fell silent.

"Oh...he's quieted down. This mat is really useful."

The remaining people left the sleeping timber seat aside and continued their activities.

"Hmm—Next, please open the gift, Hiratsuka-sensei."

When Komachi called her name, the teacher nodded in response and picked up the gift in front of her.

"Hmm, the packaging is quite cute... inside is—oh, it's hand cream."

I looked around at everyone, wondering who had chosen the gift. At that moment, Totsuka spoke up:

"Ah, I gave it to you. It's the dry season now, and this hand cream has added shea butter, so it's very moisturizing. I often use it when I participate in club activities."

"Little Cai, you're amazing..."

"Such amazing female strength..."

Yuihama and Komachi couldn't help but shudder, as did I. However, Hiratsuka-sensei was so shocked that the word "shudder" was indescribable.

"So this is what feminine power is... Can using this hand cream increase my feminine power too? — Sigh... I long for the nourishment of love (Note 85, from Mitsue Shijou's catchphrase in 'God-like Junior High School Students')... I'm almost withered away..."

Hiratsuka-sensei kept muttering, and a dry, cold wind seemed to blow through the room. Komachi, sensing something was wrong, quickly broke the silence.

"Oh no! The atmosphere is getting heavy again! Next, it's Komachi's turn! Wow, this packaging is so exquisite... Inside is... ah, it's black tea leaves, so it must have been a gift from Yukino-neechan?"

The square jar in her hand looked familiar; it was exactly the same as the one in the Service Club office. Yukinoshita saw that Komachi had guessed correctly and smiled at her.

"That's right. I chose this one from items that are commonly used as gifts and are relatively safe."

At this point, she became a little uneasy.

"only……"

"What's wrong?"

Komachi was puzzled by the sudden turn of events. Yukinoshita glanced at me before saying:

"I was just wondering if Komachi might also prefer coffee."

Ah, so that's what you were worried about. To be honest, I do drink more coffee than tea, and I usually drink MAX coffee at the service club office. No wonder Yukinoshita was worried that Komachi, who I spend so much time with, might have also developed a coffee-drinking habit.

However, such worries were unnecessary. Komachi happily hugged the tea canister to her chest.

"How could that be? Although Komachi usually drinks coffee with her brother, this can of tea might just make us fall in love with black tea!"

"That's right. Expanding your interests is also part of the joy of receiving gifts."

Ms. Hiratsuka spoke as she applied hand cream. Komachi nodded vigorously.

"That's right! Now, please open the gift, Yukino-neechan~"

"no problem."

As Yukinoshita picked up the gift beside her, Yuihama immediately broke into a smile.

"Wow, it's the gift I chose!"

"Oh, bath salts? The packaging is so cute... It's definitely something you'd choose. This is a wonderful gift."

"Right? You can even use it to wash your face!"

"It's entirely a conversation between girls..."

They were excitedly exchanging their experiences when, halfway through, Ms. Hiratsuka suddenly slapped her thigh.

"Bath salts... Oh no! It seems to be the same as the ones I chose..."

"Huh, the teacher chose this kind of thing too?"

I asked in surprise, and she pressed her forehead as if she had a headache.

"Yeah. I never expected to choose something similar to what high school girls are doing these days... Ugh! I'm so ashamed of myself~"

"But teacher, you seemed so happy..."

Ms. Hiratsuka still possessed the eye of a young woman, choosing a gift that even a high school girl would pick. I followed her gaze, finally settling on Totsuka's hands. Yuihama's eyes lit up, excitedly anticipating the gift.

"Really? What is it? I'm so curious—Xiao Cai, open it quickly!"

"Okay, I'll open it then. Um... this is..."

Totsuka opened the relatively simple packaging, and a large box appeared before his eyes.

"Hmm..." Yui hesitated for a moment when she saw that thing.

"Hot spring treatment combination..."

"It is indeed somewhat similar to bath salts, but there seems to be some crucial difference..."

Yukinoshita pressed her forehead, and Komachi didn't know how to react.

"Hmm... compared to high school girls, she has more of an auntie... ah, I should say she has more of a mature feel!"

"Waaah! I know you're trying really hard to comfort me..."

As Hiratsuka-sensei groaned and was on the verge of collapse, Totsuka broke into a flower-like smile.

"However, I really enjoy soaking in hot springs, so I'm very happy to have received this."

Is that so...? Since Totsuka is happy, then there's no problem. Even though the gift isn't quite what everyone expected, I still agree with what Totsuka said.

"Hmm...that's true. Guys tend to be happier receiving these kinds of things."

"Right, right! Even though you're still too young, soaking in the hot springs for a while and then having a beer is one of life's greatest pleasures!"

Thanks to Totsuka's words, Hiratsuka-sensei rallied and made a declaration full of masculinity.

"Komachi seems to understand why the teacher can't get married. It's because the teacher is more masculine than the other boys present."

Komachi said sadly. Yes, that's true. If a girl as handsome as Hiratsuka-sensei appeared, boys would actually shy away...

"It's my turn last."

Yuihama picked up her gift.

"So, Yui-neechan received Komachi's gift."

"Komachi chose it—I'm really curious what it is. Can I open it now?"

"Please, do as you please~"

Urged on by Komachi, Yuihama opened the package.

"Wow, it's soap! And the super popular kind right now! Thank you, Komachi!"

"That's right! Komachi also uses this soap to bathe, and it smells so good!"

So this is what girls like to give as gifts... That's just how girls are, I've learned something new. But then again, something still feels a little off.

"...Huh, you use that kind of soap to shower? I've never seen it in my house before..."

"Oh, right, because Komachi only takes him to the bathroom when she takes a bath. It feels disgusting for Dad and my brother to use him~ I don't want to."

"What...no, don't you think that's hurtful? I'm a little taken aback by that..."

Why is it so disgusting... It's just using soap, what's the big deal? People's hearts are really hurt... At this moment, Yui suddenly thought of something and clapped her hands.

"Oh, right! Yukino, let's try them together today! And the bath salts from earlier too! Wow—I can't wait!"