My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 282

I have no reason to take action, no reason to see the problem as a problem.

Without a reason to cause the problem, the problem is naturally not a problem.

It's almost certain that Yukinoshita and Yuigahama, both running for student council president, will handle Isshiki's request. Their approach is indeed more feasible.

Therefore, I won't be making an appearance next time.

Therefore, I no longer need to stand on the same side as Issei or be at odds with them.

Even so, the anxiety in my heart did not subside, as if it were asking me, "Is this really okay? Should I do something?" Whenever this happens, I always refute myself, face new problems, and then refute myself again, in a recurring cycle.

My personality is really troublesome. I think very quickly, but I can only do half of what I set out to do. This kind of behavior is really unacceptable.

But I've always managed to solve problems this way, albeit reluctantly. After all, I don't have anyone to discuss issues with, and even if I did, I probably wouldn't actually seek them out for discussion.

Humans can only seek reliance from what is within reach and what they can support.

Once this limit is exceeded, the person relying on you will also fall. To give a simple example: you can't be a guarantor for a loan from a friend you're not close to.

Based on this thinking, the number of people I can ask for help is quite limited.

I cannot be a pillar for others, so naturally I cannot ask others to provide support for me.

If even the other person falls, I would have squandered their goodwill in offering assistance and their trust in relying on me.

The motto of a lone wolf is "never cause trouble," and to insist on not being a burden to others. I can proudly say that I can overcome eight or nine out of ten obstacles on my own.

Therefore, I never rely on anyone, nor am I relied on by anyone.

The only exception is family.

Only my family allows me to rely on them in every way, and I am not hesitant to accept their dependence.

When I'm with my family, I can put aside questions of goodwill, trust, possibility, and impossibility, and generously reach out to them, leaning on them without any reservations.

Although my dad is a bit of a rascal, my mom likes to yell and nag, I'm a lazy bum who only knows how to be a freeloader, and my little sister is cute but loves to scheme, though she's also not very thoughtful—

Within the context of "family," no reason is needed.

"Because we are a family" is the biggest reason.

Of course, this could also become a reason for unforgivable or hateful behavior.

The person I can rely on now—

It must be someone in the family.

Dad or Mom? No, I don't think talking to them about this will help. Those two are useless; besides raising me, loving me, and occasionally scolding me, they're of no use at all. Instead of worrying about their son, they should worry about their own health and what they'll do when they get old, okay? Please, I hope I live to be a hundred!

Speaking of my parents, they'll probably be home very late tonight. The lives of corporate slaves are truly miserable… Just then, the living room door creaked open.

Is it that cat from home again? I turned my head and found that it wasn't Yuki, but Komachi wearing a slightly oversized sweatshirt.

Komachi must have finished reading a section of her book when she went downstairs to find something to drink. Ignoring my presence, she opened the refrigerator, looked around for a while, couldn't find anything she wanted, and then closed it again.

She seemed to have only gone downstairs to find a drink, and then turned to leave. Just then, I called out to her retreating figure:

"Komachi."

"……Um?"

Komachi turned her head and glanced at me sideways. She was still angry… Maybe I shouldn't have spoken to her now. But since I'd already started, telling Komachi that "it's okay" would only make her angrier…

"Hmm...would you like some coffee?"

I opened my mouth and thought for a while, and finally came up with a way out. Komachi listened and nodded slightly.

"……good."

"……knew."

I got up, went into the kitchen, grabbed the kettle, filled it with water, and started heating it. While waiting for the water to boil, I prepared two mugs and instant coffee.

Komachi stood in front of the kitchen counter, resting her chin on her hand and waiting quietly.

No one spoke.

After the water boiled, I poured it into the mug, and the aroma immediately rose along with the white steam. I turned the handle towards Komachi and handed her the mug.

"Here you are."

"Um."

Komachi took the cup and left the kitchen. It seemed she intended to take it back to her room to drink.

That behavior was clearly a message saying, "Don't talk to me until I calm down," but I still shamelessly spoke to her anyway.

"I said, Komachi..."

"..."

Komachi stopped at the door, keeping her gaze fixed ahead, and silently waited for me to continue.

I'm worried that I'm only bringing this up now, and I don't know how Komachi will react.

"...There's something I'd like to talk to you about."

"Well, go ahead."

Unexpectedly, Komachi agreed on the spot and leaned against the wall.

Seeing each other again after a week, we both spontaneously broke into smiles.

Then, Komachi stopped smiling and coughed lightly.

"But before that, shouldn't we say something first?"

That makes sense. Komachi and I were in a cold war until just a moment ago, and now she's suddenly making this request? That's incredibly shameless. I scratched my head, pondering what to say.

"...I didn't express myself well the other day."

Upon hearing this, Komachi puffed out her cheeks in displeasure.

"It's not just the way you express yourself that's problematic, is it? Your brother's attitude is also problematic. And then there's his personality, and his eyes."

“You’re right…”

I couldn't refute it at all. Komachi then added:

"Anyway, it must be that my brother got into trouble again."

"Absolutely correct."

I was completely defenseless, but Komachi wouldn't give up.

"And he hasn't apologized to Komachi yet."

"Hmm...indeed."

Thinking about it carefully, what I just said really doesn't count as an apology.

Just as I was about to apologize again, Komachi sighed softly and a "I can't stand you" smile appeared on her lips.

"However, that's just how my brother is, and it's enough for Komachi. As his sister, I'll forgive him."

"Thank you..."

It was my fault for making you angry at first, but wasn't your attitude a bit too arrogant? Was it? My dissatisfaction was clearly written on my face; rather, I wanted Komachi to know my dissatisfaction.

Komachi couldn't possibly be unaware of this; she slightly averted her gaze and forcefully cleared her throat.

"And... Komachi also wants to apologize."

She exaggeratedly bent over at a ninety-degree angle and bowed her head to apologize to me. I couldn't help but smile wryly.

"Oh, don't take it to heart. Of course, a brother will forgive his sister."

Wow, that's such an arrogant attitude!

We laughed simultaneously and slowly sipped our coffees. Although there was no milk, sugar, or condensed milk in the coffee, it still tasted wonderful.

Komachi placed the cup on the table and began to speak:

"So, what does my brother want to talk about?"

"It's a long story."

"……It doesn't matter."

She readily agreed, walked to the sofa, and sat down next to me.

× × ×

I recounted everything from the beginning and end of my graduation trip to the recent student council election in detail.

Komachi went to the kitchen to make a second cup of coffee and brought it to the table in front of the sofa.

"Oh...that does sound a lot like something my brother would do."

This was her first thought after listening to it.

"However, Komachi is able to understand because she has spent so much time with her brother."

I picked up my own cup. Komachi added a generous amount of milk and sugar to her coffee, and the flavor was just right.

She gently sat back down next to me, took a sip of coffee, and looked up.

"Komachi can laugh at her brother for being an idiot, and she can even think that he's hopeless, so... I feel a little sad."

Komachi put her feet on the sofa and hugged her thighs with both hands.

"But other people don't think that way. They don't understand why at all; they just feel a lot of pain."

I don't seek anyone else's understanding. Perhaps that's why I'm accused of being self-satisfied. In fact, I did it not for anyone else, so naturally I can't expect understanding or sympathy.

Komachi was the only exception. Yet, she also wore a slightly sad smile.

"Brother is very nice to Komachi, but that's because Komachi is his sister, right? If Komachi weren't his sister, he probably wouldn't even get close to her."

“Well…”

I'll try to think about it.

If Komachi weren't her younger sister... Oh my god, where did this super-powerful, invincible beauty come from?! All I can see is myself rushing to propose to her, getting rejected, and then heartbroken enough to take my own life. So, I absolutely must never get close to her...

Enough, I'm just overthinking it. I can't even imagine it if Komachi weren't my sister. However, I still don't think we'd have a chance to meet. It's not about Komachi or my sister; it's just that I simply don't have enough social skills.

Komachi is Komachi; there's no point in assuming she's not your sister.

"Regardless of what that hypothesis is, I'm so glad to have you as my sister. I'm just saying that to give myself extra credit."

"Brother, brother..."

Komachi covered her cheeks to hide the tears welling up in her eyes, even choking out a few sobs as a special treat. Unfortunately, the special treat was too short-lived; the next moment, she had reverted to an expression of complete indifference and said coldly:

"Hmm—if my brother weren't Komachi's brother, Komachi wouldn't care about him, and she wouldn't even get close to him."

Wait a minute, are you still angry? Can you please not use verbal abuse on your family members?

"Wait, don't say that. Even though I look like this, I do have some hidden strengths, don't I?"

"No way~ I hate people like my brother the most, and he's incredibly difficult to deal with."

Was it really necessary to go this far? Seeing how serious you are breaks my heart...

This guy is absolutely not cute...

The bitterness in my heart made me want to click my tongue. At that moment, Komachi suddenly smiled and leaned closer.

"However, after spending fifteen years together, Komachi has long since developed feelings for her brother and knows that he is that kind of person—ah, this is just a way to give myself an edge."

Really...? I feel like the first half of your statement is really detrimental.

But strangely enough, I unexpectedly agree with this statement.

"...That's true. If we could spend fifteen years together."

The time accumulated from the past to the present certainly carries weight. I mean, it's about making myself feel that my sister, who isn't cute, is cute.

My shoulders suddenly felt heavy. I turned my head and saw Komachi leaning her whole body against me, resting her head on my shoulder.

"Fifteen years from now... no, it could take even longer."

She was stating a possibility. It took Komachi and me fifteen years to build our relationship to this point. If I were to spend the same amount of time building a relationship with someone in the same way, it might develop just as smoothly.

However, for me now, this possibility lacks a sense of reality.

"Stop saying such pointless things."