My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

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The teacher finally put the cigarette in her mouth, and as she lit it with a lighter, her face glowed slightly. Her eyes were closed, her expression serene, and she exhaled a long plume of smoke, whispering:

"To cherish someone means to be prepared to hurt them."

She looked up at the night sky.

I looked up, wondering what the teacher was seeing, and then I realized that, without my noticing, some gaps had appeared in the clouds, and a few rays of moonlight were shining down.

That concludes the prompt.

The teacher got off the car she was leaning against, smiled at me, and then stretched her muscles vigorously.

"The more we care about each other, the more likely we are to encounter things we cannot have. However, we don't need to be sad about it; it's something to be proud of."

Such things must be beautiful, but they are just beautiful. To yearn for something you can never have, to see it before your eyes but never touch it—how painful that is! Since that's the case, perhaps it's easier to give up if you don't even think about it or look at it in the first place.

Thinking about this, a question popped into my mind.

"...Wouldn't that be very tiring?"

"Yes, it's tough."

Hiratsuka-sensei took a step closer and leaned her body against the car.

"...However, this is feasible. Because that's what I do myself."

A smug smile spread across her face. The teacher rarely talked about her own experiences, but she must have gone through a lot. I didn't know if it was appropriate to press her, but perhaps one day when I'm more mature, she'll bring it up herself. I found myself somewhat anticipating it, so I quickly turned my face away and deliberately said something unpleasant.

"It's a bit arrogant to assume that others can do something just because you can do it yourself."

"...You're really not cute."

The teacher said irritably, scratching my head with an almost iron claw-like grip, and I could only grit my teeth and endure it. After a while, she suddenly loosened her grip, but still kept her hand on my head.

"...By the way, let me tell you the truth."

The teacher's tone was much lower than before. She pressed my head down, and I could only lift my eyes to look at her. What appeared on her face was a sad smile.

"Maybe it doesn't matter even if it's not you. Perhaps one day, Yukino will change on her own; perhaps one day, someone who understands her will appear and step into her inner world. The same goes for Yuihama."

"Someday?"

Someday, but when exactly? This phrase feels even less real than "the distant future," yet it feels so real that it could happen any second, leaving us with no control over it.

"For you, this moment represents everything, but that's absolutely not the case. Different paths will eventually be pulled back to the same destination. This is the world we live in."

Is what the teacher said true? One day, someone will surely enter her heart. The thought of this undeniable fact causes a dull ache in my heart. I turn my body, trying to shake off this feeling.

It was only then that I realized the hand above my head had moved to my shoulder. Hiratsuka-sensei's voice sounded even closer to me than before.

"...However, I hope that person will be you. I hope that you and Yui can step into the heart beneath the snow."

"Even though the teacher said that, I—"

At that moment, the teacher gently put her arm around my shoulder. In that close proximity and the slight warmth, the words I was about to say vanished. Caught off guard by this sudden gesture, I could only stand there, frozen. The teacher gazed into the depths of my eyes and spoke:

"The present moment isn't everything... but some things can only be done in this moment, in this place. Don't forget, Hachiman... this is now."

I couldn't tear my gaze away from her tear-filled eyes. At that moment, I had nothing that could reciprocate that sincere look.

Therefore, I couldn't say anything.

She hugged me even tighter.

"Think, struggle, and suffocate in your troubles—you won't get the real thing until you do that."

After she finished speaking, she released me, regaining her usual hearty and dashing smile, as if to tell me, "This lecture is over." Seeing that smile, the stiffness in my body gradually subsided.

After listening to the teacher's words, countless things I wanted to say welled up in my chest. However, I won't say them aloud. I should think about them, let them develop, and internalize them as my own.

Well then, let's talk about something else. In situations like this, you have to use annoying words to express your gratitude.

"...Although the teacher said that suffering doesn't necessarily mean you'll get the real thing."

"You're really not cute at all. Hahaha!"

The teacher smiled happily and tapped me on the head from behind.

"...Alright, let's go back. Get in the car."

"As commanded."

She opened the driver's side door and got in. I responded and also went to the front seat.

At that moment, I glanced at the night sky.

The moon, which had peeked out from behind the clouds, had long since disappeared. The sea was dark, and the cold wind stung my cheeks.

But strangely enough, I didn't feel cold at all; my whole body still felt warm.

Volume 9, Chapter 6: Even so, Hachiman Hikigaya—

I lay sprawled on the living room sofa, the minute hand of the wall clock clicking.

I looked at the wall clock and saw that the hour hand had reached the top.

It's been quite a while since I rode home in Hiratsuka-sensei's car.

Komachi and her parents had already finished dinner and gone back to their respective rooms. The house cat was probably fast asleep in Komachi's room as well.

The old kotatsu table hummed softly from time to time, probably because someone forgot to turn it off when they left. I got up to turn it off, then lay back down on the sofa.

The living room is chilly right now, which is perfect for me. Not only is sleepiness not bothering me, but my mind is also perfectly clear.

Ms. Hiratsuka did indeed give me hints. And not just today; she has likely been guiding us continuously before. However, I ignored those hints, misunderstood her meaning, or even used the wrong methods. Therefore, I must now rethink things carefully and clarify the crux of the problem.

The biggest problem right now is undoubtedly the upcoming Christmas event. Although I've been asked by Isshiki to assist, the entire preparation process is still a mess.

Immediately afterwards, Isshiki Iroha's problem also came to the forefront. I was the one who put her in the position of student council president, but she was unable to make the student council function effectively.

Furthermore, Rumi Tsurumi's current situation has also been dragged into this. I don't know what kind of impact my actions towards her during our summer camping trip in Chiba Village will have. At least given the current situation, I really can't be optimistic.

In addition... there's also the issue of the Service Society.

Just thinking about that last question alone made me feel a tightness in my chest, and I couldn't think of any possible solutions. Even if I tried to make sense of it, my mind would just spin aimlessly, constantly replaying their resigned expressions, their forced laughter, and the last words I heard.

I was trapped in these thoughts all night, letting time slip away relentlessly. Perhaps I should put this problem aside for now.

The remaining three questions all have clear objectives, so they are easy to understand.

The primary goal is to help Isshiki understand how to be a good student council president through this event; the second goal is to help Rumi smile, whether she is alone or with others; and the third goal is to adjust the cooperation between Soubu High School and Haibin Comprehensive High School to ensure the event is feasible.

If the above three goals can be achieved, the problem will be more or less solved.

To find the best solution, I reorganized my brain, rearranging these three questions. No matter how they were rearranged, they would all be related to Christmas activities. All the questions ultimately led to this.

Therefore, we need to think about how to make this event a complete success in the ideal way.

However, after a week of preparatory meetings, I realized this was by no means an easy task. It was simply impossible for me alone to reverse the current situation. Before this, I had already discussed ways to improve the situation with Yu Sheng.

What should I do now? Should I seek help from others?

Even if she seeks help, she can only rely on Komachi.

But Komachi's entrance exams are in two months, and this is a very important time; it's best not to disturb her further. My younger sister is facing a turning point in her life, and we absolutely cannot let it affect her.

So, who else could I choose... Zaimokuza? Asking Zaimokuza wouldn't make me feel guilty, and that guy's probably pretty free anyway. However, this time it's the whole group, and Zaimokuza probably wouldn't be of much use. He's not good at communicating with people, especially with students from other schools.

No. I know perfectly well that this is not the fault of the timber pedestal.

The responsibility and the cause lie entirely with me.

Why am I so weak?

Why do I seek help so readily? Why do I mistakenly believe that asking for help once is permissible, and thus repeatedly ask others for assistance?

When did I become so weak?

Human relationships are a kind of poison; we develop dependence without even realizing it. Each time we depend on someone, our hearts are corroded a little. In the end, we become incapable of doing anything without relying on others.

So, am I also thinking I'm helping others, but actually making them suffer more? Am I also preventing someone from standing up on their own?

I know perfectly well the principle that it's better to teach someone to fish than to give them fish.

Things obtained from others without effort are certainly fake; things that are easily obtained can also be easily taken away.

During the student council election, Komachi gave me a reason to act. I told myself that I was doing this for Komachi, and also to protect the Service Club.

It's clear that I was wrong back then.

I should act based on my own reasons and the answers I have come to.

This time, I once again sought reasons for my actions from the outside world. For Isshiki, for studying in the US, for the Christmas activities...

Are these really the reasons that prompted me to take action? I feel like I've misunderstood the premise and the key points I should be focusing on.

To correct right from wrong, we must start from the source of the matter.

Before this, what were my motivations? What were my reasons? I overturned all my previous thoughts and went back in time.

The reason I absolutely had to make the Christmas event a success was because of Iroha Isshiki and Rumi Tsurumi; the most direct reason I decided to assist with this event was to put Isshiki in the student council president position; the reason I wanted Isshiki to be student council president was to prevent Yukinoshita or Yuihama from running for president; but what was the reason for preventing them from running for president? Why did I go to such lengths to take action, even using Komachi as the ostensible reason? What was the real reason?

—Because I have something I desire.

Perhaps from the very beginning, I've longed for something like this, and needed nothing else but it. I even hate everything else. However, I haven't obtained it for so long that I've come to believe it doesn't exist at all.

On a certain day, I seemed to see something like this, and touch something like this.

So, I made a mistake myself.

The problem has been formed; the next step is to think about your answer.

A long, long time passed, and the long night came to an end, with the sky beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn.

I kept thinking and thinking, using all sorts of theories, principles, and even fallacies, but I still couldn't come up with any means, strategies, or plans.

—Perhaps this is my conclusion, my answer.

× × ×

After school ended, I stayed in my seat and stretched vigorously to loosen up my muscles. Sure enough, all the joints in my body were cracking and popping.

I barely slept last night before coming to school. So this morning, as soon as I got to my seat, I collapsed onto the desk, and the whole day of classes passed in a daze.

However, I am quite conscious now.

I'm still somewhat skeptical of the conclusion I reached after spending the whole night on it. Is this conclusion really correct?

But I can't think of any other answer.

I let out a final, deep sigh, stood up from my seat, and walked out of the classroom.

The destination is already clear.

The corridor was deserted, its emptiness adding to the chill, but I paid it no mind. My blood had been rushing to my head since earlier, making me feel intensely hot. The sound of the wind rattling the windows and the noise of the sports clubs seemed like they were from a distant horizon. I kept repeating what I was about to say to myself, oblivious to all other sounds.

I kept walking forward until I saw the heavy, tightly closed door that shut out all sound.

I reached the door, took a deep breath, and knocked. I never used to knock before entering this classroom, but today's purpose was different, so I had to show the proper courtesy.

Several seconds passed, but the person inside remained silent.

I'll knock on the door one more time.

"Please come in..."

This time, I finally heard a faint voice. It turned out there was a large door behind me; this was the first time I'd ever heard such a thing. After receiving permission, I grasped the doorknob.

Clatter-clatter—the door slid open slowly. It felt unusually heavy today; I had to use all my strength to open it as wide as I could.

The two people in the office were sitting in their usual spots, and they were quite surprised by my appearance.

"Hey, what's wrong with you, you autistic guy? You even knock before coming in."

Yui Yuigahama remained the same, holding her phone and looking over here with a puzzled expression.

Yukino Yukinoshita carefully placed the book she was reading, bookmarked it, and gently put it on the table. She then lowered her gaze and stared at the table.

She didn't look at anyone, and whispered to herself:

"...Didn't I tell you not to force yourself?"

In order not to miss any of the sounds beneath the snow, I have delayed speaking until now for the first time.

"...Because something came up."

After hearing my brief reply, Yukinoshita said nothing more, and I simply stood there. The scene was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"Please, sit down first?"