My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 346

Although they didn't name names, the people they talked about were 99% Hayama and Yukinoshita.

This is a completely fabricated rumor, but it is because the subject of the rumor is so high-profile that it has attracted so many viewers.

There's no way around it; they're seventeen-year-old girls in the prime of their youth, and their favorite thing is talk melon (Note 26 is from the radio program "Kikuko Inoue's Alluring Talk Melon" hosted by voice actress Kikuko Inoue). Naturally, they'll start talking about any gossip about the most popular people in their class.

They continued to chat quietly.

"But judging from Yukino's appearance, I didn't expect her to be a member of the 'looks-matter' club too~"

"Yeah, I understand. They don't have much in common but they're together, it's obvious they're attracted to each other's good looks."

"Huh? If that's the case, doesn't that mean Hayama's also become a member of the 'looks-obsessed' club?"

"Isn't that right~"

At this point in their conversation, they secretly chuckled to avoid being overheard by Hayama and the others who were also in the classroom.

That's really jarring.

Even I'm starting to get restless and irritable.

Their rustling sounds were like mosquitoes buzzing around your ear the moment you lie down in bed, or the extra-loud ticking of a second hand when you can't sleep at night. In short, it sounded quite unpleasant, and I couldn't help but click my tongue.

Even I, who have no connection to this, am finding it unbearable; one can only imagine how much more unbearable it must be for those directly affected by the rumors.

People who know nothing about the situation irresponsibly add their own speculations, wishes, or jealousy to their comments just because they find it interesting, and then, riding the wave of their interest, they develop the topic to a ridiculous degree.

I believe that most people who discuss this topic have no malicious intent and are simply doing it for fun. If the person involved seriously denies it or asks to stop the discussion, they will most likely say something like, "It was just a joke, don't take it seriously."

As the phenomenon became visible—no, it was precisely because I understood their background that I finally understood.

Yukino Yukinoshita and Hayato Hayama have always lived in this kind of environment. They possess outstanding appearances and remarkable abilities, which makes them the focus of everyone's expectations and attention, but also burdens them with considerable disappointment and jealousy.

In a society where adolescence is often monitored, schools resemble prisons. High-profile figures are frequently the focus of attention, and others, even without mandated surveillance, will begin to monitor them out of goodwill and curiosity, sometimes even punishing them. It's akin to conducting the Stanford Prison Experiment day and night. Despite having no obligation, people are driven by a sense of mission, becoming more aggressive.

The nameless guards continued chatting behind me.

Crack, crack—the next second, a loud sound broke in, and their conversation came to an abrupt halt.

I looked in the direction of the sound.

Miura stood with her legs crossed, impatiently tapping the table with her fingernails. She faced Yuihama and the others, glancing sideways at them.

Miura's appearance was glamorous and impeccable; even just looking at him from the front, he exuded a powerful aura. But when he turned to the side, his expression became even more menacing, his presence intimidating, nearly three times more terrifying than usual. It was terrifying! Even though I wasn't the one being glared at, I still guiltily looked away.

Hayama, who was sitting in front of Miura, gave her a wry smile.

They probably didn't hear the two girls' conversation.

However, the atmosphere at the scene clearly said it all.

We don't need to hear what others say; we can tell whether the atmosphere is friendly to us simply by feeling it with our skin.

The same principle applies to how Miura conveyed hostility to the two girls with just a glance.

The two girls, feeling embarrassed to stay in the classroom any longer, quickly got up, walked past me, and hurried out. They were probably going to the restroom to continue their discussion.

"That's really scary... Did they hear that?"

"I wonder... but what will Miura think—"

"Um……"

I lay on the table, pretending not to hear their conversation as they passed by. If I didn't, I might have been unable to resist observing Miura and his group.

The ripples on the water's surface will eventually subside.

However, let's not forget that the butterfly effect also exists.

I calmed myself down and listened to the sound of the wind hitting the window, trying to get through this break.

× × ×

Even after school ended, the wind did not subside.

Moist air extending from the Sea of ​​Japan is blocked by the mountain ranges, primarily Ou, forming clouds here. The wind, now dry, crosses the mountains and reaches the Kanto Plain, becoming a dry, swaying mountain wind.

The cold, dry wind kept pounding against the windows on the corridor side of the office building.

Inside the office, it's another world entirely. Thanks to the steaming black tea in front of me, the air here is warm and humid.

I took a sip of black tea to relax my mind and body before speaking:

"Seriously, that guy Hayama really beat us up—"

I felt guilty for volunteering the task with a "leave it to me" attitude, only to be turned away in disappointment. Yuihama smiled wryly after hearing about yesterday's events.

"Yeah, I think so too. And Hayato-kun doesn't seem to be in a good mood... It's not your fault, don't worry about it."

I never thought I'd be comforted like this... Yukino sighed and gave a slight bitter smile.

"We didn't have any expectations in the first place, so there's nothing to blame ourselves for."

Whether this statement can be considered a consolation is debatable. But I could at least sense a hint of tenderness in her tone.

However, the next person was not so easy to talk to.

"Well, there's nothing I can do if he's a senior."

Even if it's a senior student, there's nothing that can be done? Did I hear that right?

"Hey, what brings you here again?"

I looked at Issei. She placed the paper cup she was holding on the table, straightened her collar, patted her skirt, and casually brushed her bangs aside. Then she sat up straight and began to speak in a serious tone:

"I have something important to consult about today."

Unfortunately, her collarbone peeked out from her neatly arranged neckline, and the swaying skirt was meant to be distracting. The way she looked up after brushing her bangs aside was even more unsettling. Overall, she still didn't seem very proper.

For a fleeting moment, my attention was almost drawn to her, but I managed to pull my eyes away with sheer willpower. I won't fall for that!

"If it's a student council matter, we're not helping anymore."

"……Right."

Isshiki suddenly fell silent, letting out a soft murmur. Then, I faintly heard a small click of the tongue. Iroha, I must have misheard, right?

At that moment, Yukinoshita, who had been listening nearby, coughed lightly.

"You didn't really come here today because you want our help, did you?"

A smile graced her face, yet her gentle voice carried an invisible pressure. A chill ran down my spine, and Ishiki quickly straightened my posture.

"Y-of course! I was just joking! We've been working hard!"

"So, is there anything else?"

Her attitude made Yukino sigh. Yuihama stepped in to smooth things over.

"She probably wanted to know which group Hayato chose, so she came here specifically to find out."

"That's right! As expected of Yui-senpai! But, this isn't the only purpose!"

Urged on by Xue's gaze, she lightly stroked her chin and spoke her thoughts:

"I feel like there are more girls going to see the senior student at Konohayama these days."

"Persist with him?"

"Simply put, it's a confession. Even if the confession doesn't work out, at least it confirms whether he really has a girlfriend, and it's also a chance to promote myself."

Isshiki answered Yuihama's question smoothly.

Hearing this reminded me of the scene I saw before going back yesterday. However, of course I didn't tell them about it, so Yukinoshita and Yui focused on other things.

"What does 'confirm' mean?"

"Would that even sell me?"

Seeing the puzzled looks on their faces, Isshiki cleared his throat, sat up straight, and then turned to me, chair and all.

She exhaled a hot breath and stared intently at my face.

"Senior...do you have someone you're dating right now?"

She spoke haltingly, her voice trembling slightly, her cheeks flushed. Her wrist, emerging from the overly long sleeve, was astonishingly white and slender. She looked nervous, clutching the bow at her chest with that hand. I could feel her genuine emotions through the wrinkles in her uniform.

Not to mention those watery eyes, with pupils flickering like candles in the wind.

This move came so unexpectedly that my heart rate spiked. I took a deep breath to calm myself down.

"No……"

I managed to squeeze out those two words with a hoarse voice.

In an instant, all the sound in the entire office was drained away.

Not only me, but Yukinoshita and Yuihama also kept their mouths shut, and the three of them didn't utter a word. After a while, Isshiki revealed a mischievous smile.

"See, that's it. Can you feel it?"

"That's a problem with how you talk! Right, you autistic guy?"

...No. It's not impossible to be charmed by this kind of self-promotion... Hmm. Okay, I admit I was charmed just now. Well done, Isshiki.

"An autistic man?"

Upon hearing Yuihama's voice, I turned my head and saw the two girls rolling their eyes.

"...Why aren't you saying anything?"

Yukino's smile is terrifying, please stop smiling like that!

"Well... anyway, I understand Hayama's situation now. Yes, I understand it very well."

To confirm whether the rumors are true, if the opportunity arises, I'll take a gamble and confess to him. Even without confessing, it can shorten the distance between us... So that's how it is.

It feels like a character who was previously considered impossible to romance has new storylines and open routes in a newly released expansion pack... or perhaps a super sweet love story has been added to a fan disc?

Regardless of the cause, this can be considered an impact of rumors.

"So, what do you want to consult us about?"

Isshiki puffed out his chest and let out a "humph" laugh.

"I want to know how to get past the other competitors!"

"oh……"

Even now, she hasn't given up, which takes some guts. I feel a mix of admiration, helplessness, and indifference towards her. Wait, doesn't this add up to 1.5?

Ishiki interpreted my reaction as "understanding," and without waiting for anyone else to speak, she continued to talk on and on:

"If you change your perspective, it's not hard to see that the current situation is a great opportunity. Generally speaking, if people are rejected after confessing their feelings, don't they give up on the spot? Hayama-senpai seems to be tired of so many people confessing to him, so I might be the safest ambush in some ways—oh no, I mean, I could be the one to bring him a rich and healing experience!"

Judging from the way she's trying to be voluptuous, it's probably going to be difficult... And what's this about "plumpness and healing"? I don't understand at all; she's not particularly plump either. Isshiki's charm should lie in the delicate, youthful aura she exudes... Ah, how did we get off topic? I don't care at all whether she has a chance to win Hayama's heart, no wonder I kept drifting off into a daze while listening.

I looked at Yukinoshita and Yui to make sure they were listening attentively. As it turned out, the two of them were listening very attentively.

"Safety……"

"ambush……"

They whispered the words they heard, staring intently at Isshiki. And because they were so focused, the temperature in the clubroom seemed to drop dramatically… it was impossible to calm down! (Note 27: Kiriya Aoi's catchphrase from *Idol Academy*!)

Isshiki herself was looking out the window, so she didn't notice the two people staring at her. What appeared in front of her was probably the soccer club, who were having club activities.

"So I was thinking, should I ask him out to hang out, just to change my mood..."

The setting sun cast its light upon a face draped in white. Viewed from the side, it seemed to possess a touch of melancholy and composure.

Although Isshiki spoke lightly, she was actually considering Hayama's feelings.

Wow, I didn't expect her to be thoughtful. If she just showed that, most guys would definitely be smitten, right?

"That's a great idea."

My lips couldn't help but curl into a smile, and Yise's expression lit up as well.

"That's right! That's why I'm asking where we can go~"

"That can't be right, don't you know more about this than we do?"

You've definitely asked the wrong person, haven't you? Yuihama can ask her friends for information, so there are still ways, but Yukinoshita and I are clearly not the type of people who like to travel around... However, Isshiki was not satisfied with my answer and puffed up her cheeks.

"I've tried everything I could think of! That's why I'm looking for different approaches."

"Is that so..."