My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 385

...Of course I don't dislike it! Hmm! If you really want to ask me if I like it or not, the answer would be that I like it to death!

Yui sighed softly and looked helplessly at Isshiki.

"It shouldn't be related to age, it's about behavior and mannerisms..."

“…I think so.”

Yes, I agree with that suggestion. I've almost become immune to her tactics. Isshiki seemed unhappy with my reaction, a hint of hatred flashing in her eyes.

This attitude made me smile wryly.

Although I find Isshiki's words, actions, and personality very charming, for certain reasons, it doesn't really appeal to me now. If it were me in the past, I would definitely be completely captivated.

The most important of these reasons, simply put, is—

"I love any younger sister, regardless of whether she's older or younger than me."

"Being a siscon is even more hopeless than liking young girls!"

Yuihama's grief-stricken cry echoed through the clubroom, and Isshiki nodded frantically, his face filled with disbelief. "What's wrong with you? Just imagining Komachi, who's older than me, makes you want to hug her tightly, is that not allowed?" I turned to look for someone who agreed with me, but all I saw was Yukinoshita with a stern face, arms crossed, looking thoughtful.

"What should be the basis for the definition of 'younger'? School year? Year of birth? Or is anyone whose birthday is slightly later considered younger than you...? The definition is too vague, and this point should be clarified first."

After Yukinoshita muttered something under her breath, Yui immediately clapped her hands.

"Ah, but introverted guys are more compatible with older, sister-type girls... I guess so. No, that's absolutely true!"

Her clenched fist seemed to tighten inexplicably, but I, your humble servant, did not insist on doing so.

"...Age isn't that important. If it's only a year apart, it's not a big difference."

The key factor is income! Whether they can afford to support me is extremely important. In that respect, my Komachi takes very good care of me! That girl has the potential to become a top breeder.

Upon hearing what I said, Isshiki voiced his dissatisfaction:

"Huh? Is that so? Does Hayama-senpai think so too?"

"No, I don't know what Hayama is thinking."

"But, but, senior, didn't you say before that my position as a junior is an advantage?"

"Oh, I did say that..."

It was only after she mentioned it that I realized it.

Speaking of which, this girl is practically my junior... It's because Isshiki's attitude towards me shows absolutely no respect, reverence, or courtesy that she doesn't seem like a junior to me...

Also, isn't this guy underestimating me a bit? Even if my initials are two Hs, adding up to H2, it doesn't mean I'm as light as hydrogen. And this doesn't mean that a certain baseball manga is a baseball manga with very little baseball content (Note 5: a famous work by Japanese manga artist Mitsuru Adachi, also translated as *The Tale of Two Good Matches*). On the contrary, I think it's not a baseball manga at all, but a romantic comedy manga. That work is so classic that I reread it all every summer.

"You were born in April, so the actual age difference between us is less than a year, so I don't feel that you are younger than me at all."

In my own experience, there's usually a two or three-year age difference before you can really tell someone is older or younger, like Komachi or Haruno. As for someone like Hiratsuka-sensei... well...

In fact, the age difference between me and Isshiki is only eight months, and Yukinoshita is only about three months younger than Isshiki.

Although that's what I thought, Isshiki herself didn't seem to think so. She looked dazed and kept blinking at me.

“…………”

"How is it...?"

"Ah, no... I'm just a little surprised..."

Upon hearing my voice, she seemed to want to hide something, and gently brushed her bangs aside.

On the other hand, Yuihama, sitting opposite me, exaggeratedly moved her chair to create distance between us.

"How horrible! How did you know her birthday? How disgusting... Sorry, it really is disgusting..."

"...You've investigated very thoroughly."

Beneath the snow, however, lay motionless, a smile on the ground. More than a benevolent smile, the expression resembled that of the Smiling Aoe (Note 6: a famous Japanese sword, forged by the Aoe school of swordsmiths in Bitchu during the Kamakura period, said to have cleaved a female ghost with a sinister smile in two, hence its name), radiating an unusually chilling aura.

"No, she deliberately told me that in a clever way before; it was just pointless self-promotion..."

"Meaningless? Well, that's not meaningless at all! Besides, I didn't try anything clever, senior; that's what trying to be clever is all about!"

Isshiki suddenly stood up and pointed her index finger at me. And besides, I didn't try anything clever; Isshiki was the one who did…

"My memory is amazing, don't try to blame me... Anyway, now that you're alright, hurry back to the student council office or the soccer club."

After I said that, although Issei pouted in dissatisfaction, she still reluctantly prepared to leave the clubroom. This kid's using that trick again. Okay, okay, very clever, very clever.

Yukinoshita, Yuigahama, and I all wore wry smiles as we watched Isshiki's departing figure. Just then, someone gently knocked on the Service Club's door.

Volume 11, Part 2: Thus began the war between the girls (and boys too!).

I stared silently at the gate for a long time.

Isshiki, who was about to leave the clubroom, glanced at the door, then at us, and finally quietly returned to his original seat. I suppose so; leaving the clubroom at this time and bumping into visitors must have been quite awkward.

Not long after, a commotion came from behind the thin wall.

"I don't need to come to a place like this for help..."

"It's okay, I'm not good at this kind of thing either."

What came through were familiar, barbed words, and a voice that was calm yet firm.

Then came a knocking sound that was even more rhythmic than before.

"Please come in."

After Yukino finished speaking softly, the door opened slightly, and Ebina peeked in through the crack.

"Hello, hello~ May I bother you for a moment?"

"Himena? Ah, let's come in first!"

Yui gently waved, and Ebina immediately nodded. "Yes, if they come in quickly, I won't catch too much of a cold. After all, my seat is near the door..."

"Excuse me."

Ebina greeted them and walked into the office, with a reluctant-looking Miura silently following him in.

"May I ask what brings you here?"

When Yukinoshita asked this question, Miura looked embarrassed and glanced at Iroha.

"Why is she here too?"

"Hmm—I personally feel like that's something I should say..."

Isshiki replied with a smile. Miura, playing with his hair unhappily, glared back.

Hmm... the atmosphere is a bit strange... I had just thought that when Yui Hama, noticing this, immediately stepped in to smooth things over.

"Um...do you feel uncomfortable speaking up when there are too many people around?"

"That's not what I meant, it's just..."

Even so, Miura's attitude remained indifferent. Judging from her expression, she wouldn't easily reveal her purpose for coming.

"Or I'll call Isshiki back."

"Huh? Why?!"

For no reason, you're not a member... It would be strange if you just stayed here like it was your right.

Ebina gently patted Miura on the shoulder, helping to ease the tension.

"It's okay, Yumiko. It depends on how you phrase it. Just don't be too explicit, right?"

"Indeed... there are always some things that are difficult to say... even if you hold back, I don't mind."

Yukino looked over, as if confirming my opinion. I nodded in agreement.

"Let's listen to it first. If you're not interested, we can ask about it privately later."

"Yeah, that's right... Besides, Iroha's opinion might come in handy."

Feeling treated like an outsider, Isshiki puffed out her cheeks unhappily. Only after Yui-hama's persuasion did she reluctantly nod. Her reaction brought a relieved smile to Yui-hama's face. She felt a little guilty, as if both sides were watching each other's expressions.

"So, may we hear your question?"

Yukinoshita asked again.

Miura stared at Isshiki for a moment, then looked away, fiddling with his hair as if searching for a fork in the road, and spoke:

"...Well, how should I put it, I want to try making chocolate myself. Um... because everyone's preparing for exams next year... this is the last chance..."

Miura's voice was filled with shyness, his cheeks gradually flushed red, and his voice grew softer and softer.

But I sensed a hint of loneliness in her reaction. Of course, that might just be my imagination.

By this time next year, we will no longer need to attend school.

Valentine's Day falls right in the middle of exam season, and if you're unlucky, it might even clash with the exam dates of private universities.

Therefore, this year is the last real Valentine's Day in our high school life. In the future, Valentine's Day will probably have a completely different meaning.

For example, when we become college students or working adults, we should have different feelings about Valentine's Day. After all, as adults, we can't possibly be anxious about whether we'll receive chocolates. Just like when we were kids, we always thought snow was something novel and interesting, and we would get excited when we saw snowfall on the weather forecast. However, now that we're older, snow only makes us feel like we don't want to go to school, it's freezing cold, and we'll get our clothes wet—it's all just a bunch of troublesome impressions.

"...So I was thinking, maybe I should give it a try..."

Miura seemed to be trying to hide his blushing cheeks as he twirled his hair with his fingers. His words, spoken as his hair gently drifted down, contained parts that I could relate to.

In a sense, this must be the last Valentine's Day of his life.

But it seems that not many people can fully understand this idea. Isshiki is only a first-year student, so he doesn't seem to grasp the concept, his mouth slightly open as if to say, "Is that so?" Yukinoshita, on the other hand, rests her chin on her hand and falls into deep thought.

Yuihama puffed out her cheeks, narrowed her eyes, and stared at Miura with a questioning look.

"...Yumiko, didn't you say that handmade chocolates feel heavy?"

"Well... this..."

Miura was speechless and could only secretly look away. But Yuihama's eyes followed her closely, preventing her from escaping. Ebina quickly stepped in to appease the disgruntled Yuihama.

"Don't say that. I think handmade chocolates are great."

"Huh? Do I have to make hibiscus too?"

Yuihama blinked in surprise and looked at Ebina.

"Yeah. But I'm just doing it with Yumiko so I can learn something along the way."

"It feels a bit unexpected..."

"Really? Just think about it, once you learn this skill, wouldn't it become much more convenient to give gifts at events like COMIKE?"

I listened to their conversation silently, and suddenly noticed something was off.

"Oh……"

Giving gifts, huh... Oh? I felt something was off and turned to look at Ebina, who in turn turned to look at me.

The gaze looking at me through the glasses seemed to ask, "Is there a problem?" I gently shook my head to indicate that there was no problem.

If the gift is to someone other than a friend or acquaintance, one usually avoids giving something handmade. Ebina couldn't possibly be unaware of this.

Even so, the fact that she still wanted to know how to make the "gift chocolate" meant that she had someone she cared about to some extent.

…Great, Hubu, you're one step closer to success. Although I'm not sure if Ebina wanted to send the chocolates to Hubu; she might not even know who Hubu is. Speaking of which, who exactly is Hubu?

Thinking of this, a hint of warmth appeared in my gaze as I looked at Ebina. At that moment, Ebina's eyebrows twitched, followed by a strange "rotten, rotten, rotten" laugh, and an ominous glint flashed in his glasses.

"Handmade chocolates are really amazing! Why don't we give Hayato a Yuchou too, instead of just sending one to Penguin?"

"No, I won't do it..."

Sigh... Ebina is indeed Ebina... in every sense of the word. What exactly is that culture all about? And what is Tomochikame? Maruko's grandfather?

"Besides, doesn't that guy not accept chocolate?"

"It's fine as long as they're all men!"

The premise itself is flawed, isn't it?

There's no point in continuing to waste time with Ebina... Miura, who's usually in charge of pulling the reins, is still playing with his hair with a troubled expression...

I decided to ignore Ebina's endless string of "Yoo-choo-ki-choo." Next, it was Isshiki's turn next to me, who crossed his arms and made a distressed sound.

"That's exactly right. Since the other party has made it clear that they won't accept it, this matter is probably not that simple."

Hmm—no, that's not the point. The point is that Hayama and I are both boys…wait, think about it the other way around. Since receiving chocolate from a boy won't cause any trouble, that guy might just happily accept it…? What's going on? I feel like the plot has inevitably veered off course! But I personally give that route a zero!

"What should I do...?"