My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

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"It seems there are no problems. The tasting went smoothly, so I'll have one too."

"That's called testing for poison... How could you bear to make me do something so dangerous?"

"It's not about testing for poison, and I will eat it too."

The three of us sat down again and reached for the cookies.

The cookies were baked to a crispy perfection, with the aroma of butter constantly tantalizing the senses. The subsequent delicate sweetness and rich chocolate fragrance were simply irresistible.

"...It's so delicious."

After Yui finished eating a cookie, she shared her thoughts, and Yukino nodded slightly in agreement. The two looked at each other, and Yui smiled shyly, while Yukino returned the smile.

Then, Yui turned her body towards me.

"Is it delicious?"

"It tastes pretty good."

"Didn't I just say that? Didn't I?" I answered under Yui's persistent questioning. As a result, a shadow fell over their expressions.

"good……"

"Not bad, is it...?"

Yuihama slumped her shoulders in slight disappointment, while Yukinoshita glared at her. Uh… wait a minute, otherwise what am I supposed to say at a time like this? I pulled out all the quotes from Hachiman Hikigaya's brother from my memory, and took out all the words I had memorized to please Komachi.

"Um...that...it was really delicious...thank you."

I was terrified of saying something wrong again, so I racked my brains until I finally managed to squeeze out those few words. Yuihama's eyes immediately lit up, and Yukinoshita's gaze softened.

"Um!"

Yuihama answered with great enthusiasm, and Yukinoshita silently filled my cup with black tea.

Great, Komachi. It seems like your brother guessed the right answer...

Although I only got through the difficult time thanks to Komachi's help, to be honest, the cookies were really delicious, and I am truly grateful to them.

Whether it's a slightly sweet cookie or a warm cup of black tea, both bring me immense satisfaction... that must be it. So, I murmured again, "How delightful."

However, I still felt that something was not quite right.

As I realized this, the sound of high heels clicking on the ground rang out at the same time.

The other party not only made no attempt to conceal their footsteps, but instead approached step by step as if to show off, finally revealing their true identity.

Yukino noticed the footsteps, shifted her gaze behind me, and then frowned slightly.

Just by seeing that reaction, I knew who was behind me—Yukinoshita Haruno.

"Sister, is something the matter?"

Hina didn't answer Yukino's question, but silently stared at me. She gently touched the corner of her mouth with her finger and slowly opened her beautiful lips.

"Is this the real thing you were talking about?"

Her question sent a chill down my spine, and I instinctively turned my head to avoid her gaze. But Yang Nai wouldn't let me go, taking another step closer.

"Is this the 'real thing' you're talking about?"

"...What do you think?"

That's the only pointless answer I can give.

Although Yang Nai's voice was cold, it also contained a sense of purity.

She seemed to be telling me that she really didn't understand and couldn't comprehend it.

"Sister, what exactly do you want?"

"Well... what I mean is... that..."

Yukinoshita and Yui couldn't help but interrupt, but I stopped them. Because, the person Haruno was asking was me.

However, even if I didn't stop them, Haruno wouldn't show any interest in them. She would just silently stare into my eyes, at my every move, and even at my breathing.

"Is this what you want? I don't think you're that kind of person."

Yang paused here, came up behind me, and leaned over to look at my face.

"Are you such a boring person?"

Although we were close enough to feel each other's breath and could touch each other with the slightest movement, those words sounded frighteningly distant to me.

"If I were interesting, I would have been the most popular person in the class long ago."

That's what I like about you.

I turned my face away. Yang Nai chuckled happily twice and finally took a step back.

I wish she could just leave like this. But that's impossible. I know perfectly well that she's not someone who's easily appeased.

Yang looked down at us from a distance of just one step away.

"...However, you guys are a bit boring now. As for me...I prefer the old Yukino."

Upon hearing this, I couldn't help but gasp, and my expression tensed up.

Although Yukinoshita and Yuihama both had their heads down, their expressions at that moment were probably no different from mine.

Yang Nai noticed that no one was willing to answer, and sighed softly. Finally, the sound of high heels gradually faded away.

I completely understood what she was trying to say.

What Yukino Yukino meant was that this thing couldn't possibly be real.

I feel the same way.

This situation and this relationship really make me feel uneasy.

Because I wasn't used to it yet, because I had no experience with it—that's why I thought it was just a little strange, and that I would naturally get used to it over time.

However, Yang Nai did not give up easily.

It was something that had been lingering in my chest for a long time, a faint chill that made me restless and uneasy, an unpleasant feeling that had been lurking in my heart.

Yukino laid bare the things I didn't want to face in front of me.

That's not trust; it's something much crueler.

× × ×

After the excitement, endless loneliness always remains.

Today's cooking class was no exception. After a brief closing speech, everyone packed up their things and dispersed in twos and threes.

As the number of people gradually decreased, the once bustling cooking room quieted down. In the end, only the current student council members and service club members remained.

Everyone present worked together to clean up the trash and restore the area to its original state. After collecting the posters from outside, Isshiki returned and announced:

"Leave the rest to our student council."

Hearing this, I looked around the room again. There wasn't much work left; I could just hand it over to them.

However, our answer was not so.

"Um...but I want to help until the very end."

"That's right, you don't need to worry about us."

Yuihama, Yukinoshita, and I all chose to stay and help.

Isshiki seemed quite surprised by our answer and even glanced at me furtively to confirm. After I nodded slightly, she immediately smiled.

"Really? Then, I'll accept your kind offer."

Actually, we should be the ones accepting her kindness. Once the activity is completely over, our minds will naturally replay what just happened, which is why we're trying to prolong the time as much as possible.

However, such resistance could not last long.

After most of the tidying up was done, only the area around the cooking station where we were located remained to be cleaned.

I flattened the completely cold paper cup of black tea, threw it into a trash bag, tied the bag shut, and that was all I could do.

After closing all the doors and windows and making sure nothing was forgotten, the group went outside the community center. After placing the trash bags in the designated area, there was finally no reason to stay any longer.

"Thank you all for your hard work."

Near the entrance of the Civic Center, Isshiki bowed his head to thank us, and the other student council members followed suit. Because the event was organized so suddenly, everyone looked exhausted.

No one had the energy to hold a victory celebration, and everyone set off on their way home.

The same goes for the three of us.

Yukinoshita slung her bag and the large bag over her shoulder again. The bag was probably filled with black tea and her personal cooking utensils.

"...Let's go home."

"Alright."

Following Yuki, I also pushed my bicycle towards the station. At that moment, Yui grabbed the back seat of my bicycle.

"What...?"

When I asked her that, she said with a half-smile:

"Um... how about we grab some food together?"

Upon hearing this sudden suggestion, Xuezhi and I exchanged bewildered glances.

"Well... it's getting late..."

"How about I stay at Yukino's house tonight and have dinner there?"

"Where are we going to stay today... is it all up to you?"

Yuihama did indeed often stay overnight at Yukinoshita's house, and I remember that they would usually go home together before and after these kinds of events.

"What's wrong with that? Is it not allowed?"

Yui asked in a coquettish voice, and Yukino sighed softly.

"I don't care..."

"Yay! Let's go! The autistic guy... wanna come?"

Unlike her earlier coquettish tone towards Yukinoshita, there was a hint of urgency in her words. I couldn't find a reason to refuse, so I nodded in agreement.

"Let's go, I'm hungry anyway. Can we meet at the station?"

"Um!"

After Yui answered, I nodded as well.

I turned my bicycle in the opposite direction, got on, and rode off.

× × ×

When I arrived at the station, Yuihama and Yukinoshita were just walking out of the ticket gate.

They came by tram, while I rode a bicycle. The tram was certainly faster, but considering the waiting time, the actual time spent was about the same as riding a bicycle, so it seems I timed it perfectly.

After we met up, we went to Yukinoshita's house to let her put her things away.

It wasn't far from the station to my home in the snow. Along the way, we sometimes chatted aimlessly, and sometimes we savored the silence.

Walking along the path next to the large park, you'll see a familiar skyscraper.

As we crossed the zebra crossing and arrived at the building entrance, Yukino suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?"

"Ah, no..."

I asked a question, and Yukinoshita reacted a beat slower, staring at a certain spot in surprise. I followed her gaze and saw a black luxury car parked on the side of the road.

Just as I was starting to think the car looked familiar, the door suddenly opened and a woman stepped out.

Her vibrant black hair was neatly coiled on her head, and her gait in her kimono exuded both elegance and dignity. This person was Yukinoshita's mother.

"Mom...how did you get here...?"

"Because Haruno told me about your aspirations. I came to talk to you about it. Yukino, where did you go so late...?"

Her mother's worried gaze made Yukino lower her head and remain silent. That reaction made her sigh softly.

"I've always thought you weren't the kind of kid who would do something like this..."