My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

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I thought she was going to cook something, but then I heard the sound of her rummaging through the cupboard. Was she hungry and couldn't sleep? Just as I was thinking this, Komachi came over to the kotatsu (heated bed table).

"Take it."

"Huh? Whoosh, thanks."

She handed me a can of Maxx coffee. As soon as I took the can, my hands warmed up instantly. Turns out she'd just gone to heat up the Maxx cans she'd bought and left out. That girl's got some skills…

"Brother, get your feet away."

Komachi kicked my foot away, crawled into the kotatsu table, and the two of us began to enjoy the hot M-can.

She let out a satisfied sigh.

"...This day has finally come."

"Yes, go to sleep quickly after you finish drinking. The entrance exam is tomorrow."

Drinking a hot can of M before bed does indeed help me sleep. I can't help but eagerly anticipate when M will receive pharmaceutical certification. Taking M with the phrase "Hehe, amazing!" allows you to experience a forbidden taste amidst its unnatural sweetness. Please, everyone, try it for yourselves!

However, it seems that this is not what Komachi wanted to say.

"...No, Komachi was talking about Valentine's Day. As a boy, shouldn't you be excited right now?"

She sighed helplessly.

Thinking about this the day before the exam... My little princess is really brave. Looks like I don't need to specifically ask her, "Are you ready?" (Note 29: A fixed line from Pretty Cure before each battle.)

"I wouldn't get excited about that kind of thing. You're all I can think about right now."

"I knew my brother spoiled Komachi too much, it's disgusting. I wish he spoiled me like that too..."

"Aren't I spoiling myself a lot right now?"

"That's not what I meant. Although I am pampering myself with coffee, that's true..."

I shook the M can lightly and said something pointedly, and Komachi immediately let out a disdainful laugh... Wait, did she just say something really offensive?

You actually said my brother is disgusting? Be careful, I might really do something disgusting! Let's start with patting the kotatsu table and acting cute... Oh my god, I'm so disgusting.

"Oh, and if you're going to spoil me, give me chocolate."

"Didn't we already give them something similar?"

Komachi pointed to the M-shaped can with her chin.

No, no, no, although they're both sweet, chocolate and coffee are completely different. To be honest, this doesn't even really resemble coffee. I can't feel any love at all!

"...Komachi, do you like your brother?"

I don't like it at all.

Without a second thought, Komachi gave a nonchalant smile and answered instantly. I couldn't help but sob.

That's so mean... But the fact that you can say something like that to my face means we have a good relationship.

We can joke around like this, teasing each other with words like "I like you" or "I hate you." And no matter what we say, we both know each other's true feelings.

The fifteen years I spent with Komachi were not wasted.

So, what about the sisters and the mother and daughter?

They've known each other for over fifteen years, lived under the same roof, shared common memories, and similar values. If they can't even understand each other under these circumstances, how can they possibly get along with others?

Our sibling relationship was made possible by Komachi. There are so many things I need to thank her for.

...But that's that, and this is this (Note 30: a famous quote from the baseball manga "Nine Warriors in Adversity"), and chocolate is chocolate.

"I want chocolate..."

I burst into tears instantly, my fingers drawing circles on the table. Komachi sighed impatiently, then crawled out of the kotatsu and ran away.

I was finally abandoned by my sister... Just as I collapsed onto the table in despair, Komachi ran back.

"Here you are."

She poked my back and handed me something.

I turned my head and saw that it was a beautifully packaged chocolate.

"...Is this for me?"

"Well, it's a bit simple, but since you've already asked for it, brother..."

Komachi said this with a hint of displeasure for some reason. I hugged the chocolate to my chest, my eyes brimming with tears, repeatedly saying, "I'm so happy, I'm so happy..." It turned out she had prepared it especially for me all along; what a good little sister she is...

I sobbed quietly, while Komachi gave a helpless, bitter smile.

"I really hope my brother can grow up to be able to act so capriciously towards others..."

"How could I say such a shameful thing to someone... Besides, what value is there in chocolate that you can get just by asking for it?"

No sooner had she finished speaking than Komachi glanced at herself.

"If that's what you're saying, doesn't that mean the chocolate Komachi gave us was worthless...?"

"...Hmm? Ah, no...that's not it. Komachi's chocolate is special. Komachi is the best and cutest, Komachi, Komachi gets first place."

"This brother of mine is so unprincipled, he's such a useless piece of trash."

Komachi let out a deep sigh, as if she couldn't bear it any longer.

"...However, it would be nice to receive chocolate from someone like my brother who can't hide his feelings."

After speaking, Komachi revealed a smile far more mature than usual. She placed her hand on the table, propped her cheek to one side, and looked up at him with eyes that were both straightforward and warm.

That gaze made me a little embarrassed, so I exhaled sharply and looked away. Komachi seemed a little shy too, and deliberately grinned.

"—Hehe, did that sentence earn Komachi points?"

"Instead, it's a point deduction..."

The cloyingly sweet coffee cooled down, and I grimaced as I downed it in one gulp. It was so sweet that I couldn't help but smile.

Komachi finished her coffee in one gulp and stood up with a "heave-ho".

"Alright, it's about time to sleep."

"Okay, go to sleep."

She shook the empty can and threw it into the kitchen trash can. As she walked to the living room doorway, Xiaoxue suddenly woke up and followed her.

"Oh, Xiaoxue. Want to sleep together?"

Koyuki didn't respond with a cry, but instead rubbed her head against Komachi's leg. Komachi smiled contentedly, picked up Koyuki, and reached for the doorknob.

I called out to her from behind.

"Komachi."

"What's up?"

She gripped the doorknob and turned around.

I'll cheer you on. Goodnight.

"Okay, thank you. I'll do my best. Goodnight."

Although Komachi only gave a brief response, the smile on her face was quite composed. Komachi picked up Yuki again and went back to her room.

After watching her leave the living room, I put my hands behind my head and collapsed onto the floor.

"You don't hide yourself at all..."

Although Komachi described me that way, I can't confidently affirm it now.

I won't actively approach the other person, nor will I proactively create distance between us.

I have always drawn clear lines, concealed my true intentions without reservation, made myself more oblivious than usual, avoided overthinking, and tried my best to play the role of a shrewd observer—a role that even I find extremely despicable.

In order not to perceive my unease as unnatural, I always deliberately keep my distance.

This was purely to avoid making mistakes. I know very well that this isn't the only correct answer. Yet, I keep forcing myself to accept it.

That's why that person saw right through me.

A voice of condemnation rose in my mind once more.

Do you still consider yourself Hachiman Hikigaya?

Is this what you wanted?

It's so noisy, you bastard!

You don't know me at all, so stop talking nonsense.

Shut up!

As a result, I was unable to speak after that.

Volume 11 Interlude @Yui's Room

Yui: "Yukino...are you asleep?"

Yukino: "...Not yet."

Yui: "...Yukino, what do you want to do?"

Yukino "I..."

Yui: "I have something I want to do. I've already made up my mind."

Yui: "How about we go on a date tomorrow?"

Yukino: "...What?"

Volume 11, Chapter 8: Yui Yuigahama's eyes are always the same gentle.

It snowed on this rare day.

It doesn't snow often in Chiba. Moist clouds drifting in from the Sea of ​​Japan are blocked by the numerous mountain ranges that run like a spine across Honshu, where it snows. But Chiba, situated on the Pacific side and on flat land, usually only experiences dry winds.

That being said, it does occasionally snow here at wondrous times. In my seventeen years of experience, it has snowed suddenly on New Year's Day, my coming-of-age day, and at the end of March.

Unfortunately, the snow fell on the very day Komachi was taking her exams.

Fortunately, the snowstorm was not heavy this time; only snowflakes as small as flower petals gently fell.

Komachi, dressed in her usual uniform and coat, with a scarf, gloves, and boots on her feet, left home fully prepared. Although there was still some time before the exam, considering the likely congestion of traffic today, it was best to leave early.

"Did you bring your admission ticket? And your eraser, handkerchief, and pencil?"

The five-pointed pencil was something my dad bought when he went to pray to the gods for Komachi's good luck on her exams. Its cross-section is pentagonal, but otherwise it's just like a regular pencil. Honestly, I think regular pencils are easier to write with. Many test-takers would write A to E or one to five on the five sides of this pencil, and when they encountered a multiple-choice question they didn't know, they would pray while rolling this pencil around. You could say the only purpose of this pencil was for rolling.

Komachi quickly checked her schoolbag one last time, nodded energetically, and then opened her umbrella to salute Zhao.

"No problem! Then, brother... Komachi, let's go!"

"Oh, take care. Be careful not to fall."

"Yes, ma'am. Waaah...it's so cold. Sin, cos, tan...ah, I don't think I'll be on the test..."

Komachi flinched. Then, humming a strange incantation, she started walking. I watched her retreating figure, suddenly feeling uneasy. Is that girl alright...? She shouldn't be overexcited from overworking herself, right...?

In short, the day of the exam finally arrived.

At this point, last-minute cramming is pointless. Although the end of the century is not imminent, exam days and deadlines will still arrive no matter how hard we struggle.

All I can do for her now is pray. I couldn't help but look up at the sky.

The low-hanging, heavy clouds showed no sign of clearing, and snowflakes continued to fall silently from the sky. It looked like this snow would last all day.

I shivered and took a step back into the house. Just then, something on my body vibrated.

I reached into my vibrating pocket; it was my phone ringing. The screen displayed "★☆Yui☆★," a call from Hihama. It had always been that name since she registered my number; it had never changed.

I hesitated for a few seconds, wondering whether I should answer the phone, but the other person didn't hang up, and my phone kept vibrating. Finally, I gave in, pressed the call button, and held the phone to my ear.

"……Hello?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, a cheerful voice immediately came through the receiver.

"Hey introverted guy, let's go on a date!"

"……What?"

This direct approach, skipping even the greeting and getting straight to the point, was completely unexpected. I couldn't help but let out a sharp, laughable sound.

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