My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

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If even my own definitions have errors, then the differences between them and those of others must be even greater.

"It would be good if the directions of deviation were consistent."

I don't believe in that expectation. It's not difficult to imagine that only you are looking at different places.

I've been thinking about it ever since. I'll write down the thoughts that come to mind like this, without looking for an answer.

They were all occasional, random, like bubbles, full of wrong answers.

It's like playing a word game; I've been pondering the meaning of what I'm pointing to, but I haven't been able to come up with a clear answer.

Even so, we just vaguely felt that there was an answer that belonged to us, and decided that it was the correct answer.

This isn't because I'm being negative; for us, our greatest common denominator should be right there, as the initial premise.

This is the real thing, I firmly believe it.

Because I myself cannot believe anything else besides this.

in fact,

It's just dependence.

Then, Hachiman Hikigaya's winter vacation arrived.

Christmas – the end of the semester, the beginning of winter break, the last page of the calendar.

This is a time that students eagerly await, but I'm still struggling in the quagmire of homework.

If the work to be done could just slip away like time itself, I can confidently tell you that winter, including for me, will definitely become the most popular season.

Lying in bed, I'm awake, but I can't fall back asleep. What should I do...? Let me check the date first. There are only a few pages left on this year's calendar; if I had to describe them, they're like ivy leaves in a storm—stubborn yet precarious.

I've heard that when students are in school, they're more sensitive to what day of the week it is, but when they're on vacation, they pay more attention to the date. Now that I think about it, there seems to be some truth to that.

But come to think of it, I haven't done anything all year! I've been incredibly lazy! Hachiman's dream of never leaving work has taken another step forward, yay! Well, it's okay to be idle. I can't just keep shouting like a child, "I want to become a hero and defeat the Demon King!"—those naive childhood wishes are so easily defeated by reality…

Thank goodness it's the weekend, otherwise I wouldn't be able to leisurely daydream like this. At school, only Hiratsuka-sensei probably has this kind of privilege, right?

All sorts of things I don't usually have a chance to think about are riding on a surfboard, paddling wildly through my mind, making it impossible for my brain to process them all. Ah, my stomach is growling in protest, I'm hungry... Is it already noon? I muttered to myself as I stretched my stiff neck and finally managed to wobble out of bed.

I straightened my limp back, sat on the edge of the bed, and composed myself. I stretched out my leg and kicked an empty Maxi coffee bottle. Oh right, speaking of which, I think I was planning to clean yesterday… Ugh, so annoying, I'll do it tomorrow.

But I have this feeling that I said this yesterday...

Slowly, I took off my pajamas, grabbed some clothes from the pile of books on the bedside table that looked like they could collapse at any moment, and quickly put them on before I felt cold. Carefully avoiding the floor littered with empty MAX coffee cans, I went to the closet to find a pair of thick socks. Seriously, the weather in Chiba…

Finally, I don't feel cold anymore... Let me see, I promised Komachi yesterday that I would tidy up my room. This is... a paperback book, printed papers, sheets of notes, and a black notebook with my name on it.

notebook?

What's this? Let's open it and take a look...

Snapped.

Ahem, it's nothing important, really, don't laugh. Really. It's just a diary from my cringey teenage years. Everyone has their embarrassing moments, right? Arms wrapped in cloth, one eye veiled in black, holding a necromancer's book—that's not strange at all, is it? Huh? Right? Ahhhhhh, don't laugh, damn it!

After a quick desk-cleaning ritual, the book ended up where it belonged, and the calendar with only two pages left was thrown in the trash. Anyway, as long as Komachi doesn't see this book, it's fine. After all, it's a bit unacceptable for an older brother to have such a dark past.

When was the last time I cleaned my room? I can't remember. I only squeeze in space to put things when I'm really out of room.

My mom has told me more than once that I'm messy. Honestly, I can't stand other people's messy rooms, yet I can be perfectly comfortable in one. Is there something wrong with me? Calm down, calm down. As the saying goes, be strict with yourself and lenient with others. I'm doing the opposite, and I'm just so ashamed...

But I think I read in some horoscope magazine that being a busybody is a characteristic of type B blood. Well, then you can't blame me, blame type B blood, haha. I wouldn't meddle in other people's business, um, I wouldn't. Especially Komachi, (emphasizing) I, as her older brother, really want her to grow up freely, you know? At most, I'll run into her room and yell things like, "Disobedient children get a beating!"... um... maybe.

Komachi often sneaks into my room to steal manga. Honestly, if she sees what's hidden behind the manga, that's going to be terrible! Once, Komachi wanted to read *Inuyasha*, and insisted I buy it for her. Is there any sister who has the nerve to order her brother around like that? No way! (Although I really want to read it too.) Every time I try to lecture Komachi about this, she puffs out her cheeks and replies, "You idiot older brother, don't you always sneak peeks at my shoujo manga magazines?" Ugh, it's so annoying! I only have the excuse of buying it for my sister to justify going to the bookstore to buy shoujo manga!

...But it really is quite pretty. There are some side effects, though, like I feel like I'm becoming more girlish... Oh no, what am I going to do? If I keep talking, I feel like I'm starting to hate myself... I guess that's the downside of having a younger sister...

Well, all of this happened before Komachi started junior high. After she entered junior high, she never came to my room again. Since that only visitor stopped coming, my room has become inexplicably messy, and now I don't even know where to start cleaning. Ugh, this is so troublesome.

But after looking around the room, um... I think... maybe I should do it tomorrow? You see, what can be done today can still be done tomorrow, right? This isn't procrastination, I just believe in myself tomorrow... Yes, it's not an excuse, so I've happily decided!

I've already been tidying up for a while, so I can finish the rest tomorrow. I packed up the trash bag and put it at the end of the hallway so Dad can easily take it away next time he goes out. I just put the trash bag down when it suddenly occurred to me that Dad, this corporate slave, might be working overtime all night. Ugh—oh well, I'll take pity on him and let him take it away himself tomorrow. The life of a corporate slave…

Turning back to my room, I suddenly realized that my room seemed much bigger.

So all along I've been fighting with garbage for living space...

Let's save the rest for next time, shall we?

He let out a satisfied sigh and quickly walked into the living room.

As always, it was quiet; Komachi had already gone to her cram school.

Ka-kun lay listlessly in the kotatsu, practically beckoning me to come over... even though I'd only just woken up. I shook my head as if trying to banish the wicked thought from my mind, only to meet his gaze as he looked up in front of me.

It's a look of disdain... Okay, okay, please stop looking...

I went to the kitchen, boiled the miso soup my mom had left over from morning, and took a sip. Ah, it was so delicious…

With a heart full of praise for maternal love, I heated up the salad and braised meat that were left in the refrigerator.

"I'm gonna start now."

Even though no one was around, I clasped my hands together, silently thanking the family for lunch. I casually placed the plate in the sink and went back to the living room to watch the cartoon I'd recorded a few days ago. As if it had heard something, Ka-kun twitched its ears and slowly waddled onto my lap. I gently placed my right fingers on its back, and in no time, it curled up in my arms and fell asleep. There's really nothing better than watching cartoons with a cat after a good meal… I exclaimed.

Act Two

"Um--"

I stretched, opened my eyes, and realized I'd fallen asleep again? Typical me… Um, wait… the TV… the TV… the TV was still on, playing the usual New Year's promotional ads.

"Ah—uh-hmm"

"Meow----"

I yawned again, but I wasn't the only one. I glanced at Card, who was staring at me innocently with wide eyes. Oh well, I yawned too.

I've decided, I'll cuddle with the cat a little longer.

A sound of a lock being opened came from the other side of the door. Ka Jun pricked up his ears and just then saw his mother rubbing her eyes as she walked in.

"Still at home?"

My mother's suspicious gaze shot towards me from behind her glasses.

"And you?" I didn't answer her.

"I worked overtime yesterday, so I got half a day off in lieu of a day off."

"so."

Being a corporate slave is tough; getting half a day off is a once-in-a-lifetime treat. But it's thanks to my parents' sacrifices that I can relax at home while cuddling my cat.

Thank you, Dad, Mom. I felt grateful in my heart.

As my mom took off her coat and put on her slippers, just as she was about to go inside, she suddenly turned around and called out to me:

"Hachiman?"

"Ok?"

"Um... I'm back late, so you can decide what to have for dinner yourself."

“Yes, sir,” I replied, mimicking a Hong Kong police officer. After saying that, I couldn't help but chuckle to myself.

Mom paused for a moment, stretched, and walked away. No… that would make me so embarrassed. Wouldn't that just give Komachi another reason to laugh at me next time?

"mom?"

"What's wrong?" Mom turned around and looked at me with a puzzled expression.

"Um... could you give me some money?"

My mom looked at me speechlessly, and after a while she took out a thousand-yuan bill and put it on the board next to her.

"What about Komachi?" I suddenly remembered and asked.

I made her a bento box this morning, and I made one for you too.

"For me...? Um... I just finished eating, it was quite delicious."

"I knew it! When are you boys finally going to start living a regular life?"

My mom muttered a few words under her breath. "You worry too much... What if you spoil your grandson like this in the future... Well, I only said those things to myself."

I respectfully accepted the gift from my mother, and was just about to go back to the kotatsu and lie down with Ka-kun when my mother spoke again:

"Um... as the older brother, I should take care of my younger sister. Komachi is still preparing for her exams, so don't let her become lazy too."

"Hmm... okay."

The only time I'll quietly respond is when they call me "brother." It was the same when I was little; if I did something wrong, my parents wouldn't scold me directly, but would gently call me "brother." I used to always retort, "I'm not Mom and Dad's brother!" But now, I'm all grown up, and I'll just let those things be.

I nodded. My mother smiled, as if she had received some kind of reassurance.

"But if she gets accepted, you can take her wherever you want."

"Even without me, Komachi would probably still run off to play a lot..."

My mother nodded as if she had heard some truth, then suddenly sighed.

"Yes... but the way you talk is exactly like your dad's."

"Forehead……"

I don't want to become a corporate slave like my dad; just thinking about it sends chills down my spine. Please, Mom, stop talking about it.

My mom has her own things to do, so I won't bother her.

I've changed into my outdoor gear. Where to go? Maybe just wander around aimlessly, consider it exercise. Speaking of which, I have a nickname, "the homebody"... well, even though it's a joke, I'm just a little uncomfortable going out with other people. I go out for casual strolls by myself quite often, like this.

Although winter break isn't long, it's enough time to have some fun. Just wander around the city, have dinner, and maybe catch a movie to kill some time.

I subconsciously walked to Chiba Station. If I take the next train, I should be able to get to the movie theater in the city center. Hayama took me and a few of Orimoto's friends there last time, and to be honest, the memories were... well, let's just say they were hard to describe... Maybe I should just skip it.

I picked up my phone and searched for the nearest cinemas and shopping streets. They're easy to get to by bicycle, but riding a bicycle in this weather is really...

Never mind. The bus stop has heating, I'll take the bus.

The train arrived at the station, and a sudden sea breeze made me shiver as I got off. I wrapped my scarf tighter around myself, hunched over, and hurried forward.

"Are there really this many people during the holidays...?"

I was jostled around by the crowd, finally finding a place to rest. I exhaled a puff of white breath and looked up at the surrounding people. This was the same place I visited with Totsuka last time. When should we meet up again? If I ever get rich, I'll buy this movie theater, rename it "Cinema Aya," and turn it into a sanctuary. I bet I'll make a fortune...

The first floor is the arcade. Ignoring the cacophony of arcade games and children's shouts, I hurried up to the second floor. Which one should I watch...? Hey, there's a magical girl anime here, I really want to watch it... The standee is super cute too... No, it's too embarrassing for a high school boy to stare at a magical girl standee with a perverted look, isn't it? I still have some self-respect. This time, I'll watch that Hollywood sci-fi blockbuster next door first—

I'll wait until the DVD of Magical Girl comes out before buying it to watch.

Holding the ticket I just got, I walked out of the counter, satisfied. There was still a little time left, what should I do…? Unconsciously, I tapped the table with one end of the cardboard ticket. I guess I'll go back to the arcade downstairs…

After making the decision and going downstairs, a familiar voice came from the side:

"Ah, Little Enterprise! Over here, over here, ya hello!"

"Ah, um... hi."

Knee-high suede boots paired with a knitted skirt billowed quickly in front of me. The skirt wasn't long, leaving a gap between the hem and the boots. Was it too hot? She took off her beige coat, folding it and holding it in her hand. Her hair was tied up in a bun as usual, swaying back and forth. Yui Yuigahama took small steps to stand in front of me, tilting her head and asking:

"It's surprising to see you here."

"Just came out for a stroll."

"But why are you..." I was about to ask her when I saw the answer: standing there was a girl frowning as she examined a photograph in her hand. Okay, I understand.

"Yuihama-san, your skin is ridiculously white... and my eyes aren't that big, are they?!"

Yukino Yukinoshita wore black leggings, dark black ankle boots, and a high-waisted pleated skirt. Her hair was casually draped over her white coat, with a pink curl loosely tied at the roots. Just standing there, she exuded natural elegance.

However, she is now standing next to Yui Yuigahama, pointing out the excessive photoshopping in the photos one by one in a low voice.

"Xiaoxue, Xiaoxue!" Yuihama tugged at the hem of her clothes under the snow and pointed at me with her other hand: "Look, look! It's Xiaoqi! A wild Xiaoqi!"

Huh? This is like seeing some rare animal while visiting a zoo. What? Am I a good friend of humans in the zoo?

"Oh, good evening, Hachiman-kun."

Yukinoshita concealed the slight panic on her face, calmly hiding the photo behind her back. This thing looks like a photo booth? I didn't expect that even with smartphones so advanced, there are still so many people playing with photo booths.

“Game center?” I asked.

"Yeah, we even took some photo booth pictures together." Yui took out her handbag, unzipped it, and seemed to be taking something out.

"We just took a picture together." Yukinoshita's voice was perfectly calm, but her other hand was already firmly gripping the bag that Yuihama had opened.

"No... there's no need to be so serious..."