My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 420

Why are you speaking in such a halting manner...? But I'm starting to understand what Komachi is thinking.

We can't always rely on Komachi. We can't always use Komachi as a reason or excuse to decide our stance.

That's despicable.

"Komachi isn't going. Brother, you should think carefully about whether you're going or not... Understand?"

Really, they did something despicable. Speaking of which, what they just said to Yui Hama was also despicable.

I'm starting to really hate myself.

They actually used words like "others" and "everyone" as reasons.

Thinking about it, he sighed deeply—

"I understand. I'll think about it carefully."

"That's good." Komachi nodded in satisfaction. Actually, I understood without Komachi saying it; I'd just been avoiding it. Everyone has moments when they need to be serious. Right now, I can only reflect on my dishonest words from before. I gave Komachi a slight nod, picked up my still-connected phone, went back to my room, and sighed.

There's not much anyone can do, and that's especially true for me. What I must do, what I can do, and what I can't do—I probably can't even articulate these things clearly. But now, all I can do is take back what I just said.

Act III

My legs gradually grew cold.

Is it urging me to move around and warm up?

She walked faster and went into her room.

The call hadn't ended, and I hadn't replied. I let out a short sigh:

"……Hello"

She called out softly. Yuihama then replied, seemingly flustered:

"Hello? Yes, I'm here."

Hearing the response brought a sudden sense of relief. A while had passed; had I been waiting with the phone in my hand the whole time? Even though she couldn't see me, I unconsciously lowered my head, feeling apologetic.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting... Komachi said she couldn't go."

"Yes, I heard you."

Yuihama let out a slight laugh.

I was overheard. I feel so ashamed.

"So, Xiao Qi, what's next..."

Hearing this cautious question, I suddenly felt an itch in my ears.

It seems that even through radio waves, my weakness—my ears—will react.

Thankfully it wasn't a video call, otherwise my burning red ears would have been impossible to hide.

I coughed a few times on purpose to compose myself.

Then, be more careful than in the previous conversation. Don't lie or try to get away with it. Be as sincere as possible and say what you can say.

"I...I'll go no matter what. The rest is up to you."

"Eh, ah... um. Okay." Yuihama's reply seemed somewhat surprised and confused. Was it something she had said wrong? She quickly added:

"Well, I'm pretty free during winter break anyway, nothing much to do... I can arrange my time however I want."

"Ah, um... but what if other people's reservations conflict, those—"

I interrupted Yuihama, who was speaking with some doubt halfway through, saying, "If other people's schedules aren't right, there's nothing we can do... Anyway, I'll go with them."

...We really lost.

The reason is the same, as is the final agreement.

The words sounded like they were making a fuss over nothing.

If only they were a little smarter.

My whole body's sweat glands seemed to be open, and I was sweating slightly.

Why does it feel so tiring to say something without much preparation?

She sighed softly and noticed silence on the other end of the phone.

"..."

"...W-what happened?"

After being asked this, Yui Hama seemed to suddenly come to her senses and hurriedly replied:

"Ah. No, no, no, no!"

Yuihama quickly cleared her throat, as if checking if she could still speak.

"So, we'll contact you via email about the meeting place later?"

"Oh, please."

That concludes what needed to be said.

It should all be over by now.

However, neither of them hung up the phone, and a somewhat noisy silence followed.

"..."

"..."

Even the sound of breathing in the surrounding area would attract attention. A short while later, Yui suddenly chuckled, "Hehehe."

"What's wrong now...?"

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry. I just felt something was really strange."

What's so strange about that? Thinking about it, I also find it a bit unbelievable. I should have hung up immediately after speaking, but I don't know why I didn't.

According to tradition, the person making the call should hang up first.

But they weren't in a relationship where they paid much attention to etiquette.

Thinking of this, he said:

"Okay, I'm hanging up now."

"Okay, goodbye."

Despite saying that, Yuihama remained silent on the other end of the line, showing no sign of hanging up.

"..."

Silence remained, only the sound of breathing could be heard, and an unconscious bitter smile appeared on his face:

"...No, just hang up already."

"Yes, yes..."

Yuihama, who answered like that, was probably smiling and patting her bun.

As he mentally conjured up this scene, the person on the other end of the phone seemed to suddenly realize something as well:

"Ah, how about we count to three, two, one, and then hang up?"

Is she still shy even though she was the one who suggested it? You can imagine the person on the other end of the phone laughing and trying to cover it up.

The moment I realized this, I suddenly felt a burning sensation in my neck.

"What? That means they're quitting? They're hanging up?"

"Ah, that—"

"Okay, I'm hanging up now, goodbye."

After saying that, he hung up the phone immediately.

He sighed and looked at the phone in his hand.

What were you doing just now...?

Recalling the conversation, I unconsciously started fidgeting on the bed, like I was practicing swimming. Then I realized that this action was in some ways no different from our playful conversation, and I suddenly felt incredibly ashamed.

After tossing and turning in bed for a while, she finally stopped, as if giving up. Then she let out a deep sigh.

A wave of fatigue and thirst washed over me, and I finally got up and went to the living room.

Act IV

Komachi saw my face and gave a satisfied hum.

"Is the matter of the shrine visit settled?"

"I guess so." I gave a vague answer, poured myself a glass of water, and drank it all in one gulp.

Komachi smiled smugly.

"Yes, yes~"

"I get annoyed by that meaningful look on your face, go away!"

"No, I was just thinking that my older brother isn't actually that stupid after all~"

I disagree. I could have answered that call much more calmly.

Komachi casually slid into the kotatsu, stood up as if handing it over to me for safekeeping, and casually twirled around.

"I need to think carefully about which shrine to visit~"

"Anything ordinary will do, something close to home or something," I replied casually. Komachi glanced at me as if I were trash.

"……Um?"

This reaction is quite subtle. Did I say something wrong?

"Then Komachi went somewhere else, okay?" Komachi quickly left the living room.

Ka and I looked at each other in bewilderment.

Ka-kun yawned, slowly stretched his limbs, and climbed into the kotatsu as if in a bad mood.

I also slipped inside, leaving only my head outside for some fresh air.

This year is almost over.

Unlike previous years, I have a feeling of panic at the end of this year and the beginning of the new year.

○No matter the time, Yukino Yukinoshita's internal clock never forgets its rules.

Nights are usually quiet and peaceful, but tonight the noise didn't stop even long after midnight. Through the train carriage window, I could see lit windows and silhouettes of people against the dim sky. It seemed the train was just as lively inside. The train, packed with luggage, passed several stations, and I squeezed through the revolving doors with the flow of people. Walking a short distance along the hillside, the outline of the torii gate of Inage Asama Shrine slowly came into view.

It's said that this huge torii gate near National Route 14 was once flooded—as mentioned by Chiba Kun on his official Twitter account, which is probably true. Perhaps a long time ago there was a large shrine here, like the Iwashima Shrine on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In other words, Inage Asama Shrine was originally qualified for inclusion on the list. At least that's what I think.

The shrine was incredibly crowded. It seemed I wasn't the only one who thought so; the throngs of people here proved the shrine was still going strong. As the crowd slowly made its way down the slope, a girl with light brown bun hair wandered around, searching for something. Suddenly, she looked at me, raised her hand high, and waved it:

"Hey little Qi, hello tonight!"

"What kind of greeting is that..." I muttered, facepalming.

Yuihama wore a black plaid lining, a beige coat, and a long scarf casually draped over her shoulders. Her blue gloves were neatly on, and she pointed to the icy beauty beside her in a white coat, plaid skirt, and thick tights. Yukinoshita glanced at me and nodded.

"Good evening"

"Hi," I said in greeting. A deep chime rang out among the bustling crowd, who all bowed their heads to check the time.

五，

Four,

three,

II.1.

Congratulations and cheers erupted from the crowd.

Some people jump up at the exact moment, then proudly tell those around them, "I'm not standing on Earth in the very first second of the new year, am I?"

What's the wind blowing if it hasn't even left the atmosphere? I watched speechlessly.

Unlike before, Yui turned around and said to me and Yukinoshita with shining eyes, "Happy New Year!!"

"Everyone says that's some kind of weird greeting... Happy New Year," I couldn't help but complain to her again.