My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 425

The restless eyes now turned to the person sitting at our table. Yui looked over with slight unease, a hint of gray in her eyes.

Unlike Yuihama, Yukinoshita Haruno looked at us with a bright smile.

"It seems like it's been a long time since I've seen Hibina—"

As she spoke, Ms. Yang naturally moved to our table. In response, Hayama sighed softly, picked up the bill, and sat down next to me.

"It's been so long since I've seen Hirama and Hachiman together..."

"Yes, what a coincidence..."

"It was the same last time... right?"

"Uh-huh……"

The two seemed to be having a lively conversation, yet it was as if they were hiding something incredibly serious. The more I listened, the more cold sweat seemed to pour uncontrollably down my back. I stole a glance at Yang Nai, wanting to see her expression—

She noticed it.

It slowly narrowed its eyes, like a predator spotting its prey.

Now I don't even dare to break out in a cold sweat.

……

I managed a slight smile and looked at Hayama Hayato, who was also giving me a sheepish grin.

Then, continuing the topic that Yang Nai had brought up, he smiled and carefully gave an affirmative answer, saying that he would be the original, everyone's, Hayama Hayato.

It's so great to be someone who can read the room.

So, I'll do something too? Like folding tissues into flowers or little boats to decorate them—

"This is a date, isn't it—you guys are still so close—. Isn't Yukino with you?"

Yukinoshita playfully nudged Yuihama's waist with her elbow and looked towards the store entrance.

"Ah, we're out today to buy a gift for Xiaoxue."

"Ah—, her birthday is coming soon...I see."

Ms. Yang nodded and listened to Yuihama's words, then suddenly took out her phone and pressed the dial button.

Seeing her do this, Ye Shan approached her and spoke.

"...She probably won't come, right?"

"No, she will come out today."

Ms. Yang had a confident smile on her face.

I have no idea what she was thinking with her eyes half-closed.

But now she has a different expression:

"Answer the phone, Yukino... If you don't answer, your older sister will be really sad..."

She pretended to cry as if she were being coquettish.

Didn't answer.

Redial.

Yuihama timidly passed her eyes back and forth among the group.

Ye Shan looked at the two of us and explained with a smile:

"Our two families have had a good relationship for a long time... We're having a meal together after the New Year. I'm just accompanying them."

"That's it..."

"It gets much better once you get used to it."

Hayama is right.

The skills of communicating with others, or rather, the ability to prevent others from feeling annoyed.

The more you experience, the better, right? Even someone like Hayama will definitely continue to improve with more experience.

The school's prestige and parents' recommendations—Hayama had many such opportunities.

He and I are completely different.

Even at school, I don't often communicate with people. My relationship with my family is just so-so, and my relationship with my relatives is a complete mess.

Like Ye Shan, "the relationship between our two families' parents,"

That's what makes it feel novel to me.

"that……"

As soon as I opened my mouth, I felt it was inappropriate.

How can I have a proper talk with you?

Ye Shan noticed my voice and looked over to show that he was listening.

I considered my words carefully, and then said:

"If you need anything, then—"

"Uh-huh"

Yui nodded, then nervously touched her bun hair.

"That's not true; on the contrary, Yang Nai was bored, so your arrival is just in time."

Yang Nai held the phone in one hand and smiled at us. It seemed she had overheard what was just said.

Hayama nodded to her, then said to us:

"That's definitely true."

Her tone was soft yet firm, as if she wanted me to ask to stay.

But no.

"Wouldn't it be embarrassing if we accidentally ran into your parents?"

A reason has been given.

What is this? Were you trying to win me over? Meeting my parents after just one date? That's too presumptuous. At least wait a few more times before making any promises. Sorry.

Whew. The one-color hair clip is complete—though only in my mind.

I glanced over to see what Yang Nai was doing, and she returned my gaze with a languid look.

"No way."

Even if you say that, I still…

He was glared at by the narrowed eyes.

What?! Hayama and I aren't even close enough to meet each other's parents yet... Why do I have to go through all this? I'm still a child...

Yang Nai lay on the table with her limp hands folded together, looking at me with a bit of boredom.

Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, she regained her composure and began pressing her fingers back and forth on the screen.

The store wasn't too noisy, and the sound of the dial pad reached our ears clearly.

The second redial failed to connect.

The voicemail notification tone was cut off as soon as it started.

However, they dialed again.

Are you Hiratsuka-sensei? Why did you have to learn this trick? If it were me, I would have turned off the power long ago!

Haruno's eyes look like they've turned dark... Look, even the highlights are gone, lol.

"Oh?"

Yang let out a soft sound of surprise.

A weary voice came through the phone.

"Hello……"

I imagine Yukinoshita is answering the phone right now, with one hand supporting her temple.

It's really a headache.

Yang Nai's voice, however, was very full:

"Ah, Yukino? It's your older sister~. Shall we come out now?"

"……Bye."

"Wow, so fast!" Hearing this lightning-fast hang-up, Yui and Hayama chuckled wryly. But Ms. Haruno seemed used to this reaction, remaining unfazed and continuing in a joking tone:

"Huh—? Is it really okay for you to just die like this~"

"……what?"

Miss Yang Nai chuckled to herself:

Actually, I'm with Hachiman right now~

"You're making these silly jokes again... Stop it now."

"Come on, Bi, Qi, Gu, classmate~"

Miss Yang Nai shoved the phone into my hand without warning.

"Wait, oh no—"

I glanced at my phone and at Ms. Haruno, who had her hands hidden behind her back, feigning ignorance and seemingly having no intention of taking it. On the other end of the line, Yukinoshita was calling for Ms. Haruno. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to answer the phone.

"Oh, um... good morning?"

I didn't know what to say, so I'll just leave it at that. Then, I heard a heavy sigh from the other end of the phone.

"Oh well, I don't know what to do... Why are you there?"

I really want to ask that question too. I just came here to buy things... Why am I here?! Why am I here?! Wahahahaha—! It's because of the monsters, that's it. I did nothing wrong, it's the monsters' fault.

"Well, I just happened to be out and she caught me..."

I glared at the monster and tried to explain, but the person on the other end of the phone sighed as if to interrupt me.

"Okay. I'll be right there. You can let your sister pick you up."

“…Yes, sorry.”

Why should I apologize?

After wiping the screen with a face towel, I returned the phone to Ms. Haruno. She exchanged a few words with Yukino, told her the location, and then hung up.

"Oh, Yukino said she's coming over," Haruno said with a satisfied smile. But Yui and I didn't feel any joy in her voice. Although I knew Haruno was always like this, seeing her in person still made me feel a little uncomfortable.

Hayama chuckled dryly, probably thinking I was right. In the whole world, only a childhood friend and pushover like Hayama could tolerate Yang Nai's unreasonable behavior like this. Thinking about it more carefully, when did this weary smile begin? Perhaps he had long since given up trying to correct anything.

"What gifts did you buy instead of this?"

As she spoke, she put away her phone and moved closer to Yui, who was sitting on the same sofa. Yui shrank back and quickly showed her the bag.

"Uh... I bought indoor socks..."

"Yes, the wooden floor gets really cold right now. Socks are perfect for it."

"Well, yes~ Speaking of which, Xiaoxue's house has wooden floors all over, and it felt a bit cold when I went there before."

"I also get cold easily, so I understand perfectly well—"

Faced with such a girlish conversation, Hayama and I, two men, didn't have much to talk about, so we just listened attentively to what they were saying.

However, perhaps because Ye Shan was bored, he muttered:

"A birthday present..."

Then, he glanced at me.

"So what did you buy?"

“Look, this.” I pointed to the bag.

"Oh—" He simply responded, then listened to Ms. Haruno and Yuihama's conversation, occasionally chiming in. On Hayama's wristwatch, the second hand slowly ticked as he held the cup.