My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 429

"...Sister...what happened so suddenly?"

Yukino wouldn't refuse a gift from family without a reason; a slight look of doubt flickered across her face, her eyes darting around uncomfortably. Yui leaned closer, suddenly covering her slightly surprised mouth with both hands, but her eyes gleamed brightly:

"Ah! It's from that store! That one! Wow, it's so cute!"

"Oh right, Hibina~ Buying cute clothes for your adorable little sister, can you feel your older sister's love~"

After hearing their words, Yukino lowered her head slightly and carefully examined the gift.

"Ai...well...yes, she's actually quite cute."

She nodded slightly. It seems she really likes it.

Yukinoshita placed the gift neatly on her lap, then said to Hinano:

"Thank you, sister."

"As long as Yukino is happy."

Yang Nai tilted her head proudly at Yukinoshita, whose face had turned red.

What's going on?! You've turned the whole cafe into a pink paradise!

If you guys were always like this, we wouldn't have to work so hard...

Ye Shan, as if he had encountered some rare and beautiful scenery, rested his hands on his hips and gazed at it silently.

The smile on his face finally seemed genuine, as if it came from the bottom of his heart, and his gaze was gentler than usual.

Suddenly he seemed to remember something and looked at his phone—

"Time is up."

Hayama whispered a reminder to Hinata.

"Hmm? We've arrived?" Yang Nai raised her left arm, revealing her wrist, which looked as if it had been washed, with the clock hand attached to it by a silver chain ticking away.

It seems the time I arranged with the parents has arrived.

Let's wait until next time to meet Hayama's parents.

"...Then, farewell."

"My apologies!"

Yui bowed slightly, and I gave a slight bow in return before leaving my seat. Hayama said "Goodbye" to me, while Ms. Haruno smiled and waved.

"what--"

A sound leaked out from beneath the snow, only to be abruptly cut off.

The three of us looked at her with some surprise, but Yang Nai asked with great interest:

"So what is Yukino planning to do?"

"You mean...?"

"About the get-together. Are you coming or not? I've finished what I needed to do, so it's up to you."

So all those phone calls were mainly about this, like sending a gift or something... just a side thing?

Yukino looked at me and Yuihama hesitantly.

"what……"

Yui touched her own dango hair, her puzzled expression lasting for a moment before vanishing in an instant.

"It's okay!"

"Anyway, I'm planning to go home anyway," I added.

"Oh……"

Yukino smiled, looking somewhat bewildered, and lowered her eyes slightly.

"correct!"

Yui suddenly pulled the gift bag out of her hand and stuffed it into Yukinoshita's hand:

"It's a bit early, but—Happy Birthday! Early, okay?"

In that case, I guess I'm the same way.

"My gift too... Anyway, happy birthday."

"—Yes, thank you."

Yukinoshita hugged the gift bag to her chest with both hands.

He smiled sincerely.

Yuihama was also chuckling beside him.

"How about we prepare a cake and celebrate again at school? Let's do it together!"

Yuigahama suggested.

How could I refuse?

"See you at school." I raised my hand.

Yukinoshita heard a chuckle that sounded like a joke.

Perhaps a farewell like Yui's is what makes it formal? Yukinoshita gently raises her hand:

"See you at school then."

"Bye!" Yuihama nodded and waved.

"Goodbye, Hibina~" Haruno stood up and smiled faintly.

Hayama also waved goodbye to us.

After saying goodbye, we pushed open the coffee shop door and headed towards the elevator.

There aren't many people now.

Only the sound of footsteps broke the silence:

"Little Qi, should we give Xiaoxue a chocolate cake or a frosting cake for her birthday?"

"Whatever..."

Yui puffed out her cheeks and snorted slightly angrily through her nose.

"Put a little effort into it, little Qi... Ah! How about making it in half and half?"

"No, did you think it was a mixed pizza?" I complained helplessly.

Besides, can a few people even finish a custom-made cake...? Oh well, if it's delicious, it's not like we can't finish it...

Indeed, I should look at something before going back.

Thinking this, we walked to the elevator. We raised our hands, ready to—

There are two triangular buttons, one facing up and one facing down.

You can only press one button.

The outstretched hand suddenly stopped.

To choose,

Choose the right path to where you need to go.

only one.

Therefore, I pressed that button.

Of course, Isshiki Hatake is completely unafraid of landmines.

The hectic feeling of the last few days before the Lunar New Year had completely dissipated after three or four days.

The parents, who should have been idle, immediately became busy with their lives after starting work, and Komachi finally switched to serious study mode.

So now, it's just me and Kamakura at home with nothing to do, lazily passing the time.

However, a steady pace of time doesn't necessarily mean a calm mind. The more idle the time, the more restless one becomes. When busy, because the mind and body are focused on the task at hand, one doesn't dwell on other things. But when idle, one starts to think aimlessly about the future. And then, one's mood naturally sinks. Ah—I really don't want to go to school or work…

Especially during the short winter break, it's easy for this kind of thought to take over.

Time with nothing to do and no need to do anything makes one think of the approaching end. Gentle times never last long—a fact we all know all too well.

Because the end of the holiday is a tangible reality, and continuing to fool around and waste time will only place a heavy burden on one's mind. Is this the feeling that a NEET who lives off his parents feels when he inadvertently notices his parents getting old...? I pondered this question while patting the cat's belly in the kotatsu.

However, those who can overcome that mental burden are the true strongmen and the true unemployed.

The only people who would say "It's about time to get serious" when forced into a corner are the unemployed and light novel authors. Therefore, we can conclude that the unemployed = light novel author. QED proof complete. Or could it be considered the Bonds of Reasoning in Spirial?

School life begins again today.

Even so, probably because my life rhythm has been thrown into chaos, I still had a messy morning.

While washing my face, I glanced in the mirror and roughly smoothed down the stray hairs that were sticking up. The morning chill and the temperature of the water instantly dispelled any sleepiness.

Well... I'm full of energy today too, aren't I?

Act Two

The winter break ended, and the classrooms were in a chaotic atmosphere as the new semester began.

The students, exchanging greetings like "Long time no see!" and "Happy New Year!", seemed a little restless. They probably had a lot to say during the winter break. Everyone was making a racket, more energetic than usual. Or perhaps it was the special atmosphere of reunion, the New Year, and the new semester that had lifted their spirits.

Perhaps they hadn't finished talking, as many students remained in the classroom. Among them, the ever-conspicuous group centered around Hayato Hayama and Yumiko Miura stood out as always.

As usual, Tobe Ooka Yamato acted silly, while Hayama sat by the window, propping his chin on his hand and gazing out the window. Occasionally, as if suddenly remembering something, he would casually respond to the three of them, a smile appearing on his face.

Meanwhile, Miura and the others seemed to be discussing something else. Hmm, girls really do have other things to talk about.

However, Miura impatiently twirled his hair with his fingers.

Stop it, you guys are scaring the guys half to death...

Ooka probably wanted to break the awkward silence, and as if he had thought of something, he opened his mouth with an "Ah—" and started talking to Hayama.

"By the way, Hayato, are you really dating Yukinoshita?"

"what?"

Led by Miura, everyone present gaped in astonishment. I probably did too. What was Ooka saying all of a sudden? This can't be possible, I think... impossible, right? Impossible, isn't it...?

The ball, thrown from an unexpected place, seemed to freeze time for everyone. Of course, time would continue to flow.

"Haa ...

With a clattering sound from the chair, Miura stood up.

The students, who had been talking noisily, all turned to look at what was happening. The classroom fell silent.

"No, no, it's Hayato-kun's fault..." Yui waved her hand hastily. As always, she handled the sensitive atmosphere very quickly.

Ebina nodded, making "uh-huh" sounds.

"However, what I heard was..."

Unexpectedly, the usually composed Yamato spoke up. However, he quickly shut his mouth and didn't say anything more, only looking at Yuihama.

The students' eyes followed Yuihama.

“Eh…eh?!”

Yui looked around, somewhat bewildered, then clasped her hands together and hugged them to her chest.

She stared at herself, eyes wide, and I probably did too. What did Yamato suddenly say again…? How could that be? Even so, but…nothing, right? Nothing, right…nothing, right?

"Eh? Yui...?"

Miura asked, puzzled, but perhaps because she didn't have enough air in her lungs, she just moved her mouth open and closed like a fish.

"Uh...uh...no, I am...oh no, anyway, no!"

"Yes, there really isn't any."

Hayama spoke calmly.

Everyone looked at him again, afraid of missing even a single word.

"Who said such irresponsible things?"