My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 436

After quickly finishing the remaining stretching exercises, Cai Muzuo and I stood up and headed towards the starting line for the long-distance run. A lot of boys had already gathered there, so we had to wait our turn at the back of the line.

The woodworker gave himself a thumbs-up.

"Hachiman, run a lap with me!"

"Never."

They're not girls, why are they running together?

Mr. Atsugi, holding a stopwatch, blew the starting whistle, and groups of people set off one after another. We followed behind and started running slowly.

Whether looking ahead or around, no one was running seriously. Well, in training, not many people would actually push themselves to the limit.

Besides, this is the fourth period, and then it's lunchtime. If I exhaust myself here, I'll have to spend the fifth period lying on my desk. But even if I'm not tired, I usually just fall asleep during class anyway.

They were only slightly slacking off as they followed the main group, but after just a few minutes, the timber saddle slowed down.

That's it?

You look like you're about to die...

"Ah... I only have my life left to burn..."

"Why don't you burn some fat first—"

After saying hello, I abandoned the lumber carrier and started running. Halfway through the race, I decisively betrayed my running partner—isn't that basic etiquette in long-distance running? Children must have learned not to easily trust others only through long-distance running, right?

Act Two

I ran alone, clattering along, and before I knew it, I'd covered more than half the distance. Wait, no, that's Hamtaro, isn't it?

The long-distance run in PE class is four kilometers, and we have to run laps around the perimeter of the school. Ugh... if we keep going like this, I'll melt into butter...

While running, I was thinking about all sorts of random things, and before long I caught up with the middle group. Perhaps because I ride my bicycle to and from school every day, I still have average physical strength.

However, although it was the middle of the main group, apart from a few people running at the very front and those who wanted to finish quickly and rest, most of them were still just slacking off. Overall, this group was located in the latter half of the main group.

And so I saw the group from the Ministry of Revenue.

Even if the athletes were running normally, they wouldn't have only run this far. You don't even need to ask; they must have been slacking off.

They chatted casually, sometimes tapping each other on the shoulder or bumping heads, occasionally sprinting for no apparent reason—watching the Hubu group playfully joking around like this was quite heartwarming. If I were the class monitor with the ponytail, I'd probably warn them, "Hey, boys, run properly!" and get yelled at back, "Shut up, ugly girl!" Then I'd probably burst into tears and complain to the teacher during assembly. They should really be grateful I'm not the ponytail-wearing class monitor.

However, all that could be seen were the three idiots, Tobe, Yamato, and Ooka, bickering and fighting, but Hayama was nowhere to be seen.

Hmm...that's fine too.

Before looking for Hayama, let's ask them first. It would be better if we could find out what Hayama is thinking recently through them.

The three idiots were having a samba carnival, playing and fooling around non-stop. I ran after them. But if I kept running like this, it would be hard to find a chance to talk to them. Oh no, I lied! Hachiman just lied to himself! Even if they all stopped, I still wouldn't find a chance!

There weren't any traffic lights ahead, so it was really hard to strike up a conversation... I could only observe them like a bomb rock when the Ministry of Revenue suddenly stopped.

"You guys go first!"

After greeting Ooka and the others, Tobe squatted down, apparently to tie his shoelaces.

Good, we've left behind the one who's easiest to talk to.

"Um……"

"Uh-oh!"

Startled by the voice speaking from behind, Tobu made a move like a defensive technique, falling to the ground, spinning halfway around, and then looking at me.

"What? It's Hitani-kun. You should have said something if you were here. You were really scary."

No, you said you were scared, but your actions just now were far too aggressive... Well, ignoring the complaints from the Ministry of Revenue, I cut to the chase—

"Isn't Hayama with you?"

"Ah—Hayato-kun is running seriously. He won the long-distance race last year, and we're really looking forward to it this year."

"Oh..."

Oh, I see. Our school's marathon only has a boys' and girls' division, which means Hayama beat even the older boys, so of course it's no surprise he won first place this year. By the way, last year I certainly wasn't at that level of ranking; I was just one of the other rabble.

Well, it doesn't matter how things turn out.

I gestured ahead with my chin and started running, urging Hubu to hurry up. Standing here would be suspicious; the teachers might come to patrol. As if in response, Hubu caught up with me and started running alongside me.

After running for a while, Hubu tilted his head, probably wondering why I was running with him. It was about time for me to get to the point.

However, the Minister of Revenue spoke first. After letting out a sigh of relief, he gave me an embarrassed smile.

"Oh dear, speaking of which, I was terrified when I heard that rumor—and I couldn't tell anyone!"

"Ah huh?"

I half-opened my eyes and looked at the Minister of Revenue with a "what are you talking about?" look. He wiped the sweat from his brow and said:

"Because Hayato-kun said something before, Initial Y, right? And not many people know about that—"

"..."

I was a beat slow to react to the sudden topic. However, as several elements came together, a clear image quickly appeared in my mind.

On that summer night.

In the dim light, Hayama was relentlessly asked if he had anyone he liked, and finally, unable to resist, he blurted out the first letter.

He recalled that moment with them in Chiba Village. Back then, he did say that the initial of the person he liked was Y.

Just as I was lost in thought and my steps became unconscious, the Ministry of Revenue peeked over as if he were spying on me.

"We can't tell everyone about this now, can we?"

"Oh, oh oh..."

You just had a good talk, didn't you? Is this guy the king's personal barber or something? But I'm not some kind of confidant...

"Well, even knowing it's impossible, it's still a bit scary for us to hear this rumor."

I gradually grasped what the Ministry of Revenue wanted to say.

"...Well, that's impossible."

I agreed, but I was a little worried that I might not have been talking about the same thing. No, it doesn't matter; I wanted to ask about something else.

Now is the perfect opportunity to ask the Ministry of Revenue about what Ye Shan is thinking and how he is dealing with things.

"Hayama... how are you now? After that rumor spread..."

"How is it... do you feel there's been no change?"

The Ministry of Revenue shook its head. Although we were running very slowly, the way we were shaking our heads while running made us look like some kind of dilapidated robot, about to collapse at any moment.

He pondered for a moment, then suddenly seemed to remember something, clapped his hands, and said:

"If I had to say, well... compared to what has changed in Hayama, the surrounding area has changed more."

"what?"

"It's a bit unlike his style for the Minister of Revenue to speak so seriously," I replied, somewhat surprised.

As expected, the Ministry of Revenue is the Ministry of Revenue. Even such serious words sound a bit strange... But even so, the Ministry of Revenue will always be the Ministry of Revenue.

If he spoke like this normally, without adding filler words like "bei—", "wase—", or "oh—", this unique Ministry of Revenue feel would actually disappear.

However, the Ministry of Revenue's next words were not as loud and quirky as usual.

"Well, although Hayato is still the same as always, Yumiko seems to care a lot, right? So everyone's been being extra careful, right? And Hayato seems to have caught on to the tension, so... well, things are kind of... well. It's really a deflationary spiral..."

"Ah, well, that's true..."

Although I was still very serious until the middle, in the end it was still the Ministry of Revenue. Speaking of which, the deflationary spiral probably refers to the situation where everyone is not speaking up, so things are getting worse and worse... But this is an economic term, not a vicious cycle, is it?

However, it seems the negative chain reaction is indeed continuing.

It's really hard to imagine what Hayama and the others are going through...

The Minister of Revenue sighed deeply, as if considering the needs of others.

For me, it's just someone else's problem. But for him, it's a real and tangled mess of trouble.

It's gotten to the point where they're willing to just grab anyone and pour out their grievances.

Although I am not a member of the "normie class," perhaps because of my tiny, insignificant involvement, Hobe chose to confide in me.

Worries piled up, creeping in like water, gradually submerging the body. Like a parrot, Tobu scratched his head, tugged at his hair, and sighed deeply.

"And Yui is also—"

"Well, Yuihama is quite sensitive to the atmosphere, isn't she?"

No, no, not that one.

No? Then what are you talking about?

The Ministry of Revenue waved his own hand:

"She's actually quite popular, so there's a lot of noise and commotion around her..."

"...Is that so?"

For a moment, he stopped breathing.

But there's nothing surprising about it. I already knew Yuigahama was popular. It happened during the last sports meet preparations; several boys asked her out to hang out.

So what's surprising isn't the fact that she's popular. It's something else.

It was probably the same feeling I had when I heard that ridiculous rumor. The unpleasant sensation of a green-eyed monster writhing inside me. And these monsters were incredibly stubborn.

Hmm... Usually, in situations like this, all you need to do is strike an ahegao pose and make a double V sign!

I had no choice but to keep running. So I quickened my pace—

The Ministry of Revenue thought this was some kind of unique signal and accelerated its efforts accordingly.

"Ah, wait a minute, it's Penguin-kun!"

This scene of someone chasing after you and calling your name feels so much like a reunion of close comrades... Stop calling me! I'm almost starting to consider you a friend!

"By the way, how does it compare to Penguin?"

"What? I don't understand what you mean."

To this unexpected question, I gave a rather bland and simple response. The Minister of Revenue, with a subtly gentle smile, patted my shoulder… Ugh, so annoying.

"Oh, don't pretend. I know everything. It's okay. Well, are all club activities together? There are many... Huh? Yukinoshita is in a club too? Huh? Yui? Ah, no, Yukinoshita? Hmm..."

The Minister of Revenue tilted his head in confusion. "Is there some kind of secret hanging on your head?"

"Yes, it's just like any other club."

Before he says anything superfluous, let's use his original words.

The Ministry of Revenue looked surprised.

"Huh, that's all? Really?"

"Aren't you the same? You're in the same club as Isshiki, but you don't have anything to show for it."

After listening, the Minister of Revenue clapped his hands, struck a pose like a pop star, and pointed at me with both index fingers. ...Ugh, so annoying.

"Yeah! That's right! I get it now! Penguin isn't Negotiast, is he?"

Negotiator... Why is this guy's Japanese and English so strange?

"However, there are also cases like Isshiki who are extremely proactive in the club."

"what……"

For some reason, I suddenly remembered Christmas Day.

Perhaps Isshiki's actions back then have had a significant impact on Hayama's current existence.

Just as he was thinking this, the Ministry of Revenue next to him suddenly fell silent.

"Oh, I'm sorry, what happened earlier doesn't count. We shouldn't have brought that up..."

"...That's quite unexpected."

The Minister of Revenue looked distressed and turned to the other side. This apology was probably for someone who wasn't even there.

Unlike usual, he seemed very sincere.

"Isshiki, you're very serious... Hayato probably thought about it carefully before answering."