My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 439

"Are you only getting back now?"

I offered a dry greeting. To be honest, I couldn't think of anything better to say. The Minister of Revenue, sensing the atmosphere, silenced himself and asked:

"Yes. Even more so than penguins?"

"Yes... Oh, right. Hayama, do you have time now?"

As I spoke, I glanced at Ye Shan.

I tried my best to make it seem like we bumped into each other by chance, and that I wanted to talk to Hayama about something. But—I have to admit, my acting was really bad. Luckily, I don't usually talk to people much, so the other members didn't notice anything strange. But Hayama was different.

Although he initially showed a strange expression, he quickly shook his head and put on his usual smile.

Yes, as expected.

Hayama—a man admired by many, a popular guy, a talkative and outgoing person. From a third-person perspective, nothing seems amiss.

However, Hayama knew what I wanted to do.

I rarely communicate with him; our relationship isn't very good, and I certainly wouldn't go home with him. Our relationship isn't close enough for us to casually meet up anywhere. The only time we cross paths is usually when I have some trouble to discuss… and he definitely knows that.

"Yes, the Ministry of Revenue. See you tomorrow then..."

"Oh, oh. See you tomorrow."

Hayama looked at the Ministry of Revenue, who nodded. Then, the rest of the soccer club members left the area, joking around.

After watching the Ministry of Revenue and the others leave, Hayama turned his gaze back to me. He looked back at me, nodded his chin, and gestured for us to head towards the bicycle shed. I agreed, and we walked there together in silence.

Most students had already gone home, and the parking lot was deserted. On the way home, you could see other members of the club, or scattered members. The road home was filled with noisy conversations, leaving only silence behind. When the wind blew, the iron roof creaked, and the neglected rust on the bicycles rattled as they swayed.

The bicycle tires screeched as I unlocked it. Hayama was beside me, doing nothing special, just standing there waiting for me.

Where's your bicycle?

"I came by tram."

Ah, I understand.

So you came all this way just to wait for me? Why are you being so gentle? And how did you know I ride a bicycle to school? This feels so creepy...

"So, what's the next step?"

Ye Shan asked.

Well, after all, it was me who extended the invitation. "What to do next" should be my decision, shouldn't it?

"Anyway, let's find a place first."

The topic I'm about to discuss is one I don't want anyone to hear; it's too attention-grabbing. However, standing in the bike shed all the time isn't a good solution either. And also, my house or Hayama's house… absolutely not…

"That's true, anyway..."

We don't have any clue yet, but let's get started.

Ye Shan answered, turning to face the school entrance. I did the same, pushing my bicycle.

Footsteps and the rustling of bicycle wheels echoed through the quiet campus. The school, noisy as a zoo during the day, was now utterly silent. A little awkward…

While the initial silence was partly due to that, the main issue is the composition. I was the one who needed to speak with Hayama, yet I was riding my bike while forcing him to walk – isn't that awkward? Shouldn't I be pushing the bike in a situation like this? Or should we agree on a meeting point, disperse, and then meet again? Someone please tell me! Hmm, what should I do? Is it illogical for me to be pushing my bike at a time like this…?

It would be better to arrange a place to meet there...

Ugh, this is so frustrating... Zhihu or Baidu, please give me an answer quickly! Ahhh, I've decided! Google! Give me an answer now!

After thinking about it for a long time, I finally came up with an answer.

I coughed twice on purpose and said to Ye Shan, who was walking ahead of me.

"...Ah, shall I sit down?"

"Eh?"

Hayama turned around, his eyes wide, looking as if he hadn't heard clearly. Was it drowned out by the wind...?

Is this guy the oblivious protagonist? Don't ask me again, don't you feel embarrassed... or is it a sophisticated way to refuse by pretending not to hear? After being rejected like that, how could you have the courage to say it again? Don't underestimate a girl's heart, it's easily hurt.

After venting my frustrations, I sighed deeply and patted the counter. I asked again… "Go for it, Hachiman, take courage!"

"...So, I'm asking if you want to sit in the back."

"Huh? What? Did I hear that right?"

Ye Shan said with a smile.

"Then you won't be polite!"

"Oh……"

So I got on the bicycle, and then Yeshan sat on the platform, and the bike slowly sank down. Just as I was about to start pedaling, thud! A hand landed on my shoulder.

That startled me!

"Hey, what are you doing..."

I turned around timidly and found Ye Shan tilting his head, looking at his own hands and my shoulder.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was just maintaining my balance..."

So Ye Shan let go, shifted his weight backward, and grabbed the iron frame of the cargo platform.

Well, this is probably how two people ride a bicycle. One way is to hold onto the shoulder, waist, or chest of the person in front... The other way is like Hayama's, where the weight is on the back and the hands are on the rack.

By the way, Komachi is the type who puts her weight forward, and she was just casually hugging my waist! So cute!

Anyway, everything's ready, so let's get going. With one foot on the footrest, I asked Hayama.

"Can we go now?"

"It will be all right."

I pedaled hard, and the bicycle lurched forward. But perhaps because of its weight, the handlebars were a bit uncontrollable, and the bike wobbled and snaked.

It's so hard for guys to ride tandem bikes... I've only ever ridden with Komachi. Komachi is so light... so cute, Komachi...

Compared to him, how unlovable is the boy sitting here now?

"Um... how about we switch?"

I turned to look at the owner of the voice, and Hayama looked at me with a wry smile.

"No need, it's alright."

He refused outright. Boys, after all, have their pride!

Thanks to my persistence—or rather, habit—the speed gradually picked up and the vehicle stabilized in no time.

The land around the school is all reclaimed land, straight and flat, making it quite convenient to ride a bike.

It was a bit windy, but thankfully I was exercising, so I didn't really feel it. After riding smoothly for a while, Hayama poked my back. I said, "Could you stop doing that? I'm getting goosebumps..."

"Is there a problem?"

The sound reached my ears over my shoulder, but I didn't turn around and continued pedaling my bicycle in silence.

"Where are we going?"

Right, I've been moving forward aimlessly, so I'll just pick a place I frequent—there aren't many options left for me to go directly to these days.

"Well, Salia, I guess."

"You really do like Salia, huh?"

Ye Shan asked, somewhat surprised. "What's wrong? Is Salia not good enough?" The thought slipped out of his mouth:

"What, is that not allowed? I can still afford coffee."

"Isn't Saizeriya's beverage counter self-service?"

You actually knew that?

...Could it be that this guy also likes Salia?

Act IV

I bought two cans of coffee from a vending machine on the highway.

A quick glance at the highway revealed the car's taillights. The orange taillights, combined with the streetlights, made the night as bright as day.

The two cans of coffee were so hot that I kept switching them between my hands on the way to the park, which wasn't far from the main road. Perhaps because I had seen the bright streetlights before, the park now looked very dark.

The night was dimly lit by the dilapidated streetlights. Occasionally, the lights would creak and groan. The unreliable, flickering blue-white light illuminated two benches placed side by side.

Lin Shan sat on a bench, his posture suggesting he was looking up at something.

What are those eyes watching...? But the only things that stand out in the vicinity are probably Saizeriya's buildings, highways, and viaducts. Compared to the rows of houses, restaurants, and high-rise buildings, the park is overly quiet, like a recovery zone after an earthquake.

Thanks to these buildings, the cold wind was kept out.

I really want to go to Saizeriya, but some students from our school have already parked their bikes in the Saizeriya parking lot. The school gave each student different colored stickers to stick on our bikes when we ride to school. The stickers are placed in easily identifiable places on the bikes, but you'll know immediately if someone is a student from our school.

Besides, we don't really want anyone to hear what we're saying. Aside from Salia, this park is a more suitable place. Chatting in this open space makes it easy to spot who's nearby—for a private conversation, a place with an open view and unobstructed access is better.

As I approached the bench, Hayama immediately noticed me.

He raised his hand and made a slight gesture to let me confirm my location. I tossed the coffee can to that hand, and Hayama caught it with ease.

After confirming that he had indeed caught it, I sat down on another bench. Holding the can of coffee tightly to warm my hand, I took a sip.

Ye Shan gripped the can tightly for a moment, then pulled open the tab and drank it in small sips.

Then, he sighed softly and opened his mouth to speak.

"...Is what you want to talk about that rumor?"

Well, yeah.

In response to my brief answer, Hayama said quietly, "Is that so?" with a wry smile.

"That rumor must have caused Yui and Yukinoshita a lot of trouble. I'm sorry, could you please apologize for me?"

"Go and say it yourself..."

"I'd like to, but getting close to them right now is a bit... Just that alone might make the rumors even more complicated. We just have to leave those things alone..."

This helpless statement is clearly not the first time I've encountered it. It's like reciting a lesson learned in the past.

This statement seems very similar to her description of self-defense methods.

"Well, that's true..."

If I were in their shoes, I probably would have done the same.

Trying too hard to explain will only make people feel that "explaining is just covering up".

It's ridiculous. In that case, the least costly thing is to do nothing and wait for others to get tired of it.

But this isn't the best solution either—the pain and distress won't disappear.

As long as rumors spread, they continue to cause harm. The pressure must be immense when so many people are discussing them.

"Leave it alone" is easier said than done. Where do you really stand by and do nothing when your rumors spread? It's human nature to love a good show; so many busybodies are spreading things that don't even need to be known to be true.

To prevent the various consequences that rumors might cause, the most complete form of self-defense is to sever all connections. However, virtually no one can actually do this. Do you think you're Buddha?

Yukinoshita has been confronting those things for a long time. Yuihama is being entangled because of her wide circle of friends.

As I was thinking, I realized that I was gripping the soda can tightly, and upon closer inspection, my palms were turning red.

"sorry"

Hayama suddenly spoke. But right now, he had no reason to apologize, did he?

I looked at him curiously.

There's not much I can do.

Ye Shan smiled slightly, his eyebrows drooping slightly under the light, revealing an apologetic expression.

However, contrary to his expression, the hand holding the can of coffee was trembling slightly, which certainly wasn't because of the cold wind.

What Hayama said was basically as expected. I didn't intend to blame him for that.

However, even so.

"Ah, I know, but we can't do that. There are different situations here too..."

I turned around, and Ye Shan squinted at me: