My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 451

"Although there are many things I need to apologize for... Yui, thank you."

Face to face, she gently patted Yuihama on the shoulder, then just turned her head and glanced at me.

"Ah—Hachiman too."

What a perfunctory job... It feels like just a casual mention, and who is this guy anyway? Oh well, whatever.

"And... Yukinoshita-san? Also... well, you know..."

After shifting his gaze from me, Miura turned directly to Yukinoshita. After some hesitation and stammering, he finally seemed to have made up his mind and stared directly at Yukinoshita.

"sorry."

Miura suddenly lowered his head sharply. Yukinoshita blinked as if stunned, then gently smiled and exhaled. Her small, gloved hand brushed aside her long, black hair that fell to her shoulder.

"I didn't care. Rather, I admire your courage to barge in and raise your fist to hit someone."

"Ha, what's with that condescending attitude of yours? It's infuriating... I really shouldn't have apologized to you."

Although the conversation itself was tense, both of them spoke in very gentle tones. Yuihama looked at the two with an expression of delighted anticipation, and finally couldn't resist pouncing on Miura and Yukinoshita.

"Alright! Let's go to the celebration party together!"

"so I……"

Yukinoshita, who was being held by Yuihama's arm, twisted her body as if trying to break free and refused. Miura, who was also being held by Yuihama, glanced at Yukinoshita a few times.

"Why don't you come too?"

"...That's true. Well then, I'll go for a bit."

After hesitating for only a moment, Yukinoshita's lips curled into a small smile as she replied. Miura immediately turned his head away.

Act Two

Our destination, the venue for the celebration banquet, was a stylish British-style pub with a great atmosphere and decor. Hayama and his friends, along with the students centered around Isshiki, were chatting and laughing inside, creating a lively atmosphere.

From what I saw, it seemed less like a celebration banquet for the successful completion of the marathon and more like a victory celebration for Hayama alone. Led by the Hayama Group, Isshiki and Totsuka, along with Zaimokuza for some unknown reason, were also present.

Upon entering the store, Miura immediately went to Hayama's side, while Yuihama seemed somewhat at a loss, unsure of what to do. Yukinoshita nodded to her, and Yuihama smiled helplessly before following Miura over.

Yukino and I walked to the corner bar, ordered our drinks briefly, and then relaxed on the bar chairs.

"Thanks for your hard work."

"Uh-oh."

Yukinoshita, sitting next to me, raised her glass, and I raised mine to the same height. Neither Yukinoshita nor I are good at handling this kind of boisterous atmosphere. We're more used to watching them celebrate happily from a corner, maintaining a just-right distance from everyone present.

I drank it all in one gulp. Yukinoshita didn't drink it, but first sighed softly:

"It seems this time, it's all thanks to you and Yui..."

"It's all her fault, I was basically no help at all."

"You've helped me a lot... all along."

There was a hint of loneliness in her voice. I couldn't help but look over, only to find her gazing at Yuihama, her eyes filled with a distant tenderness.

The deep blue eyes didn't reflect the people or scenery in the bar, but rather something completely different.

She stood there as if in a dream. Then, she steadily raised her wine glass.

"because……"

As she spoke, Yukino smiled slightly. She gently swirled the wine glass in her hand, the golden foam of the soda bursting little by little, releasing the aroma of grapes into the air.

There were no further words spoken; perhaps they were only woven in her heart. But no sound was uttered, and naturally, I had no way of knowing.

Without saying a word, I raised my refill glass to the same height as hers.

In what should have been a bustling shop, the icy glass clinked softly. A clear, smooth, undistorted sound.

Perhaps it was a feeling, but it was definitely more than just a superficial collision. It defied definition, like a silent bubble bursting—a once-in-a-lifetime event—followed by a beautiful echo, and then the sound vanished. The sound of glass colliding filled my ears, for only a fleeting moment.

The noise gradually rose around me, but Yukinoshita and I remained peaceful as usual. However, this time I drank water frantically, as if trying to vomit something stuck deep in my throat.

We watched them in silence for a while. Seemingly noticing our gaze, Hayama, who had been pacing back and forth throughout the banquet, also walked towards us. It must be tiring for the main characters of the banquet to have to greet everyone everywhere…

"Oh... thank you all for coming to support us."

Yukinoshita shook her head as if to say, "It's no big deal," and I nodded in agreement. Just as I was considering whether to at least congratulate her on winning, Hayama lowered her head.

"I'm sorry. All sorts of...strange rumors have caused you trouble."

Yukinoshita was uncharacteristically stuck, but only for a moment before she adopted a resolute expression and repeated what she had said in the clubroom:

"It's not really a problem, and it's nothing compared to what happened back then."

"Back then, huh."

Hayama's sigh was quite disheartening, and Yuki's expression, which she had taken in her eyes, also became serious.

"...Now I understand a little better. Perhaps there should have been a better way back then. So I've caused you a lot of trouble...I'm sorry."

This time, Yukinoshita lowered her head slightly. After raising her head, she added with an expression that seemed to be reminiscing about the distant past.

"However, I am also very grateful that you have always been considerate of me."

Hayama's expression was full of surprise as he stared intently at Yukinoshita.

"You've changed a bit."

"It's hard to say, but many things are different from before."

As she said this, Yukinoshita glanced towards Yuihama, then turned back and secretly glanced at me. Feeling like I'd overheard something I shouldn't have, I became uneasy and couldn't help but look away.

Yukinoshita exhaled a small breath as if smiling, and turned back to face Hayama.

“I think you shouldn’t be bound by the past anymore… and there’s no need to force yourself to chase after someone’s shadow.”

“Me too,” I replied.

Ye Shan smiled, a hint of pride in his expression for some reason.

Behind Hayama, I saw Yui walking over with a pattering sound. Perhaps because she had already blended into the high-spirited atmosphere, Yui excitedly put her arm around Yukinoshita's.

"Xiaoxue, the food's here! It's a huge chicken! I wish I could roast the whole thing!"

It seemed the response wasn't what we expected, and Yukinoshita, Hayama, and I looked at her with somewhat awkward smiles.

"Um……?"

Yui looked at us a little nervously, probably having noticed that the atmosphere here was a bit different. So she immediately straightened her posture and forced a smile to cover up her rudeness.

Ye Shan sighed and smiled gently:

"The rumors also affected you... I'm sorry about these past few days, Yui."

"Ah, um, there's absolutely no need to worry about it!"

Hearing this, Ye Shan lowered his head:

"Yes, thank you... thank you for your help these past few days."

"There's really no need to thank me..."

Yuihama was caught off guard by the sudden apology, and was also somewhat confused.

In any case, with this apology, the matter has finally come to an end. I breathed a sigh of relief and drank the last sip of my beverage.

Ye Shan looked up and smiled in my direction:

"Thanks to you too. Thank you."

His gaze, though intense, held a hint of sly detachment, as if he were watching a spectacle. Unable to speak, I found myself coughing unintentionally, as if I'd just choked on something. That knowing smile seemed to see right through me, a chilling, allergic reaction. But still, it was as annoying as ever.

This lukewarm feeling wasn't pleasant. My gaze drifted elsewhere, and I heard a clearing of the throat beside me.

"Xiaoxue, let's go! Let's head for the roast chicken!"

She grabbed Yukino's sleeve, pulling on her like a child. Yukino couldn't help but laugh.

"Then, let's go."

The two of them acted like three or four-year-old children. While I was still considering whether to say "let's go together," Hayama gently patted my shoulder:

"Shall we chat for a bit?"

No way!

As he spoke, he cast a gentle smile at Yukinoshita and Yui, as if telling them to go ahead. Yui nodded.

"Then we'll wait for you there."

And so, without any further explanation, Yuihama took Yukinoshita away.

As Ye Shan watched the three leave, he gently shook the glass in his hand, and the ice cubes in the glass made a crisp sound.

"She has indeed changed somewhat... and so have you."

"Ok?"

He looked at me with a somewhat lonely and serious smile.

Some of the questions were unexpected, so I could only come up with some silly answers on the spot. However, Hayama didn't seem to expect any response from me, and gently tilted the gradually warming glass as the ice melted.

Looking at the foam flowing in the glass, he spoke bitterly:

"Only I... am still the same as before."

It was a somewhat serious, yet not quite a soliloquy.

Stealing a glance, he still possessed handsome features, but his eyes were now as sinister as a villain's. However, even so, it didn't matter much; after all, he hadn't rotted yet. It was hard to imagine such self-deprecating words coming from his mouth.

"Well, even if it's nonsense, does seeing others change mean that you are changing yourself?"

"is it?"

"Nonsense."

That was my somewhat ambiguous response. But his gaze remained fixed on me as he bit his chapped lips.

We always do this, deliberately avoiding eye contact, deliberately being evasive, and using vague words to get by. But this time, at least, I didn't look away.

Perhaps it's somewhat distorted, somewhat awkward, but there are still things that must be said. Slowly, I finish the last drop of water in my glass, and offer what should have been a sigh—

"When chameleons discover that their environment is changing, they often change their color to adapt to it—in the end, it's bound to happen sooner or later anyway."

Hayama blinked, then gave a slightly awkward, yet somewhat jealous, smile:

"It's really not nice to be told that. He's a bit of an annoying guy."

In the distance, Yuihama and Yukinoshita took their seats. Miura and Isshiki looked over and waved. They were probably telling Hayama to hurry over. Hayama waved lightly, and just as he was about to leave, he suddenly looked at me with an "Ah!" Had he remembered something?

"Oh, right. There's something I forgot to ask."

"Ok?"

"What exactly is this thing you said you can't take your eyes off?"

Perhaps it was because he was backlit, or perhaps it was because he stood up, but I couldn't see Ye Shan's face when he said those words. However, I could sense that his voice wasn't a test of my patience, nor was it a genuine lack of understanding; rather, it was a sincere question that had simply surfaced in his mind.

"Just pretend you didn't hear that... After all, I'm not like you."

"Is that so?"

With that brief reply, Hayama lightly smoothed his hair. At that moment, I saw him look to the side as usual.

Just like what I saw during the marathon.

An answer I couldn't give, a possibility I saw in a dream that I didn't quite believe in, and a somewhat lonely smile that left me behind.

This is what he left me.

As for Hayama, he'll definitely do his best. If the environment changes, he'll change himself to adapt to it.

Because he doesn't want his surroundings to change, he will desperately try to change himself. Only in this way can he become the Hayato Hayama that everyone hopes for.

Hayama will likely continue to conform to others' expectations in the future, according to his own will.

So even if I'm the only one left, I have to deny him and make him realize that there are people who don't have any expectations of him.

Because, to him, a shameless refusal is itself a sign of understanding, and indifference is a form of kindness.

"I also forgot to mention something... I hate you too."

I turned my face away from Ye Shan and said this. Ye Shan stared at me for a moment with wide eyes, then burst out laughing.