My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 455

It was the familiar, slightly barbed wording, and the voice, though kind, carried a hint of force.

Then, the door was knocked on again, this time with even more rhythm.

"Please come in."

After Yukinoshita responded, the door opened a crack with some hesitation, and Ebina's head peeked out.

"Hello, hello~, is it alright to bother you for a moment?"

"Himena? Ah, anyway, come on in!"

Yuigahama waved and nodded in response to Ebina. "Yeah, hurry up and come in so there's no draft. After all, their seats are pretty close to the door..."

"Excuse me~"

Behind Ebina, who entered without a word, was Miura, who followed silently, reluctantly turning his face to the side.

"Is there a problem?"

Upon hearing Yukinoshita's response, Miura glanced at Isshiki with a hint of embarrassment.

Why is this child here too?

"Hmm, from my perspective, this feels more like my own line..."

Isshiki responded with a bright smile, while Miura glared back, unhappily curling his hair.

Hmm, the atmosphere is a bit awkward... Just as I was thinking this, Yuihama noticed and tried to smooth things over.

"Ah, uh. Is it because there are too many people that you feel embarrassed to speak up?"

"It's alright, it's not like that..."

However, Miura remained reluctant. This made it difficult for the conversation to continue smoothly.

"Then let Isshiki go."

"Huh?! Why should I—?"

No, after all, you're not a club member... so it would be strange for you to be here, right?

"Okay, okay, just be careful with your wording in that regard. It's fine if you don't go into too much detail, okay?"

Ebina patted Miura on the shoulder as if trying to mediate. Yuihama smiled and said to Isshiki.

"Well, think about it, Aya-chan's opinion might be of some value."

Isshiki seemed to dislike feeling ostracized. Although she pouted in dissatisfaction, she nodded in agreement with Yuihama's words.

"Then let's start over."

Yukinoshita brought up the topic again.

Although Miura glanced at Isshiki for a while, he eventually looked away and started talking while fiddling with his hair.

"...How should I put it? I wanted to do some handmade chocolates... Well, next year I'll be preparing for exams... Should I say this is the last time or something..."

His voice was filled with embarrassment and shame, and Miura's face grew increasingly red. His voice gradually lowered, yet a hint of loneliness lingered within it. Perhaps that was just my own interpretation.

This time next year, we won't be required to attend school anymore. That's perfect for exam preparation. If I apply to a private university, the exam dates will probably coincide with my studies.

Therefore, this was actually my last Valentine's Day in high school. From then on, Valentine's Day would likely take on a different meaning.

"...So, I was thinking of trying to do it once and see what happens."

As Miura fiddled with his hair, seemingly trying to hide his slowly blushing face, he spoke words that resonated with me.

The parts we can only feel now, before we've fully grown up. In a way, this must be the last Valentine's Day of our lives.

However, it seems that not many people fully empathize with this. Isshiki, perhaps because she is only a first-year student, doesn't quite grasp the reality of it, and stares blankly with her mouth agape as if saying, "Is that so—?" Yukinoshita, on the other hand, is resting her chin on her hand, seemingly deep in thought.

Yuihama was puffing out her cheeks. Then she narrowed her eyes and stared at Miura.

"...Didn't Yumiko say that handmade items are a bit heavy?"

“...That, that is.”

Hearing this, Miura looked away, speechless. However, as if chasing after her turned away, Yui's face followed closely behind. Ebina tried to soothe the slightly angry Yui.

"Well, I think it's great, it's handmade."

"Huh? Are you planning to make hibiscus?"

Yui blinked in surprise.

"Yeah, I guess so. It'd be good to keep Yumiko company. It'd also be good for me to learn more about it."

"Wow, this is so unexpected..."

"Really? You see, if you learn a little about this, it will be very convenient to give gifts at CM."

Listening to their conversation, I suddenly sensed something was off.

"Eh……"

...Giving a gift, huh? Just as I was feeling a bit incredulous, looking at Ebina-san, she also turned slightly to look at me. Her gaze, beyond her glasses, seemed to ask, "Is there a problem?" I simply shook my head slightly in response.

Handmade gifts are often met with reluctance or avoidance when given to people outside of close friendships and acquaintances. Ebina is certainly aware of this. The fact that she still wants to know how to make "gift chocolates" suggests that she likely has someone she cares about...

...Well done, Ministry of Revenue. You've made some progress. However, I don't even know if the recipient is the Ministry of Revenue, or even who the Ministry of Revenue is. Speaking of which, who is the Ministry of Revenue?

And so, with a touch of warmth in my heart, I looked at Ebina-kun. Upon seeing this, Ebina-kun's eyebrows twitched. Then he let out a rotten laugh, his glasses flashing a reflection.

"Handmade is definitely better! Why don't we just make chocolates like the ones that make Hitani-kun and Hayato friends!"

"I don't know how to do it..."

Ah, Ebina is Ebina after all... in every sense of the word. And what's this "friendship chocolate" culture anyway? What's friendship chocolate? Maruko's grandpa?

"Besides, that guy probably won't accept it."

"It's safe between men!"

He's already out of the game, so there's no point in listening to Ebina-kun... Miura, who always interrupts conversations, is still awkwardly curling his hair...

Ignoring Ebina, who couldn't stop talking about whether it was "friends' chocolate" or "bromance chocolate," Isshiki crossed his arms and started muttering "uh-huh" to himself.

"That's true. Since they've announced they won't accept it, that's a real headache."

Um, no, that's not how it is. Hayama and I are both guys... Wait a minute, on the other hand, that guy might just happily accept the chocolate because there won't be any conflict from a guy... What is this? It feels like it's going to develop into something else! But this kind of development is totally worthless to me, let alone a development!

"What should I do..."

"Ha...that's right."

Isshiki and Miura sighed simultaneously, their heads rising at the same time. When their eyes met, it felt like sparks were flying...

How annoying... How scary...

Act Two

I pressed the MAX Coffee button on the vending machine on the first floor.

After taking it out of the machine and straightening up, I let out a big sigh.

The silent battle between Isshiki and Miura continued, and as a guy, I was incredibly restless. I was so restless, I was practically on par with the Slender Man from the American urban legend.

I went to the restroom and stopped by the vending machine, intending to heal my tired body with this can before heading back. Just as I was chugging down the stairs, I spotted a guy peeking out from the doorway.

Whenever this guy looks around, his black ponytail with a bluish tinge swings left and right as he jumps around, a tactic known as "looking around and swaying left and right".

"...What's wrong? What's wrong with you?"

Because her behavior was so suspicious, I couldn't help but strike up a conversation. The woman with the ponytail jumped up in surprise. Then, looking flustered and uneasy, she turned to face me.

Faced with its wariness, as if it were a lynx encountered in the mountains, I felt an urge to feed it with a can of Minute Maid while making some "tsk tsk" sounds. But I guess you can't just feed wild animals like that.

Speaking of which, we should give him a name before feeding him! Uh...right, let's call him Chuan something-or-other. Hey—! Chuan something-or-other—! I called out to myself in my mind, trying to find out what he wanted.

"What's up?"

Hearing my question, Kawasaki Saki let out a sigh of relief, seemingly relieved, and waved to me towards a corner of the corridor further inside the activity room. Oh, right, it's Kawasaki Saki. I know her.

Kawasaki spoke while glancing furtively in the direction of the activity room.

"Is it alright to bother you a little?"

"No, let's just go in. It's awfully cold in here."

It seems there's no doubt they need to speak to the Service Department. In that case, I hope we can get into a heated room as soon as possible. However, Kawasaki paused slightly as if considering something, then hurriedly waved his hand.

"Uh...no need, this is fine! This place is perfect! I just have something I want to ask Yukinoshita..."

No, then just go and ask...

"Yukinoshita is inside. Okay, let's go in quickly. It's too cold in here, you'll catch a cold."

Perhaps a window in one of the rooms had been opened for ventilation, because the corridor of the special building was filled with a chilly atmosphere. Needless to say, the cold air rose from the soles of one's feet, and whenever the wind blew, the sound of the windows rattling seemed to send the cold air into one's ears.

"Actually... I'm... not... really okay..."

Kawasaki abruptly turned his head to look in another direction. "No, you're okay, but I am... If I catch a cold at this time and pass it on to Komachi, it'll be a serious matter, and it'll be very difficult to cure."

The way people in Chiba treat a cold is nothing more than eating ramen topped with garlic in a thick sauce, then drinking a warm cup of MAX coffee and going to sleep. This almost always results in a trip to the hospital the next day. Therefore, I think staying home is the best way to prevent a cold.

However, the Kawasaki family probably faces the same issue with students taking the exam. If Kawasaki's younger brother catches a cold and then infects Komachi, my hands will inevitably be stained with blood and sin...

"Okay."

Because of my hostility towards Taishi, this poisonous insect who was close to Komachi, my voice inadvertently became sharp, and my tone became somewhat harsh. As a result, Kawasaki unintentionally lowered his head in a show of weakness.

"Since that's how it is..."

It's wonderful that you understand. After all, I hope the risk of people catching colds being around Komachi can be minimized as much as possible.

"Well, it would be terrible if I caught a cold."

As I spoke, I opened the door to the activity room, urging Kawasaki on. Kawasaki looked at me with a completely absent-minded expression.

"……Uh-huh."

After Kawasaki, with her intimidating appearance and weak voice, answered, she hesitantly took her first steps. Although she looks like a delinquent at first glance, she's actually a straightforward and good girl. Thinking this, I followed Kawasaki into the house.

"Welcome back, Little Enterprise—...and Saki?"

Yuihama turned around, her face filled with disbelief, and tilted her entire upper body to the side.

"Well, um..."

All eyes in the room were on Kawasaki, who responded sheepishly.

Yukinoshita gave her a surprised look. Isshiki, on the other hand, shrank back a little in fear. "No, no, no, this Kawa-something classmate may seem scary on the surface, but he's actually not scary at all, okay?"

On the other hand, Ebina greeted him with a bright smile and a cheerful voice.

"Oh, isn't this Sashimi Sashimi? Hello hello~"

"Don't call me Sashi Sashi."

As if to soothe Saki's barbed reply, Yuihama urged her to sit down.

"It's really rare for Saki to come... This is the first time I've ever seen her."

Perhaps their relationship improved slightly after the school trip, because Yuihama seems to have started calling Kawasaki "Saki." Witnessing that Kawasaki, whose name had never been properly remembered before, was now being remembered by the name "Saki," I felt a pang of emotion, and tears welled up in my eyes. Maybe my tear ducts have become more sensitive lately; even seeing the Pretty Cure stepping forward in times of crisis every Sunday makes me cry—yes, I'm talking about myself.

Mmm, mmm. It's so nice that the girls have such a friendly relationship. That's wonderful.

Just as I was feeling warmed by this beautiful scene, Yukino poured her a cup of tea in a paper cup and asked her a question.

"So what exactly happened?"

"Th-thank you...that..."

Although he had started the conversation, Kawasaki still hesitated. Come to think of it, this guy had just said he needed to talk to Yukino, right? Just as Kawasaki was stammering and wondering how to begin, the sound of fingernails tapping on the table came from the side.

Looking over there, Kawasaki saw Miura with a displeased expression. Perhaps annoyed by this attitude, Kawasaki returned Miura's cold gaze. Miura glared back.

"I'm telling you, they haven't finished talking about their business yet."

"Huh? Weren't you just drinking tea?"

Foreword retracted, Kawasaki-kun is indeed terrifying...

Neither side would back down, staring at each other intently. Ah, you two are still as incompatible as ever... Faced with the two on the verge of exploding, Isshiki didn't dare to move an inch.

And so, in this stalemate, Ebina intervened.

"Alright, alright, Yumiko. Saki Saki must have something to say, right? If it's okay, I'll listen too~"