My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 467

Despite having made this decision, I still avoided looking directly at Yuihama's face, somewhat hesitant. It would be very inappropriate for me to speak now, and I certainly wouldn't be able to utter anything fluent. After countless moments of hesitation and clearing my throat, I finally managed to open my mouth.

"Then, let's go."

"Ok!"

My clumsy words received a cheerful response from her, and thus began what was meant to be a return gift for me and a date for Yuihama.

Act III

To get from Maihama Station to DisneySea, you need to transfer to a special monorail. This monorail is painted in Disney-themed colors, the background music inside is also Disney music, and the station signs are all Disney characters.

Yuihama, who was on the train, couldn't help but exclaim in amazement upon seeing all this. She ran from one end of the carriage to the other, constantly looking around.

"This tram is wonderful! It feels just like being in Disneyland!"

"Well, it's more like a monorail than a tram."

"...Monorway, train?"

Yuihama tilted her head, seemingly hearing the word for the first time. While her innocent gesture was adorable, it was otherwise a worrying situation!

"...Don't you know that there are such things as monorail trains?"

Upon hearing my cautious question, Yuihama clenched her gloved fist.

"I, of course I know! ...But, this one isn't a hanging type."

The final addition seemed to lack confidence, more like a muttering to oneself. Well, I think as residents of Chiba who are used to suspended trains, we would all feel somewhat unsatisfied if we didn't have that feeling of soaring through the air and gazing into the distance.

As I was thinking this, the monorail swayed slightly, and the view of Disneyland came in through the window.

"Oh--"

Seeing this view, I couldn't help but sigh to myself. Yuihama, who was beside me, also peered out from the same round window, admiring the same view I was seeing.

Although I wasn't particularly interested at first, I did get excited when I saw the white castle and the amusement park rides shaped like a smoking active volcano.

"Hey, where should we start playing?"

"Calm down. There are very few attractions at DisneySea that are just for show, and they easily attract a large number of visitors. So we should try to get Fastpasses first, and then decide where to go."

"It feels incredibly detailed?!"

"Of course. To me, the area around Chiba is like my own backyard."

"Oh, that sounds impressive... But, Little Qi, do you come here often?"

Yui's expression suddenly shifted from admiration, and she tilted her head as if sensing something amiss, her bangs falling down with the movement. Seeing her innocent and carefree eyes, I felt a little restless. Nevertheless, I managed to look away and scratched my cheek.

"...Well, it's like how people from Tokyo always go to Tokyo Tower, that kind of feeling."

"This doesn't sound as detailed anymore!"

While we were talking, the monorail had already arrived at our destination, DisneySea.

The moment we stepped off the train, we were warmly welcomed by the Chinese restaurant! (Translator's note: This is a reference to a 2013 drama; my knowledge is limited, so I don't know the exact source.) From the station to the main gate, station staff waved to us, saying things like, "Be careful on your way!" Yui waved back to each of them, saying, "I'm off!" Wow, truly a kingdom of dreams and magic. Unlike the real world, where greeting someone as you pass by would immediately make you seem suspicious, this kingdom of dreams and magic seems to completely disregard common sense!

The more I think about it, the more I realize that this conclusion is absolutely correct.

We bought tickets, entered the gate, and were greeted by a huge plaza-like space. I couldn't help but exclaim in admiration as I snapped out of my reverie.

From here on, a scene detached from reality will unfold before my eyes; an extraordinary world will extend into the distance.

Facing the entrance is a giant heart-shaped artwork and statues where you can shake hands with the characters, while neon lights flash continuously.

The most striking feature here is the decorative gate that stretches from the entrance plaza all the way into the park. It's paved with Italian-style bricks, reminiscent of the exotic architectural structures of Venice or other parts of Europe.

Passing through this decorative gate, you can see towering volcanoes in the distance and luxury passenger ships docked in the harbor.

It felt like being in a corner of a movie, and I had a feeling that our story would begin here.

Witnessing all of this made me realize that I was going to spend a day at this Disneyland.

If I felt this way, I think Yui Hama would feel the same way. Yui Hama's eyes sparkled, her face was beaming, and she kept tugging at my arm.

"Little Qi! Take a picture! Take a shot!"

"Oh, oh... why do I feel like I can't even finish my sentences?"

Now it's like I, you, and I are using this kind of tone...

Because the arcade offers a perfect view of the buildings and the active volcano, it's a popular spot for taking photos, and the queues are always quite long. Needless to say, in this atmosphere, I couldn't possibly say "I'll pass," so I had no choice but to comply with Yui-san. Because, I absolutely couldn't stand being seen as a Disney fanatic who came here alone! In English, noninja!

I tried to hide the awkwardness of the two of us standing side by side with these silly ideas, and after a while, it was finally our turn to take pictures.

Yui and I stood in front of the camera, maintaining our usual distance. There seemed to be a gap between us, as if an invisible person were standing between us.

Since the staff were taking our photos, it wouldn't be a problem if I wasn't in the picture. Thinking this, a brief sense of relief flashed through my mind.

Could you come a little closer?

The staff members, with bright smiles, gestured for each other to come closer together.

"Ah, okay..."

After answering in that way, Yui quietly moved about half a step closer to me.

However, the staff member maintained a silent smile and continued to gesture for us to come closer.

"I... I think it would be better to get a little closer..."

As she said this, Yui looked at me somewhat uneasily. Besides that, I seemed to hear slightly dissatisfied sighs from the waiting crowd.

I felt an incredibly heavy sense of oppression. Only now did I realize the immense pressure people seemed to be exerting, as if saying, "Can't you hurry up?" Their gazes were fixed on me, unmistakably and firmly directed at me.

Although I didn't want to succumb to the pressure exerted by their gazes and stiff smiles, I still took half a step toward Yuihama, just half a step.

So, the staff finally began preparing for filming.

The wait for the shutter to click was short. However, it felt incredibly long to me, and I couldn't calm myself down.

"Okay, let's take the picture then—"

The moment the staff member said that, Yui suddenly tugged at my scarf. Startled by her sudden attack, I didn't realize until I came to my senses that I had unknowingly put my hand on Yui's shoulder. This action made us seem even closer. I saw a big smile on her face, as if she was boasting about her successful little trick.

At that very moment, the sound of a camera shutter rang out.

Act IV

We left the photo queue and strolled side-by-side through the American-style streets. Then, we received Fastpasses for our first popular attraction, The Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror.

After that, we walked along the coastal road with views of Tokyo Bay, visiting several attractions along the way where there were hardly any queues.

Perhaps because we were already quite close, the perceived distance between Yui and me didn't actually increase. This attempt to maintain distance might just be part of my conscious awareness. Because, the photo from earlier was truly awful… I looked completely blankly at Yui in that picture, absolutely.

Feeling extremely ashamed, I squirmed and cast a resentful glance at Yuihama, who was slightly ahead of me.

However, Yuihama seemed completely unaware of her actions just now, and was now opening a page of the tourist guide, oblivious to the gazes coming from here.

"Where to next?"

Finally, she turned around. Perhaps it was the cold sea breeze, but Yui's face was flushed. She looked at me with anxious, puppy-dog eyes, seeming very concerned about me.

Noticing this, I exhaled a puff of white mist.

...Alright, I need to put in my best effort and do a good job. I breathed a warm breath onto my bare palms to perk myself up.

Today's visit was originally intended as a return gift for Yuihama's many times of soothing my wounds. That's how it should have been, but the feeling I have now completely reversed my original goals.

First, we need to have a conversation. We need to have a conversation. If that doesn't liven things up, I'll have to come up with a witty joke, or some interesting topic she can't get enough of.

"...Well, isn't it nice to be in a warm place? Coastal areas are so cold. Look, cold, cold? The sea is so cold..."

"Yes, yes. It's so cold."

Yuihama gave a dismissive laugh, muttering "A warm place, a warm place..." before turning her gaze back to the booklet in her hand.

...Conversations? Hachiman can't do that!!

Thinking about it carefully, trying to create a compelling topic or have an interesting conversation has always been my weakest area. In fact, it's obvious without even thinking about it.

Now that things have come to this, Yuihama's kind reply only makes my heart ache more... If it were anyone else, they might ignore it, or let out a dismissive "Huh?" and glare at me. The only person who would actually burst out laughing at this is probably Hiratsuka-sensei...

"This is Hachiman Hikigaya, and he's messed up again..."

Driven by this feeling of self-reproach, my gaze was drawn to a roadside stall.

"Wait here, don't go anywhere."

"Hey, where are we going?!"

I waved to Yui, who was trying to catch up, signaling her to stop, and then continued running towards the stall. I quickly ordered what I wanted and hurried back with it.

"It's probably because it's so cold that this kind of thing is suitable."

As I said this, I handed her the item. Yuihama tilted her head in confusion and took it, looking at the item in her hand with a puzzled expression.

Yuihama is now holding a warm shrimp burger ring through her gloves. She examines it closely, blowing on it repeatedly.

"That's so strange. Something's not quite right about how considerate Xiaoqi is. Speaking of which, that joke from earlier was really lame, honestly, it was super lame."

"That's true, but you..."

Seeing Yui giggle, I couldn't help but give a wry smile... Hmm, wait a minute? Did this kid just say something really offensive?

But there's nothing we can do about it. I've already decided to spend more time with her.

"...Because I care a lot, there's nothing I can do about it."

The words she mumbled out accidentally made Yui blink two or three times in a daze. Then, she seemed to puff out her chest with a hint of pride.

"...I see, because you care."

"Somewhat..."

Staring at me by Yui, I couldn't help but turn my face away. Unable to continue the conversation, I took a big bite of my shrimp burger. Perhaps seeing my satisfied expression, Yui copied me and took a big bite as well.

We didn't exchange a single word, just walked and enjoyed the shrimp burgers. Occasionally, we would look at each other and smile, as if to confirm, "It's really delicious."

Seeing her expression, I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. No, honestly, shrimp, avocado, and pasta are a really safe bet when you're with girls. And eating these things without saying a word doesn't seem strange at all! Enough! Hachiman, you're a genius! A genius at making silence seem legitimate!

Thinking about it carefully, the reason why a dating hotspot like TDR would sell such items might just be for this reason. If so, this experiment is truly a great success.

In fact, swallowing food can ease the tension and make the subsequent conversation much smoother.

Having finished her shrimp burger, Yui gently wiped her lips with her fingers and let out a soft breath.

"Speaking of which, I've always been concerned about this, Xiao Qi. Aren't you cold with nothing on your hands?"

It's okay.

I put my hands in my coat pockets and showed them to Yui Hama like I was spreading my wings. But Yui Hama just gave me a "Ugh—" look.

"Falling down is very dangerous; you could die!"

"That's too extreme... What, are you my mother?"

Although I was just joking, she really does seem like the kind of mother who would make a good mother… Right now, Yuihama is tilting her head with a worried expression, making “hmm…” sounds, as if she’s thinking about something. Suddenly, she seems to have thought of something and snaps her hands together.

"Oh, then how about this, lend me one hand."

Yui took off her left glove and handed it to me.

"No need. This problem has probably already been solved..."

"Hey!"

Yui interrupted me, suddenly grabbing my hand that was in my coat pocket.

"That way it'll be warmer, right..."

Yuihama suddenly turned her head, muttering each word carefully, her face flushed red down to her ears. Seriously? This girl... The only people who would want to put their hands in someone else's pocket besides a thief are probably BUMP OF CHICKEN... Ah, as expected of a voice born in Chiba!

"No, no, this is too strange. Isn't this a bit..."

Isn't that a little strange? If I keep walking like this, I have absolutely no idea what to do with my right hand! This must be terrible, cute, suspicious, and embarrassing... Although I wanted to protest vehemently with words, Yui had already put her hand in my pocket, gently shaking her wrist as she started walking.

It didn't seem so cold anymore, and my body gradually warmed up. It was then that I started nervously staring at the crowd around me, like a civet cat that had inadvertently wandered into a modern city, carefully observing its surroundings.

However, the pedestrians walking along the paths in the park didn't seem to be looking at us. Everyone was immersed in the atmosphere of this dreamlike and magical kingdom, lost in their own world, and showed little interest in what others looked like.

Once I confirmed that, my shoulders relaxed.

This is an extraordinary world; no one here knows me, and no one here knows her. Only in this brief moment does this place become a dreamlike, ephemeral place. Because of this, perhaps I can forgive myself a little.

Just as I was searching for such an explanation, I put my right hand into my pocket as well.

Because there was almost no space left in the coat pockets, I inevitably touched her hand. Just then, I felt a rapid breathing sound beside me. Although our hands didn't touch, I could feel a warmth enveloping my palm.