My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 468

Then, as if to relinquish this warmth, Yui pulled her left hand out of my pocket. I felt a little reluctant to let her go.

Yuihama covered her mouth with an awkward laugh and pulled her hand away from me. It seemed like she was about to let go of my hand, but I held it tightly.

"Uh..."

Yuihama, whose hand was being held, seemed so surprised and nervous that she was speechless.

Well, if you think about it carefully...

The sea breeze was still howling, and the snow showed no signs of stopping. Besides, there was still a long day ahead, and needlessly wasting energy here wasn't a good strategy. Also, it would be exhausting if we both cared too much about each other.

"...Well, it's cold."

"...Um! Because it's cold!"

Perhaps because she couldn't look me in the eye, Yui turned her gaze away. Then, with a bright smile, she took my hand in hers.

Act V

We walked along streets modeled after Machu Picchu and the Aztec style of South America. Along the way, Yui jumped and waved my hand incessantly.

"That was amazing! Glug glug!"

"Yes, it seems to be gurgling and won't stop... I hope it doesn't turn into a puddle of butter..."

What made Yui so happy was the roller coaster we just rode, which spun around like the Rising Sun. Now Yui is holding my hand and swinging it around and around, mimicking the high-speed spin.

I continued walking along the road while trying to stop Yuihama, who was running wild like a runaway horse. Now we had arrived at a place full of Arabian charm.

Walking on the Arabian streets, so different from any other day, Yui yawned, perhaps from the excessive walking and dazzling sights. "Hoo-ha~~" I also felt a little tired. Walking with Yui wasn't particularly strenuous, but holding her hand had taken a toll on my energy more than I'd expected.

Looking around me, there don't seem to be many eye-catching attractions. It would be nice to relax and take some rides.

With that in mind, I pointed to a building by the roadside.

"Let's go here next."

I was pointing to "Sinbad's Magical Voyage," which looked very relaxing and slow-paced. Many of the guests on this ride were families with children. In other words, it's a leisurely ride suitable for young children!

"The wonder of Sinbad..."

Yui looked at the information board, haltingly reciting the kana characters. I said, "Your katakana is really weak! It's practically on par with the manga volumes that air alongside 'The Magic Flute' on the anime broadcast schedule..."

Upon seeing the waiting time, Yuihama exclaimed, "Hey—!"

"We only have five minutes left to wait! Oh no! Hurry up and get on!"

As she spoke, she took my hand. Once inside the building, we saw that although we only had five minutes left, we entered the waiting area in just two minutes.

It seems the main attraction here is experiencing a voyage through the world of Sinbad on a large ship. It's similar to a small world at Disneyland. We were quickly led onto the ship by an older woman, and the ship slowly set off.

The ceiling was laid out like a model of the night sky, making it extremely dark. As the ship slowly moved forward, music sung by humanoid robots could be heard. Among them, Sinbad's singing was particularly melodious.

Perhaps due to the combined effect of the air conditioning, which was almost as effective as a greenhouse, and the slight rocking of the boat, I felt drowsy after only sitting for a minute.

Thinking, "I'm really a little tired," I suddenly felt something heavy on my shoulders.

Looking to the side, Yuihama was fast asleep with her eyes closed. Her long eyelashes drooped slightly, and a faint smile played on her lips. The boat moved forward, and like a child throwing a tantrum, she groaned softly, burying her face in my coat.

This might be the first time I've seen her with such a calm and serene expression. Her expressions usually change in an instant. But no matter how you look at it, this change is cheerful, pleasant, and endearing.

But now, I simply think, "It's so beautiful."

Act VI

Emerging from the ultra-comfortable nap facility and Sinbad's wondrous journey, Yuihama clasped her hands together above her head.

"Sorry! I don't know why I'm so sleepy!"

"Well, that was definitely a drowsy journey..."

My own body was also dozing off, so I had no reason to complain to her.

...Anyway, the thought that I actually stared at Yui's sleeping face for about 10 minutes during this voyage makes me feel like I'm the one who should apologize. Sinbad might be singing its inner compass, but mine is completely tangled up, you know? Yui-san, who's just humming and looking down, must be having a tangled compass too!

Anyway, realizing that watching Yuihama sleep was actually a bad situation, I quickly changed the subject.

Didn't you sleep well?

Upon hearing my question, Yui Hama paused for a moment. Then, as if trying to straighten her backpack, she timidly fiddled with the rope with her fingers, her expression looking somewhat stiff.

"Well, I didn't sleep well..."

Wow—what did she do last night? Or is she the kind of person who can't sleep the night before a trip? As I pondered these possibilities, we continued on until we reached a huge dome—Mermaid Lagoon.

According to the tourist guide, there are many small attractions and various shops inside this huge dome.

That's perfect. I wanted to rest several times along the way, but it seemed impossible in the crowded park, and I gradually became a little tired.

"Shall we take a short rest?"

As I said this, I turned my face toward the dome. Yui frowned, looking regretful.

"Oh—isn't that a shame? I really wanted to ride so many more rides..."

"I really don't understand. When everyone else is busy and stressed, you're living a leisurely life. That's the greatest luxury. Skipping class to watch it and laughing out loud is okay, and watching 'Good Morning Leo' is probably five times more interesting than usual."

"That's so typical of small businesses!"

Yuihama, who chuckled, seemed to agree with my point of view and stood beside me.

The dome's interior is completely insulated from the cold outside air, creating a warm and comfortable atmosphere. Many people seem to agree; the benches inside the dome give it a restroom-like feel.

Yui and I sat down on a bench. Then, we both couldn't help but let out a huge yawn. It was so loud that we couldn't help but smile at each other. It's unbelievable that we could laugh so happily over something so trivial.

"Then, shall we go look at the souvenirs?"

After resting for a while, Yui pointed ahead and said, "Looking over there, there's a shop nearby." I nodded in response to Yui and stood up from the bench.

When I walked into the store, well, it was filled with all sorts of Disney merchandise. Besides the usual plush toys and blankets, there were T-shirts, hats, earmuffs, scarves, socks, cosmetic bags, tote bags, cups, spoons…

"The items displayed here are quite different from those in Disneyland."

"That's because the themes are different, right?"

While we were chatting, I walked around the whole store, and Yui pulled something out from the mountain of plush toys.

"Little Qi, put this on and let me see."

What she handed me was a fish-shaped hat with an anglerfish logo. The fish's cloudy white eyes were staring in a strange direction, and a tongue was sticking out of its mouth. If I wore this, wouldn't I look just like that fish...?

"Uh……"

Although I tried my best to show that I disliked it completely, Yuihama seemed not to notice at all.

"Isn't it great? It's okay! It'll suit you perfectly!"

"This is definitely not a compliment..."

Just as I expected, Yui completely ignored my reaction and awkwardly put the fish-like hat on my head.

However, absolutely no one would suit a hat like that. Not even a model at Paris Fashion Week. Well, models at Paris Fashion Week often encounter these kinds of uniquely tasteful occasions!

"So, what will I look like wearing this...?" I thought to myself as I walked up to the mirror, and wow...!

Oh no, this is perfect... So does that mean I'm a model for Paris Fashion Week?

Just as I thought I had discovered my new charm, I heard a short burst of laughter coming from beside me.

"This is amazing! It's perfect for Little Enterprise! Or rather, it's like it perfectly!"

"Wait? Can we not talk about eyes?"

I took off the fish-themed hat that I had momentarily taken a liking to and stared intently at it. Does it really look that similar...? It even seems much more pleasing to the eye than when I first saw it...

I tilted my head and saw the image on Yuihama's phone. In the photo, I had a "Is this really me...?" expression on my face. Yeah, this disgusting and gloomy feeling I have is totally Mr. Fish!

As if agreeing, Yuihama chuckled as she scrolled down her phone, then suddenly let out a small "ah" sound.

"What? What's wrong? Are you going to upload the photo to Twitter? Please, don't let me do something like that!"

"No way. Uploading photos like that would only get my account banned."

As if responding to my questioning gaze, "Is that so... So, what are you here for?", Yuihama pulled on my sleeve and led me outside the store.

"It's almost time for the fireworks!"

We walked out of Mermaid Lagoon and headed towards the bay.

The sky overhead had completely turned to night, and since DisneySea is located on the coast, a cold sea breeze was blowing. The wind was a bit strong, so the fireworks had been temporarily suspended, but since there hadn't been an official announcement yet, the scheduled fireworks could start at any time.

Along the road to the coast, orange streetlights are placed at equal intervals, casting a soft glow that gilds the river, and the reflections on the water gently illuminate the darkness of the night.

Suddenly, all the streetlights and decorative lights went out at once.

A moment of silence and darkness. Everyone present held their breath. Yuihama whispered in my ear.

"It's so great that I made it in time!"

I nodded, and the stars overhead illuminated the night sky.

Then, classical music began to play, followed by an announcement that the fireworks display had begun.

After a whooshing sound that stretched into the sky, an explosion followed.

On the black canvas, fireworks burst forth in a magnificent display, releasing a dazzling array of colors.

"I never thought I'd come here..."

Unexpectedly, a deeply moved whisper came through.

"Ah...you're the one who said you wanted to come..."

"That's true, but it's not... Little Qi, you kept your promise... Thank you."

Speaking in a much softer voice than usual, Yui smiled shyly.

The smile illuminated by the fireworks reflected on the water made my chest ache slightly.

This agreement, which can't even be called an agreement, I've been putting it off for so long, until now, and finally there's something I can do to achieve it.

"...Isn't it something like a return gift...? Because we agreed on that."

In this way, the words that bind me, and the reasons that motivate me to move, will all disappear, and I will be unable to do anything.

The person who has been giving me these excuses is Yuhihama. I should be the one thanking her.

Yuihama raised her eyes, as if she had caught a glimpse of my expression. A dazzling light reflected from her upturned eyes in all directions.

After a brief pause, Yui took a light breath and gave me a serious look.

"Small business. This one."

After saying that, Yui took something out of her bag. She held it in both hands—carefully packaged cookies.

"Do you remember my request?"

"...Ahhh"

The answer was barely audible.

How could I forget? This was my first commission, and the first one the Service Department ever received. As a result, all I did at that time was offer vague and worthless excuses, doing things that were far removed from either solving or eradicating the problem.

Nevertheless, Yuihama has been trying to resolve everything properly on her own. Her current extremely determined demeanor proves this.

Yuihama seemed a little lost. She grabbed my hand, which was trying to move but remained frozen, and shoved the cookie into my palm, making it feel heavy.

The cookies visible through the cellophane bag were uneven and pitted, some with strange colors due to burnt marks; I can't flatter you by saying they were beautiful. But precisely because of this, it was immediately obvious that they were handmade.

Judging from the result, I could feel her effort and seriousness despite not being good at cooking.

"I've always wanted to properly hand it over to you... I wanted to complete it independently, and I wanted to convey it in my own way. That's why I made this."

Yuihama straightened her back and wore a bright smile.

"...This time, it's not about returning a gift."

I must have been trying to treat her words as a joke, but I was so bewildered that I couldn't even look at Yui Hama anymore.

You can't avoid the gaze, you can't gloss over it, you rack your brains trying to think, you desperately feel the pain, you struggle until the very end.

"...Well, this feeling, how should I put it?"

Having added to my previous answer, Yuihama peered at my expression with a hint of apprehension. Now that I had heard her reply, I also needed to find a response to her.

If you don't speak up, you'll never know. Even if you do speak up, it might not reach you. Nevertheless, I believe that one day she and I will be able to have a proper conversation. Perhaps our story is a story made up of our words.

I held back my trembling throat and slowly opened my mouth.