My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 47

Anyway, I was the only guy there wearing a jacket. Totsuka looked too casual, while Zaimokuza looked like a ramen shop owner.

"Me... I can't do it either?"

Yuihama asked again, and Yukinoshita seemed a little embarrassed.

"Women's dress code is not as strict... but if your protector is Hachiman, it might be difficult."

"Wait, wait, wait! This is a jacket! A jacket!"

I quickly imitated Go-mi by lifting up my jacket to emphasize its presence, but Yukinoshita couldn't help but chuckle.

"Even if your outfit is barely acceptable, those dead fish eyes will probably still be a problem."

...Is my eyesight really that bad?

"It's a hassle to go back and prepare clothes after being turned away by the shopkeeper. Yui-hama-san, why don't you come to my house to change first?"

"Huh, can I go to Yukino's house? I want to go, I want to go... Ah, but won't visiting at this time disturb your family?"

"Don't worry, I live alone."

"So you're a strong, independent woman!"

Yuihama was taken aback. "Hey, what are your standards? So, all girls who live alone must be superwomen then?" Come to think of it, when Yukinoshita said she lived alone, I could understand. After all, she's a great cook, and more importantly, I couldn't imagine her living with anyone else.

"Let's go then, my home is over there."

Looking up at the sky behind me, I saw the incredibly expensive skyscrapers of the area. I don't watch much TV, so I wasn't very clear on the details, but that kind of place seemed perfect for shooting commercials and dramas. Incidentally, tokusatsu (special effects) films often shoot in Makuhari Beach.

The skyscraper emitted a faint orange glow. Xue Shita's gaze lingered on the very top of the building; it seemed she lived on an upper floor. Oh dear… could her family be bourgeois? But thinking about it carefully, if her family weren't bourgeois, they wouldn't let their high school daughter live alone.

"Totsuka-kun, I'm so sorry to have troubled you to come all this way."

"No, don't worry about it. I'm actually quite happy to see everyone dressed casually."

Totsuka said with a smile. His smile is so adorable; it would be a shame to let him go back like this.

"Well then, while Yuihama goes to change, let's go grab a bite to eat. Remember to contact me after you're done changing."

"Okay, that's decided then."

After Yukinoshita and Yui left, the three boys present fell silent, as if trying to ascertain just how hungry they were.

"So, what would you like to eat?"

"I'm a woodcutter," said the man, rubbing his belly.

I exchanged a glance with Totsuka.

"Ramen, of course."

"Ramen, of course!"

× × ×

I said goodbye to Zaimokuza and Totsuka at the ticket gate. Although Zaimokuza had been mistaken for a ramen shop employee and asked to order food from him earlier, they both looked very satisfied after enjoying a delicious bowl of ramen.

I left the station and headed to the Royal Okura Hotel. I had arranged to meet Yukinoshita and Yuigahama there.

When I arrived at the foot of the hotel, I was somewhat overwhelmed by its sheer size. Even the soft lighting illuminating the building had an air of sophistication; this was clearly not a place for a high school student.

As I stepped into the hotel, filled with excitement and nervousness, the feel of the floor beneath my feet noticeably changed. Stepping onto the carpet that covered the entire space, it sank softly. Was this the venue for the Oscars?

The gentlemen and ladies in the hall all appeared elegant, and foreigners could be seen from time to time. Wow, Makuhari is truly a metropolis.

According to an email sent by Yuhihama, the meeting point is in the lobby in front of the elevator.

The elevator doors here even light up, completely different from any I've seen before, and the space is huge. Wait, wait, wait, there's even room for a sofa? This place is bigger than my living room! And this sofa is incredibly comfortable; are it stuffed with low-resilience pillows?

Huh? There's a teapot here. Just as I was admiring the beauty of the teapot, my phone rang.

We just arrived. Have you arrived yet?

I've arrived, but I don't see anyone... I look around again.

"Sorry to keep you waiting..."

At that moment, a beautiful woman who smelled wonderful struck up a conversation with me.

Her off-the-shoulder deep red dress accentuated her beautiful figure, creating a mermaid-like silhouette; her hair was styled in an updo, and her fair neck almost made me forget to breathe.

"I...I have this feeling like I'm going to be attending a piano recital..."

"Oh, it's Yuigahama. I was wondering who it was."

Thanks to her giving herself away as soon as she opened her mouth, I was able to recognize Yui. If she had pretended to be serious and hadn't said a word, I probably wouldn't have recognized her at all.

"Couldn't you at least compare it to attending a wedding ceremony? To describe that outfit as going to a piano recital is just really complicated..."

At this moment, another beautiful woman dressed in a dark black dress appeared.

Against the backdrop of her softly shimmering fabric, her snow-white skin appeared even more radiant. Beneath the knee-length, ruffled skirt lay a pair of long, slender legs. Her long, black hair, tied in a ponytail and as lustrous as the finest silk, cascaded down to her chest in soft curls, resembling a jewel, even more eye-catching than her clothes.

This person is undoubtedly Yukino Yukinoshita.

"Well, it's because it's the first time I've dressed like this. But Yukino, who exactly are you?"

"Isn't that a bit much? I just happen to have clothes like that."

"Most people wouldn't own clothes like that. Speaking of which, where can you buy those kinds of clothes? Like, at Simeonle?"

"Simengle? This is the first time I've heard of this brand."

That's the kind of answer she gave me. Since she hasn't heard of Simmons, she probably hasn't heard of UNIQLO either, right?

"Okay, let's go."

Yukino pressed the elevator button, and with a "ding" sound, the indicator light lit up, and the elevator door quietly slid open.

This is a transparent elevator. As you ascend, the entire Tokyo Bay unfolds before your eyes. The lights of ships sailing along the bay, the taillights of vehicles driving along the shore, and the dazzling lights of skyscrapers add vibrant colors to Makuhari's night view.

After reaching the top floor, the elevator door opened again.

What appeared before us was a dimly lit bar area. The bar's lighting was soft, as understated as candlelight.

"Hey...you're not kidding, are you...?"

The atmosphere here was clearly unwelcoming to me.

Under the stage lights, a white woman was playing a jazz piano piece. I guessed she was American, since foreigner and American are synonymous.

"Let's go back," I gestured to Yui, and she nodded vigorously. Just having Yui, who was also a commoner, there made me feel very safe.

Unfortunately, living under the snow of the upper class is not allowed.

"Don't look around."

My foot got stepped on by a shoe heel.

“Hmm!”

The intense pain almost made me cry out. Your heels are way too sharp! Are you some kind of devilish commander from "Bakusou Kyoudai Let's Go!"?

"Straighten your back, lift your chest, and remember to tuck your chin in."

While whispering a reminder to me, Yukinoshita gently grasped my right arm, her slender and graceful fingers wrapping around it.

"Th-um...what's going on, Ms. Yukinoshita..."

"Don't panic. Yuihama-san, you do the same."

"Huh? Huh?"

Yui gave me a "I don't understand what you're thinking" look, but still obediently did as I said. That is to say, she put her hand on my left arm.

"Then, let's go."

At Xuexia's command, I followed their steps slowly. As soon as we passed through the open, heavy wooden door, a male servant stepped forward and bowed to us.

The waiter didn't ask questions like "How many people are there?" or "Do you smoke?" He kept a step and a half distance from us and led us to a bar seat by the glass window.

A female bartender was wiping glasses behind the bar; she was tall and had a pretty face. In the dimly lit bar, her expression, which hinted at sadness, and the beauty mark under her eye that seemed to indicate she was about to cry, perfectly matched the atmosphere.

...Wait, isn't she Kawasaki?

Her long hair was styled in a bun, and she wore a waitress's uniform, moving with elegance and without making a sound. This image was completely different from her school days, showing no trace of servility.

Kawasaki didn't recognize us; she just quietly brought us coasters and nuts, then waited patiently. I thought she would definitely shove the menu at us and ask, "Hey, what do you want to order?" But of course, that kind of thing wouldn't happen in a place like this.

"Kawasaki."

I spoke softly to Kawasaki, who looked somewhat puzzled.

"Excuse me, may I ask who you are?"

"They're in the same class, yet you can't recognize him. Typical of Hikigaya-kun."

Yukino said admiringly as she sat down on a bar stool.

"No, he was dressed very differently today, so it's understandable that you didn't recognize him."

Yuihama smoothed things over for me, then sat down in a chair as well. The remaining empty seat was between the two of us. If we were playing Othello, I would have no choice but to concede; if it were Go… well, I don’t know the rules of Go.

"I've finally found you, Saki Kawasaki."

As soon as Yukinoshita opened her mouth, Kawasaki's expression immediately changed.

"Under the Snow..."

Kawasaki's hostility was palpable, as if he were seeing his father's killer. These two shouldn't have crossed paths, but Yukinoshita was quite famous on campus; her looks and personality probably made some people uncomfortable.

"Good night."

Yukino greeted him casually, it was unclear whether she understood Kawasaki's feelings.

When their eyes met, I felt like sparks were about to fly.

It's probably the lighting? It's really scary.

Kawasaki squinted at Yuihama, perhaps because he saw Yukinoshita from the same school there and assumed that the person next to her must also be a classmate, so he wanted to take a closer look.

"Hello..."

Yuihama, unable to withstand Kawasaki's courage, assessed the situation and gave a warning.

"Yuihama... I didn't recognize her at first glance. So, is she also a student at Soubu High School?"

"Ah, that's right. He's the autistic guy in our class, Hachiman Hikigaya."

After I simply nodded and greeted him, Kawasaki suddenly laughed, seemingly unwilling to offer any further explanation.

"So we've been discovered...?"

She stopped hiding it, simply shrugged, and leaned against the wall with her hands clasped. Perhaps because the truth had come out, she felt that nothing mattered anymore.

She began to show that lazy demeanor that was unique to her at school, and after letting out a soft sigh, she glanced at us.

"What would you like to drink?"

"Peluya".

Yukino said something I'd never heard of before. What was it again... Pei-li? Was she just ordering a drink?

"Me too!"

"what……"

I was going to answer like that, but Yui beat me to it, and I completely missed my chance. Hmm... what should I order now? Should I answer Dom Pérignon (Note 39, a famous French champagne brand) or Dom Penguin? Just to clarify, Dom Penguin is the mascot of Chicco (Note 40, a Japanese chain discount store), so even if I ordered it, it probably wouldn't be served.

"Your name is Hachiman, right? What would you like to drink?"

The Perry I ordered earlier seems to be a beverage... so, as long as I don't mention Harris or Sadoy or anything like that, okay? (Note 41: Harris likely refers to the American television presenter Melissa Harris-Perry. Sir Ernest Masson Sator was a 19th-century British diplomat and Japanologist who was stationed in Japan.) In that case, I'll just think of a random drink name...

"I want MAX..."

"Give him a spicy ginger ale."

I was interrupted by Yukinoshita before I could finish speaking.

"OK."

Kawasaki gave a wry smile, then took out three champagne glasses, skillfully poured in the drinks we ordered, and placed them on three coasters.

We silently raised our glasses to each other and took a sip of our drinks. Then, as if remembering something, Yukino added:

"...There's no way there could be MAX Coffee here, is there?"

"Really? This is Chiba Prefecture!"