My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 501

But Ms. Hiratsuka called me back as I was about to turn and leave.

"Hikigaya."

I didn't turn around, but I couldn't ignore her either, so I stopped walking.

"...I'm sorry. I can't bring myself to say it."

I couldn't see Hiratsuka-sensei's expression. But I knew without a doubt that she was bowing her head sadly. Because I probably had a similar expression.

Just as I was about to speak, the bitter taste of the coffee I had just drunk returned to my mouth, and the sweet milk clung to my throat.

I swallowed it back, along with the sigh that almost escaped my lips, and pretended to cough.

"...Uh, you don't need to apologize to me."

I glanced at it, forced a smile, and began to speak fluently.

"What can we do? That's just how work is. I know there are many things we can't say in principle. Besides, you haven't really decided to leave yet, have you?"

I tried to speak in a light tone, with my usual attitude. Even knowing it was impossible, I said something against my will. However, Hachiman Hikigaya wasn't a cheerful person, so my tone still sounded somewhat insincere, tinged with emptiness.

Hiratsuka-sensei lowered her gaze.

"Yes, we haven't received any official notification yet."

In the workplace, you can't tell others about things that haven't been officially confirmed. That's just the rule.

Hiratsuka-sensei's words were, for both of us, a kind of excuse. But they were, undeniably, clearly, and unshakeably established rules.

Therefore, we were able to compromise on the grounds that "we had no choice but to accept it." She didn't tell me it wasn't based on malice or goodwill, but simply because of the explicit rules. We both understood this, which is why we could accept it, and smile and say it was nothing, that it was only natural.

"It would be embarrassing if I hadn't quit."

The teacher brushed her long hair aside with the back of her hand and laughed heartily.

"real."

I laughed too. That laugh made me feel a little lighter for a moment.

But I feel so empty.

I understand that myself.

No amount of joking can make this seem like a joke; even the jokes feel superficial. I know this is just using shallow words to cover up the truth.

However, that concludes this chapter.

My conversation with the teacher has ended.

"Then I'm leaving."

"Yeah, come on."

I nodded to her and stepped forward again. Behind me, I heard the sound of a lighter, the flint making a "click" sound, followed by a short sigh.

Hiratsuka-sensei probably has to go back to work.

I didn't look back, and walked out of the office.

Volume 13, Part 2: In any case, Isshiki Iroha had something he wanted to confirm.

The setting sun shone on the glass windows overlooking the sea.

On the other side, the sky was a pale, inky blue, and orange streetlights lit up one by one, illuminating the students on their way home.

Although the days were a bit longer than before, it still got dark quickly. With the time to leave school approaching, the sounds of sports clubs practicing on the playground had already faded away.

I didn't stay in the faculty office for very long, but that was enough time for the scenery around the school to change. In the cramped space separated by partitions, you couldn't even feel the passage of time.

But everything changed when I simply looked away.

Even now, in the short walk from the office to the student union, one might miss a moment of change.

Therefore, I quickened my pace.

The setting sun illuminated the corridor where I was all alone.

The main campus, with more windows than the special and new buildings, was brightly lit, but thanks to the clean glass, it felt quite cool. Winters there could even be described as cold.

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the cold, stifling air.

It wasn't a light, quick tapping sound, nor a cool, crisp click, nor a rough, thumping footstep; it was a splashing sound, somewhat like the sound of water.

Because I was in a hurry, half of my heel was sticking out of my tattered indoor shoes, making a somewhat amusing sound when I walked.

But I will never stop.

That alone is a huge step forward.

After talking with Hiratsuka-sensei, my legs seemed to feel lighter.

The things that need to be done and the things that need to be thought about are obvious.

There's no need to think about anything else now. Those things weighing on my mind, I've figured them out and let them go. Those things that lingered somewhere in my heart, I've given up on.

Be like a machine and do the only remaining task well.

As long as this goal is achieved, everything else can wait. Now that the objective has been set, it's time to explore various means to achieve it. That's what I need to do now.

As I walked, the sunlight in the corridor suddenly stopped.

The glass windows that we thought would last forever have been replaced with the walls of the student council office.

The office door was tightly shut, and I couldn't hear any breathing inside. Only my own breathing could be heard. I exhaled softly, trying to calm myself.

I haven't seen Yukinoshita or Isshiki these past few days. The last time we met was the day Yukinoshita and her mother came to the school and asked us to cancel the dance. After that, the only things I said to Yukinoshita were vague refusals; it didn't even qualify as a conversation.

Therefore, I pay special attention to staying calm. Once I get agitated, it will be impossible to correct the conflicting views on right and wrong.

Yeah, that's not a problem. Don't worry, my emotions are almost completely dead, only negative feelings remain. Isn't that even worse?

I'm so nervous, can I do it well...? No problem, no problem, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it! Go go go!

I lowered my IQ by about 500 million to cheer myself up, quickly switched my mood, and knocked on the student council's door.

There was a slight noise coming from behind the door.

"Here it comes—"

A voice came through the door, followed by the sound of footsteps.

The door opened immediately, and strands of flaxen hair swayed back and forth through the crack. A pair of legs stepped out lightly, the hem of her skirt swaying, her overly long pink sweater blending into the sunset.

Iroha Isshiki tilted her head cutely, revealing her face, and her expression instantly changed the moment she saw me. In short, it was a "Oh no..." look.

"...Ah──"

Isshiki sighed softly, glanced behind her, walked out of the student council office, closed the door behind her, and looked up at me with an awkward expression.

"So they really came..."

"Hmm. What about Yukinoshita?"

Isshiki turned her head slightly, looking at the door behind her. It seemed Yukinoshita was in the office. I exhaled a breath that was a mixture of relief and nervousness.

I gripped the area near my trouser pocket tightly, wiping the sweat from my hands, and reached out towards the doorknob.

Isshiki instantly moved to the side, blocking my way. Are you imitating a crab? In that case—I moved to the other side, and Isshiki followed suit, obstructing me. Is this tight marking now? You absolutely should be the current Japanese national team's defenseman…

"Uh...you're blocking the way...excuse me, could you please?"

I tried to ask her to move aside, but Issei crossed her arms, stood tall and blocked the doorway.

"I need to ask you what you want. Outsiders are not allowed in."

Isshiki shook her finger with a serious expression. Because the student council president is quite easygoing, I'd been able to come and go as I pleased without any problems. But now that she's said it, it's clear the student council does indeed prohibit outsiders. At my level, I'd be considered an outsider in most places, so her serious approach to this issue leaves me unsure what to do.

This guy is usually so easygoing, why is he being unusually long-winded today... The way he's sticking his hands on his hips, wiggling his fingers, and puffing out his cheeks is kind of cute...

However, I sensed a firm resolve from her that she would absolutely not budge from the doorway, which clashed sharply with her feigned cuteness. She wouldn't let me in unless I told her the truth.

"...I'm here to help."

I hesitated for a moment, but in the end I chose the simple, clear, and absolutely correct answer.

"..."

Isshiki was a little surprised and stood there stunned. "Hmm, so you agree?" I took advantage of her stunned moment and quickly stepped towards the door.

"Then I'll go in."

"No way ♥"

“Eh…”

Isshiki moved sideways again, smiling as he blocked my way. Is this guy the gatekeeper of Agebea City [Note 6: The strongest soldier in the game Dragon Quest, who blocks the protagonist from entering the city]?

I thought we would be deadlocked, but Ishiki probably realized that I wasn't going to back down either, and suddenly became very obedient.

"Um... you're here to ask about the dance, right?"

"Yeah."

Isshiki clenched her fist, pressed it against her forehead, and tilted her head to one side, revealing a complicated expression. After a while, she glanced behind her, then walked a few steps away from the door and waved to me. She probably had something to say to me, but didn't want Yukinoshita to hear it.

I should just ignore her and go inside... The moment this thought crossed my mind, Isshiki seemed to sense it too, grabbed my coat sleeve, and pulled me away without hesitation.

I couldn't shake off her little hand, so I had to obediently follow behind her for a while in the corridor. After turning the corner, we arrived at the open-air corridor connecting the main school building and the special building.

The corridor walls are lined with benches, where students often gather during breaks; now, as it's almost time to leave school, there's not a single student in sight, replaced by a cool, tranquil atmosphere and the setting sun in the west.

Isshiki stopped near the bench by the wall, turned around, and finally let go of my sleeve. I smoothed out the wrinkles in my sleeve, feeling a slight warmth still lingering on it, and felt a little embarrassed. Please don't pull on my sleeve so suddenly! It's so embarrassing…

"Thank you for your kind thought, senior. I'm very happy about it..."

With her back to the window, she stammered as she spoke. She lowered her head slightly, looking somewhat embarrassed, her long eyelashes drooping down.

"However, it's not convenient for you to come in right now, or rather, it's not convenient for you to meet."

"why?"

I sat down on the bench and asked, but Isshiki put his hands behind his back and leaned against the glass window.

"To be honest, I think things will get more complicated if you come now. It would be better if you came later."

"Ah...yes, that's right."

I know what Isshiki is referring to. He was there when we had our argument. Having witnessed that pointless fight, he's naturally worried. I myself am also a little uneasy about meeting Yukinoshita. But I can't back down because of that.

"...Don't worry. I'll talk to her properly."

"Huh? Is that really true?"

Her eyes were filled with suspicion… her lips twisted into an “ugh” shape, her brows furrowed. What was the meaning of this blatant disbelief in me…? Her unwavering gaze made me restless, so I secretly looked away and cleared my throat.

"Really... I've already figured out what to say."

If we were to delve into topics like interdependence, things would obviously become much more difficult to handle. Therefore, we should avoid that area and approach the issue from other angles. Even if we have different ideas, since we share the common goal of making the ball a success, we should be able to have a constructive dialogue.

That's what I was thinking, but why did Iseki's expression remain completely unchanged...?

"I've figured out what to say... Wow~ That's so unbelievable!"

She gave a disdainful look and expressed her extremely cruel thoughts.

"Sigh, there's nothing I can do if you don't believe me."

I've never earned the trust of others in my life. I'm well aware of this, so I just shrug.

Iroha remained silent for a moment, staring intently at me, then sighed softly, slumped her shoulders, as if she had given up hope, or perhaps felt speechless towards me.

"That's really overprotective."

She murmured something, then sat down beside me, clutching her skirt, resting her chin on her hands on her thighs, her head slightly raised. Her hair near her shoulders swayed, shimmering in the setting sun. Our gazes were fixed on something seemingly farther away than the window opposite.

"Yukino-senpai is trying her best. I understand how she feels..."

"……yes."

I braced my hands behind my back against the wall and looked up at the ceiling.

Logically speaking, Isshiki's approach was probably the right one. For someone who wants to achieve their goal single-handedly, the others should just stand by and watch.

"Even so... you still want to help, senior?"

I shifted my gaze back to her; Isshiki was propping her cheek up with her hand, staring at me intently. It was a rather cute act, but beneath her eyes lay a chilling seriousness.

"...That's what I plan to do."