My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 504

"That—"

She interrupted me, looking down as she said:

"In the end, it'll all depend on you alone again..."

Her tone was calm and steady, yet it contained an optimistic quality that made the listener's heart clench.

Yukinoshita raised her face, revealing a weak smile. As if advising an ignorant child, she gently and slowly uttered her words.

"So, I want to change it. You understand what my sister is trying to say, right?"

"……Um."

I nodded and lowered my gaze.

Not only me, but she also understands the meaning of "co-dependence".

They understand, and do not wish for, to try to correct the wrong relationship and stand on their own two feet.

I can't even ask right or wrong; I just spout vague, nice-sounding empty words, getting bogged down in tangled, complicated relationships.

"But... I feel I should also take responsibility. The fault isn't entirely on one person."

After finally finishing my sentence, I looked up and met Yukino's gaze. Her expression was contorted, and she silently looked down, a sight too painful to bear. Seeing her like this, I dared not say another word.

But if I don't say it now, I definitely won't say it in the future. I know very well how difficult, useless, and pathetic I am.

Therefore, even if it's inconvenient, unspeakable, difficult, or undesirable to say, one has no choice but to speak out.

"Indeed, doing nothing might not cause any problems. But that wouldn't solve the root of the problem. If our previous approach was wrong, we should look for different approaches, different ideas, different methods of intervention..."

I pondered whether there was a better way to express myself, yet reason and self-awareness always seem to bare their fangs at times like these. Meaningless words take shape the moment they're uttered, and with each sentence, they drift further from the truth. Perhaps due to anxiety, I noticed my hand clenched into a fist under the table. I unclenched it and wiped the sweat from my hands on my trousers.

I don't know if I can convey my thoughts to her with these words.

"And then... no matter what the outcome, I want to take responsibility."

It doesn't matter if I don't convey these words to her.

So... I want to... help you.

It was just something I wanted to say, a self-satisfying outpouring of my own desires. It was simply imposing my own wishes on her. I knew this myself, which is why I dared not look at the snow, my eyes always fixed elsewhere.

"...Thank you. But that's fine...this is enough."

Her soft murmur was as calm as the fine snow in the dead of night, so beautiful that it seemed to vanish instantly, yet possessed a power that compelled one to turn and look at her. Her expression was gentle, and upon seeing that beautiful smile, I instinctively swallowed back my breath and the words I wanted to say.

In the silence that seemed as if frost might fall, Yukinoshita continued in a delicate voice:

"The main reason lies with me. I've always relied on you and Yui-chan... which has led to this mediocre situation. Without a thorough cleanup, no one can move forward. I'm the one who should take responsibility."

"...No. I also bear some responsibility."

I managed to squeeze out a sentence, but Yukinoshita lowered her gaze and gently shook her head. I gritted my teeth, trying to figure out how to respond to her denial, when Isshiki interrupted.

"I mean, is that the main point?"

She said impatiently, glaring at me and Yukinoshita.

We were both unable to answer and looked down. Continuing the conversation would likely lead nowhere; our views would never intersect. Knowing this, Yukino and I chose to remain silent.

As a result, the message was not successfully conveyed to her.

What is not spoken cannot be conveyed, and what is spoken still cannot be conveyed. This year, we have deeply realized this. To think that speaking out will make the other person understand is arrogance; to think that the other person will understand without speaking is wishful thinking.

Therefore, we always hesitate about what to say, how to express our troubles, and can easily utter a string of unimportant words, but cannot say a single word about what is truly important.

However, what I want to convey is not words. I am not clever enough to communicate my intentions with words.

Therefore, the answer is quite simple.

My approach—our approach was decided long ago.

"Okay. Then I won't say anything more. I won't help you."

In my opinion, that statement is truly concise and clear. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Isshiki looking somewhat surprised, and letting out a soft sigh.

Under the snow, a faint smile appeared on her face, as if she had breathed a sigh of relief, and she nodded quietly.

I know her answer. Even so, I can't help but remain silent, just to confirm. I can't continue without knowing my and Yukinoshita's positions.

I smiled.

"But I didn't say I wouldn't go against you."

"What?"

Iseki, who was listening nearby, tilted his head.

Yukinoshita was at a loss for words. However, she suddenly narrowed her eyes, seemingly understanding what I was trying to say.

I responded with a mocking laugh, raising my lightly clenched fist to my chest.

"Do I even need to ask what to do when we disagree?"

This was the only method that came to mind when I was talking to Professor Hiratsuka.

If you're not good at talking, then show it with actions.

"I'm also somewhat involved, and I'd feel bad if the ball couldn't be held. But I find it hard to agree with your approach... In that case, I'll have to do it myself."

"Are you serious?"

Yukino asked with half-closed eyes, and I nodded in response.

Although this reason is selfish, it is indeed plausible as an excuse for me to interfere with the dance.

Giving up our involvement here might negate our past relationship and the very existence of the Service Society.

Therefore, I should try. Try to prove that we were not codependent during that period.

I believe that only after proof is complete can we be guided to the right relationship.

"The competition isn't over yet. The Service Club hasn't required everyone to use the same methods. So, it's fine if I use different methods than you, isn't it?"

She'd said something similar to me before. She probably remembers it herself. Yukinoshita lowered her gaze and bit her lip slightly. Since the structure and basic points of the competition remain unchanged, the arguments she used when she was at odds with me should still be valid now.

I waited for Yukino's reply, but she didn't give a clear answer. I only heard a soft sigh that sounded like she was troubled.

That's fine.

Isshiki glanced at the silent Yukinoshita and sighed.

"I'm fine with anything. As long as the ball goes on, the process doesn't matter. What Yukino-senpai said earlier also applies; if we do it the way you did, there shouldn't be any problems, right?"

Her words were somewhat cold, leaving Yukino speechless.

A long silence followed. Or perhaps, this silence was her answer. Thinking of this, I sighed.

Sure enough, even when the competition was mentioned, she wouldn't agree... No matter how unwilling she is to admit defeat, Yukinoshita isn't that naive.

However, whatever Yukinoshita's reply may be, my attitude will not change.

"...Hey, I didn't mean to ask for permission. I'm just doing my own thing. Just understand that."

To be precise, this was not a negotiation. Rather, it didn't even qualify as a negotiation; it was merely a notification or declaration.

She was intelligent enough not to be unable to understand. Yukino sighed softly, bit her lip slightly, closed her eyes in pain, put her hand to her mouth, and fell into thought.

The quiet space was broken by her calm breathing. However, this silence was different from the one before. I sensed that it wasn't a silence of rejection, but rather a blank space before moving on to the next step.

Snowflakes brushed their fingertips to their lips, and their tightly closed lips parted. A faint sound, indistinguishable between a sigh and a murmur, instantly escaped from their mouths.

"so……"

Her words vanished like the evening glow mingling in the stillness, perhaps because she never intended to speak at all.

As I leaned forward to ask her a question, Yukinoshita slowly opened her eyes. Her serious expression relaxed, and her gaze returned to calm.

She was as beautiful as a frozen white flame, yet ethereal and elusive. Her resolute and noble appearance made me instinctively hold my breath. I forgot to ask her what she was going to say next, and I couldn't even look away.

"The winner of the competition can make one request of the loser... That works, right?"

Her pale blue eyes sparkled with intelligence. Her straight gaze, devoid of any confusion, stared at me, a stark contrast to her previous expression, which seemed to be deep in thought.

I looked straight back at the snow and nodded in response to her question.

"Okay, that's fine."

I got goosebumps at the long-lost feeling; we'd had similar conversations before. The return of the familiar atmosphere made me feel relieved.

The air relaxed.

At this moment, Isshiki, who was sitting next to him listening, muttered to himself:

"Ugh, what is this? That's disgusting."

"Hello……"

I rebuked her with my eyes, and she looked embarrassed, only moving her neck and lowering her head.

"Uh, because it's really kind of disgusting and it's inexplicable... And why do you look so smug, senior...?"

She launched into a long, nasty rant. This girl is really… I frowned and heard a soft chuckle.

"Yes, it is indeed a bit disgusting."

Turning my head, I saw Yukinoshita smiling. It felt like ages since I'd seen her radiant, flower-like smile. Isshiki looked too, nodding and saying, "Right—". Thanks to them, my tense nerves snapped, leaving me instantly exhausted.

I said…

"Just kidding. But that's the beginning."

Yukino cleared her throat slightly, her smile fading, though a hint of amusement lingered in her eyes. She gazed at me, her eyes holding a mixture of pleasure and provocation.

"Let me confirm. I used my method, and you used yours to make the ball a success. The winner can order the loser to do one thing, is that alright?"

"Uh-huh……"

I responded blankly, and Yukino nodded contentedly. I stared at her strong smile with my mouth slightly open.

Yukino probably thought it was strange that I hadn't said anything, and she glanced at me.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh, no. How should I put it, I'm a little surprised you agreed... right?"

I didn't know how to express myself, so I subconsciously looked at Isshiki and asked for her opinion. Isshiki sighed sullenly and shrugged, as if to say "what's it to me?" Perhaps because she didn't know the details of that match.

"What's so strange about that?"

Yukino brushed aside the hair hanging over her shoulders and said casually.

But for me, this puzzle is quite difficult. I tilted my head in puzzlement, and a smug smile appeared on Yukinoshita's face.

"Don't you know? I'm very competitive."

Then, with a mischievous smile, as if teasing me, he revealed the answer to the riddle.

Volume Thirteen Interlude

That was practically a confession.

Or it could be described as a couple arguing or breaking up.

I don't care, that's not important.

But being forced to listen to this conversation made me feel like an idiot. Even though I was there, I felt like a complete outsider, which was a bit annoying.

Naturally, one would want to curse it as disgusting.

I really hope he takes responsibility.

After the senior left, I glared at the office door one last time.

I never imagined he could make things so complicated so perfectly and cleanly.

I really want to catch up with him right away and complain to him.

If someone said those things to me with such a serious expression, it would give me a lot of trouble.

His eyes were hard to tell if they were open or not, his mouth was always downturned, and he kept complaining, saying things that were hard to tell whether they were lies or jokes. If I teased him even slightly, he would immediately panic, but his reaction was very calm and slow.

However, the senior student occasionally—very occasionally—would show a very serious expression, which was quite awful.

I really, really hope he takes responsibility.

Besides, no one has ever asked you to take responsibility.