My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 505

Please don't casually use responsibility as an excuse.

I kept my head down while you were talking, so I know you weren't looking at my face, or rather, you couldn't see it. But please, consider the atmosphere. Senior, Yukino-senpai, and Yui-senpai are all difficult to deal with, and I'm pretty difficult too, you know.

It's really difficult.

Thinking about this made me accidentally stop working, which I had finally managed to get started.

He kept glancing at the clock, lost in thought about what had just happened, thinking to himself, "It's almost time to go home, isn't it—"

I checked the clock five times, but only two minutes had passed. I sighed a total of eight times.

As I sighed for the ninth time, Yukino-senpai looked up from behind the computer screen and pressed her eye. She wasn't wearing the glasses that were supposed to relieve eye strain; she just had them on the table and was using eye drops instead.

The action of wiping away the water droplets that had slid down my cheeks made my heart skip a beat, and I inadvertently blurted out that it wouldn't matter if I didn't say it.

"Um, shouldn't we be going now?"

Yukino-senpai was still pressing the corner of her eye, tilting her head slightly to look at me. Her expression was more alluring than usual, and I was a little scared.

"...That's true. I'll stay a little longer, you can go back first."

"Yeah……"

Looking at Yukino-senpai's calm expression, which could only be described as a "smile," I hesitated a little before speaking. Her gentleness made me feel awkward about going back. I pouted, wondering what to do. Yukino-senpai, as if she already knew I had to go back, continued:

"Also, we can invite the student council members over tomorrow."

"Huh? Oh, oh... Isn't this too fast? We just finalized the plan today!"

"I'll finish writing the detailed plan today. And if we're going to have a ball, it's better to start preparing early, right?"

She spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, but her face showed confusion, and I was instantly stunned.

"...Yukino-senpai is very certain."

"Um."

Her response remained unchanged. However, I probably looked quite uneasy. Yukino-senpai noticed this and looked somewhat troubled.

"that……"

He was halfway through his sentence, about to continue, when he finally decided to give up.

This is probably not something I should say.

Yukino-senpai tilted her head and asked, "What is it?" waiting for me to finish. However, I'm probably not the one qualified to say that, so I smiled and said:

"...Please don't push yourself too hard."

"Thank you. I'm fine."

After saying that, she started typing again. Her fair face was illuminated by the screen, beautiful in a way that was heartbreaking, as if she might truly disappear like snow.

"This is the last time... this way we can bring things to a proper close."

It didn't sound like a whisper directed at me; it sounded much like the faint voice I'd just heard. I lowered my head.

I hurriedly packed my coat and bag and rushed off. If I continued talking to the now gentler Yukino-senpai, I might accidentally say something unnecessary.

However, I feel a little resentful and it's unfair to just tell the truth.

"...Well then, I'll be going now. Oh! Please lock the door, senior."

"Yes. You've worked hard."

I said cheerfully, and Yukino-senpai smiled in response. Then she stared at the screen again and started typing away on the keyboard.

He looked even more energetic and enthusiastic than before, and even seemed a little cheerful.

but.

As I walked out of the student council office, I turned around and saw Yukino-senpai.

Looks like crying.

Volume 13, Part 3: Until the very end, Yui Yuigahama will continue to watch over us.

After leaving the office, I dragged my still heavy feet and walked slowly. The long day had left me physically and mentally exhausted.

When I left the school building, it was already dark, and the chill of the night seeped into my body.

A gust of wind made me shiver, and I put on the coat I'd been carrying around. A feeling of fatigue slowly crept over me; even raising my arm to wrap my scarf felt like too much work. In terms of fashion, it was reminiscent of the style of the former Takanohana Chikakata [Note 9: a former Yokozuna in Japanese sumo wrestling who would hang his scarf directly around his neck without wrapping it].

As I subconsciously prepared to walk towards the parking lot, I suddenly realized—oh right, it rained this morning, so I came by tram.

I dragged my heavy steps and walked weakly toward the school gate.

Along the way, I saw Isshiki Iroha running along, her skirt fluttering in the air.

She seemed to have seen me too. Before I could even call out, she jogged over and, with her gloved fist, gave me a soft punch to the side.

"it hurts……"

Because the gloves were furry, it didn't hurt much when I hit her, but seeing that Isshiki was sullen, I still politely let out a cry of sympathy. However, this didn't improve her mood at all; instead, she just stared at me coldly.

"Are you an idiot? Why are you making things so complicated?"

"Uh, wait a minute, no. It's not just my fault, look at Yukinoshita, she did the same thing..."

I tried to explain, but Isshiki wouldn't listen at all, turned her head away and walked off. I was a step too late to catch up.

"Please let me finish. Think about it, she's incredibly stubborn and extremely difficult, right?"

"Oh, thank you for introducing yourself."

"You're welcome... no, I'm not talking about me. Although I am too."

As I spoke, I quickened my pace to catch up with Yise, but I couldn't close the distance at all.

"Why are you walking so fast? Are you trying to shake off that guy selling charity pens?"

"Oh, no need, thank you."

Iseki didn't even glance at me, and answered coldly in a low voice.

Hmm—super indifferent. Even if I shouted "Vanilla—! Vanilla! High income!" [Note 10: the promotional song for the job search website "Vanilla"], she probably wouldn't follow. So, I decided to go with her myself.

I remember Isshiki was also going to the station ahead. Even though she was taking a different train than me, we were ultimately going to the same station.

I walked along in her shadow for a while.

During this time, we didn't speak, and all we could hear was the sound of footsteps on fallen leaves, the ringing of bicycle bells as they whizzed by, and the whistling of the wind.

It's no wonder Isshiki is upset. Not only did my negotiations with Yukinoshita break down, but I also declared I would oppose her. Isshiki didn't know about the Service Club competition, so naturally she was confused. Before I went into the student council office, she told me to do my job well, and here I am. I'm so sorry to her.

Should I apologize to her...? As I was pondering this, Isshiki suddenly stopped. There were two vending machines on the path next to the park, and in the light from the vending machines, Isshiki's slumped shoulders were clearly visible.

She sighed deeply, then turned around. Her previously sullen expression turned to helplessness. She silently pointed to the vending machine.

Is this a request for me to treat her to a meal...? Well, if this will appease her, it's a pretty good deal. Or rather, it's a coded message that she wants me to make up through treating her. You're such a nice person...

I clattered my change into the vending machine and chose a drink. One can was a warm, comforting MAX coffee. What should I get for the second one… milk tea? No, red bean soup would be better… there was also corn soup as an option. Ah, either way is fine. When indecisive, just press all the buttons at once. Hey—

I handed Isshiki the drinks I'd bought casually. In her right hand was a MAX coffee, and in her left, red bean soup. Isshiki looked at it and gave a disgusted expression.

"Why these two...?"

She complained, but still reluctantly chose red bean soup, probably because she felt embarrassed to refuse in such a situation. Surprisingly, a resident of Chiba Prefecture doesn't drink MAX coffee…

Isshiki squatted down with his back to the vending machine, took off his gloves, pulled the tab on the red bean soup, took a sip, and then "whoosh" exhaled white smoke.

"...Um, I'm sorry."

"Apologize for what?"

I stood next to Yise, pulled down the tab, and sipped my drink, waiting for her reply. She pouted, looking embarrassed, and murmured:

"I was thinking, if I hadn't mentioned the ball, would things have turned out differently?"

She spoke as if she were being sulky, her obedient demeanor both amusing and adorable, making me unable to resist staring at her. Iroha pulled her scarf over her mouth, asking indistinctly, "What's wrong...?" I shook my head with a wry smile.

"...It has nothing to do with you. That's actually just right."

"what?"

Isshiki looked up at me, then tilted her head. Perhaps it was because my tone was gentler than I had expected, or maybe it was due to the temperature and sweetness of the canned coffee. I felt inexplicably shy and looked up at the sky.

"If we don't bring it to a close somewhere, it will just drag on indefinitely. We need a goal, or rather, an end point. Even if it were something else, it would have ended up like this."

"is that so……"

The weak voice worried me, so I turned my gaze back to her. She was hugging her knees, head bowed, seemingly lost in thought. But she had no reason to worry.

My relationship with Yukinoshita, Yuigahama, and the Service Club members has become distorted at some point. Of course, it was distorted from the beginning. However, with the passage of time, it should gradually correct itself and transform into a comfortable space.

Part of the responsibility for the breakdown of this relationship lies with me. Even though I couldn't tolerate anything unnatural, I still wanted to maintain the status quo, using vague words to embellish the surface, trying to keep things going like this.

Whatever the trigger, this unstable state will likely eventually crumble. And that trigger just happens to be the ball, or perhaps it's Yukinoshita Haruno. Isshiki can be said to have been caught in the crossfire. I'm the one who should apologize.

"I should be apologizing for making such a mess of things."

Upon hearing what I said, Isshiki swayed his body and made a lazy, uninterested sound.

"Ah...it's okay."

"Oh……"

I responded lazily, and the conversation was temporarily interrupted.

The coffee gradually cooled in our hands. However, both Yise and I were lost in thought, not rushing to finish it. Perhaps the fatigue from a busy day was starting to surface. Tomorrow will likely be even busier.

I thought I was destined to be unrelated to work or labor, but before I knew it, I was actively involved in the dance. Initially, I was against it, but in the end, I succumbed to everyone's enthusiasm. I have no idea where her enthusiasm came from.

"...Seriously, why are you so insistent on holding the ball?"

"Why are you suddenly asking this?"

Isshiki looked over in surprise and quickly put a little distance between me.

"No, because I haven't heard you give me a detailed reason."

I can definitely feel your enthusiasm. Conversely, it's only when I feel your enthusiasm that I can truly understand it.

Although we knew Isshiki to some extent, we were willing to help her simply because of her enthusiasm.

When she came to the club office to see us, she said she wanted to be the prom queen, but she couldn't possibly be serious. Isshiki would lie to get by, make silly jokes, and sometimes be too frivolous and casual, but she was also inexplicably clever and would never misjudge the essence of things. Therefore, she must have had her reasons for wanting to go to the prom.

"Hmm—"

Isshiki raised his index finger, rested it on his chin, and began to speak.

"Well... it must be because of that, Professor Hiratsuka is leaving."

"...You already knew, didn't you?"

"Yes, that's right. Wasn't I supposed to be giving the farewell speech? I overheard it by accident while discussing it with the teachers."

She spoke of it so casually. This guy is really something. He knew all along but didn't tell anyone, keeping it quiet and secretly making plans for the ball…

I nodded in admiration and responded with a shy smile.

"Then I thought, if I don't give her a proper send-off and say goodbye properly, I'll probably regret it."

"You treat Hiratsuka-sensei so... *sob*"

I reflexively covered my mouth, trying not to cry. Hey, hey, hey, this guy really is a good person. What a beautiful teacher-student love… Isshiki, who gets scolded by Hiratsuka-sensei almost every day, who never respects her and only thinks about how to get rid of her, with such a terrible attitude… Hiratsuka-sensei, your love has truly reached your student…

My emotion didn't last long. Iseki quietly looked away and muttered to herself:

"Ah, uh, well, not quite that level... okay, maybe it is."

"Huh? What? What did you say?"

That sounds like an excuse that you can't do this.

However, Isshiki deliberately coughed to clear her throat to hide her feelings, revealed a cute smile, and looked up at me with a teasing look in her eyes.

"But that's just the type of guy I'm talking about. You feel like he'll be saying 'I didn't do anything—' and then regretting it terribly."

"Yes..."

At this very moment, I am filled with such regret, which is why I spoke these words with such emotion. Isshiki listened and nodded in satisfaction.

"I'm probably that type too."

This surprised me a little, and I tilted my head. Then, Isshiki gave a lonely smile and looked into the distance.

"Don't let my appearance fool you, I don't have any friends, do I?"