My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

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I strode up to her, turned around, puffed out my chest meaninglessly, and struck a cool pose.

"Hmm—" Yuihama looked at it, hesitated for a moment, and asked in a low voice, finding it difficult to speak:

Have you had a detailed talk with her?

"...Will talking about it solve the problem?"

The unspoken implication was, "This is me and Yukinoshita." Yuihama seemed to realize my implication and slumped her shoulders.

"We haven't talked about it..."

As expected of Yuigahama, or simply Yuigahama. She knows her stuff.

"No. So, we can only do it through a competition. In short, we have to get the dance sorted out first. Otherwise, we can't talk about anything else... Club activities and stuff, sigh, we'll think about those later."

I began to question what I was saying.

After the ball is over, what's next? What do I plan to do with the Service Society, which is no longer operating? What are my thoughts on our future?

However, we can't move forward until this issue is resolved. Now, at least we're at the starting line; all we need to do is figure out how to solve this illogical problem.

Before I knew it, we arrived at the classroom.

Yui walked over listlessly and stopped at the door before entering the classroom. I turned around to see what was wrong with her; Yui had her head down, as if she was thinking about something.

A short while later, she looked up at me with a serious expression.

"...Can I help with this?"

Yui gripped the backpack straps tightly, her gaze unwavering as she stared straight at me. Her tightly pressed lips and large eyes betrayed her inner struggle.

Seeing that expression, I simply couldn't refuse.

Volume Thirteen Interlude

I don't understand.

Whether I'm sitting in my seat, chatting with others, when the bell rings, or when class starts, I'm still constantly thinking.

I'm so confused. I thought this would be okay, that this would end things properly. So I even cried. But I really don't understand.

But that's right. That's the kind of person he is. That's the kind of person they are. Very smart, yet incredibly stupid.

They've always been this way, so they don't know of any other normal practices. Without a reason for conflict or competition, they can't even get close to each other.

Therefore, this is an excuse.

If you win the game, you can do whatever you want with the loser.

Her wish has probably been made.

Like me, yet opposite to me. Similar to me, yet completely different.

There is only one way to fulfill her wish.

But absolutely not.

In whatever form it takes, I absolutely must find a way to intervene, otherwise everything will be destroyed.

...This statement must also be an excuse.

The notes that hadn't yet been copied into the textbook were erased, and the textbook was turned to the next page.

There was no sound of conversation, only the clatter of chalk and writing, mixed with sighs.

I secretly glanced at the spot where I always looked.

He propped his head up with his eyes closed, deftly twirling a pen in his right hand, his head slightly lowered, pretending to be looking at a textbook… However, today was probably considered mild. At more extreme times, he would simply slump onto the desk, completely looking like he was "sleeping." He always did this at the end of each get out of class.

I've been watching this all along.

Even if we're in different classes, even if he didn't notice, even if he didn't know, even after we got to know each other, even after our relationship gradually improved, he would probably keep watching.

So, just one more time.

To defend oneself like this. To lie like this.

I forced a smile.

He really is a cunning and despicable person.

Volume 13, Chapter 4: Once again, Hachiman Hikigaya initiated a conversation.

The classroom was filled with noise after school.

During class, I was half-asleep, lost in thought. Now, I'll stop thinking for now and get ready to go home. I put on my coat, wrapped my scarf around my neck, slung my empty backpack over my shoulder, and quickly stood up from my seat.

The target was the corner at the back of the classroom, by the window. After the bell rang and the students left the classroom, a group of people remained gathered there.

The queen of golden spiral curls, sitting in the middle, crossed her long legs, twirling her curls and scrolling through her phone with her fingertips. Standing next to her were Ebina, who had already packed her things, and Yuihama, whose back was to me. And standing with their backs to the window were Hayama and the three idiots, getting ready to go to club activities.

They were still basking in the relief of being out of class, chatting away happily. I had to interrupt them.

Honestly, getting involved is really painful. Just getting close takes a lot of energy, and you have to take the initiative to start a conversation, which is just impossible.

However, I'm the one who needs Yui's help. It's more polite for me to go to her. Sitting here waiting for Yui to come to me is just too pathetic. To put it another way, it's as pathetic as the original author who goes to the recording studio lobby during a break and waits for the voice actor to speak to them.

Even though I am extremely pathetic, every coward has their pride. Therefore, I bravely move forward.

One step, two steps... three steps, four steps... I slowly approached them like a Kyogen performer. Perhaps because I was so slow, Miura and the others didn't notice me and started talking about their plans for going out again. At this slow pace, I might just learn the Aerial Motoya Chop sooner or later [Note 15: a move used by Kyogen performer Izumi Motoya in a wrestling match].

I approached gradually, measuring in millimeters, and quietly circled behind Yuihama. After a light cough, I said:

"...I'm about to leave, what about you?"

"Ah, um. Let's go, let's go."

Yuihama turned around and answered very decisively. Then she quickly slung her backpack over her shoulder and waved to Miura and the others.

"Then I'm off."

"Okay—"

"Bye-Bye."

Miura nodded lazily in response, while Ebina waved with a smile.

Two of the three idiots looked at each other in surprise, while the remaining idiot glanced at us several times, saying, "Huh? Ah? Huh?" Hubu, you're really annoying.

Ye Shan glanced this way and revealed a strangely gentle smile.

What's going on?! It's so embarrassing and so painful, I'll definitely want to die afterwards...

Even after turning around, I still felt a warm gaze piercing my skin, and I quickly walked out of the classroom, not forgetting to pull my scarf up to cover my face.

Once in the corridor, I finally slowed down. Yuihama, who was just as fast as me, walked up to me and started scolding me.

"What are you doing! Can't you call me normally! Approaching me at such a slow speed is terrifying! I was really startled."

"No, I can't... I'm so nervous..."

The conversation just now completely drained my mental energy, causing me to speak in an extremely weak voice.

Yuihama sighed sullenly, then immediately gave a helpless smile.

We walked side by side down the corridor and came to a corner. To the left was the special building, and to the right was a staircase leading down.

"Where are we going?"

"Well... we need to decide what to do first... let's find a convenient place to talk."

"Hmm. Something like Salia?"

"yes."

Even though the option to serve the club was clearly available, neither Yuihama nor I suggested it. It's probably not that we forgot, but rather that we deliberately excluded it from the options. The reasons might differ, but they're likely similar.

That place was established because of her.

Therefore, we probably will never step into that community office again.

╳ ╳ ╳

I pushed my bicycle and walked a distance from school.

After entering Saizeriya near the station and being led to my seat by the waiter, I immediately ordered drinks for two. I poured my drinks and sipped them through the straw to recharge. I was originally going to order Milanese-style baked rice, spicy chicken wings, or garlic pasta, but I wasn't there for a meal; a few drinks would be enough.

I had barely thought that when Yuihama immediately opened the menu.

"I'm hungry—would you like something?"

She placed the menu across the four-seater table, leaned over, and started flipping through it rapidly. With each page, my eyes darted around. Could you please stop? Or rather, I've already had lunch… Then it suddenly occurred to me.

"What did you have for lunch?"

The moment she asked the question, Yui stopped flipping through the menu, moved away from it, and pressed herself against the back of the chair.

"...I'm full...do you have a problem with that?"

She muttered to herself in a very low voice, turning her flushed face away and secretly turning her body to the side. I could tell she was trying to make herself look thinner by turning to face me... but it only accentuated her fuller figure! I pretended to cough and slightly averted my gaze.

"Uh, that's not what I meant. You're supposed to eat lunch at the clubhouse, right? So what are you going to do now?"

"Oh, is that what you're asking about..."

Yuihama breathed a sigh of relief and turned back around. After a moment of thought, she slowly spoke.

"Yukino said she'll be eating at the student council during this time, and doing some work there, so I've been hanging out with Yumiko and the others lately... It feels like that after school too."

"yes."

I gave a brief reply, and Yui nodded with a lonely smile, twirling the straw in her glass.

During lunch breaks and after school, Yui and Yukinoshita mostly spent time together. Furthermore, before Yukinoshita went back to her hometown, Yui seemed to frequently visit her. They probably spent evenings and holidays together as well. However, after the official decision to hold the dance was made, these opportunities seemed to decrease considerably, likely because Yukinoshita had to focus on the preparations.

What will happen next? When the prom is over and we move up to third grade, will they still be able to spend the same amount of time together?

"...Never mind, we need to finish the ball first."

I said this as if to interrupt my thoughts, and finished my iced coffee. It had milk and syrup, but the taste was inexplicably bitter.

Yui Hama also held the glass in both hands, her gaze fixed on it. She took a sip through the straw and nodded vigorously.

"What should we do next?"

She looked up, her expression returning to its usual brightness. Thanks to her, I also recalled my usual behavior, and, clutching the hair at the back of my neck, slowly began to recount what I had been thinking about since last night.

"I've thought about it a lot, and it's unlikely that I'll succeed in organizing a ball using the usual methods. After all, a plan that's been rejected once is unlikely to be approved."

I've mentioned several projects before, such as cultural festivals, sports festivals, and Christmas events. However, considering those experiences, this dance party is particularly challenging.

All the events we've participated in have been discussed with the premise that they would be held no matter what. But this time, the parents aren't asking for improvements, they're asking for them to be canceled.

No matter how much you revise the plan, as long as the fundamental parts remain the same, the other party's reaction won't change.

More importantly, the fact that it had been rejected once became its biggest limitation.

This project can be said to have been branded a failure. The image of a failure will stay with it forever, and even if improvements are proposed later, they may not receive fair evaluation.

Negative impressions of the dance itself, coupled with the fact that it has already been rejected, will lead to parental bias. Therefore, symptomatic treatments cannot overturn their decision.

I chewed on the straw, sorted out my thoughts, and came to a conclusion.

"...Therefore, it is necessary to instill new prejudices in them."

Yuihama, who was listening to me with her mouth agape, said blankly:

"Prejudice... Ah! Is it vibes?"

"wrong."

That "I know!" look on her face! And that "I've heard that before!" tone. Completely wrong! Prejudice shouldn't be fueled. Looks like I need to explain things to her.

"The so-called bias is, ah... bias, or should I say prejudice... it refers to a certain tendency of thinking caused by preconceived notions, I guess. I'm not really sure either."

“Oh—”

Yui responded while tilting her head. This reaction clearly showed she didn't understand at all… well, I didn't understand that well either, so Yui just needs to get the gist.

What I hope she understands is what I'm about to say.

"In other words, in order to instill new prejudices in them, in addition to the ball that Yukinoshita and the others have prepared, we need to come up with a new ball plan."

Yuihama was stunned. Her gaze towards me gradually turned to surprise.

"……Why?"

"The current ball is considered a harmful entity. So what if something even more harmful appeared? It would become, 'The previous ball was actually quite nice,' right?"