My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 511

"The plan I'm trying to devise is a so-called 'sacrifice' strategy, merely a means to pave the way for the real objective. So, it's destined to be a waste of time. If you don't mind, please give me a hand."

I lowered my head, waiting for the others to respond. My grip on my sleeve tightened.

The silence was quickly broken. However, after a soft sigh, no one spoke for a long time.

Not long after, a deep sigh reached my ears. I looked up at the source of the sound, and saw Kawasaki looking guilty.

"I'm sorry. I have to help Yukino, so I can't go and help you too. We should be reasonable."

She had been supporting her head with her hand the whole time, but now she placed her hands on her lap and straightened her back. Her decisive attitude was captivating.

"...Yes, I understand. It would be better for you to help Yukinoshita and the others, since the project there is the priority. Thank you for your help."

Before the words were even out of his mouth, Kawasaki turned his head away and quickly threw out a sentence:

"I know without you saying it... but I'll still cheer you on."

She stammered a final addition. Totsuka, smiling at her, followed Kawasaki's words:

"I also have club activities to manage, so I can't help out the whole time... But if you need help, just let me know. The tennis club members will all help. After all, I'm the club president."

Totsuka patted his chest, and I naturally smiled.

"Thanks, I'm counting on you."

Although the actual number of staff hasn't increased, having insurance in case of an emergency is really reassuring. The key is having someone you can rely on, someone you don't have to worry about so much – that's the biggest help.

I secretly breathed a sigh of relief, just then, my sleeve was lightly patted. Without a word, I knew this gesture meant "That's great!" Too shy to look at her face, I could only nod gently in response.

There wasn't much progress. But it was a slight step forward... I looked up, and the wooden stool, which had remained silent, emitted a sound that was hard to tell whether it was a groan or a sigh.

“Hmm…”

Just when we thought he was deep in thought, Zaimokuza suddenly stood up. Kawasaki and Totsuka wisely got up to make way for him. Zaimokuza bowed his head in thanks, then swung his hand in a chop to his left as he passed by them. Once he was out of the way, he turned his back to me and struck that pretentious pose again.

"...This should be near Lucky in Nishi-Chiba. No, it should be Numa Ace." [Note 19: Both refer to amusement parks.]

He was muttering to himself while tapping on his phone. Yui and I exchanged puzzled glances. She looked at me asking, "What's he doing?" I could only silently shake my head and reply, "I don't know." All I knew was that he was talking about the name of the amusement park. But I couldn't just leave him there, so I called out to him anyway.

"Um, Zaimokuza-kun? Hello?"

Hearing my call, Timber, with his hands in his pockets, turned around and gave me a smug smile.

"...Well, we have no choice but to take a gamble."

Incredibly, this pose, which used to be strangely affected, looks surprisingly natural on me today, making my eyes widen. Wow, it's seriously incredibly cool!

"You need manpower, right? I'll contact you again tomorrow when you're free."

He left those words behind and walked away quickly. I stood there, stunned by an inexplicable feeling of being moved, and hurriedly stood up to say to his retreating figure:

"Sorry, I'm saved."

The timber stand stopped.

"Wait! And hold onto hope!" [Note 20: A famous line from the Count of Monte Cristo in the mobile game *Fate/Grand Order*.]

The image of him lifting his long coat, raising his fist, and shouting loudly caught my eye. Hey, hey, hey, really? Don't do that in the store... although he is undeniably handsome.

Volume 13, Part 5. At some point, the end credits began to play.

The day after the woodworker made his super cool declaration, the appointed time finally arrived.

After school, I looked towards the window at the back of the classroom. There, too, was a group centered around Miura, and Yuihama was, of course, among them.

I took a deep breath, braced myself, and stood up from my seat. Perhaps I pulled too hard, because the sound of pulling the chair was louder than I expected. Yui heard the noise and looked in my direction. In fact, everyone left in the classroom was looking at me.

I was so ashamed that I not only wanted to walk to the window, but also wanted to smash the glass and jump out, leaping towards the boundless sky and deep blue behind me [Note 21: a parody of *Grand Blue*]. And it wasn't just the blue sea; I almost turned the courtyard into a sea of ​​red...

However, this embarrassing moment didn't seem to be in vain. Yuihama picked up her backpack with a "heave-ho," waved to Miura and the others, and walked over with small steps.

"Are you leaving?"

"Um……"

Great! Yui spoke to me first... but this is so embarrassing! Hachiman is a shy yet willful seventeen-year-old! I quickly left the classroom, as if trying to escape the gazes of most of the students. Yui, in her indoor shoes, followed behind me with a clattering sound like a penguin.

I walked half a step ahead and came to the same fork in the road as yesterday. To the right was the stairs, to the left was the special building. Yui poked me in the back.

What are we going to do today?

"Ah—the lumberyard contacted me..."

I took out my phone and confirmed the location he specified.

Yuihama was jumping around in place, tilting her head this way and that, asking me to show her. "Hey, you're in the way! You're so cute, but you're really an eyesore. Stop jumping, stop moving around, you're so annoying!" "I'll show you now, just a minute..." I silently handed her my phone.

"Look. He said he arranged to meet the others here."

"Oh──"

Yuihama peeked over my shoulder to look at her phone, blinked a couple of times, then tilted her head and looked at me with a puzzled expression.

"...Who should the chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) club invite?"

Faced with her question, I looked out the window into the distance. The sky outside was a clear, deep blue, without a single cloud. In this vast expanse, I saw the phantom of the timber stand giving a thumbs-up, revealing a wry smile that matched its presence.

"Trust him..."

"Ugh, saying that with that expression is so unconvincing..."

Yuihama's uneasy murmurs echoed down the corridor.

╳ ╳ ╳

Shortly afterward, we arrived at the special building designated by the timber company.

It wasn't the fourth floor where the service society was located, but the second floor, which was two floors below. The woodworker stood upright in a corner on the second floor, saw us, and waved to us.

"Oh, over here."

We followed his instructions and arrived at a classroom.

"here it is……"

Yuihama stared wide-eyed at the classroom. I was just as taken aback, then it suddenly dawned on me.

...I've been here before. I remember it was...a game...a game-themed human research club, or "Game Research" for short. Although my memory is a bit hazy, I remember playing Monopoly here with the three female gamers. [Note 22: A parody of "Asobi Asobi," the Game Research Club was a club founded by the three female protagonists.]

"I need your help."

Cai Muzuo knocked on the door casually and walked into the empty classroom without waiting for a response. We were taken aback and hurriedly followed him in.

Behind the door were mountains of cardboard boxes, books, and other items, standing like walls, forming a maze. It was a scene reminiscent of a bibliophile's study combined with a toy store on the street.

"This is the game club...right?"

Yuigahama tugged at my sleeve and asked. Thanks to her, I remembered. Yes, yes, the game club. There really is such a club.

While I was thinking, the wood stack went inside and disappeared into the highest pile of books and cardboard boxes.

I followed and went around to see two long tables put together, and two male students.

Upon seeing us, the two adjusted their glasses.

"Hello……"

"……haven't seen you for a long time."

I'd seen those two rather stylish glasses before... but I couldn't recall their names. Zai Muza excitedly arranged the folding chairs and laid out tea and snacks on the table. He positioned my and Yui's chairs towards the two game club members, while he himself stood on the game club's side.

“Thank you…”

Yui thanked me, and the game club and Zaimokuza said "Please sit down," their voices muffled in their mouths. She sat down slowly and awkwardly, and I plopped down in a chair as well.

"The timber scaffolding, the manpower you mentioned... is this it?"

"Hmm! These two are Qin Ye and Sagami!"

Zaimokuza pointed forward with his chin, introducing the place to me with an enthusiastic, focused smile, seemingly overjoyed. When did you two become so close…? Was it because of the game center? Never mind, I have no interest in Zaimokuza's friendships; that's not important. The real question is, which is which, Sagami or Qin Ye…? I stared at them, still unable to tell.

"Oh no, what the swordsman said is true."

"No way, I thought it was impossible..."

The guy who looks like Qin Ye is whispering to the guy who looks like Sagami.

Judging from their conversation, the two had already learned what had happened from the timber maker. That saved them a lot of trouble.

"...That's it. I need your help to devise a fake ball plan that will counter the ball while ensuring its smooth operation."

I rested my elbows on the table, leaned forward slightly, and struck a pose of great enthusiasm, as if to say, "Let's work hard together from now on!" The two game club members stared at me coldly.

"Is this guy an idiot?"

"Making such a fuss over something so trivial... are you out of your mind...?"

Qin Ye was dumbfounded on the spot, and Sagami showed me pity. Zai Muza felt genuinely pleased, and even proudly puffed out his chest.

"Right? That's it! This is Hachiman Hikigaya! I don't know why he would use such a bizarre method. It's really something, you idiot, fool, and a fool! Hehehe."

Ugh... I'm so annoyed... I really want to kick the chair over and leave. But Yui keeps tugging at the hem of my coat, so I can't leave even if I want to.

"You really need to ask them for a favor..."

I was completely at a loss for words, like someone trying to soothe a child. But it was true I needed their help, so I had to be polite and obediently ask. I sighed, putting my dissatisfaction and annoyance behind me, and simply lowered my head.

"I know this sounds harsh, but I need you as free laborers who can be used at will. Think of it as becoming Olympic volunteers; give up your resistance and come help." [Note 23: The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Sports Agency issued a notice to universities and colleges nationwide, requesting them to adjust class and exam times to accommodate the Olympics and facilitate student volunteer work. This move was met with strong criticism.]

"It really sounds awful..."

"Politicians all know how to package themselves to some extent..."

Perhaps because I was too frank, Qin Ye and Sagami both leaned back slightly, speechless. Yui Hama, looking like she was thinking, "Ah—this won't do," hurriedly waved her hand to smooth things over.

"I'm sorry! That's just how autistic men are! He's a bit..."

Although these words did not have the effect of smoothing things over, they probably wouldn't be too mean to Yuihama, so they showed ambiguous fake smiles.

Then, a meeting of the glasses experts was immediately convened. One of the glasses experts, sitting in the middle, quietly asked the one next to him:

"……what to do?"

"Well, I personally disagree."

For some reason, the woodworker sitting on the other side answered. "Uh, so you object..." The bespectacled man, who was actually being questioned, weakly raised his hand.

"Well, to be honest, I didn't really want to hold a dance..."

Hearing him say that, the other two pairs of glasses nodded in agreement.

Yes, I understand. I understand how you feel. I really want to say that, but this time I can't back down no matter what.

That Zaimokuza, that Zaimokuza with even worse social skills than me, deliberately sought out someone younger who had once looked down on him. I absolutely cannot sever such a fragile bond. To repay Zaimokuza's noble sacrifice, I must find a way to persuade these two… otherwise, I'd be letting down Zaimokuza, who's weeping in the afterlife. I hope that guy can at least sleep peacefully.

It seems I need to get serious and sincerely try to persuade them.

I coughed twice to get attention, speaking in an unusually solemn tone, but in a low voice, as if I were telling a secret.

"...Don't tell anyone else about this. Actually, the school wants us to be self-disciplined."

Perhaps because the news was so unexpected, the three bespectacled individuals began whispering among themselves. They couldn't understand why even the lumberjack looked surprised. "Didn't I explain that to you yesterday?"

Never mind. While explaining, I'll just embellish the story a bit.

"On the other hand, it's just a matter of self-discipline. The ball might be forced to take place... or rather, it's highly likely it will. It might end up like the previous rehearsals."

"Uh, I already said I wouldn't participate..."

Sagami or Qinye still tried to refute, and I nodded to show that I agreed with them, then raised my hand to tell them to wait a moment.

"But wait. Think about it. Not attending this dance means... you'll probably be too embarrassed to attend the coming-of-age ceremony and class reunion too."

Those who didn't attend the graduation party or coming-of-age ceremony had a 0% attendance rate at their 30th-year class reunion (according to a personal survey). Furthermore, if one were to muster the pointless courage to attend, about half of the attendees were usually married, and some even had children in elementary school. Looking back at oneself might lead to serious emotional trauma (according to my father's survey). The attendance fee is mostly around 5,000 yen, and paying with a banknote featuring Higuchi Ichiyo is the easiest (a childhood friend's survey). [Note 24: This refers to a work by Higuchi Ichiyo; the last few syllables of "Takekurabe" are the same as "Shirabe" in the original text.]

However, their reaction remained unchanged.

"I'm not going, so it doesn't matter to me..."

"I've had that thought before too."

I immediately refuted the expected response and looked into the distance.

Imagine it...

Then, like John Lennon, he began to speak.

"On the morning of your coming-of-age ceremony... after years of not going out with your father, you wore the brand-new suit you bought with him a few days earlier for your job interview..."