My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 549

As Yuihama spoke, she rummaged through the snacks on the table.

"You eat it too, right?"

Although I wasn't very hungry yet, and before I could even answer, a dessert empire appeared before me. Standing in the center of this land was the Honey Toast Palace.

Oh, I see. It's perfect for taking photos and sharing...

The desserts here are different from those sold by students at the school fair; they're piled high with fruit and whipped cream, making them very visually appealing. But ultimately, they're still bread, aren't they? They're bread no matter how beautifully they're presented. No matter how pretty they are, bread is still bread. Why not put more effort into reducing the bread-like feel?

"Hey!"

Yuihama, with a shout unlike one she would make when dividing food, placed the bread onto paper plates. "You just tear it with your hands... okay, I don't care."

While I was confused, Yui picked up a piece of bread and started munching on it.

"Delicious! The whipped cream is amazing!"

As always, she looked blissfully happy while eating... Seeing how much she enjoyed it, the honey toast did indeed look increasingly delicious.

The honey toast I had before was made by a novice. This time, however, it was delivered by Panda Express or Uber Eats and made by professionals, so there's no reason why it couldn't be delicious.

I was so convinced that I decided to give it a try.

Hmm...it's just bread...

My mouth is so dry. Maybe it's been sitting out for too long... I should have eaten it sooner. Oh well, the whipped cream and honey are indeed delicious, it doesn't matter... I moved my mouth, while Yuihama giggled.

"Your expression is the same as before."

What can I do? This is bread... My mouth is still stuffed with something that's hard and absorbs moisture, I can't tell if it's a sponge or an eraser. So I chewed a few bites and looked at her with my eyes.

I finally managed to swallow the last bite and came back to life. Just as I reached for the table to get my coffee, the music on the dance floor changed and the lights changed color.

The disco ball, which was slowly rotating and reflecting colorful lights, began to cast white light like a flashbulb in sync with the rhythm of house music.

In the shimmering light, Yuihama's smile seemed to suddenly be shrouded in shadow.

"Have you thought about your wish?"

In order to hear her hushed voice, I naturally moved my face closer to hers.

"No... I don't have any particular wishes I want to fulfill yet. What about you?"

"I've done almost everything I said I would do... Helping with the ball, throwing the celebration party, celebrating with Komachi... Oh, I forgot to mention we should go out and have fun together."

She counted on her fingers, then remembered she still had things to do, so she turned one finger back down.

"I'll see where I want to go after the final exams."

"Final exams... yeah, but the thought of going out to play after they're over gives me more motivation!"

Upon hearing the word "exam," Yuihama lowered her head in disappointment. But thinking about her plans, she smiled happily again. Such an obedient child makes one want to give her more rewards.

"If you have any other wishes, please let me know."

"Really? Then I'll ask you for one more favor."

Yuihama took a step away from me with light steps, then grabbed the hem of her uniform skirt, stepped back with her right foot, slightly bent her knee, and bent over.

"...Would you like to dance with me?"

She bowed gracefully to me, her bun bobbing slightly like a small crown.

This sight stunned me on the spot.

No, I was stunned.

Soon after, Yuihama slowly raised her face.

What should have been a solemn expression was now so red that it was visible even in the darkness.

"Just kidding... hahaha..."

Seeing her quickly fidget with her bun to hide her embarrassment, my body finally relaxed, and I gave a faint, bitter smile.

"This isn't the kind of dance we're doing now..."

"Yes, you're right! Ah... how embarrassing..."

Yuihama wailed and covered her face, then looked up at the ceiling and kept fanning herself with her hands.

You're getting carried away by the atmosphere. How can you be like this before you've even started dancing?

I was speechless and let out a deep sigh.

Even I can't stand to look at myself like this.

Regarding my next actions.

I let out another sigh. This time, it wasn't a sigh for myself, but a pep talk.

I took a few steps away from the table where the food was placed and turned my head to the side. Yui looked at me with a puzzled expression.

"...Give me your hand."

I placed my hand on my chest, bowed deeply, and gently extended my right hand.

Yui Hama paused for a moment, then immediately burst into laughter. She gently covered the corner of her mouth, as if teasing me, and looked up to ask:

"We're not dancing that kind of dance now, are we?"

"Didn't you start it first...?"

It was all because you were putting on an act that I followed suit, that's all. But it's really embarrassing. I should never have done this... Regret and self-reproach welled up inside me, and my hand, which had been reaching for Yui, quickly fell to its lowered.

However, before that hand could be lowered, Yuihama grabbed it tightly.

Let's go!

She took my hand and led me away from the crowds toward the dance floor.

Spotlights and disco balls shone brightly everywhere, and the crowd in the dance floor swayed excitedly.

The music playing right now is upbeat pop. This kind of music is categorized quite finely; I'm not sure what to call it, but I guess calling it electronic dance music wouldn't be wrong. At least it's not the kind of music played when men and women are dancing face-to-face.

She grabbed my hand and swung it around, my body spinning and following along with the dance steps without falling. Amidst the music, the heat, the glare, and the jostling of the crowd, my clumsy dance steps were far from fashionable.

However, it doesn't matter how clumsy it is.

Everyone was just having fun; nobody cared whether the other person was dancing or just standing around. Nobody was watching.

(Note) Only Yuihama is watching me.

The lights weren't illuminating any one person; instead, they moved around in rhythm with the music. We couldn't even see each other's expressions.

Only her smile and their clasped hands were clearly visible.

Among the elegantly dressed crowd, we stood out a bit in our uniforms. But the people enjoying their brief moment didn't seem to mind, and Yui and I blended in perfectly naturally. In the dance floor, which was almost overflowing with people, I would sometimes put my arm around her shoulder and sometimes twirl around to avoid bumping into anyone, and we continued dancing together.

The legs tapped to the rhythm of the music playing from the speakers above, the shoulders swayed with the beat, and the hands were clenched into fists and raised into the air!

No matter how casual the dance steps are, watching them from the sidelines is completely different from actually dancing them; it's much more tiring than you imagine.

Mainly in terms of mental well-being...

An accidental touch of a hand, a face so close, a breath brushing past your ear.

Exhausted, I met Yuihama's gaze.

She smiled happily.

"You look so unwilling!"

"This kind of wish is too difficult..."

"I'm so sorry! I won't say it again!"

Laughter mingled with the music and then disappeared.

Yuihama's murmurs blend into it.

"...Next time, will be my last wish."

Within arm's reach, Yui rested her forehead on my shoulder.

I responded to her soft whispers with intermittent voices, but they were also drowned out by the music.

Soon after, the music gradually decreased in volume, transitioning to the next piece. The dance was probably nearing its end, and the next piece was slower. According to the program, the next one was a rather lively standard dance, setting the stage for the end. In other words, this was the last slow dance, and I had to return to my post.

"...I have to go back."

"Yeah, me too."

We both let go and each took a step back.

Soon after, a deep, bell-like bass voice announced the end of the magical time.

× × ×

My footsteps echoed on the stairs leading to the control room.

There were no glass slippers, no beautiful feet, only old and dirty indoor shoes. After the magical time ended, she had to return to that dusty room like Cinderella.

Cinderella, awaiting the end of the spell and to return home, was met with her wicked stepmother and stepsister. Who awaits me? Thinking this, I opened the door to the control room.

"Welcome back! This is so slow. Should I work first? Or should I work?... Or... should I... work?"

What awaited me was a junior classmate who put on a bright smile and acted cute, behaving like a newlywed wife, but was clearly an angry tigress.

Despite exuding the vibe of a newlywed wife, none of the three options have a family feel.

"Yes, I'm sorry. I'm going to work..."

"I called on the walkie-talkie for a long time! Although there was enough time, it's okay."

Isshiki puffed out his cheeks and complained for a while before suddenly getting up.

"Then I'll go prepare my final speech. The rest is up to you, senior."

"Okay. Take care."

"I'm leaving!"

She responded with great enthusiasm. After watching her leave, I was left alone in the control room, where the only sound I could hear was the deep bass coming from the speakers.

I checked the clock and the schedule, and although there was a slight delay, they had probably made adjustments at various stages to ensure the event ended on time.

Afterwards, Isshiki would give a final speech on stage, bringing the ball to a close. I put the walkie-talkie I had taken off during the break back on.

After a burst of noise, a calm voice came through.

"—Isshiki-kun, are you ready?"

It was Yukino, who was in charge of managing the process. A response came a few seconds later.

"—Isshiki has reached the left-side platform. All ready. I'm going to remove the walkie-talkie now."

"Understood. Wait there until you're called to go on stage."

"—Received. See you later."

The walkie-talkie conversation ended there.

The chair back creaked, and I crossed my hands behind my head, looking up at the ceiling. A short while later, the final piece of music began. This piece was probably quite famous; it could be heard in dance halls everywhere, and excited cheers erupted from the dance floor.

I gently grasped the microphone on my chest, pressed the button, and waited a few seconds before speaking. I already knew how to use it to ensure the microphone picked up sound.

"—This is the sound control, this is the last song."

"—Understood. I'll signal the end to you from the right-hand station, be careful not to miss it."

Hearing the response from beneath the snow, I peeked out of the small window.

Yukinoshita stood behind the curtain on the right side of the stage.

I propped my cheek on my hand by the window and watched her. She glanced up at me and brought her mouth close to the microphone on her collar.

"Can you see it?"

"—Yes. Clearly."

"—Really? Then where are you? In the audience?"

Yukino peeked out from the side platform, pretending to look around.

"—Up there. Look up. Didn't you just look this way?"

I answered in a very distressed tone, returning to the snow behind the curtain, my back slightly hunched, my shoulders swaying. Because she hadn't turned on the walkie-talkie, the microphone couldn't pick up any sound, but I could still see she was smiling.