My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 556

"So, brother, just do what you want."

"Thanks."

After I answered, Komachi smiled and quickly stood up.

"Komachi, go change your clothes."

"Hmm... Let's go home."

I got up as well, but Komachi flatly refused.

"Ah, Komachi is going to have lunch with the other freshmen."

"Eh? What?"

"Didn't I say before? These days, high school students get to know each other through social media before they even start school. So let's have dinner together later to deepen our friendship."

Komachi smiled happily and walked towards the fitting room. I watched her leave, sat back down in my chair, and imagined the new student I hadn't met yet.

The pre-enrollment dinner...

...Are people who can't participate destined to become marginalized before school even starts?

The prevalence of social networks in modern society presents a significant challenge for high school students...

× × ×

I said goodbye to Komachi at the gymnasium and went back to the main school building.

After a series of procedures including trying on uniforms, taking measurements, and taking photos, quite some time had passed. The sunlight streaming in from the window had become more slanted, and the corridor began to take on a pale red hue.

In the distance, I could hear the sounds of club practice and wind instruments playing, while only my footsteps echoed in the corridor, my long shadow stretching out in solitude.

This is a familiar, ordinary scene after school. Just a year ago, I probably wouldn't have felt anything, but now, seeing this scene evokes feelings of loneliness and nostalgia.

I walked towards the front door, immersed in the cold air and a slight melancholy.

A figure appeared there.

The girl sitting on the umbrella stand, clutching a large bag to her chest, stared blankly outside. A breeze blew in through the open door, causing the pale pink strands of her bun to sway in the twilight.

I couldn't possibly mistake her for someone else; it's Yui Yuigahama.

The setting sun shone on the dust, creating irregular reflections that shimmered and sparkled. Her face, adorned with these specks of light, exuded an ethereal aura that was hard to discern as either sorrow or loneliness; her expression, more mature than usual, was exceptionally beautiful.

I didn't dare call her name, swallowing back the words that almost escaped my lips. Instead, I took off my indoor shoes, stuffed them into the shoe box, and threw my loafers on the floor.

Yuihama heard the noise and looked over.

"Ah, an autistic man."

When she called my name, she had her usual lively smile on her face. Reassured, I changed my shoes and walked towards Yuihama.

"What's wrong?"

"I’m waiting for you."

"Huh, why... wait a minute, is something wrong?"

I was worried that I might have forgotten some promise, so Yui waved goodbye.

"Ah, no, it's nothing... I just saw your shoes were in the shoe box, and you haven't gone back yet, so I don't know why..."

The hands that were waving from side to side in front of her chest slowed down and finally stopped. Yuihama moved her hands, which she didn't know where to put, to the corner of her eye, tucked her hair behind her ear, and turned her face away shyly.

"...I'll stay and wait for you."

"Oh, really...?"

Her ears, peeking out from under her hair, and her seemingly soft cheeks, flushed crimson, looked as if the setting sun had painted them directly onto her face. Seeing this, I felt embarrassed and stammered. Yui, noticing my confused expression, smiled to hide her embarrassment and fiddled with her bun.

"We said before that we'd go out and have fun after the exams, but we didn't get to talk properly during the exams, so I thought I'd wait for you."

"Sorry, I should have contacted you first."

"It's okay!"

Yui shook her head, telling me not to worry about it. Although her tone was light, her smile suddenly became unreal.

"...Because I just want to wait and see."

She gazed out the window at the distant afterglow, and her expression left me speechless.

Perhaps, as she said, there really was no particular reason. Or perhaps she was simply avoiding stating it directly.

I will never know the truth.

But upon closer reflection...

She is always waiting.

Wait for me, or for us.

I just found out about this, so I'd like to express my gratitude briefly.

"...I see, thank you."

Yui nodded, stood up in one breath, and handed me the large bag on her chest.

"Help me take my things home."

She gently patted the hem of her skirt with her free hand and slung her heavy backpack over her shoulder. It seemed like her usual backpack was bulging, probably full of things she'd take home at the end of the semester.

Since I was going to help her anyway, I might as well carry her backpack. I reached out to Yuihama.

"Um."

"Um?"

Yui looked at my hand, tilted her head in confusion, and then placed her hand on mine.

This time, I was the one with a question mark in my head. How could she do something so cute?

"No, it wasn't a handshake. It meant I should also receive your backpack."

"Oh...good morning, you should have said so earlier!"

Yui blushed instantly, slapped my hand, stuffed her backpack into my hand, and whispered "thank you" before walking quickly forward.

I shook my hand, which had been hit. Even though it didn't hurt at all, I still complained, "Ouch!" If I didn't say something, I might have blurted out something else entirely…

× × ×

The western sky was bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun.

The trees lining the path to the station were also bathed in the glow of the setting sun. I rode my bicycle, walking in the dappled light filtering through the leaves. Yui walked beside me.

Along the way, Yui took the initiative to talk to me a lot. At one point, she asked:

"By the way, what were you doing just now?"

"It's Komachi's school orientation. I also need to have my uniform measurements taken, so I'm going with her."

"Oh—I want to see it too."

"By April, we'll be able to see it anytime."

Despite saying that, my tone was a little stiff.

April is almost here, yet I can't imagine it. Perhaps it was something I inadvertently showed on my face, because Yui's expression instantly darkened as well.

"Oh, I see... Ah, then I'll give her a gift that goes well with her uniform. Something she can use regularly would be best."

She seemed to realize her tone had become somber, clapped her hands, and tried to appear more cheerful. I also tried to reply in a lighthearted tone.

"Great. That guy will be so happy."

No sooner had I finished speaking than Yui ran in front of me and reached into the bicycle's storage basket. Inside the basket was a large bag that Yui had given me, as well as her backpack.

She took her phone out of her backpack and started writing a memo. "Walking while using your phone is very dangerous, good kids shouldn't imitate you!" I paused, offering my gentle reminder. Yui noticed my intention, stopped, and then continued using her phone.

After she finished writing, she put her phone back in her backpack, nodded to me, and indicated that she had successfully completed her task.

I nodded in response, picked up my bicycle again, and looked at the large bag in the basket.

"By the way, what is this bag?"

"Ah—this? The holidays are coming up soon, so I wanted to bring my stuff home. After packing everything together, I realized I have so much stuff."

"Yeah, it happens all the time during finals."

Before every long holiday, I always see people like this, especially elementary school students. They're covered head to toe in watercolors, drawing boards, calligraphy supplies, etc., like a Free Gundam equipped with meteor gear (note), ready to fall at any moment and launch all the missiles. This used to happen to me all the time…

Note: From Mobile Suit Gundam SEED.

Just as I was lost in my memories, Yui glanced at the storage basket.

"You don't have much stuff."

"Because I didn't keep many things at school."

The two walked and talked, and before they knew it, they had arrived at Yuihama's house. We stopped in front of a convenience store not far from the entrance.

Yuihama looked up at the apartment building, turned to me, and said shyly:

"Would you like to... come in and have a seat?"

Her words made me smile wryly.

"No need. I'll just be kept for dinner again."

"I see, that makes sense. Haha... Oh, right. Wait a minute."

Yui Hama also responded with a shy, faint, wry smile.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she left me there and went into the convenience store alone.

If it were just a convenience store, I'd like to go in and take a look. But they already asked me to stay, so I had no choice but to wait patiently. Don't underestimate me; I'm widely recognized as having an IQ higher than Yuihama's beloved dog, Mochi.

I stopped my bicycle, sat on the railing, and glanced back.

Yuihama bought coffee at the store and is currently brewing it with the machine.

After waiting a while, Yui returned with coffee in both hands.

"Here, this is a gift of thanks."

"Oh, is that okay? Thanks."

It's probably payment for helping deliver something. In that case, I don't mind accepting it.

However, I'm riding a bicycle today, and it's not very convenient to drink while riding. What should I do...? While I was worrying, Yui walked directly to the park next door.

Indeed, the park has pavilions and benches, and the warm air from the daytime is gradually cooling down, making it a comfortable time to enjoy a cup of coffee.

The park was filled with children from the neighborhood. They were restless, running around and crying as they fell, then getting up again to continue their chase game, which they didn't understand the rules of.

Yui and I watched this scene from a distance and sat down on a nearby bench.

The breeze was pleasant, and the twilight hour was peaceful.

Yuihama took a sip of her coffee au lait through a straw, exhaled freely, and then looked into the distance as if she wanted to see the entire park.

"It feels so relaxing..."

"Yes. I've been very busy lately."

I answered while sipping my coffee, and Yui turned to face me.

"Yes, yes, yes. It was fun playing with Yumiko and the others, but we had to go to a lot of places and pay attention to the singing time when we sang, so it was actually quite busy. But I didn't feel bad about it because I was having a lot of fun."

"Ah—that's how it is when you have to keep track of time. It's the same when you go to an internet cafe or sauna. You only plan to stay for two hours, but by the time you realize it, you've already exceeded the time limit, so you have to leave in a hurry."

Yui slapped my shoulder hard. However, she suddenly stopped.

"I understand! But I don't understand saunas."

"Hey, don't you know what a sauna is? What country are you from...?"

"Is there any way...? First of all, what country is a sauna from...?"

"Saunas originated in Finland... There are many different opinions."

"Why did you suddenly lose confidence at the end!"

"Well, it's hard to say... Steam bath culture exists all over the world, including Japan. If we define sauna in a narrow sense as Finnish sauna, then it is indeed from Finland. However, the Japanese have a vague understanding of language and may equate sauna with steam bath. If you ask where sauna in a broader sense originated, I can only say that there are many different opinions."

I spoke in a rapid-fire, low voice, and Yui Hama casually responded beside me, then looked bewildered and distanced herself from me.