My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 57

"Oh no, this is bad. I need to lay low for now. See you later~"

"Isn't that just all-you-can-eat salad? (Note 16: The original text for 'Goodbye' in the previous sentence is 'さらだばㄧ (saradaba),' which sounds similar to 'salad bar.')..."

After a rather idiotic conversation, we quickly fled the posting area.

I caught a glimpse of the wood stand being surrounded by shop assistants.

Totsuka is right. It's not in Hachiman Hikigaya's style to be troubled or worried about things.

My approach is to "give up when faced with troubles," so I just pretend nothing happened.

It's dishonest to only change your attitude when something happens. That won't do.

Before hopping on my bicycle, I gently slipped the photo booth picture into my wallet. I'll frame it when I get back.

Volume 3 about Yukino Yukinoshita

I wonder if my brother's high school life is going well?

Komachi will ask around a bit...

Hikigaya Komachi

Brother, are you having fun at school?

Hikigaya Hachiman

Huh? Why are you asking this all of a sudden... Ah! Of course I'm happy! I... I wasn't bullied at all!

Hikigaya Komachi

Hmm... This is different from when Mom asks, "...Are you happy with school life?" So, brother, you can rest assured.

Hikigaya Hachiman

Komachi asked the question incorrectly just now.

Hikigaya Komachi

No, Komachi was just thinking that having Yukino and Yui in the club must be quite fun. I wonder what your brother and Yukino talk about? How is it? Do they get along well?

Hikigaya Hachiman

I, I wasn't bullied at all!

Hikigaya Komachi

Oh, Komachi understands now.

So, what does brother think of Yukino-neechan?

Hikigaya Hachiman

Let me think... If I had to use an analogy, it would be like a high-end computer with a great design and powerful functions, but without a mouse and keyboard.

Hikigaya Komachi

Uh-huh?

But Komachi rarely uses a computer...

Hikigaya Hachiman

Is it hard to understand? Simply put, while the Keiyo Line rapid trains can get you to Tokyo quickly, they are quite far from other platforms at Tokyo Station. It's something like that.

Hikigaya Komachi

Ahhhh, yes, yes, it really is far.

Hikigaya Hachiman

The platforms on the Sobu Line express trains are quite far apart, and there are a ton of stairs; it's not like the subway.

Hikigaya Komachi

And then the Sobu Line local trains don't go to Tokyo...

...What was the original topic?

Volume 3, Chapter 3: Yukino Yukinoshita clearly loves cats.

Saturday is the best day of the week, its dominance is unshakeable. Saturday is already a holiday, and then you get another day off the following day, it feels like a Super Saiyan extravaganza.

I absolutely love Saturdays and wish I could live a life where every day is Saturday. Sundays make me feel depressed about the end of the holiday, thinking, "I have to work again tomorrow..." so I can't change it to Sunday.

After waking up this morning, I browsed the morning paper with my still-sleepy head. Hmm, today's "Naughty Po" (Note 17: Masashi Ueda's four-panel comic strip, serialized in the newspaper since 1982) is just as excellent. Actually, I only read "Naughty Po".

After reading the newspaper—or rather, after reading "Naughty Po," you should then look at the discounts advertised on the flyers.

If I find any great deals, I circle them in red and give them to Komachi. Komachi will then write them down in her shopping notes, and she or her mother will go out to buy them.

Then I noticed the particularly eye-catching promotional text on the flyer. No, it wasn't just text (font), it was practically a photon. Not the "photon" used in a person's name (Note 18, when used as a name, is Romanized as "mitsuko"), but that "photon."

"Komachi, look! The Tokyo Cat and Dog Show is here again this year!"

I couldn't help but hold the flyer high, like a scene from a famous animated film featuring a lion. I had an urge to yell, "Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"—wait, isn't that Geronimo (Note 19, a character from the manga "King of Luminous Body")?

"Really? That's great! Brother found something amazing!"

"Haha! Praise me even more!"

"Wow~~ Brother is so awesome! Brother is the best~~"

"...Shut up, you two idiots, be quiet."

My mother crawled out of the room like a clay sculpture, cursing us. Her hair was disheveled, her glasses had slipped off her face, and two thick dark circles appeared behind the lenses.

"sorry……"

After I apologized, my mother nodded gently with an "Mmm" sound and went back to her room. It seemed she planned to sleep for quite a while... Working women really have it tough. I will definitely take good care of my wife who will support me in the future. This is the epitome of a gigolo.

When my mother's hand touched the door, she turned to look at us.

"You can go out and have fun, but be careful with cars. It's so hot and humid, and drivers are easily irritated, so accidents can easily happen. Also, you can't ride a bicycle with Komachi."

"Okay, I know. We can't let Komachi get into danger, right?"

Komachi's parents showered her with deep love. Because she was their daughter, and because she often did housework, was good at everything, and was so adorable, Komachi was their precious darling.

In contrast, the eldest son didn't seem to receive the same treatment. At that moment, my mother looked at my face and let out a deep sigh.

"Sigh... you idiot, I'm worried about you."

“…Huh?”

Suddenly, my eyes welled up with tears. So, I could actually receive this kind of care from my mother...? She never woke me up in the morning, only gave me a paltry 500 yen for lunch, and occasionally bought me some strangely tasteful clothes from nearby. I thought I must not be loved by her. But then again, why were those clothes so awful? They were downright repulsive.

However, family love is indeed great. Moved, tears welled up in my eyes.

"Mother……"

"I'm really worried about you. If Komachi gets hurt, Daddy will kill you."

"Dad..."

At that moment, I felt a wave of unease again.

Speaking of my dad, he's probably still lazing in bed right now.

Honestly, my dad is a real jerk. I can understand his overindulgence of Komachi, which leads to his somewhat hostile attitude towards me. However, not only that, he's always telling me to be careful about trivial things, like being wary of honey traps, that girls who hit on you are always trying to force you to buy paintings, that nine out of ten futures trading schemes are fraudulent, and that you'll lose if you work, etc. And almost all of these are based on his own experience, making it impossible not to care. That's really awful.

When I leave, I'll slam the door shut with a loud "bang" to disturb his sweet dreams.

"Don't worry, we'll take the bus~~ So please give us the fare!"

Komachi ran to her mother with a thumping sound.

"Okay, okay, how much is the total cost for the round trip?"

"Um……"

She started counting on her fingers. "Hey, one way is 150 yuan, round trip is 300 yuan! Why do I need to use my fingers to calculate that?"

"Three hundred yuan."

I answered before Komachi finished calculating, and my mother said "okay" and took out some change from her wallet.

"Here, three hundred yuan for you."

"Thanks!"

"Mom, I want to go too, so..."

My tone became very subtle, like Mr. Trouto in "Sazae-san" speaking to his mother-in-law.

"Oh right, I forgot you needed it too."

As if only then did the mother remember, she took out her wallet again.

"Oh, we're going to eat out, so we need to pay for lunch too~"

"Huh? I just can't do anything with you..."

She complied with Komachi's request and took out two large bills.

Wow! Komachi is amazing! But Mom, my usual meal allowance is only 500 yen, why did it immediately increase to 1000 yen when Komachi asked me to?

"Thank you! Well then, brother, let's go!"

"it is good."

Goodbye, take care on your journey.

After my mother lazily saw us off at the door, she immediately went back to her room. Sweet dreams, Mom.

Before leaving, I used all my strength to slam the door shut with a loud "bang".

Enjoy this noise! ​​Good morning, Dad!

× × ×

It takes about fifteen minutes by bus from my home to Makuhari Messe, the venue for the Tokyo Cat and Dog Show.

You really need to pay attention to this: although it is called the "Tokyo" cat and dog show, the venue is actually in Chiba, otherwise you might end up at the Tokyo Big Sight.

A crowd had already gathered inside the venue, including some people who brought their pets along.

The scene was quite lively, so my sister and I automatically held hands. This wasn't a romantic date for the two of us; it was simply a habit we had formed from frequently going out to play together when we were little.

As Komachi hummed a song, she vigorously swung my hand around, making me feel like my hand was about to dislocate.

Perhaps it was because of her clothes, but Komachi looked exceptionally energetic today.

She wore a striped vest over a pink off-the-shoulder cardigan, and a low-waisted skirt that barely reached her knees. Coupled with her adorable, innocent smile, she was the little sister I was so proud of, no matter where she went. But I would never let her go.

This Tokyo Cat and Dog Show is essentially a live exhibition and sale of cats and dogs, but it also features some rarer animals, making it quite interesting. And, surprisingly, admission is free. How amazing, Chiba really is the best.

As soon as we entered the exhibition hall, Komachi excitedly pointed in a direction.

"Wow~~ Brother, it's penguins! So many penguins are walking! So cute~~"

"Yes. Speaking of penguins, I heard that the Latin etymology of the word means 'obese'. Thinking about it that way, it reminds me of a group of office workers with metabolic syndrome rushing around outside."

"Wow... suddenly I don't find her cute anymore..."

Komachi lowered her arms in disappointment and looked at me with a resentful expression.

"Thanks to my brother's useless knowledge, from now on, whenever Komachi sees a penguin, she'll think of the word 'fat'..."

I felt helpless about her complaints. She should have said that to the person who originally named the penguin.

"Brother, you absolutely shouldn't say things like that on a date. When a girl says 'So cute,' you must reply, 'Yeah, but my girlfriend is cuter.'"

"...How stupid."

Even penguins living in Antarctica would probably catch a cold if they heard such a chilling conversation.

"It's okay. Anyway, Komachi doesn't really think penguins are cute. She just wanted to use that phrase to make herself look cute."

"Your thinking is really unlovable..."

This is a cozy space full of cats, dogs, penguins, and the like. Isn't it a bit inappropriate to say that?

"It's all my fault for being so talkative! Okay, let's go inside and have a look around."

After Komachi finished speaking, she grabbed my hand and rushed out.

"Hey, don't run suddenly, you'll fall."