My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 573

Hiratsuka-sensei gave a slightly lonely smile and prepared to lower her hand. But before that, I held onto that hand tightly.

Then, he bowed to her.

"Thank you for taking care of me."

Ms. Hiratsuka was momentarily speechless, looking somewhat at a loss. She only chuckled softly after noticing me shaking her hand.

"Yes, this is a real problem."

She patted my hand, then let go, put her hands in her pockets, propped herself up on one leg, and gave a bitter smile.

"...Goodbye."

Goodbye, teacher.

I also slightly twisted the corners of my mouth, forcing a mature smile.

Ms. Hiratsuka looked at it, nodded in satisfaction, and slowly walked towards the exit. One step, two steps, after imprinting her departing figure in my mind, I turned around as well.

I gripped the microphone of the walkie-talkie tightly and said quickly:

"Sorry, I was busy just now. I'll be right there."

Yukino quickly replied, "Thank you for your help." I quickened my pace slightly and headed towards the other exit.

I stepped out, listening to the sound of high heels behind me.

The sound suddenly stopped.

"Hikigaya."

I turned my head and saw Hiratsuka-sensei turn her head to the side, put her hands to her mouth and shout:

"Reality, let it explode!"

"That saying is too old. It's over ten years old."

I responded in this way and took another step.

But after only two or three steps, I couldn't help but turn back.

Hiratsuka-sensei had already raised her coat and turned around.

She moved forward with nimble and beautiful steps, her high heels clicking loudly.

It's impossible for them to know I'm watching.

She still silently raised her hand.

I bowed to her and then turned and left.

He ran to her side.

× × ×

I left the dance floor and went to the wooden balcony.

Night had fallen outside. The rare seascape was now only marked by the scattered lights of a few boats on the distant horizon.

Although you can't see the sea, looking to the left and right along the coastline, you can see the Keiyo Industrial Zone and the night view of Tokyo's coastal area, which is quite beautiful.

Alright, where is Yukinoshita...? I looked around and found her organizing documents by the central fireplace. In the cold night, only that place seemed particularly warm.

The firewood in the stove was arranged in the shape of an overturned umbrella, with a weak flame burning inside. The flickering firelight illuminated her fair and delicate face, creating an atmosphere even more dreamlike than usual.

I wanted to keep watching like this forever. But then the firewood suddenly crackled, and Yukino looked up, noticing my presence. A smile spread across her slightly flushed cheeks in the firelight.

"Oh, Hachiman. You've worked hard."

"Thank you for your hard work. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting so long."

After I greeted them, I was about to walk towards the fireplace when Yukinoshita raised her hand to stop me.

"Wait. Before that, look at your feet."

"Huh? At my feet..."

There was only a sand-stained mat at my feet, nothing else... Hmm, is this a guessing game?

I tilted my head in confusion. Yukino sighed, picked up the documents, tapped them lightly on the table, arranged them into a stack, and walked over quickly.

She held down her skirt, quickly squatted down, stretched out her fingers and ran them across the ground, showing me her slender, long fingers.

"Look, so much sand."

"oh……"

Yeah. So what? Why are you showing me this... Is this some kind of mother-in-law/daughter-in-law game? Yukinoshita wiped her fingers clean with a wet tissue and pressed them to her temples.

"Didn't I tell you to change the mats regularly to prevent sand from getting into the building?"

"ah--"

Yes, I did say that, um. But I was so busy that I completely forgot. I didn't say anything, just responded with a "Oh no" look.

Did she call me here just to lecture me?

The dreamlike atmosphere from before had vanished, replaced by a starkly realistic scene. Yukinoshita, who could have been described as ethereal and dreamlike, was now so assertive that she was more like a mother-in-law than a nagging mother. She placed her hands on her hips and calmly began to instruct me.

"Then, clean up that area before you leave."

"Yes……"

I lowered my head and answered, then turned and went inside to find a broom. Yukinoshita added another sentence:

"Oh, there's more."

And also… I turned around, and Yukinoshita put her hand on her chin and continued:

"Although there should only be our belongings left in the lounge, just to be on the safe side, please check again. I'll go pay for the extra meals and return the keys. Here you go."

"Oh... I've got more work again... but sir."

Once these tasks are finished, I can finally relax. Logically, this should be a real wrap-up. The long yet fleeting ball has finally come to an end. The night breeze brushing my cheeks, combined with the hazy night view in the distance, evoked many emotions within me.

Just as she was thinking this, Yukinoshita touched her lips and spoke again.

"...Also, is it alright if we meet at the main gate after work? It would be even better if you could check the parking lot while you're waiting for me. If anyone is still lingering there, please let them know."

“…As you command.”

As I responded, a vague sense of foreboding crept in. Would listening to her continue only lead to more work? Sure enough, just as I was feeling anxious, Yukinoshita seemed to remember something and let out a soft "Ah."

"besides……"

"Anything else? Is that enough? Is everything alright?"

I asked impatiently, and Yukinoshita took a step closer, looking obedient.

"No, there's one last thing I need to say."

She said this, looked away from me, and cleared her throat.

He was so talkative just a moment ago, but now his lips are tightly shut. He finally manages to open his mouth, seemingly about to speak, but instead he takes a deep breath and clutches the documents to his chest.

Her gaze, which had been fixed on my feet, slowly moved upwards, her beautiful eyes fixed on me. She finally spoke, murmuring softly, each word clearly audible.

"Hachiman, I like you."

So suddenly, I froze. Yukinoshita smiled shyly, covering her blushing cheeks with the documents. She glanced up at me, observing my reaction, but seemed unable to bear the silence, and slowly backed away.

Finally, without waiting for my response, she ran away as if fleeing.

Hey, really? This guy is really difficult to deal with.

He just left a comment and ran off. What am I supposed to do? Doesn't that mean I have to find a chance to say something properly? It's so painful. It's really difficult.

However, this incredibly difficult aspect is also incredibly endearing.

Volume 14, Chapter 10: Thus, Hachiman Hikigaya said.

The last spring of high school life has arrived.

The cherry blossoms seen from the window of the new classroom, though not yet in full bloom, are already making their presence felt with their unfolding petals.

Whether in the Neolithic Age (note) or the everyday world, nothing is more important than the springtime sprint. In that sense, my start was absolutely terrible.

Note: Refers to the work "Dr. STONE".

Specifically, the class placement results for the third grade were terrible.

I don't mind not having anyone I know or any friends in my new class. I'm already used to being treated like an orphan and forced into other groups when killing time in the classroom or during off-campus group activities.

Being in the same class as someone you're not particularly close to is the most painful thing.

Based on the results of this class placement gacha, I drew Hayama Hayato and Ebina Hina as one of the few people I knew, and I easily won. Being in the same class as Tobe is pretty good...

Every time we met, they would chat with me briefly. These two attention-grabbing individuals, once they struck up a conversation, naturally drew curious glances from me, which was quite painful. Coupled with my naturally poor communication skills, the immense pressure rapidly shortened my lifespan. To minimize my time in the classroom, I would rush out as soon as the school bell rang each day.

In the atrium beneath the skywalk leading to the special building, the flowers in the flowerbeds herald the arrival of spring.

However, neither the changing seasons nor the passing years can erase past debts. The joint dance, which was caused by my recklessness, still leaves many things to be dealt with.

Yukino and I remained in the office, which should have already completed its mission.

Simply put, it's about cleaning up after the joint ball.

Thanks to Hiratsuka-sensei's arrangement—perhaps a farewell gift for us—and the student council's permission, the classroom that was originally used as the Service Club's office can be used by us temporarily.

The classroom felt too spacious for two people. To fill those spaces, they were working so much that it was almost overflowing.

Faced with a mountain of related payment requests, receipts, and reports that could overwhelm anyone, we still processed them one by one in order, as carefully as possible.

Normally, this amount of snow should be easy to handle immediately, but the movement is very slow.

Perhaps, like me, she wanted to linger a little longer in this lingering feeling.

"Let's take a break."

"it is good."

Snow stopped what she was doing, tapped her shoulders a few times, and quietly brewed some black tea.

I kept pouring brightly colored black tea into the teacup in the office and the elegant teacup under the snow.

The mug, untouched and still in its original place, was spotless and clean, but no steam was coming out.

"Please."

"Thanks."

I took the teacup and sipped it slowly. Yukinoshita also took a sip of tea and let out a sigh of relief.

"At this rate, it should be finished tomorrow."

"Yeah, probably."

"We'll have to clean this place up afterward."

Yuki looked around at her belongings. Although there weren't many, things like tea sets still took up quite a bit of space.

"I can help you move. There's hardly anything of mine here."

"Really? Then I'll leave it to you."

Yukinoshita raised the corners of her mouth in a smile. The next second, maintaining that expression, she said something that I couldn't help but pay attention to.

"Would you like to come over for dinner tomorrow? If it's convenient, my mother would like you to come over... She seems to really like you."

"...Can't I refuse?"

Do you think you can refuse?

"...Ah, I have something to do tomorrow."

Seeing that I looked like I had remembered something, Yukino tilted her head slightly.

"Komachi's going to choose a club, so she'll be home late. Totsuka's going to tennis lesson. Zaitsu... Zaitsu? We can reschedule for another day, right?"

She spoke casually, yet it was clear she knew the schedules of everyone around me—it was terrifying. Every excuse I could think of was rejected, and I could only stammer, unable to utter a single word. Yukinoshita rested her elbows on the table, staring intently at my face.

"Alright. Who else do you have plans with? Hayama-kun?"

"How could that be? Impossible. Absolutely impossible."

Why do I have to spend all my time with that guy even after school? It doesn't matter who else it is, but I will never back down on this. Seeing my agitation, Yukinoshita smiled smugly.

"That means nothing's wrong. That's great."