My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 574

She smiled happily, and I couldn't argue with her.

If I really wanted to, I could actually stage an escape. But there's no point in doing so. Even if I escape tomorrow, I'll still face the same problems later.

I don't mind having dinner alone with Yukino. In fact, I'd love to. I'd even ask her excitedly, breathless, "Which ramen place do we want to go to?" But if it were her family, that would be a different story.

Although external obstacles have been removed, internal obstacles remain unresolved.

What to do, what to do... I was extremely anxious, my eyes darting around, searching for a way out, finally landing on the gate of the community office.

As luck would have it, a loud knock came at that moment.

"Please come in—"

Seizing this opportunity, I responded immediately. The people outside also opened their doors in unison.

"Good afternoon! Komachi is here to join the club!"

The one who made such a loud declaration upon her arrival was her younger sister, Hikigaya Komachi, wearing a brand-new uniform.

"Komachi, welcome. The uniform really suits you."

"Thank you, Yukino-neechan!"

Komachi lunged at Yukinoshita, who seemed confused but allowed herself to be manipulated. I realized I had to find an opportunity to stop her and called out to Komachi.

"Komachi, the Service Club has disbanded. It's no longer accepting members, and there are no more club activities."

"...Yes. Right now, we're just using any excuse to control this place."

"Oh my god, that's a scary statement. But don't worry. Because—"

Komachi turned and looked towards the doorway.

Isshiki stood outside the open door. She leaned against the door, panting.

"How come Xiaomi is moving so fast...it's inexplicable..."

"Xiaomi? What kind of nickname is that? Komachi truly embodies the spirit of the Japanese..."

In other words, after being named the World's Little Sister, Komachi has now earned the title of "Heart of Japan." She's practically a double champion, isn't she? However, what's even more puzzling than that is their appearance together. Just as I was wondering how these two knew each other, Yukinoshita raised a similar question.

"Even Isshiki-kun is here... Is something the matter?"

Yukinoshita, still being held by Komachi, looked puzzled. Isshiki let out a deep breath and slammed the door shut.

Then, she walked up to us and showed us a piece of paper.

It was a club establishment application form. The words "Service Club" stood out on the paper, and the president's name was "Hikiya Komachi". Below that were Yukinoshita and my name.

All the fields were filled out completely, and even the student council's approval stamp was affixed.

"That's settled. From today onwards, this will be the activity center for the Service Society."

"what?"

Isshiki announced it as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and both Yukinoshita and I gasped in surprise. Komachi grinned.

"That solves everything! Let's get started with club activities!"

"There are so many problems..."

Isn't this forgery? Isn't it a crime? Isn't it a guilty verdict?

"Club activities...but we have nothing to do..."

Yukinoshita's utterly bewildered tone left Komachi and Isshiki exchanging bewildered glances. Isshiki shrugged and sighed helplessly.

"It will be available soon."

What could it be?

I immediately asked back, but neither Isshiki nor Komachi answered; they just grinned slyly.

You two have such a great relationship... Your younger sister and your junior are the best combination ever.

As the older brother and senior, it's wonderful that the younger sister and junior sister get along well. However... these two are not easy to deal with, so we must not be careless.

Komachi is innocent yet mischievous, while Isshiki is a cunning scoundrel. What are those two plotting together...? No, I feel nothing but unease. What are they after...?

The answer to this question came with a sudden, faint knock on the door.

"...Please come in."

A voice came from behind the door, responding to Yukino's slightly puzzled answer.

"Sorry to bother you."

The other person's voice sounded a little tense; I wondered if they were nervous.

The door opened a crack, and a figure slipped through, as if trying not to be seen.

She wasn't wearing a neat uniform, and her brown hair had a pinkish tinge. As she stepped into the office, her bun swayed.

"Hi, hi..."

With an awkward smile, Yui Yuigahama gently raised her hand and greeted him in her familiar way.

Upon seeing Yuihama, Yukinoshita jumped up from her chair with a "click," her eyes still glistening with tears, almost crying with emotion. She called her name tenderly in a choked voice.

"Yuihama-san...you've arrived..."

"Hehe... I'm here..."

Yuihama shyly put her hand on her head and stroked her bun.

Just her presence here makes me feel like the last missing piece of the puzzle for this community office has finally been completed.

I felt genuinely happy, and at the same time, I took a big gulp of tea, thinking about what to say to her.

In that instant, I saw—

Komachi chuckled contentedly, while Isshiki grinned slyly...

And Yuihama's furtive glances.

These three factors combined made me uneasy. No, more accurately, I became worried.

At times like these, my premonitions usually come true.

"Um... I have something I'd like to ask you to do, or rather, I'd like to discuss something with you?"

Yuihama spoke first, and Yukinoshita nodded with a smile. Her bright eyes seemed to say that she would help no matter what difficulties she faced.

Compared to her vibrant eyes, I felt my own eyes gradually dying.

Shortly after, Yui took a gentle breath and placed her hands on her chest.

"The person I like has a girlfriend-like relationship, and she's also my most important friend... However, I still want to remain friends with them. What should I do?"

Yui gave me a meaningful look, and I silently looked away.

When I met Yukinoshita's gaze, it was so cold it sent chills down my spine. I searched for another way to escape, and finally just stared at the teacup in my hand.

However, there was no way for me to retreat here, only the rippling water.

"...Tell me about it."

Yukino smiled slightly and pulled out the chair between us that hadn't been used in a long time.

"Please have a seat. It looks like it will take a long time."

"...Well, it might take a long time. Because it's not just today; I hope it will continue tomorrow, the day after...and then."

Yui gazed at Yukinoshita with a genuine smile. Yukinoshita paused for a moment, then smiled back.

"...Yes. It will definitely continue."

Next, the amber-colored black tea (note) was poured into the previously empty mug.

The room was filled with warm steam and the aroma of black tea, as the setting sun began to shine into the room.

The warm, sunny spring day was just beginning. Yet, that warmth sent a chill down my spine and made my face turn ashen.

So that's how it is, this is the green of spring—I once again felt firsthand that a new season had arrived.

Ah, just as I expected—

There is no other explanation.

—As expected, my teen romantic comedy was wrong.

end

Postscript to Volume 14

Goodnight everyone, this is Watari.

It's been so long since I wrote an afterword that I've completely forgotten what I wrote before.

I had originally planned to rewatch the earlier episodes while writing this epilogue, but going back to read my old articles takes a lot of courage. Just glancing at them made me let out a wail and immediately close the book.

There are also those who are extremely calm, or who think, "Wow, I was so young back then! I was so happy!"—showing their optimistic nature to the fullest and making others very happy. If you are like that, you are an instinctively sunny and optimistic person, and your lucky item today is a GALFY tracksuit.

Although I wrote the above paragraph, I'm actually a little uneasy. How many people can understand "GALFY sportswear"? Wouldn't white cat sandals be easier to understand?

Let me briefly explain for those confused readers. To people of my generation from Chiba, nine times out of ten, people wearing GALFY tracksuits and white cat sandals gathered in front of Don Quijote are thugs. Those who look bad are usually my friends (note). This is a very serious prejudice. Besides, GALFY is a great brand.

Note: Lyrics from "Grateful Days" by the Japanese rock band Dragon Ash.

However, people other than thugs go to Don Quixote, and little girls wear white cat sandals, so I don't think a single sentence or word can perfectly express anything. But, everyone who wears GALFY sportswear is a thug, by the way.

That being said, there are also shady characters among the thugs who are close to antisocial hooligans, and moderate former delinquents who go grocery shopping with their families on weekends. Both types wear GALFY sportswear, so it's really hard to say.

That's why speaking is such a profound art...

Some feelings can be conveyed with just a single sentence, while some sentiments can never be communicated. That's why people try to make them come to life through various means.

Novels are the best example.

Some things are conveyed precisely because they are not explicitly stated, while others cannot be conveyed no matter how much is written.

Although most of it can only be explained to the readers, I still pray every day when I write that I can convey this feeling as much as possible.

Or perhaps, he and she were too. Or perhaps, both of them were.

We weave words together, connect our thoughts, and get through each day.

Episodes 12, 13, and 14 of "My Teen Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected" have this kind of feeling.

Originally, I was supposed to write an epilogue for each episode, but these three episodes can be considered the first, second, and third parts of the final episode. I think it would be inappropriate to insert an epilogue in the middle, and it would be better to have no epilogue for the overall presentation, so I wrote them all in this one episode.

Since this is the final episode, I should discuss some themes that run throughout the entire work. However, this would likely result in a very long post, so it would be better to publish a separate book, "My Youth Romantic Comedy Was Wrong As Expected: Afterword." Therefore, please forgive my briefness, and allow me to express my gratitude here.

The first volume was published in March 2011, approximately nine years ago.

Although I had a long break along the way, I finally managed to finish this work. Everything I wanted to write and the ideas I wanted to convey are contained in this story.

This work, this book, this chapter, this paragraph, this line, this sentence.

I think it's precisely because I want to put this into words that I've been writing all this time.

For me, my second year of high school feels like a long time ago. But now, I feel like my second year of high school has finally come to an end.

This has been the longest year of my life.

Whether you're a reader who spent your youth with Hachiman and the others, a reader who has already become an adult, or a reader who is about to enter their second year of high school.

It would be wonderful if every reader enjoyed reading it.

Thank you so much everyone.

"My Youth Romantic Comedy Was Wrong As Expected" has come to an end.

I really wanted to say that, but I'll continue for a while longer.

Let's talk about the future of Guoqing.

First, I plan to publish a collection of short stories. Although the timing is uncertain, I have many more stories I want to write, and I am currently preparing them carefully.

Next up is the publication of the novel collection "My Youth Romantic Comedy Was Wrong As Expected."! I'm so happy to think that several of my favorite authors will be writing it… The lineup is amazing, I'm almost bursting with joy. I'm even planning to join in myself. Oh well, so much to write!

Furthermore, the third season of the anime will air on TBS and other television stations in the spring of 2020. This is another amazing and fantastic anime. Please look forward to it.

and also.

As for my future plans, I'd like to think about them after things have come to a close. However, I hope to see more of Hachiman and the others grow and occasionally write about their stories.

That being said, everything is still uncertain. Although nothing has been decided yet, I hope to share more news with you all later.