My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 60

Actually, this is what happened—is this some TV program? (Note 25: This is a recurring line from the Nippon Television program "Sekai Maru Mie! TV Special Investigation Department".)

What Yukinoshita meant by that was simply that she wanted someone to go with her to buy Yuihama's birthday present, and the person she wanted to find wasn't me, but my younger sister, Komachi.

Her judgment was absolutely correct. Based on past experience, Yukinoshita would usually seek help from Yui in such situations, but this time it was precisely because of Yui that she couldn't ask her for help. Therefore, Yukinoshita, who didn't have a wide circle of friends, could only think of Komachi Hikigaya as another candidate.

We waited quietly where we were, and two minutes later, Komachi finally returned.

She seemed to realize she was going out with Xuexia today, so her outfit was simpler than usual: a short-sleeved top, a summer vest, a pleated skirt, thigh-high stockings, and loafers, giving her an overall ladylike air, though the baseball cap she wore slightly added a touch of vibrancy. She was holding a plastic bottle of tea.

"Oh, Yukino-neechan! Hello."

"I'm sorry to trouble you to come out on your rare holiday."

"No, no, Komachi also wants to buy a gift for Yui-neechan, and she's really looking forward to going out with Yukino-neechan."

She responded to Yukino's apology with a smile. This guy seems to really like Yukino, so that wasn't just a polite remark. Come to think of it, Yukino is really popular with clueless guys. Among the people I know, she's second only to Hayama in terms of popularity with girls.

"The tram is almost here, let's go."

I reminded Yukinoshita and Komachi, and the group headed towards the ticket gate.

Today our destination is the legendary dating spot for Chiba high school students—LaLa-port TOKYO-BAY, a favorite among everyone.

It's a place with all sorts of shops, a movie theater, and large event venues, making it arguably the most luxurious leisure and entertainment area in Chiba Prefecture. Simply put, it's a place that has nothing to do with me.

The tram was quite crowded, and we stood there swaying for five minutes, holding onto the handrails.

If it were just Yukinoshita and me, we probably wouldn't have had any conversation. But Komachi was there today, and she asked Yukinoshita a lot of questions.

"Has Yukino-neechan already decided what to buy?"

"...Not yet. I've looked at many options, but I can't make a decision."

Yukinoshita sighed softly. She had been browsing fashion magazines in the office, probably choosing a birthday gift for Yui, though her taste was likely different from Yui's.

"Besides, no friend has ever given me a birthday present before..."

She spoke these words with a somewhat gloomy expression. Upon hearing this, Komachi's face also darkened, and she fell silent, unsure of what to say.

"...Oh, how pitiful, I did receive a birthday present."

"Huh? You're kidding, right?"

That surprised tone was really rude.

"I'm not lying, and why would I need to brag about something like this to you now?"

Yukino nodded in admiration after hearing what I said.

"That makes sense... I'm sorry, I didn't think before I spoke. I shouldn't have always doubted you. From now on, I will completely trust your lousy side."

"If you think that sentence is a compliment, you are completely wrong."

"So, what gift did you receive? Feel free to tell us so we can have an idea."

"corn……"

Upon hearing this, Yukino blinked several times.

"what?"

She seemed not to have heard clearly and asked again.

"Jade, corn..."

"What?"

"I'm telling you! They're farmers! Let me tell you, that corn was amazing! My mom steamed it for me!"

"Brother doesn't need to cry..."

I didn't cry, absolutely not, my eyes were just sweating.

"That's right, it happened during the summer vacation when I was in fourth grade..."

"My brother suddenly started reminiscing about the past again..."

Komachi looked bored, but Yukinoshita seemed to want to listen and nodded, urging me to continue.

"Takatsu's mother and my mother are very close, so he came to my house that day. It was the first time a classmate had come to my house for a birthday celebration, so I was a little excited. As soon as I got to the door, I saw Takatsu straddling his five-speed mountain bike and handing me something wrapped in newspaper."

"I heard it's your birthday today? My mom asked me to bring this to you."

"Ah, thank you..."

"…………"

"...Shall we...come in?"

"Huh? Oh, I already made plans to go to Shin-chan's house to play."

"I see..."

What's going on? They didn't even invite me... I thought Shin-chan and I were really close, and when I heard that, I almost cried. After Takatsu said goodbye and rode away on his mountain bike, I unfolded the newspaper in my hand and found fresh corn still glistening with morning dew inside. By the time I realized it, tears were already streaming down my face...

After listening, Yukino sighed softly.

"So, you still haven't received a birthday gift from a friend."

"That's right! Takatsu and I aren't friends at all!"

Seven years later, I finally understand the truth. Given this, I need to reconsider whether Shin-chan and I can be considered friends.

Perhaps sensing the cry of my soul, the snow beneath murmured, its gaze fixed on the distance:

"However, some relationships are indeed built up because of the parents... When they talk, they tend to group both children into the same category, and I really hope they don't do that."

"Yes. Whether it's children's associations (Note 26: groups aimed at the healthy development of children, with participants ranging from preschool to high school age) or taking care of schoolchildren, it's really troublesome... I can't even get along with people in my own grade, let alone people in other grades. I always just read my own books... But because of that, I've been able to come across so many good books. So, in the end, it's a good thing."

"I remember spending almost all my time reading... Anyway, I've always enjoyed reading, so I'm quite happy with it."

Wow~ The weather outside is so nice~~

Unable to bear the low air pressure, Komachi began to admire the scenery outside the window.

The boundless, clear sky gives one the feeling that summer is just around the corner.

Today will be a hot day.

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After getting off at Minami-Funabashi Station, walk a short distance and you'll see an IKEA on your left. This trendy furniture store is a popular spot for crowds. This area has long been a leisure and entertainment destination. It used to be a large maze, and later, for a time, it was converted into an indoor ski resort. I use the past tense to indicate that the ski resort is no longer in existence.

I can feel the passage of time. Without realizing it, I have gradually grown into an adult.

Back then, they emphasized that you could ski empty-handed, which is so nostalgic. Now, when I hear that phrase, all I can think of is a hand-shaped bra (Note 27: "empty-handed" and "hand-shaped bra" are pronounced the same in Japanese). I can feel the passage of time. Without realizing it, I've gradually become an adult…

After crossing the pedestrian bridge, you will arrive at the entrance of the shopping center.

Yukinoshita looked at the facility information map, crossed her arms, and pondered.

"That's amazing...it's so spacious inside."

"That's right, this place is divided into several areas, so it's best to set a goal first."

I'm not sure of its actual size, but it certainly lives up to its reputation as the largest shopping center in the area. You could easily spend a whole day just wandering around inside. Therefore, it's essential to plan your route before visiting.

"In that case, efficiency should be the priority. I'll look in this area."

I pointed to the right side of the illustration, and Yukinoshita pointed to the left and said, "Then I'll take care of the other side."

Okay, that saves us half the effort. Next, let's see how to arrange Komachi to further improve efficiency.

"Then, I'll leave this to Komachi—"

"STOP♪"

Komachi gently lifted my finger from the illustration.

"What's wrong? It hurts..."

Seeing my complaints, she let out a loud sigh, then shrugged like an American saying, "Oh, this guy is so clueless." Seriously, that attitude is infuriating!

I wasn't the only one who didn't understand romance; Yukinoshita also looked at Komachi with a puzzled expression.

"What's the problem?"

"Brother and Yukino-neechan, don't just go your separate ways like it's perfectly natural. This is a rare opportunity, wouldn't it be better if we all shopped together? That way we can exchange ideas, which is beneficial in many ways!"

"But that might not allow you to visit all the places..."

"Don't worry! According to Komachi's judgment, if we want to cater to Yui-neechan's preferences, we can just visit this area."

Komachi pulled out a guidebook from under the information map, unfolded it, and pointed to the "JASSIE" and "LISALISA" counters on the inside of the first floor. The store names sounded like they taught people Ripple (Note 28 refers to the character "Lisalis" from the manga "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure"). That area was probably full of shops targeting young women.

"Then, let's go."

When I brought it up, Yukinoshita nodded without any objection.

In short, let's just get going.

The girls' section that Komachi refers to passes through two or three blocks, and along the way you will pass men's products, products that are hard to categorize at first glance, and a general merchandise area. The number of stores and brands is impressive.

I was walking at the front of the three of us, but since I rarely come to such large shopping malls, I wasn't sure if I had gone the wrong way.

Yukinoshita, probably rarely visiting shopping malls, was busy looking around, seemingly quite interested. Judging from the contented smile on her face, she certainly wasn't bored. She would occasionally stop to examine the displayed merchandise closely, but would immediately leave if she sensed a salesperson approaching.

Ah, I understand that feeling. I also want to tell the sales staff not to approach customers and start conversations while they're picking out clothes. Anyone working in a clothing store should learn a skill: recognizing the "don't talk to me" aura emanating from a lone wolf. That will make business much more prosperous!

We strolled along the way until we reached a fork in the road leading to the left and right sections. Continuing forward, we had to take an escalator upstairs.

I recalled the introductory image I had seen earlier, pointed to my right, and turned to ask Komachi:

"Komachi, just keep walking to the right, and you'll get there, right?"

However, I couldn't find Komachi anywhere.

"Huh, that's strange..."

I looked around but still couldn't find her. I only saw Yukinoshita carefully kneading a strange panda doll with fierce eyes, sharp claws, and glowing fangs.

That's Johnny the Panda, a famous character from Tokyo Disneyland. "Johnny the Panda Bamboo Hunt" is an extremely popular ride in the park, and waiting in line for two or three hours is commonplace.

Tokyo Disneyland is a household name, a source of pride for Chiba Prefecture. However, the fact that it's located in Chiba yet bears the name of Tokyo is also a source of humiliation. It's located in Maihama, Chiba Prefecture, a place I've heard is similar to Miami Beach, hence the name. That concludes today's lecture on Chiba Prefecture.

"Under the Snow".

As soon as I spoke, Yukinoshita immediately put the doll back on the shelf, calmly fiddling with her hair, and asked me with her eyes, "What is it?"

Uh, it's nothing, nothing at all... I learned from the cat incident a while ago that the wisest choice in this situation is not to complain.

Have you seen Komachi? I don't know where she ran off to.

"Yeah, I didn't see it either... Should we call her cell phone?"

"Alright."

I immediately took out my phone and dialed Komachi, but all I heard was incomprehensible music coming from the receiver. How strange, why is this guy's phone singing?

Although the call went through, Komachi didn't answer for a long time. I listened to the entire two melodies before hanging up.

She didn't answer...

While I waited for Komachi to answer the phone, Yukinoshita produced a new item. Besides the original wicker handbag, a brightly colored plastic bag appeared. "You bought that thing..."

She noticed me staring blankly at the bag in her hand, so she casually put it into her purse and then spoke to me again:

"Komachi probably found something interesting... With so many items in the shopping mall, it's easy to get distracted."

"Yes, just like you."

I glanced at the handbag in Yukino's hand, but she brushed it off with a few coughs.

"Since Komachi already knows where we're going in the end, let's just go there and meet up. Waiting here isn't a solution."

"That makes sense..."

I sent Komachi a text message saying, "Idiot, call back now, we're heading over there," and the two of them continued walking.

"...Turning right is correct, right?"

I just wanted to confirm with Yukino, but she looked puzzled.

"Isn't it a left turn?"

The correct answer is to turn right.

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