My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 610

My name is Yoshiteru Tsurugi.

People often mistakenly think it's "wooden seat" or "wooden house," but "wooden seat" is the correct term.

When things get really bad, people will say things like, "Oh, that guy? His name sounds like someone from a hardware store," but my name is Caimuzuo.

By the way, I checked the zodiac and there's no such sign as "Zaimokuzo" (简木艹). Oh well. Even if there were, the Saint Cloth...It's probably made of wood too. It'll be doomed if it encounters a fire-type attack.

...others cannot correctly recognize my real name.There's a reason for that.

Because I, Yoshiaki, am a solitary and proud person. I am a lone wolf who will not form cliques or groups.

I almost never speak to anyone in the class... I'm a bit too concerned about saving face. You could say I haven't spoken at all... I'm worrying about saving face again. I haven't said a word at all.

Perhaps it's because my imposing and domineering presence as a swordsman general instills an instinctive fear in ordinary students.

A Nen ability similar to the one known as "En," with a range extending to a radius of four meters. When will that manga get another volume? (Note 10)

Therefore, no one comes near me. Really, no one comes near me. So few people that you can hear whispers like, "That hardware store will probably go out of business sooner or later, won't it?"

But there was nothing that could be done about it.

I am a swordsman general resurrected in the mortal world. I possess overwhelming power and bear the destiny of constant battle.

Everyone can simply enjoy their peaceful daily lives. I will protect the world, and tonight all I need to do is slay all the monsters. I've saved up enough money; I'm going to buy the Water Mirror Shield (Note 11).

all in all.

I live a noble life every day, but I have to pay a price.

Going to and from school, break time, lunchtime... in all sorts of situations on campus, I was often forced to act alone. I did everything by myself.

The most troublesome of them is physical education class.

You might be surprised, but I actually sweat a lot. My perspiration function is better than most people's. I also get breathless easily because I have to use some of my energy to suppress the evil energy overflowing from my right hand.

No, that's not important.

What makes physical education class so difficult isn't the physical aspect, but rather the mental one.

"Okay—find your own friends and pair up."

The physical education teacher's cruel instructions were like a nightmare for me.

I'm not bragging, but there's a 99% chance I'll be in a group in this situation. The remaining 0.1% chance is that I'll be in a group with the teacher. Yeah, this isn't bragging, it's self-torture.

Every time, I hope, "Maybe someone who's lost their mind will come looking for me today?" Unfortunately, such a savior never appears. Life is truly tough.

"Can't we try to change this bad habit?"

A silent fighter stood alone there, his heart cold, watching everyone, even those from different classes, forming groups. That was me.

As I stood there like a flickering flame in the darkness, most of the others had already found their groups, leaving me, the swordsman general, standing to the side.

"Hmm... are there about ten people left?"

That's right. The real hurt is only just beginning.

The person who is left out is the one who embarrasses themselves in front of others. It's tantamount to announcing to the world, "I have very few friends." For teenagers, this is a very shameful thing.

Therefore, the remaining people will feel anxious and desperately search for partners. They compromise again and again, and end up just randomly picking someone to team up with.

Like a dead person who has fallen into the realm of hungry ghosts. Things have come to this point and no one has come looking for me yet. What's going on? Are you scared?

"Honestly, everyone is so shallow. Do they really hate being alone that much? They should learn from Hiratsuka-sensei."

Don't you have any dignity?

No, it is precisely because of dignity that one abhors loneliness. One is willing to sell oneself cheaply.

In any case, at this stage, the principle of "forming pairs" has become meaningless. If it had been said from the beginning that "groups should be formed according to seat numbers," no one would have been hurt.

"Besides, you might not be able to be with the person you like in this world. That's probably why the NTR genre has a certain popularity, right?"

When I couldn't help but utter a curse.

My eyes caught sight of a man.

That guy, like me, still stands alone. He didn't go looking for a partner, just stood there like a bound spirit, radiating negative emotions.

"Ha, a complete outsider. Pathetic..."

He was also a victim of the unhealthy atmosphere in physical education classes. A single aristocrat with no close friends, no formidable rivals, no acquaintances, and, in rare cases, not even anyone to greet.

"No, judging from his unassuming appearance, is he a single commoner? Being paired with me, a general, might be too much of a burden for him, but it can also be called fate. I'll show him some mercy."

I decided I should lend a helping hand to the lost lamb, so I approached him casually.

Even though I'm not very enthusiastic, I can't just stand by and watch the weak die. I'll be your savior. So just you wait! Don't team up with anyone else! Or I'll cry! Please have mercy!

I don't know if my prayers worked, but the marginalized man was still all alone. Not long after, he seemed to notice me approaching.

“…………”

“…………”

The man on the edge looked at me with surprise as I stopped about two meters away from him.

What struck me most was his incredibly cloudy eyes. Like a dead fish. The boiled rockfish I ate last night had eyes that looked exactly like that.

“…………”

“…………”

We faced each other as if about to duel, after several seconds of silence.

There was silence between them. The other person should know why I came over, yet they insisted on waiting. I've already come right up to you, can't you be the one to make the invitation?

“…………”

“…………”

The staring contest, which felt like an eternity, lasted for about three more seconds.

The other person remained silent. So did I. In that case, it would be a contest of willpower.

Want to be in my group? ...We were all reluctant to say that. Saying it meant we'd lost.

“…………”

“…………”

I judged that this situation would not end, so I decided to take action.

I slowly closed the distance, dragging my feet to put pressure on my opponent. I even subconsciously chanted "Kabaddi, Kabaddi, Kabaddi (Note 12)" in my mind.

The enemy, however, did not take the bait. For every step I took closer, he retreated the same amount, maintaining the same distance. Like a mirage.

...This man is no ordinary person.

However, to dare to engage in psychological warfare with me is utterly laughable. Does this commoner think he has defeated the general?

"Since that's the case," I cleared my throat slightly. Then, glancing around, I launched a mental attack at him, "Look, everyone's found partners, right? Only us left?"

But the enemy shouldn't be underestimated. He slowly crouched down, mimicking the act of retying his shoelaces. "Hey, stop acting so obviously. Your shoelaces aren't even undone."

...Isn't this marginalized person afraid of being marginalized?

That's truly terrifying mental strength. He's practically an expert on marginalized individuals. What if he were a Kabaddi expert?

However, I am a swordsman general. I cannot allow the legend of my invincibility to be tarnished. Therefore, I spoke directly to the enemy's dead fish eyes with my gaze.

—You marginalized person, give up the futile struggle. You've run out of time.

—You're the same, aren't you?

—Tell me. Invite me to join your group. Now's not the time to be picky about partners!

—I told you, you're the same way.

Don't act impulsively! Give yourself a break! You've already tried your best!

—Why is a difficult guy coming over here...?

To an outsider, it would just look like two people scavenging for scraps dragging their feet.

In fact, we had that kind of telepathic connection. Probably.

The precarious control lasted for about five more seconds before the match ended in an unexpected way.

"You two over there, stop dragging it out. You can be in one group."

The PE teacher lost his patience and resolved the situation with a single sentence.

That wretched PE teacher! It's all your fault! How dare you interrupt our fight! What are you up to?! Since you're going to interfere anyway, can't you just hurry up?!

So, I had no choice but to team up with this deadpan guy.

The man's name was Hachiman Hikigaya.

The person who will share countless physical education classes with me in the future—

"My friend took the day off today, so I was left alone by chance, coincidence, and miracle."

I remember the first thing I said to him was a seemingly bluffing defense.

I am, after all, a swordsman general. I cannot be looked down upon by mere commoners. No, judging by this man's audacity in not being afraid to be on the margins, he might be a samurai. He might be a low-ranking samurai.

"Ah—don't make excuses for me."

The other person, however, seemed uninterested, lazily tossing back an rude reply. They still had those dead fish eyes. The taiyaki I ate three days ago had eyes like that too.

The teacher told us to do stretching exercises in pairs, so we followed the others and started stretching slowly. I first sat on the ground with my legs spread apart and had the person next to me press down on my back.

"Your flexibility is terrible. Your writing style doesn't move at all."

"I'm stuck in my stomach. Don't worry about it, gym class is different from fighting. I'm better at the latter."

"That belly must be a hindrance during battle."

I couldn't help but mutter a "mmm" to the incessantly chattering lower-ranking samurai. Soon after, it was my turn to massage his back.

"I'm talking about you, you seem to be a rather well-known outsider."

"Shut up. It's pathetic to be famous for being on the fringes, isn't it?"

"I misspoke. My name is Zaimokuza Yoshiteru. I am the successor to the spirit of Ashikaga Yoshiteru, the thirteenth shogun of the Muromachi shogunate."

"What?"

After hearing my self-introduction, the marginalized person made a surprised sound.

"Ashikaga Yoshiteru? Oh right, he appeared in Nobunaga's Ambition."

"Oh, do you know him? I inherited his soul."

"Was it inherited?"

"Exactly."

"I see... Although I had a vague feeling about it a long time ago, you really are that kind of person."

After stretching, the marginalized man stood up, a faint, bitter smile on his face for some reason. Then, for some reason, he patted my shoulder.

"What was that look you gave that abandoned dog, soaked by the rain?"

"Not bad, you have the same name."

I always felt like I had some kind of connection with that person, I know, I know... His eyes seemed to say that.

"Stop! Don't look at me with that pitying, rotting gaze!"

"Rotten is unnecessary."

This outsider is being incredibly rude to the general he's paired with. I'm only in your group out of pity! Not just anyone will do! But... thank you for being in my group.

"Anyway, I've already introduced myself. Now you should introduce yourself too."

"Hachiman Hikigaya. You don't need to remember it."

Upon hearing his cold recitation of that line, my eyes widened immediately.

"Is that what it means? 'You're about to die, I'll beat you, so there's no need to remember it'?"

"No, that's not it... Never mind, let's just say that's how it is."

"And you said your name is Hachiman? Speaking of Hachiman Daishoku, he is a respected war god! Hehehe, is that so? I see."

I chuckled softly, and with a forceful flick of my wrist, lifted my coat. Then, a second later, I realized I was wearing my gym clothes, so I wasn't wearing a coat.