My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 65

"...Let's go back."

She said it softly, and I nodded.

We didn't speak to each other again on the way home.

I didn't ask her anything, and she didn't say anything to me either. Actually, we should both have something to say to each other.

However, we chose not to intrude on each other's space and maintained our usual distance. Our relationship was like that of passengers sitting next to each other on a tram. We spent a period of quiet, unspoken time together.

As we approached the station where we were to get off, Yukinoshita got up first, and I followed behind.

After passing through the ticket gate, Yukino paused briefly.

"I want to go this way."

She pointed to the exit to the south.

"Well, bye."

I turned towards the north exit.

Just then, a faint sound came from behind.

"I'm very happy today, goodbye."

I couldn't help but wonder if I had misheard, and quickly turned around, but Yukinoshita had already started walking and showed no intention of turning back.

Finally, I watched her leave until I could no longer see her.

Volume 3 is about Yui Yuigahama

This time, we absolutely have to find out!

Hikigaya Komachi

So, what will the older brother say to Yui-nee?

Hikigaya Hachiman

Hmm... sluts and the like.

Hikigaya Komachi

Komachi refers to the dialogue.

Hikigaya Hachiman

Should we have a dialogue?

However, she mostly chatted with Yukinoshita, and I was mostly just an eavesdropper.

Hikigaya Komachi

They have such a good relationship!

Hikigaya Hachiman

Yes.

However, I think she's quite nice.

Hikigaya Komachi

Whoa whoa?

Hikigaya Hachiman

She's kind to everyone, which is part of why I still can't trust her.

Hikigaya Komachi

...This won't do!

Girls who are kind to everyone are rare!

The brother should trust her more! Because girls are only gentle to those who benefit from it!

Hikigaya Hachiman

Your last sentence actually made me completely unwilling to believe her...

Volume 3, Part 5: Even so, Yoshiteru Zaimokuza still wept alone in the wilderness.

Monday, in English, sounds similar to the Japanese word "ruga." However, Monday doesn't become a happy day just because it sounds a bit suggestive; it only makes people sigh, "Another week of classes..." Of course, I'd like to skip class, but no one would be willing to help me copy notes or get handouts, so my attendance naturally increases.

I'm already considering taking leave from school even though I pay to attend classes, so I imagine people who can go to work for free would be even more eager to take leave. However, taking leave would cause trouble for my colleagues, so I initially decided to choose not to work.

That said, those materialistic people keep saying things like, "Oh no, I really don't want to go to school! Oh no! I lost my textbooks during summer vacation," but why do they love coming to school so much? You guys come to school every day, right? The defining characteristic of materialistic people is that they say one thing and mean another, so lying is the beginning of becoming one.

I entered the noisy classroom a moment before the morning class meeting.

The classroom has been divided into several colonies: a mixed group of men and women forming the first group, those looking to pick up girls forming the second group, athletes who participate in clubs but aren't official members, an otaku group, core female members, quiet girls, and a few loners. These loners can also be further subdivided into different types... I think I'll leave that aside.

Everyone was engrossed in their own conversations, and no one noticed me walk in. Wait a minute, using the word "noticed" isn't quite right; it would be more accurate to say that no one "paid attention" to me.

I wandered among the islands in the classroom and arrived at my seat.

The real-life army and the otaku group are right next door.

That group of people can be really annoying when they get together, but if someone arrives too early, they'll impatiently play on their phones, wondering, "Why aren't they here yet..." or pretend to be fiddling with their hair while peeking at the classroom door. These behaviors are actually quite cute.

They have a strong sense of camaraderie, rarely interact with people outside their circle, and do not join other groups when acting alone. From this perspective, they are actually quite xenophobic and exhibit significant discrimination.

Conversely, the Mavericks are practically philanthropists. Their apparent indifference towards anyone is, in fact, a manifestation of their love for everyone. Ah, it seems it's only a matter of time before I'm hailed as a saint, Hachiman Hikigaya.

Once I sit down, the first thing I do is daydream. I'll examine my hands, thinking about things like, "My nails have grown longer lately," or "Wow, my lifeline has shortened," so I'm never bored. If we're talking about the ability to waste time, I'm second to none.

What kind of useless ability is this...?

× × ×

As I unleashed a whole host of useless skills I'd acquired, the class ended without me even realizing it, and before I knew it, it was time to go home. I even thought I'd completely mastered those skills, thus awakening my Stand ability.

I quickly packed my bag and stood up.

I didn't speak to the girl next door at all today. The reason why English education in Japan is unsuccessful is probably because it requires students to practice in groups during class.

When I arrived at the Service Club, Yuihama, who had left the classroom before me, was already there. However, she didn't go into the club office; instead, she stood at the door, taking deep breaths.

"……What are you doing?"

"Wow! It's...it's an autistic guy. Hmm...how should I put it, the atmosphere was really awkward the other day..."

She awkwardly looked away.

"........."

"........."

We all fell silent.

The two of them kept their heads down, avoiding eye contact. Just then, I noticed that the office door was slightly ajar. Peeking through the crack, I saw Yukinoshita sitting in her usual seat, reading a book as usual.

It seems that Yuihama is hesitant about joining the club.

I can understand, after all, she hasn't been to the club for a whole week.

Whether it's school or part-time work, if you suddenly ask for leave, you don't know how to face everyone afterwards. I've been the same way; three times I felt so embarrassed after skipping work that I never went back to work. No, if you include the jobs I didn't even report for duty, that makes five times in total.

Therefore, I understand how Yuihama feels right now.

"Okay, let's go in."

Because of this, I half-forced her into the office and deliberately opened the door forcefully to announce it to the world.

The noise I made displeased Yukinoshita, and she suddenly looked up.

"Yuihama-san..."

"H-Hello, Yukino..."

Yuihama raised her hand slightly to greet him, deliberately squeezing out a cheerful voice, while Yukinoshita casually turned her gaze back to her book.

"Hurry up and come in, don't just stay there, the club activity has already started."

Yukino lowered her head, probably to hide her expression, but I could still clearly see a blush rising on her cheeks. And the way she spoke—it was like a mother seeing her runaway daughter return…

"Okay, sure..."

Yui responded in this way, walked to her previous seat, which was next to Yukinoshita's, and pulled out a chair. However, there was a large gap between the two chairs, almost enough to fit another person in.

I sat down in my usual spot, which was diagonally opposite Yukinoshita.

Normally, Yuihama would start playing on her phone at times like this, but today she just sat still with her hands on her knees, barely sitting on the edge of the chair. Yukinoshita tried hard not to pay too much attention to her, but the opposite happened; because she was paying too much attention, her whole body had been completely frozen since earlier.

The silence was oppressive, filled with a tense atmosphere. Even the slightest movement of my body would draw attention for a long time. A cough would echo, and the ticking of the second hand lingered in my ears.

The three of us remained silent, listening intently for any sign that the other was about to speak. The moment someone paused to catch their breath, we all turned to look.

This silence felt so long… I checked my watch and realized less than three minutes had passed. What was going on? Was this some kind of mental time capsule? I could even feel the gravity and atmospheric pressure of the office gradually exerting their weight on us.

I watched the second hand tick by, and just as it completed a full circle, I heard a faint voice in my ear.

"Yuhihama-san."

Yukino slammed the book shut, took a deep breath, shrugged her shoulders, and then slowly exhaled.

She then turned to Yuihama, opening her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. Yuihama's body was facing Yukina, but her eyes were fixed on the ground, not looking at the other person.

"Ah, um... Yukino is going to talk about... your relationship with the autistic guy, right?"

"Yes, I'd like to talk to you about our future development—"

Yukinoshita had barely opened her mouth when Yuihama immediately interrupted her.

"Ah, no need at all, you don't need to care about me. Although I am genuinely surprised, or rather, a little taken aback... but you really don't need to worry about me at all. This is a good thing, we should celebrate..."

"I... I didn't expect you to know so well... I really do want to celebrate, and... I'm very grateful to you."

"Ugh, how annoying... I didn't do anything to be thanked for... absolutely nothing..."

"You really don't realize it, but I'm really grateful to you... Besides, it's not because of anything you did that we need to celebrate, it's just that I personally wanted to do it."

"……Um."

I feel like these two are talking at cross purposes...

They only picked up on the key words in the sentences, filling in the rest with their own imaginations. Yuihama's attitude and word choice were ambiguous, while Yukinoshita kept saying suggestive things out of shyness, making the whole conversation very unnatural, barely communicating with each other through the atmosphere they created.

Yukinoshita awkwardly expressed her gratitude, which she usually couldn't say aloud, blushing with embarrassment. On the other hand, the more Yuihama saw her shy appearance, the more somber her expression became, forcing a smile to hide her embarrassment as she held back her tears.

"So... um..."

Yukinoshita Sekiguchi wanted to say something, but then fell silent again.

This was a period of tentative probing, trepidation, and anxiety. If converted to time, it probably wouldn't even last ten seconds, but the silence before we could speak again was heavy enough. The three of us stared at different things, barely managing to get through the atmosphere.

“Um, um…”

Just as Yuigahama was determined to break the deadlock—bang bang bang! A series of urgent knocks echoed through the clubroom. Yukinoshita gently closed her book and said to the door, "Come in."

However, there was no response from outside the door; all we could hear were hissing sounds and rapid breathing.

Yukino and I exchanged a glance. She nodded, signaling me to go out and check the situation. The thought of "you go out yourself" flashed through my mind, but it just didn't seem right to let a girl investigate that suspicious breathing sound.

I walked step by step toward the door, getting closer and closer to the unidentified breathing. At this moment, only two sounds could be heard in the silent office of the Service Society: my footsteps and the panting outside the door.

As I reached the doorway, I swallowed hard. The thought of an unknown creature on the other side of the door made me tense.

I gripped the doorknob and cautiously opened it—the next second, a large, dark shadow suddenly appeared before my eyes, as if trying to pry open the tiny crack in the door.

"Woohoo~~ Hachiman A-Meng~~"

"So it's a timber pedestal... Also, don't call me that."

The dark figure was actually Yoshiteru Zaimokuza. It was already well past June, and the weather was unbearably hot, but he was still wrapped in a black coat, panting as he grabbed my shoulder.

"Hachiman A-Meng, listen to me! They've gone too far!"

I had just told him not to pick random names, but he ignored my protests and kept talking. This guy was infuriating, so I forcefully pushed him out the door.

"Sorry, Zaimokuza, this service club can only accommodate three people. Right, Gian?"

"Why are you looking at me...?"

Yukino glared at me unhappily, but I ignored her.

"Hachiman, wait a minute! This isn't the time for jokes! If you don't like the name Hachiman A-Meng, you can call him Ninja Hachitori, but please listen to me first!"