My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 671

Hayato, as if whispering to him, brought his mouth close to his ear and said the second half of the sentence.

"Whoa—! Hayato! This won't do either!"

"Why? You don't want Ebina to look at you with curious eyes, do you?"

"Sneaking around will only draw her attention more easily! If we whisper here, it will actually upset her!"

Hayato glanced at Ebina...

Her glasses frames looked even redder than usual.

The heat was so intense that it made the frames seem as if they were made of molten lava.

"Oh—I see."

Hayato knows absolutely nothing about BL.

There is also no prejudice.

I don't think it's necessary to ask her to give up her hobby.

"To be honest, I don't know much about that. I don't know what to do. Oh well, let's just burn with youthful energy."

"Uh, Hayato, you're really weird."

"Really? In the end, friendship is the most important thing. Isn't that a strange conclusion?"

"The conclusion itself is fine, but it's not quite like you. I don't really like that side of you."

"Really? I really like that you're willing to worry about me. I think you're more reliable than I imagined."

The first to react to Hayato's words was Ebina.

She trembled slightly.

The person in question, Hobe, was taken aback by Hayato's sudden remark.

"Uh, thank you for the compliment, but..."

"เสื้อ คุณ สวย จังเลย ครับ‼」

"You don't need to compliment my clothes!"

He complained, sounding slightly impatient.

"I meant to say that I finally learned it, but I accidentally said it out loud."

"So you only said those things because you were confused for a moment."

In the eyes of the Ministry of Revenue, Hayato's erratic behavior these past few days has become increasingly chaotic.

It wasn't out of affection, but rather a moment of confusion that led Hayama into a state of disarray.

He probably thinks so.

"That's not true. I came to this conclusion after careful consideration. The most important thing is true friendship. As long as something that can be called genuine exists, that's enough."

"What?"

"Go there and look for it."

"where?"

"The soccer club office and the playground. Through soccer, we cultivate friendships that will last a lifetime... Come on, let's go together today!"

Hayato gripped Tobe's hand tightly and pulled hard.

Ebina didn't miss this moment; his body trembled as if his hand had been grasped.

It seems like they're secretly enjoying themselves.

However, he couldn't defeat Hayato—or rather, he unilaterally endured Tobe's affectionate treatment...

"Hayato, that's really awful!"

She slapped Hayato's hand away with a slightly forceful motion.

"What's wrong?"

"I said... I'm glad you like me, but being this clingy isn't like you at all."

"Yes, is it..."

"This isn't friendship, it's more like relying on someone... In the end, you've always lacked confidence and felt insecure, so you suddenly started relying on friendship, right? I don't know either. I can listen to your troubles, but this isn't like you."

The words that came from the Ministry of Revenue were even harsher than expected.

However, he's right.

Hayato himself didn't realize that this wasn't friendship, but merely dependence on someone. He was simply venting his insecurities to that person.

"sorry."

"No, no need to apologize. I just want you to go back to normal."

"I see. Hmm, you're right, that's not right."

—I never imagined I'd be scolded by the Ministry of Revenue.

It seems we'll have to temporarily abandon our close friendship.

—Although it's a bit awkward to say this to Ebina…

Hayato stole a glance at Ebina.

Ebina blocked his view with his textbook, trembling with excitement!

"Tsundere...the Ministry of Revenue is a tsundere."

She mumbled words Hayato couldn't understand, trembling.

This development seems to have touched a chord with her!

"Anyway, I'll get back to normal. Sorry for bothering you."

"No, no, no, your self-reflection is just making things awkward. I think Mr. Stan would also say that what you did was wrong. Please stop for a moment."

Incidentally, Mr. Stan is a linguist, so he shouldn't be commenting on boys who stick together.

"Yes. If we're going to change our path, we have to do it now."

Hayato reverts to his superficial approach to friendship.

His period of confusion lasted a long time.

This time, I tried to ask for help from a friend without any prior arrangement, but I made a mistake again.

Hayato's confusion remains without a way out.

For some reason, only Ebina seemed to enjoy this situation.

The next day, Friday, during lunch break.

"Time to eat! Ah—I'm so hungry."

Tobe naturally took his own bento and went to Hayato's seat.

This is a daily routine, one of the most enjoyable times in campus life.

Hayato's movements, however, were very slow.

Even after class was over, his hands were still drawing.

"Hey, Hayato, time to eat! Let's eat!"

"Okay, wait until I finish drawing this."

"Huh? What are you doing?"

"Oh, this is it. It's a hand-drawn postcard."

Hayato proudly showed off a postcard.

The image above depicts a pumpkin, with the words "Thank you, people" written in warm strokes.

"Whoa—! Hayato, you've been worrying too much, you've turned into an old man!"

"I've been thinking a lot these past few days. In the end, what's really important is a fulfilling retirement. No matter how hard you study or work, it's all meaningless if you can't enjoy a healthy and happy old age. I want to find hobbies that I can enjoy in my old age, like drawing postcards and growing potted plants. Especially potted plants, it takes decades to grow them well."

"Wait, Hayato. We haven't even entered the workforce yet, and you're already thinking about retirement?"

"I've always thought that even if you do well in high school, it's meaningless if you don't do well in college. Even if you do well in college, it's meaningless if you don't do well in the workforce... Even if you do well in the workforce..."

"What's the point of life if you don't live well in your old age?!"

"Correct answer!"

Hayato gave a hearty thumbs-up and winked.

"What do you mean by 'correct answer'?! You're walking too fast, no one can keep up! Worrying too much makes you act weird; wearing fingerless gloves like this is actually better!"

"How could that be! Minister of Revenue, let's enjoy our ideal retirement together. I'll send you vegetables from our family garden and postcards every year."

"Then I'd be quite happy!"

As he spoke, the Minister of Revenue glanced sideways at Ebina's reaction.

Ebina's glasses emitted a sinister and eerie light...

It seems that even the older version of Hayato Tobe is within her range of defense.

That's a truly terrifyingly skilled player.

"Hayato, stop thinking about your old age and live in the present."

"Of course. I just want a lifelong hobby. Unlike before, it's not some kind of obsession. I'm not that old-fashioned now."

"That's good. Let's eat."

"Um."

Hayato smiled brightly and took out a bento box.

Then, with practiced ease, I opened the bento box lid...

It contains stir-fried burdock, deer tail seaweed, boiled tofu skin, and a side of vinegar miso salad made with scallions and seaweed sprouts.

"Wow! The side dishes for the old man! Wow! It really is an old man! Wow! This is definitely food for an old man!"

Upon seeing the dish, the Minister of Revenue let out a wail of despair.

"What's wrong?"

Hayato looked puzzled by the intense reaction.

The Ministry of Revenue ignored him and focused on criticizing him.

"The side dishes in the bento box tasted so old-fashioned! How could a high school boy with a big appetite possibly have burdock and deer tail in his bento box!"

"Really? I ordered the dishes I wanted yesterday, and this is what happened."

"You were just denying it, but now you've become a complete old man! This isn't the kind of meal people who're going to play soccer are eating."

Hobe kept pointing at Hayato's bento box with both hands, like a soccer player protesting a referee's wrong call.

Hayato has been thinking about his life in his old age since yesterday.

How should we face the end of our lives?

How can you make yourself feel like you've lived a wonderful life before you die?

His mind was constantly preoccupied with this kind of thing, so naturally he lost his appetite and wanted to eat something lighter...

Now, after trying it for lunch...

"Hmm... my satisfaction level is so low..."

Hayato honestly admitted it.

For hungry high school students, this kind of lunch is too bland.

"Right? Is it okay? Can we get through club activities on burdock?"

"have no idea……"

"Here, have some meat. I'll share my hamburger patty with you."

Unable to bear it any longer, the Ministry of Revenue gave the hamburger patties to Hayato.