My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

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The messages were mostly casual chatter. The flowers in Hachiman's garden are blooming, the moon is beautiful tonight, Totsuka is so cute… Is he her boyfriend in the throes of new love? I'm a guy, by the way…

Even though we weren't in the same school, we still maintained some level of contact.

The problem lies here.

Women are originally the sun—this is a quote from Hiratsuka Raicho.

I would write it like this.

Whether now or in the past, Hachiman Hikigaya is the sun.

I would probably deny it immediately, and he might even feel disgusted and block me, but in my eyes, he is indeed like the sun.

A blazing star hanging alone in the sky, capable of shining brightly on its own.

It is demanding and lonely, yet it exudes a reassuring warmth.

If you could stay by his side forever, you would inevitably wonder if you could become like him.

I started to have misunderstandings about this when I was in high school.

Because Hachiman Hikigaya felt an overwhelming affinity for Saika Totsuka.

I've always considered myself a special and close friend of Hachiman—I inadvertently thought I was special too.

Both in the university I worked so hard to get into and in the company I joined after graduation, I tried to treat people sincerely in my own way.

I once resolved a dispute in the tennis club I was in through self-sacrifice, and I also saw through the true intentions of candidates to resolve problems during school elections. Even when outsiders created chaos for important events involving political cases, I managed to bring them to a successful conclusion.

I think I subconsciously imitated Hachiman's attitude towards life, which is to constantly pursue the real thing.

But—everything was wrong.

Hachiman is able to continue being Hachiman because he is Hachiman.

Because he possesses the strength to block out any aversion, the weakness to accept all rejections, and the tenderness to hold those who are truly important tightly in his arms.

I failed to become Hachiman.

They are not qualified in almost every aspect.

Just like the cold moon at night, it cannot become the dazzling sun in the daytime.

I was simply receiving Hachiman's light while standing beside him.

It wasn't until years later, after doing unpaid work in college and being ostracized and marginalized at work, that I realized this.

"...Totsuka, aren't you glorifying Hachiman too much...?"

My classmate, Cai Muzuo, looked at me like I was some kind of alien.

I don't remember how many beers we ordered.

We had all drunk quite a bit, and the slight tension and awkwardness brought about by the long-awaited reunion had mostly subsided.

"Although that fellow is a man recognized by my swordsman general Yoshiteru, I am quite surprised that you are so infatuated with him... I say, Totsuka."

"Um?"

"If you have any worries, I can listen to you."

He was genuinely worried about me.

I smiled bitterly and shook my head.

"No, it's just that I'm exhausted from daily life."

"That's something a mentally ill person would say... Oh, by the way, what kind of work do you do now?"

"Wholesale pharmaceuticals. Delivery of medicines to various pharmacies."

"Hmm? It's hard to imagine, but it's a profession that helps people. Thinking about it that way, it suits your personality quite well."

"Haha, really...?"

I shrugged. This job is boring. Just go to the pharmacy I'm in charge of, say hello to the doctors, and the day is over.

I don't feel like I'm doing something meaningless. But there are countless people who could replace me.

Just like life.

It wasn't so tragic as to be despairing, but it certainly couldn't make you the only one.

"What are you doing?"

I didn't want to talk about my current situation anymore, so I changed the subject to him. My classmate, Cai Muzuo, slapped his thigh triumphantly.

"Good question. I work at a game company!"

"Wow, my dream has come true!"

I applaud with the most sincere feelings I have today.

I heard he always wanted to be a creator. Very few people continue to pursue their high school dreams as adults.

"Wow, that's amazing... You've already made several games?"

"Hmm? Well, my name is listed in the staff credits of a few games..."

"Okay, what's your name?"

As he spoke, his hand, which had been clapping, naturally fell to his sides.

As someone who is also someone who is just around the sun, I can't help but compare myself to him.

They successfully achieved their goal of obtaining genuine products.

I can't even be a fake; I'm utterly useless.

We've all changed so much. So much that there's no going back.

"Zaimuzuta is really amazing..."

A sound mixed with sighs fell softly to the ground.

Before I could search for where my voice had gone, he stood up from his chair.

"Do you need to go to the restroom? He's drunk, it's dangerous for him to go alone"—my mind conjured up a wildly inaccurate guess, when my classmate, Cai Mu Zuo, grabbed my hand.

"...Totsuka, let's go."

"what?"

"Let's go together! To my company!"

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeee⁉"

He pulled me up from my seat with his strong hand.

"I'm currently working on a word game with a suspenseful mystery theme."

"We're getting into a taxi waiting for passengers at the Ikebukuro Station roundabout," Zaimokuza said excitedly.

"As the plot progresses, we'll need to use knowledge about medical relationships. Since you work at a pharmaceutical wholesale company, you should know a lot about this industry. Could I introduce you to the production team to help us with research?"

"I do deal with medical personnel frequently... but when it comes to professionals, I don't know much at all!"

"It's alright. Gathering information is secondary; you yourself are the most important. Just the fact that you're willing to play games with me is rewarding enough."

"What's the meaning?"

"Dreams can come true at any age. I want to prove this to you, who are tired of life!"

Cai Muzuo slumped deeply into the taxi seat, raising his fist with an air of triumph. Making games is your dream, not mine…

I can't bring myself to say it.

To be honest, I was unexpectedly moved. Dreams can come true anytime. What a famous saying. Excellent. Getting drunk can sometimes make people emotionally unstable.

"...That's true. I'd like to see the games you make."

I nodded gently, and the student with the wood frame puffed out his chest in delight.

"By the way, the selling point of this work is its combination of meticulous professional knowledge and the atmosphere of a new legendary work. The female protagonist is a vampire who can see the line of death perception, and she's a flat-chested, jealous younger sister!"

"Oh, so that's why you're so obsessed with vampires. You're really professional."

I thought of the scene where he shouted loudly on the tram, and whispered, "Zaimokuza-kun silently shed tears. Getting drunk can sometimes make people lose control of their emotions."

"Hey, what's wrong...?"

"I feel the joy of not being told, 'So which work did you plagiarize?'"

"I would never say such harsh things about someone else's work."

"...Totsuka, have you got the wrong person to worship?"

The student named Caimu shook his head with a mixed expression.

I didn't know how to answer, so I turned my gaze to the passing scenery outside the window. Whether he intended it or not, the sun will always continue to attract people, I suppose.

Zaimokuza's company is located in an office district near Shinjuku Station.

I don't play games much, so I didn't really recognize the name, but that company seems to be quite well-known in the gaming industry. (That's what my friend Caimuzuo said.)

After getting off the bus, I took out my phone and saw that it was well past midnight.

"It's strange to ask this now that we're already at the door. Is it even possible to get into the company at this hour?"

"Don't worry, there won't be any problems. People who make games need to train to the point where they eat and sleep at the company before they can be considered capable of working independently. We're in a critical phase of production right now, so the company must be brightly lit up."

I looked up following his finger and saw that in the middle of the high-rise buildings, an entire floor of lights were on.

"Tonight is also a rare occasion for me to leave the company and go home."

"This line of work is tough too..."

The main entrance facing the main road is closed.

We went around to the back of the building, where employees discreetly set up entrances and exits through gaps in a neat fence designed to conceal their presence.

As soon as the card was swiped to unlock the electronic lock, the massive body of the student named Caimuzuo leaped up nimbly.

"Oh no!"

"Oops?"

"We'll be discovered!"

I peeked out from behind my classmate at the newly opened door.

An employee wearing a wool coat and a casual hoodie is walking from the other end of a narrow path leading into the building.

"Can't I be found out? — Ouch, ouch, ouch, it hurts so much, Zaimokuza-kun! Even if you push me this hard, I can't hide any further inside...!"

He pushed my back forcefully, shoving me toward the tall fence next to the back door. I fell headfirst into the bushes and started to complain.

However, Cai Muzuo was no longer there.

"Oh, Mr. Zaimuza. What are you doing so late? I mean, you smell strongly of alcohol!"

"I have some odd jobs to take care of... Mr. Sagami, you've worked hard too, staying at the company so late."

He ran back to the back door at lightning speed and greeted the person.

Those who come from the company are probably people of some status.

Seeing my classmate, Cai Muzuo, bowing and smiling obsequiously, I absentmindedly thought—he's really become a member of society.

"Feel sorry."

After chatting with the important person for a while, I watched him leave.

When Cai Muzuo returned to the fence, he bowed deeply to me.

"Thinking about it carefully, even if it's in the meeting room, it's not good to let outsiders into the company at this time... I have no choice but to take a tough approach to avoid being caught."

"It's okay, I don't mind."

I shook my head slightly.

"But I think it's better not to go in and disturb them."

"Hmm! Why!"

"Others might see it, and even if they don't, it could cause you a lot of inconvenience."

"Hmm..."