My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 697

She turned up my collar, wrapped the tie around it, and then, after turning the wide end around the narrow end once, she inserted the wide end into the loop formed by the previous turn to make a pretty triangle, and finally pinched it to tie it tight.

In that instant, my gaze met Yukinoshita's at the closest distance we'd ever been.

Yukinoshita seemed to only just come to her senses, her face instantly turning bright red, and she was speechless for a moment. Even after she had tied her tie and loosened her grip, she remained silent, and the blush on her face showed no signs of fading.

A subtle atmosphere briefly filled the carriage.

"Ah...thank you."

"You're welcome……"

Unable to bear the silence, I thanked her, trying to fill the void, but Yukinoshita kept her head down. Because of this, I clearly saw her ears, peeking out from her black hair, were bright red.

Oh, what can I say! If you're going to be shy, don't do things like this! It's making me shy too!

I don't know if she did it intentionally or unintentionally, but being hit like this by her all the time is really giving me a headache.

—But I don’t find it annoying at all; it’s just that it gives me a real headache.

DB Bonus: Senior Three New Chapter 1 (Middle School Edition)

Good evening, this is Watari.

I never imagined I'd be writing this "middle note" again...

Who could have imagined something like this... Of course, I could have imagined it! In fact, I really wanted to write it, but I'm only able to write this diary thanks to everyone's support. Thank you so much.

That's it, it's currently the timeline of "My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected."

After writing the epilogue and the middle part of the story many times, I felt like I was running out of things to write about. But incredibly, after finishing the main story, I suddenly had something to write about.

Before I started writing, I kept thinking, "No way, I've run out of things to write... Writing the main story is already tough enough..." But once I made up my mind and started writing, it went pretty smoothly. Sometimes I even had to abandon the whole thing because I wrote too much irrelevant stuff. Maybe it's because I was writing in the middle of the night, and my brain was malfunctioning...

I usually write an afterword when the original work is published, which is kind of a habit.

But when I reread my old writings, I found that my writing style and content had changed. From this, I not only felt the weight of time, but also the impermanence of life.

Although it may seem that nothing has changed, a closer look reveals that changes have indeed taken place.

Perhaps it is precisely because nothing has changed that such small differences have led to such huge changes.

I'm not just referring to the epilogue and the middle part; the same applies to other things in life.

Amidst the storms of society, I've drifted along in a mud boat for nearly ten years, struggling and sinking. My schedule is always packed, constantly being urged on by the rabbit with the pocket watch (a mild metaphor for an editor) on the mountain, who keeps saying, "Hurry up, hurry up!" I've barely managed to survive until now. I often want to tell him, "You damn rabbit," but after calming down and thinking about it, it's mostly my fault. So, I just silently curse him in my heart, "In my mind, you're no longer a rabbit, just a wild delicacy," to vent my anger.

Note: "Mud boat," "Katsukachi Mountain," and "rabbit" are references to the Japanese fairy tale "Katsukachi Mountain," while "the rabbit with the pocket watch" is also a reference to "Alice in Wonderland."

Living this kind of life every day, I gradually stopped encountering anything that would move me. Even in April, the situation hadn't improved, and all that remained in my mind was the feeling of "initial business plan... I see (despair)," followed by the need to work hard towards the next financial statement. It was quite refreshing to have new cogs in the machine (a mild metaphor for new employees), but since there's staff turnover every season, it gradually became unremarkable.

When you gradually get used to it, trouble often begins to brew. Deliberate neglect and oversight will result in huge losses and gains.

In situations like this, if a rabbit inadvertently says something nice about me, I might occasionally feel touched and think, "Wow, this rabbit is so kind..." Would that happen? Probably not, no way, how could that be?

I feel like I'm making a joke about how "this is so real," but I doubt many people will understand. Rabbits are indeed unforgivable, but let's leave that aside for now!

Because life is mundane and uneventful, sometimes subtle differences can appear as huge changes. Conversely, if we fail to notice the small inconsistencies in our stable daily lives, one day we may suddenly face earth-shattering changes.

Even if the actual changes are small, I believe that once I feel that "things have changed," my emotions will waver, leading to new discoveries and an updated set of values.

Given this, there must be changes in their new daily routines as well.

With a new environment, new relationships, and new feelings, "My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected" begins.

Since it has already been declared finished, I am quite hesitant to continue writing. However, I feel that I haven't written enough yet. Under the mysterious theory that "it should be okay if there are bonus features...", I decided to write this completely new work as a canonical sequel.

I will continue to describe their daily lives and those of the people around them after they enter their senior year of high school. I hope you can stay with them for a while longer and continue to protect them and their present and future.

By the way, just like with "Spring Things" here, I also wrote an epilogue in the anthology section.

I've now published four books: *My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected: Yukino Side*, *My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected: All Stars*, *My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected: Yui Side*, and *My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected: On Parade*. I've written an epilogue for each book, so you can read them together. These four books are somewhat like short story collections, so they should be very easy and heartwarming to read!

But I'm not sure if "Oregairu Shin" will be as heartwarming... However, I'm hoping to write something both heartwarming and meaningful here, so please continue to support me! I'm able to start writing "Oregairu Shin" thanks to the TV anime "My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected. Final"!

Has everyone seen it? You all should have! After all, it's a bonus item for the first two episodes of the anime!

If you haven't seen it yet, please do so later. I'll assume everyone in the world has already seen it and continue.

...By the way, don't you guys think it's really well done? It's really, really well done...I love it so much, can I say a little bit about it? Can I suddenly start narrating the first episode now?

In the booklets and notes for the first and second seasons of the anime, I also wrote similar things called "explanations," which were really just my personal ramblings. Please listen to me talk about them again this time. Don't forget, the content can't be changed suddenly.

While my previous writings were called explanations, they were merely my personal thoughts on the anime. I'm not negating anyone else's interpretations! You can have your own interpretations and preferred opinions. In fact, I hope everyone should. So please, in the spirit of "a thousand readers, a thousand interpretations of Oregairu," read on with a relaxed mind.

Episode 1: "Soon, the seasons changed, and the snow melted."

It picks up right after the last episode of the second season, truly a start that breaks a long silence.

It was a very long silence... a full five years... Hachiman's monologue evoked such a sigh, but it wasn't just his feeling; it was the shared emotion of the three of them. I think this statement would have been fitting even if it had been said by anyone else.

This is also reflected in their subsequent conversation on the bench. They tried to act as usual, and their conversation revealed their desire to believe that their relationship would never change. They both knew they had to touch the core, but they couldn't figure out how. That's why Hachiman asked, "Can I hear what you have to say?" because he knew he was responsible for this situation.

Then there's Yukino's wish, which, judging solely from the dialogue, seems related to her family. However, this is only part of the story, as evidenced by the increasingly ethereal and lonely expression on her face as she speaks. Yui is particularly sensitive to this. The scene where she holds Yukino's hand is truly memorable. In *Oregairu Complete*, "hands" are a highly symbolic element, playing a role even more important than the dialogue. Hopefully, everyone will pay more attention to the symbolism of "hands" in the future.

The topic returned to Yukino. "...Even if the wish can't be fulfilled. I guess I was afraid of getting a definite answer, which is why I didn't check." This confession-like statement revealed her true intention, concluding that she wanted to "give up." "Wanting to start properly" presupposed bringing something to a halt. In other words, what she said before was merely a means; the goal itself was to give up. It was precisely because she realized this that Yui asked again, confirming, "Is this Yukino's wish?"

In the story, everyone is driven by a sense of despair. In a sense, the content of "Oregairu Complete" is about how they face this feeling and find the right compromise.

The second half of the story takes place on the morning of the second day of exams for Komachi, the younger sister who has arrived in the world. Considering Komachi's feelings, Hachiman asks her, "How are you feeling?" to avoid putting pressure on her so early in the morning. This shows how endearing Hachiman is as an older brother, and Komachi's cheerful reaction to this is so cute; I really like her.

After that, Hachiman meets the adorable Kawasaki sisters at a café. Kyoko's cuteness on the other side of the glass goes without saying, and Kawasaki's slow nod and shy wave are just as adorable. You might think it's just cuteness, but actually, the conversation inside the café contains clues that will later become clues. Kawasaki's two sentences, "Can you stop spoiling her so much?" and "You're so oblivious," undoubtedly sharply point out Hachiman's true nature. At that time, Hachiman was unaware of his own shortcomings, and this would have a huge impact later. Wow, Kawasaki knows Hachiman so well… no wonder Hachiman said "I love you!" This new flashback scene is also great. Because *Oregairu Complete* casually inserts previously cut scenes, you can watch it in conjunction with the original work!

Then Komachi arrives to join us, and the lines, "Just kidding, just kidding, I love you so much, I love you so much," and "You're a user of the Disgusting Fruit, aren't you?" are a complete showcase for Aoi Yuuki. I heard the voice acting live during the later recording, and I was incredibly moved.

But what follows is an even more touching scene. Isn't that amazing?

I'm referring to the scene where Hachiman and Komachi go out to play and shop, then return home to prepare dinner. Their relaxed conversation by the kotatsu, where they don't have to put on airs, has a real sibling feel to it, and it's very comforting to listen to. In this lighthearted exchange, the younger sister inadvertently reveals a lonely profile, a reflection of her growing maturity and understanding.

As Hachiman said, Komachi's thanks sounded like a pre-wedding greeting, and just that alone made Hachiman's tear ducts break down. Especially when Komachi said at the beginning, "If I fail the exam, I won't be in the mood," this not only showed her realistic side but also that she had a correct understanding of herself in this regard. Then, when Komachi thanked him and mentioned her childhood memories, it was undoubtedly a sudden attack on Hachiman, who had spent a long time with her. His mind must have instantly conjured up images of Komachi's past, present, and future. Unable to cry openly, the two of them said things like, "These are tears," and "Like robots experiencing emotions for the first time," as if they were having a normal conversation. This way of covering up their feelings was also very much in line with the style of this brother and sister. Then, the trembling voice when she asked, "Why are you suddenly so quiet?" and the choked sob at the end were really great. The tearful voice at the end of the scene goes without saying, and the beautiful transition from "suddenly so quiet" to looking away immediately afterward made me sigh.

These scenes of leaving their brother (sister) to be independent also prompted a huge change in Hachiman's way of thinking about interpersonal relationships. I am really grateful to the two voice actors who showed their wonderful acting skills.

On a side note, just like with "Oregairu 2: Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU," I also wrote the trailer for "Oregairu 3: Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU." You could say it's a supplement, or a completion of parts that had to be cut due to length constraints, or you could say it's an emphasis on parts you wanted to hype up, or simply something you wrote because you found it interesting♪ Anyway, I wrote trailers for all sorts of different tastes. If everyone, including the main series, makes sure to watch until the end, I'll be very happy☆

Episode 2: "To this day, he has never touched that key."

The opening sequence begins with a conversation between Hachiman and Hayama. The distance between them, and their barbed yet intimate dialogue, is very comforting. Hachiman chooses MAX coffee, while Hayama chooses black coffee, highlighting their differing perspectives and creating a visually pleasing effect. "I don't need a reason, but I'm happy for your kindness, thank you." "I never expected you to thank me for something like this." These lines convey the time they've spent together, making the viewer smile involuntarily. However, Hayama's subsequent words trigger a bitter memory that even MAX coffee cannot erase for Hachiman.

Let's turn back time. (Note)

Note: This is a reference to a classic line from the Japanese stand-up comedy duo PEKOPA.

Returning to the first half of the previous episode, after Yukino encountered Haruno at the apartment.

What's truly memorable here is Haruno's smile when she replied "I see" after Yukino said, "I have something to tell you." Haruno often gives off the impression of a wicked liar, but this smile conveys a strong sense of warmth. Although easily missed, Haruno does reveal her gentler side at certain moments; please pay close attention to see when she does so. However, the tricky part is that her gaze towards Hachiman and Yui immediately reverts to its usual intensity, making it quite difficult to pinpoint when she does so again.

Upon arriving at Yukino's house, the troublesome one is still Yukinoshita Haruno. First of all, her loungewear is both sexy and cute. Oh my god, it's so cute, I love it… Just as I was thinking this, Yukino said, "About us." Haruno's reaction at this moment, a mix of teasing and delight, is what I meant by gentleness. There are only a handful of truly difficult characters in this work, and Haruno, as one of them, is, judging from her words and actions alone, a rather untrustworthy character. Therefore, to understand her true intentions, starting with what's beyond her words should be closer to the truth. Especially in this scene, after Yukino said, "Because it concerns me, you, and our mother," her expression is probably the closest to her true feelings. That being said, she immediately passed the conversation to Yui, an action very much in Haruno's style, so her true nature is always wavering.

The same applies to Yukino. If one focuses solely on her outward words, one will misunderstand her true nature. Her earnest line, "There's only one thing I want to say properly so that I can convince myself," serves as a prime example. "Only one thing," in other words, implies that nothing else can be expressed in words. After saying this, she reveals a relieved smile, appearing cheerful on the surface, but the reason for her relief is worth considering.

Although Yukino only said a few words, Haruno, as her older sister, was able to understand what she was trying to say. We'll put quotation marks around Yukino's "answer" here; at that moment, Haruno was perhaps the one who understood it most correctly. Perhaps Yui also understood, which is why she helped pack and chose to stay overnight.

And what about Hachiman? Even in his monologue, he's intentionally omitted from the story. As the narrator, he deliberately creates misunderstandings, making him untrustworthy. Following his perspective naturally leads to incomprehension. The characters in the work, including Haruno, view Hachiman in the same way. In *Oregairu Sequel*, she also described this aspect of him as "interesting." That's why she went to great lengths to lie in wait and try to talk to Hachiman.

Speaking of which, the "hmm" she made after smelling her cuff and then letting Hachiman smell it was so cute, I really loved it... On a completely unrelated side note, there are very few smokers in this work, and considering they drink for long periods of time, you probably get the gist of it! That's how it is! And the way Haruno peeked over and turned around while saying, "Hmm? What's wrong?" was so adorable...

But the adorable Haruno has thorns. This adage has become common knowledge in the world of Oregairu, and this will certainly be fully demonstrated in the later plot.

Later, in their conversation before crossing the zebra crossing, thorns can be vaguely seen, but not the kind that would hurt someone. The word "give up" is mentioned again here, indicating that "Oregairu Complete" is also part of her story.

Then, the words "older sister" and "older brother" were brought up as important hints. Both are the eldest children in their families, yet their positions are clearly different; the phrase "this kind of older brother" might be her true feeling. Then, the line "You've always been the older brother" touches on Hachiman Hikigaya's true nature. This was briefly mentioned in the first episode; hopefully, everyone will pay attention to it in the future.

"I can't get drunk," this monologue by Haruno is an example of touching on her true nature, and can also be interpreted as the reason for her hedonistic behavior. Her conclusion that Hachiman shares the same prophecy is somewhat akin to a curse, making the subsequent developments of the story seem less than optimistic. Speaking of which, Haruno's series of changing expressions is truly fantastic; it makes you instantly like her… I also want to be completely manipulated by a beautiful older sister…

The latter half of the film returns to school life after a long absence. The conversation between Hachiman and Yui on their way to the club room evokes nostalgia while also hinting at the approaching end; the locked club room serves as a symbol. The door, which had always been open, is now firmly locked—a small difference, yet undeniably significant. Hachiman's act of going to retrieve the key reflects this change.

Then he went to the teachers' office and saw Hiratsuka-sensei's neatly tidied desk. This was a small change.

Let's put that aside for now. What's appearing in the activity room, which we haven't seen in a long time, is Iroha!

The sudden start of the movie gave a vague sense that trouble was about to unfold... Iroha's nonchalant attitude here was just fantastic; Iroha is so adorable. The acting of the world's cutest scumbag is truly superb. Then, she made a request, feigning cuteness... Up to this point, she was still the same as always, but then she easily gave up, showing a change in her.

This change also affected them. Hachiman felt a pang of loneliness because he had no one to rely on, while Yukino was moved by Hachiman's determination to make a change.

That's why Yukino asked the question. Speaking of which, Yukino, you think so highly of Iroha, believing she could definitely be the queen of the ball… not bad! But her joy was short-lived; Iroha's weeping revealed her sincerity and growth. We'll discuss her true purpose for organizing the ball later; for now, let's focus on her conversation with Yukino.

Faced with a question that could be described as interrogation, Iroha gave a direct answer. Yukino saw a resemblance to herself in her. The idea that "change must be made" was there. However, unlike Iroha, Yukino's viewpoint was somewhat compulsive. As mentioned in the first episode, her goal converged on "giving up," which was merely a step in achieving that goal. This is also reflected in her later statement, "I want to do it myself."

Although the word "self-reliance" sounds positive, it contains a hint of loneliness.

Only Yui probably understood the meaning behind it. Or rather, Iroha, who was observing the relationship between the three of them from the closest distance, also sensed something, which is why she said, "I see."

But it is precisely because of this understanding that Yui's expression sometimes becomes clouded. This is because she, too, is someone struggling with the thought of giving up.

Yui returned to her room and, upon seeing the photo of the three of them, recalled the events of the past few days. She realized—no, she confronted—the feelings she had secretly cherished, treasured like a precious gem, and began searching for her own "answer."

That concludes this lecture on Oregairu. Please continue to support me in the next volume!

The following is an acknowledgment.

Ponkan⑧Kami. Thank you for your hard work, original creator! It's anime season again! I'd also appreciate your help with the Blu-ray, DVD, and CD covers. I'm so happy to be working with you on "Oregairu Complete"! Thank you so much. Let's work on "Oregairu Kami" together from now on!

Editor Hoshino-sama. Hahaha! The original work is finished too, so there'll definitely be plenty of time now, hahaha! -- Someone once said that, but that's not true. That's not true at all, hahaha. So let's leave it at that... There's still a long way to go for Oregairu, including the bonus features, so please continue to support us in the future! Thank you very much.

To Director Oikawa and all the staff: Following "Oregairu 2: Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU," we are also grateful for your support with "Oregairu Finale." Under such challenging circumstances, we are truly thankful for your dedicated production. Thank you for supporting the original work and author through such a difficult time. Every time I see the best videos you've created for the best possible ending, I am deeply moved. Please allow me to express my deepest gratitude once again. We look forward to your continued support. Thank you very much.

To Mr. Takuya Eguchi, the voice actor for Hachiman Hikigaya, and all the other voice actors. It's amazing how much time has passed since we started working together. It's because of your outstanding performances that these characters shine. You've taught me what's most important for a character when writing. I'm so sorry to have troubled you with such a challenging character and a complicated story. Working with you has been one of the best experiences of my writing career. Thank you so much.

Finally, to all the readers and viewers. Thank you for waiting until the end of "Oregairu". Over the years, I've come to understand the meaning of "Oregairu wouldn't exist without you" more and more deeply. It's because of everyone's support that this story has been able to continue and gradually come to an end like this. Whether it's the anime, "Oregairu New Season", or other "Oregairu" series in the future, I will do my best until the very end. If you can stay with me until the very end, I will feel incredibly happy.

You are the reason why there is Haruhi Suzumiya!

Let's stop here for now.

Next up should be the second volume of Blu-ray & DVD, right? I'm not entirely sure either. Goodbye everyone!

One day in July, I was sipping MAX coffee while providing live text commentary on the animation.

Travel

DB Bonus: High School Grade 3 New Chapter 1 Illustrations

DB Bonus High School Chapter 2 Interlude: In any case, Yui Yuigahama echoed the sentiment.

This is a translated version from the Baidu Tieba forum "My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected".

Image source: 1988Comne 

Translation: Hua Qimeng, Yixu

Proofread by: Yixu

Collaboration: Passerby C

A cherry blossom petal, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, gently drifted down and landed on the parasol of the outdoor seating area.

Looking around, there were no cherry blossoms in full bloom, but that petal drifted over like something forgotten, like an unforgettable memory.

That's why I thought, it's time to end.

Then I can't help but think, "Is it over?"

The end of this season. The end of this period of time.

Even without specifically checking, I should have known long ago that summer would be coming soon.

But I just want to enjoy this warm moment a little longer, which may seem like a rather capricious idea.

No matter how much I prayed, time passed second by second, and my location gradually changed.

Therefore, our relationship has gradually changed.

I feel like I haven't gotten used to these changes yet.

In the new class, she unintentionally echoed others, and in the club activity room, she hesitated every day about where to sit. After the club ended, she would feel nervous about how to spend her time.

But once that time passed, I was finally able to calm down.

Me, Iroha, and Komachi.

I can only breathe when the three of us are together.

I don't know whether to say it's just natural, or due to the atmosphere, or the result of our observation, but in any case, we've been spending a lot of time together lately.

As a result, I became more and more familiar with the nearby coffee shops and places to play, and this space that belonged to the three of us became another new place for me to stay.

For example, like today.