My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 707

"Your worries are unnecessary...and you won't be alone anymore."

Then, she gave a helpless smile.

"...Yes! That's right!"

I think that from now on, I'll probably just worry and become depressed on my own. Or rather, it's more accurate to say that I'll probably be the one who becomes depressed. And it's not just probably; I know it will definitely happen.

But that's fine, that's good enough.

Because I've made up my mind, I want to get closer to those two than anyone else, and spend more time with them than anyone else.

Because I want to talk to Xiaoxue about everything, whether it's things that make me angry, things that are useless, things that make me feel disgusted, things that make me disliked, or things that I like.

As her mood improved slightly, Xiaoxue gently patted her hands, which had been clasped together.

"...I think he should still be around there."

Hearing her say that, I glanced out the window. It was still a little early to call it evening.

I don't know if I can catch up now, but if I keep delaying, I think I'll probably never be able to say it.

Xiaoxue withdrew her hand from mine. Then, she gently placed it on my shoulder. Her hand was completely without force, conveying a tenderness as if she were hesitating whether the touch was appropriate.

"...Then, I'll be right back!"

"Um"

I forcefully straightened my schoolbag and strode forward.

The clattering sound of indoor shoes gradually quickened in pace.

Although I know I can't do this, I absolutely cannot stop.

So, I...

Even though she knew it was against the rules, she still ran as fast as she could in the corridor.

DB Bonus: Senior Three Chapter 3, Part 6. Those eyes were staring straight at him.

I never expected to have so much free time...

On a sunny day, I sat lazily on a bench in the courtyard of the teaching building, which made me feel even more idle. Although I was waiting for Komachi to return the keys to the teachers' office, I was really bored out of my mind during this time.

When school ends without any plans, it always feels like ages have passed since the last time.

Looking back, ever since the Service Department implemented the new system, I've had to show up in the department office every day for various reasons.

That being said, I am still a senior in high school.

Although progress is slow, I've started preparing for the exam little by little, so the increased free time is quite encouraging. I've done self-study, and also tried some trial classes at tutoring centers and online courses for individual subjects, but I can't deny that I still feel something is missing.

Since I have a little free time, I might as well take advantage of this time to learn as much as I can.

I took out my English vocabulary book from my bag and diligently began memorizing words to pass the time. Flipping through the book, I placed the transparent red cover on top and mumbled the words like a spell.

The battle for exams has already begun...

The current period is primarily an intelligence war.

Even while waiting for Komachi to change the key, you could hear the students coming and going in the courtyard discussing their conversations.

Topics like "So-and-so's class at so-and-so tutoring center is so effective," "Should I buy a Target or DUO English vocabulary book?" and "Since I'm reviewing Japanese history, I definitely need a collection of materials from Nagisa Yamakawa" are commonplace.

By the way, let me mention the consequences of showing off one's superiority by mentioning a university one hasn't even been accepted into yet. I'm only talking about those particularly pretentious guys who looked down on law and political science before the summer break of their senior year, but as exams approach, they'll 100% suddenly change their tune and say, "Law and Political Science University is pretty good too. I have a major I'm interested in." Even though there's no real basis for their claims.

In short, I can't be swayed by rumors these days; I must improve my basic academic skills. While pondering these snippets of information I'd heard somewhere, I flipped through my English vocabulary notebook.

That said, I have absolutely no idea my English will be up to par. My Japanese is even a bit unreliable. I can't even have a proper conversation with Japanese people, let alone English.

No matter how many times I flipped through the pages, I still couldn't concentrate at all. The knowledge didn't get into my brain, and time was wasted in vain.

No way. I just can't muster the energy today. Oh well. I'll go home, take a shower, and get some sleep before trying again. A nap will definitely make me more productive... If I stay up all night and the results aren't good, it's like wasting two days. Besides, staying up late is bad for your health. Teacher Shui Mu said that, right? Anyway, I'll only sleep three hours. From a sleep cycle perspective, three hours is just enough time to wake up... (note)

Note: "Mitsuki-sensei" refers to Shigeru Mizuki, the 93-year-old long-lived manga artist.

Lost in thought about all these random thoughts, I buried my unfulfilled wishes, unspoken prayers, and lost desires deep in my heart, and stretched out a big yawn. Just then, accompanied by the soft, clattering sound of footsteps, Komachi returned.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, brother."

"Yes. It's really late. I've been waiting for ages. Thanks to your slow pace, I've learned quite a bit."

I waved my English vocabulary book to indicate "Look at this," to show that I had just been studying.

But Komachi completely ignored me and started walking away, coldly raising her chin as if to say, "Hurry up and leave."

"Ah—, well, I chatted with my homeroom teacher for a while, as usual. I also got to eat some snacks. They were delicious."

"Hey... what are you doing, leaving someone hanging like this...?"

Despite my complaints, I got up from the bench and walked alongside Komachi.

Well, I've had the experience of being caught by a teacher in the teachers' office and then being used as bait to lure people into chatting. I don't intend to blame her at all.

The words exchanged there may sometimes become unforgettable guiding principles in one's life.

Even now, I can still recall my mentor's words the moment I close my eyes… "Any good recommendations this quarter? Ah, that Amazon Prime exclusive one. Looks like I won't be able to keep up with it right away…" I miss those silly conversations so much… I might hear them for the rest of my life.

Note: This should refer to the new anime series airing each season.

The thought that those days will never return brings a bittersweet pain, like homesickness, that pierces my heart.

As I lowered my head, my pace slowed, and Komachi walked a few steps ahead of me. Her steps were light and quick; if this continued, I was afraid I would be left behind.

I quickened my pace slightly and took the opportunity to ask about something that was bothering me.

"By the way, it didn't seem to take very long? Are you alright? Did you upset the teacher?"

"No, I have no reason to make the teacher angry. In fact, Komachi is the teacher's favorite, you know?"

Komachi turned around and chuckled smugly.

Although my siblings and I attended the same elementary and middle school, I remember that Komachi was very popular with the teachers from the time we started school.

Komachi is already excessively cute, and she handles most situations smoothly and thoughtfully, truly a world-class negotiator. While her academic evaluation is somewhat naive—"anything with effort"—in reality, because she's someone who can achieve anything with effort, teachers probably consider her a student worth teaching. Plus, she's actively involved in student council activities, so her enthusiasm and positive attitude in school life always earn her recognition. Even if I were a teacher, I'd be incredibly biased towards Komachi.

Note: Interest, enthusiasm, and attitude are among the indicators used in Japanese education evaluation.

"Well, Komachi has always been popular with older people. Truly worthy of being called the world's little sister..."

Almost everyone older than Komachi is irresistibly fond of her. Even the people around me are the same; everyone dotes on Komachi. The only thing that could be considered a flaw in Komachi is that her biological brother is a complete problem child, but considering how well she takes care of him, that's actually a strength.

I praised Komachi with admiration, and she smiled, revealing her little tiger teeth, and gave me a big thumbs up.

"I guess so! She's even so popular with teachers that she's not popular with her classmates!"

"Could you please refrain from revealing such worrying news?"

Although she said it casually, the content was anything but something to be taken lightly.

So should I press for details and find out everything about the classmate I don't get along with...? Although that's what I was thinking, the person in question didn't seem to care much. Komachi skipped along happily, humming a song.

"Well, I've handled this smoothly, so don't worry."

Hearing her say that with a smile, I felt it wasn't appropriate to continue the conversation on that topic.

Hmm—how serious was she really? It's so hard to tell…

After all, although Komachi may seem like a troublemaker and speak in a frivolous tone at first glance, she also has a calm side that is completely opposite to these traits... She can have a lot of fun with her friends, but she doesn't care at all when she's alone, or rather, she's more relaxed. In other words, she's the high-end version of me.

So even if there are some problems with interpersonal relationships, I guess it won't escalate into anything too serious. That being said, unfortunately, I still have absolutely no idea about Komachi's high school life.

If I only look at the time she spends in the Service Club and how she plays around with Isshiki, I'd only have vague feelings like, "It's so good that she looks so happy," "So precious," "I love her," "I'm so grateful to be alive," "Be happy," and "If anything happens, I'll definitely find a way to solve it." But what is Komachi like in the classroom...?

If I had the chance, I'd love to sneak a peek, but if Komachi found out, I'd probably get a really bad scolding. And most importantly, having a brother like me might become a flaw for Komachi.

Hmm... Just as I was racking my brains, caught in a dilemma, we arrived at the parking lot. As I was wondering where the car was parked and peeking around, Komachi, who was following behind me, sighed helplessly.

"...More than that, Komachi is worried about her brother."

"There's nothing to worry about, right?"

After I answered with an exaggerated puff of my chest, Komachi waved her hand rapidly in front of her chest as if to say, "Forget it."

"No, no, no, there are plenty of them, it's not a good thing, is it?"

"Yeah?"

I finally found my bicycle, and as I pulled it out, I ignored Komachi's complaints and gave her a vague, perfunctory response. But what she said next was something I couldn't ignore anymore.

"...like the atmosphere in the clubroom today."

"Um……"

Komachi frowned slightly apologetically and muttered worriedly. Her heavy words were impossible to laugh off, so I responded with a sigh.

I tried my best to act as usual, but how could I possibly hide my terrible acting skills from them now?

That frozen atmosphere was undoubtedly caused by me.

The excruciating stomach pain from last night, that person's frivolous probing, her disappointed profile, and the endless sighs—I still can't shake them off now.

I thought it wouldn't matter if I lied, as long as I could say it and feel relieved.

I didn't want to escape to simple words, so I might have chosen an even simpler language game instead.

During the empty hours I spent in the office, I tried my best to find words that were closer to the current situation. Although I tried to focus my eyes on scanning the lines of text, what always appeared in my sight was that face that kept drooping.

No matter how relaxed I may seem inside, others will still see through me. Not to mention that the person in question is my sister, whom I've known for over fifteen years; she could probably easily discern my true thoughts.

Seeing my awkward smile, Komachi put her hands on her hips and sighed deeply.

"Hey, Trash Bro..."

"Yes, I'm sorry, it's probably my fault..."

"You know that yourself..."

"Hmm. I think I messed up a lot of things yesterday. Thinking about it, I seem to have said a lot of unnecessary things in the way I talk to Yukinoshita... Well, I was just too nonchalant."

Of course, there was a lot of tension and anxiety. My mind was somewhat confused, and I was quite tired. So, amidst my rambling, I uttered a lot of empty talk, nonsense, wrong words, and stupid statements.

However, the biggest problem is not there.

Instead, he intended to maintain the same routine as usual. He developed the illusion, or rather, arrogance, that he could apply the way he interacted with Yukino Yukinoshita to others.

Even we ourselves cannot convey our thoughts perfectly and without damage.

Even so, I was so flustered that I forgot about this very thing.

Even I think it's outrageous.

I can't stand being so carried away with joy that I don't think things through, and I can't stand cramming this feeling and relationship into a short sentence. I thought that no matter what I thought, only by putting on a respectable facade could I gain the other person's trust, but this excessive self-righteousness has only harmed me.

Well, to sum it up in one sentence.

I messed up... these words were full of regret.

I let out a long sigh, my voice overlapping with Komachi's sigh.

"Ah—, that's how you usually talk to Yukino-nee—...I see, I understand, it's probably something you can't help it with."

"……Yeah?"

Hearing my question mixed with a wry smile, Komachi also smiled wryly and nodded, patting my back hard.

"Well, there's nothing we can do about it! It's like when my brother made a mistake on the TPO exam; there's always a way to fix it! Since it's mostly his fault, what happens next depends on what he does!"

Komachi deliberately put on a nonchalant, cheerful smile and spoke frankly.

Her words conveyed a positive attitude, which encouraged me, but unsurprisingly, she clearly pointed out that the responsibility lay with me.

However, according to Komachi, she not only knows my bad habits quite well, but also seems to have found out the whole story from Ms. Haruno. She's both objective and trustworthy.

Most importantly, after being so energetically and adorably criticized by her, I cheered myself up again.

"...Yeah, that's true."

I gently kicked the bicycle rack, then turned around. I looked at Komachi with my eyes, asking if she wanted to slow down. She nodded in response, and we walked side by side.

"To be honest, generally speaking, that would make the atmosphere very awkward."

"What do you mean?"

Even with your demonstrative pronouns, I still don't understand what you're saying... I glanced sideways at Komachi, only to see her gently nudge my side, expressing her dissatisfaction: "Why don't you understand?"

"That...that...the conversation between my brother and Yukino. If other people heard that, they'd be terrified. They'd think, 'What are those two doing? That's so scary—'"

"...Well, is that so? After all, Yukinoshita is quite sharp. People would probably be startled if they saw her for the first time."