My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 743

They were talking about this topic. Even if Isshiki greeted him with "Hi-lo—!", I don't think Yuihama would be angry.

However, she could only do that because of the trust between Yui and Isshiki. If it were someone she didn't get along with, like Zaimokuza or the game club, she would get angry as usual. She would say "Don't do that" in a very deep voice, looking genuinely angry!

...No, this isn't so bad, is it? The occasional glimpse of genuine anger is somewhat addictive. I feel like I'm constantly being poisoned by it.

In short, being the subject of jokes when you're not around can be seen as evidence of being loved. This idea is easily used as an excuse to gossip about someone, but in my opinion, it's still within the realm of playful banter.

Both of the younger female students admire Yukinoshita and Yuihama.

At this moment, the thermos made a bubbling sound, and the water boiled.

Komachi picked up the thermos, humming a song as she brewed tea, the familiar aroma slowly spreading with the steam.

While waiting for the tea leaves to steep, Komachi took out my teacup and two paper cups. Although Yukinoshita and Yuigahama weren't there, Komachi didn't seem to intend to use their cups.

Komachi, holding the teapot, quickly poured black tea into teacups and paper cups (since she was pouring tea). (Note: "tea" and "quickly" are homophones in Japanese.)

"Here, please have some."

"Oh, thanks."

I gratefully accepted the teacup Komachi offered me and took a sip.

Hmm, I feel energetic today, and the tea is delicious... (Note: This is an adaptation of the lyrics from the song "Vira vira virou!" from the arcade game "Princess Transformation," which includes the line "I feel energetic today, and the milk is delicious.")

I drank with great relish, but Issei's reaction was less than pleasant. She took sip after sip, carefully observing the surface of the water in the paper cup, as if confirming something.

"Um……"

"Hmm, that's a strange reaction. Is there a problem?"

A meaningful sigh made Komachi frown. Isshiki waved his hand and said:

"No... I just think Yukino-senpai is really good at making tea."

"Ah... I really can't win against Yukino-neechan..."

Komachi sighed, raised the white flag in surrender, and then nodded in agreement. But I not only didn't agree, a question mark appeared above my head.

"Huh? Does it taste that much different?"

I took another sip, savoring the tea. Holding the hot tea in my mouth to taste it, the flavor that spreads across my tongue is that of black tea. Even I could tell the difference between oolong and green tea, but black tea is always black tea.

Hmm... I don't understand... what's wrong with that? I looked at the person making the black tea, and Komachi shrugged with a wry smile.

"The tea leaves are definitely the same..."

Then, she rested her chin on her hand and began to think.

"...It really is that thing that's the problem."

"Oh? Is there a difference?"

When I asked, Komachi gave me a mysterious smile.

"Oh, cooking is an expression of love."

Hmm! That sounds like there's no love in this cup of tea! Okay, Komachi's movements were indeed simple and quick, almost casual. She cooks often, so I was thinking, "As expected of Komachi, her movements are really skilled..." Does she not have any love in her cooking?

"No, no, no, it's purely a technical difference. Yukino-senpai put a lot of effort into making it."

I couldn't help but doubt Komachi's love, but Isshiki denied it from the side.

"Oh—I see..."

After she mentioned it, I tried to recall how Yukinoshita brewed black tea, but I couldn't quite place where she focused her attention. I know she's very meticulous, but Yukinoshita's every move is elegant and graceful, not just when brewing tea…

However, to those who understand, the difference should be obvious.

Isshiki took the paper cup and took another sip.

"Yukino-senpai's tastes like 'black tea!', while Mimi's tastes like 'tea...'. It's like something you'd drink at home."

"It's just a difference in tone... although I can roughly understand it."

I also drink tea brewed by Komachi at home, so it really tastes like home. To put it nicely, it's a comforting, rustic feeling...

Even though there was no explicit criticism, Komachi herself seemed a little lost.

"You mean, it's a matter of impression..."

Komachi said with a wry smile, and Isshiki nodded in agreement.

That's part of the reason.

"What else can Komachi do..."

Komachi chuckled dryly, a look of resignation on her face. She shrugged, much like Tora-san, who famously said, "Saying that line means I'm finished." (Note: A famous line from the movie "It's Tough Being a Man.")

Because we're a commoner family... needless to say, the taste, the mannerisms, and the overall atmosphere all subtly exude a sense of homeliness, which is unavoidable. We simply can't compare to the upper-class Yukinoshita family.

However, Komachi's charm lies in her family-oriented nature, which is precisely why she can be called "the world's little sister".

I didn't need to strongly advocate for it; Isshiki seemed to understand this principle as well. She nodded repeatedly, saying, "That's right~".

However, her neck suddenly stopped moving, as if she had thought of something.

She then turned to Komachi and used the back of her hand to brush aside the hair that was hanging over her shoulder.

Uh, your hair isn't long enough to need to be brushed aside with your hand... Wait a minute? Why does this feel so familiar? I had just thought that when Isshiki brushed his hair aside two or three more times, pressed his temple with that hand, then sighed helplessly and shook his head gently.

"Oh dear, how can you say that? Komachi, if you're going to imitate me, please imitate how to brew black tea as well, okay?"

Isshiki smiled smugly.

Komachi and I couldn't help but burst out laughing. Because we were trying to hold it in, we accidentally made some really weird noises.

Komachi couldn't hold back any longer and burst into loud laughter. After laughing for a while, she wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and praised Isshiki.

"Iroha-senpai, amazing! It's so lifelike!"

Hearing her praise, Yise puffed out his chest proudly.

"Right? The key to imitating Yukino-senpai is this arrogant attitude."

"Don't call him arrogant..."

I didn't mean that.

...Really? She occasionally throws on a super-cheerful "I already said it" attitude. Okay, I don't dislike that smug look; I even find it kind of cute. I hope she continues to be smug. That cocky attitude is probably one of the reasons she's so popular with the younger students...

Looking at the two younger female students, they were practicing their imitations, brushing their hair aside, raising their chins, and revealing smug smiles. They were laughing heartily.

Soon after, the imitation contest seemed to end in a unanimous victory. Komachi clapped her hands and nodded vigorously, as if to say, "You're pretty good."

"Oh dear—imitations really do look better when they're done with malice. As expected of Iroha-senpai."

"I meant no harm!"

Isshiki slammed his fist on the table in a frenzy, vehemently protesting Komachi's words. Komachi, however, merely tilted her head in confusion.

"No?"

She cast an innocent, almost fake look at Issei, a barely concealed joy flickering in her eyes.

"No! What does this child take me for...?"

Isshiki groaned and squinted at Komachi.

Komachi ignored her gaze, put her hand on her cheek, twisted her body, and made a deliberately drawn-out, sweet sound.

"Huh? But...Iroha-senpai, isn't this the feeling you've always had? I think it's quite similar."

"This...this is what you call malicious imitation. Senior, this kid's morals have collapsed."

Isshiki protested to me, but she seemed to see at a glance that the completely unrecognizable impersonator was imitating her, and said disdainfully.

However, Komachi seemed quite pleased with her performance, chuckling happily. Was she happy that Isshiki had noticed? Ugh, what a jerk... Thinking about it now, the conversation actually felt kind of heartwarming...

"Yeah, malice definitely makes it more convincing!"

I had just thought that when she actually looked malicious! Komachi sighed with satisfaction, looking like she had accomplished a great mission.

"I told you it didn't look like it..."

Yi Se let out a sigh mixed with helplessness and despair.

Then he secretly glanced at me.

"Doesn't seem like it?"

I spoke with confidence.

"Yeah. It's not contrived enough, not contrived enough."

"I'm not happy at all that you're speaking up for me like this..."

Hearing my firm answer, Ise slumped her shoulders listlessly. I felt my words were quite convincing…

"In fact, I'm not pretentious at all."

She puffed out her cheeks and turned her head away.

"Uh, this is what you call being pretentious... This person is really something... Doesn't she even realize it when she's doing this...?"

Komachi was taken aback by Isshiki's actions—or rather, she was utterly astonished. However, I must say that her perspective was somewhat superficial.

I cleared my throat, put my elbows on the table, assumed the Gendo pose, and then shouted in a low voice.

"Komachi, you're wrong about that."

Perhaps because my tone was too serious, both Komachi and Isshiki looked at me with surprise, their eyes showing a hint of nervousness. Under their gazes, I continued in a very serious manner, as if I were about to discuss something important:

"Isshiki knows she's pretentious, but her pretentiousness is more than just pretentiousness. She bases it on pretentiousness, but doesn't let it show. Instead, she adopts a kind of 'I know I'm pretentious, but that's who I am' attitude..."

I paused for a moment, gathered my emotions, and then said my last words.

"...that is, the pretense of not flattering others."

I delivered my conclusion with a soft, smiling breath, and silence fell instantly.

Then came Komachi's terrified voice.

"Wow, this guy talks a lot... But it's not that I can't agree with him, so I won't argue with my brother."

Komachi nodded vigorously, looking as if she deeply agreed.

"Right? That's one of Isshiki's advantages."

"I get it, I get it. Trying your best to act cute is really cool."

"That's right."

My contest with Komachi, "What do you like about Iroha Isshiki?", began unexpectedly.

Iroha has many other advantages too!

Okay, which card should I play next?! Her appearance goes without saying, and besides, praising someone directly would make the person giving the compliment feel awkward. I want to rave about her spirit and inner qualities. In that case, it must be that one—her unique way of connecting with others is amazing. She completely ignores people she's not interested in, but once you get to know them, she'll initiate conversation, giving you a warm feeling, like interacting with a wild animal.

I was just about to launch into a long speech when someone tugged at my sleeve, interrupting me.

Turning around, I saw Yise trembling with his head down.

"Um...please stop saying that...I'm really embarrassed and can't stand it...or rather, it's not like that at all..."

Her face was flushed, and she muttered to herself rapidly. She kept fanning her face with her palms and sighing deeply. Because her gaze was fixed on her feet, you could clearly see that her ears, which were peeking out from under her flaxen hair, had turned red.

Being praised so openly makes Isshiki genuinely shy and precious... It makes me unable to stop staring at her.

Komachi seemed to feel the same way. She deliberately bent down to look at Isshiki's face, probably wanting to observe Isshiki's appearance more closely.

Issei turned his head away, wanting to escape from her gaze.

Komachi burst out laughing.

"No, no, no, it's true. Iroha-senpai is such a wonderful person. Regardless of how others react, she's determined to be herself... That's not easy. In a way, it's admirable. Ah, she's so cool..."

"Stop talking, stop talking, feed me rice and shut up."

Komachi closed her eyes and praised Isshiki to the skies as if she were talking about someone she admired. Isshiki tried desperately to stop her, but no matter how much she shook Komachi's shoulders, Komachi showed no sign of shutting up.

"He has a strong heart that doesn't care who hates him! His attitude towards life is so cool—he doesn't care what others say about him!"

"...I do care, okay?"

Seeing Komachi speaking so excitedly, Isshiki was half confused and half frightened. Komachi, however, ignored him, raised her fist, and continued to praise her loudly.

"An unwavering will unaffected by others! She doesn't care about negative rumors or those who speak ill of her behind her back! Truly worthy of being called Iroha-senpai! That's what makes her so admirable and worthy of emulation!"