My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 747

The increasingly faint voice and the puzzled furrowed brows should have accurately reflected my thoughts.

Upon noticing, Yukino gasped and covered her mouth. Her hand slowly moved upwards, obscuring her entire face. Then, she silently looked away and whispered:

"I thought we should apply to the same company."

She spoke in a weak, broken voice, her cheeks flushing crimson. However, I had no intention of saying anything to her. I felt my own face burning hot.

"No, you can book with the same company... but it's a matter of personal preference, or rather, whether the style suits your taste. That's just my personal opinion."

I rattled off a long string of words in a panic, and Yukinoshita nodded as she listened. This seemed to calm her down a bit.

She adjusted her posture, straightened her skirt, combed her hair that was hanging over her shoulders, and straightened her back.

"It's not that I didn't consider that..."

She began with an opening remark, took a light breath, and then spoke rapidly:

"I think your point about prioritizing the environment to maintain our vitality is very valid. Therefore, I also intend to prioritize the environment."

"You...you're right..."

Why are you using honorifics with me... It made me accidentally reply with honorifics too.

"Considering the environment..."

Yukino, who had been speaking clearly and logically just moments before, suddenly became speechless.

"What's wrong?" I asked with my eyes. Yukinoshita shook her head slightly, muttering "Um..." as if she was struggling with how to express herself. She continued while fixing her bangs:

"Considering the environment, I think it would be more motivating to attend classes at the same tutoring center..."

She gave a shy smile and kept combing her hair with her hands.

Witnessing that innocent smile, which was even more approachable than usual, I couldn't help but cover my head in my hands.

Is this for real? This guy… please spare me, I'm serious… I'm shaking with fear, holding my head in my hands… Is everything alright? Is my rationality still breathing? Yes! That's great. It seems it's still breathing.

So, do I have any other option besides going to the same tutoring center? Of course not. I can't think of a reason to refuse. If I had to say something, there's one thing that worries me: I don't think I'd be able to concentrate on studying at all. But anyway, I'd definitely be thinking, "I wonder what she's doing right now," so it doesn't make much difference. Rather, considering that going to the same tutoring center would save me the energy of worrying, that's actually more constructive. Okay, that's my explanation.

I strained my cheeks, which were about to crease into a smile, and deliberately put on a serious expression before nodding.

"Yeah, that's right. We'll probably decide to go to the same tutoring center after comparing all the options. Or rather, we'll most likely do that, we'll definitely go with that plan."

However, the moment the words were spoken, the mask of seriousness crumbled piece by piece. Perhaps influenced by the conversation we had just had, the last sentence became inexplicably formal, and Yukinoshita nodded respectfully in response, probably because she had caught my influence.

"Yes, yes...that's what I think..."

Then, we were all so embarrassed that we looked away.

I tried to stay calm, blowing on my coffee that had long since gone cold, while Yukinoshita rummaged through her bag to hide her lack of knowledge about what to do.

Neither of us spoke, but we would occasionally exchange glances and nod to each other with shy smiles mixed with a hint of bitterness.

This period of time has been so embarrassing... I suddenly feel like dying.

I thought I'd change the subject and force a change of atmosphere! So, I took a big gulp of coffee, my brain and expression tense.

"Oh, right. Thank you for helping me buy Komachi's gift yesterday."

I pretended to have just thought of it, and Yukino quickly turned to face me, gently shook her head, and raised the corners of her mouth.

"No, we also wanted to give her something. I should be thanking you. I'm sorry for leaving the club in your care yesterday."

This time, it was my turn to gently shake my head.

She said she'd leave the club to me, but I didn't really do much. Nobody came to ask me for advice or ask me to do anything; I just looked after the place and chatted with Komachi and Isshiki.

However, there's one more thing to worry about.

Perhaps my thoughts were reflected in my expression. A look of confusion appeared beneath the snow.

"What happened?"

"No... well, if I had to say, yes..."

I gave an ambiguous answer, struggling with how to explain it.

The matter that Issei mentioned yesterday wasn't serious enough to be described as a problem. She was just confirming something with us. In other words, it was merely me who identified the crux of the issue.

Therefore, I should first exclude my subjective opinions and only tell her the facts.

"Isshiki said they're going to hold a school information session later. Apparently, they need to prepare materials introducing the clubs? They asked if we wanted to publish them."

I gave a brief explanation, and Yukinoshita raised a finger to her chin, thinking for a moment.

"This concerns the future of the Service Club after next year. Since it's an official club, it doesn't seem right not to publish it..."

Her concerns were almost exactly the same as mine.

"If you don't want to recruit new members, you can make excuses however you like."

The conclusion reached was almost exactly the same as mine.

In the end, there's only one thing we need to decide on this issue.

Next year and beyond, I plan to manage the service society in a certain way, that's all.

"What did Komachi say?"

"She didn't seem very interested."

"yes……"

After saying this, Yukinoshita fell silent.

They had no choice but to remain silent. Just like me.

I can offer advice, but I can't make decisions. No, that's too despicable. Because I can't even voice my opinions.

If I said I hoped the Service Society would stay, Komachi would protect it against her own will. I'm afraid that by entrusting it to someone like that, I'll become distorted.

"That office is bigger than I imagined. I didn't feel this way last year..."

Yukinoshita suddenly murmured. Her tone carried a hint of loneliness, as if she were worried about Komachi. She had experienced spending time alone in that company office.

Komachi is also about to get through that period. To put it more subjectively, she'll be left alone in that company office. Perhaps that's why she feels even more lonely.

I recalled the future I imagined with Komachi when we were alone in the office, when a bright voice shattered my thoughts.

"...But such a large space means it can accommodate many people."

Looking up, I saw Yukinoshita with a gentle smile on her face. I couldn't understand her words, and subconsciously tilted my head, looking back at her with a questioning gaze.

Yukinoshita puffed out her flat chest with a slightly smug look, revealing a competitive expression.

"It's strange to say this, but even when I'm the president, people still come to the club office, right? Yuihama-san joined too. If Komachi were the president, the customers would definitely be endless."

"I can't argue with that... especially the part about 'even me becoming the president'."

I chuckled dryly and interjected, while Yukinoshita smiled gently.

"Right? There must be some rare and precious encounters along the way... like ours."

She spoke jokingly, yet her tone carried a sincere warmth. Her gaze was calm and still, as if she were reviewing the past year, and she narrowed her eyes slightly shyly as she finished speaking.

"Really...yes."

finally, I understand.

Perhaps I'm too fixated on the "we" relationship.

No, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it sanctification.

Deep down, I think the current state of the Service Club, including Komachi, is perfect.

Otherwise, the phrase "left alone" wouldn't be used to describe Komachi.

Unconsciously, one regards their surroundings as the supreme existence, and based on self-centered subjectivity, generates erroneous sentimentality.

How selfish, how arrogant, so short-sighted and narrow-minded. Just how excited and smug is this guy? Is he an idiot? Forget an hour, I want to tell him to die every single day for the next ten years.

Is our relationship perfect?

No, absolutely not.

There's always some twist, some crack, sometimes a break, yet a weak connection remains, mistakes continue to be made, and the cracks continue to widen. That's how our relationship should be, in theory.

Komachi must feel the same way. In the future, she will meet many people and build irreplaceable relationships with them. It's perfectly normal, but because of my own sadness, I overlooked even this.

What I should have told Komachi wasn't something like "Do as you like" or "You can decide for yourself," which are ways of shirking responsibility, nor was it a capricious and narrow-minded wish like "I hope the Service Club stays." Instead, I should have told her something else entirely.

I made up my mind and exhaled a deep, long breath. It felt like a small fishbone stuck in my throat had finally been pulled out.

"Thanks."

I thanked her softly, and Yukinoshita brushed her hair aside and smiled at me.

"You're welcome. Although I don't understand why you're thanking me."

I can't tell if she really doesn't understand, but if she's willing to feign ignorance, I'll play along without hesitation.

"No, I was referring to the gift from earlier. Now we can celebrate without worry."

"Oh, that's wonderful.

Under the snow, a calm smile appeared on her face as she took a sip of her royal milk tea. I followed suit, sipping my already cold coffee.

However, the calm lasted only a moment.

Snow's gaze began to wander. Then she nodded, as if she had made up her mind, and reached into the schoolbag she had been searching inside.

"...Speaking of celebrations, I just remembered..."

She cleared her throat, and as if making an opening remark, took a bag wrapped in cellophane from her bag. She lowered her head and carefully handed it to me, as if feeding a lion.

"this……"

Her voice was soft and her hands trembled slightly. Thanks to her, I couldn't see very clearly what the package contained; it looked like handmade cookies or something similar.

I accepted the bag respectfully. It contained a variety of cookies, including checkered, star-shaped, and heart-shaped ones.

"It's less of a celebration and more of a commemoration... but it's not a very important event, and preparing an expensive gift doesn't seem right, so I've thought about it a lot..."

"Oh……"

She spoke incredibly fast and rattled off a long string of words, but the amount of information conveyed was practically zero. So what's going on? I know she wasn't asking me to try the food, but why did she have this cryptic attitude...?

Today isn't my birthday, Halloween, Christmas, or Valentine's Day, so there's no reason I should receive snacks...

Huh? Why? I stared at Yukinoshita, who silently looked away, brushed her bangs aside with her fingertips, and continued haltingly:

"Although it's a bit late, this is... a month... anniversary."

After she finished speaking, she glanced at me, observing my reaction.

"I see."

I immediately gave a serious answer, but in reality, I was putting my brain to full speed.

What is it? What is it commemorating? I can't ask... no, I shouldn't ask...

The only commemorations I've heard of are Arima and Takarazuka (note: referring to the Arima Kinen and Takarazuka Kinen horse races), but the keyword "one month" should be a hint.

I pondered deeply, gazing at the snow beneath, searching for the answer.

...Her shy appearance was incredibly cute.

This thought vanished the moment I came up with the answer, and a chill immediately ran through me.

Looking back on this period of about a month, not much memorable things happened between me and Yukinoshita, but one thing is certain.

When you connect that event to the month in which it occurred, the answer becomes clear.

— This is commonly known as the "one-month anniversary".

Oops……

She's the type to take holidays seriously, right? You should have said so earlier! If I'd forgotten, we'd definitely have a fight. This forced me to escape to a pachinko parlor to kill time, calm myself down, and then go back to apologize with the cosmetics I won from playing pachinko.

"...I didn't prepare anything."

Anyway, any excuse I made would be discovered soon enough, so I told him the truth, and Yukino shook her head.

"I prepared it myself."

"Oh, I see... Uh, but it doesn't feel quite right..."

Isn't there something called the reciprocity principle? Does this mean I have to take this matter seriously too? Seeing my bewilderment, Yukino laughed as if she were teasing me.