My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 752

Thanks to it, my teenage brain [Note] developed smoothly, and sometimes my chest would uncontrollably clench tightly, making me hate myself so much... Why am I such a difficult man...?

Note: The reference comes from the anime/manga series "Mechanical Girl Lyrical Nanoha".

However, after Komachi entered junior high school, she stopped coming into my room.

Therefore, my room, which has been unoccupied for a long time, is as messy as a garbage dump. I need to find a day to clean it properly.

However, now is not the time.

That's right, you can do what you can do today, and you can do it tomorrow too!

I have hope for tomorrow! I believe in my future self! This is definitely not procrastination!

Therefore, my deep cleaning may never end.

In short, let's clear out the paper and empty MAX coffee cans today so that the table is barely presentable; we'll deal with the rest another day.

I tied the garbage bag tightly and carried it to the entryway.

Okay, that way Dad should take it to throw away for me when he leaves for work tomorrow. After all, my dad's an expert at throwing things away. Especially when it comes to abandoning pride and dignity, it's hard to find someone better than him. When I hear him on the phone late at night, most of the time he's saying, "I...I'll figure something out," that won't do...

Never mind, if I can get up tomorrow morning, I'll just take out the trash myself, hmm. I'm starting to feel sorry for my dad.

After removing all the trash and concentrating the mountain of books in one place, the space on the ground felt larger.

Okay, that concludes the first phase of our spring cleaning campaign. We don't know when the second phase will be released; plans never keep up with changes.

It's common knowledge in this world that games are supposed to release in spring, but end up casually dragging it out until around autumn. What kind of world is that? The gaming industry?

I'll let you off the hook for today! I left the room just like Ikenome Taka [Note], and opened the living room door just like Yanagisawa Shingo [Note] who was saying, "What are you all doing?"

Note: A Japanese comedian. His famous line is, after being thoroughly beaten up, he smugly says, "I'll let you off the hook today."

Note: Japanese actor.

The living room was silent; no family members were in sight, only their beloved cat, Xiaoxue, was fast asleep on the edge of the kotatsu (heated table). Because she's a cat, well... [Note].

Note: "Sleeping soundly (Nekokeru)" is a homophone of "Neko" in Japanese.

Today is a weekday for my parents. Komachi is taking her exams soon, so she's studying at a cram school. So, it's just me and Yuki at home.

Nevertheless, the living room still retained a trace of warmth, probably from the morning's warmth.

I went around to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Inside was a plate wrapped in plastic wrap. There were omelets, fried chicken nuggets, and a simple salad. There was also miso soup in the pot—a thoughtful touch.

My mom must have made it for me this morning. I decided to enjoy it with gratitude.

I heated the food in the microwave and gas stove, and after it was ready, I crawled into the kotatsu (heated table). No one was listening, but I whispered, "I'm starting to eat."

Then I turned on the TV and watched the recorded animation with great enthusiasm.

During this time, Xiaoxue slowly got up and sat on my lap. After pacing for a while, she assumed a squatting position like a hen and started to doze off.

A wave of warmth emanated from the kotatsu and the cat, a feeling of satisfaction from being well-fed and watered.

The happiness I felt watching the animation also caused me to gradually drift off to sleep.

This is fantastic... This is the right way to spend the end of the year and the beginning of the new year...

× × ×

In the warm and cozy living room, there was a person and a cat.

He just lazes around in the kotatsu during the day.

The TV, which I wasn't watching but hadn't turned off, was playing a noisy year-end special. I glanced over casually and saw the screen showing a bustling street scene at the end of the year.

New Year decorations, New Year's dishes, special offers on crabs and salmon, etc., it's all the scene of the end of the Japanese year.

Not long ago, TV commercials were showing Christmas carols, but now they've replaced them with the familiar temple song, "Good fortune arrives, good fortune arrives!" Hearing this song gives me a New Year's feeling...

I couldn't help but yawn, and Xiaoxue, probably infected by my yawn, also opened her mouth wide.

This guy has slept for so long, yet he's still sleepy... Ignoring the fact that I'm pretty much the same as him, I patted Xiaoxue on the head. Xiaoxue perked up its ears and faced the living room door.

I looked over and saw Mom rubbing her eyes as she walked into the living room. I thought she must have gone out; it seemed she was just getting up now.

"Are you home? On holiday?"

I struck up a conversation with her, and my mother put her glasses back on, looking at me sleepily.

"I'm taking the morning off. I was busy until very late yesterday."

"Oh──"

Being a corporate slave is really tough... Well, being able to take half a day off is considered a good company.

Anyway, thanks to my hardworking parents, I can relax like this in the warm kotatsu. I'm so grateful to my parents, I truly respect them, and I feel genuinely angry when I lose at Monopoly [Note].

Note: Japanese singer Kaname Kawabata sometimes wears sunglasses hanging from his ears, with the lenses dangling below his chin.

Thank you so much! Thank you so much! I silently admired her. My mother busily started preparing to leave, then suddenly remembered something and turned to look at me.

"I'm so sorry, I'll be back late again today. Please just have something simple for dinner."

"Oui".

I don't know why I answered in French, but that's just like my mom. She didn't seem to care at all, completely ignoring me and only nodding in response. Komachi will imitate that cold reaction, so please don't do that!

"Oh, then give me the money."

My mother frowned instantly upon hearing this, but she immediately sighed softly and handed me a thousand yuan.

"What about Komachi's share?"

"Komachi brought a bento box with her. Oh, right. I prepared one for you when I made the bento box."

"Ah—it must have been the one I just ate; it was delicious."

"...I knew it. Boys really have big appetites."

While muttering to herself, Mom deftly prepared to leave the house.

It's true what they say, if a mother had a grandson, she might feed him for the rest of her life. Why do grandmothers always stuff their grandsons with food when they come home? Even young people have their limits. You can really feel the love in that! Just that makes my heart incredibly content. I hope you all live to be a hundred!

I carefully put away the thousand-yen bill I had just received, my body and wallet warmed by the kotatsu (heated table). Just then, my mother, now dressed in formal attire, looked down at me. Her brows furrowed, and she glared at me.

"Hey brother, don't look too sloppy in front of Komachi before the big exams are over."

"Hmm, ah... okay."

I'm really powerless against being called "brother." From the past until now, the only time Mom has ever called me "brother" in a gentle voice is when she scolds me for something related to Komachi, instead of calling me "Hachiman" or "you." As a result, I reflexively become obedient. No, there was a period when I would talk back and say, "I'm not Mom's brother—!" But that childish rebellious phase is over, hmm.

I obediently responded, and my mother smiled and nodded.

"In contrast, you can spoil her however you want after the exam."

"Uh, I didn't spoil her..."

Why do you make me sound like I have a sister complex? What? Is this what my biological parents generally agree on? As I was thinking this, my mother sighed deeply.

"How dare you say such a thing? This part is exactly like your father's."

"Oh, really..."

Could you please not say I look like my dad? I'm serious. It makes me super worried about my hairline.

As we chatted, it seemed like it was time for Mom to leave.

"I'm going out now."

"Oui".

"Also, the garbage collection period for this year has passed. Remember to take that garbage back to your room."

"Huh... what the heck? There are such local rules?"

"Yes, there are. Or rather, it's just a matter of local rules. People even go out of their way to investigate how to dispose of trash properly."

My mother spoke casually, as if it were the most normal thing in the world, and I could only nod and reply, "Oh, oh." Ugh, what kind of trial is that (referring to herself)? Is this the dark side of this place?

Since no one collects the trash, there's no need for a deep clean...

Just then, Mom yawned and said, "I'm going out," and walked out of the living room.

I watched her leave from inside the kotatsu, thinking it was time for me to go out too, and climbed out of the kotatsu.

I don't mind my mom's comment, "Don't be so sloppy," but if I stay home all the time, I might just laze around all day, so I'm a little more motivated to get moving.

Thanks to the unpleasant nickname "autistic man," I'm easily mistaken for "heart-pounding homebody! Autistic male angel!" [Note] But I do occasionally step out of the house.

Note: This is a parody of Manatsu Natsumi's transformation line from "Pretty Cure": "Heartbeat Summer! Summer Angel!"

I certainly love staying at home, but I also quite enjoy going out alone. When I'm able to act on my own, I sometimes excitedly make plans.

Although the winter break wasn't very long, it was still a precious extended vacation. Whether it was going out to buy books or staying up all night playing games, it was a good option.

Let's wander around the streets, grab some dinner, and head home. How about we catch a movie, something we haven't done in ages?

I patted Xiaoxue, who was in charge of looking after the house, said "Please take care of me," and hummed a song happily as I stepped out of the house.

× × ×

If you want to watch a movie in Chiba, you usually go to the one near Chiba Station. The movie theater I used to be forced to go to with Hayama, Orimoto, and that friend of Orimoto from what town was it was in that area.

Going to Chiba Station is fine, but the film studio at Haibin Muji is much closer to my home.

Therefore, today's destination is the film studio in Mu Zhang by the sea.

It wouldn't take long to get from my house by bicycle, but pedaling hard against the wind in the cold winter is quite tiring, so I decided to take the bus instead.

I stayed in the heated car for about ten minutes.

I got off the train at the station, and the wind blowing from the sea seeped into the gaps in my coat.

I tightened my scarf and hunched over as I walked into the crowd.

The streets were bustling with people at the end of the year; it was unclear whether it was because most of the people who had started their annual holidays had come out, or if there were some kind of event taking place.

I walked against the flow of people heading towards the station towards the cinema.

I visited this film studio with Totsuka during summer vacation. On the day I establish my religion in the future, this place should be designated as a holy site.

Upon entering the building, one can hear electronic sounds, music, and children playing in the playground.

I turned my back to that side, took the escalator to the second floor, and bought tickets for a movie with a showing time that just happened to be there.

It seems like a Hollywood blockbuster. For a moment, I considered waving my miracle flashlight and shouting "Pretty Cure! Go for it!" to cheer them on, but if someone like me went into the theater, I might scare the young girls and their parents. I'll wait until the Blu-ray release to watch it.

However, randomly picking a movie to kill time is a luxury that can only be done when you're alone. After all, watching a movie with someone else requires considering various factors, such as their preferences.

I tapped the movie ticket I had just bought with my fingers, planning to stroll around until the movie started.

I went downstairs, thinking, "Should I go to that amusement park to play coin games, try the quiz magic academy, or go to the mahjong fighting club?" and bumped into an unexpected person.

"Ah, it's an autistic guy! Hi!"

"Whoa whoa……"

The chance encounter and the sudden greeting startled me. The person who called out to me in such a stunned voice was Yui Yuigahama.

She wore a knee-length sweater and dark brown suede boots, and her fair and delicate skin could be vaguely seen between the sweater and boots. Perhaps because it was warm indoors, she held her beige coat in her arms, and her bun, tied with a blue hair tie, swayed gently as she raised her arms.

Wow, that hair tie is really pretty...

Even though I tried to pretend I didn't notice, it looked exactly like the hair tie I'd received a few days ago, making me so embarrassed I turned my head away. Okay, I'm very grateful that she was willing to use it, or rather, the gift was well worth it, but actually seeing it made me extremely shy.

Ugh... what's going on? This is so embarrassing...

Yuihama, of course, had no idea what I was thinking and didn't react at all. She walked over with small, shuffling steps, looking puzzled.

What are you doing here?

"...Just, to kill time."

"And what about you?" I asked, staring at her. Thankfully, the girl who followed behind her with a puzzled look made her intentions clear.

"Um, Yuihama-san, I still think that photo from before is weird... It's overexposed, and your eyes look big... I'd like to take another one..."

Yukino Yukinoshita walked over, staring at her phone and muttering to herself. I couldn't help but give her a look that sounded like I was scolding her, "Hey, classmate~ that's dangerous, don't walk around looking at your phone~!"

She wore pantyhose of about 20 denier, tight black leather boots, a high-waisted pleated skirt with fine pleats, and a thin sweater. Her upper body was covered by a pure white coat, and her smooth, straight black hair was slightly curled and hung down in front of her chest. A pink hair tie added a touch of color to the base of her ponytail.

It's a different hairstyle than usual, but it has a strange sense of déjà vu, probably because of that hair tie. The design is simple and plain, like something I gave you for Christmas. Or rather, it looks like… uh, so embarrassing. I might accidentally laugh if I don't cover my face.

Yukinoshita was still staring at her phone, her eyebrows drooping as she muttered to herself. Yui walked over and gently patted her shoulder.

"Xiaoyuino, Xiaoyuino, is an autistic boy? There are autistic boys everywhere."