My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 763

Let's say the interview score is out of 100. Even if you timidly give your best answer in a barely audible voice, you'll only get 30... Wait, what? I'm not very good at math!

In short, Kawasaki Taishi, this lively, cheerful, and straightforward young man, has nothing to worry about in the interview.

However, there is one thing that is concerning.

I cleared my throat and pointed at Dazhi.

"However, you need to change your tone of voice. Use formal, honorific language with me."

"Don't worry! I only say that when I'm talking to my brother!"

Dazhi clenched his fist and smiled at me... Huh? Did I not receive any respect? He didn't take me seriously, did he...?

I felt like I'd wasted my time encouraging him and giving him advice, so I turned him away.

"That's about it. Go back. Go back quickly."

"Okay! Thank you!"

However, Taishi didn't take my attitude to heart and bowed deeply. Hmm, okay, looks like he knows how to thank me properly. I'll pretend what happened earlier never happened... I'm so easy to please. Hachiman, really, how come he's so easy to please?

At this moment, Dazhi looked up, held up one finger, and asked me in a low voice:

"C-Can I ask you another question? There's something I'd like to ask you..."

"There are still problems..."

Is this guy Mr. Ukyo [Note]? ...I won't fall for his trick of asking the most pointed question when people think they've finally finished asking and are letting their guard down.

Note: This refers to Sugishita Ukyo from the Japanese drama "Aibou," whose catchphrase is "May I ask you a question?"

"Ask your sister about things at our school."

I spoke impatiently, and Dazhi, with an expression far more serious than before, stammered as he spoke.

"You can't ask your sister about this..."

(Illustration 009)

The voice he managed to squeeze out revealed his frustration, creating an atmosphere that suggested the question he wanted to ask was of utmost importance.

Whether it was because she keenly sensed the atmosphere or because she didn't want to get involved in trouble, Komachi nodded.

"Komachi will be cold, so I'm going home now! Thank you, Taishi, for taking Komachi home! ...Brother, you should seriously discuss this with him. This is Komachi's request, okay?"

She immediately grabbed the doorknob, quickly unlocked the door, and slipped inside.

"Go for it, Dazhi!"

She peeked out from behind the door and waved gently. That radiant smile and affectedly cute gesture made me think my sister was irresistibly adorable, but also extremely suspicious. She really did run away because she wanted to avoid trouble…

While I was thinking this, a poor boy was tricked.

"Hachiman-kun is so kind..."

Komachi has vanished, leaving only the tightly closed door.

Dazhi, however, remained captivated, gazing at it intently.

No, no, no, that's not gentleness, it's just that they're too lazy to play with us and leave all the rest of the work to me.

My sister is really something...

× × ×

I walked step by step under the cold winter night sky.

After Komachi ran into the house, I didn't really have to force myself to stay with Daishi, but since he had come to me so seriously to discuss it, I couldn't just leave with a "bye then" and leave.

Standing in front of your house talking for too long will earn you glares from your neighbors. That being said, it's also a bit strange to be huddled in a shop with a middle school boy.

So, I decided to give Kawasaki Taishi a ride on my way to the convenience store and listen to his troubles along the way.

A clear starry sky and evenly spaced streetlights. The headlights of passing cars and the lights shining from the houses in the residential area.

Dazhi and I strolled leisurely along the surprisingly bright streets for this time of day.

Shortly after, I saw a convenience store.

It's roughly located between the Hikigaya and Kawasaki families. Although I don't know the exact location of the Kawasaki family.

I walked into the convenience store, randomly picked out two cans of coffee, and immediately walked out of the store.

"Take it."

I tossed one of the cans to Dazhi, who was waiting for me outside. Dazhi tossed it around in the air like a beanbag, finally catching it with a close call. Good catch.

"Oh, how much?"

He reached into his pocket, intending to take out his wallet. I waved my hand and replied:

"No need for such a small amount of money."

"Really? Thank you."

Dazhi bowed his head again to thank him, then happily opened the can of coffee. I followed suit and pulled the tab.

We were both squatting in a corner of the convenience store parking lot.

I hold tightly to the hot canned coffee—a drink that now costs more than a hundred-dollar coin—and sip it slowly to warm my body.

As they drank, they seemed to open up a bit, and Dazhi exhaled a puff of white mist and slowly began to speak.

"Regarding what I was about to ask..."

I had no idea what he wanted to ask. I glanced to the side, and Dazhi asked in a very serious tone:

"Brother, how can I become popular in high school?"

The moment I heard those words, I choked. It felt like the coffee had gone down my trachea, and I kept coughing. Dazhi patted my back, concerned for me.

To outsiders, we might seem to be having a conversation like, "Sorry for always causing you trouble," or "We agreed not to talk about this, Dad." [Note] But I wasn't so calm.

Note: A classic segment from the 1960s Japanese variety show "Soap Bubble Holiday".

After finally finishing coughing, I glared at Dazhi.

"How should I know? I'm not popular."

"You're lying! It's absolutely a lie! You were with a girl today too!"

Dazhi immediately blushed and retorted excitedly. It seemed he was referring to the loss.

"We just bumped into each other on our way home. What? Does being together mean you like me?"

According to this argument, our being together now means we like each other, and the rotten laughter and the old-fashioned atmosphere of "rotten, rotten, rotten!" are coming from here, old-fashioned?

I was afraid of Ebina's shadow, who wasn't even there, and Daishi fell into deep thought with a solemn expression.

"...No."

Then he answered in a fairly calm tone.

Yes, that's right. That's how boys grow up... Perhaps because I've already gone through this process myself, I answered Dazhi calmly.

"Right? Besides, if just being together counts as dating, then I'd kill everyone who's with Komachi."

I gripped the canned coffee tightly, but it seemed I was squeezing harder than I expected, and the can dented slightly. Dazhi was startled when he saw it.

"Brother, you're so scary!"

We were just talking about that topic a second ago, and he dared to call me "brother"—this guy's got guts… My opinion of him goes beyond dumbfounded; I'm starting to respect him a little. But the fact that he asked "how to become popular" without batting an eye was also quite bold.

However, asking that kind of question during the exam preparation period, when the big exam is just around the corner, is somewhat inappropriate. If he's trying to escape reality by constantly thinking about that kind of thing, then that's not acceptable.

I know this all too well. When I'm too busy and stressed, I suddenly say things like, "Sigh, I really want to be an idol..." or "I want to be a professional baseball player when I grow up!" Ugh, what if my little brother, Dazhi, turns out like that? I'm so worried! His sister would beat me to death!

"By the way, why did you ask that kind of question?"

Therefore, I decided to ask.

However, my worries were not only unfounded, but also completely unrelated. Dazhi looked puzzled, then pondered for a moment.

"Oh dear—how should I put it, is this what you call motivation? Wouldn't knowing there are fun things to do in high school make you more motivated?"

Well, now that he put it that way, he's not entirely wrong. But excessive expectations, like debt, can easily overwhelm you.

We should deliberately shatter his dream! That's a kind of gentleness too!

"None of the scenarios I imagined before enrolling will come true."

Dazhi pouted slightly and looked at me in surprise.

"……Right?"

"Yeah, it's completely different from what I imagined."

As I spoke, I realized that my tone contained some genuine emotions.

However, once words are spoken, they can never be taken back; moreover, even more genuine emotions burst forth from the mouth.

"...It doesn't matter if the actual situation is different from what we imagined."

After saying this, a moment of silence followed.

The sounds of cars driving in the opposite lane and the music from the convenience store outside seemed particularly loud. A short while later, I heard a satisfied sigh.

"I think I'm feeling motivated again."

"Huh? Why?"

Dazhi stood up, patted the jacket covering his buttocks, and turned to face me.

"No, it's just that feeling."

He slung his backpack over his shoulder and adjusted the collar of his coat.

"I'll come find you as soon as I get to high school to discuss what happened earlier! I'll trouble you again then!"

He was still the same as always, obediently bowing and thanking me. I couldn't help but smile wryly.

Next year, in April, new students, a new semester, a new academic year.

These terms refer to a state that is clearly different from the present.

All of this will happen in just three or four months, but there will be a slight passage of time and clear changes, and sooner or later the emptiness will come to an end.

"...If so."

"What is it?"

I blurted out that sentence, and Dazhi looked at me with a puzzled expression. After a brief moment of thought, I smoothly gave another answer that I had prepared beforehand.

"Your sister's permission."

Dazhi burst into laughter.

"That's...indeed!"

"Okay, if you get accepted, I'll talk to you about it."

"Yes! I will try my best! Thank you, brother!"

"Don't call me 'brother.' Learn to call me 'senior' right now."

Dazhi was stunned when he heard this.

Not long after, his dull eyes lit up again, sparkling brightly.

"Wow, that line was so cool! Can I tell my sister that? She'll probably agree."

"It's so noisy! No, you're kidding! I'm telling you not to. Really, don't. Go back, go back now."

I waved him away, and Dazhi dashed out as if he were trying to escape.

After crossing the street and keeping a safe distance from me, he bowed to me.

"Well then, thank you! Hikigaya-senpai!"

He spoke loudly and strode briskly toward the Kawasaki residence.

"...You still have a long way to go."

I watched his receding figure and cheered him on.

No matter what, Komachi Hikigaya will accept her brother.

After watching Kawasaki Taishi leave, I wandered around the convenience store for a bit.