My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 764

The year-end atmosphere remained, with red boots stuffed with snacks and champagne sodas with children's cartoon characters printed on their packaging quietly relegated to the 50% off sale section.

Instead, festive red and white flyers are plastered all over the store, reminding people to order New Year's Eve buckwheat noodles and New Year's dishes.

Samples of New Year's dishes were displayed on the platform in front of the cashier, next to a small miniature door pine decoration.

In addition, there were hand-drawn POP advertisements next to the curry in the bento area, along with the old-fashioned advertising slogan, "The New Year's dishes are delicious, but the curry is also great!" It was quite thoughtful. It seems that the staff drew it themselves.

At times like these, even those who can draw get completely drained. Every time a new product is launched or a promotion is held, I see new POP advertising; this exploitation is just too much. Okay, the head office probably has sales targets, so the employees must be working incredibly hard…

After the New Year, you need to pre-order Setsubun's Ehoho Rolls and Ehoho Swiss Rolls, and then Valentine's Day promotions are just around the corner—that's the convenience store business for you. What on earth is an Ehoho Swiss Roll...?

I've seen this scene several times now, but I just can't get used to the busy period after Christmas.

Only the scenery before my eyes is changing rapidly, and the difference between myself and my daily life, which remains unchanged, is becoming increasingly apparent.

However, the passage of time is unstoppable. I'll probably spend this year and next year feeling listless and lethargic, only to realize when I come to my senses that spring has already arrived.

Whether you cry or laugh, there are only a few days left in this year.

There are still three months left until the end of this year.

To take it easy while everyone else is busy and stressed is, in a sense, the most luxurious thing to do. There's an old saying: Don't panic, the end of the year is coming. No, wait, it's the end of the century! [Note] Hahaha! How about turning you into a wax figure too?! [Note]

Note: This is a parody of the lyrics "Don't panic, the end of the century is coming" from the song "NAI-NAI 16" by the Japanese idol boy group Bitter Gum Tai.

Note: Lyrics to the song "House of Wax" by the Japanese rock band Seijima II. "Seijima" sounds like "end of the century" in Japanese.

Thinking of pleasant things, I chuckled to myself. Since the other customers were looking at me with curiosity, I started wandering around the store again.

After scanning the magazine section, I came to the area where snacks, instant noodles, and drinks were displayed. In addition to the regular items, there were also products that had jumped on the New Year's bandwagon and only changed their packaging, as well as new products that were labeled as winter limited editions, cramming the shelves full.

Speaking of winter specials... I headed towards the ice cream section.

The goal is to find Yukimi Daifuku.

Thankfully, it has changed to be sold year-round, whereas it used to be available only in winter. To this day, the impression that "it's something to eat in winter" remains deeply ingrained in my mind.

Since I was going to buy them anyway, I might as well buy Komachi's share too... She's probably curled up in the kotatsu right now, wanting some ice cream.

As I thought about it, I tossed the Yukimi Daifuku into my shopping basket.

Speaking of winter desserts, it has to be this Yukimi Daifuku. If Yukimi Daifuku were personified, she'd definitely be a fair-skinned, large-breasted beauty in a kimono with skin as soft as daifuku. I know, I know. As someone who likes the Ocean team, I understand. [Note]

Note: The mascot of the Chiba Lotte Marines is a seagull.

WE LOVE Ocean Team! We will always cheer for you!

× × ×

After paying the bill, I carried the plastic bag home.

It's winter now, so there's no need to worry about the ice cream melting, but the biting cold wind makes you quicken your pace.

When I got home, the house was quiet, and the sound of me climbing the stairs seemed particularly loud.

My mother said at noon that both of my parents would be home late today.

I went into the living room, and as expected, Komachi was nestled in the kotatsu, petting Koyuki and watching TV. It seemed she was taking a break from studying.

I said to her retreating figure:

"I'm back. Would you like some ice cream?"

Komachi glanced back at me and simply nodded and said "Mm".

Hmm? What's going on? She should be happier usually...

I followed him into the kotatsu with a puzzled look, sat cross-legged, and placed the plastic bag, my phone, and my wallet on the table.

"for you."

Then, with a rustling sound, she took out the Yukimi Daifuku from the plastic bag and handed it to Komachi.

"Thank you... I'll eat later."

She responded softly, took the ice cream, and quietly walked towards the refrigerator. Back at the kotatsu, Komachi remained silent.

What's wrong? Is this guy in a bad mood today...?

I watched Komachi with a bit of fear as she opened the Yukimi Daifuku.

Just as I finished eating one, Komachi turned to me as if she had made up her mind about something.

Then pat the floor.

"Brother, sit down."

"Huh? Uh, I'm sitting down..."

Am I not sitting properly? I became worried and deliberately lifted the blanket to check my feet.

However, I did sit steadily cross-legged and obediently on the Japanese-style chair. I flipped the kotatsu (heated table) over and over to prove it to Komachi.

Komachi, however, did not change her mind.

"Sit still."

"Just say I was sitting down..."

What? Does she mean I have to kneel? Is that so? Why do I have to kneel...? I thought to myself, but I am the one who kneels properly as she says.

Will it take a long time? Will the ice cream melt? I worriedly and hurriedly stuffed the last bite of ice cream into my mouth.

I chewed on my daifuku and gestured to Komachi with my eyes that I was ready to listen to her. Komachi cleared her throat softly.

Then he squinted at me.

"Could you please explain?"

"...What is that?"

I swallowed the yukimi daifuku and asked Komachi, "Explain what? The reason I bought her ice cream?"

Of course it's because I like you! Don't force me to say it, it's so embarrassing.

I thought to myself, I was being shy over there, but Komachi's gaze was very cold towards me, and it seemed that what she wanted to say to me was not a very warm topic.

However, I had absolutely no idea what Komachi was asking me to explain, and I was completely confused.

Komachi sighed calmly.

"About what just happened. You were with Orimoto-senpai. What was that about?"

"Huh? What do you mean, 'what'? We're just junior high school classmates..."

"Komachi knows that too."

"Then don't ask. What are you doing?"

I was getting impatient, and Komachi stared at me silently. Her eyes, which seemed to have something to say, clearly conveyed her displeasure. I was intimidated by that gaze that seemed to see right through me, and I felt compelled to say something more.

"No, no, it really is only like that...it's true."

I panicked and suddenly felt like I was lying.

There's no falsehood in that statement, but I did confess my feelings to Orimoto and got dumped, so I always become less talkative when talking about Orimoto Kaori.

Thanks to him, I finally muttered something and shut my mouth.

If I could explain the complexities of a man's mind, things would be simple, but I just can't bring myself to tell my sister.

My sister probably wouldn't want to hear her brother talk about relationships either. At least I don't want to hear my family bring it up. If I had a brother and he suddenly started talking to me about love, I'd feel like, "What is this guy talking about? What does it have to do with me...?" Also, the moment Komachi talks to me about love, I'd probably burst into tears and couldn't listen anymore.

I thought about a lot of things and unconsciously fell silent. Komachi slowly moved closer to me. She tilted her head slightly and looked up at me.

"Why would a simple...pure...classmate come to my house?"

She emphasized that word repeatedly.

Komachi knows what I was like in middle school. It's strange that she's still so close to her classmates now, even chatting in front of her own house. After all, I myself, like Junji Inagawa [Note], felt, "How weird! How scary!" But Komachi is the scariest. As scary as a cup of tea. [Note]

Note: Japanese radio host and terrorist writer.

Note: This joke comes from a classic Rakugo story. A man said he was most afraid of steamed buns, so the others found a pile of steamed buns to scare him, but he ate them all. The others questioned him, "Weren't you afraid of steamed buns?" The man replied, "Now I'm more afraid of a cup of tea."

Therefore, for Komachi's sake, I straightened my back and explained things to her in a clear and organized manner.

"She didn't come to our house, she brought me home... We went home together. I work at the shop I went to today. I ran into her on my way home, we chatted for a bit at the door, and then you came back..."

"It means you two happened to be going home together and were chatting in front of your houses."

"yes."

"Oh……"

Komachi's reaction was subtle, making it impossible to tell whether she accepted the reason. She slowly turned her head to look around the living room, and said softly with a sense of relief:

"Oh, is that so? You don't mean to let her into the house."

"How could I possibly let anyone in?"

I retorted reflexively, then it suddenly occurred to me.

Yuigahama came to our house... but it was Komachi who asked her to come, not me, so it doesn't really count...

Let's not talk about that now.

The problem is Komachi.

From the very beginning, Komachi cautiously observed the house like a wild animal guarding its territory. She resembled a detective investigating a crime scene, piecing together the chaotic fragments with her keen intellect. [Note]

Note: The reference comes from the mystery novel "GOSICK".

To put it bluntly, the current Komachi is that...

"I said, Auntie."

When I called her that, Komachi glared at me fiercely.

"Who is the aunt? Komachi is Komachi."

"It's you... Why are you asking so many questions? How much do you actually like me? Are you the type of girlfriend who's controlling? Girls like that get disliked."

I made a sarcastic remark to her, and Komachi scoffed at it.

"Trash Brother, listen up..."

Komachi's tone likely carried a hint of helplessness. "Yeah, okay. It's that one, right? Pretending to know everything when you don't have a girlfriend—there's nothing more pathetic than that..."

I was reflecting on this internally, but that's not what Komachi wanted to talk about.

"Komachi is worried about her brother. If no one wants him, in the worst-case scenario, Komachi can take care of him when he gets old. But if he becomes too popular and ends up in a love triangle, Komachi will have a lot of headaches."

"No way..."

Komachi just sighed wearily.

"If your brother gets stabbed somewhere Komachi isn't looking, Komachi won't be able to save you."

She slowly shook her head with an expression that said, "Tonight is crucial. We've done everything we can to save him, but he's dying."

"Don't worry about that..."

That means whether Komachi noticed or not, she was doomed if she got stabbed.

"Anyway, don't worry about that. There's nothing between me and Orimoto. You seem quite hostile towards her. Did Orimoto offend you?"

I remembered that when I encountered Zheben at the door, Komachi's reaction was strange; her shoulders trembled when she heard this.

It was clearly different from the somewhat humorous atmosphere just now.

The strange feeling I sensed at the time was indeed not an illusion.

Komachi is basically a very communicative, sociable, and outgoing person. This trait is especially evident when she's with Yukinoshita, Yui, and even Haruno. However, she also knows how to get along well with people she's just met. During the summer vacation before, she was the only middle school student among the group that went to Chiba Village in the Highlands, yet she naturally blended in with us high school students and Hayama's group.

That's why her attitude toward losses today is puzzling.

I think I asked the key question, or rather, stepped on a landmine.

However, words spoken cannot be taken back. All I can do is repeat myself, trying to rephrase them in a safer way.

"Is she the type you're not good at dealing with?"

I cleverly rewrote the word "dislike" to make it sound less offensive. Komachi shook her head and then added:

"Komachi doesn't dislike Orimoto-senpai. In fact, she quite likes her straightforward personality..."

I knew it. Although this is just my personal impression, I don't think the carefree Okimoto and the cheerful and lively Komachi would get along.