My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 767

"Then I'll hang up."

"Okay. Bye-bye."

Yuihama said this, but showed no sign of hanging up.

"…………"

I could still hear faint breathing sounds, and I couldn't help but smile wryly.

"...Hurry up and hang up the phone."

"That's true..."

She should be wearing her usual shy smile, touching her bun.

I imagined that scene, and the person on the other end of the phone made a breathing sound as if they were thinking about something.

"Oh, how about we count to three, two, one, and hang up together?"

She probably felt embarrassed saying those words herself; I could almost picture her awkward smile even over the phone.

The moment I realized it, my neck instantly felt hot.

"What the hell? Nobody wants me, I'm hanging up."

Ah, wait—

"Okay, bye."

After I finished speaking, I quickly hung up the phone.

A sigh escaped his lips.

I stared at my phone for a while.

What was that conversation like...?

Recalling our conversation, I wiggled my limbs on the bed, mimicking swimming movements. The motions were somewhat similar to our childish chatter, and as soon as I realized it, I felt a sudden wave of shame.

I tossed and turned in bed for a while, then finally gave up and remained still. I sighed deeply.

I felt incredibly tired, and it wasn't until I was thirsty that I finally got up.

× × ×

I returned to the living room, exhausted, and my eyes met those of Komachi, who happened to be turning around.

Seeing my face, Komachi let out a satisfied sigh.

"Are you going to make the pilgrimage every two years?"

"Yeah, probably."

I went around to the kitchen, drank a glass of water, and then gave a curt reply. She grinned.

"Oh, I see. I see."

"Your expression is so irritating..."

"No, Komachi thinks that he did a great job for his older brother."

Komachi smiled and said, "I don't think I did a good job at all. There should have been a better way to answer."

As I reflected on my actions, I crawled into the kotatsu (heated table), and Komachi stood up as if to take over the baton from me.

"Then Komachi will have to think about where to go for New Year's shrine visits."

"Oh, Dad wants to go to Kameido Tenjin. Do you want to go with him?"

Komachi made no attempt to hide her disgust.

“Eh…”

Uh, that's a really bad reaction... Dad went to great lengths to please you, didn't he? I felt sorry for Dad, but Komachi didn't care at all.

"Komachi will just pick any shrine. Goodnight—"

She had barely finished speaking when she walked out of the living room.

It was just me and Xiaoxue left.

Xiaoxue snorted, swung her front legs, got up unhappily to stretch, and then quietly slipped into the kotatsu (heated table).

I also pulled the kotatsu blanket up to my shoulders and entered kotatsu snail mode.

There are only a few days left this year.

Unlike previous years, this year-end feels like it will be a bit lively and busy.

End 1 Yui's story 8 No matter what, Yukino Yukinoshita's biological clock never goes out of sync.

Winter nights are usually quiet, but tonight is far from quiet; even as the night draws to a close, the streets are still bustling with life.

Even though it's almost time for the new year to begin, several streetlights are still on outside the tram window, and pedestrians walking on the dark road come into view.

The atmosphere inside the tram was equally vibrant.

I took a tram that was much more crowded than usual and passed several stops.

Following the crowds emerging from the ticket gates, we walked down a gentle slope and finally arrived at the first torii gate of Asama Shrine.

The massive torii gate facing National Route 14 is said to have once been built over the sea. This information comes from Chiba-kun's official Twitter account, so it's definitely accurate. In the distant past, this view must have been as solemn as Itsukushima Shrine, a World Heritage Site. In other words, Chiba also has the potential to be listed as a World Heritage Site; in my mind, it's already equivalent to one.

Inage Asama Shrine was packed with people. As expected of a World Heritage Site in my heart...it's so popular...

I moved forward through the crowd and found the person I had arranged to meet in front of the huge torii gate.

The girl in front of me saw me and raised her hand energetically. Her bright brown bun swayed as she did so.

"Hey introverted guy, let's party tonight!"

"What kind of greeting is that..."

I answered, taken aback. Yuihama was wearing a warp-knitted sweater and a beige coat, with a long scarf around her neck, and her hand, which was raised in the air, was tightly wrapped in a mitten glove.

Snow fell beside her. She wore a pure white coat, and her feet, clad in black tights, peeked out from under her plaid miniskirt—a full winter outfit. She glanced at me, pulled down the tartan scarf that covered her neck and cheeks, and nodded slightly.

"Good evening."

"Um."

As we greeted each other, a particularly solemn bell rang out from afar.

The Chinese New Year is just around the corner.

Some people were looking at their phones, some were looking at their watches, and everyone was quietly waiting for the moment when the year would end.

Shortly after, the sound of a countdown began to play out of nowhere.

5、4、3、2、1……

Cheers from worshippers echoed in front of the shrine's torii gate. Some even jumped for joy at the stroke of New Year's Eve. Ah—okay, you mean that kind of person, right? The kind who says, "I'm not on Earth at the stroke of New Year's Eve." No, no, no, I'm still on Earth, okay? Even below the ozone layer counts as Earth!

I coldly observed the people around me, while Yuihama, on the contrary, had her eyes shining as she faced me and Yukinoshita.

Happy New Year!

"What kind of greeting is that... Happy New Year."

I gave a wry smile and gave a simple reply, then heard a low cough and looked over there.

"……Happy New Year."

Yuki buried her face in her scarf. It was really awkward when formally wishing someone a Happy New Year. I would unconsciously touch the end of my scarf.

"Oh... um. Happy New Year."

I returned the greeting with what could hardly be called a congratulation.

After the three of them finished their New Year's greetings, Yukinoshita pointed ahead.

"Then, let's go and pay our respects."

A gentle slope extends from the large torii gate, lined with brightly lit lanterns. We begin to walk towards the direction indicated by the light.

× × ×

The approach to the shrine is lined with lush, verdant trees. The worshippers do not step into the forest, but solemnly follow the person in front of them into the shrine grounds.

Perhaps because this shrine is the largest in the vicinity, it attracts many worshippers every year. With the arrival of the New Year, the number of people seems to have increased even further.

Yuihama looked around in the crowd, seemingly attracted by the vendors along the approach.

"It looks like a festival!"

"With so many people, I should be able to make a fortune... I really want to go home soon."

Yuihama puffed out her cheeks.

"You're going to say something like that right away... This is a rare opportunity, let's go get something to eat—"

As they chatted, Yui almost stumbled off the approach to the shrine. Yukinoshita, who was standing next to her, grabbed her scarf to stop her.

"Let's talk about it after we finish our worship."

She spoke with a hint of caution, gently placing her hand on Yuihama's shoulder and turning her head forward. I followed suit and faced forward as well.

The line ahead is still very long.

With so many people, can't we think of something? My brain is about to explode. I just want to go home right now...

However, the crowds thinned out somewhat after climbing the stone steps.

It's probably because there are no street vendors in the area.

The shrine was right in front of us, so everyone focused on their prayers and didn't look around. We followed the crowd and arrived in front of the shrine.

"What wishes do you want to make?"

Just as it was about to be our turn, Yuihama, who was standing next to us, asked a question.

"New Year's shrine visits aren't for making wishes, are they? It's not like it's Qixi Festival..."

"That's right. It's not a utilitarian act of wishing for the gods to grant your wish."

Yukino peeked out from behind Yuihama, who looked troubled.

"Hmm... But isn't there a saying, 'When you're in trouble, pray to the gods'? So I was thinking, if I pray to the gods when I'm in trouble, will it solve the problem...?"

That's perfect logic. If beings like gods were so convenient and easy to use, the world would probably be more peaceful.

"That proverb is a sarcastic remark about the bad habit of not believing in gods in ordinary times, but only seeking divine intervention when faced with difficulties..."

Yukinoshita pressed her temples, looking puzzled.

"Hmm. But since we've already asked the gods, it's probably worth it to ask them for help too..."

Yuihama seemed to be in a state of confusion, with a question mark appearing above her head.

Not long after, the people worshipping at the front moved aside, and we stood in the front row.

A soft sigh escaped beneath the snow.

"Well... it's possible. If I had to put it another way, it's closer to making a vow."

She smiled gently, and Yui nodded vigorously, hugging her arm.

"Oh, I see... Then I have a wish I'd like to make."

"yes……"

Yukinoshita responded in a gentle voice, and the two stepped forward, standing in front of the offering box.

Then, together, drop the coin in and ring the bell. Bow twice and clap twice. Then, quietly close your eyes.

Taking an oath before the gods creates a solemn atmosphere.

I followed their example, bowing, clapping my hands, and then putting my palms together.

A wish... or something to vow about...?

I glanced sideways at Yukinoshita and Yuihama.

Yukinoshita lay quietly with her eyes closed, emitting soft breaths. Yuihama's brows were furrowed, and she was muttering to herself. What wishes they made, what vows they swore, I have no idea.

I closed my eyes as well.

I don't have any wishes that can be called wishes; it's just that I don't want to make wishes about things that I can change through my own efforts.