My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 768

In short, I hope Komachi passes the exam smoothly... because this is the only thing I can't help her with.

× × ×

After the worship, I finally escaped the crowds.

I looked around the vast shrine grounds and saw shrine maidens and nurses everywhere. [Note: This is a lie; there were no nurses.]

Note: This is an adult-oriented dating game.

I walked through the shrine of shrine maidens, and saw an exceptionally long queue. Ahead was the shrine's office. It offered a wide variety of goods, including ema (votive plaques), exorcising arrows, and amulets, awaiting worshippers.

We queued there for a while to buy the amulets we wanted. We also drew lots to test our luck for the year.

I shook the hexagonal wooden tube containing the sticks, told the shrine maiden the number of the sticks that came out, and, with the fortune slip given to me by the shrine maiden, hurried to Yuihama and Yukinoshita.

I found the two of them in a remote corner of the country. Yuihama was smiling, while Yukinoshita was frowning and staring at the slip of paper in her hand.

What happened...? I wondered, and called out to the two people through the crowd.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Yuihama immediately turned this way.

"No, we also drew lots."

She picked up the slip of paper and waved it around; it had the words "Great Fortune" written on it in large characters. Thanks to her, I roughly understood the current situation.

So that's how it is... I looked down at the snow, and her lips were slightly pursed as she looked at me with half-closed eyes.

"What about Hachiman? You drew lots too, right?"

"Um."

I opened the fortune slip I had been holding in my hand. Yukinoshita and Yuihama leaned their faces closer.

"Little Ji..."

This is so embarrassing... But it only cost 100 yen, so it's understandable that I didn't get anything good. I took a quick look at the fortune analysis, and it was all very embarrassing. As for how embarrassing, the health section says "Nothing wrong, but you must pay more attention," which is just how embarrassing it is.

Since the result wasn't bad, I was wondering whether I should tie the slip on and stand under the snow to show off my slip.

"...Zhongji."

She flashed a victor's smile. Yukinoshita-kun is still as stubborn as ever...

However, thanks to this victory, Yukinoshita seemed to have recovered quite a bit. She let out a satisfied sigh and brushed the hair that was hanging over her shoulder.

Yuihama smiled and gazed at her.

"Luckily, no one drew a bad luck card."

"……yes."

She smiled and said that Yukinoshita seemed to be reflecting on her own excessive competitiveness, turning her head away with a faint blush on her cheeks.

My eyes met hers as she turned her head.

"That bag...is it a talisman?"

Yukinoshita's puzzled gaze fell on my hand. I picked up the small paper bag with "Asama Shrine" written in red.

"Oh, this. Yes. It's used to bless Komachi to make the list."

"I see..."

She smiled slightly, tilted her head, and looked up at my face.

"If you don't mind, would you like to write ema (votive plaques)?"

"Ah, not bad! I pray that Komachi will pass the exam!"

Yuihama jumped forward and joined my conversation with Yukinoshita.

"...But you might have to wait in line."

She glanced at the office where I had just finished queuing and added. I didn't answer immediately, hesitating for a moment before speaking.

"...Really? Thank you."

After a brief pause, only a few words came out. Yukinoshita and Yui-hama blinked several times upon hearing this.

"...What?"

Because their gazes were so impolite, I raised an eyebrow and asked back, and Yukinoshita coughed lightly.

"No, it's just a bit of a surprise."

"Yeah, it's strange that the autistic guy said thank you. You seem to hate people who stand in line."

Yuihama chuckled, seemingly finding it very funny. No, what's so funny? I say thank you too. Thinking this, I couldn't help but exhale a breath tinged with displeasure.

"I'm the kind of person who's willing to abandon my dignity for my sister. If it weren't for Komachi, I would have gone back long ago."

"It seems you've abandoned not dignity, but common sense..."

Yukinoshita stared blankly, sighed, and walked out. After a few steps, she looked back.

"Let's go then."

Yuihama, following Yukinoshita's gaze, gently nudged my shoulder. I followed her forward in response. Soon after, we caught up with Yukinoshita, who was waiting for us ahead, and the three of us once again joined the back of the queue.

× × ×

We spent quite a while writing densely packed characters on the ema (votive plaques).

Yukino's neat handwriting resembles a calligraphy model, while my scribbles, starting from the middle of the road, are accompanied by a bunch of cheering emoticons from Yuihama. It's impossible to tell what wishes are being made. Offering such things must be a headache for the gods.

But ema (votive plaques) are for good luck; maybe making it lively will attract the attention of the gods. I hung up my ema as a representative, and then clapped my hands. Please, little ema brother, help Komachi pass the exam…

After I sincerely worshipped, I faced the two people behind me.

"Okay, that works."

Yukinoshita and Yuihama seemed quite satisfied with the finished product, nodding in response.

Although I hadn't originally planned to write ema (votive plaques), this fulfilled my purpose for the New Year's shrine visit. I considered whether there was anything else I should do, and then said:

"So what's next? Go home?"

"I told you I wasn't going home... why are you leaving so soon...?"

Yuihama looked at me coldly. "Because everything's done..." I was about to explain when Yukinoshita interrupted me with a puzzled look.

"Aren't you going to browse the stalls?"

She must have remembered Yuihama's strong interest in the vendors on the way to the shrine. Yuihama quickly nodded in agreement as soon as Yukinoshita made the suggestion.

Anyway, it's on the way back, so I have no objection. Or rather, it seems I have no say, since they've already taken action.

We walked back along the road and came to a corner lined with vendors. In addition to classic snacks such as okonomiyaki and takoyaki, there were also vendors selling sweet wine, perhaps due to the season.

Among the numerous food stalls, there were also shooting games. I often see these at summer festivals, but I didn't know they were in winter too? I glanced at the stalls, and someone next to me muttered:

"Why are there shooting games during New Year's shrine visits...?"

Yukino carefully observed the shooting game vendor, looking very suspicious.

"It is strange, but children will probably come too. It's normal for shop owners to set up stalls if they think they can make money."

"Unbelievable...why would it be in a place like this..."

However, Yukinoshita seemed not to be listening to me, still staring at the shooting stall. Then, I noticed a plush toy that looked like Johnny the panda among the prizes. Oh, no wonder you were looking so closely…

"...Want to play?"

"No, that's not what I meant."

She said that, but her whole demeanor was restless. You definitely want that…

Yuihama also noticed, looking tenderly at the suspicious Yukinoshita.

"Yukino likes Johnny the panda."

Yuihama smiled and spoke softly. Yukinoshita, who would usually deny or defend herself immediately, didn't even hear her voice. Her attention was probably entirely focused on Johnny the panda in front of her.

Yukinoshita was still staring at the plush toy that looked like Johnny the panda and muttering to herself. I don't think she'll leave until she gets her hands on it.

What should I do? I'm not very confident, should I try and see if I can hit the target...?

As I calculated the thickness of my purse, Yuihama whispered:

"Oh, that's right."

Then he tugged at my sleeve.

"Huh, what's going on...?"

"Um."

Ignoring my racing heart, she beckoned to me. It seemed she wanted me to crouch down a bit. I followed her instructions and lowered my head slightly. Yui-hama brought her face close to my ear and whispered something.

It's obvious that posing like this will shorten the distance between the two people. There's nothing surprising about it now, and I don't particularly care.

However, the unusual citrus fragrance tickled my nose, and the pale pink cheeks, tinged by the cold wind, were so close that I didn't know where to look.

I exhaled softly, urging her to continue with my eyes, and Yuihama also made soft breathing sounds, whispering in my ear.

"Um, when should we go buy Yukino's present?"

"Ah, ah..."

It was only after she mentioned it that I realized it.

Yukinoshita's birthday is coming up soon. A few days ago, around Christmas, I made a promise with Yui Hama to go buy her a birthday present.

No, I haven't forgotten. Rather, I've been thinking about what to do.

I've been pondering the 5W1H: when, where, with whom, how, and what gift to buy, plus how to start a conversation. Making plans is so difficult. I'm really bad at picking dates. Deciding on my own might inconvenience the other person, but asking when is convenient feels like dumping all the responsibility on them, which I feel bad about. What kind of pattern is this that I can never seem to decide in my entire life?

In short, it's great that the other party brought it up on their own initiative.

If I delay too long, I'll start overthinking things and eventually won't want to go, so I immediately picked a time.

"Are you free tomorrow?"

However, perhaps because I made the decision too quickly, Yuihama was a little stunned.

"Yes, yes. I do have some free time..."

She touched her bun, moved her mouth as if hesitant to speak, her gaze shifting. Then, as if whispering, she mumbled something hesitantly:

"Just the two of us... is that alright?"

"Uh, um, it's okay..."

She watched my reaction with bated breath, and I answered him at a loss. Yui-bin breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.

"Oh, I see... Well, that's good then."

"Oh, oh... then, tomorrow then..."

"Um……"

After Yuihama responded, she didn't say anything more, and I inexplicably shut my mouth as well.

The silence made me feel uneasy, so I looked around to hide my embarrassment.

Yukinoshita walked over from the shooting stall looking dejected.

"What's wrong? Are you done?"

She gave a sad smile and said disdainfully:

"Hmm, let's forget about that kind of thing..."

"What?"

Yuihama and I looked at each other, puzzled.

I looked at the shooting stall again, wanting to see what was going on.

She placed her hand on her forehead and stared intently. Upon closer inspection, she realized that the plush toy Yukinoshita had been focusing on wasn't Johnny the panda, but Johnson the panda.

Such festival-like occasions are where—not Pikachu, but Pikachu Super; not Adidas, but Adidas.

"Ah—it's a counterfeit."

I nodded and said, while Yukinoshita rested her chin on her hand and tilted her head slightly.