My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 790

She gazed at me with deep affection, her breath soft yet burning hot.

"Senior...do you...have a boyfriend/girlfriend?"

Her voice trembled slightly, her speech was halting, and her cheeks were flushed. A frighteningly pale, slender wrist emerged from the overly long sleeve. That hand nervously clutched the delicate lace at her chest, the wrinkles in the cardigan exuding a heart-wrenching atmosphere. A dreamlike, watery light shimmered in her eyes.

I was caught off guard and felt my heart race. To calm it down, I stopped breathing.

"No……"

The voice that came out was off-key.

Silence reigned. Needless to say, neither Yukinoshita nor Yuihama uttered a word.

In the silence, Isshiki revealed a wicked smile.

"Look, just like this feeling, this feeling!"

"This is a problem with word choice! Right, you autistic guy?"

...No, that kind of suggestive method wasn't bad. Hmm. In fact, it was fantastic. Isshiki Iroha, she's definitely got something special.

"An autistic man?"

Hearing her call, I looked at Yui and the others, only to be met with disdainful stares.

"...Why don't you speak?"

She's smiling sweetly under the snow. Please, no, that smile is absolutely terrifying.

"In short, I understand Hayama's situation. Yes, I understand it perfectly."

They'd verify the rumors and then confess their feelings when the opportunity arose. Even if they didn't actually go that far, it would still be a chance for them to get closer—that's probably what they were thinking.

It feels like I've always thought he was an unromanceable character, but now an Append Disc has been released with new story content, opening up his route... Or is it like a new Fan Disk filled with romantic moments?

In any case, this can be considered one of the effects of that rumor.

"So what do you want to discuss with us?"

Yise straightened her chest.

"I want to know how to differentiate myself from my love rival!"

"oh……"

Even now, they still haven't given up; that takes real perseverance. My vague response was a mix of admiration, bewilderment, and indifference. That adds up to a double and a half!

Isshiki seemed to take my "oh" as agreement with her, and started rambling on and on even though no one asked a question.

"Because from another perspective, this situation presents a good opportunity. After confessing, people usually don't just give up easily, right? That's why Hayama-senpai finds it annoying to be confessed to, while I, in a way, am a safe bet and a hidden asset—or rather, a blessed and healing type!"

You turned it too hard.

What's with this "healing charm" thing? Besides, your physique has nothing to do with being "blessed"... Isshiki's charm is based on her delicate, youthful temperament... Ah, isn't that what we're talking about? I have absolutely no interest in the relationship between Hayama and Isshiki, and I got distracted halfway through.

I looked at the other two people to make sure they were listening, and both of them were listening very attentively.

"Safety sign..."

"ambush……"

Yui and Yukino repeated it after them, intently watching Isshiki. They were so focused, it made me feel like the temperature dropped several degrees instantly… This is really unsettling!

Note: This is the catchphrase of Kiriya Aoi, a character from the anime/manga series *Aikatsu!*.

Isshiki, however, was unaware of their gazes because she was looking out the window.

"So, it would be nice to go out and have some fun to change my mood..."

The setting sun illuminated Yise's face, her expression carrying a hint of melancholy and serenity.

Although her tone was flippant, she was showing concern for Ye Shan in her own way.

Wow, I didn't expect you to think so thoroughly. If you show this side of yourself, most men would be smitten...

"That's not a bad idea."

I couldn't help but smile as I spoke, a smile spreading across my face.

"Right! So, I wanted to ask where would be a good place to go!"

"You must know a lot about this kind of thing."

You've definitely asked the wrong person. Yui is one thing, she'll probably get the information from her friends, but Yukinoshita and I aren't the type to go out and have fun. Iroha puffed out her cheeks, looking sullen.

"I've tried everything I could think of before! That's why I want to do the opposite."

"Oh, really..."

This guy's efficiency is amazing. You really are a member of TOKIO, right?

I was deeply impressed, and Yuihama tilted her head, resting her hand on her chin.

"You mean, you want us to help you find a place where you can relax and have fun without worrying about others...?"

"That's it simply."

Isshiki nodded in response, and Yukinoshita let out a soft sigh.

"...Alright, it doesn't matter if it is."

She smiled, her demeanor more mature than usual. Isshiki seemed to find Yukinoshita more approachable this way and smiled too.

"Thank you, senior! ...So, senior, what are your thoughts—?"

"Why are you asking me...?"

I'm completely clueless. I was thinking of suggesting Disneyland, but giving that advice to someone who got dumped there is just... a bit...

Although I don't know Hayama's preferences, he seems to enjoy himself wherever he goes, regardless of whether he actually has fun.

At this moment, Yuihama leaned out.

"Where do you think is a good place for an autistic guy to go? I'd like to use that as a reference..."

"I'm so different from Hayama, how can I be used as a reference?"

Yuki chuckled.

"That's true, you two are completely opposite."

"Right?"

"Hmm, that makes a lot of sense."

Yukinoshita echoed me as if mocking me, but I wasn't angry.

Because we are indeed two extremes. I am confident that I am quite good, but I am far inferior to Hayama... and the reason why Hayama and I are at opposite ends of the spectrum lies in this self-righteous, insignificant personality.

Seriously, what kind of personality does this trashy little character have...? But a lot of girls like collecting trinkets or junk, so maybe trashy little characters are surprisingly popular! I'm so optimistic!

Yukino coughed softly, then turned her head away and quickly added:

"...I think it's precisely because of your extreme personalities that you can serve as a reference. So, as long as someone disagrees with you, isn't that the same as being the right answer? Opposing someone's opposition is equivalent to agreeing, right?"

"A false lie may not necessarily be the truth..."

This argument is flawed. To oppose it is to agree with it—are you an idiot? I want to retort, but Yukinoshita and Yui are both staring at me, waiting for my reply.

Note: This is a quote from the character "Stupid Bo" in the manga "Stupid Bo".

I said, being stared at makes me recall all sorts of memories and it bothers me. Please, both of you, stop staring.

"...Um, I'll think about it."

I looked away and managed to squeeze out a sentence, then a sigh, which sounded a bit dumbfounded and dissatisfied, came out of nowhere—I couldn't tell if it was a "whoosh" or a "sigh."

"Then please think about it carefully."

He said with a broad smile.

But my head hurts so much... I can't even finish my own things, how can I have time to help Isshiki with her problems? On the contrary, I'm the one who wants to ask her for help... Never mind. I'll deal with it later.

× × ×

He scribbled furiously in his notebook.

Finally, I drew a big circle and poked my cheek with the end of the pen.

As soon as the break began, she rushed over to our seats to record Yise's requests and help organize the outline of the celebration banquet.

Zheben looked at his notes and nodded, as if he had accomplished something great, then chuckled blankly:

"OK, I think I understand. Booking the whole place and trying to get a discount, right... um, that should be fine. I'm just not sure."

This guy is so casual... Is it really okay...? I looked at her suspiciously, but surprisingly, Zheben was quite efficient in his work.

She quickly took out several menus, opened them, and began explaining them while waving her pen.

"This is the menu for afternoon tea, and this is the menu for dinner. And this is the drinks menu. We can serve food for both times, so please let me know if you need anything. The portion sizes and types will be adjusted according to the price. We also have non-alcoholic cocktails."

"Really? Can I take a look before I decide?"

Isshiki eagerly peered at the menu, followed by Yui and Yukinoshita. Orimoto responded with a smile and stood up from his seat.

"I'll discuss those details with the store manager."

He strode quickly toward the inner room, drawing out his words:

"Store Manager—"

The other person was a handsome middle-aged man, presumably the manager. He wore a well-tailored white shirt and a half-length apron, with a frizzy, curly hairstyle under a hoodie, a beard, and black-rimmed glasses—he looked every bit the part of a coffee shop manager. Oremoto explained to him with his notebook in one hand, and the manager nodded in response.

I'll leave that to her... I shifted my gaze back to the table.

Looking at the beverage menu, Ichiro let out a longing sigh.

"Wow, non-alcoholic cocktails are great! They're trendy and create a great atmosphere, aren't they?"

She asked for my opinion, and I nodded casually.

Indeed. The market for non-alcoholic beverages is quite vibrant. Among them, non-alcoholic cocktails seem to have gained a kind of overnight popularity in just a few years. I've heard that the market for alcoholic beverages is shrinking, for several reasons, such as the economic downturn at that time, people's self-control during the pandemic, and young people no longer drinking. Non-alcoholic beverages, including non-alcoholic cocktails, have gained attention as the savior of the food and beverage industry. Although I think young people not drinking is due to the economic downturn… less money available leads young people to try to reduce unnecessary spending and avoid alcohol. But it's not just alcohol; cars, houses, and luxury brands are also affected. To solve this problem, policies that encourage young people to spend money are needed. Specifically, it's like giving me seven trillion yen (tax-free).

I have demonstrated a strong interest in politics and economics, and I intend to run for mayor of Chiba City in the future.

On the other hand, Hihama-kun stared in disbelief, tilting her head and saying with a hint of doubt:

"Non-alcoholic cocktail... Ah, chuunibyou? Is chuunibyou called that?"

"No, that's not it."

Why the "I know!" look? Don't get all excited just because you finally remembered. You're way off. Besides, that guy's name is Yoshiteru. Okay, okay, Yoshiteru Zaimokuza (終木座) is basically a non-alcoholic cocktail! (Note)

Note: The Japanese pronunciation of "Zaimokuza Yoshiteru" is "Zaimokuza Yoshiteru", and the Japanese pronunciation of "non-alcoholic cocktail" is "Mokuteru".

As I pondered how to explain it to her, I sat opposite her, brushed aside the hair that fell over my shoulders, and smirked triumphantly.

"A non-alcoholic cocktail is a new term created using the English words 'mock' (imitation) and 'cocktail' (cocktail), and it refers to a cocktail that does not contain alcohol."

"Oh……"

She explained smugly, and Yui listened with admiration. Hearing this conversation, Isshiki was speechless, her face saying, "Yui-senpai's head is a bit......" Or rather, she actually said it aloud.

All three of them spoke highly of the non-alcoholic cocktails. Judging from this, it seems the celebration party will definitely include non-alcoholic cocktails...

Just then, Zheben walked back with a clattering sound.

"The budget seems to be fine—"

005

"Really!?"

Iroha was so excited that she stood up from her seat, and Orimoto smiled and said to her:

"Well, that is, on the condition that everyone is willing to help out as staff on the day."

"Huh, ah..."

Yise sat back in his chair, crossed his arms, and fell into deep thought.

I see. We can save on personnel costs by providing the manpower. The problem is where to find people... Isshiki seemed to have thought of this problem as well, anxiously observing our reaction.

"How about it? Are you able to help me, seniors...? I don't have anyone else I can ask..."

Isshiki looked up at me with her big, watery eyes. No need for that deliberately cutesy, begging pose. I was already prepared to probably be forced to help anyway.

"If we're only doing the outdoor area, that's possible..."