My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 82

"Oh my God..."

The electric fan whirred and clicked as it spun back and forth, seemingly trying to drown out the faint groans coming from the side. Komachi shook her head repeatedly at the same pace.

"Brother, this won't do..."

She gently placed the faded manuscript paper, exposed to the sun, on the table.

"Komachi knows her brother's personality very well, but she still can't write this kind of article..."

"It's so noisy! It's all because you said you were going to copy my reading notes. If you don't like it, don't look!"

I showed my younger sister my old book reviews, only to have them dismissed without hesitation, making me feel doubly embarrassed. I snatched the manuscript from her hand.

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry~ There are still some usable parts, so I'll borrow Komachi for a bit♪ Although most of them are unusable."

Komachi added a superfluous comment at the end: "Take back my reading notes and copy them into your own notebook."

This is Komachi's summer homework.

In elementary school, all students received a workbook called "Summer Vacation Friends," but it stopped appearing after junior high school. In other words, the number of friends immediately drops to zero as soon as summer vacation begins. To put it more coolly, it's "Friend/Zero." Since there are so few characters, the artwork must have been light and fun.

Komachi is currently working on writing a book report.

The junior high school I attended, which is also the junior high school Komachi is currently attending, didn't have much summer homework. There were only English and math exercises, Chinese kanji practice, independent research (Note 1: This is a common assignment during long holidays. Students choose their own research topics (mainly in the natural sciences) and collect data to write a report.), and either an essay or a book review.

Komachi let out a soft murmur, pausing her pen. I watched her from the side, sipping my ice-cold MAX coffee. The unique sweetness of condensed milk lingered in my throat, gradually spreading to my brain—something no other coffee café au lait can replicate. I also highly recommend pouring MAX coffee over shaved ice.

Even adults have their moments of sweet talk and coquetry, and when it comes to coffee, MAX coffee is the obvious choice.

I'm designing a trendy secret marketing strategy in my head (Note 2 refers to marketing done through packaging or disguise so that consumers don't realize it's marketing). However, since I'm not receiving any compensation, it doesn't count as secret marketing.

A pile of books and materials were spread out on the table. This bad habit of opening all the textbooks without thinking is a typical characteristic of people who don't know how to study.

I pulled out a piece of paper that had been buried in the pile of books and quickly scanned its contents. The paper was titled "Third Year Summer Homework," and below it was a list of the assignments that Komachi had to do. The actual content was as mentioned before.

My gaze lingered on one of the lines of text.

"Actually, you don't necessarily have to write a book review; a regular essay will do."

"what?"

Komachi raised her head and propped herself up to look at the documents in my hand.

"Look, the above are essays on reading notes or topics such as 'taxes'."

Generally speaking, people who are not good at writing book reviews don't like reading, and those who don't like reading naturally won't write articles. Komachi is this kind of person; she not only doesn't read books, but also rarely writes articles except for emails on her phone.

For such people, writing essays without reading books is naturally less difficult.

"However, Komachi doesn't know much about 'taxes'..."

"Wait a minute, I think I wrote this when I was in junior high school too."

I rummaged through the cardboard box on the table. This box is my memory capsule. My mother used to organize all my essays, research papers, photo albums, and other miscellaneous things into this box. Now it's reappearing because Komachi wants to copy my old reading notes.

I rummaged through the box and finally found a piece of paper that looked very familiar.

"Is this it?"

"Komachi wants to see! Komachi wants to see!"

Komachi quickly came over, grabbed my arm, and took the manuscript from my hand.

My views on taxes

Hachiman Hikigaya, Class 3-3

Progressive tax rates are the worst kind of taxation system.

People who earn a lot of money have to pay very high taxes, and the returns they receive are close to zero. This is the so-called "the more you earn, the more you pay," meaning the harder you work, the more taxes you have to pay, and you don't get anything special in return.

In other words, the job is lost.

If the purpose of progressive taxation is to equalize happiness for everyone, then I can only say it's an utterly foolish system. Happiness is inherently unequal for everyone, and measuring happiness solely in monetary terms is superficial and incomplete. I believe the government should consider adding a "reality-based progressive taxation" system, taxing individuals based on the number of friends and romantic partners they have.

She had only read the beginning when she gently folded the manuscript, sighed, and resignedly said:

"Komachi should write a book review instead."

"Oh, I see... I feel a little apologetic..."

"No, it's Komachi who feels apologetic..."

The electric fan continued to hum and click as it whirred on its own.

Just then, the cicadas outside suddenly began to chirp.

"...Or, how about I help with the independent research portion?"

"Yes, Komachi will wait without expecting anything in return."

To be honest, homework is meaningless if it's not done by the person doing it. The reason I've gone to such lengths to help Komachi isn't just because she's cute. If cuteness were the only reason, I'd only be willing to help with the reading reflection section at most.

"Sigh... I need to finish my homework quickly, there are entrance exams coming up... Komachi is almost too late to finish studying the mock exam syllabus after summer vacation~"

"That's because you've been accumulating negative thoughts all along, isn't it?"

"So Komachi has been accumulating knowledge and experience quite diligently."

"That's probably a game software that accumulates books (Note 3 refers to buying books but not reading them, resulting in an ever-growing collection) and pile-up games..."

That's not just an accumulation, it's reached its maximum.

It's hard to imagine that this kind of person is a test taker.

"Just asking, are you really planning to apply to the high school I'm attending?"

My sister is an idiot, a complete and utter idiot. There's absolutely no doubt about that.

"Really? Otherwise, Komachi would never have copied her brother's essay."

Her tone was quite serious, but that's not the proper attitude when asking for help. Although that's not important.

Well, at least she still has the will, but the problem now is her grades.

"However, your grades in school are always around 100th, so your ambition is a bit too big."

"Komachi just wants to go to the same school as her brother~"

"..."

At that moment, I couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. My sister, who usually showed me no respect whatsoever, would always unexpectedly reveal such warm sibling love. My eyes welled up, and a single raindrop was about to fall from the emptiness within me—

"I heard that if you say you're your brother's sister at the same school, you'll become a super well-behaved girl in comparison! When Komachi entered junior high, her brother's image at school had just hit rock bottom, so she received very high praise and was almost compared to an angel! Komachi is simply an angel!"

That's a really bad motivation for applying.

"...Oh, I see."

She's not an angel, she's a demon! Clash Devils! Komachi is a devil!

"Alright, then give it a try."

"Yes, Komachi will do her best."

After answering, Komachi picked up her mechanical pencil again to copy her homework. This was supposed to be a reading reflection, but she took out a blank sheet of paper to copy it... Couldn't you at least finish reading the book first? Are you the kind of person who, every time a new anime starts airing, smugly declares, "This anime is terrible, I didn't even finish the opening theme before turning it off" or "This is rubbish, I didn't even finish the first part before turning it off"?

I walked to the bookshelf, looking for Natsume Soseki's novel *Kokoro*. The publisher recently commissioned a famous manga artist to design the cover for a new edition, so I bought a copy. Just changing the cover can boost sales; it's clear that appearance accounts for 90% of a light novel's success, even though Natsume Soseki wasn't a light novel author.

As my fingers slid over the spines of the rows of books, my gaze suddenly stopped on the book "Scientific Magic! Learn and Apply Your New Skills for Banquet Performances," and I could almost picture the struggles my dad faced when he was still a low-level office worker.

The least free people in the world are undoubtedly the free people in class-based societies. They'll definitely be asked to perform a talent or something interesting at the year-end party before they'll even buy this book. As for me? I'm unlikely to be invited anyway; even if I were, I'd remain completely silent from beginning to end and never appear on the invitation list again, so there's no need to worry about that. What's this year-end party anyway? Don't forget it! (Note 4: In Japan, the year-end party is called "Bonenkai.") And please don't forget me either.

However, this book might come in handy for Komachi's independent research, so I borrowed it from my dad first, and then took out "Kokoro" from the bottom shelf.

"Take it, at least read it before you write."

"Ugh~~"

Komachi reluctantly took the book, and after seeing that she actually opened it and started reading, I also turned my gaze to the science and magic book in my hand.

I quickly flipped through it, and the talents described were nothing more than stuffing toothpicks into cigarettes so that no ash falls out when lit, or soaking banknotes in alcohol and lighting them so that only the alcohol burns while the banknotes remain intact. Actually, thinking about it carefully, even if I learned these performances, I'd never have the chance to use them.

However, the science tidbits interspersed between sections were quite interesting; I found myself engrossed in them without even realizing it, much like what happens when tidying up a room.

Suddenly, I heard a rhythmic "whoosh...whoosh..." breathing sound. I glanced at Komachi and saw that she was nodding off, dozing off. Exam takers really have it tough.

I turned the fan down, picked up a blanket from the sofa, and gently draped it over Komachi's shoulders.

Do your best, Komachi.

× × ×

July has ended, and the cicadas outdoors are singing loudly in unison.

To ease Komachi's burden, I should occasionally help with some housework, so I went out to buy things for the family and, on the way, looked for books that I could use for my own research, such as "Newton," "Science," and "MU" (Note 5: a Japanese occult magazine, mainly about UFOs, aliens, superpowers, and unidentified creatures).

The asphalt road refracted in the steaming summer air.

The streets were filled with the chirping of cicadas and the sounds of passing vehicles in the afternoon; there were hardly any pedestrians. After all, people living in this residential area probably wouldn't choose to go out during the hottest part of the day.

Oh dear, what a blunder! I should have waited until later to go out. It's because I haven't been out for so long that I didn't even notice that.

My goal for this summer vacation is to stay home as much as possible.

The reason we take long holidays in the summer is because it's just too hot during that time.

This premise is unshakeable, evidenced by the fact that Hokkaido remains cool in summer, thus shortening summer vacation; conversely, one can enjoy a long winter vacation in the cold winter, thus proving that vacation length is affected by climate conditions.

Since the purpose of summer vacation is for everyone to escape the heat, we shouldn't go out during this time. Going out for fun during this period would be crossing a legal gray area!

As a model student who is both polite and well-behaved, I would naturally stay home and spend the summer vacation obediently. Wait a minute, don't call me a real-life autistic guy... Okay, actually, it's fine, anyway, that's what people called me in private since middle school.

But if it's for my lovely younger sister, I'll still go out a bit. It's out of love, and I have no choice.

As I approached the station area, the crowds began to increase. I waited briefly at the bus stop, then boarded a bus and rode for about ten minutes to the seaside town of Makuhari.

If I need to prepare ingredients, I can easily buy them at the nearby supermarket; however, if I want to buy books, it's more convenient to go to the New City Center where there are large bookstores.

In summer, Makuhari Beach is bustling with activity. There's a Summer Stadium, where fireworks are set off during evening baseball games, and water sports are incredibly popular due to its proximity to the sea. Unfortunately, none of these activities apply to me; I'm only annoyed by the crowds everywhere I go.

I try to disappear into the crowd. Another explanation is that I never really existed to begin with.

That said, being surrounded by a large crowd can actually make one feel more lonely than when alone. It seems that the basis for judging loneliness is not the surrounding population density, but rather one's own mental state. No matter how close others are to us, if we don't identify with them as belonging to our own kind, we cannot nourish the yearnings within our hearts.

Friends, family, and lovers walked together in groups, their pace unusually slow. It was unclear whether they were preoccupied with the people around them, distracted by conversations, or simply wishing to savor their time together a little longer.

Ugh~ Hey you three over there, can you please not walk side by side? Are you guys in a 3-5-2 formation (Note 6 refers to a football formation with three defenders, five midfielders, and two forwards. The "cross defense" mentioned in the next paragraph is also a football tactic, this formation particularly emphasizes defense)? How solid are you trying to be in defense?

I used my incredible soccer skills to quickly pass by the three. This time, four high school girls in uniforms formed a cross-shaped defense to block my way, but some of them were laughing loudly and others were chatting as they walked, so they moved very slowly, and I was able to easily overtake them.

What you lack is passion, ideals, thinking, elegance, and diligence! Most importantly—you are too slow (Note 7: This paragraph is from the movie "Super Power").

I silently grumbled to myself as I hurried through the leisurely crowd. If a lone wolf with no friends and no girlfriend could stride confidently in the wind, then with just a little imagination, the whole world could become his playground.

When boys walk alone on the street, eight or nine out of ten will have this thought.

It was really fun!

I mentally trained myself to survive whenever I was caught up in war, and headed towards PLENA Makuhari (Note 8: a shopping center located next to Makuhari Seaside Station), an enhanced shopping district filled with outlet malls and specialty stores of various goods.

As I was wandering aimlessly, my eyes suddenly caught sight of a fluorescent green sweatshirt. I recognized it; it was the shirt everyone usually wore in gym class.

So you're from the same high school? I'd better try to avoid eye contact with him... I tried to look away, but my eyes wouldn't obey me, and my whole body turned towards him.

If I had to sum it up in one sentence—yes, that's fate.

He had long, smooth hair, and his fair limbs shone brightly in the sunlight. As he slung his racket bag over his shoulder, his breath drifted into the air and turned into a breeze.

That was Totsuka Saika. He didn't notice me, but turned around, concerned about what was behind him. Hey, are you that beautiful woman looking back? (Note 9: A work by ukiyo-e artist Hishikawa Moronobu.)

For a fleeting moment, I thought it was an illusion created by the refracted dust rising from the road.

At that moment, the crowd that had initially annoyed me quickly faded into the background, and it felt as if the whole world consisted only of Totsuka and me. A smile involuntarily crept onto my lips.

I firmly believe that no matter where I am, I will find him.

"Hu—cough cough!"

The words I was about to say suddenly caught in my throat, and in the end, I could only let out a strange sigh. The family next to me gave me a strange look, and then quickly left.

A figure waved vigorously and ran towards Totsuka, so I could only watch them silently. The boy was wearing the same tracksuit as Totsuka and carrying a similar racket bag.

Seeing how close they were, I couldn't bring myself to call out. In that situation, I would naturally let out a strange sigh.

The other person had probably missed the agreed time and offered a slight apology by clasping their hands together. Totsuka shook his head gently, revealing a shy smile that I could clearly see even from a distance. After exchanging a few words, they walked into the convenience store together.

After watching them disappear, I continued my steps toward PLENA Makuhari.