My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 90

"Then I don't even have a prototype...?"

Yukinoshita wasn't satisfied with the name. Strange, it was the highest compliment I could receive.

"Huh? Chiba is in first place? Are Chiba's pears that famous?"

Totsuka's tone was full of admiration. It seems that even though they both live in Chiba, their understanding of Chiba varies greatly.

"It's not noticeable in Chiba City, but it's quite famous outside the city. Some high schools even have a rule that stealing pears will result in suspension, and eating them will lead to expulsion."

"Your knowledge of Chiba will never appear in the exam questions..."

Chiba Encyclopedia doesn't seem to know this either.

Therefore, I have won this "Chiba Knowledge King" competition!

We chatted and worked hard at the same time, and soon we finished the task assigned by the teacher. By then, the elementary school students had also arrived at the finish line one after another.

Next, we became staff members, specifically responsible for distributing bento boxes and pears to the hungry children.

Volume 4, dialogue inside the train, second row of seats

Yuigahama Yui

With such a long holiday, I really want to travel! And since it's summer, I might as well go abroad!

Yukino Yukino

For example, in which places?

Yuigahama Yui

Australia!

Yukino Yukino

It's winter there now... and more importantly, do you have a passport?

Yuigahama Yui

Huh?

Passport... Ah, I have a year-long pass to Tesco Disneyland!

Yukino Yukino

I have that passport too... but I'm not talking about that one—

Yuigahama Yui

Huh? Yukino has one too? That's unexpected!

Yukino Yukino

As a resident of Chiba Prefecture, this is only natural.

Yuigahama Yui

This is the first time I've ever heard of something like this...

So, which character from Disneyland is your favorite?

Yukino Yukino

If I really had to pick, it would be Johnny the panda. I'm just making an example, by the way.

Yuigahama Yui

Ah! Same here! Did you see that movie that looked like a remake? It was gorgeous! Johnny the panda was adorable too—

Yukino Yukino

That's not a remake, but a completely new work; "reconstruction" might be a more accurate description. Thirty-five years later, Tesco's traditional hand-drawn style, combined with the latest computer technology, has given it new life—it's absolutely beautiful. Would you like to see the Blu-ray version?

Yuigahama Yui

Ah... um, but all I have at home is a DVD player...

Yukino Yukino

Don't worry, those two pieces are a set.

Yuigahama Yui

Huh? Why is the same content divided into two parts?

Yukino Yukino

...Well, why is that...?

Volume 4, Part 4: Suddenly, Hina Ebina begins missionary activities.

When it comes to camping, curry is an essential part of the experience.

As a stay-at-home dad, it's only natural that I can make one or two kinds of curry. To be more precise, whatever I originally planned to make, it would end up as curry.

In fact, anything added to curry cubes and cooked will become curry, so it's not an exaggeration to say that all food can be used as curry ingredients.

Chiba has the famous curry shop "Sitar," but in Chiba village, a picnic is a must. I should add that "Sitar's" curry is truly delicious.

Therefore, today we will follow the camping tradition and have curry for dinner.

First, the children were taught how to start a fire. Ms. Hiratsuka demonstrated this using a teacher's fire pit.

"Let me demonstrate for you first."

After speaking, Mr. Hiratsuka immediately piled up the charcoal and placed the accelerant and crumpled newspaper underneath. He then lit the accelerant.

After applying the dressing, the newspaper immediately caught fire. I thought the teacher would fan it to let the flames spread to the charcoal, but that would be too much trouble, so she simply poured salad oil on it.

Flames immediately shot up. This is extremely dangerous; please do not attempt to do it. It is absolutely very dangerous!

A commotion erupted at the scene, a commotion that was hard to decipher as cheers or screams, but Ms. Hiratsuka remained unmoved, only a hollow smile playing on her lips as she smoked a cigarette. She brought her face close to the fire, lit the cigarette, and took a deep drag.

After the teacher turned his face away, he exhaled smoke with a "whoosh".

"That's roughly it."

"The teacher seems very skilled."

Not only were her movements swift and agile, but she also pulled out her hidden trick: salad oil. However, the teacher simply gazed into the distance and began to murmur:

"Heh, I used to go out for barbecues with my club members a lot in college. Every time I was busy lighting the fire, those couples would be whispering sweet nothings to each other... Ugh, it made me feel so bad."

The teacher, recalling unpleasant memories, moved away from the fire.

"The boys will prepare the fire, and the girls will get the ingredients."

The teacher led the girls away while talking. Is she separating the boys and girls into two groups because of past resentment? Is this really okay?

I, Totsuka, Hayama, and Tobe remained where we were.

"Then let's start preparing."

Hayama and Tobe put on work gloves and began stacking charcoal, while Totsuka helped prepare the accelerant and newspapers.

...Oh no, I'm too slow!

The preparations went smoothly, and all that remained was the mechanical task of fanning the air.

My heart isn't big enough to stand still and do nothing. Well, if it were just Hayama and Tobe present, I could easily say to them, "Okay, then I'll leave it to you," but since Totsuka is also here, it's best to be cautious.

With no other choice, I put on work gloves, picked up a fan, and kept fanning myself, like grilling eel.

"It feels so hot."

Totsuka said this to me with concern.

"Um……"

Even though we're on a plateau, it's still the hottest time of summer. If we stand next to a fire, our sweat will surely pour out like a waterfall.

"I'll go get some drinks for everyone."

"If it's for everyone, I'll help too." After Totsuka left, Tobe followed. Maybe he's actually a good person, and couldn't bear to see Totsuka carrying heavy things with such slender hands, so he was showing his masculinity. Good, do a good job!

So, only Hayama and I were left at the scene.

“…………”

Pat pat pat pat pat.

“…………”

Pat pat pat pat pat.

I switched off the switch in my heart, turned myself into a machine, and kept blowing air. Watching the pitch-black charcoal gradually turn red, my mood improved more and more.

The heat forced sweat into my eyes, and as I looked up to wipe them with my gloves, I met Hayama's gaze. By saying we met, I mean he'd been watching me for quite some time. If Ebina had been there too, seeing this would have been dangerous.

"……What's up?"

"It's alright, don't worry about it."

Hayama gave a perfunctory answer.

“…………”

I continued with my work while staring at him with deadpan eyes, and he tried to brush me off with the same excuse again.

"Really, you don't need to worry about it."

Saying "Don't worry about it, don't worry about it"—are you singing the theme song for "Little Red Bean"? In all my life, I've never seen anyone say that and actually be okay.

Undeterred, I persisted, glancing at Ye Shan every five seconds. Finally, he gave in, shrugged, and asked me:

"Compared to a penguin, you—"

"Hachiman, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting!"

Just then, Totsuka came over and pressed the paper cup against my face. The icy touch of the cup startled me so much that my heart almost jumped out of my chest, and Hayama lost his chance to speak.

I looked up and saw Totsuka with an innocent smile, clearly pleased with his successful prank. He was still slightly out of breath, probably from rushing back, and his rosy face was truly endearing. Totsuka's cuteness, amplified by his diligent antics, only increased further.

My heart was still pounding, and I could only desperately try to control this feeling, which I couldn't tell was surprise or excitement, and try to keep my voice calm.

"Oh, thanks."

Under the intense shock, I accidentally uttered a falsetto. Hubu, who was carrying several plastic bottles and walking back a few steps later, listened and seemed unsure how to react.

"...Let's switch hands."

Hayama offered to switch hands, and even chuckled out of the corner of his mouth. So I respectfully accepted, handing over the fan, taking off my work gloves, and accepting the barley tea from Totsuka.

"Well then, I'll trouble you again... By the way, what were you originally going to say?"

"Let's talk about it later."

Hayama smiled broadly, then turned to fan the flames over the charcoal fire. Being interrupted halfway through his sentence didn't seem to affect his mood.

Ugh... I'm exhausted.

I sipped my barley tea, gazing at Hayama's hunched back. What was he trying to say? I could think of two possibilities, but I couldn't understand why he would ask such a question.

I sat down on the sunlit bench and continued drinking my barley tea, a leisure activity typical of the elderly.

At this point, the girls' group returned to the scene.

When Miura saw us light a charcoal fire, he excitedly shouted:

"Hayato, you're amazing♪"

"It's true! Hayato is really suited for outdoor activities!"

Ebina was also full of praise.

They then looked at me, making no attempt to hide their attitude that "compared to penguins, how can you be so lazy?"

"Because penguins have already helped a lot."

Wow! Hayama came to my rescue; he's such a good person.

Unfortunately, the atmosphere at the scene turned into "Hayato even spoke up for the penguin, so gentle... I'm smitten☆".

Oh well, that's just how the world is.

"Hey, you've had a tough time, you autistic guy~~"

Yuihama, who returned with Miura and the others, offered them paper towels without showing any displeasure.