My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 92

Rumi came between me and Yukinoshita, stopping about a meter away from me. All three of us could see each other.

Ye Shan seemed unsure of what to do, giving Rumi a forlorn smile before turning back to face the other elementary school students.

"Since this is a rare opportunity, how about adding a little of our secret recipe? Anyone want to add anything?"

He used his cheerful voice to draw everyone's attention back, and the disgusted looks he had been giving Liu Mei were dispelled.

"Me! Me!"

The elementary school students eagerly raised their hands, offering all sorts of ideas, such as coffee, chili peppers, and chocolate.

"I want fruit! Peaches would be great!"

Oh, that's what Yuihama said. Why is that guy joining in the commotion? Even Hayama's expression froze slightly when he heard it.

Not only is she at the level of an elementary school student, but the ideas she comes up with also show that she is the worst cook.

After Hayama regained his composure, he said something to Yui. Then, Yui walked over dejectedly, seemingly having been subtly told she was in the way.

"Is that guy an idiot...?"

I couldn't help but murmur, and someone beside me echoed softly.

"Indeed, a bunch of idiots..."

The one who spoke was Rumi Tsurumi, and her voice was quite cold. I decided to call her "Ruru" from now on. Is this from "Martian Successor Nadesico" (Note 31: "Ruru" in the original text is "ルミルミ", similar to the nickname "ルリルリ" for the character Hoshino Ruri in "Martian Successor Nadesico")?

"That's basically how the world is; it's good that you discovered it early."

When Liu Mei heard what I said, she looked at me with an incredulous expression. That appraising look in her eyes really made me feel uncomfortable.

At that moment, Yukinoshita interjected.

"You're pretty much the same, aren't you?"

"Don't underestimate me. I can still stand alone in a crowd, which makes me a remarkable talent."

"Only you can be so proud of this kind of thing... I feel more than just helpless towards you, I feel contempt for you."

"Since it's about 'surpassing,' isn't it usually a sign of respect?"

Liu Mei watched us go back and forth expressionlessly, remaining silent.

Then, she took a step closer and spoke to us:

"name."

"Huh? What's the name?"

From the word "name" alone, I couldn't deduce what she was trying to say, so I asked her back. Liu Mei, on the other hand, was clearly displeased and explained to me rather irritably.

"I'm asking for your name. Usually, hearing those two characters should be enough to understand, right?"

"...Before asking someone else's name, you should give them your own name first."

Yukino's gaze was so sharp it could hurt; it might be the most terrifying I've ever seen.

Compared to "staring," "killing with her eyes" might be a more accurate description. Even though the other person was a child, she showed no mercy, being harsher than usual. She probably didn't...

She really likes children.

Liu Mei was also taken aback by Xue Xia's gaze and looked away uneasily.

"...Rumi Tsurumi"

She mumbled something under her breath, but it was barely audible. Yukinoshita heard it too and nodded.

"I'm Yukino Yukinoshita, and that's... Hikigami-kun?"

"Hey, how do you know my nickname from fourth grade? You said I was a frog, right?"

I don't know when it started, but my original name disappeared and I was treated as an amphibian.

"It should be Hachiman Hikigaya."

If this continues, I really will turn into a frog, so I'm giving myself the correct name again.

"This is Yui Yuigahama."

"Hmm? What's up?"

I pointed to Yuihama, who was walking this way. When she saw the three of us, she understood what we were doing.

"Ah, right, I'm Yuigahama Yui. You're Tsurumi Rumi, right? Nice to meet you!"

However, Rumi only nodded slightly, her eyes not looking at Yuihama. She stared at her feet, speaking only intermittently.

"You two seem... a bit different from the people over there."

The subject of her sentence was quite ambiguous, making it difficult to understand. I guess she meant that I belong to a different type from Yukinoshita and "the people over there"—that is, Hayama's group.

We are different, that's for sure. Speaking of "those people over there," they're currently happily taking on the challenge of making a special flavor of curry.

"I'm different from the people over there..."

She spoke each word very slowly, probably trying to reassure herself.

Upon hearing this, Yuigahama asked earnestly, "What's different?"

"I'm surrounded by a bunch of kids. I used to go along with them, but then I started to think it was pointless, so I stopped. Anyway, I can manage on my own."

"But, our friends and memories from elementary school are very important to us."

"I don't need those memories... I'll just make friends with students from other places after I get to junior high."

She suddenly looked up, her eyes focused on the sky. At that moment, the sun was gradually setting, the deep blue of night painting the sky, and the stars began to twinkle.

Her ethereal gaze was filled with sadness, yet also held a beautiful dream.

Rumi Tsurumi still believes and expects things to get better once she enters a completely new environment.

However, that is impossible.

"I'm very sorry, that's impossible."

Yukino Yukinoshita bluntly shattered her beautiful dream.

Rumi glared at Yukinoshita with resentment, but Yukinoshita looked directly into her eyes and stated ruthlessly, word by word, with clear and unambiguous meaning:

"Your classmates will also be entering the same junior high school, and everything will just repeat itself. You will be ostracized along with 'classmates who came from other places'."

When a student transitions from a local public elementary school to a public junior high school, the interpersonal relationships built in the past continue. Therefore, negative impressions from elementary school will carry over into junior high. Even if she makes new friends, past burdens will still seep in from somewhere.

Whether she likes it or not, her past will become a laughing stock and a topic of casual conversation, spreading widely. To other men and women, her only use will be for pleasant gossip.

"..."

No one present raised any objections. Naturally, I couldn't object either, Yuihama awkwardly shut her mouth, and Rumi remained silent as well.

"You should know all of this by now, right?"

Yukinoshita continued to press for answers.

Rumi remained silent, and Yukinoshita, upon seeing this, tightly pursed her lips, as if enduring something.

Could it be that she saw her past self in her time studying in the United States?

"Just as I thought..."

Liu Mei murmured despondently.

"I've done something incredibly stupid."

"Have you encountered any problems?"

Faced with the self-deprecating tone of someone who had studied in the US, Yui Hama calmly asked.

"Several people were ostracized... but usually after a while, things returned to normal, and everyone started chatting again. It was kind of like a passing trend. Each time, someone would start it, and everyone would follow suit."

The person who mentioned studying in the US made it sound so casual, but as I listened, I started to get goosebumps. It was terrifying!

"Once, someone I was very close to and often chatted with was ostracized, and I kept my distance from him at the time... but I don't know when it suddenly became my turn. I didn't do anything."

What reason is needed for this? Even the side that is being ostracized can't necessarily give a clear explanation. They are simply driven by a mysterious sense of obligation, believing that they have no choice but to do it.

"Just because I talked to that person about a lot of things."

The person who was your friend one day is using your secrets to amuse others the next.

By sixth grade, many children develop a crush on someone of the opposite sex. That unfamiliar yet irrepressible feeling of love can create an urge to confide in someone. However, it's an embarrassing thing, so they usually only tell people they trust.

If you knew you had to remind the other person to "absolutely keep this a secret," why did you tell them in the first place? Are you guys the Ostrich Club (Note 32: a Japanese comedy troupe)?

Although I can joke about it now, it was a very painful experience for me back then.

You told the other person your secret because you trusted them, but it turned out that you were attacked instead.

It's impossible for every bad person in the world to be exactly the same.

We are all good people, or at least ordinary people.

However, when it comes to crucial moments, they can suddenly turn into villains. This is the scary part, so we can't be careless.

These words suddenly flashed into my mind.

Everyone believes that no one is born bad, including myself. I firmly believe that I am good.

However, people will immediately bare their fangs when their own interests are threatened.

People who are not inherently evil begin to seek justification once they become tainted by evil. In order to align themselves with their other side, they turn the whole world upside down.

Those who praised composure until yesterday will be interpreted as arrogant; those who are intelligent and respected will be said to look down on classmates who do not perform well; and those who are lively and outgoing will be distorted into noisy and smug.

They wield the sword of justice to punish the wicked in this upside-down world.

Unable to affirm themselves on their own, they form cliques, extolling the sins of others as if they were common knowledge, thereby cultivating a sense of justice. What were originally insignificant grievances thus grow larger and larger.

If this isn't deception, then what is it?

In that closed world, they were constantly afraid that it might be their turn, so they had to find a scapegoat before they became the next victim.

Thus, this became an endless cycle.

What is the point of a friendship forged at the expense of another's dignity?

"Will things still be like this after I go to junior high school?"

The voice of the woman who had returned from the US trembled and was choked with sobs.

Just then, a cheer erupted from the other side, drowning out the voices of the student who had returned from studying in the US. Although the two sides were less than ten meters apart, the other side looked like a distant, foreign land.

× × ×

The sounds of pots, pans, and spoons clattering together rose and fell.

With a half-hearted expression, Liu Mei silently walked back to her squad. We watched her leave before returning to our own camp.

In the curry that Ms. Hiratsuka was overseeing, the potatoes looked very well-cooked, and the white rice in the rice cooker smelled delicious.

Near the cooking area were wooden tables and a pair of benches, where we served ourselves and took our seats.

First was Yukinoshita, who unhesitatingly chose the seat furthest to the side. Komachi naturally sat next to her, followed by Yuigahama. The fourth person was rather unexpected—Ebina. Next, Miura sat at the other end of the bench. I had assumed Miura would sit in the middle, but that wasn't the case.

As for the men, Tobe sat directly opposite Miura. He seemed to have a strong liking for Miura, which was understandable. After Tobe took his seat, Hayama sat next to him.

Personally, I don't care where I sit; I was planning to take any of the remaining seats anyway. Speaking of which, whenever there's an activity that requires dividing into teams or groups, I'm always the last one to be chosen. This is because I'm generous and let the other students choose first.

Right now, the people who might sit next to Hayama are me, Totsuka-sensei, and Hiratsuka-sensei.

"Um……"

Totsuka looked me and Hiratsuka-sensei up and down, considering how to proceed.

"Where does Hachiman want to sit?"

"I'm fine with anything, I can sit in the remaining seats."

"Is it because 'the leftovers are the most blessed'?"

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

I simply became like this without realizing it, and it has absolutely nothing to do with any personal free will or belief.

"The leftovers are the most blessed... Yes! That makes sense... That must be it!"

Upon hearing this, Hiratsuka-sensei felt as if she had received a divine revelation, instantly realizing the meaning and even starting to mutter to herself, "Teacher, you're too sensitive to the phrase 'what's left'... Please, find happiness soon."

"Anyway, let's sit wherever we like... Where would Totsuka like to sit?"