My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 105

I rubbed my eyes, which had long since become accustomed to the darkness.

The person studying in the US likely used a camera hanging around their neck to emit a flash. In a surprise attack, the effect was similar to a flashbang.

Hayama, Hobu, and Miura were completely stunned.

"That child saved everyone... I can't believe it..."

Yukinoshita said in a low voice.

Yuihama seemed pleased and said to me:

"Actually, they're very close friends, aren't they?"

"How can a friendship that can't be built without hurting each other be real?"

"I see, that makes sense..."

She lowered her head again, somewhat disappointed.

However, I can add one more thing:

"...However, if someone decides to lend a helping hand even knowing it's fake, then it must be real."

Upon hearing this, Yukinoshita reluctantly nodded.

"...That's true."

No, actually I don't know either.

"What? That's too casual..."

Yuihama showed an expression of unbearable disapproval.

There's nothing I can do, I really don't know.

"If only it were true."

She finally laughed.

"--Not every bad person in the world is exactly the same. Everyone is a good person or at least an ordinary person most of the time, but when it comes to a critical moment, they can suddenly turn into a bad person. This is the scary part, so we can't be careless."

I suddenly remembered this passage and recited it from memory.

"What are you suddenly saying... That's scary."

Yui looked over with a strange expression; this guy was really rude. Yukinoshita nodded slightly in response.

"Natsume Soseki, right?"

"That's right, that's what he wrote. Conversely, no two good people in the world are exactly alike; some people might suddenly become good people in a critical moment. I guess so."

After listening to me, Yuihama tilted her head to one side and thought about it.

"Hmm... So, is it true or not, there's no definitive answer?"

"That's exactly what it means; the real answer lies in 'In the Bamboo Grove'."

"That's a work by Ryunosuke Akutagawa, isn't it...?"

The dialogue was interspersed with phrases only those proficient in Chinese could understand, which had become a recurring theme in our performance. Yukinoshita simply sighed helplessly, while Yuihama's head was filled with even more question marks. Should we really end with Natsume Soseki...?

I started rummaging through my brain, searching for any good sentences from Natsume Soseki's works that I could use. At the same time, Hayama and his group returned here.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Ye Shan spoke to me.

"Oh, you've all worked hard too."

I spoke to Kebu and Miura. These three were the greatest contributors to this plan; without them, none of this would have been possible.

"I will never do that again... My eyes are still blurry."

"Can we go home and rest today?"

"How about I trouble you later? I'm a little tired too."

Hayama sighed deeply; he seemed genuinely exhausted. After all, it was naturally extra tiring for someone who usually played the good guy to suddenly have to play the bad guy and do things that weren't his style.

"No problem, I'll handle things quickly, there's nothing important anyway."

"Great, thanks!"

Hayama smiled faintly and led Miura and Tobe back to their room.

"Let's go change our clothes back."

"Yes, and changing clothes is quite a hassle."

"Okay, see you later."

After saying goodbye to Yukinoshita and Yuihama, I walked towards the plaza.

The campfire is already clearly visible from here.

× × ×

The elementary school students sang in a large circle around a huge campfire. The lyrics were something like "We should always be good friends." It was a song that was very traumatic for me.

Komachi, Totsuka, and Ebina also went to change their clothes, so I was the only one there staring blankly at the campfire.

After the song ended, it was finally time for the most exciting and anticipated folk dance. Looking at it from the outside of the large circle, the activity that I initially found distasteful suddenly became quite interesting, which was incredible.

However, the group of girls who had studied in the US weren't happy. Just moments before, they had openly expressed their dissatisfaction with each other, so their current reaction was understandable.

The group didn't even glance at each other, but they did look at Rumi intentionally or unintentionally. From that night on, they'll probably start talking to Rumi more often.

Having nothing else to do, I decided to go find Hiratsuka-sensei.

Ms. Hiratsuka was talking to an elementary school teacher. She noticed me and stopped her conversation to walk towards me.

"You've all had a great time at the courage test. You can go home and rest today. There's nothing else important to do; we can leave that for tomorrow. As for that problem, was it resolved smoothly?"

“Hmm… well…”

I didn't know how to answer the teacher's question. Just then, Yukinoshita, having changed her clothes, walked over.

"We just made them cry and ruined their friendship."

"Your explanation is awful..."

"But it's true."

Now that you mention it…

I really can't refute it. To be honest, Yukinoshita is absolutely right, which is what's giving me a headache.

Hiratsuka-sensei turned her head to one side, thinking about how to respond.

"Although I don't know the details... it seems to me that the child isn't isolated; there are quite a few people around him... Well, that's fine. That's definitely your style."

The teacher smiled as she watched the elementary school students dancing the folk dance, then returned to her original spot.

Yukino and I stayed where we were, and Yukino, somewhat embarrassed, spoke up:

"Hachiman...who exactly are you trying to solve this problem for?"

"Of course we'll keep it."

I shrugged and replied.

After all, I wasn't commissioned by anyone. My instructions were to think about "how Tsurumi Rumi should get along harmoniously with the people around her."

Aside from that, I don't think I did anything at all. Even if someone were to link their past to this, it's beyond my control. I don't think I deserve any credit.

"...I see, that's good."

Xue Shita stopped asking questions and turned her gaze to the campfire in the center of the square. Just then, the elementary school students' folk dance ended, and it was time to disperse.

People dispersed from the road beside us.

I spotted someone who had studied in the US.

Liu Mei noticed me, but naturally looked away and didn't glance at me at all as she passed by.

"No good deed goes unpunished."

Yukinoshita said half-jokingly.

"I didn't do anything good. If I had to say, all I did was intimidate elementary school students and ruin their relationships. And I even used other people... That's the lowest of tactics, and I'm not grateful for it at all."

"Hmm... However, just breaking up those troublemakers has already made things much easier for her. Besides, that child is indeed moving forward by her own will. Even if it was a low-level or forbidden method, those results were undoubtedly facilitated by Hachiman."

Yukinoshita speaks the truth frankly and without reservation.

"So it's okay if I don't receive any praise, as long as it leads to something good in the end, it's acceptable."

She rarely showed a gentle smile, instead of adopting an arrogant attitude or making sarcastic remarks. However, it only lasted for a moment before she quickly turned around to look at Yui and the others.

Yuihama is holding a bucket of water and fireworks. Komachi and Totsuka are bothering Hiratsuka-sensei, snatching her lighter and starting to play with fireworks. Well, as long as Hiratsuka-sensei is happy.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Yukino~ Here, fireworks!"

"I think I'll pass. You two go have fun, I'll just sit there and enjoy the show."

"Huh? Everyone else has already bought theirs..."

"I'm too tired to play anymore, so please be careful with fire."

After calming down Yuihama's dissatisfaction, Yukinoshita walked to a bench a little further away and sat down.

"Are you an old lady...?"

We also borrowed a lighter from Ms. Hiratsuka and lit the candles we had prepared.

These sparklers were probably bought by Hima at a convenience store before she came here, and then split equally with Komachi and the others.

I lit the sparkler, and green sparks immediately shot out from the tip. Wow, so pretty!

...Speaking of which, what is the correct way to play with a sparkler? Burning pills and insects seems a bit inappropriate, so is it just for appreciation? If it were a high-altitude firework, I can imagine how it would be played with; shooting it at others would be fine, right? I once read about it in a book (Note 48 refers to Masami Nasu's work "The Mischievous Trio").

"Yukino! Look, look!"

Yuihama is brandishing four sparklers in each hand in a flamboyant display. Do you think you're Baroque from "Final Fight"? That's a dangerous move, so please don't try it!

She drew trails in the air with sparks, as if she were dancing; then seeing Komachi and Totsuka waving sparklers around, perhaps this was the right way to play.

However, with such an extravagant way of playing, the sparklers were used up in no time. Then, it was time for the incense sparklers (Note 49: They look like colorful paper ropes and produce small sparks when lit) to take the stage.

I shielded myself from the wind and lit the incense sticks; Yui sat down on the ground and carefully lit hers in the same way.

The incense sticks crackled and emitted orange light. Just a moment ago everyone was so noisy, but now they fell silent as if by magic.

"...They should be fine staying in the US, right?"

"I don't know, that's not something we can decide."

"However, that strange trend of exclusion should not recur."

"But friends will also disappear."

At that moment, the ember in my hand fell. Its orange light, like molten iron, quickly dimmed upon landing.

Yuihama handed me another incense stick and a firework.

"...That would be much easier. It's exhausting to always follow everyone's opinions. I'm always influenced by everyone's opinions, so I'm sure I'm right to say that."

Since it's Ms. Hihama's personal experience, it's quite convincing, and maybe I can try to believe it.

I played with the incense stick sparkler before lighting it with a candle. The incense stick sparkler hissed and emitted a little smoke, followed by a ball of sparks.

By then, the incense stick in Yuihama's hand had burned out. She seemed to have been waiting for this moment, and whispered to me:

"We've all accomplished this, you autistic guy."

"what?"

"Didn't we make a promise when we met before? Although we didn't have a barbecue, we ate curry; although we didn't go to the swimming pool, we played in the stream; the camping trip we were supposed to take turned into a club training session; and there was also a test of courage, although we were the ones who were responsible for scaring people."

"Does that count as finished?"

I always felt that something wasn't quite right.

Yuihama threw the burnt incense stick into the bucket and took a new one.

"What does it matter? It's all pretty much the same... Besides, we played with fireworks together now."

"Um……"