My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 473

Soft breaths, a calm smile.

With a calm and steady voice, Yukinoshita clearly stated, "Give up."

She's probably given up by now. She's only clinging to this feeling because she hasn't confirmed it.

You won't know what's inside the box until you open it. The outcome remains uncertain until the appointed time arrives and someone opens it. However, the moment the thought of giving up arises, the end is inevitable.

Everything will lead to a single outcome.

"...I only have one request...I hope you will witness it until the end. That's enough."

She gently touched her scarf under the snow and closed her eyes. It looked like she was tidying her appearance, not because she was cold. She spoke clearly, word by word, as if swearing an oath to the gods.

"So, that's Yukino's answer...?"

Yuihama spoke softly. It sounded like a question, but her lowered gaze wasn't directed at Yukinoshita.

However, Yukinoshita looked straight at Yuihama.

"Maybe, it's not actually like that..."

A bitter smile appeared on Yukina's face as she gently took Yuihama's hand. Yuihama looked up.

"In this case……"

The moment their eyes met, she swallowed back the words she was about to say and shut her mouth.

I couldn't speak either. I might even have forgotten how to breathe.

The smile beneath the snow is so beautiful.

Her long, smooth, jet-black hair cascaded down, revealing her fair and delicate face. Her crystal-clear eyes were looking at me.

She looked straight at us, without flinching. Her deep blue eyes, which seemed to draw you in, revealed no falsehood whatsoever.

"I want to prove... that I can do it alone. Only then can I truly stand at the starting line."

Her unwavering words, tightly clasped hands, resolute gaze, and straight back all showed that she was not confused at all.

"Truly standing on the starting line..."

Yuihama mumbled something in a daze, and Yukinoshita nodded.

"Yes. I need to go home and have a proper talk with them."

"...Is this your answer?"

I think this isn't a question. Saying something you can't say to the other person is no different from talking to yourself.

Upon hearing this self-talk, Yukinoshita placed her slightly clenched fist on her thigh and calmly said:

"No matter how much time has passed, I can't completely give up... So, this is probably my honest opinion... I'm sure I'm right."

After she finished speaking, Yukinoshita glanced at me.

There are parts of this statement that I agree with, or rather, that I empathize with.

If something remains unchanged no matter how long it is left untouched, and its color doesn't fade no matter how much you discard it, then calling it a "genuine item" is perfectly acceptable. This is different from a counterfeit item, which will deteriorate over time if left unattended.

If you turn your head away, look away, pretend not to see, and try to forget—and it still doesn't disappear in the end, you can call it a true wish.

If this is the ending she hoped for, then I have nothing to say.

There's only one thing I'm fixated on.

That is—Yukino Yukinoshita makes her own choices and decisions.

Making decisions based on the opinions, intentions, peer pressure, or atmosphere of others is wrong. Even if something collapses as a result, it does not constitute a reason to take away her dignity and pride.

What I expect is not for Yukino to respond to other people's requests, but for her to speak from the bottom of her heart.

"That sounds good. Let's give it a try."

I nodded slightly and spoke to Yukino, who seemed a little insecure, and she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Okay, I understand... I think that counts as an answer."

Yuihama's gaze shifted from her profile to her feet, and she nodded slowly a few times, as if to confirm.

"Thank you..."

Yukinoshita spoke softly, bowing her head in thanks. I couldn't know what expression she was wearing now, and I probably never will. Even if I saw her expression, I would surely forget it immediately.

After Yukinoshita raised her head, her face was refreshed and clear-headed.

She quickly got up, not allowing me or Yui to say anything more.

"Let's go. It's getting colder."

She stepped out towards the park exit, which was also the direction of her residence, under the snow.

Then, they turned around and looked at us, who were still motionless.

Her smooth black hair, flowing skirt, scarf swaying in the wind, and even her posture were incredibly captivating. Therefore, I hesitated whether I should approach her.

But I have promised to witness it to the end.

So I walked over to her.

Even if I regret it, I hope there are true words there. I don't ask anything of anyone, I just make a wish in my heart.

Volume 12, Part 2: Actually, Yukinoshita Haruno was not drunk.

This isn't my first time here.

Two towers that look like twins.

The place where Yukinoshita lives is located on a high floor of one of the buildings.

The last time I came was the day when Yukinoshita was so busy with the school anniversary celebration that she had to ask for leave from school.

She was home alone at the time, and Yui and I came to visit her.

After that, I never set foot in this place again.

However, Yui Hama must have been here countless times before. Perhaps because she was used to it, after passing through the automatic doors at the entrance, Yui Hama remained calmly standing next to Yukinoshita.

In contrast, I nervously looked around. Going to a girl's house is really nerve-wracking… even though we've only just passed the entrance! Girls' houses are scary; the pressure is already there before even entering. This place is practically the space before the final boss battle in the dungeon; trying to find a date here is clearly a mistake.

The entrance hall was deathly silent; there was no one else there but us. If Bashō were here, he'd probably be seeping into the rock. This isn't Bashō, it's Angelo! [Note 5: From Matsuo Bashō's haiku, "In the quiet of the mountain forest, even the cicadas' chirping can seep into the stone." Angelo is a character from *JoJo's Bizarre Adventure*, who was ultimately sealed into a rock, becoming "Angelo Rock."]

All that could be heard were the sounds of breathing and confused exhalations. The automatic doors leading to the elevator lobby were also quietly closed.

Frosted glass with low transparency complements the architectural décor, while orange plywood adds color, making it impossible to see the other side of the glass.

I looked towards the door, and Yukino took out her keys from her purse.

However, instead of inserting the key into the intercom's lock, she left it in her hand, making a clinking sound.

Yukinoshita lives here alone, so logically there should be no need for her to hesitate. However, there are other people in her territory now.

I don't know why Yukinoshita moved here alone. Until now, despite having the opportunity to ask, I've never looked into it.

Even in the future, I probably won't force her to tell me the reason.

It's not because I lack interest. What I lack is something else. Simply put, the problem is not knowing how to ask, or how to seize the right moment.

Because I never know where landmines are buried, I have always been afraid of touching other people's privacy.

I've experienced this firsthand; a thoughtless remark can deeply hurt someone. For example, being asked "Do you have a girlfriend?" during a job interview—even if the other person doesn't mean any harm, a wrong way of saying it or at the wrong time can still be very damaging. I've inadvertently brought up my own experience again… Okay, that's not important. The point is, accessing information that hasn't been made public often comes with risks.

However, there is a question we can ask Yukinoshita now. If it's something we both know, we can use it to start a conversation.

"...Is that person still around?"

"……perhaps."

Even without explicitly stating the name, it's clear who she's referring to. That person—Yukinoshita Haruno—did indeed say that she would wait for Yukinoshita here.

Yukinoshita gave a somewhat weak smile in response, the key in her hand wobbling slightly. It seemed she had finally made up her mind, inserting the key into the intercom.

However, the automatic door opened silently before she could turn the key.

"Oh, it's Yukino."

A voice that seemed out of place with the atmosphere, accompanied by light footsteps.

The person behind the door was Yukino Yukinoshita. The light shining in from the elevator lobby illuminated her like a spotlight.

"……elder sister."

The two stared at each other in surprise and stunned silence. I realized once again how alike the sisters were. No, I had long understood that they looked alike. Even setting aside subjective opinions and personal tastes, to the average person, they were remarkably similar beautiful sisters. It was only because they gave me such drastically different impressions that I had presumptuously categorized them as different types.

But in that instant, I forgot all my previous impressions of them and simply felt that the two people were very similar. Their slightly parted lips in surprise and their constant blinking were like a mirror image.

However, the mirror shattered immediately.

"You're back~"

Perhaps because she looked different from usual, Haruno, who was patting Yukinoshita's shoulder, had a gentler expression than usual.

Upon closer inspection, her clothes were also fluffy and light, unlike her usual sleek style. They were probably loungewear. She had casually draped a jacket over her shoulders and wore sandals, dressed as if she were "just going to the convenience store across the street."

Besides, Yang Nai's hair was soaked with moisture, and her face was flushed. Her big eyes, which always gave her a sharp look, now appeared sleepy.

Yukinoshita also noticed that her older sister was acting differently than usual, and frowned in surprise.

"...Are you drinking?"

"Yes, I drank a little."

Haruno pinched her index finger and thumb together to indicate that she hadn't drunk much. But judging from her smiling face, I felt she must have drunk quite a bit. Yukinoshita, Yuihama, and I couldn't help but give her a cold look.

Yang Nai probably felt embarrassed too, and cleared her throat.

"So, you've come back to mean—"

"...Yes. I have something to tell you."

Yukinoshita spoke directly, her expression neither tense nor stiff. Seeing this, Haruno let out a slight sigh of relief.

"I see."

She replied listlessly, glancing at the elevator that had gone upstairs first.

"...Anyway, would you like to come in and sit down? Staying here isn't a solution."

"Uh, no need, we'll be right back. We're just bringing her back."

"Yes, yes...and weren't you going out?"

Faced with the sudden invitation, Yui and I were both a little confused. It was such a private matter that we really couldn't interfere rashly. However, Haruno didn't care about our reaction at all and pushed Yui's back.

"It's okay, it's okay. I just wanted to go to the convenience store."

“Um, um…”

Yuihama said, troubled, but Haruno kept pushing her from behind, so she could only obediently walk forward. Yukinoshita was equally at a loss, sighing as she followed Haruno and Yuihama into the elevator lobby.

While waiting, Yang hummed a song and kept pressing the elevator buttons. No, no, pressing the elevator buttons like this won't make it come faster... Depending on the model, some will even cancel the elevator.

This behavior made her seem even more childish than usual. I had always thought that Yang Nai had a high alcohol tolerance, so seeing her like this was a pleasant surprise.

The elevator finally returned, but the cramped space made us feel uneasy. Apart from Hino, who looked cheerful, we just stared at the ever-increasing floor numbers. As the elevator ascended, gravity and silence pressed heavily on our shoulders.

Perhaps noticing the awkward atmosphere, Yuihama struck up a conversation with Hinano:

Were you drinking at home just now?

"Um...no, no, I drank outside, then took a shower to sober up when I got back...don't you crave sweets after drinking?"

Yang asked me with her eyes, "Aren't you right?"

"Uh, how should I know..."

Even if she said it as if it were a matter of course, we're not even adults yet, how would we know...? Yang Nai seemed to have thought of this too, and tilted her head to say:

"Oh yeah. Never mind, you'll understand when you get to that age."

"He looks like an annoying college student..."

"Oh, you're quite the talker."

Yang grabbed my ear. My ear, which had been aching from being outside in the cold not long ago, was now being stimulated again. No, no! My ears are very sensitive! And your breath smells faintly of alcohol, and your shampoo smells awful. I really can't stand it! Why does the elevator still smell so good?

"I don't just want to drink, I also want to find something to eat."

The volume of my voice was so low that it didn't matter whether others heard it or not. I was still wondering whether I should answer her when the elevator arrived at the floor where Yukinoshita lived.