My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected / My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected

I asked Yuihama,

"Have you gotten over your aversion to cats?"

"Hmm... I don't know. Honestly, I might still be a little averse..."

"I figured."

Yukino answered.

"You can't overcome something you dislike overnight. Just get used to it slowly... If you don't mind, I can go with you again."

"You just want to go to the Cat Cafe..."

"Hikigaya-kun, what are you talking about?"

She shot me a vicious glare, and I hurriedly looked away. S-So scary...

"N-Next time, let's all go together!"

Yuihama said energetically.

Then, in a voice that was almost too quiet to hear, she added:

"...So don't suddenly disappear, okay?"

"Of course not. We're not cats."

"Exactly."

Yukino and I answered at once.

Yuihama gave her brightest smile of the day.

Note 15: In Japanese, "cat" can also mean the passive partner.

Note 16: From Soseki Natsume's novel I Am a Cat.

Short Story Collection 3: Yui side — Today, too, Yuihama Yui poured her feelings into those words.

Author: Mizusawa Yume / Illustrations: Kasuga Ayumu

"Helloooo!"

With only Yukino and me in the silent Service Club room, the decibel level suddenly shot up.

Yuihama Yui strode into the clubroom with her right hand raised high, brimming with energy.

It wasn't unusual for her to be in high spirits, but today's "hello" was three times more excited than usual.

Maybe it was just my imagination, but the bun on Yuihama's head seemed about 1.3 times larger than usual too... No, I must have been seeing things.

"Hellooo!"

Someone else raised a hand energetically and entered the clubroom after Yuihama.

...It was Hiratsuka-sensei.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Yukino, Yuihama, and I froze on the spot, forgetting even to blink or breathe.

As time stood frozen, Hiratsuka-sensei casually walked over to the long table and sat down.

She