My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

She stared intently at the machine, not moving an inch.

“…………”

Her expression was serious and she had a lot of presence.

This guy... he probably... doesn't know how to operate it...

"The button on the right controls left and right, and the button on the left controls forward and backward. You have to press and hold the button for the robotic arm to move, and release it and it will stop immediately."

"Oh... thank you."

Yukino blushed as she started playing the claw machine. First, she moved the mechanical arm to the right... Hmm, that's right, easy, right? Next, she moved the arm inward... Oh, good position.

Then, the mechanical arm cried out "Waaah..." as it prepared to grab the plush toy below. What's with this arm? The sound is just too cute.

"...It got caught in my skin."

A faint sound reached my ears beneath the snow. I turned my head and saw her clench her fist in a small victory gesture.

Unfortunately, the arm let go of the doll with a "waaaah..." sound, returned to its original place, and never uttered another sound.

failure.

"Right? Was it difficult at first?"

As I tried to comfort Xue, she glared angrily at the arm.

"...Wait a minute, didn't you just get pinched? Why did it let go?"

She questioned the robotic arm with her usual aggressive tone. Under her powerful presence, I finally changed my attitude. How terrifying, how terrifying.

"Oh dear, look, the plush toy you wanted has already fallen to an easier spot, hasn't it? I remember the trick to winning a claw machine is to move it little by little."

I read the operating instructions on the machine to her.

"I see... Your arm grip isn't strong enough, so you have to squeeze it a few more times."

After understanding the situation, she inserted another 100-yen coin.

Waaaaah...

"...Damn it, here we go again."

Waaaaaah... Waaaaaah...

"You'd better know your place..."

Waaaaah...

“Hmm!”

If you only heard the sounds from the scene, you would definitely think that Yukino was abusing the robotic arm.

Despite her calm expression, the coins in her hand vanished rapidly. You still won't give up...?

Judging from her expression, she won't succeed no matter how many times she tries.

"...You're such a loser."

"What...you dare say something like that? Does that mean you're really something?"

Yukino glared at me intently, and I confidently replied:

"That's right, Komachi used to always beg me to serve her food, so I've become quite good at it. Komachi would always beg me..."

"No wonder..."

To be honest, I don't know when it started, but I've become completely at my sister's mercy... Doesn't that mean I have no dignity as an older brother?

"Step aside for now, I'll definitely get it."

Hearing me say that, Yukino looked at me with suspicion, and the eldest brother reluctantly gave up his seat.

"Let me show you my unique skill."

I slowly raised my right hand, holding it high in the air.

Yukino looked at my hand expectantly, waiting for what would happen next.

Not yet... wait a bit... the most important thing now is to seize the opportunity.

Before I knew it, a dark shadow had flashed by.

It's now!

"Excuse me, I want this plush toy."

"No problem~ Is this the Johnny the panda? Then I'll grab it!"

Waaaaah... After the mechanical arm let out a cry, the doll fell into the hole with a "thud".

"Here, please accept this."

A friendly older woman at the amusement park handed me Johnny the panda with a warm smile. This is what's been happening lately with the "valet service."

"Thank you."

After I thanked her, the older sister returned a bright smile and then left.

As for Yukinoshita, she looked at me with an even more unhappy expression than usual.

"W-What's wrong...?"

"It's nothing... I was just curious. Don't you think this kind of life is shameful?"

"Under the snow, you must know that life is the most valuable thing of all. To feel ashamed of your own life is the most shameful thing. So those who look at my behavior and laugh at me, saying 'Haha, how shameful,' are the ones who truly do not deserve to live."

"They spoke so sweetly at first, but ended up filled with hatred..."

Yukino looked like she couldn't take it anymore, combed her hair, and sighed.

"Honestly...it's rare to see you so serious, and you end up doing it this way..."

"I never said I wanted to pick it up myself, I only said I would get it. Here, take it."

I tried to give Johnny the panda to Yukino, but she pushed it back.

"This is what you got. Even if I don't want to condone those methods, it's definitely your achievement."

Even in a small place like this, Yukinoshita is quite reasonable. Should we call her stubborn? Or inflexible? Well, neither is correct; it's more like awkwardness.

When it comes to being awkward, I'm second to none.

"No, I don't need this. Besides, you paid the equivalent amount by inserting coins, so you are naturally obligated to accept it."

After hearing my words, Yukinoshita's pushing force weakened, and the Johnny the panda doll came into her hands.

"...That makes sense."

She looked at the doll in her arms, then glanced at me.

"...I won't give it back to you."

"They all said I didn't want it."

Who wants a doll that looks like a fierce demon?

Besides, she was holding the doll so tightly, how could I bring myself to ask for it back?

Actually, Yukinoshita has her cute side too. I originally thought she was colder than I imagined.

She noticed my slightly smiling expression, turned her head away shyly, and blushed slightly on her cheeks.

"...Puppets don't really suit me. I'd be better suited to Yuihama or Totsuka."

"I have no comment on the former, but I agree with the latter."

Totsuka and dolls are a perfect match, like red bean bread with milk.

"However, I'm quite surprised that you like plush toys."

I spoke frankly about my feelings. Yukinoshita wasn't angry; she just kept stroking the doll.

"...I only like Johnny the panda, and I have no interest in other plush toys."

She moved the panda's paws, and the sharp claws made a terrifying squeaking sound.

If you disregard the sound, the design is indeed quite cute.

"I've always had a habit of collecting plush toys and similar items, but these kinds of prizes are different from commercially available goods; they can only be obtained through claw machines, which has always been a headache for me. Although I've considered buying them through online auctions, the condition of the items sold online can't be guaranteed, and the pictures provided by the sellers might be edited, so I've never been able to make a decision..."

These reasons are not cute at all...

I couldn't help but sigh.

"However, you really like Johnny the panda."

Witnessing Yukinoshita's obsession with Johnny the panda today made me blurt out those words. Upon hearing this, Yukinoshita suddenly looked into the distance.

"...Yes, that was a gift I received when I was a child."

"A doll?"

"No, it's the original text of the original work."

"Huh? This thing has an original work?"

Surprised, I couldn't help but ask. However, this was a mistake.

The next second, as if possessed, Yukinoshita began to speak fluently and incessantly:

"The original title of Johnny the Panda book was 'Hello, Mr. Panda,' and before that it was called 'Panda's Garden.' It is said that the book originated from a story written by American biologist Rand MacIntyre for his son who was struggling to adapt to the new environment after he moved his family to China to study pandas."

"...Snowy Encyclopedia has been launched."

I interrupted her jokingly, sounding half annoyed, but Yukinoshita continued talking as if nothing had happened.

"The redesigned characters in the Tessney version are more distinctive and famous, but the original setting is also excellent. It not only contains metaphors of Eastern and Western cultures, but also integrates them into a well-structured story, which is very skillful. Most importantly, the story is full of the father's love for his child and the messages he conveys to him."

"Huh? Is that the kind of story? I thought it was just a character who kept shouting 'I want to eat bamboo~ I want to eat lots and lots of bamboo~' and would even start practicing drunken boxing after eating bamboo."

"...Tesney's version does emphasize that aspect quite a bit, so I can't really say anything about it. However, that setting is only a superficial one in the original work, and you'll understand it after reading it once. The translated version is also very good, but I still recommend the original version."

It seems like Yukinoshita is really enjoying herself.

I can relate to that feeling; it's like that when you talk about things you like. Back in junior high, I once talked to a classmate for a full thirty minutes about my favorite manga. We were about to become friends, but he ended up distancing himself from me. When I heard him say, "Hachiman is usually quiet, but he talks nonstop when we're talking about manga. It's kind of...", I really wanted to die.

However, I think it's a good thing to talk about what you like, even if what you like isn't popular or well-received by the public.

I never consider whether to choose what I like or to befriend people who don't like me.

However, this requires me to read the original text, which is a real headache for me. I might be willing to read a banned book.

"But you've known English since you were little?"

"How could that be? Of course not. But at the time, because I really wanted to understand it, I looked it up in the dictionary while reading, and it felt like playing a jigsaw puzzle, which was very enjoyable."

As she recalled events from many years ago, her eyes softened.

Then, she murmured:

"...That was my birthday present. Maybe that's why I feel more attached to it...so, therefore..."

Yukinoshita buried her face in the doll, embarrassed, and looked at me with her expression hidden.

"So, I got this doll..."

"Huh? Is that Yukino? Ah, it really is Yukino!"

Someone swaggered over and interrupted Yukinoshita.

The voice sounded familiar, like someone I knew. When I finally figured out who it was, I was speechless.

With her striking black hair, delicate and translucent white skin, and well-proportioned features, I rarely see such a dazzling presence. Even though she exudes a pure and innocent aura, her warm smile adds a touch of glamour.

Before me stood a stunningly beautiful woman. She clasped her hands together in apology to a group of men and women behind her, gesturing for them to leave first. She was probably there with her friends.

I had a sense of déjà vu, but another unnatural feeling was stronger.

"elder sister……"

Yukinoshita's relaxed expression instantly turned to terror. I turned around immediately upon hearing this and saw her hugging the doll even tighter, her shoulders stiffening.

"What? Sister... huh?"

I compared Yukinoshita with the woman in front of me.

The other person is around twenty years old.