A youth story of a passerby at the end of the world

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"That's all."

Uesugi Genshin showed Yukinoshita Accountant all the "money" placed in the trunk and back seat, which might later be referred to as "money".

"I understand." Yukino Yukinoshita nodded, indicating that someone would come and move it later.

Uesugi Genshin, Hachiman, and Hayama Hayato helped her unload her things from the car.

"We're going to take a shower." Uesugi Genshin waved goodbye first.

As for Yukino Yukinoshita waving, he turned his head and walked straight to the bathroom, so he didn't see it.

Upon returning, Hachiman didn't immediately go to find Yukino Yukinoshita. Instead, they had a meal together. Hachiman had Kawasaki Saki and Ebina Hina bring them out, and they ate together behind the building. It's said that this is one of the potential locations for confessions, and people often engage in illicit affairs there.

The designated shower time is from 5 pm to 7 pm, and it's almost 8 pm now, so there's hardly anyone around.

The three of them were facing the water side by side, with a small partition separating them, but they could still see each other's faces and feet.

The difference in muscle mass is clearly visible on their bodies; Uesugi Genshin is larger than Hayama Hayato, who is larger than Hikigaya Hachiman, even though they are wearing clothes.

Afterwards, they went swimming in the pool, which was triggered by Hachiman's casual complaint at the beginning, "I'm so tired."

"Shall we go swimming?" someone suggested, following the lead of the pole.

The swimming pool was in the corner between the playground and the special building. It was open-air, but surrounded by white partitions, and there were even three loops of wire around the wall. Who would come to peep at the schoolgirls in their swimsuits? Perverts?

"We really should waste the water while it's still available."

Hachiman stared in surprise at Uesugi Genshin, who was comically wearing a swimming ring around his waist. "Where did you get that swimming ring?"

"Hmm? Found it in the locker room."

I don't know what the point is, because normally no one wears a swimming ring in swimming class. We're not little kids anymore, it's too embarrassing.

It's easy to imagine that standing among a group of high school students with someone wearing a swimming ring would be the talk of the school, and would cost you the chance to find a partner for the rest of your high school years.

When you tell a girl you like that you like her, and she says you're like the person who wears a swimming ring in swimming class, and you get rejected for this very good reason, unless she actually likes you and it can be romanticized as an "interesting" behavior or a "cute" person, then you've lost the power to choose.

Hachiman asked, "By the way, you can't swim?"

Would someone who can't swim invite others to go to the swimming pool? Just like someone who's afraid of water wouldn't even think about swimming at the beach.

"Of course I would, but wouldn't it be more energy-efficient this way? If there were a deck chair on the water, I'd even like to sleep right there." Driven by energy conservation, they have no scruples.

"...Any more? Give me one too." This person was lazy as well.

"Hahaha..." Hayama Hayato laughed at the funny conversation.

Uesugi Genshin went back to the locker room and got two more swimming rings, giving one to Hayama Hayato as well.

The three men, wearing swimming rings, floated in the pool. The moon's reflection in the water was quickly scattered by the three naked men. It reminded me of a flower called "Beauty Under the Moon," I wonder if these could be considered "Handsome Men Under the Moon."

"Ha, why should I go swimming in the pool with you guys at night?" Hachiman sighed deeply.

Uesugi Genshin lay on the water's surface, leaning against his swimming ring, and joked, "Hey~, so Hachiman's a little lonely, actually looking forward to bikini-clad girls."

"I am not, I am not, don't talk nonsense."

"Hahahaha, don't be so quick to deny it. I really want to see the so-called 'nighttime swimming pool' for myself."

Ye Shan then revealed the shocking news, "I went there once, and it wasn't very good."

"Whoosh~" Uesugi Genshin started cheering.

"Eh~, what an accident." This person seemed like a perfectly normal person, but I never expected...

"Don't misunderstand, I was dragged there by a friend." The quality of this so-called friend is probably very low, because Ye Shan's standards for friends are very low.

"What is it like? Is it really that obscene?" Hachiman Hikigaya asked curiously.

"Well, I've been approached several times, and it wasn't exactly pleasant; it was a very troublesome situation."

Hachiman reacted strongly, exclaiming, "Whoa~, what is this? The troubles of being a handsome guy? If you were an ordinary person like me, you wouldn't have this enviable problem at all."

Uesugi Genshin concluded, "So this is all because of you, Hayama, hahaha..."

"Don't say that. You two are just as popular, as long as you dress up a bit."

The use of the word "also" is very clever, and at the same time confirms that Hayama himself is fully aware of his popularity. Ah~, it's really infuriating.

Thinking of this, Hachiman brought up another topic, "Speaking of which, Hayama, did Miura confess to you?"

"You saw it, didn't you?" Hayama Hayato gave a wry smile.

"As expected~" Uesugi Genshin clapped his hands.

"Yes." Hachiman didn't mention that he and his guildmate Isshiki saw it together.

Hayato Hayama explained, "There was actually no confession."

"Wow, playing word games like that." If a confession is interrupted and not spoken, then it's not a confession at all.

"that is the truth."

Hachiman asked curiously, "Why did you refuse?"

“I can’t do it,” Hayama Hayato shook his head. “Why should I accept something I don’t like?”

"So this is the ease of a handsome guy?" Hachiman sighed, raising his head. "Ha, if a girl who likes you confesses to you, how about you accept her?"

Hayato Hayama retorted, "That's impossible, it's you two who are in that situation. What would you do if you were confessed to by just any girl? Would you accept it?"

"How could that be?" Hachiman replied instantly. Any one of them? This was a once-in-a-lifetime answer. He wanted to be kept, but he didn't want to settle.

"I would definitely refuse." Uesugi Genshin also shook his head. He had very high standards and was always serious about relationships. He could be affectionate, but he would never be promiscuous. However, marriage was the one thing he could not do casually.

"You two..." Hayama Hayato was speechless. They had just been encouraging him, but weren't he also "picky" when it came to relationships?

“But Miura isn’t just any random person. Haven’t you known her for over a year? According to the novel’s setting, she’s the childhood friend who appears in the first volume.” Uesugi Genshin used a light novel as an analogy.

"Yumiko and I are very good friends."

Uesugi Genshin was particularly saddened by this phenomenon. "Hmm, as expected, childhood sweethearts can't compete with those who fall from the sky. So, if you suddenly fall in love with a girl for no reason in the future, will you remember what happened that day?"

"Maybe, but feelings shouldn't be forced. I don't want to think about these things right now."

"If she falls for someone else, she'll regret it," Hachiman sneered.

"Why regret it?" Hayama Hayato countered. This guy was quite dashing with his carefree attitude. He stuck to his principles as always and refused to compromise.

His attitude towards relationships is like that of an old man, incredibly mature. After careful consideration, he decided to put it aside for the time being. Life is more than just love. In the pursuit of life, there will always be someone waiting for you, and he is not in a hurry.

"Pretentious," Uesugi Genshin commented.

Hayato Hayama isn't the kind of ordinary person who has few fans and few fans. He likes everyone, and everyone likes him, which is why he's so cautious.

However, according to the original script, if things continue to develop this way, even if he becomes a handsome middle-aged man, there will still be young girls who will flirt with him and scream. In that case, how should he choose?

There are 20,000 people in the world you would fall in love with at first sight, but you might never meet one in your entire life. In the end, do you compromise or persevere?

Chapter 87: The Intertwined Web

The three of them floated quietly on the water. Hachiman was the first to stand up and walk outside. "It's really strange to be so honest with a man."

Since none of them had swimsuits, it was a good thing that Hayama came with them.

However, the more we communicate, the more we understand each other, and the closer our relationship becomes.

"Hahaha, next time I'll invite Komachi and the others too." Uesugi Genshin leaned back and slid into the pool, spun around in the water, and stood up.

"Isn't this using public resources for private gain?" The swimming pool was never intended to be open to the public. If it's only for their own use, it will only breed resentment among the public.

"Then let's quickly fence off the Inage Coast; we can even fish there." He also wanted to go to the beach to listen to the waves and sunbathe.

Soubu High School does have a rowing club, located outside the swimming pool wall, with several small boats piled up nearby, but relying on them for fishing is rather far-fetched.

After they got dressed and went outside, they saw someone they never expected. "Ah..."

Yumiko Miura stood not far from the three of them, her golden curls dazzling in the moonlight, stubbornly looking in their direction.

"...It seems they're looking for Hayama," Hachiman whispered beside him.

"We're off now." Uesugi Genshin secretly nudged Hayama Hayato's waist, and before leaving, he waved his fist at the other side to cheer him on.

The person opposite, passing over Hayama Hayato's body, saw this person's movements and a smile appeared on their lips.

Only the two of them remained; there was no one else present.

Yumiko Miura stepped forward and said, "Hayato, I have something to tell you."

"Yes, I know." This time, Hayama Hayato didn't interrupt.

Hayato Hayama watched Yumiko's departing figure with a sense of relief, then shook his head and walked into the building.

Unexpectedly, after walking only a few steps, I saw two people squatting on the ground.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"...Really, I never expected Yumiko to say something like that." These words were spoken by Hayama Hayato to Uesugi Genshin, and were clearly meant for her.

"?" Uesugi Genshin asked, puzzled. "What is it?"

"It refers to the thing you gave her courage."

“!” Uesugi Genshin shook his head. “No, I was just giving my opinion.”

That's not courage, that's recklessness; love is war.

To rush in when the odds are so low is indeed a reckless act full of courage.

Hayato Hayama, hands in his pockets, looked up at the gibbous moon in the sky. "I'm so happy to have received such a serious response. I wanted to stay friends with you, and then this happened."

"I see," Uesugi Genshin murmured.

Hachiman rested his chin on his hand, pouting, "Well, it's fine."

"...Ahhh."

In this way, Hayama and his friends can return to their previous friendly group of companions, and one of the unstable factors has been removed.

Uesugi Genshin invited, "Would you like a drink?"

"Why should we drink?" Hayama Hayato asked with a wry smile.

"For..." For what again? Heartbreak? No, it doesn't seem so. "To celebrate your return to single status from being almost single."

"Wow." Hachiman was speechless. This guy even had to find a reason to drink.

"Fine, I'm going back." As expected, Hayama Hayato refused.

Since that's the case, Uesugi Genshin announced, "Then let's disband."

Everyone goes back to their homes.

"Don't grab me!" Hachiman hadn't planned to travel with them, but Genshin grabbed him.

"You can't leave yet. We're going to your squad later to hold a formal induction ceremony."

"Eh~~~"

Hayato Hayama laughed when he saw Hachiman's disgusted expression. "Hahaha..."

After they entered the building and went upstairs, another boy came up to them.

"Ministry of Revenue, what's wrong?"

"Ah, Minister, Captain Hikigaya. Um, Hayato... I need to talk to you." Tobe Sho looked embarrassed.

Uesugi Genshin, pulling Hachiman along, wisely took his leave first, as it was probably none of their business.

Before they had gone far, Hubu Xiang's voice faintly reached their ears.

"I plan to confess my feelings to Ebina."

Uesugi Genshin and Hachiman exchanged a strange look, then continued walking forward without making a sound, their conversation fading into the distance.