My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected

Jiang Yu took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart, and returned to the previous menu before opening the disk labeled "ACG." Inside were all the TV series, movies, and original works that had once moved him deeply.

He scrolled to the bottom, and according to the default alphabetical order, among the last few entries was: "My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected!"

For three consecutive years, it held the top spot in "This Light Novel Is Amazing!" and during the years when the TV anime was broadcast, its sales often ranked among the best, sometimes even first.

Due to its intricate character relationships, and Wataru Watari’s masterful character creation, the work was humorously nicknamed "My Stock Market Saga Is Wrong" and "White Album 4." It even inspired a group of fans who called themselves "Hachimanists," going around sharing or analyzing the story and characters with iconic quotes such as, "Lonely people don’t hurt others, they only keep hurting themselves," "To unite a group, what you need isn’t wise leadership, but a common enemy," and "Cats are cute, wolves are cool. That is, to be lonely is both cute and cool."

This light novel tells the story of Hachiman Hikigaya, a second-year student at Chiba Municipal Sobu High School, who had made almost no friends since childhood. Just as he was about to give up on the idea of making friends, his life guidance teacher, Shizuka Hiratsuka, introduced him to the Service Club, led by Yukino Yukinoshita—the school’s so-called most beautiful girl.

The Service Club quietly helped students solve their problems and didn’t openly recruit members; new blood came solely by recommendation. After joining, Hachiman’s story unfolds alongside Yui Yuigahama, who is his polar opposite, the hopelessly delusional Yoshiteru Zaimokuza, and the adorable boy from the tennis club, Saika Totsuka.

What draws people into "Oregairu" at first might be the protagonist Hachiman Hikigaya—often called "Teacher" by fans—whose words seem at once astonishing and, upon reflection, deeply insightful.

Although Wataru Watari set out to write a “regretful comedy,” the story gradually drifted away from the typical romantic comedy of youth.

Though it contains many familiar elements of harem light novels, through the author’s skillful pen, it becomes a tale about life and growth, one that is curiously unconcerned with romance.

In youth, some people, because of unforgettable experiences, may be under the illusion that they have seen through certain social mechanisms or interpersonal rules. When you realize that your own beliefs are wrong, that there are things in this world your principles cannot explain, your heart becomes conflicted and lost, standing still, almost obsessively searching for "the genuine article."

The characters in "Oregairu" are precisely a series of regretful, high-schoolers suffering from adolescent delusions.

Hachiman longs for "something real." Yukino is always "imitating." Yui is forever "accommodating." Each moves forward on their own path, clinging almost pathologically to their personal creeds.

Yet, as they solve one problem after another in the Service Club, they begin to doubt those same creeds.

Hachiman says, "People can never truly understand each other," and "Presuming to know what others think is shameful." Yet suddenly, he senses the goodwill of two girls, tangible and real. But he dares not believe, for fear of arrogant presumption.

Yukino says, "To succeed, you should face all challenges head-on like my sister," and "Avoiding challenges is shameful." But she discovers that no path in life can simply be copied from someone else, and following her sister’s footsteps won’t lead her to what she wants. Still, she cannot avoid the challenge.

Yui says, "Harmony should be valued in relationships," and "Causing conflict is shameful." But she realizes that if she doesn’t take the initiative, she’ll lose the person she likes. Still, she can’t bring herself to create discord.

They all yearn for the real thing, yet the first step to finding it is admitting that their own creeds are false—illusions, wishful thinking, simply not viable. It means denying the worldview they once built so confidently.

And so, they are lost, conflicted, like children wandering in a storm, crying as they search for their way home.

They sing of youth.

At the same time, they pour out their souls.

The world is complex, and the human heart is ever-changing.

They realize they are lost, so they search for direction, searching for "the real thing." Ultimately, it is nothing more than boys and girls lost in a boundless wilderness, joining hands and seeking a way out.

"My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected" is, in the end, simply a story about young people struggling to grow, a tale of troubled boys and girls supporting one another as they strive ahead.

...

"Big brother, you can take your bath now!" Umaru’s voice suddenly called from outside the door.

Jiang Yu’s swirling thoughts gradually calmed. He wiped away the dried traces of tears, and a faint smile slowly appeared on his lips.

No matter how problematic his own youth may have been, no matter how deeply he empathized with "Teacher," no matter whether the Yukino or Dango of his own life would ever appear again—

Now, right here, a brand-new youth story was about to begin, wasn’t it?

"Alright, I’m coming." Jiang Yu replied as he walked toward the door.

Then let’s sing of youth once again!

...

After his bath, Jiang Yu felt calm and lay in bed, starting to plan out the days ahead.

As for light novels, since "Oregairu" was to be closely modeled after the original, he figured he could type out the entire first volume in about a week. As luck would have it, his predecessor had brought a genuine imported MAC laptop from home, though Jiang Yu wasn’t sure if he could maintain his usual typing speed if it was a Japanese keyboard.

But the day after tomorrow, school would start. At school, he’d have to either handwrite or type on his phone. Considering that handwriting would still require copying onto a computer, typing on his phone seemed the only option—though that would take even longer.

In other words, he needed to find a way to earn some money quickly. Jiang Yu made up his mind on this.

A part-time job?

His eyes lit up. It seemed he knew a thing or two about music.

...

And so, because of his wild musings the night before, the next day Jiang Yu didn’t wake until nearly noon. He woke the still sleepy Umaru, took out the leftover potato and chicken from two days earlier, reheated it, and called it lunch.

Over the meal, Jiang Yu mentioned his plan to go out and look for work. Umaru stared at him, eyes wide, as if seeing him for the first time.

Her gaze made Jiang Yu uncomfortable. He turned his face aside and said, "What are you looking at? Is there something strange?"

Umaru burst out laughing, her words broken up with laughter and breathlessness: "I... I just... hah... I just find it odd that the big brother who swore he’d be a homebody for life actually wants to get a job?"

"…"

Bang!

"Oww..."

Jiang Yu gave Umaru a karate chop to the head, his face cold, eyes half-closed, staring at her as she crouched, pretending to be wronged as she held her head.

Umaru peeked up at his expression, then stood and tried to ingratiate herself: "I’ll go with you later, big brother."

Dropping the pretense of indifference, Jiang Yu snapped, "Just finish your lunch!"

Half an hour later, the ordinary protagonist and the dazzling beauty finally left the house. Jiang Yu wore a blue-and-white checkered shirt with jeans. Umaru, after much deliberation, picked a white blouse with frilled collar and a deep red skirt trimmed with white. As it was still a bit chilly, she added an orange knit cardigan, black pantyhose, school shoes, and a small shoulder bag.

As they walked down the street, Jiang Yu was secretly astonished by the exaggerated reactions of the passersby.

Hey, delivery guy, aren’t you in a hurry? Without you, who’s going to win at Chicken Dinner?

Hey, shouldn’t you be watching your girlfriend?! And you, miss, why are you swooning too?!

Whoa! Uncle, there’s a lamppost ahead of you!

...

After all the commotion, Jiang Yu finally found a café with a sign advertising for a musician. He thought for a moment, quietly said something to Umaru, and the two entered together.

Jiang Yu was surprised to find the café rather elegantly decorated, though the prices weren’t exceptionally high. Notably, the place was quiet, with only the peaceful music of the pianist on stage drifting through the air.

Umaru chose a seat near the stage, ordered a coffee, and sat quietly. Jiang Yu went to speak quietly with a server; the server looked astonished as Jiang Yu was led to a room at the back of the café.

Not long after, Jiang Yu returned with a mature woman. She said something to the pianist on stage, who smiled, nodded, and left the stage.

Jiang Yu took a deep breath and went up. The guests, their attention drawn by the sudden silence, all turned to look at the youth standing on stage.

All except for a girl with cascading hair and a white hairband, who was still lost in her laptop. And, well, a maid-uniformed girl with almost no presence, playing on her phone in a quiet corner.

Jiang Yu sat down, exhaled, placed his fingers on the keys.

In the next moment, it was as if a butterfly had begun to dance gracefully at the tips of the young man’s fingers.