Chapter 25-Final Part

After we eat, we head to the hall where Deadpan-kun has thought up of some new material to poke at Cringe-kun.

Even Tomboy-kun is laughing like a donkey at his material.

Tsundere-kun and I weren't for different purposes.

He wasn't in the mood, and I felt really sorry for Cringe-kun.

I look over at him in the audience, and he is fuming. He was almost at a boiling point.

I head over to him, and give him the cards.

"Hm? Oh, thanks.", he says, not noticing them at first.

He walks up on stage, and fires back with one of the cards, Deadpan-kun smugly watching with his arms folded.

After he finishes telling the joke, Deadpan-kun, Tsundere-kun, Tomboy-kun, the audience, and I facepalm, sigh, and say, "Classic Cringe-kun.", as if we were in a trance.

"Heeeey! This is actual prime material right here! How in the hell is this cring~"

"Let me see those for a second, please.", Deadpan-kun says, interrupting him, and taking the first card from him.

He repeats the same joke as Cringe-kun. Laughter ensues.

The only two still not laughing is Tsundere-kun and I.

Tsundere-kun thinks about this for a moment, then gets it.

"I think I found the x-factor.", he says.

"The old timer is just not funny, Miri-chan.", Tomboy-kun says after coming down from the laughing fit.

"No, that's not it. See how they both made the same joke with different results? Motonoya-san tells jokes that has an aura that repels people, while the host is naturally gifted when it comes to humor.", Tsundere-kun explains.

It's surprising that I have known Cringe-kun all of this time, and never connected those dots.

"Are you a scientist?", Tomboy-kun says after looking at him for a few seconds.

"Shut up, BAKA! At least I get good grades, unlike you.", Tsundere-kun retorts.

"What was that!?", Tomboy-kun growls at him.

"You wanna go?", Tsundere-kun screeches back.

I sigh, and break them up.

"Ok, ok. We get it.", Tomboy-kun huffs.

"Sumimasen.", Tsundere-kun mutters apologetically.

Cringe-kun had enough.

He rips the cards, and I look in shock, as I spent a hour sourcing that material.

"You know what? I'll speak from the heart now this time.", he says.

Oh, no.

"You know, I have been an attendee at your parties for what, 5, 6 years?", Cringe-kun asks.

This can't be good. Has he finally lost it?

"Since we first met in middle school, yes.", Deadpan-kun answers him.

"Every single time, you rip on my inability to make people laugh, but you know what, 'amigo'? Head to Mexico take that thing on your face, and use it to make 'guacamole'!", referring to Deadpan-kun's beauty mark.

The audience is completely expressionless.


Cringe-kun turns to the audience in a fury,"Go ahead! Say 'Classic Cringe-kun!'. I know you want to!"

What he doesn't hear is me, Tsundere-kun, and Tomboy-kun giggling in the back.

Tsundere-kun because it was clever, Tomboy-kun because he didn't get it, but was laughing because we were, and me because he totally got that from a movie somewhere.

One of the audience members say "No. You didn't give us a reason to cringe this time. That was actually funny."

"I agree. They're expressionless because they're so used to laughing at you, they don't how to respond when it comes to laughing with you.", Deadpan-kun says to Cringe-kun.

"Besides, you have an audience already.", Deadpan-kun points Cringe-kun to us, who are still giggling.

"Congratulations. Although I am kind of offended you would insult my mark of sheer beauty, but if it's what the audience wants, who am I to judge?", Deadpan-kun says, patting his rival on the shoulder before walking off the platform.

A single tear formed in Cringe-kun's eyes as he looked at us, frozen in joy, with his mouth agape in disbelief.

Some music performers came up on stage after Cringe-kun managed to recover from his shock.

As we were listening, a blonde short haired boy gave us each a pamphlet to the next gig.

A really drunk ojisan came into the room, and the first person he noticed was Tsundere-kun, who happened to be watching from the back seats.

The old perv went and touched Tsundere-kun on his rear.

Tsundere-kun shrilly shrieked and turned to the side to punch the old man, but was stopped.

A hand clenched his fist, and the other hand came up to adjust his glasses.

"A student must remain diligent at all times.", the voice says.

"Tenchan!", Cringe-kun says, running over and hugging Prez-kun, who had happened to follow the old man, who looked suspicious and reeked of sake.

"Get off of me! And it's already bad enough your sister calls me that. I won't have you doing the same, too!", he hollers, bonking Cringe-kun on the head.

"Ow! Ever strict, as always.", Cringe-kun remarks, holding his head in pain.

Prez-kun turns to look at us, then says "Apologies for being late.", bowing at us.

I say, "It's fine. I was concerned you wouldn't make it."

Prez-kun then responds, "I finished my paperwork early, so I came as fast as I could. Then I ran into the old man."

He then looks around, and we all notice he's gone.

We all start to panic, but we see that he has already been caught.

"Ojiji, what am I going to do with you?", Deadpan-kun says, holding the old man over his shoulder.

"Ojiji...no...THAT IS YOUR GRANDPA!?", Tsundere-kun-exclaims, hiding behind me.

"Yes. And I apologize on his behalf. It is good to see you again, Cake Prez-san.", Deadpan-kun says to Prez-kun.

"Please don't.", Prez-kun says to him as he purses up his glasses.

"Ufufufu, gomen, gomen. Anyways, this old codger always gets like this at each one of my parties. If it's not too big of a deal, could you possibly not call the police?", he says.

"He touched me! Why shouldn't President Tenryou-san hang him from the gallows?", Tsundere-kun exclaims, fuming.

"I was afraid he would do that. You see, he has a thing for rears. Flew to America once in pursuit of it, and he hasn't been the same ever since. Looking at how well-endowed you...", he stops, remembering my request from earlier.

"Sumimasen. I'll accept any charges on his behalf.", he finishes.

We decided not to press charges, and the fee was waived.

After the party, my parents had arrived to pick me and Tsundere-kun up.

Deadpan-kun comes up to us and asks the names of the new guests.

"I forgot to introduce myself earlier, gomenasai. My name is Isayama Riko. May I ask what yours are?"

Tomboy-kun starts with his hands on his hips in a superheroic pose, and says, "Nohara. Keisuke Nohara."

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Nohara-kun.", Deadpan-kun says to him.

"Sankyuu! You were even funnier than that time you performed in front of the restaurant.", he says.

"Oh, shucks. With age comes perfection, I guess.", Deadpan-kun replies, even though they had just met a week ago.

How old does he think he is?

He turns to Tsundere-kun, and says "What about you? Did you enjoy the show?".

Tsundere-kun says "It was good, but it's probably best if I don't say my name."

"If you don't want to, it's fine. Thank you for coming either way.", he replies.

Tsundere-kun mumbles while fidgeting his fingers.

"I'm sorry, I didn't get that.", Deadpan-kun says.

"It's Tsuzukirawakabayashimeno Yachimiri!", Tsundere-kun shouts.

We were all taken aback more at his name than at the volume he hollered it at.

"I.....I-It's nice to meet you Tsu~"

"Don't bother. Just call me Miri-chan.", Tsundere-kun promptly interrupts.

"It was nice to meet you, Miri-chan. I hope you all have a good evening."

We all bow our heads as he walks off.

In the car, my father says, "Did you have fun, son?"

I confirm.

"What about you, Miri-chan?", I ask him.

Tsundere-kun is sound asleep beside me.

I blush as I notice his hand on top of mine, gripping it lightly as he snores softly.

My father looks in the rearview mirror, and says, "Looks like more than fun to me.", stifling a laugh.

My mother slaps his shoulder playfully.

"It's not like that between us!", I exclaim, as we ride off and my father bursts out laughing.