Volume 4 | Chapter 13: December (Up) – Part 1
It’s now December.
Let me be frank. Banzai! I feel liberation!
Who would have thought it could be so wonderful without a stone! This sense of security is too great.
I was able to reconcile with Maria-jou too. All I need to do now is to pass my end term exams… end term exams… U-Ugh… Damn it all, I haven’t been liberated at all.
The mess in November made my mind go blank.
“Shiori-chan, how about a study meeting on the weekend?” Yumi-chan suggested.
I actually promised to go out with Yumi-chan this weekend. However, I couldn’t keep up with our classes to the point that Yumi-chan is now worried about me. To be more specific, it’s my math classes.
As such, during this lunchtime right now, I opened up my math textbook in class and groaned as I racked my brains.
If only math can disappear. I wonder if it’ll crumble away if I pour water on it.
“I think… nothing will change… even if we have a study meeting…” I collapsed on top of my desk.
And I have been asking for one-on-one lessons from Kazu-nii. My cousin ended his lease on his apartment and is now a complete lodger at his grandfather’s home. This is also why he shows his face at my home every so often. But it’s useless. No matter how many times Kazu-nii tries to teach me, not one bit stays in my brain.
“You’re been like this since the second years came back from the school trip, right?” Yumi-chan asked.
“…Yeah, maybe so.”
It looks like I lost all my passion after the showdown and I’m all ashes now.
“The other day too, I thought I could finally gossip about love with you and I was looking forward to it! Yet you said ‘it was just my imagination’ to me! Well, you’ll be able to concentrate on studying more if it was your imagination…”
After the showdown, I told the smirking Yumi-chan that I thought it was love but it was just my imagination. Yumi-chan then lectured me, saying I don’t have enough love in my life.
“You’re completely right. But, Yumi-chan, you seem to be restless too? It’s been a while since I could hangout with you on the weekend.”
“I was busy preparing for my event, you see,” Yumi-chan answered with a nod.
It looks like she participates in other events outside of school. Naturally, this event isn’t an event from an otome game. I haven’t heard about it in detail but it’s some event involving anime and manga. I wonder if Yumi-chan will teach me someday.
“But I have my costume ready. Fufufufu, Shiori-chan, I won’t let you act like it has nothing to do with you.”
“Eh?”
“I checked your size during our Halloween Cafe. I haven’t missed a single thing,” Yumi-chan said.
“……Eh?”
Yumi-chan only kept smirking and didn’t elaborate any further.
Speaking of love, I feel like her love, or rather the things that make her heart flutter, is a bit different from the usual romance you would normally think of.
“Hey, Niimi-san.”
Someone called out to me when I spread my lunchbox after being exhausted from fighting with my math textbook. This said person was Maria-jou.
She glanced left and right restlessly as she approached me. Eventually, she sat down on the seat beside me — which is Tsuchiya-shounen’s seat and brought her face close.
“What’s wrong? Aikawa-san, did you want to eat with us?” Yumi-chan asked.
Maria-jou would always eat with Kyouko-jou though.
“No, it’s not that. I ate with Kyouko-chan, so it’s fine. Umm, you see…”
Yeah, that’s fine with me. But I’m about to eat. Could we chat while I eat?
I reached out for my chopsticks as Maria-jou opened her mouth with a serious expression on her face.
“Niimi-san, who do you have your eyes set on!?” She shouted.
…….Ha?
I stared blankly at her. Yumi-chan made a face like she understood.
“Ah, ahh~ I know, I understand, Aikawa-san. I can explain this for you,” Yumi-chan said.
Eh? Huh?
Yumi-chan nodded next like she comprehended everything and patted her hand on Maria-jou’s shoulder. “About that, it isn’t even an A or B choice. But you see, Shiori-chan doesn’t understand anything yet. Please don’t hurry her.”
“Eh? But…”
“Yeah, I know. You’ll think too, right? But you got it wrong. Forgive her. Shiori-chan’s still a kid. It’s going to take a little bit longer. But things like this are more fun when it takes time, don’t you think so too?
Yumi-chan, are you trying to back me up? You are backing me up, right?
“Then I misunderstood…… That’s disappointing…”
I couldn’t accept whatever was happening, yet Maria-jou agreed with a really disappointed expression.
“I guess it’s good I didn’t mention it to Kyouko-chan since it’s a misunderstanding. She might have spread rumours,” Maria-jou added.
Wait, a seconddddd!! What kind of rumours were you going to spread about me!?
“You did good, Aikawa-san! You endured it well! Now, endure it more! Hold it down! And watch over Shiori-chan with a smirk is what friendship between girls is about! I feel a connection with you right now! Hey, can we exchange email addresses!?” Yumi-chan cried.
“Eh!? A-Are you sure? Then I’m happy too.”
It looks like friendship sprouted between those two. I feel left out by them.
Tch. Fine~ Fine with me~ I’ll eat my lunch here alone……
But I also exchanged email addresses with Maria-jou after this. Yay! Maria-jou’s email address~!
Now then, our academy has a Christmas party event that the whole school participates in.
The student council members and class representatives will have to run out and prepare whatever it is needed. There isn’t a committee for this party as there’s less things we need to do compared to the Sports Festival and Cultural Festival.
Once it was after school, I headed to the meeting room with Iinchou. We are going to discuss the Christmas party with other people.
“Niimi-san, you seem tired?” Iinchou asked me.
I nodded. “Well, yeah…”
“I have good news for you. Tsukishima-kun’s stone has disappeared.”
“…Really?”
“You doubt me a lot. But it’s true. It wasn’t stolen, nor did it break. When I asked him about it, he said it disappeared before he noticed. Tsukishima-kun puts his stone in his violin case, so he would see it every day,” Iinchou elaborated.
“He actually puts it there?”
“It’s probably the safest place in his mind.”
Well, that might be true. He always carried his violin case with him and not his schoolbag.
“If you’re interested, you could ask him about it. I think he had a change of mental state somewhere.”
There’s nothing better than him being able to safely return his stone into his body. Actually, when has Iinchou started to chat with Tsukishima-bishounen? It feels like those two barely have anything in common.
“Mizusaki-senpai and Kaneshiro-senpai’s stones also disappeared before they knew it after they returned from the school trip. I wonder what happened,” Iinchou said next.
I tilted my head. I wonder if something did happen during the school trip. I was personally curious about it, but I won’t go as far as asking them.
Still, I did hear a little from Kaneshiro-senpai after they returned from the school trip. The two seniors exchanged the stones back to each other after the showdown in November. Kaneshiro-senpai was a little worried about letting Mizusaki-senpai carry his own stone. But Kaneshiro-senpai also mentioned how it was probably because of that the stones disappeared.
“Only Hibiya-sensei and Katsuragi-kun remains,” Iinchou commented before glancing at me. “Personally, I feel those two will take longer.”
“Why’s that?” I asked.
“It looks impossible unless they solve their problem,” Iinchou answered before smiling mysteriously.
“By the way, Iinchou, do you understand why our showdown got that complicated in the end?” I glared at him.
Iinchou flinched slightly.
“I think one of the reasons is because of your tendency to keep secrets. You went off by yourself and then got captured by the enemy.”
I was angry about this.
I wonder if he remembers? Iinchou turned me down when I said I’ll go together with him. He even said I’ll be in the way yet he was the one who got caught in the enemy’s trap. He’s really inexcusable!
“……That’s why I’ve been explaining everything after that battle, haven’t I?” Iinchou said to me unwillingly.
It’s true that Iinchou has been providing intel to me and Kazu-nii since that confrontation. It’s true but…
“Then why, Kazu—” I was about to say ‘Kazu-nii’ so I swallowed down those words to rephrase my words. “Then why haven’t you been chatting with me alone?”
Nowadays, I only chat with Iinchou alone during these times when we’re going from one place to another. These days he would avoid me when I try to invite him to a café after school.
Iinchou shifted his eyes away. “Ah… Hmm…” He groaned as he stared up at the ceiling. Eventually, he sighed. “……I’m afraid that I’ll let something out,” he mumbled out before he quickened his pace.
“Ah, geez, we’ll be late if we don’t hurry, alright?” Iinchou said in the end.
He hasn’t explained one bit. I wasn’t one bit satisfied at all but being late is a problem, so I quickly hurried after him. I made a sullen face to express my thoughts, yet Iinchou didn’t even glance my way.
When the meeting ended, I headed home and immediately began studying.
I opened up my textbooks in the living room and started groaning.
I feel like all I’m doing is groaning and nothing else. I thought about getting Kazu-nii to teach me once he’s back, yet he’s still taking his time.
Maybe I’ll make some tea to refresh my mind. I was about to get up with that thought in mind—
My cell phone started to vibrate.
“Errr? Who…? …….Katsuragi-kun?” That was way too unexpected.
He doesn’t have a cell phone, so this was actually from his home phone. I added this home phone number in my address book after he told me about it.
“Yes, hello,” I answered.
“……Niimi?”
I heard Katsuragi-kun’s low voice after taking the call.
……Damn it. Isn’t a call way too risky? Hearing his low voice echo right at my ear is a bit dangerous for my heart.
“Niiimi? Are you busy right now?” He asked.
I smiled tiredly before replying, “Ah, sorry. I’m just in the middle of studying. What’s wrong?”
“……It’s about the stone,” Katsuragi-kun told me.
“……Did something happen?” I wonder if I let out a meek voice.
Katsuragi-kun seemed to hesitate before he continued after a period of silence. “It chipped a bit this morning so I thought maybe it’s changing.”
“…? What do you mean by chipped? Is there a problem? Are you okay?”
“Sorry, my explanation was bad. It’s not that… I feel like I know how to erase the stone.”
“Eh!?”
Just what is the method? My stone disappeared after pouring water on it. Of course, I still didn’t understand why it did that though.
“And so…… I have a favour to ask.”
“Hm? If there’s something I can do, then I’ll be happy to.”
“Name.”
……Huh? I sank into silence as I blinked blankly. I feel like Katsuragi-kun smiled tiredly on the other side of the phone.
“I just need to call your name?” I asked.
“Yeah. I think it’ll disappear with that.”
How does that even work? I didn’t understand and felt quite puzzled. But, well, if that’s what Katsuragi-kun thinks then I’ll cooperate.
“Kyouya-kun,” I said his name easily.
There was another period of silence.
“How is it?” I asked.
“Yeah. …It disappeared. It’s like I expected but…… this is troublesome.”
“Eh?”
“I made the right choice in phoning you instead. See you later,” Katsuragi-kun said.
He ended the call here, leaving me shrugging my shoulders.
“Who just called you now?”
There was a shadow on me, so I looked up. It was Kazu-nii who returned home before I even noticed.
He had a face of a demon burning with rage. It feels like it’s been a while since I’ve seen that expression of us. He looks like he’s in a bad mood too.
“It was Katsuragi-kun,” I replied before closing my foldable cell phone. “Ah, that’s right! Iinchou said Tsukishima-bishounen’s stone disappeared. Also, I’m not sure if it really happened, but Katsuragi-kun’s stone disappeared too.”
I reported the information I learned today to Kazu-nii. With this, only Kazu-nii’s stone remains.
“…Katsuragi’s too?” Kazu-nii asked as he loosened his necktie. He also sat directly on the living room’s floor.
I hung his jacket that he left on the sofa and nodded to affirm.
“……Did you do something?” He questioned.
“He asked me to call his name, so I did. He also mentioned suddenly how he knows how to erase the stones.”
“That bastard……” Kazu-nii gritted his teeth before he sighed heavily.
“More importantly, teach me math. It’s beyond me. I can’t keep up with our lessons when it’s not in my head,” I complained to him.
Kazu-nii’s expression softened a little. It seems he lost his energy or he’s exasperated by me.
“You were holding your head during class today… Make sure you study while taking sugar, alright? Don’t say things like you’ll get fat.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever~ I got fatter in the end anyways~ Kazu-nii, you won’t understand my shock when I can’t wear my winter clothing from last year,” I complained some more.
“……You haven’t noticed where exactly you increased?”
“Eh? My weight increased.”
“Never mind.”
He taught me math after this but… Ah, it’s over. None of it is sticking in my mind.
It’s not like Kazu-nii is bad at teaching. This I know well.
“And this formula here……”
Kazu-nii’s long finger ran across the words on my math textbook. I desperately tried to chase after him. I also alternated between looking at the textbook and my notebook. Kazu-nii’s sweet voice was pleasant, reassuring yet it also made me somewhat restless.
“Eh? Wait. The formula I should use for this is this one? ……Ah, ahh! I get it! I understand it now!”
“Alright, then first try this problem here.”
“OKay,” I nodded before starting from the basic problems first.
If you don’t understand the theory, math is impossible. You also can’t jump ahead to the next problem and try to solve that instead. I mean, even if you know addition and subtraction, you won’t be able to solve a division question.
Suddenly, I feel something rustle in my heart. You see, Kazu-nii sometimes looks my way.
I don’t think he has noticed. But, you see, it’s kind of hot. His eyes on me that is. The fleeting colour of his eyes at the very moment he leaves his teacher-mode is very…
It makes it hard for me to calm down and I can’t focus. I want to know the reason for his heated eyes, yet I don’t.
However, I know he cherishes me just like how I know what is ‘1+1’.
“…….Ugh……” My eyelids are getting heavy. I crashed down on top of my notebook while Kazu-nii sighed.
“You’re at your limit? Guess you can’t help it. …Let’s take a break. I’ll get you something to drink too,” he said to me.
I could feel his kind hand patting the top of my head.
He says my hair is like a cat’s, so it feels good. To be honest, it feels good to be petted by him too. Kazu-nii probably doesn’t know exactly how large his hand is, how warm it is, and how reassuring it is.
“Make me black tea~ …And add lots of sugar in it,” I told him weakly.
Kazu-nii laughed. “I brought pudding on my way back, so I won’t add sugar in your tea.”
“Which brand?”
“Ginza Premium Star Sweets.”
Well, that’s one expensive-sounding one.
“Kazu-nii’s obsession with pudding is abnormal.”
Kazu-nii smiled tiredly before he got up. I think he’s heading to the kitchen. I’m sure he’ll also bring over the pudding he brought on the way back to the living room here.
“—Shiori?”
It looks like I dozed off before I realized it. I must have used my brain too much.
I could smell the scent of delicious pudding, the soft kindness of black tea, and heard a sweet voice too.
“Don’t sleep in a place like this. You’ll catch a cold.”
Yeah, I know. I’m not sleeping yet. I still haven’t settled my battle with math. Also I really want to try out this Ginza Premium Star Sweets pudding.
I was going to reply to him when I felt Kazu-nii approach me.
“Geez, how long are you going to act like a kid. ……But I’m also relieved by that, which is a problem of mine, huh,” Kazu-nii muttered and sat across from me.
I could hear the sound of cups being put on the table. I feel like he might be in the mood for eating the pudding all by myself. Wake me up! Hey!
Then again, all I have to do is wake myself up. However, my eyelids were so heavy that I couldn’t.
“I’m not a kid……” I grumbled out quietly.
My eyelids were heavy but my mouth could still move. Let’s keep at it and wake up so I can eat that pudding. I can leave math for later. I urged strength into my body to get up… Nope, it’s impossible. It’s not happening. I need to splash cold water on my face.
“Where aren’t you a kid? …Actually, if you aren’t a kid then you’re a rather wicked woman, you know.”
“Soooo rudeeeee……” I complained again.
I forced myself to move and lift up my head… And my drowsiness was completely blown away in a flash.
Kazu-nii looked at me with eyes like he was looking at a treasure. It was different from those scorching eyes from before. At the same time, I felt like they were different from someone’s eyes looking adorably at their pet. His eyes right now gave a sense of fulfilment.
He quietly got up before sitting beside me. He reached out his hand and gently patted my head.
I guess it’s because I didn’t fight back? His hand dropped down to my ears. His face, too, drew near to mine before I realized it. He was right at the tip of my nose.
I feel like our foreheads will bang. His lips curled up in a smile with a hint of mischievousness.
Eventually, those kind eyes of his changed a bit in colour. They looked bewildered, or even hopeful.
“……Shiori?”
If you don’t fight back, I’ll…………
I thought his lips, which captured my eyes, moved to say something like that…
~~~~~!?
I crashed down and staggered. I used both of my hands and pushed away the good-looking guy’s face in front of my eyes with all my strength.
“Ah, yeah, yeah. I won’t do anything to you, and you know that too already,” Kazu-nii said easily. He pushed my textbooks to the side of the table and lined up the pudding instead. I guess he sat beside me just to do this.
But this Ginza Premium Star Sweets is amazing. I don’t know how much one pudding costs but even the cup is fancy.
“K-K-Kazu-nii!!” I shouted.
However, I quickly fixed my eyes on the pudding. Pudding. Look at the pudding. There’s only pudding in front of me.
“I want sugar in my tea, so go get some for me! I want three sugar cubes!” I yelled some more.
“Huh? You’re going to put sugar in your tea to go with your pudding?”
“I used my brain too much, so I want sugar! Kazu-nii, you were the one who said I should take sugar too!”
“I got it. Wait a second.”
I stole a glance at that wide back leaving the living room before I desperately slapped my cheeks.
“~~~~~~~~~~!!”
My face is burning. My heart is racing. I feel like crying. What should I do.
Did I return my stone the wrong way? It’s weird, isn’t it? No one touched my stone, so I’m definitely feeling strange right now.
I get sensitive for some reason and my heart races for some reason too… And what the heck am I thinking all of the sudden!?
Ah, geez, I know already. I knew nothing would happen. I’m an idiot thinking he would do something!
This is obvious but Kazu-nii wasn’t about to say something weird like that.
My brain just dubbed over according to the movement of his lips for some reason.
“I-It’s Kazu-nii’s fault for being a lolicon. He’s a lolicon, so… Damn it, that bastard lolicon teacher!”
Uwaaaahh!! It’s me who’s brain is clearly wrong!
“Who are you calling lolicon.”
It looks like he heard me. I glanced up and saw Kazu-nii staring down at me bitterly.
I immediately looked back down. I resisted the urge to say, ‘Oh no, it’s a lolicon!’ What am I, a kid?
“Oh yeah, you were worried about me, right? About my stone,” Kazu-nii said suddenly.
“Eh?”
Only Kazu-nii’s stone remains. I think he’s the only person left among the other capture targets.
He took off his pendant and placed it on top of the table.
I was surprised. The stone at the tip of the pendant was gone.
“It was gone by the time I was home after the showdown. It might have worked in my favour when I willingly let it go to use as a decoy,” he said.
Tell me things like that quicker!
I put seven sugar cubes in my tea after that and now I really felt like crying.
The Ginza Premium Star Sweets pudding was delicious with its refined taste too.
I should think of a different method to hide my embarrassment.
□ ■ □
The Christmas party held by the Seika Maria Secondary Academy includes the whole entire school.
Since we have a church, we might as well hold it there… is what I thought but it turns out we don’t. The church was a religious facility and they won’t let us use it for an event mostly for amusement. However, they will do Christmas service.
Today was December 24th. The very day for our Christmas party.
There are three main buildings in our academy.
There is the western building, eastern building, and centre building. Lining up together, they make a upside-down U shape. In the very middle of the school, we have a large cherry blossom tree. This said tree was now decorated as a substitute for our Christmas tree. People have used decorative illumination but I can’t help but worry. Would this hurt the tree? Is it okay?
You can hear the chairman’s thoughtful words in the auditorium but not one person will go. Everyone gathered around the cherry blossom tree and drank, ate, and danced to their delight… Some of them even spoke about love.
If you progress the scenario of the game properly, today would be a Christmas date for the heroine.
At the end of the said date, the two will visit the church. Once the [Love Candle] is lit, you will reach the ending.
I thought the end target would be whoever you went on a date with, but according to Iinchou: “I can’t deny the possibility of an unexpected twist at the very end.”
Geez, you really can’t let your guard down with this otome game.
I gaze up at the cherry blossom tree dressed up as a Christmas tree and sighed.
“Shiori-chan, thank you for your hard work,” Yumi-chan said.
This might be a Christmas party, but it’s a school event. Everyone was wearing their school uniforms. Still, we were allowed to wear santa hats, so Yumi-chan and I wore matching red triangular hats.
“I was forced to run around for even a Christmas party. The job of a class representative is really all about odd tasks here and everywhere.”
It was the student council and the class representatives that prepared this food and drink space and the cherry blossom tree decorations. Judging by the flow of things, I’ll definitely be forced to work until the year ends.
“You always give a cool impression on things. I can’t say I’m different but… this is Christmas! Isn’t there anything? Something that is telling you that you want your heart fluttering!” Yumi-chan pressed.
“……It’s not like there isn’t anything…” I mumbled out.
Yumi-chan beamed instantly. “Oh-ho! This is a good sign. Who to be more specific? Who exactly!”
“Err, no, I don’t have a specific vision in mind.” That’s right. I don’t have anyone specific in mind. Just a vague feeling that having my heart flutter is a plausible idea.
“Oh? Then is it okay to volunteer myself?” Designer-kun said. He popped out from somewhere, peered into my face as he passed champagne glasses to us.
He wasn’t wearing a santa hat but a reindeer hat. I have to say, it suits him.
“Here you go, Shiori-chan, Yumi-chan.”
“This is…… soda? This isn’t alcohol, right?” I questioned.
Designer-kun laughed. “It’s juice! There’s no way there’ll be alcohol at a school party. That being said, I think the teachers will spread their wings today.”
“Eh? You mean the teachers are drinking? Like wine?” Yumi-chan tilted her head in question as she took the glass with both of her hands.
Wine, huh. I feel like that suits Christmas much more, yet I also feel like the teachers will be drinking beer instead.
In any case, Kazu-nii reeks of alcohol when he’s drunk. I hope he doesn’t show his face in my home after he drinks.
“Oh yeah, did you know there’s two venues for this Christmas party?” Designer-kun asks.
This is a foolish question for someone who helped set the party up.
“The auditorium and the front yard here, right?” I answered.
Designer-kun tsked and waved his finger with a mischievous expression. “The gym is currently a dance floor right now. They say they do this every year. Shiori-chan, you didn’t know?”
I don’t… I was puzzled before answering, “If it is done every year, the student council doesn’t set it up. I mean, if they did, I would know about it.”
“A dance party, huh! It sounds fun. Shiori-chan, let’s take a look,” Yumi-chan said, grabbing my arm.
“Eh? But, Yumi-chan, aren’t you bad at dancing…”
“It’s fine, it’s fine~ You just need to enjoy the atmosphere for occasions like this. I won’t be dancing. Come on, Kamura-kun, you too!”
Eh? Designer-kun’s coming too?
I was dubious yet Designer-kun followed us like this was completely natural.
“I purposely brought up this topic to a girl. Why do you think I won’t go?” He said to me.
“……I guess that makes sense?” In other words, he was inviting us, huh.
“Kamura-kun, didn’t you get invited by other girls?” I asked.
“I was invited, but don’t you think it’ll be a little disappointing to go when the girl I want to dance isn’t there?”
“Hm?”
In other words, Yumi-chan and I are girls he wants to dance with?
I blinked my eyes and gazed at Designer-kun.
His lips curved up in a mysterious smile. “I don’t know if she’s my destined soulmate yet though.”
Designer-kun smiled as he quickly took away Yumi-chan’s hand that was pulling my arm. “Ah, hey, hey, if you hurry like this, you’ll trip~ Yumi-chan, you’re not good at running~” He supported Yumi-chan who was about to trip over a rock, looking slightly seriously. “Come to think of it, Yumi-chan, you’ve been using my accessory this whole time.”
“Eh? A-Ah… the accessory on my bag? I mean, cause… it was expensive, okay?” Yumi-chan replied back with confusion.
Designer-kun clicked his tongue lightly before he continued. “I was thinking about giving you this…… if you liked my accessory.”
His fingers reached out smoothly.
Yumi-chan stared at him blankly and gained a new earring on her ear.
“It’s a earring with the same design.”
Designer-kun chuckled before he waved his hand to leave the area. “I’ll see you later. Let’s meet again at the dance floor, and when we do, I’ll give you the other earring.”
“……Huh?”
Yumi-chan blinked her eyes a number of times as she saw Designer-kun off. Eventually she reached her hand to her ear and confirmed her new accessory.
“But that design isn’t really suitable for a earring in my opinion……?”
……Hey!? Yumi-chan!? Your reaction is lacking heart fluttering and sweetness!!
“Well, okay,” she commented in the end.
I watched Yumi-chan nervously with my heart racing before she pulled my arm once again.
“Come on, let’s go, Shiori-chan! I won’t forgive you unless you dance with at least one boy!”
Uwaaah! She’s so unfair! She’s telling me this because she has Designer-kun’s dance promised to her! What am I going to do if there isn’t someone I know in the dance hall!
If you’re fine with me dancing with Designer-kun then I’ll dance with him!?
The gymnasium was certainly a dance hall now.
I wonder when did they decorate it? Compared to the cherry blossom tree in the front yard, there were barely any decorative illuminations. However, there were sparkly ornaments decorated just about everywhere with a very Christmas-like feel.
It didn’t take long before Yumi-chan was captured by Designer-kun. I watched Yumi-chan dance clumsily with him.
I feel like it’ll be heart fluttering if the two were alone, but let’s put that aside for now. There were a bunch of girls all near Designer-kun right now. It’s to the point those girls were gathering in a circle and dancing themselves. It looks really fun but looking at this as a bystander, there isn’t any heart fluttering or sweetness.
The music in this hall was a live violin performance. Naturally, it was Tsukishima-bishounen who was performing. But, to my astonishment, Tsukishima-senpai was accompanying him on the piano, which left me speechless.
Piano! Senpai could play the piano!
Judging by how the two brothers were performing together, I wonder if I can say that there’s no more conflict between the two anymore.
Incidentally, Maria-jou still calls out to Tsukishima-bishounen from time to time even after the showdown with Father Michel. She isn’t trying to trigger events anymore but is chatting with him naturally as a friend.
It looks like there were lots of girls on the dance floor wanting to dance with the Tsukishima brothers. Unfortunately, the brothers were focused on their performance and didn’t pay heed to them.
“Oh my, Tsukishima-senpai sure is sly.”
I heard someone giggle. When I turned to look at that person, I realized it was Tanaka-senpai.
“Eh? What do you mean by sly?” I asked.
Tanaka-senpai laughed with amusement with a hint of colour on her cheeks, showing her good mood. “Oh, you’re wearing the brooch I gave you?” She asked, pointing at my chest.
Yes, that’s right. Tanaka-senpai brought me back a souvenir on her school trip. It’s a brooch made from traditional Japanese patterned cloth in the shape of a cat. It’s small but it’s elegant and adorable. I was nervous, thinking it might be a little expensive. Still, I was happy so I took it gratefully, and I’m wearing it on my school uniform today.
“Ah, yes. It’s cute so…” My cheeks started to burn, and I couldn’t help but place my hand on it.
Tanaka-senpai smiled even more. “I’m glad. Oh, right, right, about Tsukishima-senpai… You see, Senpai is actually really popular with the girls. So naturally in times like this he’ll be surrounded by girls wanting to dance with him. This is also why he performs every Christmas instead. If he plays the piano, no one can bother him.”
“Eh…. Umm, does Tsukishima-senpai hate dancing?” I questioned.
“It’s more likely that he isn’t good with girls approaching him aggressively. I think I heard him mention the type he likes is a reserved girl before too. It’s too bad, right?” Tanaka-senpai said before smiling warmly. “He’ll be graduating this year so… I’m glad one of his worries has disappeared,” she said as she stared at the Tsukishima brothers.
I wonder if she, too, has been worried about those two’s conflict.
“Right, right, Niimi-san. Do you have any plans for winter vacation?” Tanaka-senpai asked suddenly.
“Eh? Umm, not really,” I replied.
My only plan is to visit the shrine at the beginning of the new year. Of course, I plan on inviting Yumi-chan with me. Fufufu~
“Then would you like to work part-time again on a short-term basis? I plan on working too once winter vacation starts.”
Oh, a debut as a waitress again, huh? Hmm…
“Ah, then could I check my plans before I answer you? It’s hard for me to give an answer right away.” To be safe, I should check with my parents’ New Year plans before saying anything.
My mother’s side of the family is really just Grandfather who lives next door, so there’s no need to travel.
As for my father’s side of the family, we do plan on visiting his parents, but it has always been a day trip only.
That being said, it’s best to check with my parents. If there isn’t an issue, I can work part-time and actually try to save up money this time. Learning how to handle money well is also an important thing.
“Yes, of course…… Oh my, now that I think of it, I don’t know your contact information. Could you please tell me?”
Of course! And like this, I exchanged contact information with Tanaka-senpai. Fufufu~ I’m glad! Yay!
“A poor person like you is working part-time again, huh?”
Someone came by with a voice that spoiled my good mood. I couldn’t help but stare at him with reproach.
It was Mizusaki-senpai and Captain Gomi plus the fan club members. Oh, and Kaneshiro-senpai was also there. This was a really amazing group of people. The fan club members were all wearing makeup and were gorgeous.
“Oh my, are you objecting the idea of working steadily and soundly?” Tanaka-senpai questioned with exasperation in her tone. “You have to greet people day after day on the holiday, am I right? You should be more careful with your words and not be rude as soon as the new year begins.”
Tanaka-senpai’s sharp words made Mizusaki-senpai choke.
I see. Mizusaki-senpai comes from a rich family. On top of that, he’s the only son of a big corporation. New Years to him would be greeting important people everywhere. It sounds pretty hectic.
“Tanaka-senpai, please let him off here,” Kaneshiro-senpai said with a smile. “We’re been quite busy recently, so Homare is quite guilty about how he hasn’t been able to entertain his fan club members. We ended up coming here as he’s good at ballroom dancing. Tanaka-senpai, would you like to join as well?”
“I’m not his fan, so I’ll pass,” Tanaka-senpai resolutely refused before she looked at Captain Gomi. “Gomi-san, please enjoy the Christmas party.”
“Yes, thank you. Mizusaki-sama prepared this party after all. I am happy to just be able to participate,” Captain Gomi beamed before she took the fan club members away with her.
The mood of the dance hall changed with these additional members.
Mizusaki-senpai demonstrated elegant ballroom dancing skills while the fan club members lined up one after another, waiting for their turn to dance with him. What the heck is this?
Still, Mizusaki-senpai looked really handsome, proving that he was good at ballroom dancing. He was only wearing his school uniform, but I couldn’t help but feel like he’s wearing a tailcoat. I’m sure the girls don’t have any experience with ballroom dancing. Yet Mizusaki-senpai splendidly took the lead and danced with the girls.
I couldn’t help but be impressed. At the same time, Kaneshiro-senpai came by.
I guess he doesn’t plan on dancing at all. His hidden fans stared scorchingly at him yet he completely ignores them.
“Tanaka-san, Niimi-san, are you two good at dancing?” Kaneshiro-senpai asked.
Hey, hey, what are you asking all of the sudden. He definitely isn’t talking about the original dances we have to make for PE but ballroom dancing.
“I have no experience at all. I am also not interested either,” I replied.
His smile deepened. “You are so clear. I had expected you would give a polite answer like ‘I’m not very good at it…’ instead.”
“I know it’s different from folk dancing,” I said. Also, I’m able to tell that Mizusaki-senpai could dance very well. I feel like he could join a dance tournament… Except, when I think about it, I haven’t watched a dance tournament before so I can’t judge.
“Dance, huh…” Tanaka-senpai tilted her head a bit. “Mizusaki-kun sure is pitiful. He is stuck leading only, so it probably isn’t good practice for him.”
“……Eh?”
Me and Kaneshiro-senpai both raised our voices in confusion.
“If I have to say, I’m actually better at dancing the men’s steps. Hey, Niimi-san, if you don’t mind, how about dancing with me?”
I would reject it if it was an invitation from Mizusaki-senpai or Kaneshiro-senpai.
The story is different if it’s Tanaka-senpai.
“Yes!” I answered reflexively and spun to the dance floor.
TL note: Yumi-chan! Yumi-chan!? Realize!!