Chapter 94 - Lovers' Christmas
(1)
December 24th, Christmas Eve.
In front of the station.
During this season, when the illuminations are on display, there are many couples.
I put the present in my bag and wait for her to arrive.
My heart is pounding.
I wonder if she'll actually come?
Just then, I heard a voice calling me.
"Ah, Isshy!"
It's Kiritani-kun and Sashihara-san.
These two are on a date today as well.
...Well, I guess that's normal?
It's my first time, though.
"Are you meeting Emi-chan now?"
Sashihara-san asks.
I nodded.
"Hehehe, you're not lucky with girls, are you? Want me to share one with you...?"
Just as he said that and tried to take something out of his wallet—
Slap!
Sashihara-san slapped Kiritani-kun's hand.
"Eita. Don't do unnecessary things! Isshy, relax, relax."
Sashihara-san said, massaging my shoulders.
"What time is your meeting?"
"It's 18:00, but..."
"You've still got about 30 minutes! You're way too fired up!"
"I couldn't settle down even at home."
"You're not like Katagiri-kun (T/N: referring to a person known for being overly nervous), but if you get too nervous, you'll mess up the real thing. Go kill time somewhere. You only need to be there 10 minutes before."
"You're right..."
"Good grief. Let's kill time at that coffee shop over there. We'll join you."
After entering the coffee shop, we each ordered and took our seats.
"Isshy, did you prepare a present?"
I nodded.
"What kind did you buy?"
I showed her the wrapped box.
It was something I had ordered online.
I had researched the present online, too.
"I don't know if she'll be happy with it, though."
"Buying matching items... Isshy, you've actually thought this through. Emi will definitely be happy!"
"What did you buy, Kiritani-kun?"
"I got a necklace. Same as Isshy, I researched it online and bought it."
"This is why men are... I'm telling you, do a little research yourself! If it's something you chose after thinking hard, she'll definitely be happy."
Is that how it works? I did research desperately online, though...
As we talked, time passed in the blink of an eye.
"Ah, Isshy, it's almost time."
"Ah, you're right."
"Isshy, fight!"
Seen off by the two of them, I headed to the meeting spot.
(2)
Returning to the station front and fiddling with my smartphone for a bit, Eguchi-san arrived.
A red knit top and a velour skirt... I wonder if she's not cold?
A message arrived from Sashihara-san, who apparently had been watching from the coffee shop.
"Praise her outfit!!"
I-I see.
"Your clothes suit you."
"Thank you. So, who told you that?"
"Eh?"
I instinctively looked toward the coffee shop.
The two of them were gesturing for me not to look.
But it seemed it was already too late.
Eguchi-san was waving to the two of them with a smile.
"It's okay. I know you're not the kind of person who would praise my clothes immediately. What are we doing after this?"
"W-we'll look at the illuminations together, and then..."
My heart leaped.
Eguchi-san had linked her arm with mine.
"Then, shall we go look around right away?"
After that, we walked around looking at the illuminations while taking photos.
"It's beautiful..."
Eguchi-san, you're beautiful too.
I couldn't bring myself to say it.
I should just say one word, but I didn't even have that courage.
The only thing I did was occasionally check the time.
"Do you dislike the time you spend with me that much?"
That's not possible!
If only I could put that into words...
"I-I just thought it might be time for dinner?"
"Oh? Are you hungry?"
"No, I have a reservation at a restaurant..."
"I see. I get it. So that's why you were checking the time."
"Yeah."
"Then, shall I have you lead the way?"
It was a somewhat stylish Italian restaurant.
After speaking to the reception, we were guided to our seats.
"What would you like to drink?"
"Juice... How about you, Eguchi-san?"
"The same, please..."
I'll give her the present before the appetizers arrive.
"Eguchi-san, this is..."
I took the present out of my bag and handed it to Eguchi-san.
"May I open it?"
"Please do."
I mean, there's no point if she doesn't open it now.
When Eguchi-san opened the box, there were two leather bracelets.
"I-if possible, I wanted us to wear matching ones..."
"Matching ones were a blind spot... I'm sorry. May I put it on?"
"Yes!"
After Eguchi-san put on her bracelet, she took the other one...!?
"I'll put it on for you."
Eguchi-san prompted me to hold out my arm, and when I offered my wrist, Eguchi-san put it on for me.
Right hand and left hand. So that they would be together when we held hands.
"Thank you for the lovely present. This is from me."
I received a wrapped small bag and a message card from Eguchi-san.
"Please read the message card after you go home. Because it's embarrassing."
I guess even Eguchi-san has things she finds embarrassing.
Inside the bag was a muffler.
"I thought it would be essential for the coming season. Did you know? They say giving a muffler as a present means 'I'm head over heels for you.'"
I almost spat out my juice.
"Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah."
After enjoying the meal and drinking a closing espresso, Eguchi-san spoke.
"What do you plan to do after this?"
"Eh? It's already late, so I thought maybe we'd go home?"
"I see..."
Was it my imagination that she looked a bit lonely?
Leaving the restaurant, we returned to the station front.
I enjoyed today enough.
"Thank you, it was fun."
"You really intended to just go home like this, didn't you?"
"Eh..."
"I understand... Close your eyes for a moment."
I didn't really understand, but I closed my eyes as told.
"!?"
What I felt on my lips was a lukewarm, soft sensation.
Was the slight sliminess lip gloss?
When I opened my eyes, Eguchi-san was hugging me.
"'Do you need a reason to fall in love with someone?' someone once said. I understand the meaning of that now. I've never loved someone this much until now."
I didn't know a girl's body could carry this much heat.
"From now on, shall we make memories together? A time as dense as any other couple's. Cherishing every moment..."
Even this moment right now is being firmly burned into my brain.
"Aren't you going to hug me back?"
I only noticed after she said it.
I hugged Eguchi-san.
She was thinner than I thought.
And... is she shaking?
"Are you okay? Did you catch a cold?"
"Did you feel the heat? The heat is hot... I want you to moisten this parched body. Keep hugging me forever."
I feel like I caught a glimpse of Eguchi-san's true nature.
No, I'd had a vague inkling for a while.
She's a psycho!
On that day of the school trip, did I actually make a terrifying choice?
"...You'd be troubled if I said that, wouldn't you?"
I actually am troubled.
Eguchi-san lightly pressed her lips to mine again and then pulled away from me.
"Well, see you tomorrow. Tonight was fun. Thank you."
Saying that, Eguchi-san headed toward the ticket gates.
Is it okay to let her go home like this?
Shouldn't I do something?
Eat the ramen before it gets soggy!
I remembered Kiritani-kun's words.
"Eguchi-san!"
I called out to Eguchi-san in a loud voice.
Eguchi-san stopped and looked this way.
"I'll cherish the moments I spend with you too, Eguchi-san! Let's make memories together from now on!"
Even if it's the countryside, this area is the urban part.
Many people were looking at us.
"Thank you! I love you even now!!"
Eguchi-san answered in a loud voice.
"Me too!! I love you!"
Saying that, I headed toward my bicycle.
During that time, it seemed Eguchi-san watched me until I disappeared from sight.
At home, I opened the message card.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
I am happy to be able to spend such a wonderful day with you.
Thank you for always being by my side.
I hope you like the present I chose while thinking of you.
I sent a message.
I read the message card.
Thank you, from my side as well.
Let's keep making memories together from now on.
I saw a side of her she doesn't show others.
I'm sure I'm the only one.
I'll take pride in that.
That she showed it only to me.
A message arrived from her.
Thank you.
See you tomorrow.
See you tomorrow? I don't have any plans for tomorrow?
"What are you talking about regarding tomorrow?"
"Huh? Haven't you heard from Watanabe-kun? 'Watanabe's group meets at the local station tomorrow at 10'... I got a message from Ai-chan."
I checked my message history.
There was an unread message. It was from Watanabe-kun.
"Meet at the station front tomorrow at 10!"
I sent a message to Eguchi-san.
"...Found it."
"Lol, well, see you tomorrow then."
I wonder what's happening tomorrow?
A Christmas party for everyone, maybe?
It's my first experience.
I might be looking forward to it.
And I can see Eguchi-san again.
(3)
"Wow, thank you."
Mika was delighted looking at the mascot character necklace I bought as a souvenir.
"I'm glad you're happy."
When I said that, Mika hugged me.
This is Mika's house.
She lives on a high floor of a luxury apartment.
From here to Sakuragaoka High School is about 10 minutes by bicycle.
Her parents aren't here now.
Tonight is Christmas Eve.
They're probably spending it with their respective partners.
"You're staying over tonight, right?"
When Mika asked, I nodded.
"Alright! I'm not letting you sleep tonight."
"Hahaha, I'm happy you say that, but tomorrow is early in the morning. I can't stay up late."
"What, how boring."
"Don't make that face. You're in the same boat."
"Eh?"
Mika made a puzzled face.
"I told you before, right? The guys in my class. I promised to hang out with them."
"Even though it's Christmas?"
"That's why I'm here with you tonight, isn't it?"
Saying that, I pulled Mika close.
"What's the merit in meeting those guys?"
"I won't have to feel lonely."
"Is there no merit for me? They're all smart people anyway, right? The best I can hope for is being made fun of."
"They're not those kinds of people. Especially Otonashi-san, I thought I'd like you to meet her."
"Is that person really that great? Masashi, don't tell me..."
"Oops, she's planning to bring her boyfriend too."
"I see, your class is full of couples, that's amazing."
"Are there no couples in Mika's class?"
"They're all cowards who can hit on people from other schools but can't hit on girls from their own school."
"What a strange school."
"They're afraid of becoming a rumor..."
Well, in a sense, it's a thankful thing.
As Otonashi-san praised before, Mika's only strong point is that she's cute.
It's almost a miracle that no one in Mika's school has invited her out.
Well, I don't think Mika would have succumbed anyway.
"Well, that's how it is, so let's go to sleep early today."
"Let's at least stay up until the date changes."
"I know."
While saying that, the two of us lay side by side on the bed watching TV.
It was nothing but Christmas specials.
"Was it okay? Not going out for Christmas Eve."
"It's cold, so it's fine. It's warmer and better being like this with Masashi..."
"By the way, tell me... the story of Masashi's school trip."
"I don't know if it'll be interesting if you hear it?"
"Because it sounded fun when I heard it over the phone."
When Mika said that, I talked about the things that happened during the school trip.
Mostly, it was stories about Toya, Tosaka-san, and Otonashi-san.
"That Toya and Tosaka-san are interesting."
"Right? Those two probably have some kind of bond that exceeds our understanding."
"I wonder if we can become like that too?"
When Mika said that, I spoke with a smile.
"I'm putting in the effort because I want to be like that. You're the same, right, Mika...?"
"I wonder about me? There's the thing with my parents, too. I'm anxious about whether I can trust a relationship between a man and a woman that much."
"Are you anxious about me too?"
When I said that, Mika started getting angry.
"Of course I'm anxious. Masashi is kind to everyone. I'm afraid someone might take you away..."
"Is the only thing I can do to stay by your side and be able to laugh next to you?"
"That alone isn't enough to stop the anxiety. I want you by my side forever."
"...Sorry."
"Don't apologize, it's my fault for being stupid."
"Everyone has things they're good at and things they're not."
"I'm only good at the things I'm not good at."
She's drunk quite a bit.
This girl becomes self-deprecating when she's drunk.
That might be her true nature.
She's probably a huge coward, always unable to bear the anxiety.
All I can do is meet her occasionally and accept her with all my might.
"You'll understand when you meet them tomorrow. You might be able to change too."
"If they're such great people, you should just date them!"
On top of that, she's jealous.
I've mastered the way to handle those times too.
"What you're thinking and feeling right now is love. I want to shoulder that pain of yours together."
"I always hear that line... but I don't hate that part of you."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"The joy of trusting each other and the sadness of hurting each other, so that one day we can accept them as they are... huh."
"Yeah, the state of mind that Toya and Tosaka-san, who I talked about earlier, reached is probably that."
"...I guess I'll try meeting them."
"That's for the best."
"Um, the clothes I'll wear tomorrow are..."
Mika, showing off her magnificent curves without reservation, rummaged through the closet for clothes.
"Which one do you think is better, Masashi?"
A coordination combining American casual style with a fur outer.
I chose the latter.
The reason was that it looked warmer.
When I said that, Mika seemed satisfied.
"Then, I'll go with this... I'll take a shower too..."
Saying that, Mika headed to the bathroom.
While Mika was showering, I watched TV while having a smoke.
Eventually, Mika came back.
"It's about time, let's have a toast."
"Hey now, that's..."
"I swiped it from the old man's room. He won't notice if we drink a little."
"Once you start drinking, it won't end with 'a little', will it?"
"Masashi will stop me, right?"
"Can't be helped, then cheers."
"Cheers."
As the glasses made a clinking sound, the liquid inside rippled.
I drank just a little of it.
Mika downed it in one go.
As I was pouring the second glass, I stopped Mika.
"You're stopping me already!"
"I've prepared a proper replacement."
What I took out was Champmerry.
"It wouldn't be a joke if you couldn't wake up tomorrow because of a hangover."
"I can manage. I can just skip."
"It'll be bad if the organizer skips!"
"Well, I guess it can't be helped. Was there still cake left...?"
Mika, with only a single towel wrapped around her, wandered around the room.
"It's right here."
"Oh, there it is."
Saying that, we sliced the cake and ate it.
"Well, shall we go to sleep soon?"
"The date only just changed! Is that okay?"
"The pleasure time is waiting for us from here, right?"
I silently invited Mika into the bed.
Mika entered the bed as she was invited.
Merry Christmas.
(4)
Christmas Eve is busy with work.
By the second year, I move briskly with a very practiced hand.
When the time came—
"Otonashi-san, you can clock out. The other person is waiting outdoors."
Since the chief told me so, I changed in the locker room, and when I exited from the back, Makoto was waiting.
"Good work."
"Thank you. You're staying over tonight, right?"
"I've prepared with that intention. I've got cake and Champmerry ready too."
Saying that, Makoto grinned as he took hold of the luggage.
When we returned home, I started preparing dinner.
Ah, Watanabe told me something.
"You're free all day tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah, I'm free... is something happening?"
"Actually, some classmates asked if I wanted to go hang out..."
"I see, then it's better if I go home?"
Makoto answered while watching TV.
"No, the opposite. I want you to come too."
"Eh?"
Makoto spoke with a puzzled look.
"Actually, everyone has a partner, and only me and a guy called Watanabe have partners from other schools, right? So we talked about everyone bringing their partners the next time we gather."
"I see... you have enviable friends."
"If Makoto hates it, I'll decline."
"No, I've wanted to meet them once. I wonder what kind of people Kanna spends time with."
"It helps that you say that. Oh, dinner's ready."
"Yeah, thanks as always."
I've set aside a portion for Mother.
I intended to make a sufficient amount, but Makoto polished it off.
Makoto also helped me wash the dishes.
"Unlike during cooking, I'm not in the way, right?" he said.
"If you hug me or something, it's an immediate ejection."
"I'm intending to hold back even with this, you know. Even now, I can't help but want to hug you."
"I'll let you hug me as much as you want after you take a bath."
Rather, I'm the one holding back the desire to be hugged.
"Want to take a bath together? ...Ah, no punching."
Makoto quickly braced himself.
"...Okay."
"Eh?"
He showed confusion at the unexpected answer.
"Do you hate it?"
"I'm happy, but... is it okay?"
"Yeah, we'll probably be up late tonight anyway."
And so, once the cleaning was finished, Makoto and I prepared our change of clothes and towels and headed to the dressing room.
...Come to think of it, Toya said it. That as a man, it's more pleasing if there's a bit more flesh.
"Hey, Makoto."
"What do you think of me?"
"Huh?"
I told Makoto what Toya had said.
"I think it's just as Toya says. I think wanting to touch soft skin is a natural desire as a man."
"You too?"
"I'll accept any body type if it's someone I love. I think that's also a natural desire as a man."
"I see..."
"Besides, Kanna is surprisingly soft too. I wish the breasts were a bit more... ow!"
"Bluntly saying things people are concerned about, you're no different from Toya!"
"It's okay, I accept everything. Even Kanna's small breasts are enough, ow!"
"If you say any more, I'll blow you away!"
"Anyway, I love everything about Kanna, so don't worry about it."
Despite that, he sure said a lot.
We enjoyed pillow talk while watching TV.
"Sorry as always. On a precious Eve..."
"I'm enjoying myself plenty. The time I spend like this with Kanna is also fun."
"I see, then it's fine."
"More importantly, tell me the story of the school trip."
I talked about what happened on the school trip.
"I see, that Toya guy is the same as always. Even so, Airi-san has a lot of capacity. To accept a Toya like that."
"Those two's world is already on a different dimension."
"What about us?"
"Eh?"
"Do you think we've... reached that dimension?"
"I intend to accept your pervert habits, though."
"Then doesn't that just make me a pervert?"
You are just a pervert.
At least in front of me...
"If I'm a pervert, then every man in the world is a pervert! I can assert that!"
"I haven't heard those kinds of complaints from Airi, though."
"Wait, you told Tosaka-san!?"
"Once it reaches the girls, it spreads instantly."
"Seriously!? With what face am I supposed to go tomorrow!"
"Just be yourself, right? Except for in front of me, you're normally a handsome guy."
You can show your true nature only in front of me.
So that I can love you as you are...
I want to continue the natural way of loving, like kissing and hugging, forever.
Just like now.
I've always sought peace, but I can't convey it easily.
Every time, I remember.
That I love him this much.
It takes time until the meaning of true kindness is understood, but so that we can always meet with a smile without turning our backs on the days gone by.
When I noticed, I was sleeping on Makoto's chest, being held by Makoto.