Chapter 96 - Christmas Party
(1)
"Airi... wake up."
I can hear Toya-kun's voice in my ear.
"Hoe?"
When I open my eyes, Toya-kun is right in front of me.
Toya-kun looks at me and smiles gently.
"Good morning."
"Good morning."
I hugged Toya-kun.
Toya-kun accepted me as I did.
"We should probably get changed soon..."
No, I want to stay like this a little longer...
I plead for another kiss.
Toya-kun accepts.
Toya-kun is endlessly gentle today.
I wish he were always like this.
But, is he somehow anxious?
What's wrong?
I'm right here, you know?
I'm not going anywhere.
You don't have to worry, okay?
"We have to get changed before Kanna and the others arrive!"
Ah, that's right. Were we going out today?
What a waste.
I get up, leave the bed, find my panties, and put them on.
Toya-kun is also hurriedly putting on his clothes.
I look at the clock.
It points to 8:30.
There are only two buses in the 9 o'clock hour.
If we miss one, we'll definitely be late.
Once I'm dressed, I go downstairs and finish washing my face and such.
Then, I greet Toya-kun's parents on my way back to the room.
While I'm doing my makeup, the doorbell rings.
Kanna and the others have arrived.
It seems we made it in time.
I pack my scattered belongings into a sports bag and wait for Kanna and the others.
"Oss, Toya!"
Kanna says as she barges into the room.
At least try to knock.
"It's been a while, Tosaka-san."
"It's been a while, Makoto-kun."
I'm glad Makoto-kun looks well.
I heard he had been feeling down.
I've heard the story about that time, too.
But it doesn't look like we have time to talk slowly.
"We've gotta leave soon or it'll be bad!"
Kanna points to the clock.
There are only about five minutes until the bus.
We left the house.
(2)
In front of the station.
When we arrive, Watanabe-kun and a person who seems to be his girlfriend are there.
Looking at the person who seems to be Watanabe-kun's girlfriend reminds me of Kanna back in second year of middle school.
Long blonde hair with a light perm.
A white fur coat, a light blue knit, a black mini skirt with long boots, and sunglasses.
The person who seems to be the girlfriend notices us and approaches.
She takes off her sunglasses and stares intently at me and Toya.
"Are you two Toya and Tosaka-san?"
Since she knows us, she really is Watanabe-kun's girlfriend.
Watanabe-kun gives her a light smack on the head and smiles.
"Good morning. Sorry she doesn't know any manners. This is my girlfriend, Mika Kuze."
As Watanabe-kun says this, he prompts us to greet Kuze-san, and we bow our heads.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Kuze. I've heard about you from Masashi. And you two?"
Kuze-san asks while looking at Kanna and the others.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Kanna Otonashi. This is my boyfriend, Makoto Tada."
When Kanna says that, Makoto also bows.
While the six of us are talking in front of the station, four more people arrive.
Sashihara-san, Eguchi-san, Ishihara-kun, and Kiritani-kun.
"Well, everyone's here. Shall we kill time at a coffee shop?"
In that case, I'd recommend the one on Central Street rather than the one in front of the station, because...
"Why don't we go to Central Street? It's more spacious over there..."
Oh! Airi subtly guided them as if she were reading my mind.
"I don't particularly mind,"
Watanabe-kun says, and no one objects.
"A blend coffee, a Morning A set, a miso katsu bun, and a corn soup..."
When I order, Kanna says with an exasperated face.
"You eat as much as ever. Airi's gonna scold you again..."
"It can't be helped since I skipped breakfast today."
Airi is gentle.
I wish it were always like this...
"Airi, I've told you before, being gentle and spoiling someone are different things,"
Sashihara-san interjects.
"It's fine. I think Toya-kun is probably holding back even now. Lately, I've started to be able to tell what Toya-kun is thinking~"
Airi speaks while drinking straight tea.
"It's really just as Masashi said. They're on a different dimension somehow."
While drinking cocoa, Kuze-san is surprised as she listens to our interaction.
"Right? Oh, that's right, I should introduce her to everyone. This is my girlfriend, Mika Kuze."
"I'm Mika. You can call me by my first name."
As Mika-san says this, she gives a small bow.
"Ah, me too. This is my boyfriend, Makoto Tada."
"I'm Makoto. Nice to meet you."
"Otonashi-san, your boyfriend is incredibly cool!"
Kiritani-kun is surprised.
The other girls are also making a fuss.
"But you really are a couple of beautiful people, aren't you, Otonashi-san?"
When Watanabe-kun says that, Kanna laughs, but she's probably actually embarrassed.
She's looking down and sipping her coffee.
Everyone else introduces themselves as well.
"Hey, what are we doing after this?"
Sashihara-san asks Watanabe-kun.
"Let's see, the only thing I can think of is karaoke,"
Watanabe-kun says apologetically.
"I'm fine with that. I like karaoke,"
Sashihara-san says, and no one objects.
Me? There seem to be plenty of people who sing, so I think I'll be fine.
When we go to the karaoke parlor, Watanabe-kun goes to the reception.
It seems he had reserved a party room.
It's spacious.
When we enter the room, everyone secures their own seat.
I went to the very back.
Kanna and Airi are next to me.
Watanabe-kun and Mika-san were sitting near the entrance.
Sashihara-san, who loves karaoke, operates the terminal first, and songs are passed around one after another.
Ishihara-kun and I held back.
Ishihara-kun apparently isn't good at karaoke.
As for me... I'm doing my best just to process the food placed in front of me.
The time is unlimited until 19:00.
All-you-can-drink included.
Watanabe-kun was going around asking everyone for their drinks.
I order a cola float.
The other people ordered their respective favorite drinks.
"I'll have a Cassiole!"
Mika-san says the name of a strange juice.
"Just stick with orange juice today,"
Watanabe-kun says and orders orange juice.
"Masashi is so unromantic~"
"You promised not to drink today, right?"
Since the others were picking at the food too, it disappears in an instant.
"Watanabe-kun, a katsudon and tonkotsu shoyu ramen... and a cream soda..."
"Toya-kun, here."
Airi hands me the terminal.
"Let's sing at least one song. Ah, let's sing that one together?"
Saying that, she enters a duet song on her own.
"Heh, Katagiri-kun can sing something like this!"
"I can sing most songs that are meant for two people,"
Airi answers Sashihara-san proudly.
"I'm jealous~ Eita should learn from you. He forces himself to sing nothing but Vocaloid songs and such~"
...I'm glad I didn't put one in.
Toya and Airi's turn comes.
Airi starts singing.
And then I start singing too.
I hear a whistle.
I was a little embarrassed, but I was able to sing properly.
"Okay, next is this one!"
Wait! The ramen will get soggy.
"I'll sing too!!"
As if having made up his mind, Ishihara-kun raises his voice.
"I've been waiting for those words!"
Watanabe-kun hands the terminal to Ishihara-kun.
It seems Ishihara-kun had already decided on a song.
He enters the song immediately.
After we sang one more song, Ishihara-kun started singing.
A song from an anime that existed before we were born.
Was he singing his current feelings?
Eguchi-san was listening intently.
When he finished singing, applause rang out.
Even though there are 8 hours, with 10 people singing, it goes by in a flash.
I'll decide the last one!!
"...~♪"
A song often heard at the end of summer.
It's not the season, but when it comes to closing out karaoke, this is the one!
"Toya-kun... you're off the mark, you know?"
Airi pokes my side and says a word, and then boos erupt from everyone.
"Toya! Think about the season, man!" says Makoto.
"Toya's sense is lacking sometimes, huh," says Watanabe-kun.
"Katagiri-kun, are you an old man!" says Sashihara-san.
Eguchi-san is troubled.
Kanna and Mika-san are rolling over laughing.
Kiritani-kun and Ishihara-kun were laughing too.
What, I'm actually getting a laugh.
"Can't be helped~"
Saying that, Airi puts her arm around my shoulder.
She starts singing.
As Airi starts singing, everyone puts their arms around each other and starts singing.
After all, this song has to be like this!
(3)
When we left the karaoke, it was night.
"Well, it's dark out, so I'll head off around here..."
As Ishihara-kun tries to leave, Watanabe-kun and Mika-san catch him.
"Isshy, was it? The night is just beginning."
"You're not seriously planning to go home and leave Eguchi-san behind, are you?"
It seems that "seriously" was the case.
"The finale has to be at that shop!"
The place Mika-san suggested was an izakaya.
"I told you no alcohol today!"
Watanabe-kun admonishes her.
"I just shouldn't drink, right? There aren't many places where this many people can eat,"
Mika-san rebels.
"Well, isn't it fine as long as you don't drink?"
When Kanna says that, Watanabe-kun reluctantly agrees.
It's my first time entering an izakaya.
The staff looks at us suspiciously.
"It's just soft drinks,"
Watanabe-kun explains, and the staff agrees and guides us to our seats.
We order a course meal.
When asked for drinks, I ordered apple juice.
Kanna and Mika-san both say "Draft!!" at the same time, so Makoto and Watanabe-kun restrain them.
"It's hell to have this huge amount of edamame and not be able to drink,"
Mika-san complains.
"Mika is right! It's torture!" says Kanna.
Once the drinks are distributed to everyone, Watanabe-kun stands up.
"Well then, thanks for today, everyone—!"
We toast.
This kind of thing is fresh and nice.
When the food arrives and I try to take some on a side plate, Airi snatches the plate away.
Then she silently serves things like salad.
"You have to eat your vegetables too."
Usually, she'd just pat my head, but she's really changed.
Kanna and Mika-san have completely hit it off.
It seems everyone else is opening up to each other as well.
The non-alcoholic banquet passed three hours in a flash.
As expected, I ate too much today.
I can't eat anymore...
"Well, see ya."
Saying that, Mika-san and Watanabe-kun disappear into the night city.
...They're probably going to drink.
"Well, shall we head home too?" says Kanna.
And so we disbanded.
Makoto also returns to the dormitory.
The three of us remaining wait for the bus to go home.
"That was fun."
"Mika was an interesting person too."
"Yeah, she was really beautiful. Like a Kanna with big breasts."
"Airi, that one comment is hurtful... You've gotten bigger again, haven't you?"
"Ehe. Did you notice? Toya-kun told me too..."
"Toya is a man after all..."
"That's right~ I'm a boy~ I wish he'd look at me a little more than the food."
Pretending not to hear is the best, right?
"But, I was watching all day today, and I think it's a bit much not to scold him at all. Toya just ate and ate."
"Hmm. That's just how Toya-kun is, so it can't be helped."
"Did you give up?"
"No~ I'll warn him if his physique starts to change, of course. But he's gentle to me at night, despite how he looks."
"What, so not just his appetite, but his desires in that area have awakened too?"
"Seems so~"
Pretend not to hear, pretend not to hear.
"I'm envious of Airi."
"Isn't Makoto-kun gentle?"
"He is, he's just a bit perverted in some ways."
"I see~"
What did you request, Makoto...
"So, how long do you plan on pretending not to hear, Toya?"
Kanna suddenly brings up the topic.
"You noticed?"
"Of course I did!"
"I didn't notice... I wondered if he was in his own world again."
Airi is surprised.
"But you're mean, if that was the case, you should have given some reaction."
It's because you were having a conversation that's hard to react to.
"Come to think of it, I hadn't asked. Airi, you were floating on air for a while after the free time in Tokyo, right? What happened?"
"Ah, that was... Toya-kun, with street basketball..."
Are you asking that now? I mean, we promised not to talk about it, right?
"Heh, why street basketball?"
"Ah..."
See, that's how it goes...
Airi confessed everything.
"You idiot Toya! What were you planning to do if you messed up!!"
"Airi!! I told you not to talk about it!"
"Don't shift the responsibility!"
"Ah, that reminds me!"
Airi changed the subject for me.
I'm grateful.
...Or so I thought for a brief moment.
"Once we talked about it... we were supposed to do it."
"Hah? What are you two thinking, you're still 17!"
The two of us were lectured by Kanna.
(4)
Click.
The pale yellow liquid and the reddish-brown transparent liquid poured into the glasses ripple.
"Good work, Masashi."
"Thanks, Mika."
"It was definitely good to meet them, they were a fun bunch."
Mika looks back on today's events.
"That guy Toya was exactly as Masashi said."
"He's more than just that."
The type to demonstrate their true value at the critical moment.
The drawbacks are that he's unaware of it, and the gap between that and his usual self is extreme.
"But, I can't beat those two, though I don't want to lose."
"True, I'd like to become like that someday."
Those two probably refer to Toya and Airi.
Did something happen on Christmas Eve?
I feel like the bond between the two has deepened again.
"And then, yeah, Kanna was a good person too."
"Kanna-san might be similar to you."
"But she's smart, right? Since she goes to the same high school as you, Masashi..."
"Even so, it seems she's struggling. She's studying while working a part-time job."
"Amazing. The basic specs are just different."
"It's not something that can be summed up with such a simple phrase; Kanna-san is struggling in her own way."
"Anyway, I'm not struggling..."
There she goes again.
As soon as she drinks, she becomes self-deprecating.
"Mika is struggling too... in various ways."
"Masashi is the only one who says that to me."
Mika finishes the drink in her glass and tries to order another.
I stop her.
"I told you only one glass, right?"
"Che, then an oolong tea..."
Mika orders a soft drink.
When it arrives, she drinks it through a straw.
"I'd like to meet them again. I want to try drinking with Kanna."
"Don't drag Kanna-san into this. She's aiming for the local university."
I'd feel bad if it affected her internal school records.
"Isn't that the same for you, Masashi? Are you okay? Coming to a place like this."
"Mika and I are in the same boat. If it doesn't work out, I'll just work and support you."
"Am I dragging you down?"
"You're supporting me. Rest assured."
"I see, then that's good."
I finish my Salty Dog and settle the bill.
"What are we doing after this?"
"The usual."
"Let's go to a hotel for once."
"At this hour? Everywhere's full."
Besides, Mika's house is more luxurious than some mediocre hotel.
"How boring."
"There's nothing tomorrow. I'll make sure to enjoy myself plenty."
"Is that so! That's more like it."
Mika's voice bounces.
Mika stops a taxi, and we head toward Mika's house.
(5)
"I had fun tonight. Let's hang out again."
When I return home, I send a message to Eguchi-san.
Then I take a bath.
When I return from the bath, my smartphone is flashing.
An incoming call.
I wonder who it is?
It was Eguchi-san.
I call back immediately.
"Hello?"
"Ah, Eguchi-san. I'm sorry. I was in the bath."
"It's always just messages, so I thought I'd talk for a change."
"T-that's true. I'm sorry."
"You should stop that habit of apologizing immediately. It makes it seem like I'm bullying you."
"Y-yes."
"And then... I wonder when you'll be able to graduate from calling me Eguchi-san?"
"
?"
"I think there are various ways to call me, like Emi or Emi-rin."
The latter is absolutely not happening.
"T-then, Emi..."
"That's fine."
"..."
A moment of silence flows.
"Don't you have anything to talk about?"
Eh? I'm the one to start the conversation?
Didn't Emi have something to talk about?
"Can't be helped... well, I'll give you a topic. When can we meet next?"
"A-anytime..."
I don't have any particular plans.
"Don't you have a more concrete plan?"
Even if you tell me to be concrete...
"...How about New Year's Eve? Are you spending the year's end together?"
Is the trip back okay for that?
"You live close to the city, right? I'll have you let me stay at your house."
N-no, that's impossible! I have siblings.
"My parents won't allow it."
"...Are your parents awake right now?"
I look toward the living room. They seem to still be awake.
"Could you put your parents on the phone for a moment?"
I wonder what she intends to say?
I explain the situation to my parents and hand over the phone.
"Yes, thank you for always taking care of my son... Eh? Yes, yes... That's fine. We'll be waiting for you."
My parent hands the phone back to me.
"What a cute daughter, isn't she? Don't go ruining her yet."
What did they talk about?
"Hello?"
"I've obtained your parents' permission. Well then, I'll spend the New Year at your house."
Huh?
As I thought, she was negotiating that.
"...I understand."
"Somehow, you sound reluctant. Do you dislike spending the New Year with me that much?"
"It's not that, but..."
"But. What?"
"Is Emi's house okay? Your parents won't say anything?"
"I'll just say I'm spending it at a friend's house, so it's fine."
Ah, that kind of excuse works, doesn't it.
"Then, on New Year's Eve."
"Yes, see you then."
Maybe I should consult Katagiri-kun?
(6)
"Ah~ I'm tired."
When I return to my room, I dive onto the bed.
Today was fun.
Emi is the same as always, but she seems to be enjoying herself with Isshy.
Just then, the phone rings.
Speak of the devil.
It's from Emi.
"Hello~?"
"Hello Ai-chan, I have a favor to ask..."
The content of the favor is quite simple.
I'm staying at Isshy's house on New Year's Eve, so please make it seem like I'm staying at your house.
"Sure~"
"Thank you... by the way, I have a question..."
I wonder what it is?
"Is there anything necessary when staying at a boyfriend's house?"
Ah, I see.
Emi-chan has never stayed at a boy's house before.
"It's basically no different from staying at a friend's house. Other than that, maybe just mental preparation?"
"Mental preparation?"
"The mindset that since you're sleeping together, those kinds of things might happen."
"No way Isshy has that kind of courage. His parents are there too."
Well, if the partner is Isshy, that wouldn't happen suddenly. ...But.
"You should still be prepared to accept it. Even if you don't expect it."
"...Should I prepare underwear and such?"
"Of course!"
"I understand... Thank you."
"Stay safe~"
"? See you."
After hanging up, there's another incoming call.
It's from Eita.
"Hello?"
"Ah, who were you talking to just now?"
"Emi."
"Ah, I see. Is Eguchi-san doing well with Isshy?"
"It seems they're doing well enough to stay at his house."
"For real? That's amazing."
You've stayed at my place plenty of times.
"So, what do you want?"
"I was thinking, for this coming New Year's Eve, why don't we go visit a shrine?"
"Sure. So, what about the way back?"
There's no last train, you know?
"We can just stay at a net cafe or something, right?"
Well, with his brain, that's probably the limit of his thinking.
"Is a net cafe okay? Won't it be full?"
"Probably fine, there are several stores."
"Got it. Is that all?"
"Yeah, then see you tomorrow."
"Yes, good night."
I hang up.
A message comes from Eita.
"Today was fun. I love you♡"
Gross!
"Don't send me gross messages."
"S-sorry."
"Well, I'll accept the sentiment. Good night then."
"Does Ai like me?"
Endlessly gross.
That said, it would be pitiful if I didn't reply with something.
"No matter how far apart we are, it doesn't change. You know what I mean, right?"
I mean, just understand it.
"Thank you, good night."
It seems it got through.
There are things that can't be understood unless put into words.
But there are also things I want to be understood without putting them into words.
It might be selfish.
But I want you to believe.
Because my meeting with you was a miracle from a distant day.