Chapter 4: A 16-Year-Old's Prologue
[14/4/2026: Chapter re-translated.]
The morning of December 25th. Sunlight and the cold morning air leaked through the gap in the curtains.
Half-asleep, I pulled my futon back over myself.
Today is my birthday, Christmas, and the closing ceremony for the semester. What a jam-packed day.
My alarm clock hasn't rung yet, so let's enjoy the futon a little longer-
"Merry onii-sama! Happy Birthday!"
Along with Kaju's cheer, the sound of a party popper echoed through the room.
So this is how it's going to be this year. I sat up while rubbing my eyes.
"...Good morning, Kaju. You're already so energetic so early in the morning."
"Yes, because today is a memorable day. Now, onii-sama, please get up quickly."
Kaju spun around, making the hem of her red dress flutter.
"Wait, Kaju, that outfit..."
"Yes, Kaju tried dressing up like Santa to be Christmassy. How is it?"
Kaju was wearing a Santa dress and a reindeer headband.
"Yeah, it's cute. But wasn't Christmas banned in our house?"
"Yes, that's correct. Because Kaju has the same doubt every year."
Kaju sat on my bed properly.
"Even though it's your birthday, for some reason, the world only favors Christmas. Kaju has been fighting against such a world. It's Christmas versus onii-sama, so to speak."
My enemy is pretty strong.
"However, Kaju realized something. Could it be that the world is actually celebrating you, onii-sama? That the countless illuminations in the city are actually there for you, Kaju thought. After thinking about that until morning, Kaju successfully reconciled with Christmas."
"I'm glad you guys could make up. Now go to sleep."
Wait, but if she only accepted Christmas this morning, that means…
"When did you buy that Santa cosplay?"
"For some reason, this outfit was in the back of Mom's closet-"
"Okay, stop. Let's pretend I didn't hear that."
The information storm is too much this early in the morning.
"Since Kaju's winter break starts today, Kaju will put her skills to work and prepare a feast for dinner. Kaju will be making a whole roasted Mikawa red chicken for the main course, so please look forward to it."
"Heh, now that sounds like something to look forward to."
"Yes! Today is, in a sense, the day of a new departure for you, onii-sama. I was a little surprised, but I will support you with all my might!"
"A new departure...? Today is my birthday, but that's quite an exaggeration."
Kaju put her hands together in front of her chest with a serious expression.
"Kaju was also very surprised last night. But if it's your choice, Kaju will support it!"
...What on earth has she been talking about? Last night, I just came home, took a normal bath, and went to sleep.
"Don't tell me, Kaju. You didn't follow me last night, did you?"
When I said that half-jokingly, Kaju gave a small nod.
"Yes, Kaju was just curious who onii-sama had invited."
"Eh, you were really watching!?"
"That girl is from Tsuwabuki, right? Kaju remembers seeing her at the summer training camp!"
The summer Literature Club training camp. If I recall correctly, Kaju was also at a student council exchange camp in Toyohashi on the same days.
Even though nothing is going on between Shikiya-san and me, having my family see us together is a little embarrassing…
"Kaju, you might be misunderstanding something. I'm not dating her, okay?"
"Kaju knew it! So for you, onii-sama, she is a romantic interest, isn't she!?"
Kaju edged closer, her cheeks flushed red.
"A lot of things might happen, but Kaju is on your side, onii-sama!"
"She's just a senior at my school, it's nothing like that. Now, get off the bed."
"Yes, please take your time nurturing your love! For this time only, Kaju shall watch over you!"
I see, that's a big help. Just then, Kaju let out a huge yawn and rubbed her eyes sleepily.
"Kaju, you barely slept last night, did you? Don't worry about dinner preparations and get some proper sleep."
"Kaju also has to bake a three-tier cake, so there won't be enough time if Kaju doesn't start now. Besides, chicken tastes better when it is freshly slaughtered in the morning!"
Eh, you're going to slaughter one right now? You have got to be kidding, right?
"Your big brother is perfectly fine with just a cake! And one tier is enough!"
"But, but, onii-sama, wouldn't that be a little lonely? As expected, a whole roasted morning-slaughtered local chicken-"
"Then I guess I would like to eat salted rice balls, some tofu, and maybe a vegetable salad."
For today only, I am a vegetarian. Kaju puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction, but then-
"...An arm pillow."
She muttered softly.
"Eh?"
"Onii-sama, if you give me an arm pillow, Kaju will be a good girl and go to sleep."
Ever since Kaju entered middle school, sleeping together in the same bed has been banned in our house, but... I suppose it can't be helped just this once. I lay down on the bed and stretched my arm out to the side.
"Then just until you fall asleep, Kaju."
"Yes, onii-sama!"
Kaju dived in and slept next to me.
"Ehehe, it's been a while since Kaju has slept together with you like this, onii-sama."
"The last time was when you were in elementary school, so it's been about two years, huh?"
"...KaJu gUeSses sO."
Why the broken speech? Don't tell me she's been sneaking into my futon without me knowing...?
While I was considering interrogating her about it, Kaju began to breathe in a regular, sleeping rhythm.
She barely slept last night. It's no wonder she fell asleep so quickly.
Ah, if the alarm rings, Kaju will wake up. I stretched out my other arm and turned off the alarm clock's switch. Now then, I have to be careful not to fall back asleep.
But there's no way I can sleep while giving Kaju an arm pillow anyway, so it should be fine to close my eyes for just a bit. I was tired yesterday, after all.
But somehow... the futon is so warm. Is it because I'm sleeping next to Kaju…?
Just a little bit... It's fine if I sleep, right... Did I... set the alarm…?
And so, my perfect attendance award vanished into bubbles because I was late on the last day of the second semester.
*
The closing ceremony also ended without a hitch.
The principal's speech was as long as always, and the warnings for winter break were five times more thorough than Amanatsu-sensei's.
The student council members were working with the Broadcasting Club during the closing ceremony, and they were still busy cleaning up.
Tiara-san was checking the equipment while fending off a clingy Shikiya-san.
In other words, Shikiya-san isn't working.
...Those two might have gone through a lot, but it seems they have settled exactly where they belong.
I absently gazed at the congestion at the gymnasium exit.
Since we're leaving the gym in order starting from the third-years, it looks like it will take a while longer.
As I stood apart from my classmates, Yanami came and lined up next to me.
"...Nukumizu-kun, it's rare for you to be late."
"I accidentally fell back asleep for a bit. I pedaled my bike as fast as I could, but I didn't make it in time."
"Wait, didn't you commute by train? If a bike is faster, why don't you always do that?"
"Because it's tiring. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter, right?"
Letting my words go in one ear and out the other with a "uh-huh", Yanami lowered her voice and asked me.
"More importantly, Nukumizu-kun. What happened last night?"
"I messaged you on LINE about that last night, didn't I? I said it probably went well."
"No, no, there's a limit to being vague. 'Probably' or 'I think', if you could lose weight with just that, no one would ever struggle, you know?"
What is she talking about?
"I'm telling you I don't know any more than that. It wasn't exactly an atmosphere where I could ask Shikiya-senpai for details yesterday."
For some reason, Yanami frowned and glared at me at my words.
"...Wait, weren't you just going to make those two meet yesterday? Did you go on a date with Shikiya-senpai?"
"It wasn't a date. We just had tea at a cafe."
"That is a date. A cafe on the night of Christmas Eve is totally a date. Huhh, so while I was counting the digits of pi, you were out having a good time, Nukumizu-kun."
Pi on the night of Christmas Eve...?
"Is it fun counting that?"
"Do you think I was counting it because I wanted to?"
Then why do something like that? Yanami directed a threatening gaze at me.
"I'm telling you, I bought a table of pi that goes to one million digits to get through the night of Christmas Eve. Around the halfway point, all the bad stuff gets blown completely away. I'll lend it to you next time."
I don't have anything that bad going on. If I had to say, the time I need it is right now.
The crowd in the gym was starting to thin out. Yanami took a sideways step, closing the distance between us.
"...Nukumizu-kun, about after school today."
"Uhh, there's a Christmas party, right?"
Yanami gave a small nod.
"I'm still hesitating about whether to participate. I'll get permission from your little sister for you, so do you want to go together?"
"But I feel like I would stick out at a Christmas party. And I wouldn't have anyone to talk to."
At that, Yanami kicked my shoe with a displeased look.
"...You have me, don't you?"
Well, yeah, but I can clearly picture her normally getting hyped up with everyone else while I'm completely unable to fit in.
Even so, I would hate to make people worry and force them to keep me company…
While I was searching for a good way to decline, my eyes caught sight of Shikiya-san walking unsteadily by the edge of the gym, hugging a speaker with both arms.
It's good that she's working, but she looks kind of precarious. The cable dangling from the speaker looks like it's going to tangle around her legs any second. Ah, why is she veering off diagonally? She's going to hit the wall…
Ah, sheesh, why does that girl make me worry so much?
"Nukumizu-kun, what's wrong?"
Leaving behind Yanami, who was saying something, I had unconsciously started walking toward Shikiya-san.
At the same time, I quickened my pace, and Shikiya-san stepped on the cable and lost her balance.
The speaker falling to the floor made a loud thud, gathering the gazes of everyone in the gym.
And amidst those gazes, I was holding Shikiya-san in my arms.
"Senpai, are you okay!?"
Shikiya-san blinked her voluminous eyelashes in wonder in my arms.
"I'm okay... What about the speaker...?"
"Who cares about the speaker-"
I suddenly calmed down in the middle of saying that. Our posture looked exactly like the finishing pose of a ballroom dance.
The gazes of hundreds of Tsuwabuki students were directed at us.
"U-Um, can you stand on your own!? Okay, I'm going to let go of you now!"
When I hurriedly tried to pull my body away, Shikiya-san did the opposite and wrapped both of her arms around my neck.
"Hey, senpai!?"
"Why... did you come for me?"
"Huh? Well, that's because you were kind of swaying, so I thought it might be dangerous."
"You're... watching me closely, huh..."
A soft scent of makeup drifted through the air.
Staring intently at me with her pale eyes, Shikiya-san…
"Do you… want to go out with me…?"
…She threw me a sweet whisper, one that felt like it was stroking the back of my neck.
After a moment of silence, a commotion spread among the surrounding students like ripples on water.
At the center of that commotion, I repeated Shikiya-san's words in my head as if it were someone else's problem, and then I frantically shook my head.
"N-No! It's not that! That would be too presumptuous, or rather, too disrespectful!"
"It's... not?"
"Y-Yes!"
When I answered with a cracking voice, Shikiya-san muttered in a flat tone.
"I see… I got the wrong… idea…"
Shikiya-san fell silent just like that.
The surrounding students watched us from a distance, whispering amongst themselves.
What is this atmosphere? Did I, by any chance, screw up...?
As I stood frozen in a cold sweat, Tiara-san came running over, weaving through the crowd.
"Wait, Shikiya-senpai! What are you doing in public!?"
Tiara-san forcibly snatched Shikiya-san from my arms.
As I felt relieved by the rescue, she glared at me fiercely.
"N-Nukumizu-san! You really do just go after anyone you can get your hands on! I misjudged you!"
"No, no, I just supported her when she was about to fall over. Senpai, please say something."
Shikiya-san gave a small nod and peered into Tiara-san's face.
"Next is... Tiara-chan's turn..."
"Wha!? I don't really-"
Eh, is there still something else?
Shikiya-san lifted Tiara-san's chin with her fingertips while I was frightened.
"Shall I... say it for you instead...?"
"I'm fine! N-Nukumizu-san!"
Tiara-san stood firmly in front of me while blushing.
"Ah, yes. What is it?"
"I have something to talk to you about after school today, so please keep your schedule open!"
"Huh? Well, I don't mind, but-"
"D-Don't get any weird expectations, okay! I'll contact you later then!"
Leaving those words behind, Tiara-san took Shikiya-san by the hand and left the area.
…So, what just happened?
Completely frozen, I picked up the speaker from the floor to escape the surrounding gazes.
Shikiya-san's cold body. The warmth deep within it still lingered on my palms.
"Um, does anyone know where I should take this speaker…?"
My feeble words were swallowed by the surrounding commotion.
Two-timing. Carnage. Love triangle. Such disturbing words echoed around me.
Wait, what should I do...? As I looked around for help, I caught sight of Yanami.
...Ah, she looked away.
As I stood there at a total loss for what to do, Konuki-sensei appeared, her white coat fluttering.
"Alright, everyone, hurry back to your classrooms. Homeroom is starting."
While dispersing the loitering students, sensei beckoned to me.
"Please carry that speaker over here. Come with me."
"Ah, yes!"
Saved. I'm sorry for wishing you wouldn't come near me too much before.
While I was putting the speaker away on a shelf in the stage wings I was guided to, Konuki-sensei pressed her body right up against my back from behind.
"...You've been through a lot, haven't you? If it's worries about male-female relationships, why don't you try talking to your teacher here?"
"No, there's really nothing. It's the truth, so please stop whispering in my ear."
I take it back. Please don't get too close, sensei. Preferably, stay 2 meters away from me.
"Rest assured. My judgment is quite lenient when it comes to this field. Shall I introduce you to a members-only app that virtually splits your smartphone account into five?"
"Uh, I'm good. Well then, I'll be taking my leave now."
As I tried to leave casually-
"...Hey, Nukumizu-kun."
Sensei stopped me with a serious tone, different from her usual one.
"What is it?"
"I also had a lot going on when I was around your age. Of course, I was serious in my own youthful way, but..."
She showed a gentle smile.
"I wish I had faced them a little more head-on. That's what I think now."
"Sensei..."
Konuki-sensei nodded deeply, as if to say she understood everything.
"So Nukumizu-kun. Face them naked not just in body, but in heart too-"
"Our bodies haven't been facing each other in the first place."
I jumped in to interrupt her words.
"Ara, not yet? I'm good at giving advice on that side of things as well, so what will you do?"
"I won't do anything. But, thank you."
She was surely worrying about me in her own way. I gave her an awkward smile.
"You're welcome. Do your best, Nukumizu-kun."
Leaving behind an expert wink, Konuki-sensei exited the stage wings.
As if waiting for that, a chime sounded from my phone.
I had forgotten to put it on silent mode. Good thing it didn't ring during the closing ceremony…
Feeling relieved, I took it out and saw an email notification from Tiara-san.
The subject was <Excuse Me>, and the message was truly concise, just like Tiara-san.
<After school, Mukaiyama Oike Park. I will be returning that item, so I'll be waiting on the bridge.>
*
The final homeroom of the second semester. As I closed my unremarkable report card, I recalled the incident in the gymnasium.
Shikiya-san had asked me, "Do you want to go out with me?"
What would have happened if I had said yes…?
I vigorously shook my head to shake off that thought.
There's no way such a good thing would happen to me. Nice play by me, avoiding a bad end.
Pulling myself together and looking around the classroom, Yanami was making a racket with her friends, and Yakishio was slumped over her desk. And for the flirting Himemiya couple, things there haven't changed a bit since the first term either.
Just as I was relieved from the usual scenery, I noticed my classmates were trying to catch glimpses of me.
…What? Is there a ladybug on my head or something?
Hakamada placed his hand on my desk as I was fiddling with my hair.
"Nukumizu, that was amazing back there."
"Huh? Back where?"
"The thing in the gym, man. I thought you were hitting it off with that senior from the student council, but you have got something going on with the VP, too, huh?"
Eh, what's that about? Feeling gazes on me, I looked around and saw several people quickly look away.
"Umm, that's a complete misunderstanding. I don't have a weird relationship with those two."
Hakamada nodded understandingly and patted me on the shoulder.
"I get it. It's tough, right? There are people everywhere who spread irresponsible rumors."
Yeah, and one of them is right in front of me.
"Well, I know you're not that kind of guy, but still. You had better make your own feelings clear sooner rather than later."
Leaving those words behind, Hakamada returned to his seat. That's the final "look who's talking" of the year…
Waiting for the commotion of the class receiving their report cards to die down, Amanatsu-sensei clapped her hands together.
"Alright, you guys. Christmas present time is over. Hurry up and take your seats."
Everyone obediently took their seats and waited for Amanatsu-sensei's words. Winter break won't begin until this is over. Once the classroom finally quieted down, Amanatsu-sensei began to speak gravely.
"I worked overtime on Christmas Eve yesterday as well. When I went to the supermarket right before closing, there were half-price stickers on the cakes."
...Is this the kind of story we're ending the year with? Amanatsu-sensei closed her eyes and continued speaking solemnly.
"You know, since the actual day of Christmas is today, aren't those half-price stickers a bit early? A Christmas cake is perfectly fine even if it's two or three days past, isn't it?"
The classroom fell dead silent. The wind blew against the windows, making them rattle.
Amidst the confusion of all the classmates, Amanatsu-sensei slowly opened her eyes.
"To prove that, I have decided to eat the cake I bought on New Year's Eve."
Please don't.
Ignoring our concerns, Sensei slammed the attendance book onto the teacher's desk with a whack.
"Alright, those are my parting words to you! Don't go too crazy just because it's winter break, you hear me!"
A loud cheer went up.
In an unchanging classroom, listening to unchanging complaints.
But today, something is different from the first term.
I turned 16 years old.
*
After homeroom ended, the classroom was completely dominated by talk of the Christmas party.
From the looks of it, about two-thirds of the class is participating, and there are many students like me who are completely uninvolved.
As I slung my bag over my shoulder and stood up, I heard Yanami and Himemiya-san's conversation.
"Are you really not going to be able to make it to the Christmas party, Anna?"
"I really wanted to go too, but I REALLY can't get out of my Literature Club work. Sorry about that."
Hmm, so Yanami isn't going?
What was this Literature Club work Yanami is talking about again? Could she be mistakenly thinking there's a strategy meeting today too...? She says she wants to go to the Christmas party, so it would be bad to just ignore her and go home.
I stepped into Yanami & Himemiya's 12K zone.
"Yanami-san, there are no club activities today."
"Eh?"
Yanami's expression froze, and Himemiya-san's sparkles instantly expanded.
"Nukumizu-kun, is that true? Yay, Anna!"
"Ah, look. We have to make the club magazine, right? Come on, we haven't printed it yet."
Saying that, Yanami blinked one eye rapidly.
Hm? What is she doing?
I thought she was signaling someone, but there's no one behind me...?
"We only print things for the freshman welcome and the Tsuwabuki Festival. We don't have any particular work this time."
"O-Oh... is that so?"
"Thank goodness! You can come to the Christmas party too, Anna!"
Himemiya-san clung to Yanami's arm with a smile. I don't really get it, but it's good that everyone's happy.
"Well then, I'm going to get going soon."
Yanami grabbed my bag as I was about to leave.
Wait, what is this? She's looking at me with the eyes of a killer.
"...Of course you're going too, right, Nukumizu-kun?"
"I have a prior arrangement with Basori-san, so I'll pass. Well then, Yanami-san, have a happy new year."
She was kind of scary, so I needed to head to my meeting place quickly. When I walked briskly out of the classroom and looked back one last time, Yanami was being hauled away by Himemiya-san with the eyes of a dead fish.
...So it turns out Yanami actually did want to go to the Christmas party, huh?
Even though she was hesitating so much. A woman's heart is truly a mysterious thing.
*
Mukaiyama Oike. It's close to the center of Toyohashi City, about a 15-minute bicycle ride from Tsuwabuki High School.
If I say it's about the size of three Nagoya Dome fields, you might understand how big it is.
There are promenades and parks maintained around it, and it gets a lot of cherry blossom viewing visitors during the spring season, but on a winter weekday, it's understandably deserted.
After parking my bike in the bicycle parking lot next to the cultural hall, I headed towards the pond along the promenade. A long bridge spans across the middle of the pond, and according to what I've heard, it's over 100 meters long.
The meeting place was on the bridge. I wonder why she went out of her way to call me out to a place like that.
Even if the item in question is a BL book, handing it over in the clubroom or behind the school building should have sufficed. Even though we're talking about Tiara-san here, I don't think she would take my life… right…?
Exiting the promenade, a wide pond spread out before my eyes.
The long bridge, with "Oike Bridge" written on its pillar, widens slightly near the opposite shore.
There's even a bench there, and it looks like someone is sitting on it once I strain my eyes.
I involuntarily shivered from the west wind blowing across the pond.
I couldn't imagine anyone other than Tiara-san being out in this cold. I took a deep breath and started crossing the bridge.
The girl I could see in the distance seemed to be wearing a coat and a red scarf over her uniform.
Has she noticed me? She was restlessly standing up and sitting down on the bench.
Watching her figure gradually grow larger, even I started to get nervous.
Today is Christmas. Going out of one's way to call someone of the opposite sex out to a deserted place, if this were a rom-com, an event occurring would be inevitable. Normally, anyway.
When I walked right up to her, Tiara-san bowed her head as if she had been waiting impatiently.
"Thank you very much for going out of your way to come here."
"I don't mind that, but why did you call me out to a place like this?"
When I asked while feigning nonchalance, Tiara-san looked around with a triumphant expression.
"There's no better location than here if you want a place out of the public eye with absolutely no worry of being overheard for having a conversation you don't want anyone to hear, right?"
It's in full view from around the pond, but it's true that if we're this far away, no one can tell who is talking about what. After all, it's the size of three Nagoya Domes.
"I get that, but wouldn't a karaoke box or something have worked?"
"Who was it that brought a girl in without permission last time?"
"That was Yakishio acting on her own- yes, I'm sorry."
...This is the usual Tiara-san, alright. At that thought, Tiara-san glared up at me.
"So, Nukumizu-san. What was that all about in the gymnasium?"
"Eh, by that you mean..."
Don't tell me she overheard my conversation with Konuki-sensei.
"I'm talking about the matter with Shikiya-senpai! Whether you're going to date or not, why did the conversation turn into something like that!?"
"I don't know either. I mean, look, it's Shikiya-san we're talking about."
"Well... that is certainly true."
Tiara-san easily accepted my desperate excuse. That was easy.
"Putting that aside. Since you called me out, is it safe to assume I fulfilled my promise to you?"
"Yes. I honestly wasn't expecting it, though."
This girl really is rude.
"As Tsukinoki-san's junior, I just wanted you to share the problem. So to be honest, I truly didn't think those two would actually reconcile. I am grateful, but-"
Tiara-san fidgeted and looked down.
"...Did something happen?"
"I feel like Shikiya-senpai's sense of distance towards me has gotten awfully close. Nothing weird actually happened last night, right?"
"If you mean the kind of thing you're worrying about, I think it's fine, Tiara-san."
"What kind of worries do you think I have? Also, please don't call me by my first name."
With a displeased expression, Tiara-san held out a paper shopping bag with both hands.
"I said I would return the book, right? I keep my promises, after all."
"Umm, this is…?"
It's too bulky for just containing a doujinshi.
Bewildered, I took the bag and saw a package wrapped in red paper.
"There's something else in there besides the doujinshi, though."
"...That's for you."
Looking away, Tiara-san mumbled quietly.
…Why?
I swallowed the words I was about to say. Yesterday, before I left the house, Kaju had drilled the "Rules for Receiving a Present" into my head. To think an opportunity to put them to use would come so quickly.
Uh, if I recall correctly, the first thing is…
"Wow, I'm so happy. Are you sure I can have this?"
…Conveying joy while expressing surprise. That is the highest priority.
"Y-Yes. It would trouble me if you expect too much, but it is something within the price range a high school student can afford."
"That's not true, I'm really happy. Can I open it?"
"I-I don't particularly mind."
…Repeatedly conveying joy while showing a desire to see what's inside.
Opening it comes after that. And the important thing is to open it carefully.
According to Kaju, wildly tearing it open is a mischievous act allowed only for elementary school boys.
"...Uh, what was I supposed to do after that again?"
Tiara-san gave me a puzzled look when I muttered that without thinking.
"Excuse me? What does that mean?"
"Ah, no, it's nothing. ...Ah."
Inside the package was a green scarf.
"Eh, is it really okay for me to receive this? It's really nice."
When I unintentionally let out my honest thoughts, Tiara-san, whose face was dyed bright red to her ears, started speaking rapidly while looking down.
"L-Like I said, this is strictly a token of gratitude! Using Aichi Prefecture's minimum wage as a reference, I calculated the amount corresponding to your labor, and this was the result!"
It seems I was in an employment relationship with Tiara-san.
"Then wasn't it pretty expensive?"
"Well, that's, umm... I deducted the 'rewarding experience' part from it, so please don't worry about it!"
And I was being subjected to passion exploitation without even realizing it.
"If that's the case, I'll gratefully accept it."
According to Kaju's teachings, when receiving something you wear, I believe you're supposed to-
I wrapped the scarf around my neck and smiled at Tiara-san.
"It's really warm. Thank you."
"Heh!? Y-Yes! Um, because it contains wool!"
Tiara-san is being awfully flustered.
I did exactly as I was taught, but did I mess up somehow...?
Feeling anxious, I observed Tiara-san, and noticed she was also wearing a red scarf around her neck-
"Come to think of it, Basori-san, is your scarf a different color version of this one?"
"I-It's just a coincidence! The Apita over there only carried this type of scarf!"
"It's not like I'm complaining or anything. I like the color green, too."
"Well, glad to hear that…"
Tiara-san seemed to have calmed down, too, so it was about time to wrap this up.
So, if I remember correctly, the line is-
"Thank you very much. Every time I look at this, I'll think of you, Tiara-san. I will treasure it."
...Alright, with this, Kaju's style of receiving presents is perfectly executed.
In contrast to me, who was relieved and relaxing my shoulders, Tiara-san's face was so red it looked like steam might come out, and she was trembling all over.
"Excuse me?"
"...Please don't get carried away."
Mumble. Tiara-san whispered while keeping her head down.
"Sorry?"
"D-Don't get carried away!"
Tiara-san glared at me with teary eyes while poking her finger against my chest.
"Listen here! This is simply a token of gratitude! It just happened to be the Christmas season, so the wrapping ended up looking like this!"
…Wait, why is she mad?
As expected, Kaju's technique was too advanced for me. I should have practiced on Komari first…
"I get it, I get it, so calm down."
"No, you don't get it at all! This is a good opportunity. We need to have a long, hard talk about the rehabilitation of the Literature Club-"
Eh, wait, there's more to this?
As I was pushed back to the bridge's handrail by her momentum, a light melody reached my ears.
"Ah, my phone is ringing. Can I take this?"
I don't know who it is, but they saved me. Turning my back to Tiara-san, I took out my phone.
The name of the savior displayed on the screen was… Anna Yanami.
...I might not have been saved after all.
Yanami should be right in the middle of the Christmas party. Honestly, I have nothing but a bad feeling about this.
When I reluctantly pressed the call button, what I heard was a singing voice at karaoke and the laughter of boys and girls.
"Hello?"
There was no answer. Cheers echoed in the distance like BGM.
Alright, it's fine if I hang up, right? As I was about to end the call-
"...Help me."
Mumble. Yanami's dark whisper mixed in with the noise.
"Eh? Uh, Yanami-san?"
Beep, beep, beep, beep. Huh? It cut off. Did she die?
While praying for Yanami's soul, I turned back to Tiara-san.
"Um, did something happen?"
"Well, it's nothing major-"
As if interrupting the words I started to say, a light popping sound came from my phone in rapid succession.
Glancing sideways, messages were sliding into the notification screen one after another.
The sender was Yanami. She was alive.
<Aren't you coming to the Christmas party?> <It's super fun.> <Think of it as being tricked.> <And come over.>
I won't be tricked. There's absolutely no way this leads to anything good.
Further attacks had arrived while I was closing my heart to this.
<Where are you?> <Come here now.> <Get tricked.>
See, I am going to be tricked after all. But if I don't go, it's going to be a pain later…
"Sorry, Basori-san. I've been called to the class party, so I have to get going soon."
"Eh, is that so. I'm sorry for calling you out so suddenly then."
I shook my head at Tiara-san, whose momentum had suddenly stopped.
"I'm the one who should apologize. Thank you so much for the scarf!"
I deliberately looked at my watch and hurriedly left the scene.
*
A lot happened, but I safely got the doujinshi back. With this, I can spend my winter break without any worries.
Coming down from the bridge and returning to the promenade, I made sure there was no one around before peeking into the paper bag.
Inside was the handmade copy of the magazine. That ominous appearance, covered for some reason in a massive amount of sticky notes, was undoubtedly Tsukinoki-senpai's real-person BL doujinshi. When I picked it up, the sticky notes were densely packed with impressions written in tiny letters. Why did she return it with these still attached…
Flipping through the book, there were a lot of illustrations, and they were quite good.
If I'm the top, then this is me... haha... this is amazing…
Oops, this isn't the time to be reading it carefully. I sent a brief LINE report to Tsukinoki-senpai.
Kaju should be preparing for my birthday celebration at home, so once I finish checking in on Yanami, I need to hurry back.
If I recall, last year she made mock exam questions for me since I was preparing for my entrance exams. I solved them together with Kaju, and the memory of winning by a narrow margin and showing off my older brother's dignity is still fresh.
Thinking I should contact Kaju too, I took out my phone just as a ringtone started playing.
The screen displayed the name "Koto Tsukinoki". That was a fast reaction, but is she studying for her exams properly?
"Hello, what's wrong?"
"What do you mean what's wrong? You really did it yesterday, huh?"
She hit me with that right off the bat. I smiled and pulled the phone away from my face.
"Yeah, I did. Can I hang up now?"
"I'm joking. Thank you."
We shared a light laugh, and I reset the conversation.
"Sorry, I thought it was none of my business. But since I dragged those two from the student council into it, I had no choice but to do that."
"Naturally. I have a lot of apologies to make, but I'll overlook your affair with Shintaro, so how about we call it even?"
"Tamaki-senpai was seriously depressed yesterday, you know. Please comfort him later."
"Ara, I already comforted him plenty. Winter nights are long, after all."
"Listening to your bragging about your love life costs extra, you know?"
It seems the seniors are going to be fine at this rate.
I passed by a woman walking her dog and fell silent for a moment.
Senpai, who had also fallen silent to match me, started speaking in a quiet tone.
"...Nukumizu-kun, truly, thank you. I've reflected on my actions this time for sure."
"Yeah, I'm really counting on it."
"Rest assured, I've sincerely reflected on my actions. Because I've reflected from the bottom of my heart, I rewrote that novel and added Shikiya to the cast of characters. I'll send it to you later."
"...Senpai, you haven't reflected on this at all, have you?"
I let my guard down. This is… Koto Tsukinoki we're talking about, after all.
As I sighed and was about to hang up, senpai's panicked voice continued.
"Wait, I really am reflecting. From now on, I won't use physical media, and I've considered preventing its spread by setting a password. By the way, the password is the last four digits of the file name."
"Just go study for your exams. What are you going to do if only your boyfriend becomes a university student? That guy is going to realize that he's popular, you know?"
"...I'll do my best studying for the exams."
I'm glad she understood. Hanging up the phone, I gave a big stretch.
Now then, shall I head over to Yanami's place?
Daring to be tricked… is what you would call a man's pride.
*
Literature Club Report - Secret Edition
<Teachers and Students are the Taste of Honey> by Koto Tsukinoki
Xarvit Royal Magic Academy. It is one of the most prestigious schools on the continent.
Two men were walking along the long cobblestone path leading to the massive school building.
One was a man in Japanese clothing wearing a hakama. He occasionally looked around anxiously, likely feeling quite unsettled. He constantly rubbed his cheek, which was covered in stubble.
"Hey, Mishima-kun. Are we really going? Haven't you heard there's a demon here that eats people?"
"You were kicked out of the Elf Village. You have nowhere else to go, right?"
Fed up with the exchange, the man clad in a khaki military uniform answered as if they had had this conversation many times already.
"You say that, but reincarnated people are supposed to be granted the minimum rights to live, aren't they? Isn't banishment a bit too cruel?"
"What rights are you talking about after throwing yourself away with an elf woman? You should be thankful just to have your life."
At Mishima's sound argument, Dazai looked taken aback but argued back like a child.
"But man, that was the first I had heard of elves not drowning in water. I was the only one who nearly died. It's like I was tricked."
"They are kin to spirits, after all. You being saved was just a bonus, Dazai-san."
Mishima let out an exaggerated sigh for show and quickened his pace in his military boots.
Dazai-san's bad habit flared up. That was the only thing Mishima could say. This person becomes useless when he's with a woman.
That is why Mishima also threw away his carefree status as an adventurer to come along.
When Mishima stopped and looked up at the building, two tall spires stretched towards the sky.
Through Kawabata's introduction, Dazai and Mishima were to become teachers here.
Dazai gazed at the school building with an exasperated expression.
"This is quite the high-class school. Is there booze in the cafeteria?"
"You're still saying things like that. If you misbehave too much, you'll be fed to the wyverns, so please be careful."
"Don't threaten me. Even so, I've only been seeing guys around here for a while now."
Dazai furrowed his brow and looked around.
In the world of magic, talent is everything. I hear that as long as you have power, there is no barrier between men and women.
Despite this, only the boys are wearing this school's uniform.
"This is an all-boys school. There are no female students."
Saying it lightly, Mishima walked over to a statue of a little imp standing beside the cobblestones.
When he held up a sealed letter he took from his chest pocket, the statue trembled with a shudder and started to move.
"Hey, it's dangerous."
Dazai jumped back faster than he could speak.
The moving statue took the letter in its mouth and flew up, flapping its stone wings.
"Now then, let's wait until our guide arrives."
Mishima casually brushed off his hands and turned back to a frightened Dazai. From a distance, a beast's roar that sounded like a struck gong could be heard. Dazai gave a terrified look in the direction of the cry.
"Hold on, that stuff about being wyvern food was a joke, right?"
"Unfortunately, I have never met anyone who was eaten. Well, you just have to not misbehave."
At Mishima's words, which were indiscernible as to whether they were a joke or serious, Dazai nodded in silence.
The Student Council Room is located on the top floor of the academy.
From its large window, two male students were looking down outside.
The student council president, Hibari Hokobaru. A slender and tall figure. His clear eyes were just as cruel as the rumors described.
And a cold beauty that freezes anyone who sees it.
"Are those the new teachers? Where are those reincarnated people with the strange outfits from?"
Hokobaru asked the boy next to him.
"Both of them... Japan... the Showa era..."
The one who answered in a whisper was the student council secretary, Yumeji Shikiya.
When he tilted his head with a twitch, his gently wavy bangs fell over his face.
"Japan again, huh. Showa... what a strange era."
Two reincarnated people could be seen from the window.
The man with the single-edged sword hanging at his side was wearing clothes not much different from their own.
The other man had his overlapping front garment tied with a sash, an outfit reminiscent of an eastern foreign tribe.
While gazing at the two, the frightened eyes of the man who looked like an eastern foreigner looked this way… or so it felt.
No, that shouldn't be possible. A warding magic was cast on the student council room. It was impossible to enter or to look inside from the outside. Ever since the day he was toyed with by that man, he had been worrying too much.
Shikiya's cold, slender fingers grasped the hand of the president, who was giving a wry smile.
"...Stop it, welcoming the teachers comes first today. We have to beat the rules of this academy into their bodies, don't we?"
This is just his usual sweet teasing. Thinking that, Hokobaru smiled, but his body stiffened rigidly.
The spell formula that surfaced in Shikiya's pale eyes was… <Restrain>. Hokobaru's smile froze.
"S-Shikiya… What is the meaning of this…?"
Shikiya remained silent, putting more strength into the hand he was holding.
Hokobaru somehow managed to shake off that hand, but he couldn't turn his face away from those pale eyes-
Just then, the sound of clapping echoed from the opposite side of the room.
"As expected of the president. To be able to move while under Shikiya-senpai's spell."
"That voice... is it Nukumizu...?"
The warding magic cast on this room was one of the Twelve Forms of Perfect Magic passed down in the academy. There was no way to enter without him noticing. With just one exception of… being invited from the inside.
"A welcome party for the teachers? By all means, let me join in too."
Nukumizu walked over soundlessly on the thick carpet and wrapped his arm around Hokobaru's waist.
"Nukumizu, you bastard! What are you doing, taking away my freedom with such underhanded tricks-"
"Oh my, Shikiya-senpai's restraint spell should already be dispelled. You are being held by me of your own free will, Prez… Just like that day."
"That was you forcing yourself on me!"
Nukumizu grabbed Hokobaru's chin and forcefully made him look up.
"Ah, Prez... your face. Please show me more of this."
Shikiya, who was standing quietly behind them, snapped his fingers.
Then the walls pulsated, and rose vines stretching out from them entangled the president's four limbs.
"Huh!? Shikiya, you!"
"Please don't blame senpai. He wants to see the same scenery as you, Prez. I'm merely granting his modest wish."
Shikiya brought his face close enough for their lips to touch towards the immobilized Hokobaru.
"Prez... I'm together with you... so..."
The rose vines bit into the struggling Hokobaru's body, and a groan leaked from his mouth.
"Tck! Nukumizu, do you think you can get away with doing something like this!?"
"You're actually looking forward to it, aren't you? I don't think that trembling is just from fear, you know?"
Reaching a hand out to Hokobaru's chest, he roughly tore off the buttons of his shirt.
A sadistic hue surfaced on Nukumizu's face.
One step ahead of everyone else, a welcome party (feast) for just the students was about to begin…
Epilogue: A Hidden Secret
Two days have passed since winter break started.
The signs of Christmas have completely vanished, and the street corners are hurriedly beginning preparations for the new year.
Stepping off the elevator, I narrowed my eyes at the white sunlight streaming in through the large windows.
The top floor of the Toyohashi City Hall East Building. This area serves as an observation lobby, and anyone can enter freely.
As for why I'm in a place like this… I was called out by Yanami.
On the day of the closing ceremony, the location of the Christmas party was the usual karaoke place.
I timidly opened the door to the room right when a song had just ended. The gazes of everyone in the room gathered on me, and just as I promptly tried to close the door and retreat, I was caught by Yanami.
"That was hell..."
I was suddenly thrown into the Christmas tension of the cheerful extroverts in our class, joined for some reason by a selection of extroverts from other classes as well.
The only thing I remember is Yanami stuffing fries into her mouth with an expressionless face next to me as I counted the bubbles in my cola.
I have no memory of what happened after that.
...Why did Yanami, who experienced such a terrible Christmas, call me out?
My guess is that the metabolic syndrome diagnosis poster pasted at the entrance of the government building is foreshadowing. Yanami has seemed to have gotten a little bigger lately, too-
As I was thinking about such things and heading toward the observation windows, my feet stopped.
A sunny weekday afternoon, in front of the large windows.
A young lady in a coat was swaying happily like she was trying to keep a rhythm.
I can't hear it from here, but she's surely humming a song or something.
…What a cute girl.
The moment after those words suddenly came to mind, I regretted it from the bottom of my heart.
The hem of the coat fluttered, and the one who turned her profile toward me was… Yanami.
...I just let my guard down because it's a different coat from the karaoke place. That didn't count, okay?
Telling myself that in my heart, I called out to Yanami.
"Yanami-san, sorry to keep you waiting."
“Ah, Nukumizu-kun. Thanks for going out of your way."
Contrary to my expectations, a weak smile floated on the face of Yanami, who turned around as she said that.
To make matters worse, she even looked pale. What's wrong? Did she ruin her liver or something?
"Yanami-san, aren't you kind of slumped?"
"I'm telling you, the damage from the Christmas party hasn't worn off yet..."
Yanami dropped her shoulders in dejection.
"Eh, but just now in front of the window-"
"Can you tell? Yesterday, I had trouble falling asleep and slept in an awkward position. It hurts my neck if I stay still."
Yanami pressed her neck with her palm and made a cracking sound.
Ehh… I want my unexpected heart throb back.
That being said, it's no wonder the Christmas party became a trauma.
Fortunately for me, my memories were painted over by the <15-Year-Old Onii-sama Documentary Footage> that I stayed up all night watching with Kaju after getting home, so I was barely able to recover from the nightmare.
"Come to think of it, when I got there, you were already feeling down, Yanami-san. Did something happen? Did Himemiya-san and Hakamada announce their engagement or something?"
"Why are you trying to finish me off the moment we meet, Nukumizu-kun...?"
I just want to put you out of your misery quickly.
Yanami shrugged her shoulders with an exasperated look.
"There's no way that's it. Those two are operating normally. They're even more 'as usual' than usual."
"Then, you didn't have to call me, did you. You had your friends there, too."
Yanami returned to her dark expression and glared at me with half-lidded eyes.
"...Nukumizu-kun, you have been with Shikiya-san a lot lately, haven't you. Even after the closing ceremony, you were flirting with those two from the student council."
I wasn't flirting, and if that was flirting, I'm never doing romance again.
"You know why I was close with them."
"But the people around us don't know the circumstances. Because of that, I was told there's a weird rumor going around about me."
How does me being involved with the student council have anything to do with Yanami...?
"...What kind of rumor?"
Yanami slowly shook her head and squeezed out her voice.
"That I got dumped, somehow… by you, Nukumizu-kun."
...Eh? I dumped Yanami?
Yanami glared fiercely at my dumbfounded self.
"Isn't that a bit weird!? If anything, I would be the one doing the dumping, wouldn't I!?"
"No, I haven't been dumped either. And it's better not to clumsily deny rumors."
Despite my calm reply, Yanami aggressively closed in on me.
"It's because you were acting all lovey-dovey with the student council people, Nukumizu-kun!? That thing in the gym looked exactly like a lovers' spat!"
If anything, this is a lovers' spat right now. I was backed up against the glass window of the observation room.
Yanami, her momentum not stopping, slammed her hand against the glass right next to my face with a bam.
"...Nukumizu-kun, confess to me."
"Ha?"
Pinned against the window, Yanami's face drew closer.
"And then I'll dump you, Nukumizu-kun! Won't that solve everything?"
I don't think it will.
"Calm down, Yanami-san. Nothing is going on between the student council people and me. If we just act normally, everyone will forget about the rumor soon enough."
"Even so, isn't this too humiliating? You could sympathize with me a little, Nukumizu-kun!"
How about you sympathize with me a little as well?
I took a snack out of my pocket and pressed it into Yanami's hand.
"Yanami-san, calm down. Look, Sugimotoya's mini yokan. You like this, right?"
"...It's matcha flavored."
…Is she upset?
Yanami peeled open the wrapper and bit into the yokan.
"Ah, but matcha is pretty good too. I'll ask for ogura next time." [TL: Red beans.]
Her blood sugar level went up, and something came out of her internal organs, making her feel good, I guess.
Waiting for Yanami to finally cool down, I changed the subject.
"You came to the city hall for a metabolic syndrome consultation, right? Let's hurry to the counter."
"Huh? What are you talking about? It's this. Look."
Yanami handed me a ticket she took out of her bag.
This is… the lunch ticket we got from Tsukinoki-senpai.
The location of the restaurant is the 13th floor of the city hall. In other words, right here.
"Nukumizu-kun, it was your birthday the other day, right. I thought I would treat you to lunch."
But this ticket is the one we got as a reward this time, isn't it…
Yanami then held out a long, thin box toward me, who was rather unconvinced.
"And, this is a bonus."
...A bonus? When I opened the box, there was a shining blue ballpoint pen inside.
"Is it okay for me to have this? It looks pretty expensive, though."
Yanami twirled her hair around her finger and continued speaking while looking out the window.
"That ballpoint pen you use is all battered, right, Nukumizu-kun? They said they would engrave a name on it as a complimentary service, so I chose this one, and that's why it didn't make it in time for your birthday."
I see. For the record, the pen I use isn't battered from the owner's perspective.
Yanami looked up at me anxiously.
"...Was it not really to your liking?"
"No, I'm just surprised because it's really cool. You had my name engraved on it, right?"
As I tried to take the ballpoint pen out of the box, Yanami, who was probably seeing the finished product for the first time as well, leaned her face close to my hands. Let's see, there are English letters engraved near the base
The name written in gold decorative letters was… Anna Yanami.
…Wait, why is her name written on it?
"Wha!? They made a mistake!"
Yanami quickly snatched the ballpoint pen from my hand.
"Eh, wait a minute, Yanami-san."
"Sorry, forget about this! I'll dispose of this one! I'll give you a new one next time, okay?"
"I would feel bad since you went through the trouble of getting it for me. Look, if I erase the unnecessary name with nail polish remover, I can still use it."
"...Huh? Unnecessary?"
Why is she mad?
"Then I'll just have the name fixed! Now, let's eat! If we don't hurry, the food will be gone."
Yanami pushed my back and forcefully headed towards the restaurant.
Ehh… so I don't get the ballpoint pen after all. It's not like she mistook it for one she bought for herself… Right. She wouldn't choose the exact same ballpoint pen as I.
Well, Yanami being like this is a regular occurrence, so there's no point in worrying about it.
Yanami stared intently at my throat as I let out what felt like the final sigh of the year.
"...What?"
"Nukumizu-kun, did you wear that scarf at school? Wait, were you even wearing it on the day of the closing ceremony?"
Yanami tilted her head, and I answered in a casual tone.
"I've occasionally worn it on chilly days for a while now. I just didn't wear it at school much."
Yanami muttered an "I see" in a flat voice and passed through the restaurant's automatic doors.
Following behind her through the doors, I was surprised at myself.
…I lied to Yanami.
It was a small, insignificant lie.
There was no reason to keep it a secret, and I wouldn't care if she found out.
I just wanted to do it, just a little bit.
Then, I stopped in my tracks.
For some reason, Yanami suddenly turned around and stared intently at me.
"Hey, what's wrong, Yanami-san...?"
Yanami didn't answer that, but showed a broad grin.
Then she reached out to my scarf, and choked me a little too strongly to call it "lightly".
"Nukumizu-kun, no sneaking ahead, you hear me?"
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