The shopping mall was pretty crowded, but one store was still comparatively calm. Going inside, I rummaged through lots of stuff, as I had in quite a few other stores.
This shop seemed to be a general store with all sorts of items: housewares, small articles, tableware and beyond. I had no complaints with their product lineup, but very often, the more choices you have, the more paralyzed you become, which was my current predicament.
"Agh… What should I buy…? I've been looking around for a while, but I have no idea what would be good…"
As I was grumbling, I heard a voice from the other side of a shelf. "Ah, Hikki. You're looking here, too?"
"Oh, Yuigahama. In my opinion, I don't know what counts as miscellaneous for these miscellaneous stores." I gently returned to the shelf the item I'd picked up, some Asian-flavor miscellaneous item whose purpose I couldn't guess.
Yuigahama ambled up beside me with a bit of a wry smile. "Hmm, yeah, I guess it's kind of hard when anything goes, huh…?"
"Anything goes is dangerous. Anything defined by subjective personal opinion will always lead you to disaster down the line."
This isn't really limited to presents—things that lack in a shared perception will always be the seeds of conflict. Perhaps it's times like these when you need the innovation of a win-win relationship with a consensus as to the grand design. Whoops, I got a pretty big brain there.
"You don't have to think so hard about it. Look, it's the thought that counts. People are happy just knowing you were thinking about them, so…so anything is fine," Yuigahama said, tapping her pointer fingers together.
I mean, I get that feelings are important.
But what are they worth if they're not communicated? What's the point of a thought that won't reach anyone? I also don't agree that feelings can justify just any choice.
I breathed a tiny sigh.
"The lack of restrictions is the problem… And besides, if you actually got Gunpla, you'd feel a little awkward, right?" I said.
Yuigahama blinked a bunch and averted her eyes slightly. "Oh… Well… You know, kinda… I might be…kinda worried about, like…how they thought of me…"
"Right? When you're going to the trouble of giving someone a gift, you don't want to make them feel awkward about it. So you have to be careful about picking it."
If I'm ever handing someone a present and there's that little silence before they say, …Th-thanks with forced enthusiasm, I'll probably want to jump off a bridge.
While I fished around on the shelf, my mood was deteriorating as I saw it in my mind's eye—but then Yuigahama suddenly chuckled. "You care so much about the weirdest things… Then I'll be careful with what I pick, too."
"Yeah, you better. You don't know who's gonna get it, after all."
"That's right," she said, and she and I both picked up tableware and accessories and whatnot and then returned them to the shelf.
Yuigahama opened her mouth, apparently having trouble saying whatever she wanted to say. "…But it'd be nice if mine does go to you. Um, 'cause I never returned the favor for my birthday…"
"Huh?" I asked, then realized just what she was referring to. That felt like so long ago, but it was really only six months. She had to be talking about the present I'd given her. But I feel like that present had been an excuse to satisfy my own selfish feelings. Her birthday was just an excuse, too.
"Ohhh, well," I said, "it wasn't anything like that, so don't worry. That was my way of returning a favor to you. If you return the favor back, it'll never end."
This logic was probably selfish. But it was all I had, so this was the only way I could say it.
But Yuigahama didn't look at me, instead saying in a quiet whisper, "I almost wish it wouldn't, though…"
That nonchalant remark stuck in my heart.
"…Yeah, maybe."
"…Uh-huh."
Both of us suddenly went silent.
I can't imagine a relationship that doesn't end. Maybe in a dream or a fantasy—but that's an idea. I doubt it's possible in reality.
As beautiful as it is, it's also painful, and I couldn't find the words to respond to Yuigahama.
She broke that silence with a bright smile. "Oh, I know. It's almost Yukinon's birthday."
"Oh yeah, I heard about that before." I didn't know the exact date, but I seemed to recall it was in the winter.
Yuigahama took something from the shelf and immediately returned it. After a few rounds of this, she glanced over at me. "For my birthday, you went with Yukinon to shop for a present, right?"
"Yeah, Komachi was with us, too, though."
"H-hmm," Yuigahama replied listlessly, and with a light click, she set down the item she'd been holding, then kept staring at the shelf. "Then I'd like you to…g-go out with me…um, shopping…"
I looked at the shelf, too, distractedly picking up the thing Yuigahama had just been holding.
I had no real reason to refuse a shopping trip. I think. I had indeed gone out with Yukinoshita before, and there was a clear goal here.
I'd made a promise to go somewhere with Yuigahama, but I figured this wasn't quite the same. Maybe it would be best to think about this as a more casual thing.
With a subtle sigh that I made sure she wouldn't notice, I looked up again. "Hmm… Shopping, huh…? Well, we could do that anytime." "Yeah…" With that short reply, Yuigahama turned her face away in slight embarrassment. I realized she was looking at Yukinoshita. Apparently, she'd also come to this shop to choose a present.
"Oh, it's Yukinon. Then we'll talk about this again later. Heeey, Yukinooon!" Yuigahama said quickly, then pattered toward Yukinoshita.
"Oh? It's Yuigahama and Hikigaya." Yukinoshita turned around, and Yuigahama put a hand on her shoulder.
"Yukinon. Have you decided what you'll buy yet?"
"No, not yet. Though I did get plenty of advice from Komachi…" Hmm, so Yukinoshita was with Komachi?
"I don't see her, though…," I said.
"She's over there."
Yukinoshita pointed, and indeed, there she was. But… Something was a little odd.
"Oh, there you are. Heeey, Komachi… What're you doing?"
As I looked at her, I saw that Komachi was collapsed into a giant cushion and completely unresponsive. Her eyes were kind of hollow, staring into nothing. When I called out to her, she snapped out of it with a gasp.
"Oh my god, Bro. This is amazing! This sofa literally turns you into a couch potato! Oh, wow, I actually don't know if I'll ever get up. Oh no, maybe Komachi'll just stay like this…" She continued to sink limply down into the sofa.
So this is the power of the potato couch…
"Huh, is it that good? …Now I'm real curious." I wanted to try it out, too; maybe it'd be nice to collapse into the sofa right there and have a little nap time with Komachi. I was taking a wobbly step forward when a voice stopped me in my tracks.
"Oh, but that's excessive for Hikigaya, isn't it? He's already quite useless."
I turned around to see Yukinoshita smiling brightly.
"Don't give me that sweet little smile," I shot back. "I mean, if you multiply a negative by a negative, it becomes a positive, you know."
"And if you add a negative to a negative, it just makes the negative bigger. Didn't you learn math in middle school?"
"Hold on there. You need to look at this from another angle. You could also distribute to make everyone negative. Listen, Yukinoshita. If everyone's equally useless, no one is," I said.
Yukinoshita expelled a great sigh. "You still have that same misguided notion of equality. I think that sofa is too much for you after all."
Komachi finally stood, apparently listening to this pointless argument. "Phew. Up we go… Well, you're right. My brother isn't wasteful, after all. He just wants someone supporting him. In Komachi terms, he should get a wife who spoils him instead of a couch. Glance! Glance, glance, glance!"
"Huh?! Um, huh, well, um… I, uh, like…" Yuigahama had been watching us with an awkward smile, but she seemed startled at that. All her attempts to speak ended in failure.
Good thing, too… I think anything she would say right now would just make me want to die…
Meanwhile, Yukinoshita was shrugging off Komachi's look. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Komachi, but I doubt that wish will come true. It's impossible for him."
"Huh, you think so? That makes Komachi sad… I want someone to take over soon…"
Hmm, Komachi, you've really been working to get rid of your big brother lately, hmm? You don't have to push him out of the nest just yet, though…
Well, I was grateful that Yukinoshita had swiftly cut off Komachi's pointless appeal, but I couldn't accept her claim. "Hey? Could you not shatter my dreams with a single remark?" I retorted.
Yukinoshita slid a chilly look my way. "You may complain about everything, but you do take care of what you have to, don't you?"
"Ahhh, I kinda get that. Hikki seems like he'll complain every day while he actually does what he's supposed to," Yuigahama said, nodding.
Komachi turned back to me. "You heard her, Bro," she said.
Suddenly, unpleasant images started racing around my mind. "Oh. Actually, I get that feeling, too… I'm so worried I'll wind up getting worked to the bone for a low wage, cursing the company as I scrape together a normal paycheck through overtime pay or something, and then I'll acclimate to it and accept my fate. Phew, I'll tell myself, maybe this life isn't so bad…, and then I'll be completely assimilated and happily living my life as a corporate slave… I have so many anxieties about my future…"
"That was weirdly graphic…"
"But he seems anxious about the wrong things, don't you think…?"
Yuigahama and Yukinoshita both wore haggard expressions. Seriously, no dreams or hope here.
"That's exactly why I want to have a dream, at least. I will become a househusband…"
"It's always baffling to me how such worthless conclusions come from such a gifted imagination…" Yukinoshita sighed dramatically.
"Come on, now; you know my brother. That's just how he is, so could you not ask too much from him?" Komachi offered a defense that was no defense at all.
"Indeed. I've already given up."
"Ah, ah-ha-ha-ha-ha. W-well, nothing you can do."
The both of them were saying awful things, while Komachi peered at my face gladly. "You hear that, Bro?! Isn't that great?!"
"No, no, that's not great at all. They're giving up on me and saying I'm hopeless." They had judged me to be about as useless as you can get. That's as damning as the manager at your part-time job saying, …Aghhhh, you don't have to do anything anymore.
But in Komachi terms, that apparently was not so; she was still smiling. "Hmm? You think? I think it's a good thing, though… Hehheh, oh well. Guess we don't need this sofa."
"Yeah. If we need a sofa, we've already got a fluffy hairball lying around at home," I said.
Komachi nodded as if that convinced her. "Oh, Kaa? Bet he'd be glad to have this sofa, though. He'd flop out on it all day long."
Yeah, yeah, I bet. Why do cats immediately monopolize sofas and futons anyway?
Apparently, it wasn't just cats; Yuigahama clapped her hands, apparently imagining something herself. "That's true! I feel like my Sablé would hop all over this! Maybe I'll buy it!"
"Uh, I think he'd probably sink deep into it, though… If our cat took a nap on this, he'd probably sink, too," I said.
Immediately, Yukinoshita froze in her tracks. "…If he were taking a catnap, you mean? …Your cat is so cute."
D-did a girl just walk by with a really bad pun just now…? It was so quiet… Maybe I was just hearing things. I looked over at Yukinoshita to see she'd already transformed back and was looking at me with a crisp expression.
"Listen, Hikigaya, perhaps it would be good to buy this sofa after all.
A pet is a member of the family; if you're going to cherish your Christmas together with your family, you need a present for everyone."
"I see that smug expression on your face. You obviously think that logic is flawless, so could you stop acting all bashful? And your logic is about as airtight as a beehive." Or is she bashful because you could bash her logic full of holes?
As I was thinking about how to avoid Yukinoshita's suggestion, Komachi tugged on my sleeve. "Oh, Bro. But there are also small cushions that go with this sofa. Wouldn't one of those be good?"
Looking over, I saw some cushions made of the same materials. Yukinoshita gave one of them a stroke and nodded. "This size would be good for a cat, wouldn't it? Right, Hikigaya?"
"Why are your values so cat focused…? Well, I'll think about it. I'm gonna go look at a bunch of other stuff." I got the feeling that if I stayed any longer, they would actually make me buy cushions for the cat. I decided to just be vague and avoid commitment.
It seemed the others all had things they were thinking about buying, too.
"Okay, then I'll see you later," Yuigahama said. After they all said good-bye, I left.
I'd finished buying a present for the exchange and, er, a few other things, so I decided to head for the cake shop where we'd be meeting up.
The paper bag in my hand rustled when I adjusted my grip on it and checked the clock.
"Phew… Welp, got what I needed. And this is where we're meeting, so I think we're good. It's just about time…"
The others would be coming soon, so I decided to stand there and zone out. While I was clicking away on my phone, I heard someone calling out like a lazy late-night convenience store part-timer greeting customers.
"…Welcome…wanna caaake…"
"Hmm? That's an obnoxious, yet familiar-sounding voice…"
When I looked over with an intimidating glance, meaning to communicate You're so annoying, I saw the drawled greetings were coming from a boy in a Santa suit who was selling cakes in front of the shop.
"…Welcome…wanna caaake…"
This guy was really obnoxious, but I couldn't just leave our meeting spot. I tried not to pay attention to him, but he was so annoying, I wound up looking at him anyway.
Then our eyes met.
"…Wait. Huh? It's Hikitani!" The lazy Santa addressed me in a friendly manner.
I thought he was annoying—so it was Tobe, huh?
"Oh, you startled me… Hey, Tobe… You suddenly said my name, so I thought it was a friend…"
I was a little put off by Tobe's overfamiliarity, but he didn't seem to mind that and just kept talking to me. "Dude, hell of a coincidence running into you out here, huh? I'm working at this cake place right now, and I've really got nothing to do."
"Ahhh, so that's why you've got the Santa costume… Wait, you have nothing to do at your job…?"
"Yeah, there's no customers coming. Man, I'm so bored," Tobe complained apathetically, tugging on the hair at the back of his neck.
But even if Tobe complained to me, I couldn't help him kill time, and I could only offer him a very brief reply.
"Really?"
"Yeah. For real."
"Huh…"
"Man, I'm totally bored…"
"I see…"
Unsurprisingly, Tobe figured out that this conversation wasn't going anywhere and awkwardly groped for something else to say.
"… Ahhh… So, like? Hikitani, what're you doing here?"
This attempt at starting a conversation felt really forced. Um, sorry for making you feel like you have to be nice to me?
"Uh, just shopping for stuff," I answered. Since he was trying to chat, the bare minimum of etiquette dictated that I give him a reply, if nothing else.
Tobe seemed happy to have jump-started a conversation, leaning forward eagerly. "Dude, shopping? Like what, what're you getting? I didn't know you went shopping! That's wild."
Uh, of course I go shopping… Just what does he think I am…?
What do I do? This conversation is already running out of steam, and there isn't really anything I want to talk about with Tobe, either… As I was standing there uncomfortably, someone came to a stop nearby.
"Hikigaya, what's going on?"
"Hey, Yukinoshita. I ran into Tobe."
Yukinoshita had come over, I assumed because we'd be meeting up soon. When she heard the name, she tilted her head in confusion. Uh, it's Tobe, okay? Tobe. Why are you confused? You don't know him?
But Tobe was even more confused than Yukinoshita. He looked at me, then her, and back again. "Ohhh? Ohhh? Yukinoshita? Why're the two of you shopping together? …Oh, hmm."
"Hey, what was that pause? What—what are you imagining here?" I asked, but it seemed Tobe had already come to a conclusion in his head, and he was examining the two of us with a hmmm.
Yukinoshita did not seem pleased with this curious look from Tobe, and she twisted around uncomfortably. "...It seems you're misunderstanding something, but…it's not really…" At the beginning, Yukinoshita was giving Tobe a crisp glare, but her voice gradually lowered until I had no idea how her sentence ended.
Tobe wasn't even listening to her as he clapped a hand on my shoulder. "Dude, okay, I wish I'd known what was going on. I totally woulda given you more space that time at Destiny Land and stuff, for real."
"Uh, that's not what's going on…" I more or less knew what Tobe's misunderstanding was, but he still wasn't listening.
Yukinoshita seemed irritated by his behavior. "…Can I go already?"
"Huh? Yeah. Uh, you're the one who came to talk to me, though." Didn't you want something? I was implicitly asking.
For a silent moment, Yukinoshita looked away. "Oh…yes… Because of the Santa costume, I didn't notice it was Tobe, so I just…" Still facing away, her voice vanished into nothingness before she finished.
Following her gaze, I saw Yuigahama coming over. She noticed us, too, and waved. "Hikkiii, Yukinooon. What's up? …Huh? It's Tobecchi."
Tobe looked surprised, too, when she noticed him. "Wait, what? You were with them, too, Yui? ...Oh, huh."
"Seriously, what are you imagining?" I said.
Tobe tugged at the hair at the back of his head, then smacked himself in the forehead. "Agh! The hell, man! Shopping with two girls, that's, like, whoa! For real, Hikitani, you must be magic! You're living the life! Livinitani! Magitani!"
"Uh, I'm lost, and my name isn't even Hikitani," I said, but Tobe was totally gone now, muttering to himself like, Dude, dude.
"Tobecchi, is this your job?" said Yuigahama. "We've come to shop for a Christmas party."
"Ohhh, huh…" It seemed that explanation convinced Tobe. He nodded, and finally our meetup time had arrived. Totsuka and Komachi were on their way over, too.
"Oh, it's Tobe."
"Wow, long time no see!"
Tobe seemed excited to see more people he knew, and his hand shot up, forming the sign of the horns like Stan Hansen. "Heeey! It's Totsuka and Hikitani's little sister! Weeei!"
"The hell's with that greeting? Obnoxious," I grumbled.
"Ah, ah-ha-ha… Hey, it's Tobecchi, so…" Yuigahama had already given up on him, while Yukinoshita gave Tobe a close look.
"It's like some tribal greeting…," Yukinoshita commented. "I honestly don't know what he's saying…"
"Right? He's incomprehensible." I shot Tobe a dull look.
But he wasn't paying attention at all. "Merry C! Weeei!"
"See, there he goes…," I began, but then Komachi responded with the same greeting. "Weeei! Merry C!"
Totsuka seemed mildly confused, but he was drawn into the wave of enthusiasm next to him. "W-weeei!"
"Weeei!"
"Huh?! Even Hikki's joined in?!"
Ah! Oh no! I didn't mean to… B-but come on. If I'm with Totsuka and Komachi, then wei is actually a-okay.
Tobe looked around excitedly once everyone had responded to his greeting. "Okay, so are you all, like, gonna go party together? …Wait, huh? I see Zaimokuzaki with you, too. Zaimokuzaki, weeei!"
Who the hell is Zaimokuzaki? But it turned out to be Zaimokuza.
When did he show up? Impressive of you to notice, Tobe…, I thought, looking over. Zaimokuza himself seemed taken aback by the sudden address.
"Weh? W-weh?! W-weeei?!"
"Ugh. All those wei nuts should go and die."
"Bro," Komachi cut in, "if you feel that way, you need to at least try to hide it."
Oh, sweet Komachi. You may say that, but you know—it's just really, really annoying.
And the source of that aggravation, Zaimokuza, looked confused as he muttered, "Wei, wei, oh… W…eight man?! So in Japanese, Hachiman?!"
"Hmm?!"
"Who is he? Whomst, what creature is he?"
"Oh, that's Tobe. He's in my class. He's obnoxious, but he's got a good heart. And everything about him is annoying." I gave him the gist about Tobe.
Zaimokuza nodded. "I see, I see. 'Tis indeed true. Especially his long hair and the loudness of his voice, and his overfamiliar attitude, too."
"Pot, meet kettle…" Everything you just said fits you, too, you know…
"But how doth he know my name…? And he's even altered it like a code name… Ah, could he be from the organization?!"
"That's right. Unlike you, he's part of a group, so… Sure. He's from the organization."
"Yes, yes, as I am not unaffiliated with any… Wait, heeeeeey!
Hachiman! Heeeeey!" Zaimokuza shouted, smacking his chest.
I know it's a thing to pretend to go along with the joke, but that wasn't funny. "Zaimokuza really is more obnoxious after all…" Suddenly, Tobe's voice didn't bother me that much anymore.
And as for Tobe, he had apparently just thought of something. "Ohhh, so, like, you guys are all having a Christmas party?" "Yeah, that's right," said Yuigahama.
"So, uh, you wanna buy a cake? This cake shop belongs to my buddy's parents. And he asked me to help. They've got crazy leftovers here."
"Hmm, cake, huh. I dunno." As Yuigahama was deliberating, a loud voice rang out through the shopping mall.
"I heard everything!"
"Huh? Miss Hiratsuka?"
Tobe was bewildered as Miss Hiratsuka strode into the scene, coat fluttering (despite the lack of wind) and heels clicking. "It seems you're struggling with unsold leftovers."
"That's right; it's bad, man." Tobe looked over at the tall display of Christmas cakes.
Miss Hiratsuka surveyed the tower, nodded, and then gave them a warm, soft look. "I understand… I will buy them all...… Unsold leftovers are lonely, after all."
"Hey? Let's stop projecting on the cakes, okay?" I said.
"Tobecchi, forget she said that," Yuigahama swiftly advised Tobe.
She must have sensed that Miss Hiratsuka might have been serious.
"Plus, we wouldn't be able to eat all of them," Komachi added.
"We could buy one, but it would only be a drop in the bucket," Yukinoshita advised.
Their remarks seemed to discourage Tobe. "But seriously, I have to sell these," he said weakly. "My buddy'll freak for real if I don't. What do you call it? Like, workplace harassment? So, like, couldn't you think of something?"
Totsuka tilted his head. "You mean, a plan to sell the cakes?"
"But I dunno, though… There's not much we can do now." I was mulling over ideas when Yuigahama flung up her hand.
"Oh!"
"Yes, Yuigahama. Tell us."
"Make them cheaper!"
"That could work." Tobe nodded at Yuigahama's simple and clear answer.
Zaimokuza cleared his throat with confidence and proposed another idea. "Herpum, add a bonus to convince them they're getting a good deal! We could add on my new novel…"
"That won't work." Tobe was being a little obnoxious, flinging his arms up like an American, but Totsuka's pensive face made up for it.
And when the idea struck, Totsuka opened his mouth. "How about a service? Like writing your name on it the way they do for birthday cakes?"
"Yeah, maybe," said Tobe.
Yukinoshita nodded thoughtfully. "Or engraving limited-edition merchandise."
"That could work, too," Tobe immediately responded.
He's okay with anything, isn't he…?
But despite all our various suggestions, none of them were things Tobe could work out on his own authority. "Uh, these aren't gonna happen, are they? There's only so much you're allowed to do as a part-time employee. If you don't like getting harassed, just flake out and don't do it."
"That's dirty, man—you're so dirty, Hikitani! I can't just ditch, dude. C'mon, guys, gimme just one good idea here!"
He smacked his hands together in supplication; I'd feel guilty if I refused. Wondering if there was anything Tobe could do on his own discretion that would actually work, given the current situation, I looked around the cart stacked with cakes to discover some stickers in front of the register. …Well, it's just about time for that, right?
"Hmm… Oh, I know. These cakes are gonna be on sale later, right? Why don't you start that earlier? Look, there's half-price stickers over there," I said.
And then for some reason, Miss Hiratsuka was the one who twitched. "Urk, half price… That's right… Past the twenty-fourth, and you're half-price… Past the twenty-fifth, and it's bargain-sale mode…"
"We are talking about cakes, right? Christmas cakes?" I tried to confirm with her, but she didn't even hear me.
"Why no sales, when it's such a good deal…? Agh…," Miss Hiratsuka said as she reached out to the half-price stickers.
"Th-this is bad—Miss Hiratsuka has started putting half-price stickers on herself. Hurry! Hurry, someone, marry her!" I cried.
Yuigahama also came in to help stop her. "Y-you'll be okay, Miss Hiratsuka! Half-price is a fantastic deal! Sales tax has gone up, too, after all!"
"That doesn't help…," I muttered.
"Indeed, with the sales tax, there's that last-minute demand before the increase, so it's different from Miss Hiratsuka." Hey! Miss Yukinoshita!
Don't make it worse! Stopppp! Someone, hurry up and marry her! She's got so much bang for your buck!
I honestly do want someone to take her. 'Cause I mean, if no one else does, I might just slip and marry her myself. Why can't she get married anyway…? This is one of the top three seven wonders of the world, actually.
"Well, as for a realistic option, perhaps just hawking the goods," Yukinoshita suggested.
Tobe reacted to that idea. "Ah, that could work! See, see! We have an extra Santa suit. And there's reindeer antlers and stuff," he said, and he immediately grabbed the other suit from behind the cash register.
Examining the Santa suit, Yuigahama made thoughtful noises. "But it doesn't look like it would fit a girl."
"So then a boy should do it, I suppose," Yukinoshita said.
Tobe looked around at us guys. "Well, but it'd be tough for
Zaimokuzaki. So then…like, Totsuka?"
"Huh? M-me, wear that?" Totsuka was surprised, and I was, too.
"Why'd you ignore me?"
"Customer service would be a little tough for you, Bro, so that's just how it goes… Knock 'em dead, Totsuka!" Komachi clapped a hand on my shoulder, then smiled at Totsuka.
"O-okay then, I guess I'll put it on…" Totsuka seemed surprisingly eager about it, maybe because he was actually being treated like a boy. Taking the Santa suit from Tobe, he immediately started getting changed behind the register. "Hnn… There we go…"
We could hear the sound of rustling clothes and a few alluring grunts. For some reason, all of us turned around, fearing that we shouldn't look.
When Totsuka was done getting changed, he stepped out toward us. "H-how is it…?" He squirmed around shyly.
I couldn't help sighing. "Ohhh…"
The Santa suit was a little baggy and big on him, so it also looked like a miniskirt, and the way he was constantly worrying over the hem and tug-tugging at it was adorable. He was fiddling shyly with the Santa hat in one of his hands, sneaking it over his face to hide it. His reddened cheeks and white skin together were so sweet.
Tobe, good job!!! Tobe really is a good guy after all… Maybe I could be friends with him. If I remember this next week. My memory of Tobe will disappear in a week…
Tobe was also nodding in satisfaction. "Oh, not bad, huh? Okay, come out to sell the stuff with me… Just say 'Welcome, wanna caaake…?'"
Tobe demonstrated how he'd been hawking his wares, but would this even count as an example…?
Yukinoshita's brows came together slightly. "I have no idea what he's saying…"
I explained, "Listening comprehension is a challenge for late-night convenience store language… I think in Japanese, he'd be saying, Welcome, how about a cake?"
Totsuka's eyes sparkled at me. "Wow, you can understand it, Hachiman? Th-then I'll give it a shot. W-welcome. H-how about…a cake?"
Instantly, there was action.
"Ferm, then I shall have seven trillion of these cakes you offer!"
"Ah, pardon me, cake for me as well, please." Coming up behind Zaimokuza, I was pulling money from my wallet and waiting in line when I heard Yukinoshita's exasperated sigh.
"Why are you buying one…?"
"Oh, whoops. He was so cute, I just…"
"Oh, but now I think it's gotten a little crowded," Yuigahama said, and I noticed shoppers looking our way with interest. Then they looked at the showcase, the menu board, and the stacks of cakes, and started murmuring among themselves. It seemed some of them were ready to buy a cake on the spot. At this rate, it seemed like they'd sell off without a problem.
Tobe could sense it, too, and he seemed relieved. "Man, this is like that thing, like, when you've got cute girls selling the stuff, huh?" he babbled aimlessly.
"Cute girls?! Heh-heh-heh-heh…" Miss Hiratsuka immediately reacted with a tiny smile.
Komachi struggled to speak for a moment. "Urk, the tears are making all the Christmas lights blurry… That's right—you're a girl, too, Miss Hiratsuka. Yes, Komachi understands. Women are forever maidens, after all."
Maybe it was the customers gazing at the showcase, but now passersby were starting to pause, too. Tobe smiled in satisfaction at the scene. "Man, you totally saved my ass. Bet we could even sell out, now!"
"Oh, it's no big deal," said Yuigahama. "And, like, we haven't even done anything…"
Well, she was right about that.
Then, surveying the customers, Miss Hiratsuka said, "Hmm, I suppose having a line drew in a bigger line. It's the same with ramen shops."
"Isn't that just, like, a fake audience…?" Well, either way, if this helps with Tobe's issue, then all's well that ends well, I thought, looking over at the one who'd asked for help.
It seemed he was satisfied with the results, too. He thanked us, then pulled a cake out of the showcase. "You guys are having a party, right? Take some cake, as thanks. I'll even throw in some candles for ya! "
"You don't put candles on a Christmas cake…," I commented.
For some reason, he did this big dramatic wink!
Obnoxious…
But if he was offering this for free, then I was happy to take it. When I accepted the cake, Yuigahama offered her appreciation, too. "Thanks, Tobecchi!"
"Naw, man, you helped me here. It's totally nothing. Jooshy polly yey!" Tobe cheered with a thumbs-up. God, he needs to shut up. He's a good guy, but he needs to shut up.
"I have no idea what you're saying, but thank you very much."
Komachi politely thanked him, and then we all rushed through our farewells and decided to leave. We'd get in the way of his work if we stayed any longer.
As we parted ways, Totsuka waved at him. "Then see you later, Tobe."
"Weeei, see ya," Tobe called, way too loud, and waved back at us as he handled customers. "…Man, I'm so jealous! I hope next year me and Ebina… Wait? Aren't entrance exams next year? Dude, aw man, dude!!"
With Tobe and his troubles behind us, we left the shopping mall.
After we left the shopping mall, Yuigahama guided us to a karaoke parlor in front of the station. An employee showed us to a room, where we all picked up a party popper.
Once everyone had one, we made eye contact. Yuigahama quietly said, "One, two…," and then we pulled the strings as we cried:
"Merry Christmas!"
There was the pop of the confetti and the pop of the Chanmery sparkling juice opening, and then glasses clinking. We all wished each other a Merry Christmas.
Meanwhile, I was scanning the room. "So why is it karaoke again…?" I asked.
Setting out the plates, Yuigahama replied, "If we were at Yukinon's place, we'd get complaints if we made too much noise. Here at karaoke, we can bring in the cake, too."
"Uh, well, I guess it's fine, then…"
While we were talking, Yukinoshita called over to us. "I cut the cake. I didn't expect him to give us three of them," she said.
Komachi nodded as she passed out the slices. "Tobe's a good guy, huh?"
"Do you mean in the sense that we got free stuff from him," I said, "or was that my imagination?"
Tobe is a good guy, but I got a strong feeling that, like, that was all he was. I kinda felt sorry for him. Isshiki uses him a lot, too…
While I was pondering Tobe's future, Totsuka passed a plate to me. "Here, Hachiman. There's fried chicken, too."
"Ohhh, thanks."
While everyone was serving up their chicken, Zaimokuza, sitting beside me, looked happy, while Miss Hiratsuka, opposite me, seemed to be having fun pouring the drinks.
"Hachiman, meat is good. Meat is good… Fried food will console your heart…"
"C'mon, drink, drink. It's just Chanmery, but still!"
It seemed they were all enjoying the Christmas party. Fried chicken, cake, chatting, toasting… But wait. Hold on.
Is this Christmas…? Such doubts would not leave my mind.
I slowly set down my glass, and the ice in it clinked as it settled.
"Hey, lemme ask something…"
"What?" Yuigahama turned to me with a mouth full of cake.
Looking her in the eye, I slowly asked her, "What's the difference between this and a birthday party, or even an after-party?" "Huh?"
"Look, we're at karaoke again, eating dinner and having cake, and we did a toast… Does this mean this is the right way to spend Christmas? I'm getting the feeling this isn't much different from going 'Wei, wei,' and my sense of self is disintegrating…"
"W-well, um…" Unable to reply, Yuigahama quietly averted her gaze until it landed on Komachi.
As for Komachi herself, she scrunched up her face in disgust. "Aw, come on! You're such a drag, Bro!"
But it seemed I was not alone in my opinion. Yukinoshita's hands paused with a forkful of cake, and her eyes suddenly narrowed.
"…Indeed, just what about this is different from a birthday party…?"
"Oh no! It's contagious! Stop it, quick!" Komachi commanded (Maybe we should call her Comma-chi?).
Miss Hiratsuka chuckled. "Hikigaya, you're like a cheater…" She said the word in English. "Just when you've taken one step forward, you immediately take two steps back…"
Miss Hiratsuka was looking a little proud of that one, but Yuigahama was baffled, whispering into Yukinoshita's ear beside her, "Hey, Yukinon, do cheetahs do that?"
"I—I don't know? I've never heard such a thing…" Cat expert Miss Yukipedia also looked stumped, also mishearing her.
Miss Hiratsuka moaned like she was in physical pain. "Ngh, s-so you don't get it, huh…? Of course… Totally different generation, huh…? Agh…" After such a close encounter with the generation gap, she sunk into gloomy despair.
Uh, though I don't think that's your generation, either…
"Agh! I don't really get what's going on here, but now you're killing the mood, too!" Komachi lamented.
That was when Totsuka suddenly realized something. "Oh, but look, Hachiman. We're trading presents, so that part is Christmassy, right?"
"Ohhh, you're right!"
Yes, trading presents does feel Christmassy. Everyone just gives to one person on a birthday, so a trade was a Christmas exclusive.
When I accepted this, Komachi clenched a fist tight. "Nice one! Well done, Totsuka! Let's start the gift exchange now, then! Okay, okay! Everyone, please get out your presents! We'll put them all in the middle of the table!" In an attempt to clear the doom and gloom, Komachi took charge.
"Here, I hope this is okay." Totsuka went first, and then everyone else also obediently did as Komachi said.
Komachi confirmed that all the presents were there. "All good. Now I'm mixing them up!"
"Shuffle tiiiiiiime!" Zaimokuza cried, and Komachi took that as her cue, switching the gifts around and around as she explained the rules.
"So we hand them out and put on some music, and then when it stops, the one in your hands is yours. As for after that, we'll…just play it by ear."
"For someone who's usually so attentive, sometimes her explanations are quite sloppy…"
Just as Yukinoshita said, with Komachi's lack of clarification, we only sort of understood the rules. If this was a fighting game, you'd need something more beginner-friendly if you really want it to take off. "Well, it'll be faster just to do it. Okay, start the music!" Miss Hiratsuka said, and the karaoke remote beeped back at her as she hit the button. It seemed it had a function just for parties like this. What a convenient world.
When the music started, everyone silently passed the presents around, right to left. Everyone was utterly silent.
Bemused, Yukinoshita broke the strangely ceremonial sort of atmosphere by asking, "Why are we so quiet…?"
"Yeah, I was expecting something a little less blasé…," I said. "Hey, Yuigahama. Is this how it goes?"
"U-um… Well, more or less, I guess. The Christmassy part isn't actually that exciting, huh…?"
"That was a sad thing to hear… Oh, the music stopped."
"Okaaay, then let's open the presents, starting with yours, Bro!"
When Komachi designated me, I picked up the present in front of me and unwrapped it. "Me first, huh…? Let's see here… Ohhh, is this…a USB flash drive?"
"Gerf, komfuh, koff, okopom. That's the present from me," Zaimokuza announced himself after clearing his throat weirdly. Was that clearing his throat?
But anyway, this was the present from Zaimokuza? Not what I would have expected. "Whoa, this is from you, Zaimokuza? Hey, this is actually normal and really practical… What the hell happened here?" I'd never thought Zaimokuza would pick something useful, so I couldn't help but question his motives.
Zaimokuza pushed up his glasses with a proud smile. "Don't worry, Hachiman. I've made sure my plot and world-building materials are already on it."
"Oh, no, I really don't need that."
"Fwa-ha-ha-ha-ha! Read the whole thing during winter vacation!
Now then, from whom is mine gift?" Ignoring me in my misery, Zaimokuza tore open the wrapping on the present sitting in front of him. "Oh, wha, wh-wh-what is this?! It's…a cushion!!" Zaimokuza's hands grasped a squishy cushion.
"Oh, that's the one from the couch potato set," Yuigahama called. "So that one is from you, Hikigaya?" Yukinoshita asked.
"Yeah. A sofa would obviously be too big and expensive, so I got a cushion instead," I explained. In the end, I hadn't been able to decide, so I'd bought a recommendation from before.
Zaimokuza mushed at the cushion experimentally. "Herm, this is rather nice. From this day forth, I shall cuddle this during my slumbers."
"No, don't, that's creepy."
I don't know if he heard my plea, but Zaimokuza swiftly set his cushion to the side and laid his head on it. "Here, let me try it out a bit… Oh? Nghhh… O-oh, dear god!" And then his eyes flared open.
"This comfortable, snug warmth, and this fwumpfy softness that mumfs itself into a shape that perfectly fits the body… Ah, I… I can't… I'm faaaaaaaaalliiiiiiiiiing! …Thud." After that was only silence.
"…Oh, Zaimokuza's quiet now," I said. "Pretty handy, that cushion."
Ignoring the snoozing Zaimokuza, we proceeded with opening our gifts.
"Ummm, so then next, Miss Hiratsuka, why don't you go?"
When Komachi pointed to her, Miss Hiratsuka responded with a nod and picked up her present. "Hmm, I like this wrapping paper… Hmm, oh, hand cream!"
I looked around, wondering just who the gift was from, and Totsuka opened his mouth. "Ah, yeah, since it's so dry around this time. And it's got shea butter in it, so it's really moisturizing. I use it a lot during practice, too."
"S-Sai-chan, wow…"
"Dang, he's got some girl savvy…"
Yuigahama and Komachi both trembled. Of course, I did, too.
But Miss Hiratsuka was beyond shudders. "I see—girl savvy… If I use this hand cream, maybe I'll have more feminine appeal… Agh, I'd like some moisture… I'm so dry…"
As Miss Hiratsuka repeated so dry, so dry in a near delirium, I could feel the air around us drying out, too.
My sharp little sister could sense it happening and immediately intervened. "Ahhh! Oh no! The doom and gloom is starting again!
Come on, next is Komachi! Oh, this is some pretty fancy wrapping…
And inside… Ah, it's black tea leaves. I'm guessing this is from Yukino!"
Inside the package was a square can. I remembered seeing the same thing in the clubroom.
When Komachi guessed her, Yukinoshita returned her smile. "Yes. I tried to pick a standard flavor that's not too idiosyncratic." But then her expression turned a little uneasy. "It's just…"
"It's just?"
When Komachi prompted her to continue, Yukinoshita glanced over at me. "I wondered if you were more of a coffee person."
Ohhh, I see. Now that she mentions it, I do drink coffee more often. I drink MAX Coffee in the clubroom a lot, after all. I could get why Yukinoshita would worry Komachi might drink coffee on a daily basis, as a member of my household.
But her worries were unnecessary. Komachi hugged the tea gladly. "No, not at all. Well, I am more of coffee drinker, since my brother likes it. But you know, this might be a good opportunity for both of us to get into tea instead!"
"Mm-hmm, broadening your tastes is part of the fun of receiving presents," Miss Hiratsuka said, slathering on hand cream.
Komachi nodded. "That's right! Okay, Yukino, why don't you open your present?"
"All right." When Yukinoshita reached out to the present in front of her, Yuigahama beamed.
"Oh, that's from me!"
"Ah, are these bath salts? The packaging is cute, too… This is very like you, Yuigahama. I think it's wonderful."
"Right! You can use this as a scrub, too!"
"This is some real girl talk, huh…?" I mused. As I watched Yukinoshita and Yuigahama chattering away next to me, Miss Hiratsuka smacked her knee.
"Oh, darn, bath salts, huh…? I got basically the same thing as Yuigahama…"
"Huh? Did you get something similar, Miss Hiratsuka?" I asked, quite surprised.
Miss Hiratsuka pressed her forehead with a beleaguered moan.
"Yeah. Argh, I can't believe I had the same idea for a gift as a girl in high school. Oh noooo."
"She looks really happy about that…"
But what was this fateful present? Judging from where the teacher was looking, Totsuka had been the one to get Miss Hiratsuka's youthfully tasteful gift.
Yuigahama's eyes sparkled. "Huh, I wonder what it is. I'm supercurious. Open it up, Sai-chan."
"Yeah. I'll open it now… Um, this is…" He tore off the comparatively plain wrapping to reveal a proud-looking box.
Yuigahama seemed a little confused; I could almost hear her thinking, Whaaat? "A set of hot spring essences…"
"Well, these are similar to bath salts… But there's a distinct difference," Yukinoshita said, pressing her temple.
Komachi didn't know how to comment, either. "Hmm, it's less girly and more like, uh…uhhh…like a mature flavor!"
"Urk, I can tell you're trying really hard to be considerate… Ngh…," Miss Hiratsuka groaned.
Right before she could crumble, Totsuka smiled brilliantly like flowers blooming. "But I like hot springs, so I'm really glad."
R-really, now…? If Totsuka's glad, then, well, I guess it's fine. It seemed this wasn't exactly what everyone imagined, but I agreed with Totsuka. "Y-yeah… Well, a guy'd be happier to get these, huh?"
That seemed to help Miss Hiratsuka recover somewhat. "R-right? You're still too young for this, but a beer feels great after a long bath, you know!" she said, sounding especially cool and manly.
"Komachi kind of understands the reason Miss Hiratsuka can't get married. It's because she's so much manlier than most men out there, huh?" Komachi said with a sorrowful sob. I mean, it's true that men might be intimidated by a woman as cool as Miss Hiratsuka…
"Okay, then I'm last." Yuigahama reached out to the present sitting in front of her.
"Which means that's the present from Komachi!"
"Oh, it's from you, Komachi-chan? Ooh, I really wanna know what it is. Can I open it?"
"Go ahead, go ahead!" Komachi prompted her, and Yuigahama unwrapped it.
"Oh, it's soap! Thanks! This is the kind that's super-popular right now, huh?"
"That's right! Komachi's using it, too! It smells real nice!"
Ah. So this is what presents between girls are like…
After thinking, This is peak girl, this is THE peak girl, I suddenly felt something was off. "…Huh? Do you use that soap? I've never seen it at home…"
"Oh yeah. Komachi only brings it out for bath time. Komachi wouldn't want you and Dad using it, right? That'd be kind of gross."
"Huh…? I-isn't it mean to put it that way? Think of the shock to your poor Big Bro…" Gross…? Th-there's nothing wrong with using a little soap, right…?
As the depression started to hit for real, Yuigahama came up with an idea, clapping her hands. "I know! Yukinon, why don't we try using this together, today! Look, and those bath salts, too! I'm super looking forward to this!"
"I don't mind, but... Huh? You don't mean we'd bathe together?"
"Huh? But we have to, or we can't use them together…"
Yukinoshita and Yuigahama looked at one another like, Huh? Huh?
I was also like Huh? too. I had a lot of questions here… Y-you're going to bathe together? Don't say that stuff here! You'll make me imagine things!
"Hey, Yurigahama—whoops, I mean Yuigahama. Have those conversations at home, okay…? 'Cause, you know…just because."
It seemed even my vague just because got the meaning across. It took her a second, but then Yuigahama's cheeks gradually reddened.
"…Ah, y-yeah."
"Yuigahama, you idiot…," Yukinoshita said, almost too quiet to hear.
Uh, the way you were blushing while you said… Even I'm kind of getting embarrassed here… Komachi watching the scene with a smile made the shame even worse.
"Gefum, gefum, morusua… Herm… I've woken up to find a strange scene indeed…" Zaimokuza got up, tilting his head in confusion.
"Oh, Special Snowflake. You just woke up, huh? You could've snoozed a little longer." I could tell her little chuckle meant far more than that. Kinda scary…
Anyhow, the gift exchange—our main event for the day, I'd say—had gone off without a hitch. What else was there to do?
"So we're done with the gifts, huh…? There's no more Christmas stuff left to do…," I said.
Yuigahama and Komachi both hmm'd, considering. Then Komachi's face jerked up. "Ah! Christmas songs!" "Th-that's it!" Yuigahama agreed.
Komachi nod-nodded. "I can't even think of anything else!"
It seemed I wasn't the only one with doubts. Yukinoshita was frowning, too. "Will singing make this more Christmassy…?" she said skeptically.
Totsuka considered. "Hmm… A lot of the classics really feel
Christmassy, so just hearing them gets you in the mood, you know?"
"Indeed. One might even say the theme music is the face of the franchise. One might call it a face song! Music can paint a scene, too." After that fairly scholarly comment, Zaimokuza nodded to himself.
But meanwhile, Miss Hiratsuka, sitting opposite from us, didn't look so good. Her eyes were half-closed, and she was laughing like ga-haha! "Oh, hey, you're gonna sing? Nice! Sing, sing! If you don't wanna, then I'm gonna sing 'Single Bells'!"
"Is Miss Hiratsuka drunk…? I don't think there's even any alcohol here."
As Yukinoshita said, there was no booze here, but our teacher had managed to get drunk on the atmosphere. An atmosphere that was sweeping away Yuigahama, too, as she grabbed the mike and stood up. "Okay! Yui Yuigahama will sing! …And you, too, Yukinon."
"Huh? Hey, why me, too…?"
Yukinoshita initially tried to refuse the mike being shoved in her face, but Yuigahama's indomitable grin won over, and Yukinoshita reluctantly took it.
"Weeei!" To drum up excitement for their song, Komachi rattled a tambourine, too.
…Well, this is about the only opportunity I'd get to hear Christmas songs from the two of them. So maybe we can just call this our own special seasoning for a Christmas party.
And maybe you could call this our way of spending Christmas, too.
A cold, wintry wind blew over the road to the station.
Our party had come to an end, and by the time we'd emerged from the karaoke place, the sun had set completely. The crowds passing by had thinned out considerably since the daytime, too.
Christmas was nearly over. Beneath a darkened sky, the alleyway felt somewhat desolate as we walked along.
Yuigahama stretched. "Hnnn, we sang so much…"
"Yeah, it just turned into karaoke after a while…," I said, wondering what the heck that party was.
Yuigahama didn't have a good answer to that. "S-so what? It was fun, right?"
"But did we actually thank Komachi and Totsuka properly…?" Yukinoshita muttered, sounding a little worried.
It was true—originally, the goal had been to thank them for helping out. But based off what we'd seen, we didn't have to worry, I didn't think. "Well, they seemed to be having a good time, so no worries, right?"
"Yeah, I hope so. Ah, but, Hikki, you're okay coming over this way with us? You didn't have to walk us back just 'cause Komachi-chan told you to."
"Yes, my apartment is right over there, after all," Yukinoshita said, looking ahead down the lane to the apartment tower where she lived. It wasn't that far from the station, so there was no need to bother walking them back, but Komachi had wheedled me into it, and now here I was.
"…Well, there was the cake, and your stuff," I said. "And this is no big deal."
"I see. This really is helpful, especially since we had that extra cake."
"But, but it sure is nice to have a whole one, huh?! What a dream! A whole cake, all to ourselves!" Yuigahama said, looking ecstatic.
Yukinoshita gave her a cool look. "If we can actually eat it, then sure, but…it's quite difficult, you know."
"You've tried it before…?" I muttered.
As we talked, we strolled along the park path and exited out onto a major road. Now Yukinoshita's apartment was right ahead.
"Oh, I can see your place, Yukinon."
"Yes. Here's fine, then, Hikigaya."
We stopped in front of the crosswalk that went across the main road.
"Okay. Then here's the cake," I said, handing it to Yuigahama.
"Thanks."
"…And while I'm at it, could you take this, too?" I said, pulling two more packages out of my bag.
The girls accepted the packages, but they didn't know what they were at first. When they suddenly figured it out, they were timid about confirming.
"Huh? Is this…a Christmas present?"
"One for me, and one for Yuigahama?" Yukinoshita inhaled slightly, seemingly startled.
This is embarrassing… They're just staring at me in shock…
"…Well, as thanks for the cup, I guess." Unable to look either of them in the eye, I found myself staring off in the other direction.
"Can I… Can I open it?"
"Um, well," I replied vaguely to Yukinoshita's slightly hesitant question. As I thought about their reactions when they opened the packages, my hands started sweating in the winter cold.
Along with the sound of the wind, I heard the sounds of ribbons sliding undone. And then quiet gasps.
"Wow…"
"A hair scrunchie…"
Their sighs were warm, somehow, and unconsciously, I breathed a sigh of relief, too.
"They match!" Yuigahama said cheerily, looking between hers and Yukinoshita's.
"Yuigahama's is blue, and mine is…pink? Doesn't that seem backward…?"
"Naw, I think…it's good this way…"
I really don't think I could explain why I'd done it that way. I didn't want to be asked, either. But this was the conclusion I'd come to myself, and I was sure that I was right. I didn't need anyone understanding it. I think that's probably just what gifts are.
"I see…" Yukinoshita chose not to press any further. Then she looked up from the scrunchie in her hand and smiled. "If this is your way of saying thank you, then I'll happily accept it."
"Yeah, Hikki…thanks. I'll take good care of it." Yuigahama locked eyes with me, gently clasping the scrunchie to her chest. That gesture embarrassed me enough that I had to glance away.
"Yeah. Well, you're welcome to do what you want with them…" I trailed off. My eyes had landed on the light of the crosswalk, which had changed from red to green. "Th-then, see you." I took that as my cue to send the two of them off.
"Yeah, see you! …Good night."
The two girls nodded at one another, then quietly began walking away.
Watching their backs grow distant, I turned away myself. "Right, then…"
With a quiet breath, I gazed above.
The winter night sky was clear, and I had a good view of Orion. There were probably other constellations, but unfortunately, Orion is the only one I know.
So many things are right in front of your eyes, but you can't really see them. I wonder if one day, I'll be able to notice all the things I can't yet perceive.
Relying on the light of the stars and the streetlamps, I quietly stepped forward.
"Hikigaya."
"Hmm?"
When my name was called, I turned around to see Yukinoshita standing in the middle of the crosswalk. Yuigahama had already finished crossing and was giving Yukinoshita a curious look.
With her hair tied up into a ponytail, Yukinoshita stood perfectly still, until her eyes met mine and she gently combed through her hair with one hand.
The lovely pink of the scrunchie stood out against her glossy black hair, clearly visible even in the darkness of the night.
Yukinoshita's hand stopped against her hair, hesitating, but when she saw the light had begun to flash, she quietly sucked in a breath. And then with a half-open palm, she quietly waved.
"…Merry Christmas."
"…Y-yeah… Merry Christmas."
I was taken aback by how suddenly she said it, but I managed to answer.
Yukinoshita giggled with a little smile at me, then quickly rushed off after Yuigahama, who was waiting ahead.
The two of them stood side by side and exchanged a few words. Then Yuigahama waved wide at me. The blue scrunchie swayed under the cuff of her sleeve.
I watched her wave, then once again turned away. "Guess I'll head home…"
Though I'd been walking around all day, my steps were strangely light, and I found myself humming.
The curtain of night quietly fell, and a cold wind stroked my cheeks. Yet the lights of the town were warm like a flickering candle, gently illuminating the last hours of Christmas.
I'm sure there are prayers that are never heard and wishes that won't come true.
But that day, at least, I was allowed to let it go and breath it out in a cloud of white.
I'm sure that sigh will make someone's light waver.
Whether you're alone or with someone else, Christmas will come again.
And so—merry Christmas to all.
Afterword
Good evening once again, this is Wataru Watari! Wait, not like this! Please put up with all those antics as well (after all, I'm Wataru Watari)!
The season is now summer!
I'm sure you're all enjoying the season and thinking, Hey, it's summer! I'm doin' good, just like summer praying mantises, but I'm working. Don't get close to me…
Now then, though this book is set in autumn before jumping to the
Christmas season, this volume of My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected consists of the prelude to the latter part of the series, and then a half-time break during that latter part.
The publication timing of the volumes numbered x.5 are all over the place, so if that makes it hard to understand, I'm very sorry to all readers who are reading it in publication order.
Truly, I'm sorry for lots of things.
Okay, so about the sports festival story in Volume 6.5 here—it's been improved and revised based on the story that we wrote behind the scenes for the TV anime extra number one.
With the anime, there are time restrictions and visual considerations to take into account when they adopt content and put together the scenario, but behind the scenes, we were working on something like this.
There are unseen parts to everything, not just this one story. It's very common that you'll just take the parts that are well-done and pretty to show to others. Even if you do get a peek behind the curtain, you may find an abyss.
This is also something that can be said about characters, too. In particular, since this series is written in first person from Hachiman Hikigaya's perspective, his depictions change with his values as time passes. Depending on his degree of understanding, his portrayals will change. Whether that will be digging too deep into the hidden side of things or piling up a mountain of mistaken beliefs will be up to him, but whatever the case, I think he may not give a one-sided portrayal. Although it's often the one looking who decides which side is the surface and which is the reverse.
Now then, since everything has a reverse side—a hidden side—of course even Wataru Watari has a hidden side. Normally, I'm just putting on this nonchalant face as I carefully ensure you only see a flawless version of me, you know… Huh? I don't look flawless at all? For real? Crap. Oh crap. If even this flawless Wataru Watari that I'm normally showing doesn't look flawless, then oh crap.
Well, not everyone who's dirty behind the scenes is clean on the surface.
The fact is that Wataru Watari also has a heck of a lot going on, behind the scenes…
For example, behind the scenes of My Youth Romantic Comedy Is
Wrong, As I Expected, I've been steadily working on a new series! (Shameless plug.)
And so Wataru Watari's new book is going to be published by Shogakukan Gagaga Bunko, and I'm presently hard at work getting that ready. So before anyone can be like We don't care; hurry up and get the next volume out, or I'll kick your butt, you useless piece of junk! I am also working super-hard on the new volume of Youth Romantic Comedy. I think new information about it will probably be available around New Year's. For example, information about an extension or something like that! So I would be glad if you would check later for further news.
Work makes more work, and the spiral continues, but I'll try to do my best. Man, I have way too much work, so I've been thinking about my life, wondering what I should do and if I should get some advice, but then this would turn into an ad for the life-advice TV anime Jinsei (Life), which will start airing in July on Tokyo MX and others, so I won't. It'd bug me to do anything for Kawagishi-san, its author.
So this has been Volume 6.5 of My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected.
And the following acknowledgments…
Holy Ponkan : I never thought the day would come when Kawasomething would be on the cover… I never would have expected such rapid progress back when I was writing Volume 2, and having conversations with my editor, Hoshino, like, "This girl will show up in later volumes, right?" "No, she won't…" "I see… But she will show up, right?" "No, she won't…" "Oh-ho, I see… But—" "No." Your wonderful cover illustration has touched me so deeply, I can't stop crying. The cover of the special edition and internal illustrations were also the best! Thank you so much.
To my editor, Hoshino: I never thought the day would come when Kawa-something would be on the cover… Now I can say thank you for sticking to it, that time. Thanks to you, I reconsidered and thought, Maybe this character is actually important… Sorry for doubting. At the time, I thought, It's just that she's your type, huh? This is why I can't stand people from Yokosuka… Hey, there'll be plenty of room for Kawasaki to show up next time! Ga-ha-ha!
To all the cast: Thank you very much for your efforts in recording the drama CD. I'm very sorry for writing hopeless scripts every time. The recording was about a year after the lines for the anime were recorded, but all your performances were even better than last time; thank you so much. I'm very much looking forward to seeing you for the second season of the anime. It'll be great to work with you again.
All right, so this is about where I'll lay down my pencil. Next time, let's meet in Volume 10 of My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected.
A certain day in June, in a lukewarm breeze, while drinking a lukewarm MAX Coffee,