Chapter 1022 - Happy New Year Part 2 &
Well then, a happy new year.
As someone who still has no intention of retracting my self-assessment as an 'introvert at heart,' I'm not opposed to a New Year's spent sleeping in without seeing anyone, to be perfectly honest.
I wouldn't say I like not seeing people, but I do fundamentally enjoy spending time quietly by myself. Of course, I feel loneliness, but there's a certain charm to that as well.
No matter how much my way of thinking, the things on my mind, or the responsibilities I carry may change or grow, it's a given that a person's basic personality type doesn't just flip on a dime.
So that's just a part of who I am.
If, hypothetically, everyone around me were the same type, there's a chance I might have spent a quiet and lazy New Year's for the first time in three years…──or not. I can't say that would have happened.
"Aaaalright! And so, a Happy New Year────aaand!"
Because, you see,
"H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y ! ! !"
"Her voice really carries, huh…"
"She's a hundred times more hyped than the birthday girl herself."
It's the usual, as usual.
The onslaught of events shows no signs of slowing down.
──And so, the day after the 'Ranker New Year's Party,' which naturally lasted from early afternoon until late at night, the next gathering I attended was on the real side.
The location was the familiar Shijo residence. The attendees were, of course, my university group. And the one being celebrated after the New Year's greetings was…
"Congratulations, Kaede."
"Ehehe… Thank you very, very much."
The birthday girl, whose special day is today, January fourth, is none other than Shijo Kaede-san herself.
The master of the 'ehehe,' on par with Sora, is still going strong. Is it because blood is thicker than water, even for distant relatives…? While such a silly thought floated through my sleep-deprived mind,
"Alright, presents, right away! BOOM!"
"Whoa!? H-hold on, I saw it coming, but it's huge…!"
"This is from me, too."
"Sorry, wait, Mizuki-chan, my hands are full, wait…!!"
It wasn't Osechi—the embodiment of refined Japanese culture—that livened up the party, but rather a chaotic flood of flashy hors d'oeuvres and tons of snacks favored by university students.
Gathered around a table like that, the birthday present ceremony began at lightning speed.
Pushed around by her best friend and childhood friend who had swarmed her, the star of the day wore a troubled expression as she held a ridiculously large, stylized rabbit plushie and a tastefully elegant small box…
Plus, she continued to emit her 'ehehe,' a special move effective against men and perhaps all of humanity, with an expression that mixed genuine joy and shyness──a sight two men watched from a step back.
The words that came out of our mouths were, of course,
"The combined power of splendor and splendor is intense."
"It's truly a feast for the eyes, isn't it? Except for the one I'm tired of seeing."
Still in their kimonos from their first shrine visit of the year. There's a certain nourishment one can only get from watching girls playfully interact, so our comments were simply on the blessed sight before us.
At this point, I've basically stopped being charmed by any woman other than 'those three,' but that aside, a good thing is a good thing. It would just be rude to be impassive here.
As for Shoko, whom Toshiki was impassive about, she looked great in her kimono and was quite beautiful. If she were to venture out near the university, she'd no doubt create a new 'Ashiwara Shoko Victims' Association.'
──And then,
"It would've been nice if Sora-chan could have come."
"Well, it can't be helped."
"I bet someone was dying to see her in a kimono."
"I won't deny that."
"Well, someone can have her show you as much as you want later."
"Haha, you must be jealous. I won't be sharing."
While the affectionate antics of the girls settled down, I smoothly parried the teasing from my bro next to me. This time, I could be impassive about it.
Sora-san had traveled with us, played and eaten with us for a whole day, so we had gotten close enough that I could, just barely, consider her a friend of the university group.
In addition to the New Year's greetings, it was also her relative Kaede's birthday, so we invited her this time too… but well, it's the New Year. It's natural she'd have all sorts of plans.
"………………"
"Hm? What's up?"
"Nah, it's nothing. Well, I dunno… lately, you've got this different vibe again──"
Just some random talk between us guys.
We were a few dozen seconds into our exchange, getting a head start on the snacks, when…
"──Hey, boys! Fork over the tributes!!!"
""Ugh, she's here…!""
Ambushed from behind. With a remarkably powerful action for her slender arms, Shoko wrapped herself around my and Toshiki's necks, prompting a perfectly synchronized protest from both of us.
That was enough to make me laugh.
When I laughed, she tightened her grip, saying, "What are you laughing at? This is a hug from a beautiful girl." So unreasonable.
"Is nineteen still considered the 'girl' category…?"
"Well, I guess it barely counts. Look at her, she doesn't really have a 'womanly' feel, does she?"
"Hmm…"
"It's not 'Hmm,' Nozomin. And Toshiki, 'barely' is the height of rudeness, you bastard. Haaah, you boys just can't appreciate Shoko-chan's charms! Hah!!"
""So loud…""
Anyway, setting aside Shoko-san, who was in New Year's high spirits, or rather, just her usual self.
"Besides, don't ask me for one, it was a joint purchase. Kaede, that plushie is from me and Shoko, so please take it. She's the one who picked it, so direct all your complaints to her."
"I-I don't have any complaints! Toshiki-kun, thank you, too…!"
First one's out. My friend, who apparently had this planned, pointed to the giant rabbit still half-crushing Kaede… a giant rabbit of solid red. Where on earth did she find it?
I won't ask why she chose that.
Kaede seems happy with it, and even if I did question it, I'd only end up taking damage myself.
"And?"
"Aaaand?"
"And…?"
"…, …………"
──And so, naturally, all eyes turned to me. Three prompting gazes and one of anticipation. I, receiving the gentle pressure from my friends, did not waver.
I was waiting to go last on purpose. This much was expected… And with that, I put on a cool expression and took out from the bag I'd placed at my feet,
"Huh?"
"Oh?"
"?"
"Four of them…?"
Four small boxes, all identical in shape and appearance.
Before the New Year, before Christmas.
These were something I had prepared ever since Shoko suggested, 'Let's get together after New Year's!' and Mizuki followed up with, 'Then let's celebrate Kaede's birthday too.'
…No, actually, I'd been preparing them for much longer than that.
"Well, what can I say. Think of this from me as a birthday present with a Christmas present and a New Year's gift on top. ──For everyone. I know Toshiki's and Shoko's have passed, and Mizuki's is next month, but I'd appreciate it if you'd accept this as a gift for the whole year's worth."
I explained my intentions at length.
""Uh, okay………… thanks…?""
"Thank, you?"
"I'll gratefully accept…"
I chuckled at the perfectly synchronized reactions from the male and female childhood friend pair, as the four small boxes—each containing the same amount of my feelings and the same physical and emotional weight—were passed into their hands.
My friends froze. Hey, you don't have to look at me like that…
"You can open them."
Frankly, it is a big deal, but I have no intention of telling them that. When I prompted them to feel free to accept it, the four of them opened their respective boxes.
They opened them… and──
"…………"
"………………"
"……………………"
Three of them closed the boxes with expressions that were hard to describe.
"…………Wow……, …………Wow…!"
And then the last one. The most honest and innocent of them all, with an ideal reaction that forced the gift-giver watching to silently endure a great deal of embarrassment,
"──Waaaah…!!!"
"Hey wait, is it that much…!?"
She started crying.
At that, I naturally panicked, only to be met with three sharp glares.
"Seriously, Nozomin…"
"You just had to…"
"Nozomi-kun…"
"Whoa whoa whoa, wait, wait, wait! Look, it's fine, isn't it?! It's not a weird situation to cry in! If she was moved to tears and I'm happy about that, I don't see why I'm the one getting blamed—"
"You should be."
"Yep."
"You should."
"I should!?"
Pure chaos. Her childhood friend pulled the birthday girl, who had apparently been overwhelmed by my surprise, into a comforting hug, while the beautiful black-haired kimono-clad girl hugged them both from behind. And next to me, my bro let out the loudest sigh I'd ever heard, right into my ear.
Inside the small boxes they each held… was a single metal plate.
On it, meticulously engraved, was a design mimicking the jeweled hair accessory that had become the icon of the [Acrobat]—something like a 'rabbit' and a 'shooting star.' A total of five of them.
Five tags in the world, to represent our team.
Design by [Milmarinus, the Aquamarine Fairy]──Production arranged by [The Sword Queen]──I won't tell them the behind-the-scenes story that would probably make them faint. I won't, but…
"No, that's enough. Just accept it, no more questions. It's just a small token of my feelings."
My gratitude is something I want them to accept. I also tucked in a selfish wish for them to 'be with me for a long time to come,' so please, from now on, feel free to──
"Ah—… Uh—…? Hey, timeout… Crap, Shoko-chan's gonna cry too."
"Is this guy for real? Does he have no limits…?"
"Such a charmer…"
"Fuguuh…!!!"
"Are you listening???"
Be good friends with me, please.
In the end, everyone cried.
And the charmer was sentenced to death by tickling at the hands of the childhood friend pair.