Chapter 189: Christmas #3
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 189: Christmas #3
“Junior.”
“Yes, Master.”
“I have deliberated on the matter, and I have arrived at the conclusion that I wish to spend Christmas with you, Junior, and with Junior Hanazawa.”
What was with this mechanical way of speaking? It was... different.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. However, I also wish to spend time with Renka. My heart aches when I think of her being all alone.”
“I understand.”
“So... if it is all right with you and Junior Hanazawa, would it be acceptable to meet late in the evening...? I will come to where you two are.”
Late in the evening... That sounded strangely suggestive.
“Of course, that’s fine.”
“I am relieved. By the way, what were you planning for us to do when we meet?”
“I was thinking we could find a restaurant with a nice atmosphere and have a beer.”
“N-Not... beer?”
“Yes. Have you never had it before?”
“Sometimes...? I don't drink often. There are times when Renka gets a craving for alcohol, you see? I just have a little with her then.”
If she’d said she’d never had it, that would be one thing, but that much should be fine.
Let’s stick to the plan. A light buzz would help us build up some courage.
For Miyuki and Chinami, of course, and for me, too.
“It’s not that you don’t want to drink or anything, right?”
“No. It is fine.”
“Then that’s settled. We’ll do that.”
“Understood.”
Chinami’s tone was quite stiff.
Was she nervous because she was spending Christmas with a guy after always spending it with her female friends?
No, she was probably imagining something lewd in her head.
Chinami was a pervert, after all.
To help her relax, I gently stroked the back of her head. She let out a little giggle—phihi...—and I watched as she trotted away.
Later, I went for a walk up the hill and found Renka sitting on a bench.
She was staring at her phone by herself again.
Did a new figure get announced? Or was she reading manga?
I approached her from behind as quietly as I could and checked to see what she was doing.
[Hiring part-timers at an Akihabara plastic model shop.]
[1000 yen/hour. Duties include cashier, organizing, and assisting with plastic model assembly. Preference for those with knowledge in this area.]
[Looking for people interested in figures!]
[If you can treat figures as preciously as your own body, come to our shop! Best benefits in the industry! Apply via this link!]
[Part-timer wanted]
[Waiting tables, any gender, 20+, 1200 yen/hour, 3-month minimum.]
So she was looking at part-time job listings.
Just like Renka to prioritize jobs in the subculture world.
Feeling mischievous, I brought my lips to her ear and asked, “Looking for a part-time job?”
“Hyaaaahk!!”
Renka shrieked, flinging her arms into the air in shock.
As she shot up from her seat, shuddering as if she’d seen a ghost, I scratched the back of my head sheepishly.
“Sorry. I didn't think I'd scare you that badly.”
“Hah... hah... Hey! Why are you looking at my phone without permission!?”
That’s what was important?
Then again, for you, I guess it would be.
“I didn't mean to, my eyes just happened to land on it.”
“You snuck up on me and looked, so that's ‘without permission’!”
“I guess so. But why a part-time job? You planning on waiting tables?”
I deliberately mentioned the table-waiting ad first, pretending I hadn't seen the one for the figure shop. Renka’s expression softened slightly as she answered.
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Why...? It's what students do. A part-time job during break to earn some pocket money.”
“That’s true. But if you're going to get a job, wouldn't it be better to work at your uncles' store?”
“It’s fine to go help out sometimes, but it’s too far to go every day.”
“You could just live there.”
“I can't sleep well unless I'm in my own house, in my own room.”
“You slept just fine at the hotel that one time...”
“Stop! Stop!”
Renka hurriedly cut me off.
The mention of the hotel must have embarrassed her.
As usual, she glanced around to see if anyone was nearby, then jutted her chin toward the club room, her arms crossed.
“Stop talking nonsense and get to work.”
“You keep saying that. I’m already done.”
“If you're done, then practice. The tournament is right around the corner. You think you have time to slack off?”
“Then watch my downward strikes.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“I don't really know the high stance.”
“Don't tell such ridiculous lies.”
“.....”
She scowled, her brow furrowing.
The way her nose crinkled was cute.
Her lips moved this way and that with a look of utter dissatisfaction before she finally said, “Fine. Get into your stance.”
It seemed she couldn't just ignore me when I said I wanted to practice.
No matter what, the captain is still the captain.
A true leader who can't bear to see a club member left out... I'm moved.
She was only doing it half-begrudgingly, but who cares? As long as she was looking out for me, that's all that mattered.
* * *
“Merry Christmas.”
When I arrived to pick up Miyuki, Midori greeted me with a bright smile.
Glancing at her still-ample gift sacks, I got out of the car and bowed my head.
“Merry Christmas. I hope you have a great holiday, ma'am.”
“Thank you. Are you two planning to stay out late today?”
At that, Miyuki gently nudged Midori’s side with her elbow.
“Mom...! Why would you say that right in front of him...!”
“What's wrong with it? It's Christmas, so I'm just asking if you're going to be out late. You're not thinking of anything strange, are you?”
Come to think of it, Midori was just as mischievous as Kana.
It suddenly made me curious about Midori’s school days.
I wonder if she was super popular.
Wataru had a kind and gentle face, but there was a certain gravity to him that made me think he must have been better than average-looking when he was young, too.
Either that, or he had some other exceptional quality.
One thing was for sure, Wataru was definitely not the Tetsuya type.
If he were, he never would have been able to marry Midori. That was a given.
I put on a cheerful smile and stepped in as Miyuki started bickering with her mother.
“If you tell me to bring her home early, I'll bring her home early.”
“No, no. Take your time and have fun.”
It sounded like she emphasized the words ‘take your time.’ Was I imagining things?
“You need to have some leeway. Got it?”
So I wasn't imagining it.
When a married woman was this suggestive, it kept giving me wicked ideas... I had to resist.
“Understood.”
After that rather meaningful exchange, I helped Miyuki into the car and headed for the academy.
“Huh?”
After getting out of the car, Miyuki looked up at the sky and let out a curious sound. I followed her gaze.
“It's snowing.”
Just as she said, a few thick snowflakes were falling from the sky.
What started as just five or six flakes soon turned into a heavy snowfall, blanketing the surroundings in white.
“Huh?”
“Whoa...!”
The snow came suddenly, falling in thick flurries, loud enough to draw excited gasps from the other students and teachers around us.
If it kept up like this, there would be a good amount piled up by the time club activities were over.
“Matsuda-kun, look at this.”
Miyuki showed me the large snowflake that had landed in the center of her outstretched palm.
I stared at the snow as it gently melted from her body heat and said, “That's a pretty one.”
“Yeah. I hope it's still snowing like this tonight.”
“It will be.”
“Did you see the weather forecast?”
“Nope.”
“Then how can you be so sure?”
Because a white Christmas is a standard feature when the main character of a rom-com spends Christmas. That's how I know.
“I just know.”
With that, I gently placed her furry thermal glove on top of her light brown hair.
Miyuki slipped her slender fingers into the glove and asked, “You're being very sentimental today, aren't you?”
“Do I seem that way?”
“Yeah. Let's go inside.”
Resisting the urge to pounce on Miyuki's brightly smiling lips, I walked with her across the school grounds.
Then, from a distance, the student council president called out to Miyuki, and I scowled.
“Miyuki! Perfect timing, could you come over here for a second?”
Why was she trying to interrupt our cozy moment?
I felt like forcing her to her knees and spraying my whitish seed-juice all over those round glasses.
“Oh, yes! I'm coming! Matsuda-kun, you go on ahead. And don't eat these all by yourself.”
Miyuki said, pressing the gummy bears she was holding into my hand.
Sighing internally, I pointed to her bag.
“Give me your bag, then.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
Miyuki quickly slipped off her bag, handed it to me, and hurried over to the student council president.
I watched her go, then slung her bag over my front and started walking. As I trudged along, I saw Chinami and Renka coming through the school gate and grinned.
“Oh!? Junior! Merry Christmas!”
Chinami spotted me coming toward them and waved her hands wildly.
She was bursting with energy, probably because of the snow.
Next to her, Renka kept a straight face, but I could see a hint of excitement underneath.
She was trying to act cool, but it seemed she liked the heavy snow, too.
I smiled warmly and walked over to them.
“Merry Christmas to you, too. And to you, Captain.”
Maybe she didn't want to be a downer on such a nice day.
Renka nodded and returned the greeting in a relatively calm tone.
“Merry Christmas.”
“Let's have a good new year, too.”
“It's not the new year yet.”
“It's just an expression.”
“What's with the bag on your front?”
“This? It's Miyuki's.”
“Good at running errands, are we?”
“Think whatever you want. You seem to be in a great mood, Master.”
At my words, Chinami brushed the snow from her hair.
“How could I not be in a good mood when it's suddenly snowing? If enough snow piles up by the time club activities start, let's build a snowman together.”
“Sure. Let's have the captain join us, too.”
“Should we? My dear friend, would you like to come up to the hill thirty minutes before club activities end? We can take a picture together after we finish. What do you think?”
Perhaps unable to refuse Chinami's innocent-eyed proposal, Renka managed an awkward smile and replied, “I'm fine with that. Let's do it.”
Then she shot a glare at me for subtly roping her into it.
It wasn't scary at all. In fact, it just made me want to train her even more.
Shrugging off Renka's gaze, I chatted with Chinami a little more before heading to the classroom.
The day had finally come.
It took a long time if you just counted the days, but it felt like it had passed by in a flash.
Let's make today's goal to ensure Miyuki and Chinami have fun.
During the day, in the evening, and at night.