Chapter 275: To the Hotel
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 275: To the Hotel
The observatory on the top floor, which we reached by elevator, was already packed with couples who had come to see the night view.
"Wow, it's so crowded."
As Rika murmured this and looked around, the President spread open the black fan she always carried and laughed, "Ohoho."
"Well, it is Christmas Eve, after all."
"Hey, it's not like I didn't know that..."
Saying this, Rika gave the President an exasperated look before linking her arm with mine, as if she wanted us to look like a normal couple.
The soft sensation that naturally pressed against my arm.
I should be used to it by now, but seeing as it still felt so new, I guess I'm just hopelessly shy.
Seeing Rika's action, the President slipped her hand into my other arm, and just like that, I had a flower in each hand.
Some guys walking by shot me envious glances, leading to the unfortunate incident of getting their cheeks pinched by their girlfriends, but honestly, they brought it on themselves.
The three of us, arms linked, walked to the edge of the observatory. We couldn't help but let out gasps of admiration at the beautiful Tokyo nightscape visible beyond the clear glass windows.
"Whoa..."
This was probably the most beautiful night view I had ever seen in my life.
The view from lower down wasn't bad, but seeing it from an observatory with such a wide, open view was on a completely different level.
The artificial lights of Tokyo twinkled like stars in the night sky.
Though man-made and somewhat alien, their beauty held something that overwhelmed even the real thing.
As I stared blankly out the window, mouth agape and speechless, I suddenly wondered what expressions the two beside me were making.
So I subtly turned my head and my eyes met Rika's.
"Ah."
It seemed she'd had the same thought as me.
An awkward atmosphere momentarily flowed between us. Rika, who seemed to have something to say, pursed her lips for a moment before clasping her hands behind her back and speaking.
"Yoo-Sung-ah, I had fun today."
"...I'm glad to hear that. To be honest, I was a little nervous at first."
"Why? Were you afraid I'd say I wasn't having fun?"
"Well, there was that. And it wasn't a date with just the two of us."
As I said that, I glanced at the President next to me. Feeling my gaze, she tilted her head and asked.
"What is it?"
"Nothing, you're just cute."
"It's only natural that I'm cute."
The President said, puffing out her chest proudly.
Doing so highlighted her chest, which was by no means lacking.
Rika stared at her with a look of disbelief. The President then suddenly changed the subject, saying, "More importantly..."
"Yoo-Sung-kun, you've looked like you've had something to say for a while now."
"M-Me?"
I hadn't expected the arrow to suddenly be aimed at me, and my voice trembled involuntarily.
At that, Rika also looked at me, her expression filled with curiosity.
"What? You had something to say?"
"......"
With the net of their investigation closing in rapidly, I exercised my right to remain silent.
But the two of them pressed on with their interrogation like a detective duo from a drama.
"Just confess already."
"If you talk now, we'll at least order you a gyudon in the holding cell."
In the end, unable to hold out any longer, I squeezed my eyes shut and took out the two cases from my pocket.
"Actually, I got you Christmas presents!"
Suddenly, the two of them went quiet.
Wondering what was going on, I peeked open one of my closed eyes.
The President and Rika, who had been interrogating me so persistently just moments before, were now staring at me with touched expressions, their hands covering their mouths.
"Uh..."
This reaction was a lot more dramatic than I'd expected.
It was my first time giving presents to my girlfriends, so I hesitated, unsure how to react. The two of them each took a case I held out and simply stared at me with misty eyes.
Then, the President spoke first.
"May I open it?"
"Ah, yes."
I nodded hastily at her quiet question, and the President opened the case with trembling hands.
Inside was a silver necklace with a flower-shaped charm that I had picked out myself at the jewelry shop.
"What... do you think? I bought it while thinking of the image I have of you, President."
As I asked in an unconfident voice, a single tear suddenly fell from the President's eyes as she stared intently at the necklace inside.
"I love it. I'll treasure it for the rest of my life."
Then she hugged the necklace to her chest and gave me a radiant smile.
Rika, who had been watching from the side, also turned to me with a nervous expression.
"Can I open mine, too?"
"Yeah."
Once I gave my permission, Rika, just like the President, carefully opened the lid of the case she'd received.
Inside was a silver bracelet with a star-shaped charm—an image that somehow always came to mind when I thought of Rika.
"I'm not good with words, so I don't know how to express this, but to me, back at the beginning of the semester, you were like a star shining in the night sky. So bright and dazzling that I couldn't easily approach you."
As I said this, rubbing the back of my neck shyly, Rika fiddled with the bracelet she'd taken from the case before, like the President, giving me a radiant smile.
"Thank you, Ryu-chan. I'll make this my number one treasure."
The sight of the two of them thanking me with such radiant smiles was so dazzling that I couldn't help but smile back.
Even ten years from now, the memory of today will surely live on vividly in my mind.
It was truly the best Christmas Eve ever.
*
"Well, it's getting late, so shall we head down now?"
After the emotional moment had passed, the President, who seemed to have composed herself, wiped her tears with a handkerchief and spoke.
"Are you okay?"
When I asked carefully, the President nodded with a faint smile on her lips.
"Yes. I just got a little choked up. So many things have happened this year, after all."
True, looking back, this year really has been eventful.
Going to Asakusa to buy yukatas, getting stranded on a deserted island, storming a hotel to save the President from a forced engagement ceremony, and so on.
Recalling those memories, I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions.
Even Rika, who had been bickering with the President all day, couldn't help but worry when she suddenly burst into tears, and her attitude toward her became much more cautious.
After coming down from the observatory, we crossed the remaining half of the bridge and arrived at our destination, Shibaura-futo Station.
"Well... I guess it's about time we parted ways."
If it were up to me, I'd want to stay with them tonight, but their families are strict, so that would probably be difficult.
It wasn't that I wasn't disappointed, but it was true that today's date had been incredibly fun, so I decided to end it here.
But as if to mock my thoughts, the President suddenly tugged on my sleeve.
"No. There's no need for that."
"Huh?"
"There's no one left in my family who would say anything about me being with you, Yoo-Sung-kun."
She said, looking up at me with her moist, teary eyes.
"Tonight, will you stay with me?"
"......"
As I stood there, stunned by her sudden request, just moving my lips without a sound, Rika, who was next to me, also raised her right hand and dropped a bombshell.
"M-Me too! I don't have to go home today! Mama said she'd explain everything to Papa!"
Rika, you too!?
I was definitely trying to be a gentleman and send them home, but here were two little lambs willingly throwing themselves at the wolf.
No matter how much of an 'herbivore man' I might be, I believe that not eating a meal that's been served to you is a man's shame. The option to refuse didn't even exist in my brain.
"Alright."
When I nodded and accepted their request, the President, her face flushed red—whether from the midwinter cold or from shyness, I couldn't tell—nodded back and took out her smartphone.
"I thought this might happen, so I booked a hotel in advance."
*
The limousine the President called took us to one of Tokyo's top, super-duper-luxurious 5-star hotels.
And it wasn't just a regular room; the President had booked a suite on the top floor, and she was currently in the bathroom washing up with Rika.
[You have a great figure, Rika.]
[You're the one with the petite frame but huge breasts, President. Isn't that totally cheating?]
Their girls' talk drifted from beyond the translucent glass wall.
Sitting awkwardly on the king-sized bed, I anxiously waited for them to finish their bath and glanced at the clock.
It had already been nearly thirty minutes since they went into the bathroom.
But whether they were enjoying their chat or if it just takes women a long time to wash up, they showed no signs of coming out.
'Nice thoughts, nice thoughts.'
The main event hadn't even started yet, and I figured it would be embarrassing to get worked up all by myself, so I was desperately trying to control my thoughts. When I finally heard the bathroom door open, I was taking a sip of water. I turned my head and immediately spat it out.
"Pfft!"
"Ahh, that was refreshing~"
Because Rika had walked out confidently, drying her hair with a towel, the front of her bathrobe wide open.
Visible between the fluttering folds of the robe were her white breasts, and below that, a golden...
"Rika! Your robe!"
"Aw, come on. We've already seen everything there is to see. What's the big deal?"
The President, who followed her out of the bathroom a moment later, pointed it out, but Rika paid her no mind. Spotting me sitting stiffly on the bed, she grinned and said.
"We're all clean. You waited long?"
"N-No."
I answered in a tense, stiff voice, my gaze shifting between the two of them in their white bathrobes, before I shot up from my seat.
"I'll go wash up, then."
"Okay. Take your time~"
Rika said, waving her hand gently.
I couldn't even respond to her farewell and rushed into the bathroom, hunched over.
...It looked like I needed to take care of business first.