Christmas Spent with Everyone

Although expected, the students were not given a break even after they had finished their exams.

At Amane's school, classes continued like normal until the 24th, and life continued as usual. The packed schedule seemed fitting for the rush of December, as the school had already begun to gear up for the entrance exam preparations gently. Even though Amane had been prepared for it, the increasing intensity of the classes was still challenging. However, knowing that a long break was just around the corner made things feel more bearable.

"Ugh, I don't get it. Having school until Christmas Eve literally makes no sense."

It was December 24th—Christmas Eve.

Classes were still going like they were any other day. The students were disheartened, complaining about having school on Christmas Eve of all days, but the teachers, bound to follow the curriculum, paid no heed to their grumbling.

Still, perhaps as a small concession from the school, classes today ended by noon. In the following homeroom session, the students were given lengthy reminders about holiday safety and the mindset they should adopt as future exam-takers. For Chitose, rather than feeling relieved, exhaustion seemed to hit her first.

Students all around them were excited for winter break, yet some were quite gloomy as they considered what lay ahead.

"Well, at least we don't have any more now until next year. It is what it is," Amane said.

"They could've started the break today… I'm so tired…"

"Yeah, they always cram a bunch of topics into our classes. It's pretty fast-paced here."

"They should take their time!" "No chance, no chance."

"You should've given in the moment you enrolled here. Anyway, homeroom's over now, so we can go home. No complaining."

Many of the students were quick to head home after being dismissed. Incidentally, Ayaka had excitedly hurried off to Souji's class. As for Amane and his group, they had plans to gather together and then go to Amane's place—though for him, it was simply a matter of going home. So, they lingered in the classroom for a bit longer.

"Oh, my dear winter break… Live long…"

"Sorry to disappoint, but we're back in school on the sixth. That gives us twelve days."

"Summer break, come baaack!" Chitose wailed.

Mahiru giggled. "It seems like we'll all be in for extra courses during the summer vacation too."

Chitose let out a half-trembling voice, "Mahirun, I don't need a second reality check…" as Mahiru delivered the final blow with a smile. In response, Mahiru just kept smiling sweetly.

"I'm sorry. But that's exactly why we need to enjoy the moment, wouldn't you agree? It's Christmas Eve, after all."

Imagining the challenges ahead would only spoil the fun, so Mahiru didn't go into detail. Instead, she took a hand of the suddenly energized Chitose and helped her up from her chair. Just seconds earlier, Chitose had been slumped over, but after realizing it was Christmas Eve, she perked up more lively than ever. She hurried over to the locker behind her, retrieving her change of clothes and coat.

Amane caught a glimpse of what seemed like a pile of textbooks crammed inside, but he convinced himself it was just his mind playing tricks on him.

"All right, let's go pick up the chicken we reserved! Woo-hoo! Today's a fried chicken feast!" Chitose cheered.

"It'll probably be packed even with our reservation." "Oh my, a Christmas double date, is it?"

As Chitose eagerly slipped into her coat and raised her fist in excitement, a voice called out to all of them. Two girl classmates, still lingering around in the classroom, approached them.

"Yep. We're gonna have a nice and cozy double date indoors."

"Wow, even you guys are having a home date, Chitose-chan? I thought you'd be stopping by somewhere on the way back."

"Is that really how we look?" Itsuki jumped in. "But yeah, we are. We'd probably get lost in the crowds if we went out somewhere. Plus, I bet Amane wouldn't appreciate being seen out on a date, am I right?"

"Shaddup."

"You're all good friends, huh?" One of the girls commented with a smile.

She wasn't trying to tease them. Her tone was understanding, sounding both amused and slightly stunned. To their classmates, the four of them were practically an established group, so Amane wasn't sure whether to laugh or feel troubled. It didn't bother Mahiru, so nothing was wrong with it, leaving him mixed feelings.

"How about you? Goin' out anywhere?" asked Itsuki.

"Ahh! Akazawa-kun, it's so mean of you to ask that when we don't even have boyfriends!"

"Oops, sorry!" Itsuki quickly apologized.

"Aha ha, just kidding. We're going to a café we reserved. We wanna try out the Christmas menu. So yes, we do have plans!"

"Didn't hafta chew me out then!" Itsuki quipped playfully.

"Heh heh, I just had to play along. Well then, Risa, shall we get going?" "Mhm," Risa replied.

Itsuki and Chitose were the class' mood-makers, so they were on good terms with almost all their classmates. Casual exchanges like this were second nature to them. In contrast, Amane could only admire how they did it. Thankfully, he had also been accepted by his classmates and could manage a respectable amount of conversation. Still, playful banter like the one he just saw didn't come naturally to him. It probably depended on the person.

As Amane reflected once more on Itsuki's impressive social skills, he figured it was time for them to leave, too. He slightly nodded to the two girls, saying, "Take care, Konishi, Hibiya. See you after winter break." But for some reason, the two of them froze in place.

Amane couldn't help but feel awkward, wondering if they still doubted whether he remembered their names. With a quiet sigh, he gently took Mahiru's hand. She hesitated momentarily, and her eyebrows lowered before she squeezed his hand back.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

"Oh, now this is Christmas! You've even got a tree!"

Chitose, eager as ever, dashed into the living room and cheered while Amane and Mahiru exchanged glances and smiled before following her a little later. The one most excited about hosting a Christmas party at home was actually Mahiru.

They mainly decorated the living room in red, green, and gold to create a clear, festive Christmas atmosphere. What stood out the most was the cute, slightly smaller-than-Mahiru tree. The ornaments were arranged perfectly, making anyone who looked at them feel the Christmas spirit.

"Everyone was kind enough to make stunning decorations for my birthday, so this time, it was my turn to do the same," Mahiru said.

"My mom suddenly sent something over, but I never expected it to be a tree," Amane added.

Shihoko had contacted Amane a few days ago, instructing him to prepare to receive a package she'd sent. Caught off guard by the sudden notice, the delivery arrived in no time, leaving him bewildered.

Two items arrived. One was a large box holding the disassembled Christmas tree that had been used at his parents' house for years. He still vividly remembered the cute, quiet cheer Mahiru let out when she saw it. The other box hadn't been opened in front of Mahiru yet, as Amane planned to show her its contents later.

"…I-It may have been because I mentioned I've never decorated a tree at home before… I'm sorry," Mahiru said quietly.

"Why are you saying sorry? I don't have anything against the tree itself; it's just that Mom sent it so out of the blue. She could have at least let me know a bit earlier," Amane replied, slightly exasperated.

When Amane saw the tree, he instantly knew his parents must have caught wind that Mahiru had never experienced decorating one and sent it out of consideration. He was grateful for their thoughtfulness. Mahiru decorated the tree with about 130% enthusiasm. She was utterly adorable. Amane captured the whole scene on video and sent it to Shihoko and Shuuto as a token of his appreciation.

In fact, Mahiru had been so fired up that her enthusiasm was perfectly reflected in the tree itself. The beautifully arranged decorations delighted everyone in the room.

"Oi, oi—only sweet to your girlfriend, hmm?" Itsuki joked. "And why should I be sweet to you?"

"You could at least work on your words a bit, don'tcha think?" "Absolutely not." Amane dismissed the idea.

"Ikkun, Ikkun. If you think about it, Amane's actually a super sweet guy.

He always keeps things super dry when he's talking to someone he's not interested in. It's 'cause of love."

"Chitose…"

"Mahiruuun, I'll help get things ready too! Should I get all our cups out?"

When Amane turned his gaze, Chitose had already scurried off to the kitchen to prepare the tableware alongside Mahiru. She left him with no way to express his annoyance—all he could do was send her a sharp look. Of course, Chitose pretended not to notice while Mahiru cheerfully gave her instructions. As a result, Amane's mild irritation quickly settled down.

Itsuki laughed hysterically at the scene, prompting Amane to step on his foot with his slippers on lightly. Sighing quietly, he began tidying up his usual study materials left on the low table.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

"And with that, Merry Christmas!"

The party was set up in no time, thanks to Mahiru and Chitose's surprisingly quick hands. It was nothing extravagant, as there was only so much high school students could prepare. The table was laid out with fried chicken and fries from a certain international fast food chain, along with salad and glasses filled with juice—just the first things that came to mind when they thought of Christmas.

They had considered getting a roast turkey for the main course, but in the end, they went with fried chicken at Mahiru's request since she had never tried the famous chain's fried chicken before.

They all raised a glass filled with their drinks of choice, a clear sound echoing as they clinked them together. Usually, that complex, sharp sound wouldn't be something Amane paid much attention to, but today, it felt oddly pleasant and comforting.

"Honestly, not much to do on Christmas, is there?" Chitose casually murmured, having just swallowed a bite of her fries.

Amane felt the same way. To him, just because it was Christmas didn't mean there was something special to do. As a child, Christmas had always been a fun event. He'd looked forward to presents, and his parents would take him to different places every year. But as he grew older, it became just another day, one not much different from the rest. Of course, it was still a special day filled with many fond memories, but the feeling of needing to do something just because it was Christmas had gradually faded as he matured.

"If we were adults, we could go to a nice restaurant and enjoy the lights, and we'd still have time left for other things. But if we stayed out that late, we'd get picked up by the police," Chitose sighed.

"Wouldn't your parents start bawling their eyes out way before that?" "You are their adorable, beloved daughter, after all," Mahiru mused. "Right, so if high schoolers feel like doing something for Christmas, they usually go the movies or karaoke, but they're always packed, so I'd rather not. We always end up chilling at your place, Amane, so it just feels right, y'know?" Chitose explained.

"Yeah, you should realize how strange that is," Amane quipped.

It had become so routine that Amane almost forgot how often it happened. Not that he minded, however—they were always welcome. He just wished his friends would at least recognize how much his place had turned into their go-to hangout spot. He knew it was a convenient place for everyone to gather, so he wouldn't make a big deal about it. But there were times when they showed up unannounced, and that was something he hoped they would reflect on a bit.

"I mean, if we go to your place, Mahirun will be there too. It's a double win."

"You're just after Mahiru, aren't you?"

"Oh, busted?" Chitose admitted with a playful grin. "Hehe, I'm happy to be with you, Chitose-san." "Mahirun…!" Chitose beamed, her eyes sparkling.

"Hey, don't look at me like you've won," Amane grumbled, frowning slightly. He wasn't so insecure as to get jealous over another girl, but seeing Chitose flaunt her smug face so blatantly was starting to get on his nerves. Her triumphant expression grew more in response to his gruff, making Amane seriously consider prying Mahiru away from her.

"Don't worry, Amane-kun, you're in a different category altogether, okay?"

"I know that," Amane replied. "Look who's jelly~!"

"Like hell I'm jealous."

"Oh-ho, so you're envious then!" "Mahiru, go."

"Hiiya!"

Mahiru perfectly understood Amane's intentions. She gently tossed some leftover fries into Chitose's mouth, effectively silencing her before she could say anything else unnecessary. Though Mahiru's approach was much more polite than when Itsuki usually silenced Chitose, it seemed Chitose was more focused on the fact that Mahiru had fed her, for she happily accepted the gesture and quieted down.

As Chitose munched the fries with a satisfied look, Itsuki chuckled. "Shiina-san's getting influenced by Amane, eh?" Though he wore an awkward look, he didn't try to stop them, clearly just enjoying the scene unfolding before him.

"It's crazy how much we've all gotten closer since last year. It's hard to believe."

"Yeah. Back then, Mahiru and Chitose hadn't even met yet," Amane replied.

In their first year, Mahiru still maintained her "Angel" persona and had never spoken to Chitose or Itsuki. They only knew her by face, with no interactions at all. Now, just a year later, things had changed entirely. It showed how unpredictable life could be.

"It was around this time last year that we found out about you and Shiina-san," Itsuki said, reminiscing.

"I thought my heart was going to stop back then," Amane admitted with a sigh.

He'd kept his connection with Mahiru hidden, knowing that his peaceful school life would crumble if others found out. Even with close friends, it was crucial to keep it under wraps. But then, by sheer accident, Itsuki caught her standing on the balcony that day. At that moment, Amane felt like he'd made a grave mistake. His stomach twisted in knots. However, thanks to Itsuki and Chitose's good nature, their secret never leaked out, and in the end, the incident allowed them to grow closer.

"I meean, who would've guessed that the Angel and Amane, of all people, would end up like this? Mahirun always kept guys at a distance, too," Chitose added.

"…P-Please forget about that!"

"And just look at you now. You're a total Amane fangirl." "Chitose-san!"

"Mwahahaha…!" Chitose giggled mischievously, clearly enjoying herself. Her face slightly flushed from embarrassment, Mahiru glared at Chitose.

Unfortunately, Chitose wasn't the least bit fazed—it was as if she hadn't even noticed. Mahiru wasn't truly upset with what Chitose had said; she was only mildly annoyed at being teased. After all, she didn't deny what Chitose had said.

As the subject of Mahiru's affection, Amane felt happy and embarrassed at the same time. A strange tickling sensation tugged at the corners of his mouth. However, he did his best to tighten his expression and keep any sign of a smile from slipping through. If he let it show, not only Chitose but even Itsuki would join in on the teasing.

"You guys changed, but we haven't, have we?" Itsuki remarked. "Nope. We're just the same old same old," Chitose agreed.

"Really? I'd say you guys are more laid-back and relaxed than before," Amane observed.

"What, you tryna say we have nothing going on up there!?"

"Why do you always have to take things so negatively? I'm just saying you look more comfortable than before," Amane then clarified.

"…Did we look prickly to you ?" Itsuki asked, sounding genuinely surprised.

"No, not prickly. Sometimes, I got the feeling you were half-intentionally and half-unintentionally flirting. Like you were using it as a tool to keep others away…no, to keep them from suspecting anything was wrong?"

Though they were often called an "idiot couple," Amane felt that not all of their flirting came naturally. It felt like they were at least somewhat engineering it most of the time, as if they intentionally presented themselves as a happy, carefree couple with no obstacles. While it was true they were happy and harmonious, the same couldn't be said for carefree.

Because Amane knew about their struggles, he realized that they weren't just mindlessly affectionate with each other. Even so, how they were always getting cozy still made them an "idiot couple." Compared to last year, they were now more at ease and no longer walked on eggshells.

Whether that was good or bad depended on how you looked at it. "Yikes, this dude…"

"Why are you insulting me now!?"

"I'm not, I'm not! It's actually a compliment!" "Yeah, right…"

"Believe it or not, that's a compliment coming from Ikkun."

"You should learn how to give a proper compliment…" Amane said with a sigh.

"I could say the same thing to you," Itsuki shot back.

"What was that?"

As long as they weren't teasing him, Amane always tried to be honest with his thoughts. In fact, he believed he expressed himself quite directly. How they managed to interpret it otherwise was beyond his understanding.

"Amane-kun, you always act cold with Akazawa-san when you realize he's complimenting you. I'm a little jealous."

"Why!?" Amane exclaimed, bewildered.

"You only act that way with him. It means that Akazawa-san is special," Mahiru explained gently.

"Amane, I can't believe you…"

"Mahiru, there are things you should and shouldn't say."

"Oh, should I not have said that?" With an indisputably charming smile, Mahiru cocked her head slightly. Faced with that, Amane could no longer say anything and simply pressed his lips into a thin line.

"So even the mega tsundere Amane is no match for the mighty Mahirun, eh?" Chitose teased.

"Who're you calling a mega tsundere?" Amane quipped "All right, then let's just say you're deredere."

"Like I said, who!?"

"You."

"You, Amane."

"Definitely you, Amane-kun."

With all three of them chiming in together, Amane quickly realized he didn't have a single ally to call his own. Now outnumbered, he fell silent, accepting his defeat.

"Please don't sulk, okay?" Mahiru whispered in a gentle, soothing voice, trying to console Amane as she recognized his moody expression as sulking.

Despite how sweetly she spoke, Amane had no intention of being swayed by her charms. He had lost the will to argue, or more accurately, realized that doing so right now would be pointless.

"…You'll pay for this later."

"We will? Or you mean Shiina-san?" "All of you!"

"My, oh my."

"Now, now…"

They both knew that Amane's cold attitude was a direct result of their constant teasing, yet neither of them made any effort to change their ways. Amane wished they'd realize by now that this was precisely why he responded with such a curt demeanor.

✧ ₊ ✦ ₊ ✧

"…Winter break starts tomorrow, but are you two just carrying on as normal?"

After finishing their meal, they didn't have any specific plans in mind. They decided to pass the time by watching a Christmas classic. However, since they had all seen it before, no one was paying much attention, and idle conversation naturally slipped in.

"It's not like anything big's happening, so it'll just be business as usual—studying at home, then going to work."

On the TV, the classic movie about a child home alone on Christmas was playing. In it, the kid used clever traps to comically fend off burglars, accompanied by the dramatic screams of a man caught in one of them.

While watching the scene, Amane absentmindedly reflected on Itsuki's question.

Many students highly anticipated winter break, but honestly, it didn't feel any different just because it was the holiday season. Sure, not having to go to school was a significant change, but he still studied as much as before. For Amane, the only real difference was that he'd have more hours at work than usual.

"I'm in the same boat as Amane-kun," Mahiru said, "Though since I don't have a job, I will spend more time studying."

"Argh, you two are as diligent as ever. If I had to study that much, I'd probably implode."

"I do take regular breaks, you know. Even I get tired if I study for half a day straight, and I start to feel overwhelmed. To combat that, I mix in things that have nothing to do with studying, such as housework, exercising, or hobbies. It helps reset my mind."

"Mahirun, you're so hard-working that the sheer difference between us makes me wanna cry."

"I like studying, you see. It is one of my hobbies." "I can't even begin to wrap my head around that!"

Mahiru loved learning new things and gaining new skills. She constantly sought to expand her knowledge and abilities, and studying was the prime example of this passion. It was something she genuinely enjoyed.

In the past, Mahiru had been driven by a constant, near-obsessive need to be the "ideal person." But now, she studied purely for her future and to satiate her curiosity, which is why she wasn't overwhelmed. While Amane also enjoyed learning new things, he wasn't quite as dedicated as Mahiru was, and he couldn't help but be impressed by her relentless drive for growth. To Chitose, though, it probably seemed a little extreme.

"By the way, Amane, you aren't going home for winter break this year?" "Well, with more exams coming up and the fact that I already saw my mom when she came for the meetings, we decided to skip it this time, given how short the break is. It's not that I don't want to go back, but cramming a visit on a tight schedule isn't the best idea. Plus, my biggest reason is actually…"

"What is it?"

"…If I return with Mahiru now, I'll have to introduce her to all my relatives."

Shihoko had a habit of leaving no stone unturned when securing the success of her plans. Amane could easily imagine her parading Mahiru around, showing off her future daughter-in-law to everyone. It wasn't hard to picture her eagerly showing Mahiru off to all the relatives.

Their family hardly got together for every event. They tended to spend holidays however they liked and only came together when the situation called for it. So, even though it was the end of the year, it wasn't a sure thing that all his relatives would meet. However, if Amane brought Mahiru home, it was almost a guarantee that everyone would happen to gather, with Shihoko eagerly introducing her to everyone as if it were some kind of big event.

Amane knew that it could overwhelm Mahiru at the moment, so he decided to skip going home. Such introductions could always happen another time.

"Ahh…" Itsuki shot him a knowing smile, clearly understanding the situation Amane was trying to avoid.

Amane simply shrugged his shoulders. "What about you, Itsuki?"

"Oh, me? As usual, I plan to be dragged around to greet all my relatives and get bombarded with questions."

"You call getting bombarded part of your plans?"

"Yeah, my brother's inheriting the family, not me. So, I don't see why they feel the need to pressure me, too. We've got no shortage of nagging relatives in my family, let me tell you. It's a pain in the butt," Itsuki said bluntly, revealing his true feelings.

Concern flickered in Chitose's eyes for a brief moment, but her bright smile quickly returned. "My family will be the same as always," she said. "Every year, we just laze around watching music shows over New Year's."

"…Just don't forget your assignments. There's plenty to do." "Don't remind me! I'm desperately trying to forget!"

Not wanting to dig too deep, Amane opted for a harmless jab. Chitose let out a playful wail in protest, which made Amane smile with quiet relief. He was glad to see her back to her usual self, quickly moving past the brief flicker of anxiety from earlier.