Several days had passed since the term-end exam results were returned, and they had been surprisingly favorable.
I had fought hard, and my rank had unexpectedly surged into the top tier. My homeroom teacher had even given me his official seal of approval, telling me that if I kept this up, a designated school recommendation would be well within my reach. Setting aside how he knew I was aiming for one in the first place, I had triumphantly reported the news to Masaomi-san and the rest of the family. That report had somehow triggered a "brawl outside the ring" (?) between Mayumi-san and Sara-san, but regardless of the chaos, the day of the second semester closing ceremony had finally arrived.
The atmosphere in the classroom this morning was a total departure from the mixed emotions of the recent test return. Instead, the room was uniformly buzzing with anticipation for the upcoming winter vacation. Everyone seemed to be in high spirits, harmoniously bragging about their holiday plans or confirming arrangements to hang out.
"Sigh... A Christmas girls' party again this year, huh?"
"What? You got a problem with that?"
"Not really. I guess it's more relaxing this way anyway."
"Sigh... I'm stuck with you guys again for Christmas?"
"Don't say something so disgusting. I'm passing on that."
"Huh?! N-No way... you..."
"You bastard, do you intend to betray us?!"
They certainly seemed to be having a harmonious, wonderful time!
"Hey, hey, Hanako-chan! If you're free, for Christmas..."
"I have plans for Christmas, so I can't."
"Eh?! N-No way..."
"No, we've had enough of that bit already..."
Meanwhile, Hanako-san was in the middle of being showered with invitations from a group planning a girls' party. From what I could see, she was already turning down her third group of the morning. Somewhere along the line, Hanako-san had become incredibly popular.
"I'm having a party with Kazunari and the others for Christmas."
"Oh, really?"
"Whoa, that's nice! That means Satsukawa-senpai will be there too, right?"
"C-Could it be that Hayato-kun is coming as well?"
"The handsome guy will be there. Also Natsumi-senpai, and Kazunari's best friend..."
"Wow, that's amazing!"
"Wait, is that the same group from the school festival?"
"Yes. Everyone is gathering."
Perhaps recalling the spectacle of the school festival, the classmates grew visibly stirred up. The contrast between their excitement and Hanako-san's detached, blunt attitude was striking.
However, the fact that she looked a bit boastful—or rather, proud—made me think that Hanako-san was truly looking forward to the party herself.
"A Christmas party where the Legendary Three Princesses of Rinka High School and the Double Angels of the Student Council are all gathered together?!"
"Wait, wait, wait, how extravagant can one party be?"
"Is there no ticket?! I'd pay a premium price just to..."
"T-Takanashi, is there any room for general participation..."
"Absolutely not."
"Dammit!!!"
When I ruthlessly shot them down with an exasperated voice, a collective cry of resentment rose from the guys on the sidelines. Well, from a guy's perspective, I suppose the lineup did look incredibly prestigious, but I had to wonder why they thought total strangers could just barge into a private party.
Normally, people would hold back! Normally!
"But it's surprising. I thought for sure Takanashi-kun and Satsukawa-senpai would spend Christmas alone together..."
"Idiot, those two are already living together, so either way, on the night of Christmas Eve..."
"The, the night?!"
"Whoa, a-anything beyond that is sensitive territory!"
"Dammiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!"
"Shut up!"
I knew exactly what those guys were thinking, but no matter how much they tried to read into it or gauge my reaction, they wouldn't find anything.
My soul's vow to cherish Sara-san would never waver, even on a night like Christmas Eve that held such special meaning for lovers.
Besides, the guys were just plain noisy. Delusion or not, I wouldn't tolerate them thinking untoward things about Sara-san.
"Alright, get to your seats."
"Yes, sir!"
Just then, the homeroom teacher arrived—unusually early, even before the first bell—and the classroom commotion was forcibly brought to a halt. For some reason, he entered with a smirk on his face, which was a bit gross... or rather, I didn't understand what he was smiling about, but since it did the trick, I'd consider it a "Good Job."
"Kazunari... you look like you're having fun?"
"I guess so. I'm... really looking forward to it."
"Yeah... I'm looking forward to it too."
When I answered truthfully, Hanako-san broke into a genuinely happy smile. To be honest, this was the first time I'd ever approached a winter vacation with this much excitement, and I was fully aware that I couldn't quite suppress the thrill.
I could see that same feeling reflected in Hanako-san's smile.
"With that, I conclude the final Student Council meeting of this semester. Thank you for your hard work, everyone."
"Thank you for your hard work!"
Sara-san's summary and greeting brought the last Student Council activity of the year to a close.
The Student Council, which I had joined almost by accident, had now become a precious part of my school life. I felt a strange sense of nostalgia... even though I'd only been part of it for a few months.
"Now then, since it's the last day, shall we stop by somewhere on the way home?"
"Oh, I like that. Karaoke?"
"Ah, I want to go too!"
"Hey, now. As people involved in the Student Council, we shouldn't be stopping at a karaoke box on the way home from school, should we?"
The female officers were getting even more lively than usual, fueled by the freedom of the final day. Uesaka-san, however, immediately tried to dampen their spirits with his characteristic seriousness. Strictly speaking, stopping to play on the way home might not be the most commendable behavior... but it was a tacitly condoned part of school life, so I thought it would be fine just for today.
"Gah, you're as stiff as ever, Uesaka-kun."
"Come on, the second semester is over!"
"Exactly! Even Student Council Officers need to blow off steam sometimes!"
"U-Umm... well, but..."
Since he looked troubled rather than rejecting them outright, it didn't seem like Uesaka-san was entirely opposed to the idea. The female officers seemed to sense this too; they flashed meaningful smirks and then, for some reason, looked over at me.
I had a bad feeling about this.
"Hey, hey, how about you for once, Satsukawa-san?"
"Think of it as a reward for all the hard work this year!"
"Well... as the Student Council President, I can't exactly give my wholehearted approval, but..."
Even as she said that, the fact that she didn't flatly refuse suggested that Sara-san also wanted to be lenient for once. Or perhaps she was thinking about how little time was left to spend with the graduating seniors.
"You guys, if you want to win over Satsukawa-san, you have to attack Takanashi-kun first!"
"Oh, right! If we drop the husband first..."
At that moment, the seniors' gazes locked onto me completely. Now I was in a bind. As the Vice President, my position was... well, even so.
"Sara-san..."
I turned to my side to check her reaction, and our eyes met. She was already watching me with a pensive look, but she gave me a small smile and a nod.
It felt as though she were saying, "I leave everything to you, Kazunari-san."
"I think it's fine once in a while, isn't it?"
"Yes! We did it!"
"Takanashi-kun, you're so understanding!"
The moment I gave an affirmative answer, the seniors cheered as if they had been waiting for those exact words.
"Takanashi-kun, you don't have to force yourself, you know? These two are just getting carried away."
"No, it's not like that..."
"Wait a second, Uesaka-kun! Takanashi-kun was kind enough to say he'd go, so don't go saying unnecessary things!"
"Yeah, yeah!"
The female officers snapped at Uesaka-san again after he tried to follow up for me. Since the other members clearly seemed to be part of the participation group, Uesaka-san really should just be honest with himself.
"If Kazunari is going, I'm going too."
"Ah, I'd like to participate as well!"
"I-I'll go too!"
"Me too!"
"I'll join as well."
"Then I guess I will, too."
Ultimately, every remaining member declared their intent to go. Now, the only ones who hadn't officially committed were Sara-san and Uesaka-san.
"If Kazunari-san is participating, it is unthinkable that I would not go."
"See?! Alright, if you want to drop Satsukawa-san, you really just have to go after Takanashi-kun."
"Please do not get ahead of yourselves. If any of you cause unnecessary trouble for Kazunari-san, I shall be forced to eliminate you."
"Y-Yes, ma'am..."
With a dangerous glint in her eyes, Sara-san firmly warned the senior and stood in front of me as if to shield me. Even if the person was her senior, Sara-san made no exceptions.
"Sigh... I suppose it can't be helped. I shall go as well."
"Oh, Uesaka-kun, you don't have to force yourself to come, you know?"
"W-Wait a minute! I never said I wasn't going!"
Seeing Uesaka-san get flustered after being teased was actually quite funny. But with that, everyone was officially coming.
"So, is that shop in front of the station okay?"
"I don't mind. I was planning to go shopping for dinner at the shopping street anyway."
"That sounds so much like a housewife..."
"Well, I am essentially a practical housewife."
Sara-san let out a soft chuckle, seemingly amused by being called a housewife. But no matter how much she wanted to do it, as long as I left everything to her just as she requested, I probably looked like a good-for-nothing man in the eyes of others.
Please, everyone, don't look at me like that. I really do try to do what I can.
"Hmm... nowadays, the idea of a woman taking the lead in housework is..."
"Please do not misunderstand. I have taken charge of the housework entirely of my own volition. Taking Care of Kazunari-san's Everyday Needs is something I want to do for him above all else."
"Sigh... honestly, Satsukawa-san really is like the embodiment of every man's ideal."
"She's a transcendental beauty, she's transcendently devoted, her housework is perfect, and her cooking is professional. She gives her husband everything without asking for anything in return... what kind of anime heroine is this?"
"Seriously, whoever marries Satsukawa-san... or rather, Takanashi-kun, you really are a lucky man."
"I'm more aware of that than anyone."
I didn't need to be told. I knew better than anyone else in the world. That was exactly why I could state with absolute certainty that I was the happiest man alive... wait, hadn't someone said that to me before?
"Ooh, look at him go!"
"He just bragged about his love!"
"Fufu... Kazunari-san♪"
When I honestly admitted it, Sara-san's face lit up with joy, ignoring the seniors' teasing. This wasn't flattery; it was just the pure, simple truth.
"Still, I never imagined Satsukawa-san would change this much. Love really does transform a woman."
"But she hasn't changed at all toward anyone except Takanashi-kun. She's still as much of a man-hater as ever... The fact that the change is strictly limited to Takanashi-kun is very much like her."
"Even if you praise me that much, nothing will come of it for anyone other than Kazunari-san, you know?"
"Wait, I wasn't exactly praising you... so in the end, it really is only Takanashi-kun!?"
"Of course. I have no intention of doing anything special for anyone other than Kazunari-san."
Sara-san laughed merrily as she made that blunt declaration, completely unfazed by the seniors' exasperated retorts. Everyone knew her words weren't an exaggeration; that was exactly why no one laughed it off as a joke.
"Alright, let's stop teasing the stupid couple and get going."
"True. The fact that jokes don't work on Satsukawa-san is also the same as always."
"Sigh... I'm so jealous."
"Even though I've seen it a thousand times, it still pisses me off how frustrating it is."
Finally realizing that further teasing was like pushing against a brick wall, the group started getting ready. Uesaka-san began his preparations, and Sara-san and I packed our bags as well.
"Well then, see you next year... I guess."
"Good work!"
"Thank you for everything!"
"See ya!"
I gave a greeting to no one in particular—or perhaps to the Student Council Room itself—as the members left one by one. Finally, only Sara-san and I were left. We shared a look.
"Fufu..."
"Haha..."
With a moment of quiet reflection, we left the room together.
And with that, the second semester had safely come to an end!