The fun Christmas party finally came to an end. After seeing off Mio-chan and the others—who were nodding off after playing so hard—we set about our final task of the day: clearing away the traces of the dream. Or rather, the cleanup.
The scale of the event had far exceeded our initial plans, making the cleanup quite an ordeal. Fortunately, just as with the preparations, plenty of helpers had arrived. Honestly, it was a lifesaver.
However...
"We will handle the cleanup from here, so please, everyone, take a rest."
Even when told that, there was no way I could just dump the work on them and walk away.
"Fufu..."
"...Sara-san?"
Sara-san, who was paired with me to collect the outdoor decorations, suddenly let out a soft chuckle. We weren't talking about anything special at the moment, so she was likely reminiscing about the day's events.
"Oh, it’s nothing. I was just thinking about how much fun today's party really was."
"That’s true. I really enjoyed myself, too."
"Yes. I have never experienced such a wonderful Christmas before."
"Haha, I suppose that goes for me as well."
When we were kids, we sometimes held parties for Yuzuha’s sake, but this was the first time I had ever spent such a warm, lively time surrounded by so many friends.
And above all...
"Last year, Natsumi and Eri invited me to a party with just the three of us... but we didn't plan anything like this. We were just guests at Eri's house, so it didn't feel like a special 'Christmas.' If anything, it felt like an extension of a girls' party."
"Ah, I can kind of imagine that. Was Natsumi-senpai getting all hyped up by herself?"
"Yes. Natsumi is a mood maker, so it was fun in its own way. But..."
Sara-san stopped her hands, which were busy removing a star-shaped decoration, and turned to me. With a gentle smile, she looked me straight in the eyes.
"To be surrounded by close friends, to be healed by the smiles of the adorable Mio-chan and the others, and to share a laugh with the person I love most in the world... being able to spend the same time together. To welcome such a wonderful, perfect Christmas... I truly..."
"I feel the same way. Having everyone here, having the kids around, and having you by my side, Sara-san..."
Even if we had just held a party with our friends, I'm sure it would have been fun. But the reason it was this joyful and heartwarming was definitely because Sara-san was there with me.
"But if I'm being honest, part of me still wanted us to have a private Christmas date. After all, it's the first one we've spent together, so I feel terrible about—mgh."
"No... you mustn't. Didn't we promise not to say that anymore?"
Sara-san's beautiful index finger quickly pressed against my lips, cutting off my unnecessary apology.
I messed up. Even though I knew better, the guilt I felt toward her just slipped out.
"I still believe your judgment was right, Kazunari-san. If we had left Mio-chan sad back then, I'm certain..."
"...You're right."
I felt it at the time, too. If we hadn't been able to make Mio-chan smile, the kind-hearted Sara-san would have spent our actual Christmas Day date with that regret weighing on a corner of her heart.
"Furthermore, I feel proud of the decision you made. You weren't led astray by immediate pleasure; you didn't turn your eyes away from what was important. It is precisely because you are that kind of man that I..."
"Sara-san..."
Sara-san's tone was dignified, devoid of hesitation or flattery. It was clear these were her unwavering, true feelings.
"Besides, we can have as many dates as we like from now on. Even without the pretext of Christmas, as long as I am with you, my heart is filled with supreme joy. That will never change."
"Yeah. Me too..."
We weren't trapped by the label of "Christmas." The truly important thing was that Sara-san and I were together. As long as we were, the occasion was a trivial matter, and there was no reason to be obsessed with it.
Sara-san was telling me exactly what I needed to hear.
"...Hey, look at that young lady."
"...Yeah. When I heard she got engaged, I thought it must have been some arranged thing with a difficult partner."
"...Fufu, seeing her smile like that... love really does change a woman, doesn't it?"
"...You lot, stop your gossiping and move your hands. You'll get in trouble if the lead catches you slacking."
It seemed we were attracting a bit of an audience. Even though we were in the middle of cleaning up, it was bad for us to be seen idling.
"Sara-san."
"Yes. Let's focus on finishing the cleanup for now."
"Right."
I decided to finish up quickly so we could head home. It was getting cold, and besides...
Today wasn't over just yet.
"Well then, we'll see you at the year-end party."
"Bye-bye!!"
After seeing off the two members of the long-distance group who were leaving by car, the rest of us split up for the walk home.
Hayato headed off to walk Todo-san home—which was in the opposite direction of his own house—while Sara-san and I took our usual route through the shopping street to drop off Hanako-san.
And for some reason—though it might be boorish to point it out—Yuji had pointedly avoided getting into Eri's car so he could walk Natsumi-senpai home.
"See you later, then."
"Yeah. Take care, Yuji."
"It's not that late yet, so maybe you two should stop somewhere on the way?" Hayato suggested.
"I could say the exact same thing to you, Hayato," Yuji shot back.
"Ahaha..."
I wasn't one to talk, but I knew those two felt like they couldn't let Christmas Eve end with just a group party. I understood that feeling perfectly.
"Well, Natsumi-san, shall we...?"
"...Muu."
"...Natsumi-san?"
Natsumi-senpai, who had been strangely quiet, gave a non-committal response to Yuji's prompt. The atmosphere suggested she was annoyed... or was it something else?
"Good grief... After teasing everyone else, you're still a coward when it counts, Natsumi."
"Wait, Sara!?"
"Is it not fine? It's Christmas Eve. For once, you should just be honest with your important person..."
"I told you to stop saying unnecessary things!!"
Natsumi-senpai's face flared with what looked like anger, but the only person who didn't realize it was a blatant cover for her embarrassment was probably her.
"My goodness... You really aren't honest, are you?"
"I don't want to hear that from—"
"As for me, I intend to get along famously with Kazunari-san to my heart's content once we get home."
"Kh, look at you being so shameless about it..."
"It isn't being shameless. I simply have a principle of showing my affection for Kazunari-san whenever and wherever I please, regardless of who is watching. Right, Kazunari-san? ♪"
"Y-Yes, that's right."
"Fufu..."
Sara-san truly lived by those words, single-mindedly showing her love for me at all times. And because she did, I felt the same way.
"...You super stupid couple."
"Sorry, Kazunari, I can't help you with that one."
"Huh?"
Natsumi-senpai looked at me with a fed-up expression, while Yuji let out a wry smile. That was strange; I thought that was a moving moment. At least, it was in my head.
"Sigh... I'm starting to feel like an idiot for being so nervous."
"Eh? Were you nervous, Natsumi-san?"
"Listen here!! Of course I'd be nervous about being alone with my boyfriend on Christmas night! Wait—ack!?"
Realizing she had blurted out her true feelings, Natsumi-senpai saw Yuji watching her with a delighted, teasing grin. Her face turned redder by the second.
"No, no, I'm happy to hear it, you know?"
"Gu, guuu... Why are you so composed...?"
"It's not that I'm composed, but I figured I should be the one to take the lead at a time like this."
"Kh~~~~!!"
Natsumi-senpai delivered a sharp, embarrassed strike to Yuji's arm. It was a bit too hard to be called a playful tap. She glared at him, her face completely flushed. As usual, she was quite the maiden in moments like these.
"Fufu..."
"...What?"
"Oh, it's nothing. I was just thinking that despite everything you say, Natsumi, in the end, you're also showing off in front of people..."
"Don't lump us in with you guys!! We don't flirt regardless of the time or place!!"
"Natsumi-senpai, you have zero persuasive power."
"What!?"
Hanako-san's sharp jab, delivered with a scornful look, left Natsumi-senpai speechless.
"Well, Kazunari, we're going. See ya."
"Yeah. Take care, Yuji."
"Haha... It'll be fine. I'm used to it, more or less."
"I see..."
Since it seemed Natsumi-senpai's maidenly side came out when she was alone with Yuji, I figured it was safe to leave her to him.
"Come on, Natsumi-san, let's go. Good work, everyone."
"Yeah, good work, Yuji."
"Bye-bye, Tachibana-kun!"
"Peace."
"Please look after Natsumi, Tachibana-san."
"I will."
"...I'm not part of a stupid couple... I'm not part of a stupid couple..."
Yuji gave us a wave and started walking, practically pulling along Natsumi-senpai, who was still muttering to herself. I wasn't sure if things would develop quite the way they expected, but I'm sure it would work out.
"Well then, shall we head out too, Marina-san?"
"Yeah. Sorry, as always..."
"No, no. If anything, I'd be troubled if you didn't rely on me at least this much."
"Hayato-kun... ehehe."
Todo-san let out a happy little giggle at Hayato's words. Looking at them, they actually seemed more straightforward than the other two. They were flirting perfectly fine in public.
"Marina, watch out for the escort wolf."
"Wait!?"
"Um... Hayato-kun, what’s an 'escort wolf'?"
"Eh!? No, that's..."
Hayato was visibly flustered, which was rare for him. But Todo-san was a pure angel; she clearly didn't know the predatory slang.
"Um, Kazunari-san?"
"Yes?"
"What is an escort wolf?"
"Eh... well."
Sara-san... You too? Well, she was a goddess, so it made sense she wouldn't know... No, wait, that wasn't the point!
"Kuku..."
Leaving me and Hayato struggling for an answer, Hanako-san looked like she was having the time of her life. Why did she have to drop a bomb like that? We were in a massive pinch thanks to her.
"Kazunari-san?"
"Hayato-kun?"
"Uh, well, you see..."
"It's..."
For now, putting Hanako-san aside... how on earth was I supposed to explain this?
After walking Hanako-san home (we ended up leaving that "wolf" topic vague), Sara-san and I walked alone through the shopping street, where Christmas songs were playing.
The street was filled with a festive, warm atmosphere, decorated with brilliant Christmas illumination. As we walked together, I happened to glance at Sara-san.
"Fufu... Kazunari-san ♪"
Our eyes met, and while keeping our hands joined, Sara-san leaned in slightly, resting her weight against my right arm.
"...Sara-san, aren't you cold?"
"No. As long as I am like this, I am toasty warm in body and soul ♪"
"Haha, well, that's good."
"What about you, Kazunari-san? Are you not cold?"
"When I'm with you like this, Sara-san, I'm so warm I don't even need a coat."
"In that case, would it be alright if we stayed like this until we reach the house?"
"Of course. In fact, that's exactly what I want."
"Yes ♪"
Sara-san smiled happily and leaned in even closer. This time, she firmly entwined her arm with my right arm, clinging to me a bit more than usual. It was a bold move for her... but I certainly wasn't complaining.
"...So this is what Christmas feels like."
"Eh?"
As I was looking around at the festive sights and the people passing by, Sara-san suddenly let out a soft murmur.
"To be honest, I never had any particular attachment to Christmas. Of course, when I was little, I looked forward to presents and cake like any other child. But after I entered middle school... it became nothing but a bothersome day. Groups of girls I barely knew would persistently call out to me, and I'd get overly familiar invitations from male classmates. It was nothing but a nuisance."
"Haha... even if people who usually have no connection to you invited you out, Sara-san, I think they'd just end up struggling to talk to you."
They probably didn't know her personality, which is why they thought a simple invitation would work. They hadn't thought about what would happen next; they were just inviting her without considering the consequences.
"Yes. Well, I'm sure they had their reasons... but I only remember feeling disgusted because I could see exactly what the boys were thinking."
"A-Ahahaha..."
As a guy myself, I could understand why they wanted to invite her, but if they had just looked at her as a classmate, wouldn't they have realized how she'd react?
"Anyway, because I had no attachment to the holiday, I never paid attention to the decorations or the atmosphere in town. I couldn't understand what was so fun about it; it was just something happening to other people. But..."
Sara-san stopped and shifted her position. She stood in front of me and gazed into my eyes.
"Just because the person I love most in the world—you, Kazunari-san—is by my side, it feels as if my entire world has been colored. I've noticed a world that I thought I was seeing, but wasn't really. It's quite interesting, even to me."
"Yeah... I know exactly what you mean. Depending on your state of mind, the same world can look completely different."
Just as I had been before meeting her, the less room you have in your heart, the narrower your perspective becomes. You become stubborn. But a small change in your heart can completely transform the way you see and feel things. Humans really are simple creatures.
"Yes. Therefore, I feel very deeply moved that I can now feel the warmth in the scenery and atmosphere before me. Truly, I cannot thank you enough, Kazunari-san."
"Sara-san, we're even on that front, so let's not start thanking each other again."
"Fufu... that's right ♪"
Since we had a mutual relationship where we helped each other, we had already agreed that we were both grateful to each other. We decided that while we'd keep that gratitude in our hearts, we didn't need to keep saying it formally.
"Ah..."
"...It's over, isn't it?"
Because we had been talking, the walk through the shopping street felt like it took only seconds. We reached the end of the street, and the station was right in front of us. From here on, it was just the usual road home, with no Christmas mood in sight.
What should we do now? Even if it wasn't a full date, I wanted to do at least a little something more.
"Kazunari-san, why don't we stop by the park?"
"Eh?"
As if she had read my mind, Sara-san made the suggestion. She meant the park at our usual spot, right?
"It's not that there's anything in particular there, but... I just wanted to stay like this with you a little longer before we go home."
"...I was thinking the same thing. I wanted to spend a little more time with you, Sara-san."
"Yes ♪"
"Haha."
I was so happy to know we were thinking the same thing that I couldn't help but laugh.
Besides... this would be the perfect opportunity to give her "that."