Since it seemed there was no longer any need to worry about running out of time to receive everyone's presents, I took advantage of a break in the live performance to give the garapon lottery machine another spin.
The name that emerged was Isis Remnant.
Oh, it was Isis-san. Since it hadn't been that long since we spoke during the exhibition match of the second game tournament, it wasn't a matter of being especially early or late, but I still had the impression that I’d drawn her name rather soon.
Well, the specific order didn't really matter. While Shiro-san surely had her own preferences about when she would go, the order shouldn't have much of an impact on the others. Since we were using a system where I received the gifts in parallel worlds and then integrated the memories, there was no need to worry about the final person hogging all the attention.
"...Kaito... Happy... birthday."
"Thank you. I'm really happy you came to celebrate with me."
"...If Kaito is happy... then I am happy too... but... I feel as though... I was the one who received a gift first."
She gave a soft, wry smile as she showed me the bracelet made by Canaris-san that she had received earlier.
"Ah, that bracelet. How is it? Does it feel all right?"
"...Yes... it is truly incredible... As long as I do not let anyone within fifty centimeters... I am fine... If I just maintain a small barrier... at that distance... to keep those with weak mana away, I can be at ease... Before, I needed five meters... so it was difficult... but at fifty centimeters... even if I keep it active constantly... I will not be a nuisance to those around me... It is such a relief."
"That's true. Keeping people five meters away would require a pretty massive area for a barrier. I'm glad to hear it, though. To echo your sentiments, seeing you so happy makes me happy too, Isis-san."
"...Kaito... mhm."
Isis-san beamed at me with a smile that reached the very depths of her soul. Just looking at her expression filled me with an overwhelming sense of happiness.
Then, as if suddenly remembering her purpose, she produced a wrapped package.
"...Ah... I have to give you my present... here... I hope... you like it."
"Thank you. May I open it now?"
"...Yes."
Judging by the weight, size, and shape of the package, I guessed it was a book. Isis-san was a bibliophile, so a book felt like a natural choice. I wondered if it was a recommendation she hadn’t shared with me yet.
With that thought in mind, I opened the bag to find a volume with a large Blue Crystal Flower illustrated on the cover. However, there was no title, and a quick flip through revealed that the pages were blank.
"...Oh, is this a diary?"
"...Yes... You mentioned that even now... though not as often as before... you still keep a diary... so I thought... maybe you could use this... so I made it."
"Wait, you made this yourself, Isis-san?"
"...Mhm... Binding the book itself wasn't that hard... but I practiced the drawing on the cover a lot."
I was genuinely stunned. Her gift was Isis-san's handmade diary. The craftsmanship was so professional and the cover illustration so exquisite that I’d assumed it was a commercially available product.
I hadn't realized she was such a talented artist. Then again, she always did have a refined, artistic air about her.
"This is incredible! Thank you... Ah, I know. Since you went to all this trouble, I think I’ll make this a diary dedicated to memories with Isis-san. That way, whenever I look back on it, I can relive and reaffirm all the fun times we’ve shared."
"...That is... so wonderful... If you use it that way... I would be very happy."
It was a bit of a spur-of-the-moment idea, but keeping separate diaries for different people wasn't a bad thought. It might get a bit overwhelming if the number grew too large, but for my lovers, having a dedicated book for each of them to record our dates and milestones seemed like something I’d truly appreciate years down the line.
"In any case, thank you for the lovely gift. Let's go out together again soon! Now that you have that bracelet, I think it would be great to enjoy a date in the city."
"...Yes... I am looking forward to it so much... fufu... being able to feel excited for the future... is such a blessing... it is all because of Kaito... I want to talk more... but the next performance is starting... so I should go back."
"Right."
Isis-san smiled brightly, then a look of sudden inspiration crossed her face. She leaned in, wrapping her arms around me in a gentle hug, and whispered into my ear.
"...Kaito... I love you."
As she pulled away, she pressed her lips to mine in a fleeting, tender kiss. Then, with a bashful smile and a cute wave of her hand, she returned to the party.
???: "And so it begins."
Serious-senpai: "It has begun... the hell... However, I have survived countless love triangle dramas to get here! I shall now demonstrate my perfect new countermeasure against sugar development!"
???: "Have you ever actually 'survived' one? Anyway, what is this new strategy?"
Serious-senpai: "I’m going to sleep... Wake me up when the sugar development is over..."
???: "That's not a 'new countermeasure' at all! That's just the same thing you've tried dozens of times before and never once succeeded at!"