Hot Winter - Chapter 4

[haranami]

Location: Starmony Dorm, Second Floor

<A few days later.>

Tatsumi: Thank you very much, we’ve received your present. We’re very grateful that you decided to take part in the gift exchange.

If you are unable to pick up your own gift, we’ll arrange for it to be delivered to your room. However, we’d love to have you at the party if you’re able to make time.

There’s sure to be plenty of food and entertainment. We’ll be eagerly awaiting your arrival. Amen ♪ 

Fufu, the gift box is filled to the brim. It truly brings me joy to see everyone pitch in.

Izumi: …You said your family runs a church, right? Is it a habit of yours to make the sign of the cross?

Tatsumi: Yes, I’ve gotten quite used to it. Do you find it odd?

Izumi: Not really, I was just asking out of boredom. I mean, there’s nothing else to do aside from collect presents.

I can’t believe they’re making me work as some kind of attendant. Who do they think they are, bossing me around like this?

Tatsumi: Fufu. You’re very kind, Izumi-san. Though you do voice your complaints, you nevertheless continue to lend us a hand. 

Izumi: It’s no big deal. I just came ‘cause it’d be lame to skip work and make you do everything. Besides, Mikejima and Hibiki did their fair share of work a couple days ago or something.

Kaoru: Hey there! I brought a Christmas present.

Izumi: Huh. You’re joining in too, Kao-kun?

Kaoru: Sure am. I dunno if I’ll be able to attend the party, but I wanted to go all in for the special occasion.

Izumi: Hmm… This is you we’re talking about, so I bet your gift is unnecessarily stylish.

Kaoru: Why’d you have to tack on that “unnecessarily” part? Geez, you never change.

Well, now you’ve seen what our Senacchi is like. He’s a real sourpuss, and he never thinks twice about running his mouth, but he’s not a bad kid. I hope you’ll get along with him, Tatsumi-kun!

Izumi: Hey, hold it! Why’re you acting like my dad or something!? And you, stop smiling and nodding! 

Tatsumi: Thank you very much for bringing us your present. Please don’t worry if you can’t make it to the party, for we’ll deliver your gift to your room if need be.

Kaoru: Awesome. Good luck with the rest, you two. Bye byeee ♪ 

Izumi: Bye, I guess. Ugh, I can’t believe him… 

Tatsumi: Fufu, you seem to be very good friends.

Izumi: Not true. We just happened to be in the same Circle and stuff — it’s not like we go out of our way to keep in contact.

Tatsumi: Is that so? But you even refer to each other with nicknames… How surprising.

Izumi: That doesn’t really have anything to do with how much you like someone. I mean, it’s totally normal to use nicknames for people you hate.

Tatsumi: I suppose that’s true. However, I still consider nicknames to be a symbol of friendship. It warms my heart to hear people refer to me with one.

God must have given us this chance to work together so that we might deepen the bond between us. I hope that, one day, you and I will also be able to freely refer to each other with whatever names we like.

Izumi: There you go, smiling like a saint. I just don’t know how to deal with you…

Mayoi: E-Excuse me…

Izumi: Hm? I think I heard something just now… 

Mayoi: U-Um…

Izumi: Woah?! You freakin’ scared me…

Why the heck would you peek out from between those present boxes like that?! You better answer me, Mister— uh… 

Tatsumi: Ayase Mayoi-san. 

Izumi: Yeah, Ayase! Ugh, I seriously thought my heart was gonna stop…!

Mayoi: I-I’m sorry for startling you! I wasn’t sure when to speak up, so I ended up interrupting at a strange time… 

Tatsumi: Please don’t fret, I should be the one apologizing for not noticing you. How long have you been here?

Mayoi: Um… Ever since you put the gift box on the table that you brought here… 

Izumi: You mean you were here before us? You should’ve let us know sooner!

Mayoi: Eeek! I’m sorry!

Izumi: Hey, cut that out. I’m gonna look like the bad guy here if you keep acting all scared.

Mayoi: P-Please forgive me…

Tatsumi: There’s no need to be frightened — Izumi-san isn’t going to eat you.

By the way, what happens to be inside that black bag you’re holding? Is it for the gift exchange?

Mayoi: O-Oh, yes… You went out of your way to reach out to me, so I felt compelled to prepare something.

I decided to make a snow globe because they’re associated with Christmas…♪  

Izumi: There’s a diorama of ES inside and everything. Huh, I didn’t even know that you could make snow globes by hand.

Tatsumi: Mayoi-san is very dexterous, you see. This is a lovely present; thank you ever so much.

Mayoi: Please, there’s no need for that. In fact, I should be thanking you for putting together this wonderful plan. Um, well… It might be a bit impertinent for someone like me to say this, but…

I wish you the best of luck with the Christmas party…♪ 

Tatsumi: Thank you. I hope you’ll come as well, Mayoi-san.

Mayoi: I-I will! I’ll make sure to attend, even if I have to crawl my way thereee! 

Izumi: …You literally don’t need to crawl. Actually, I’d really prefer it if you just walked in like a normal person. Geez, I should start calling ES the Freak Factory.

Anyways, we’re almost out of time. No one else is coming, so we might as well start cleaning up.

Tatsumi: That’s true… Hm? Wait, I hear footsteps…

Makoto: Waaah! Wait for me, please~!

Izumi: I know this voice… Yuu-kun, is that you?!

Yuu-kun! Oh, Yuu-kun! Come over here, I’ll give you the sweetest, gentlest hug…♪

Makoto: Uh, no thanks… Phew, I’m glad I made it in time…

I brought a Christmas present! I hope you’ll accept it.

Izumi: Is it for me?

Makoto: No, it’s for the gift exchange.

Izumi: There you go, teasing me again! C’mon, I know you picked this out for me ♪ 

Makoto: Like I said, it’s for the exchange…

Izumi: What the heck?! I can’t believe this! I didn’t raise you to be such an ungrateful child! 

Makoto: Yeah, you didn’t. Literally. You didn’t raise me at all.

Here you go, Kazehaya-senpai.

Tatsumi: Thank you very much, I’ll take good care of it. Will you be able to make it to the party?

Makoto: I should be, yeah. It won't actually be on Christmas, I guess, but I’m super psyched! 

Izumi: No way, I’m attending too! We're gonna have the best Christmas ever…♪ 

Makoto: I… wasn’t talking to you, Izumi-san. Man, you really never change… Ahaha.

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