Chapter 152 - Christmas — Part 2 (1/2)

Christmas — Part 2

TL: Daemon

ED: PuffyPyjamas

After preparations for dinner were complete, a huge amount of festive food was placed on the table.

Just seeing something like this, makes me feel happy on the inside.

After each of us took our seats, we received a drink in a wine glass. It was the chanmery from the refrigerator. Having this come out really makes it feel like it’s finally Christmas. By the way, Hiiragi-chan’s wine glass was filled with the sparkling wine from the bottle she just pulled the cork from.

“Merry Christmas!”

Hiiragi-chan spoke with great excitement, and about two seconds after that, all of us put our glasses together.

It’s been quite a while since I had chanmery. Aaah… it somehow feels nostalgic.

“Senpaaai, I’m getting drunk.”

Rei-chan came by and leaned on me. She really doesn’t change. She even does the same thing in the present.

“Rei-chan, this is—”

“It’s juice! You won’t get drunk!”

Before I could say anything, Sana interjected.

“I’m drunk on the atmosphere. You don’t even know that?”

“Ukii!”

“To be so jealous of an elementary school student. You’re really quite cute.”

“You’re making fun of me…! Besides, I’m not jealous!”

A set of fighting words were thrown around between my right side and left side. They get along, these two people.

Hiiragi-chan, who was sitting on the other side, looked over them happily. Next to her, Kanata was enjoying the meal.

“Sensei, didn’t you have a lot of work?”

“Fufufu, Sanada-kun, don’t look down on your teacher, okay? Even like this, I’m quite capable as a teacher.”

“What about the details?”

When I said that, Hiiragi-chan started sweating silently.

“…To be honest, there’s a lot… of work… I’ll somehow make it work out, and complete everything by the 25th…”

The atmosphere around Hiiragi-chan instantly became heavier.

I thought that would be the case, but I guess it was unnecessary of me to ask that.

“… Sensei, it’s okay.”

“Thank you, Ii-san.”

Hiiragi-chan drank from the glass and let out a weird sound.

If you drink it like you drink beer, you’ll get drunk pretty fast, you know? Or so I thought, but I didn’t actually say it. It’s because I’m accustomed to seeing her drink like this.

Kanata took the bottle in her hand, and poured more into Hiiragi-chan’s glass.

“… Sensei, it’s okay, here’s some more.”

“No no, thank you so much.”

The seats on the opposite side have now turned into something like a Showa era izakaya.

There was wine in the wine glass, and yet it somehow looked like a sake bottle with an inoguchi.

“I can’t reach the karaage over by Senpai.”

Rei-chan said that with a troubled expression, but suddenly had a flash of inspiration. She then made a move as if to climb on to my lap.

“Wait, hey, Rei-chan. What are you doing?”

“From here, it’s easier to get some karaage.”

“Sana will get it for you, so return to your own seat.”

“Senpai, am I in the way…?”

Rei-chan looked up at me with teary puppy dog eyes. She really is great at looking innocent.

As I was troubled about what to say, Sana spoke,

“I’ll call her. Your guardian—mother.”

“…”

Rei-chan got off my lap and returned to her own seat.

“What? Is your mother scary?”

“If I do something bad, I’ll be taken away.”

Seems like a strict family.

“Shibahara is pretty unusual around here, so I looked it up.”

Fufufu, Sana made a smug expression.

“I was wondering who this Shibahara would be, and I found out your father is a city council member.”

“Uuuuu… there’s a flat-chested CIA agent here…”

“You added something unnecessary there!”

I see. So that’s why she needs to act like a well-behaved lady.

“Senpai… If you marry me, you could become the secretary of my father, and then you can eventually succeed my father and become a member of the city council, you know?”

“Please don’t talk about these sorts of things at Christmas.”

“Well… speaking of marrying into wealth, I guess a council member loses—funyuu.”

I firmly covered her mouth with one hand.

You’re not allowed to say anything more right now, young lady.

“Wait—What’s with everyone’s clothes?”

Hiiragi-chan spoke as if this was actually the first time she noticed.

“Sensei… that’s like the first thing we said right when you got back.”

“I mean, that never happe—Kohon.”

She coughed to make it seem like she didn’t say anything. Everyone knew, but it seems that she really wants to hide the fact that she dressed as Santa and gave everyone gifts. Ah, is it because Rei-chan is here? The present was the same for everyone. An assortment of snacks and candies. Thinking of Rei-chan, I can accept all that she did.

“Since this is a big celebration, let’s take a picture together.”

At Hiiragi-chan’s behest, we got together to take a group photo.

“Then, let’s take it with this.”

Hiiragi-chan brought out the digital camera that she bought a little earlier. She’s been using it to take pictures here and there on our dates.