───● An Energetic College Girl’s Christmas ●○●
After classes ended that day, Koumi and I headed over to the bar where Masato worked.
“A-Are we really going inside?” Koumi asked, stammering slightly.
“Of course we are! Why else do you think we came all this way?” I replied.
After our classes finished today, Koumi was feeling a little down when she realized she wouldn’t get to see Masato again before the end of the year. I had invited her here to cheer her up, but now, faced with this dazzling, glitzy building, she was getting cold feet.
“B-But I’ve never been anywhere like this before…!”
“Well, I was the same way at first, so I get it, but still…”
Suddenly, I remembered the very first time I had set foot in this place. When I opened the door and saw Masato standing there, I was so shocked that I almost tried to run away. Looking back on it now, it hadn’t really been that long since then, but it already felt nostalgic.
“Hey, Mizuho, I think I’ll pass after all… It’s just a bit scary,” Koumi said nervously.
“Whaaat?! It’d be a total waste to leave now when we’ve come all this way! Have you lost your nerve?!”
“Yes, I have!”
As Koumi and I stood right in front of the bar bickering back and forth like that, a voice called out to us.
“…You two are really in the way, you know.”
“Whoa! Seira-san?!” I jumped.
Startled by the sudden voice from behind, I turned around to find Seira-san standing there, dressed in a suit with a business bag slung over her shoulder, wearing a wry smile.
“U-Um…?” Koumi mumbled, looking confused.
“Ah, Koumi, this is Seira-san. And Seira-san, this is my best friend and Masato’s childhood friend, Igarashi Koumi-chan.”
“I don’t recall asking for an introduction, but alright…” Seira-san sighed.
Koumi stepped forward and bowed politely. I had already mentioned Seira-san’s existence to her, so she didn’t seem too surprised. Seira-san, on the other hand, muttered, “Childhood friend, huh,” while practically holding her head in her hands.
“Mizuho told me a little bit about you, but wow, you’re incredibly beautiful…” Koumi murmured.
“Save the flattery for someone else…”
“It’s not flattery! I really mean it!”
“Whatever… Good grief… The least you could do is have a rotten personality,” Seira-san grumbled.
“Hehehe, she’s my bestie, after all!” I beamed proudly.
I knew better than anyone that Koumi was telling the absolute truth. I mean, Seira-san really was gorgeous… She possessed this mature charm that we simply didn’t have…
“Anyway, you two are planning to request Masato, right? Could you hurry up and go in? I’ll go kill some time until you’re done,” Seira-san said, shooing us.
“Eh, what? We couldn’t possibly make you wait,” I replied.
“Are you going to let me go first, then?”
It was obvious that everyone here wanted to request Masato. And we all shared the sentiment of having absolutely zero interest in being served by any of the other boys. In that case!
“Seira-san, let’s all go in together!” I suggested.
“Excuse me?” Seira-san blinked.
“Hold on a sec, Mizuho?!” Koumi panicked.
Leaving a wide-eyed Seira-san in my wake, I threw open the doors to the bar.
“Welcome, Ojou-sama.”
The person at the reception desk wasn’t Masato. Fitting for a Christmas event, the receptionist boy was wearing a Santa hat.
“Um, we’d like to request Masato, please…” I said.
“Of course. That won’t be a problem at all. He is clocked in today.”
“Is it possible for him to serve the three of us at the same time?!”
“…I see,” the boy murmured, raising an eyebrow.
If they said no, then it couldn’t be helped! But if all three of us wanted to see Masato, we might as well just do it together! That was my master plan!
The receptionist boy told us, “Please wait just a moment,” before stepping into the back room.
“Hey, you can’t just decide things on your own…” Seira-san complained softly.
“Does the idea bother you, Seira-san…?” I asked.
“Not necessarily… but this is going to put Masato in a difficult position, don’t you think?”
“Masato-dono is surprisingly easy to push around if you just try!”
“I’m not so sure that’s the real issue here…” Seira-san sighed.
After waiting for a short while, the receptionist boy returned from the back alongside a very festive Masato, dressed in a full Santa costume.
“Thank you for waiting, Ojou-sama. It won’t be a problem, so please follow me to the back.”
“When they told me there was a group of three, I had my suspicions, but… what are you doing here, Koumi…?” Masato groaned.
“Tehehe, I came to see you!” she giggled.
“It’s a Santa cosplay~! You look absolutely adorable, Masato-dono!” I cheered.
“Please stop…” he pleaded.
A blushing Masato was incredibly cute too!
“Masato, we’ll make a special exception and let you use the private room today, so do your best!”
“Are you sure…? Especially on an event day like today…?” Masato asked cautiously.
“Don’t worry about it!”
It seemed Masato was receiving encouragement from one of his upperclassmen at the bar.
“W-Well then, Ojou-sama, please right this way…” he stammered awkwardly.
“Yay!” I cheered.
“Sorry about this, Masato,” Seira-san apologized.
“No, not at all! Actually, I’m just happy that you’re getting along so well with these two, Seira-san,” Masato smiled gently.
Following Masato’s lead, we were guided into a completely enclosed private room space, one that I had never set foot in before.
“I had no idea this place even existed,” Seira-san remarked.
“It’s mainly reserved for individual boy events, so we can group all the customers who come specifically for that person together. This is actually my first time using it, too,” Masato explained.
Now that he mentioned it, I felt like I had seen advertisements for “So-and-so’s Birthday Event!” before.
…I wondered if Masato would get to do one for his birthday, too? His birthday wasn’t until February, though…
Seira-san took the seat furthest in the back, followed by Masato, then Koumi, and finally myself, as we settled into our spots.
Perhaps feeling restless, Koumi kept glancing around the room. I totally understood how she felt…
“What would you all like to drink?” Masato asked.
“I’ll have a highball. And I’m ordering a bottle of non-alcoholic champagne for you, Masato, so you can drink that,” Seira-san stated matter-of-factly.
“Eh, are you sure?”
“Of course I am. It’s a Christmas event today, after all.”
“Thank you so much!” he smiled brightly.
As expected of Seira-san, sorting out Masato’s drinks right away like that… Non-alcoholic champagne, huh.
“Ooh, I want to try some of that non-alcoholic champagne, too! You’re curious too, right, Koumi?!” I pressed.
“W-Well, I guess I’m a little curious…”
“I don’t mind. You two can have some as well,” Seira-san offered.
“Sorry about that, Seira-san, and thank you very much,” Koumi smiled.
Masato relayed our drink orders to a waiting boy nearby.
“Just so you know, I won’t be paying for you two,” Seira-san added flatly.
“R-Right, of course…” I chuckled nervously.
“Obviously. Why on earth would I pay for other women? Unlike you, I’ve got a terrible personality, so don’t go expecting any favors.”
Despite Seira-san’s blunt words, I knew she wasn’t a bad person at all. Normally, anyone would be annoyed at having us shamelessly tag along into the bar like this. Just letting us join her was a huge favor in itself.
“You say that, but you’re actually an incredibly sweet person, Seira-san,” I pointed out.
“No, I’m not. Who’s to say I’m not just acting this way in front of Masato?”
T-This must be what they call a tsundere… Once again, I had no choice but to recognize Seira-san as a formidable rival…
While we bantered, our drinks arrived.
“Well then, this was a bit sudden, and things are a little confusing, but… cheers,” Seira-san proposed.
“””Cheers~!”””
And so, our impromptu Christmas party(?) at the boy’s bar officially began.
“Eh, did that really happen?!” I gasped.
“That’s awful… I would have lost my mind,” Koumi muttered, disgusted.
“Oh, I was furious, believe me. But in the end, I was just an idiot. It’s my own fault for thinking that any guy would do,” Seira-san said softly.
As the drinks kept flowing, Seira-san’s cheeks had taken on a deep flush. The conversation had shifted to stories from her university days. Apparently, a boy had confessed to her once, only to reveal it was just a half-hearted prank.
I had confessed my own feelings plenty of times in the past, so I couldn’t help but sympathize with her.
“Zeira-zan, I dodally ged how you veel,” I blubbered, tears streaming down my face.
“Why are you the one crying…?” Seira-san sighed.
“Mizuho, you haven’t been drinking any alcohol, have you?!” Koumi asked, alarmed.
“There, there,” Masato said gently, offering me a hand towel. I took it and wiped away my tears. Of course I was crying! It was just too tragic!
“Well, it’s fine. After all that happened, I was feeling like nothing in my life really mattered anyway. But then… I met Masato,” Seira-san smiled softly.
Hearing those words, Masato scratched his head in embarrassment. Masato really was amazing. He had practically saved a person’s life.
“Masato saved me, too~!” I wailed, throwing my arms up.
“I know. More than I ever cared to,” Seira-san deadpanned.
“Eh, you do?” I asked, confused.
Just as I was about to dive into my own story, Seira-san shut me down by saying she already knew. Had Masato told her?
While I sat there pondering, Koumi turned to address Seira-san.
“Seira-san, I want to hear more about Masato from you!” Koumi demanded.
“…Are you sure about that?” Seira-san asked cautiously.
That “Are you sure about that?” seemed to carry a lot of different meanings. Seira-san probably—no, definitely—realized how Koumi and I felt about Masato. I think she was worried that hearing her talk about him might not be a very pleasant experience for us.
The fact that she could show that kind of consideration even while drunk proved that Seira-san truly was a good person.
“Of course! We want to hear the stories about Masato that we don’t know!” I declared eagerly.
“Wait, are we just not asking for my permission here?” Masato interrupted.
“Well then… maybe I’ll tell you about a time when Masato was just overwhelmingly adorable,” Seira-san smirked mischievously.
“I wanna hear it!” Koumi squealed.
“Seira-san?!” Masato panicked.
“Now, now, Masato. Just sit quietly and listen,” Koumi ordered.
Masato tried desperately to stop her, but Koumi easily held him back. There was no stopping a girl in love!
“You see, there was this time when I had been doing some reflecting, and I told him I wouldn’t be coming to the bar anymore… but he actually ran after me in the pouring rain, you know?” Seira-san smiled, reminiscing.
“Whaaat! That’s incredibly romantic~!” I gushed.
“This is definitely not something you should be talking about while I’m sitting right here!!” Masato groaned, his face burning red.
“I kindly request silence, Masato-dono,” I said firmly, patting his shoulder.
It was my duty to suppress a thoroughly mortified Masato!
Up until this point, the atmosphere had been completely harmonious and friendly. However…
“So, with that being said… it just goes to show that I’m the one Masato loves the most,” Seira-san declared proudly.
“…Excuse me?” Koumi’s voice went completely flat.
In an instant, the air in the room froze solid.
Koumi still had a smile on her face, but her cheek was twitching violently.
“I~ think that might be a little bit incorrect, don’t you?” Koumi said, her voice laced with venom.
“Oh? And do you have some sort of evidence to the contrary?” Seira-san challenged.
“Y-Yes, I do!”
Koumi slammed her hands on the table and leaned forward aggressively.
“For starters, I was the very first person to find Masato at university, and I was the one he asked, ‘Will you be my friend?’! Plus, the two of us met when we were little, so that makes us destined for each other!” Koumi shouted, refusing to back down against Seira-san.
Koumi raised her voice to match Seira-san’s intensity. Koumi hadn’t been drinking any alcohol either, right?! Her face was looking a little red, though?!
“My, my, didn’t you know that ‘childhood friend’ is the ultimate losing trope? I’ve spent more money on Masato than anyone else, and I’m sure Masato would much rather be loved by me, wouldn’t he?” Seira-san fired back smoothly.
“T-That’s not true! I’m the one who…!” Koumi sputtered.
The two of them were getting completely heated up, so there was no choice but for me to step in!
“Now, now! Why don’t we just compromise and say that I am the number one here? How does that sound?” I suggested cheerfully.
“””Excuse me?””” they both growled in unison, turning their terrifying glares upon me.
“Ah, my deepest apologies.”
Eeep! These two were absolutely terrifying!
“U-Um… this is also definitely not something you should be discussing while I’m right here…”
Masato’s incredibly weary voice completely failed to reach either of them.
And so, the time flew by in a flash. Roughly an hour and a half had passed since we first arrived at the bar. Just as the atmosphere seemed to suggest that it was about time to wrap things up…
“Masato, how much is the bill right now?” Seira-san asked casually.
“Ah, um… it’s this much,” Masato replied, handing over the check.
Seira-san took a brief glance at the slip of paper before addressing us.
“You two, just leave 5,000 yen each. That should cover it,” she instructed.
“Eeeh?! Are you really okay with that?” Koumi gasped.
“Well, I got to hear some amusing stories, see Masato’s adorable face, and prove that I’m the one he loves the most, so I don’t mind,” Seira-san shrugged.
“That last part is completely untrue!! But thank you so much!!” Koumi declared stubbornly, but gratefully.
Even though she was complaining, the reality was that our incomes as university students were worlds apart from Seira-san’s salary, so we were truly grateful for her offer.
We hadn’t actually seen the bill, but it was painfully obvious that 5,000 yen wouldn’t even come close to covering our portion. Nevertheless, without ever showing us the total, Seira-san simply handed her credit card to Masato.
Expressing our deepest gratitude, we each handed over 5,000 yen… and prepared to stand up from our seats, but Seira-san remained perfectly still.
“Huh? Seira-san, aren’t you…” Koumi started, looking at her in confusion.
“Oh, I’m not leaving just yet, you see,” Seira-san purred.
With those words, Seira-san reached out her arm and pulled the seated Masato close to her by the waist.
“You see, after this, I have plans to spend some secret, intimate time with this adorable Santa here… so it’s time for you penniless students to run along home.”
“~~~!!”
H-How utterly shameless…!
Masato seemed to have passed his absolute limit of embarrassment, burying his face completely in his hands.
“…staying.”
“Eh?”
Koumi had her head hung low, muttering something under her breath.
“I’m staying, too~!!” she cried out.
While I completely shared the sentiments of Koumi, who was currently throwing a tantrum like a spoiled child…
Given that we had shamelessly forced our way into her time with him in the first place, I couldn’t bring myself to intrude any further.
And so, reluctantly, we ended up leaving the bar.
[ The Case of Mochizuki Seira ]
< Seira
Masato (0:15)
Thank you for today, Seira-san!
Masato (0:15)
Sorry I was with my friends today.
Seira (0:30)
It’s fine, I had fun anyway.
Seira (0:30)
Besides, I’m the one you love the most, right?
Masato (0:50)
I can’t just say something like that in that kind of situation… haha.
Masato (0:50)
But I was really happy you got along with everyone.
Masato (0:50)
And I think everyone got to see what a good person you are, Seira-san!
Seira (1:20)
Oh, so you do admit I’m number one.
Seira (1:20)
I’m really not a good person, you know. I’m a twisted woman.
Seira (1:20)
But next time, just the two of us, okay?
Seira (2:00)
…Masato, you fell asleep at the absolute worst possible time, didn’t you.
Masato (2:03)
I’m sorry! I was taking a shower! haha
Seira (2:05)
[Voice Call 15:03]
Seira (2:35)
So anyway, I probably can’t change this part of myself, so…
Seira (2:35)
I hope you’ll keep putting up with me, okay?
Masato (2:41)
Please go easy on me… haha.
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