#274

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[Christmas is coming this year too.]

That catchy phrase from a Christmas song played repeatedly in TV commercials, and even in a soft drink commercial, there was an old man dressed as Santa, happily distributing free drinks to children.

In the shopping district, beside the message board where kids left pure-hearted wishes for Santa, there were also some more mischievous and impulsive messages from teenagers. Although I thought I could pass thirty minutes there, I walked right past it.

The meeting place for someone I was supposed to meet was in front of a kimono store, opposite the usual entrance to the shopping street. I’ve been told to always be five minutes early, but I’ve been asked whether it’s because of that or because the person I’m meeting is someone older than me. It’s definitely the latter if you ask me.

November passed by in the blink of an eye, and as we entered December, the outdoor temperature plummeted. The season where you needed to wear thick winter clothing to stay warm and not want to hibernate in your room had arrived.

Dressed in a white down jacket and jeans, I had a simple and thoughtless outfit. Since I rarely met her in casual clothes, I didn’t know what kind of clothes she usually wore, so I was just slightly suspicious, moving my head around to check nearby people.

However, the person I was supposed to meet wasn’t there.

I thought it was impossible for her to be late. I was about to take out my smartphone to check the time when I felt a tap on my shoulder from behind.

“Hey, did I keep you waiting?”

“Well, that’s a pretty classic line… I actually just got here.”

The one who had touched my shoulder from behind was our student council president, or rather, my senior, Hiiragi Akane.

She was wearing a black coat with a fluffy scarf wrapped around her neck.

As I glanced at her suede-like boots and saw a cute aspect of her, I remembered our conversation a few days ago.

“Christmas presents, huh?”

Yuuto had talked to Miyashita about it, and then Shizuku and Kirasaka agreed to host a Christmas party at home a few days later. On our way to school, Yuuto had proposed the idea.

“Yeah, since we’re high school students, we can’t afford expensive stuff, how about we prepare something as a token of our feelings for everyone?”

I remembered Yuuto’s proposal about the upcoming Christmas without saying anything about the agreement to gather on Christmas day.

Making a fuss about it and disrupting the atmosphere would be more detrimental than beneficial. So, I’m grateful for his proactive suggestions, but I have no experience with such gatherings.

Typically, during various events, numerous get-togethers occur without my knowledge or participation, and I’ve never made an effort to understand them.

That’s why if someone were to say that gift exchanges are customary, I can only nod in agreement.

“So, maybe we should go shopping this weekend… to the shopping district?”

“No, going there with me would defeat the purpose.”

Even if we keep the contents of our presents secret, I don’t see why it would be a problem, but it seems nonsensical to him.

If I have to buy these presents personally, I’ll either ask someone in my family for advice on what to choose or ask someone I won’t meet on the day of the exchange.

If I ask Kaede, her choice would be undeniably good, mom, I’ll ask her about the menu for the dinner and then go shopping. I imagine my weekend plans while listening to Yuuto’s conversation, as we make our way to school.

And then, after school that day.

I head to the student council room after classes for the student council activities.

Shizuku had some business in the staff room, and Kirasaka was visiting after returning a book she borrowed from the library. When I arrive at the student council room a little early, the only person inside is the president.

“You’re early today.”

“I should be an outsider here now. But, you know, classes are only half a day today, so I had some free time to do self-study here.”

President responded holding self-study materials in one hand.

Today, the third-year students have half-day classes. The third-year students who are preparing for exams have a different schedule than other grades.

I recall a conversation we had earlier where I learned that President is being recommended for a local university and doesn’t need to study as much for the exams as other students.

Nevertheless, she’s too diligent to slack off completely, and I’ve often seen her studying diligently here in the student council room.

After I place my things on my desk, President brews a cup of warm tea without saying a word and brings an extra chair over to sit down beside me.

“So, any updates on the Christmas situation?”

“Come to think of it, I haven’t told you yet. It seems like we’re having a Christmas party at a classmate’s house…”

When I said that while wrapping my hand around the teacup and warming my cold palms, President looks surprised and smiles.

“I see. That’s a good thing. I hope you have fun.”

“Well, there’s supposed to be a gift exchange, but I’m not sure what to buy.”

I tried to research during my break time using my smartphone, but I lack the necessary information to make a decision.

If I could at least find out what Yuuto, who isn’t part of the female group, is buying, I could use that as a starting point.

As I voice my concerns, President who was supposed to be reading her notes, promptly closes it.

“In that case, why don’t we go shopping together this weekend? You’re welcome to use anything I find suitable as a reference.”

And so, without giving me a chance to refuse, she decided on the time, date, and location for our shopping trip, giving off an air that left no room for disagreement.

And with that, we headed into the weekend.

“Why did we start with pancakes, though?”

The first place we visited was the same shop where we had visited during the school festival, as it had inspired the student council’s food stand. It was a shop with a Japanese theme that served various types of pancakes and was quite popular among women. The student council president and I sat face-to-face at a table in the store.

This feels just like a date.

I asked President, who is now looking at the menu with a blank face, why we started with pancakes. She quickly responds.

“I wanted to come here with you. Plus, I was feeling a bit hungry.”

President replies, already having made her choice on the menu. She hands me her menu, and I decline, saying, “I’ll have the same as President.” We call a nearby waiter to place our order.

I asked, as we wait for our order while sipping on water.

“Where are we planning to go today?”

President shows me her smartphone screen, and it appears she had several options in mind as she starts explaining.

“We have choices like wearables, ornaments or something edible.”

She stops her finger from swiping on the screen, and the displayed picture shows the storefront of a shop I’ve seen a few times.

“It’s a store that handles small items and is privately owned, mainly focused on women’s items. It doesn’t have the appearance of a shop where a man would enter alone, so Ogiwara wouldn’t choose this store either.”

“That’s true… With President around, I can go in without any problems.”

It’s an unexpected situation, but I can’t let this opportunity slip. Even in a store that might be intimidating to enter alone, as long as I’m with President, it’s fine. People’s minds work in mysterious ways.

With the passing of time, a slight sense of ease starts to grow due to the situation of being alone with an older woman. Our conversation continues as usual, and after enjoying our sweets, we head to our intended destination.

The exterior does give off a cute and decorative vibe, making it seem like a shop specializing in women’s accessories. The interior gives an impression that it’s difficult for men to approach.

If I were alone, I would never enter such a shop.

The age range of the people inside seems to be mainly college students and those in their early twenties, but the items they offer cater to a wide age group.

It’s a good shop for choosing presents for the female students…

“…Isn’t it crowded in here?”

“It’s that time of the year. Women exchange gifts among themselves as a common custom.”

“That must be tough.”

Especially in terms of money.

Between close friends, returning gifts might be a given, but if it’s obligatory even for acquaintances, it must be quite a hassle.

The dynamics of female relationships are indeed different from those of men, as I’ve heard my mother complain.

Following President into the store, I begin to examine the items on the shelves one by one.

The prices are more reasonable than I had imagined, and I have enough flexibility to buy for the three women and Yuuto.

The challenge now is what to buy, but I decide to choose what seems straightforward.

“Yuuto can have this, and as for Miyashita…”

I picked up a penguin shaped glasswork, and a mug with Kamakura theme*.”

I chose the penguin glasswork ornament because I intuitively liked it, and for the mug, I didn’t know Miyashita’s taste, so I picked something neutral.

The real challenge is yet to come: deciding what to buy for Shizuku and Kirasaka.

After making my initial choices, I decide to walk around the store once more before deciding what to get for Shizuku and Kirasaka.

I asked President, who is browsing the same shelf as me.

“What do you think would be good, President?”

Hmmm… I ponder while listening to President’s suggestions, pointing out several items.

“I think for the two of them, they might appreciate something they can wear from you. Hair accessories, hair ties… and this and that.”

She suggests, pointing to each item in turn.

I listen to her suggestions and try to picture who I’ll be giving these gifts to.

Maybe the thought is what counts here, so overthinking the content might not be the best approach. But it’s still a tricky business. There are only so many times in life when you can give something like a present to someone.

“May I take one more lap around the store?”

While it seems like I’ll end up choosing from President’s suggestions, I want to take one more look around the store as a final check. In her gaze and expression, I sense a curious emotion.

Did I say something strange?

As I turn my gaze toward President beside me, she whispers with a gentle tone.

“I thought you were a quick decision-maker, but it seems you’re hesitating when it comes to the gifts for those two.”

While I can’t quite fathom her sentiment, her words give me pause as I hold the items in my hand.

Come to think of it, why am I choosing the gifts for these two people so seriously?

If I simply compromise with something safe and unremarkable and finish shopping promptly, it wouldn’t be strange. That’s how I’ve always gone about it.

Is something changing within me without me realizing it?

With these doubts in my mind, President speaks in a soothing tone.

“For now, I want you to cherish that slight sense of discomfort.”

Her words carry an invisible weight and strong wish, implying that she’s foreseeing an issue I’ll have to confront in the future.

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