Although Rinji and Ishigami often slacked off when together, they still managed to finish picking out their Christmas presents before noon.
"So… you two ended up choosing this diffuser?"
Rinji hugged a pile of presents as he looked at Ishigami and Kaguya.
Ishigami had chosen it as a gift for Tsuba. Then Kaguya decided to buy the sa thing for Shirogane.
"Shinomiya, did you bring us along just to copy our idea?"
"Can you call it copying when it cos to gifts? This is inspiration." Kaguya smiled and tucked her long black hair behind her ear. "But Rinji-kun, you bought so many gifts—are you giving them to a bunch of girls?"
"Not just girls, actually."
Rinji pulled out a wrapped gift from one of the bags and handed it to Ishigami.
"This one's for you."
"Huh?"
Ishigami took it, a little confused.
Even though it was wrapped, he could feel it was a newly released ga disc.
"Thanks."
"And this is yours, Shinomiya."
"Huh? I get one too?"
Taking the gift from Rinji, Kaguya looked surprised.
Because of the complicated relationship between their families, she and Rinji didn't exactly get along. Their constant argunts were routine.
She didn't expect Rinji to prepare a gift for her.
"We're all in the student council. I should at least show so consideration. Don't expect anything fancy."
"No, the thought alone ans a lot." Kaguya smiled.
After giving them their gifts, Rinji handed Ishigami and Kaguya a few more.
They were attending different Christmas Eve parties.
Kaguya would spend hers at Fujiwara's house, with Shirogane and Fujiwara present. Including Kei, that ant Rinji needed to prepare three gifts.
Ishigami was going to Tsuba's, where Iino would also be present. So Rinji had a gift ready for her too.
"Strange. Iino's the only student council mber coming to our side."
Ishigami looked puzzled when Rinji handed him two gifts.
"Why two?"
"Isn't Onodera coming to your party too?"
"Onodera Rei? Yeah, she was invited."
"The smaller one is for her."
"I see."
Rinji wasn't particularly close to Onodera, but outside the student council, she was probably the one he was most familiar with in their class. A gift made sense.
"Alright, let's get going then."
Rinji glanced at the two of them.
"Give it your all."
"…Yeah."
Both Ishigami and Kaguya had personal goals for Christmas Eve.
Ishigami wanted to confess to Tsuba, and Kaguya planned to solidify her relationship with Shirogane.
Ishigami: 'I've really got to give it my all today.'
Kaguya: 'I've really got to give it my all today.'
Rinji: 'Right, we're out of cooking oil at ho.'
With different thoughts in mind, the three went their separate ways.
---
Shinomiya Kaguya's Side
Ding-dong.
"Coming~"
Wearing a red Santa outfit, Fujiwara opened the door and welcod Kaguya in.
"rry Christmas, Fujiwara-san."
"rry Christmas, Kaguya."
As Kaguya entered, she found everyone already there.
Shirogane and his sister Kei sat at the table, and Fujiwara's sister, Moeha, was there too.
"Looks like I'm late."
"Not really, the night's still young." Fujiwara smiled.
After taking a seat, Kaguya brought out the gifts Rinji had given her and handed them to Fujiwara and Shirogane.
"These are from Rinji-kun."
"Oh~ as expected of Rinji-kun."
Fujiwara quickly accepted her gift.
Kei hesitated. "Um… isn't Rinji-nii coming today?"
"Yeah, I invited him," Fujiwara sighed. "But he turned down. Said he didn't really want to celebrate Christmas."
"I see…"
"Oh right." Kaguya took out another gift and placed it in front of Kei. "Rinji-kun couldn't co, but he asked to give you this."
"Huh? For ?"
Rinji had basically prepared gifts for everyone there.
Except for Fujiwara Moeha.
"Eh… I didn't get one?"
"Probably because you're not that close," Kaguya said with a smile.
"Whatever."
Moeha pouted and imdiately hugged Shirogane's arm.
"Getting a gift from President Shirogane is enough for ~"
"Uh…"
Shirogane was caught off guard by Fujiwara Moeha suddenly clinging to his arm.
Seeing this, Kaguya's gaze turned hollow.
'As expected of soone with the filthy blood of a politician. To do sothing so shaless... disgusting.'
"Let's see what Rinji-kun gave ~"
Fujiwara tore open her gift without hesitation.
It was a newly released board ga.
"Oh~ I was just about to buy this in a few days. Rinji-kun really gets ~" she said happily. "Let's play it tonight."
Kei also unwrapped her present.
It was a silver bracelet, and from the craftsmanship, it didn't look like anything mass-produced. It seed custom-made.
Although she didn't show much emotion, she still put the bracelet on her wrist and held it under the light, flipping it back and forth to examine it.
"Rinji-nii really knows how to pick gifts."
Shirogane opened his gift box next.
The box was extrely light. When he opened it, it seed empty. Curious, he shook it and a key fell out.
"Huh? What's this?"
He picked up the key and examined it. The material didn't look like sothing made in Japan.
He reached back into the box and felt around. Soon he found a piece of paper at the bottom.
On the paper was a location in Palo Alto, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, along with a photo of a villa, and a line of text:
'Since you'll be heading to Stanford soon, I arranged this residence for you. Just bring the key and move in — Takamine Rinji.'
'P.S. I know you wouldn't accept an expensive gift like this, so just treat it as a loan. Return the key after graduation.'
'P.P.S. There's a Rolls-Royce in the garage. In the U.S., not driving is practically a disability, so make sure to get your license first (^?^*).'
Rinji had arranged all of this a while ago.
So people might say it's better to just live in the school dorms—it's cheaper and helps you blend in, plus you can practice your English and experience Arican culture firsthand.
What a load of crap.
Throwing a complete stranger into your room when you're alone in a foreign land is the fastest way to make soone shut down. It's better to live with soone from the sa country, or just rent your own place.
"…"
Shirogane silently stared at the ceiling.
He could feel Rinji's concern, but it was a bit too much.
He decided to save his thanks for later. He had more important matters to handle tonight.
His eyes drifted toward Kaguya, who was looking back at him.
Tonight, the two of them planned to finally settle things properly.
---
anwhile, at Ishigami Yu's Side
"So it's you, Ishigami-kun… you're pretty fired up today."
"Iino-sam… what's up with your makeup!?"
Ishigami had tidied up his hair for the gathering at Tsuba's house, and ran into Iino on the way there.
Her look gave him a fright.
The phrase "caked-on makeup" described her perfectly. Her once cute face was now hidden under heavy foundation and bright lipstick. It was clearly the work of soone who didn't know how to apply makeup but went ahead anyway.
"It's my first ti being invited to a party like this. I based my makeup on my image of Tsuba-senpai."
"That image is way off! This is just a casual get-together of students!"
Ishigami couldn't help but cover his face in despair.
He could already picture the chaos once they arrived.
Sure enough, when the two reached Tsuba's house, they startled quite a few of the guests.
"Miko, what on earth happened to you?"
Blonde gyaru Onodera looked at Iino's makeup with helplessness.
"Isn't this look okay?"
"Not at all. Co on, let's wash your face."
She took Iino to the bathroom, while Ishigami looked around at the decor.
Tsuba's father was a global hotel chain executive and also a bartender, so their ho was very luxurious.
It was spacious, with many guest rooms, and even a bar setup in the living room, complete with mixing tools and a row of spirits.
Tsuba herself was dressed like a bartender today. Of course, she wasn't serving alcohol—the drinks on the counter were all juices. After all, everyone at this Christmas Eve party was still in high school and not of legal drinking age.
"Senpai!"
"Hey, Yu-kun, glad you made it." Tsuba greeted him with a smile. "Looks like everyone's here."
The partygoers were all students from Shuchiin Academy, boys and girls from every grade—mostly the kind of socially active types Ishigami used to look down on.
Onodera and Iino returned from the bathroom.
After washing off the thick makeup and letting down her hair, Iino actually looked quite charming.
"Oh right, Rinji asked to pass along his Christmas gifts."
"From Rinji-kun?"
"He got one for too?"
Iino and Onodera took the gifts from Ishigami.
Onodera hadn't expected one from Rinji, but since it was given, she opened it to take a look.
Inside was a cute pink ballpoint pen.
"Pretty cute," Iino remarked.
Onodera nodded and pressed the button on top with her thumb.
Zzt—
"Ah!"
A jolt of electricity ran through her finger, and she reflexively tossed the pen away.
"A prank toy!?"
"Yeah."
Ishigami nodded.
"Rinji said you were partially responsible for making him cross-dress during the sports festival, so he wanted payback."
"…How grudge-holding can this guy be?"
---
Back at Rinji's House
"rry Christmas!"
Rinji was preparing dinner in his ho, with Hayasaka helping him.
When the doorbell rang, he opened it to find Fusui and Karura standing there.
Both wore red Santa costus with hats.
But unlike Fujiwara's fully-covered Santa outfit, theirs were in the "sexy" style.
Short skirts and low-cut tops, showing off their nearly flawless figures.
Looking at the two dressed so boldly, Rinji of course…
…turned up the heater in the room.
"Aren't you cold wearing so little in this weather?"
"Not at all. Or rather, I don't feel the temperature at all," Fusui said with a smile.
"Wasn't asking you, I ant Karura."
"You're so an. You already have two girlfriends."
As soon as she entered, Karura pounced on Rinji, then quickly found Hayasaka.
"Ai~ I brought your outfit too~"
"You an… what you're wearing now?" Hayasaka looked uneasy as she eyed the revealing costu.
It was honestly too much.
"Yup."
"…I think I'll pass."
She wasn't that bold, and when it ca to figure, Hayasaka didn't feel confident competing with Karura.
At that mont, Fusui walked up and put her arm around Hayasaka's shoulder, whispering, "I heard you're one of Rinji's girlfriends now."
"Yeah."
"That's great. Mind if I ask a small favor?"
"What is it?"
"Can you give the code to Rinji's room?"
"No."
"Why not? You and Karura are both his girlfriends. You'll be doing that sooner or later."
"So?"
"So adding in wouldn't be a big deal, right?"
"It would be a huge deal. Besides, Rinji isn't even interested in that right now. I'm thinking about what he wants." Hayasaka replied. "Also, Fusui-san, you're not his girlfriend. I can tell the code to Karura, but not you."
"Tch~"
While Rinji continued prepping food, sothing occurred to him. He turned to Karura.
"By the way, Karura, you've t my old man, right?"
"Nope."
"I see. Then let's go et him later."
"Huh? Your dad's here too?"
"Yeah, he's at Aunt Kana's place next door. They're having a Christmas reunion with so old classmates."
---
anwhile, with the Elderly Hot Pot Group
"You sure you want to do this?"
"I'm absolutely sure."
At Sagara Kana's ho, she and Rinji's father sat across from each other, the atmosphere tense.
Rinji's father t her gaze without backing down.
"I've already made my intentions clear."
"Do you know what consequences this decision will bring?"
"I don't think there will be any consequences."
"You…"
The atmosphere between the two was extrely tense. Amano Hina and Amano Nagi looked on nervously. The sibling pair had just been adopted by the Sagara couple today, so they were spending Christmas here.
"Um…"
"Hina, don't speak for now," Kana said in a low voice. "If we let him do as he pleases, things will spiral out of control."
"Kana," Rinji's father replied calmly, "it's already too late."
"What!?"
"Sousuke, do it."
"Alright."
"Stop it, noooo!!!"
Kana shouted in horror, watching helplessly as Sousuke dropped a red, cake-like chunk into the hot pot.
Seeing the broth turn deep red, Kana collapsed to her knees and cried out in anguish:
"You bastard!! Didn't we agree not to use spicy broth!?"
"What's the point of hot pot if it's not spicy?" Rinji's father said as if it were obvious. "Besides, I already confird—the base is only mildly spicy."
"…Where did you buy this broth?"
"Sichuan."
"Then how the hell could it possibly be mild!?"
"Hahaha, calm down, Kana."
At the dining table, a white-haired middle-aged man in a suit chuckled.
"Having sothing spicy in winter isn't so bad."
"But not this spicy," Kana glared coldly at Sousuke. "And you, Sousuke, how dare you just toss the base directly into the pot!?"
"It was the instructor's order—I couldn't refuse."
"And my order? You just ignore it? Have you forgotten who your wife is!?"
"…"
Chastised, Sousuke quickly shut up. His wife was not soone to be trifled with.
The red soup in the pot began to bubble. Rinji's father added vegetables while glancing at the white-haired man across from him.
"Chairman Hayashi, if I hadn't happened to be here today, I probably wouldn't have seen you."
"That's right. Being a Diet mber can be such a hassle."
Hayashimizu Atsunobu, forrly the student council president of Jindai High School's 53rd graduating class, was now a mber of Japan's Cabinet.
All the adults here were alumni of Jindai High School and had once served in the student council.
"Ah, just thinking about the trouble you and Sousuke caused back then wears out. And Hayashi, you actually covered for them."
Hayashi laughed, "Haha, I just really admired our treasurer."
Rinji's father nodded, "That's right. The president and I hit it off imdiately. I trust his judgnt."
"You bastards still won't admit fault!?"
Kana, the forr student council vice president, fud. Rinji's father had been the council's treasurer and disciplinary officer. Sousuke had served as a general assistant and security adviser.
"By the way, thanks for helping with my son's issue back then."
"It was nothing," Hayashi waved it off with a smile. "Many people here in Japan would rather avoid conflict with IW. Plus, they've long been annoyed with the Shinomiya Conglorate. The kid was pretty sharp too—he scattered their assets around, which made everyone turn a blind eye."
"So it was the Shinomiyas, huh."
"This is your first ti hearing about them? Well, makes sense. No way soone like you would care about minor characters." Hayashi chuckled. "What? Planning to step in for your son?"
"Nah, I promised my wife I'd lay down my arms. I'll let the kid handle it himself." Rinji's father smiled. "Besides, it's just a childsplay to him. Otherwise, it would've been over four years ago."
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