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After everyone had sung their fill, it was about time to wrap things up.
Tatsuya, with his energy at its peak, stood at the front holding the microphone.
"Alright, alright! Now that we're all fired up, it's time to hand out the presents! Hey, hey, hey!"
""Hey, hey, hey!""
Neika and Hiyori high-fived, their energy matching his. Rion smiled and clapped her hands.
"Here you go, Rila-tan! This is the perfume the girls' squad picked out for you!"
"Riran-chan likes citrus scents, doesn't she? I hope you like it," Hiyori added.
"Use this to seduce Akky, okay?" Neika teased.
"I-I-I'm not going to seduce him! ...But, thank you..."
Riran accepted the paper bag with an embarrassed look. I recognized the logo on the bag Hiyori handed her—it was a brand even I knew. Putting it that way, my expectations naturally started to rise.
...Well, that is—
"Then, for Akito, this is from me. A present representing the guys!"
—As long as the one giving it wasn't Tatsuya!
"...Is it something decent?"
"H-How cruel! Have I ever given you anything weird before!?"
"I haven't forgotten that you sent me a gorilla bodysuit for my birthday last year. It's still taking up way too much space in my storage room."
"Akito, you're so d-u-t-i-f-u-l for keeping it... how l-o-v-e-l-y ♡"
God, he’s annoying.
Wait, so this guy definitely sent that knowing it was a nuisance.
"Come on, come on. This time, I really, truly picked something out. You helped me out with Nei recently, after all."
"...Well, if you put it that way..."
Tatsuya held out a small box he had been hiding. It was palm-sized. A plain, square white box with no logo. It wasn't light, but it wasn't heavy either. I couldn't guess the contents at all.
"Can I open it?"
"Of course. I think you'll like it."
...Well then.
Open.
*Pop!* (The sound of the box opening)
*Boing!* (The sound of something jumping out)
*Thump!* (The sound of it hitting me directly in the face)
"Gah!?"
"Kekekekeke! It's a su-r-p-r-i-s-e b-o-x!!"
"Tatsuya, you bastard!!"
"Hogeh!"
When I landed an overhead chop on him, he flipped over. Honestly, this guy...
"Oh boy. Ryuya, I told you so. If you do unnecessary things, you're going to have a bad time," Neika sighed.
"Nishishi. Well, that's just how our relationship is."
"I don't get guys at all," Neika said as she gave Tatsuya a flick to the forehead in exasperation.
Don't worry, Neika. Sometimes I don't get Tatsuya either.
"Alright, let's try this again. Here, Akito. This year, I got you some perfume too."
"O-Oh. Thanks."
The paper bag I received from Tatsuya was from a very famous brand, though a different one from Riran's. I sometimes wear perfume for special occasions, but I've never had something from such a high-end brand before... I'm actually a bit nervous.
As I carefully tucked the paper bag into my bag, Hiyori spoke to Tatsuya.
"Hey, hey, Kura-tan. What kind of scent is Sana-tan's perfume?"
"Oh. It's Ylang-Ylang."
"""Eh?"""
Hmm? The girls all froze... what's wrong?
"Hey, what's Ylang-Ylang? Is it an Iranian perfume?"
"No, no, that's not it. It's just a flower scent."
Huh, so there's a flower with a name like that. But why is everyone's face turning red?
"W-Wait, Kurashiki! W-W-Why would you get something like that...!"
"Why? Because I was thinking about you guys."
"We didn't ask for that!?"
...I don't get it. What on earth is going on?
"A-Akito! You make sure to mind the TPO when you wear that perfume! Do you hear me!?"
"O-Okay."
Why do I have to be scolded over a single bottle of perfume? ...I don't understand. Well, it's a gift I went through the trouble of receiving. I'll make sure to use it carefully.
"Well then, since the presents have been given, let's wrap this up..."
"Ah, wait a second, Tatsuya."
I stopped the flow of the party ending and took out a beautifully wrapped box from my bag.
"Riran. I prepared a gift too. Will you accept it?"
"Eh? ...Ah, that..."
Riran rummaged through her own bag and pulled out a box of the exact same size and with the exact same wrapping.
"Actually, I prepared one too..."
"...It's exactly the same, isn't it?"
"It is."
We both looked at each other with blank expressions and, without a word, opened the wrapping together. Inside were boxes with the same manufacturer's logo. When we opened them, what came out was—
""Ah, a mug. ...Eh?""
The mug I pulled out was blue. It featured a black Shiba Inu wearing a red collar and a red leash, looking straight at me.
The mug Riran pulled out was pink. It featured a yellow Chihuahua wearing a red collar and a red leash, looking straight at me.
The breeds were different, but the mugs had the exact same composition.
"...I thought that one looked like you, Riran."
"I thought that one looked like you, Akito."
""...Pfft... Hehe... Ahahaha!""
What is this? What even is this? Man, can a coincidence like this really happen!
"...I feel like those two just stole the spotlight in an instant."
"Plus, that's the famous series where the red leash represents the 'Red Thread of Fate.' I saw it in a magazine—the leashes are supposed to connect when you put the mugs side-by-side."
"Those two probably bought them without even knowing that. It's so typical of Akky and her."
"I guess I really can't beat Rila-tan... Hiyori needs to start looking forward too."
Everyone was looking at us with lukewarm eyes. Sorry about that, I guess.
Even so... I feel bad for the others, but I've never received a gift that made me feel so fulfilled before. My eyes met Riran's, and we both smiled naturally. This turned out to be a birthday I'll never forget—