““Shopping trip?””
“Yep, countin’ on you!”
It was a day shortly before the school festival.
The class representative, Erina-san, gave orders to Ichikawa and me.
By the way, our Class 2-6 exhibit was a ‘Cosplay Photo Studio.’
The idea was that customers could use various cosplay goods we prepared, change in a fitting space set up in the classroom, and take photos with their own smartphones.
It wasn't a cosplay cafe serving food and drinks, nor were the students themselves cosplaying; it was a project where visitors changed and took photos themselves, showing a complete lack of initiative from the students.
Normally, something that lazy wouldn't pass, but they supposedly pushed it through with a mysterious logic: by including the Musashino International High School uniform as one of the costumes, middle schoolers visiting the school could take photos in it, which would increase the number of applicants and raise the school's deviation score.
That said, the quality of other second-year projects was about the same. Since many second-years—including those in the Instrumental Club who would retire after the festival—were participating in their last festival through their clubs, they tended to choose class exhibits that could be done with minimal energy.
On the other hand, since third-years don't have club activities, they apparently put an incredible amount of effort into their class exhibits. What happened to their entrance exams?
“Got it! So, should Konuma-kun and I go?”
Ichikawa asked, raising her hand slightly.
“Yep! Takuto-kun and Amane-chan have the Rock Club live performance on the day, right? Since you guys have a performance, you don’t have to work the stall on the day, but in exchange, I want you to participate properly in the preparations beforehand. The athletic club members will handle the stall on the day. Erina also has a performance with the Dance Club, so I’m on the prep team too!”
“I see...”
That makes sense. It’s a pretty logical arrangement.
Wait, but...?
“Then, Ando should also—”
“Got it, the two of us will go!”
Aren’t the members of a certain Cherry Boys also in the Rock Club? I tried to bring up his name, but I was cut off by President Ichikawa.
“Uhehe. Well, that’s how it is, so I’m counting on you! Buy a few different kinds!”
Seen off by the smirking little devil class rep, Ichikawa and I left the classroom.
And so, we arrived at the Don Quixote Kichijoji Station Store.
“Cosplay goods, huh... I’ve never had anything to do with them, so I don’t really get it...”
“Me neither~”
While browsing the cosplay corner, Ichikawa was humming in a good mood.
In her line of sight were maid outfits, nurse uniforms, police uniforms...
...Wait, is this perhaps a zone where a guy and a girl shouldn't be entering together?
Once I realized that, a strange sense of guilt started to crawl up within me.
“Hey, Konuma-kun.”
“Y-Yes!”
My voice flipped because I was accidentally starting to imagine various things.
“Hmm, what’s wrong?”
“I-It’s nothing.”
Ichikawa tilted her head suspiciously. I’m glad this person doesn't have a skill like Yuri-san’s...
“Really? Hey, hey, what about this one?”
Ignoring my suspicious behavior, she held up a product against her chest to show me.
That outfit was...
“Santa?”
“Yep, a Santa-san!”
Ichikawa said with a beaming smile. As expected of her, she doesn't forget the respect of adding ‘-san’ even to Santa.
“Ah, yeah, isn't that fine?”
Looking at the model on the package Ichikawa was holding, it seemed to be a set with a red dress and a Santa hat.
The red dress was a mini-skirt, and the length around the thighs looked quite daring. I don’t know if you call it off-the-shoulder, but anyway, the shoulders were exposed, and it was designed so you’d wear a capelet (?) over them.
The image of Ichikawa in front of me wearing that popped into my head, and I involuntarily swallowed hard.
‘Wow, this skirt is short, isn’t it?’ ‘Somehow, my shoulders feel drafty...’ ‘I wonder which is better, tights or socks...?’ ‘Hey, Konuma-kun, the zipper on my back...’
“Konuma-kun?”
“Y-Yes, I’m sorry!”
I straightened my back and apologized with enough force to almost give a salute.
“Why are you apologizing...?”
“I-It’s nothing.”
An angel was tilting her head in front of me. Her eyes were so pure and innocent that my guilt was overwhelming. The stronger the white light shines, the darker and deeper the shadow becomes...
“Still, I wonder who wears these, when, and for what purpose...?”
Looking at the item in her hand, Ichikawa made a difficult face, going ‘Mumu.’
“Who knows...”
When I answered that, she met my eyes again and, with a slightly mischievous expression, said,
“Who knows~” while laughing.
“What, are you mimicking me...?”
“Yeah, I thought, ‘Oh, another version of Konuma-kun’s catchphrase came out.’”
After saying that, she said “Who knows~” one more time as if practicing.
“I see...”
“I see~”
“No, you don’t have to mimic that part...”
When I scratched my cheek out of embarrassment, Ichikawa gave a happy “Ehehe.”
“If we’re buying the Santa outfit, we have to buy this as a set too. Ei!”
Saying that, she placed a reindeer antler headband, which she had picked up at some point, onto my head.
“Ahaha, it suits you, Konuma-kun.”
In the moment she leaned in close to put it on, the faint scent of her shampoo made my heart race. I mean, please stop approaching me so defenselessly...!?
“Hmm? Konuma-kun’s ears are bright red. You’re a red-eared reindeer, aren’t you?”
“T-That’s not clever at all...!”
It was all I could do to deny it. I took off the antlers and handed them back to Ichikawa.
Ichikawa stared at them intently with a look of realization before trying them on herself.
“...Konuma-kun, how do you spend Christmas every year?” she asked.
“For me, it’s with my family, of course. We roast a chicken, make pot pies, bake a cake, and have a bingo tournament while we eat, followed by a gift exchange, and then it’s over.”
“Eh, a bingo tournament? With your family?”
She turned to me with a surprised look.
“Yeah, though the prizes are just sweets or stationery.”
“Heh, that’s amazing!”
“Eh, what is?”
Is that not normal? A family bingo tournament. Every year, my sister gets really fired up preparing for it.
After looking at me with admiration, for some reason, Ichikawa’s expression became a bit more formal.
“...In that case, are you spending Christmas with your family this year too?”
She asked while peering into a nearby mirror about the size of her face, fixing her bangs that had been messed up by the headband.
“Probably so.”
“...I see.”
Ichikawa pursed her lips.
“What’s wrong?”
When I tilted my head, she continued her questions while still looking in the mirror.
“Umm, is that for both Eve and Christmas Day?”
“No, I think it’s just the Eve...”
When I said that, she suddenly turned toward me, her face brightening instantly.
“Really!?”
“Y-Yeah...”
This person is leaning in close again...!
Seeing my bewildered face, she seemed to snap out of it, pulling her body back and letting out a small cough.
“You see, I...”
Ichikawa took a breath, looking a little embarrassed.
“My birthday is December 25th.”
“Oh, really? Right on Christmas. That’s rare.”
I didn’t know that. No wonder she’s like an angel...
“Ahaha, it’s not that rare. It’s one in 366. The same probability as your birthday, Konuma-kun.”
“Well, I guess so.”
“Yeah. ...But that’s why Christmas is a bit of a special day for me.”
“I see...”
She nodded, still wearing the reindeer antlers.
“Um, so, if your schedule is open, then...”
“Y-Yeah...?”
Ichikawa took a deep breath, like the start of a song.
“I thought it would be nice if we could spend it together this year.”
Saying that, she gave a soft, bashful smile.
That smile was so fleeting, lovely, and striking that I was momentarily dazed and lost my words.
Perhaps unable to bear the silence, Ichikawa added hurriedly,
“...I mean, like, with everyone from amane!”
“R-Right...”
Thanks to those words, I managed to reply, and she said,
“T-Then, I’ll go buy this!”
She lifted the Santa outfit she was holding.
“Y-Yeah...”
Looking at her back as she headed for the register, I suddenly snapped out of it and called out.
“I-Ichikawa!”
“Hmm?”
Ichikawa turned back with an expectant look.
“Um, you have to take off the antlers.”
“Ah, right...!”
Ichikawa removed the headband, her cheeks blushing red.
“Ah, also.”
“Oh, is there something else on me?”
Ichikawa lightly patted her head with both palms.
“I’ll make sure to keep Christmas open.”
“Eh? ...Ah, okay!”
Ichikawa’s eyes widened for a moment, and then she scratched her cheek bashfully with an “Ehehe.”
Then, she held out her pinky finger.
“It’s a promise, okay?”
She smiled, looking truly happy.