Today is the last day before winter break.
Normal lessons for half a day in the morning, and students can go home only after the closing ceremony in the afternoon, followed by about two weeks of winter vacation.
Before that, final semester exams had finished smoothly, and grade rankings were openly posted on the bulletin board—of course, only the top 100 for each year level; the rest fell under privacy protection and couldn't be displayed to avoid hurting the self-esteem of low-scoring students.
In Japanese high schools, semester finals aren't the end. Afterward, they still continue lessons for some time.
But without exams and after reviewing test sheets, both students and teachers just waiting for break essentially treated daily school as a class reunion, with no intent to teach seriously.
The once-painful language and math subjects all turned into self-study and film appreciation. Some teachers even held indoor and outdoor group activities simultaneously, satisfying students who wanted rest and those who wanted exercise.
Thus, even during class hours, occasional sounds of students running and shouting echoed. This made order-and-quiet-accustomed teachers frown. But since break was near, they ultimately just gave light reprimands, letting students vent their heavy study pressure from this period.
After all, this was Chiba City's highest deviation-value urban high school. The more seriously they studied on normal days, the crazier they played now—and this intensified nearing vacation.
Stepping on slightly damp asphalt, Yuu swung his nearly book-empty school bag, casually slinging it over his shoulder.
Temperatures had dropped below zero. The rare pedestrians on the street all tucked their necks, enduring the cold wind assault with thick winter clothes. Their forcibly exposed skin froze red, making their hurried steps look even more pitiful.
Compared to them, his oddity stood out more.
A thin-looking uniform jacket, collar unbuttoned two buttons revealing collarbones, upright posture fearless of the biting cold, and neat energetic short hair—not shrinking at all from the gripping winter.
Yuu walked leisurely on the year-end city streets, ignoring the shocked gazes on him. He watched the hot steam from his mouth turn into white smoke curling in the air.
The feeling of others being cold while he wasn't—wasn't bad. The most important wasn't being different, but the unbound sense of freedom.
Sometimes, freedom is the best proof of strength.
Sub-zero temperatures were nothing to his current strong physique. Of course, he dressed as comfortably as possible for movement, unhindered by coats or scarves.
But Yuigahama, who met him on the way, didn't think so.
"Geez—what if you catch a cold!"
Like a worried young wife, Yuigahama buttoned him up without permission, pouting dissatisfiedly.
Yuu looked at her helplessly: "Impossible. I wouldn't get sick even swimming naked in winter—let alone..."
Yuigahama had no intent to listen, not even lifting her eyes, saying casually: "Yeah yeah yeah—I know you're strong, great, great~ Here—lower your head a bit."
When he reluctantly bowed, Yuigahama removed her own scarf, tiptoeing to wrap it two or three times around both their necks.
Finally, the red cloth fell on each shoulder. The scarf like a tilted ring, trapping the space between them.
"Hmm—this is good!"
Yuigahama narrowed her eyes satisfied and smiled. She pulled the scarf covering half her lower face. Muffled soft laughter from her successful plan: "Hehe—couple scarf~ I've wanted to do this for so long!"
Inhaling the scarf's scent before his nose, Yuu glanced at her—his gaze showing slight annoyance.
"I see—so you did this not because you feared I'd be cold, but for your own goal..."
"Not like that! Don't imagine your girlfriend as an evil woman, okay?"
As punishment, Yuigahama hugged his arm tightly—as if wanting to break it. But it only gave him pressure from full breasts unrestrained by the coat.
"Wanting to try couple scarf with you, and seeing you dressed so minimally so I feared you'd catch cold—these two feelings can exist at once!"
"But Yui—wearing it like this will only make it colder, right? Wind comes in from the middle."
"Cold like this—we'll face with romance and love."
Yuu bowed, touching her cold cheek with his, whispering in her ear: "...I'm fine—I just fear you'll get sick, idiot."
"Idiots don't get sick—even though I'm not an idiot!" Protesting like that, Yuigahama pulled his hand into her coat pocket, then slightly pursed her pink lips, huffing proudly.
"This is good~ Yuu-kun's hands are big and warm. Hugging you is like hugging a heater—not afraid of getting sick at all!"
Yuu stunned a moment, then nodded agreeing: "Indeed—I think no one in the world is bigger and hotter than me."
"Yeah yeah... Hmm!?" Yuigahama just about to agree, but suddenly reacted. She wrinkled her nose, staring at his expression. "Yuu-kun—did you just say something dirty to me?"
Even if yes—he had no plan to do anything to her. Instead, she'd even start fantasizing how hot and big that hot big thing was...
Please don't misunderstand—she meant only hot dogs. The world's largest hot dog is supposedly 204 meters long!
"Idiot Yui—am I that kind of person?" Yuu stroked her head lovingly, eyes filled with helpless tenderness.
He then casually shifted the topic: "Planning to go to school like this today?"
Along the way to the station, students and office workers gradually increased. Gazes on him also changed meaning—but more indifferent than usual.
"After all—today is Christmas Eve!"
Yuigahama swung his arm, saying naturally: "Not just morning—I want to spend the whole day with Yuu-kun—even if called too clingy I don't care!"
"Really?" Yuu bowed looking at her—half her face covered by scarf.
Pink hair tied in a bun, white delicate ears, round reddish cheeks, soft warm-looking pink lips, and big bright eyes blinking under long lashes—together forming this sweet honest girl.
In her coat pocket, their fingers tightly intertwined—as if wanting to warm the entire winter. Skin touch produced endless heat, reaching straight to the heart.
Yuu couldn't hold his laughter. He slowly lifted his gaze, happily viewing these minus-three-degree Tokyo streets—neither lonely nor cold.
"Coincidentally—me too."
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Closer to the station—the Christmas atmosphere grew thicker.
Shop walls filled with festive red ad posters. Christmas trees of various sizes placed in windows. Even inside the station—no lack of Christmas symbols, showing how important this holiday was to Japanese.
After all—whether KFC or small hotels—their turnover these two days was several times normal. Whether they could pass the new year well depended on this—and in fact, not just couples—many families also bought big dinners (usually a full bucket of fried chicken) to celebrate Christmas.
Though for most—it was just commercial activity without religious meaning.
"It'll be so beautiful here at night, right?"
Before entering the station, Yuigahama suddenly felt sentimental—becoming a bit down.
Yuu followed her gaze. Roadside tree trunks decorated with various lights—quietly adorning the entire station.
Though now not very striking—even slightly ruining the original view. But when sky darkened—the colorful lights would turn on, suddenly making the whole street, the whole city—like a dream, instantly filled with sparkling light.
Perhaps the bustling travelers would feel they'd arrived in a fairy tale world?
"Then—after the hot pot party—let's come back to the station for a date? Around nine. If you don't want the train—I can rent a car to take you all around."
After swiping in, Yuu suggested jokingly.
Yuigahama stared shocked: "Yuu-kun already has a driver's license?! You're not even twenty yet?"
Though under-400cc motorcycle licenses obtainable at 16—her boyfriend surely didn't want to take them both on a motorcycle...
Legal or not—they'd sandwich him. Three crammed on a small bike, speeding through Tokyo night streets—the scene too weird, zero romance!
Luckily, Yuu shook his head denying her guess, then said confidently: "Though I don't have a license—whether Hachiroku can climb mountains depends on my mood—my driving skills are about that level."
He'd driven Haruno's car during summer break. Of course, his skills were veteran-driver level.
That woman didn't care at all whether Yuu had a license. After knowing he could drive—she occasionally asked him to, while she sat in the front passenger, happily drinking red wine—they were truly lucky never stopped by police.
"Then forget it. Driving without license is no good."
Helplessly, honest-child Yuigahama sighed. Her body unconsciously leaned closer to him.
Her bowed face seemed hiding small emotions she didn't want him to know.
"And today can't—because I already promised... Tomorrow—I don't know if I can be together..."
"Yui? What's wrong?"
Strangely—though his hearing was excellent—when she leaned on him and mumbled softly, Yuu always couldn't clearly hear the content.
But soon, Yuigahama lifted her face again—smiling relaxedly: "Nothing. I just suddenly remembered—seems I've prepared a Christmas gift for you!"
Yuu looked confused: "What do you mean suddenly remembered? And seems how?"
Yuigahama narrowed eyes huffing laughter. She bumped her head on Yuu's shoulder. The force light like a spoiled puppy: "There's a complicated reason I can't explain to Yuu-kun. Anyway—just look forward to it!"
"Haaah... Alright—I get it." Yuu shrugged pretending resignation. "Geez—girls really love surprises. Not straightforward at all."
The moment he finished—his foot was stepped on, and he was scolded as insensitive.
After that—no more shadows on Yuigahama's face. Her smile cheerful and bright as usual.
Thinking he'd get the answer at tonight's hot pot party, Yuu didn't care much. He boarded the train with her—heading to Inage-Kaigan Station where Sobu High was.
Enjoying the foggy train windows and hanging ads inside, he chatted with his girlfriend beside about which celebrity was cheating again. Unknowingly, the conductor's soft announcement reminded them to alight.
Most alighting were Sobu High students. They had no intent to avoid—and continued chatting with faces covered by scarf. Their hot breaths blew on each other's faces. They also didn't care about the very close distance where lips could touch anytime.
"So—if Yuu-kun cheats..."
"No if about that. If I marry—I'll definitely marry you all, then behave well, and be sincere to you with all my heart!"
"Yeah yeah yeah—calm down. This is just hypothetical! For example—you both marry me in the future—but one day coming home from work relaxing at an izakaya—you suddenly meet Masuzu who had a relationship with you in high school. You drink and chat—then because drunk..."
"Wait—isn't the plot too cliché? You should say I meet Masuzu applying when I'm interviewing secretaries at the office."
"Is that what matters?!"
Chatting continuously—they passed the school gate. This time—no meeting Yukino and Masuzu. They directly changed indoor shoes and walked to Class 2-F. The scarf and tightly intertwined fingers all the way had to be separated.
Not just the station—Christmas decorations at Sobu High and in Class F were equally festive. Topics students discussed mostly Christmas-related too.
Who'd date, who'd buy all odd-numbered cinema seats, and who'd try starting a holy war—going to hotels to hunt couples preparing for six-hour censored sex...
"The world is dirty again."
A faint voice came from behind. Yuu shivered slightly—then lip corners lifted with a weird expression looking back.
"Why are you here again..."
Masuzu sighed pretending. She hooked her hair at her cheek with fingers. As if not seeing his confused expression—she continued sadly: "Basically—Christmas is Jesus's birthday, right? Or death day? Well anyway—since it's such an important holiday—shouldn't we hold back all disrespect and other thoughts, dedicating all piety and gratitude to this day? Why instead—sexual desire explodes? Does Jesus want to see such obscene scenes? Tch—if so—Christmas's main color shouldn't be red, but censored white—"
Before she finished—Yuu directly raised hand covering her mouth, pulling back before she stuck out her tongue to lick his palm.
"Enough—if you keep talking like that—not just failing censorship—Christians will crucify you first."
"But I was defending Christians—you know?"
Masuzu winked flirtatiously—then directly back to serious expression.
"Once Christmas comes—people get excited, even creating terms like six-hour censored love. Of course—they fill this holiday with money and lust—if anything—shouldn't Japanese be the ones hunted by Christians?"
"I don't want to discuss this with you." Yuu rolled eyes, thumb pointing to the door. "Class starts soon—please return to your own class."
"Still ten minutes—chatting a bit more is fine." Masuzu pouted slightly dissatisfied—but obediently walked to the class door, just turning back multiple times—looking very reluctant.
As for other classmates—they were already used to such scenes.
After all—these past few days, Masuzu came to Class F to chat with Yuu whenever possible. But she also got along with Yuigahama. So—after initial shock—though she showed completely different attitude from how she treated others—no one gossiped about their interactions anymore.
To avoid trouble for them, Masuzu even specially explained:
Yuu was her only opposite-sex friend she could talk to. During film shooting—they also formed a very strong pure friendship.
So—like Yukino—she supported their relationship, and would be their best friend too. She hoped everyone wouldn't let baseless rumors and misunderstandings ruin their friendship—
Overall—that was roughly the meaning.
Thanks to this—Yuu also avoided trouble denying rumors again, and increasingly understood how meticulously this woman thought to approach him.
...Had Masuzu really not regained her memories?
Until now—Yuu still couldn't confirm the answer to this question.
"Oh right—Yuu—do you have time tonight?" Masuzu suddenly asked before leaving.
Yuu said annoyed: "Of course not—I have a girlfriend."
"Is that so? What a shame."
For some reason—Masuzu smiled, faintly glancing behind the class, then walked out of Class F with light steps.