24th, Christmas Eve.
The second semester's closing ceremony finally concluded and winter break finally arrived.
The break would last for around two weeks, through the end of the year and the new year. It was shorter than the summer break, but it was more exciting.
The students left the school gate with cheerful expressions on their faces. I could hear their conversations, some of them planned to stay home and take it easy while some of them made plans to fully utilize the long break.
I planned to sleep through the winter break like every normal loner would. I simply couldn't resist the alluring temptation of the kotatsu, the thought of spending the whole winter break curled up inside the kotatsu excited me.
Or at least that would've been the plan. Sadly, I had to stay at school because I had a lot of work to do.
Of course, I wasn't alone. Umi, Amami-san and Nozomu were with me. We were currently in the student council room.
"Alright, the party will be held today, as planned. We have a lot of work to do, including coordinating with the other schools, setting up the venue and other minor matters, but don't worry, as long as we're giving it our all, everything will go smoothly."
The staff consisted of over twenty people, which was more than I expected. The members consisted of the student council and volunteers and for some reason the numbers of boys were unnaturally high.
This was probably because of the participation of a certain all-girls high school.
"…Yeah, sure, Tachibana is an all-girls school, but it isn't like there are a lot of pretty girls there… Right, Yuu?"
"Mhm! But, who knows~ It isn't like we know much about the high school anyway… But, does that matter? I'm more curious to see the members of their student council! I want to meet them!"
The conversation between the former students of the Tachibana all-girls school made some of the boys' expressions freeze. Well, they might have volunteered because they had ulterior motives, but I don't think it's a bad thing. It's rare to meet up with students from other schools outside these kinds of events, after all.
Besides, this served as a nice bait to gather more volunteers. The student council president should have calculated this.
"You could refer to the form I just handed out for the floor plan of the venue. It has the table numbers, detailed time schedules and your respective roles. If any problems were to arise, please make sure to check with me or any student council members in charge."
The four of us would be responsible for helping out the student council. The event itself would run from 6 pm to 8 pm, so we would be quite busy for two hours.
We agreed to meet up at the venue an hour before the event started. I would be attending in my school uniform since I didn't plan anything for the party, unlike Amami-san and Umi.
Actually, no, I planned something out for the event..
"Prez, may I have a word?"
I called out to the president as she was about to leave the room.
"What's wrong, Maehara-kun?"
"Um… Later when we're working, may I leave the venue for a moment?"
After hearing that, she immediately furrowed her brows.
I know I'm troubling her by making a sudden request like this.
"…Is it urgent?"
"Yes. I'll finish everything in fifteen… No, ten minutes."
"Does it have to be today?"
"Yes… Sorry…"
I knew that this would inconvenience everyone, but I had my reasons.
Today was December 24th, a meaningful day for me.
"…I understand. Then, we'll treat that time as your break time. Just give me a heads up later, okay?"
"…Thank you very much…"
"Will it be the four of you?"
"No, just me and Asanagi."
I've discussed this with Amami-san and Nozomu prior to this and we decided that it would be best to leave me and Umi alone to handle it. After all, we shouldn't inconvenience the President anymore than this.
I had to thank Umi for going along with this selfishness of mine later.
"Alright. Then, Nozomu, you gotta work harder in place of him. No breaks for you today, you'll have to spend the rest of the party with me."
"Are you for real? Look, I don't mind taking responsibility for him, but why must I stick with you? It's Christmas' Eve for fuck sake!"
"My… Rather than complaining, you should be thrilled that you'll be stuck with your kind and pretty older sister."
"What do you mean kind and pretty, you old hag? Look in the mirror for on– Ouch!"
"Sorry, but could the three of you leave the room now? I have a family matter to discuss with my dear little brother here."
"M-Maki… H-Help…"
We immediately leave the student council room to give the siblings some space together.
Bonding with your family is important after all, we shouldn't get in their way. Yes, he was strangled by his sister, but that was her way of showing her love to him… Maybe…
"What's your plan after this, Umi?"
"Hm… I just wanna go home, eat some lunch, then go to Yuu's place. I just want to take it slow until the party starts…"
"'Take it slow', she said~ Maki-kun, don't you know how much she screamed when you decided to attend— Mmph!"
Umi cut Amami-san's sentence off with an iron claw.
"What is our little Princess here trying to say, hm? After you begged me to teach you so you won't get any more failing grades, is this your way of repaying me, hm?"
"I'm sorry! I'm in the wrong!"
She actually got a decent result on her exam. Well, by decent, I meant she barely managed to reach the average marks in the subjects that I taught her. It was a good start at least, we could always make her study even harder next year.
"…Don't worry, Umi. I was looking forward to the party too."
"I-Is that so? …W-Well, actually, me too… I was looking forward to it… Just a little though…"
I wanted to have fun with her tonight, but before that, there was something that I had to do. As for the unfinished business we both have, I'll finish it properly after everything is done.
After that, I hope that I'll be able to enjoy the new year together with Umi and my friends.
"Then, Yuu and I will go home first… But are you sure you'll be okay by yourself, Maki?"
"Mhm. I mean, you'll be with me for the rest of the day in exchange, right?"
Before they went down the stairs, I took Umi's hands.
What I'm about to do is not something commendable by any means. It's a pointless action that wouldn't change anything and would only trouble everyone around me.
But, this was necessary for me. To come terms with my feelings
"…Maki-kun, the guests are coming."
"Mm… Well, Amami-san, Umi, see you later."
After seeing them off, I went to the school gate where a certain someone was waiting for me.
This was the first time that I talked to her alone like this.
"Sorry for calling you all the way here… Minato-san…"
"…It's fine. I also wish to talk with you just for once, Maki-kun…"
This marked the beginning of my most eventful Christmas.