Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817139554722565664/episodes/16817139555719575542
The middle of December has passed.
Three months have passed so quickly since we started living together.
We talk about going back to my parents’ house for the winter holidays, and we walk around town looking for a cake shop together.
“But before that, Christmas will soon be here. Chifuyu, what kind of cake do you like?”
“I like chocolate. Hey, do you want to invite Madoka over on Christmas Eve?”
“Great, It’s good. Let’s have a party with everyone.”
When I was happy to invite Madoka san, Chifuyu sulked, saying ‘so it’s better to have Madoka after all’.
But when I said back, “Chifuyu is the one who wants to see Madoka san”, she said, “Yes, I want to see Madoka”.
In the end, both Chifuyu and I like Madoka san.
So we were excited about the Christmas party, but when Chifuyu called Madoka san, the answer was a bit unexpected.
“Hello Madoka? um, you’re free for Christmas, right?”
“Why are you assuming I’m free? Sorry to hear that, but it looks like I’m going to have plans.”
“……, are you cheating on me?”
“No, who’s the real love of your life?”
“Because I didn’t hear it.”
“Are you my guardian? Well, I’ve just been invited out to dinner. Can I join you afterwards?”
“Yes. I’ll pray that Madoka won’t be taken by someone else.”
“No, you’d better hope that it goes well.”
After hanging up the phone, Chifuyu looked a little sad.
Madoka san and she had been together for a long time, right?
But she laughed as if she had quickly switched over.
“Madoka, she said she might find someone good. I hope we can all be happy together.”
“I see. Madoka san, I’m sure she won’t fall for a strange man, so I’m not worried about her.”
“Yes. I can’t wait to see Madoka’s child.”
“Haha, if you say that, she’ll probably get angry and say, ‘Don’t get pregnant without permission’.”
“Fufu, that’s true. We have to start first, don’t we?”
“Yes. Someday, I’d like to have dinner with all the family together.”
“Sounds fun. I want to have lots of children.”
“Then we’ll have to work hard. I’m going to work hard too”
“…… but don’t work too hard, okay?”
“I know. I have to go home.”
“No, it’s no good if Toma-kun breaks his health. I’m sure I’ll be okay while you’re away now.”
There was no hesitation, anxiety, or cloudiness in Chifuyu’s smiling eyes.
For someone to worry about me more than themselves, I really need to make sure that I don’t leave Chifuyu alone.
“Ah, there’s a cake shop. Shall we stop by?”
I found a shop I’d never been to before as I strolled from the shopping street towards the station.
There are still many shops around here that I don’t know about.
“Hee, it’s very fashionable. Do you want to try it?”
“Yes. I like going to places I don’t know with Toma-kun.”
The queue outside was for cream puffs, which are only available today.
We decided to buy that as well, so we lined up and bought just two items before heading into the store.
We then go inside and find a large sample of Christmas cake.
“I like this one. But I think it’s a bit much for the three of us.”
“Why don’t we eat it the next day too? I want to try this one too.”
“Yes. Then I’ll make a reservation. It’s going to be fun, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. I asked Toma-kun for it.”
Come to think of it, Chifuyu had never asked me to buy her anything before.
I felt like she was being too reserved, or rather, Chifuyu was trying to do her best for me.
I’m really happy that she has come to take care of herself naturally like this.
◇
Christmas Eve.
On the day we finished booking the cake, we decided that there would be no presents for each other.
I agreed with Chifuyu’s opinion that we had to save money and that she wanted to save as much money as possible for the future.
So Christmas came and went without a present.
While we were waiting for Madoka san to contact us, we started preparing dinner together.
“Chifuyu, can you pass me that fork over there?”
“Yes. Toma kun, Madoka contacted me. She’s going to have dinner with us now.”
“Hee, I’m nervous as if it’s me.”
“Yeah. If Madoka comes back rejected, I have to comfort her.”
“No, let’s just pray it goes well.”
“Fufu, I’m just joking. May happiness come to Madoka too.”
We Get ready and eat together first.
The main dish and cake will be prepared after Madoka-san arrives, so for now I turn on the TV while eating the sandwich Chifuyu made.
“How the year has gone by so fast.”
“When I’m with Toma kun, time goes by very quickly. It’s strange.”
“I also. When I was with Chifuyu, I wondered why the time passed so quickly. When I was working part-time, time didn’t go by at all.”
“Yes. I always thought about it at school too. I’m sure it’s because I’m crazy about you.”
“Yes, that’s right. Really, I’m crazy about you. It’s like I’m in a dream all the time.”
“But it’s not a dream, you know? I’ll always be with you.”
“Yes.”
We huddle together to keep warm.
As we continue to absentmindedly watch TV, Chifuyu’s smartphone eventually rings.
“Oh, it’s Madoka.”
Chifuyu hurriedly picks up the phone.
Then, Madoka san voice leaks out and at a volume that can even be heard over here.
“I’m coming over there now. Really, men are like that!”
The phone hangs up immediately, and Chifuyu smiles bitterly and says ‘Madoka, she is angry.”
Then, disappointed that it didn’t go well, I waited for Madoka san to come with a slightly lowered tension.
Twenty minutes later, Madoka san arrived.
“Hey, you two. What’s wrong with you, you look so gloomy.”
“Oh, good evening, Madoka-san. No, um…”
“Madoka, did you get dumped?”
No, that’s not it. I rejected him. I’m not. He asked me if I wanted to come over afterwards or stay the night. They only think about what they’re going to do in their heads.”
I’m hungry,” she said.
I was more hungry than that, she said.
We got a little weird when we saw Madoka san come into the room and eat the food without permission.
“Ahaha, I thought it was something like that since it was about Madoka-san.”
“Madoka, you still belong to me after all.”
“It’s like that. I’ve been listening to so much about Chifuyu, so maybe my head has turned into a flower garden. Please take responsibility.”
“No. I’m going to be supported by Toma-kun.”
“Heihei. Well then, let’s have some cake too. I’m going to eat out of desperation today.”
She stabbed the roast beef prepared by Chifuyu with a fork, opened her big mouth and took a bite.
We laughed again at her.
After this, when I put out the cake I had bought, she said, “Let’s light candles”.
It’s not my birthday, but I put three candles in the cake, lit them and turned off the lights in the room.
“If I make a wish and turn it off, it will come true, right? I’ll get a good man next year and say goodbye to Chifuyu.”
“Then, I’ll make a wish that Toma-kun and I can be together forever. And also, Madoka’s happiness.
“I also want to be with Chifuyu. But I also want to be on good terms with Madoka san and everyone else for a long time.”
“Toma-kun, you must not be friends with anyone but me.”
“Y-yeah.”
“Hey, stop flirting in the dark. Then I’ll turn it off. Ready.”
Whoosh.
The three of us put out the candles together.
Wishing for each other’s happiness, we prayed for each other.
In the darkened room, Chifuyu hugged me and said, “Ah, I’m afraid of the dark ……”.
As soon as the light was turned on, madoka san said, “Ah, I want a boyfriend”, and we all laughed again.
I’ve never had such a fun Christmas.
Both Chifuyu and Madoka san said the same thing afterwards.
But I hope that next year’s Christmas will be even more fun.
I hope to be able to prepare a present for the cute Chifuyu who is frightened of the dark beside me.
I can work even harder, I thought.
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