Chapter – 35…
Three days left until Christmas Eve.
On the desk in my room sat the fruit of my laborâa crystallization of my blood, tears (and lots of love) from over a week of work.
A slightly awkward, handmade scarf with uneven stitches. But to me, it was a treasure far, far more valuable than any brand-name item.
(I wonder if he’ll be happy…)
As I spread out the wrapping paper, my heart was filled with both anticipation and anxiety.
Just then, my phone buzzed bubub, vibrating briefly.
The screen showed a desperate message from my best friend, Misaki.
Help! I have no idea what to get Yuuto for Christmas!
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the screen.
She’s usually the expert at teasing me when it comes to love talk, so it was rare to see her genuinely troubled.
I sent a sticker with Leave it to me! and a flexed bicep, and decided we’d hold an “emergency strategy meeting” at the family restaurant in front of the station after school.
“So, like… I feel like Rei-kun has probably already given him lots of basketball goods…” Misaki moaned with a voice full of despair, her face planted on the table.
Seeing her so seriously worried was somewhat endearing, and I giggled.
“Misaki, what was it about Yuuto that made you like him?”
“Huh? W-what, all of a sudden!”
At my abrupt question, Misaki’s face turned bright red.
“W-well… he’s always loud and acts like a joker… but, he’s actually really observant of people around him, you know? I mean, he was the one most worried about Rei-kun… And also… sometimes… he smiles really kindly…”
Her voice grew almost inaudible towards the end.
But every single word was overflowing with her warm feelings for Yuuto.
“âThen it’s fine,” I said with a smile.
“If it’s something you chose with all your heart, Yuuto will definitely be happy. Because you see Yuuto for who he really is.”
Around the same time, in the boys’ basketball club room…
“…Hey, Yuuto. You’ve been spaced out since a while ago.”
While changing after practice, Rei-kun spoke to Yuuto, who was staring blankly at his phone, with a tone of exasperation.
“…Shut up. It’s nothin’.”
“Hmmm… Christmas is getting close, after all.”
Yuuto’s body stiffened, hit right on the mark.
“…D-damn, that’s none of your business! …So, what’re you getting Hina?”
Rei-kun didn’t answer that question, but gently checked the small gift box tucked inside his own bag. Yuuto didn’t know it yet, but a very, very faint, tender smile had appeared on Rei’s lips.
Back at the family restaurant, after receiving my advice (or rather, just a push on the back), Misaki lifted her head brightly.
“Oh yeah… You’re right! I should just give him what I want to give him!”
Her face cleared, showing a sunny smile.
She decided she would give him a set of the slightly unusual energy drink he always has, and a DVD of the comedian he said he liked.
“Thanks, Hina! I feel so much better now, thanks to you!”
Seeing my best friend’s happy face made my own heart fill with warmth.
It wasn’t just my love story. Right beside me, another wonderful love story, belonging to my best friend, had surely begun.
On the way home, I hugged the paper bag containing the beautifully wrapped scarf tightly to my chest.
I sent a message to Rei-kun:
I'm looking forward to Christmas Eve.
An immediate, short reply came back:
Me too.
With just those two words, my world was dyed in the most wonderfully happy color imaginable.
