"…"
Tsuna listened to them chat for a few more sentences, then couldn't help but yawn and turn to leave.
But as soon as he moved, his arm was quickly seized by the quick-witted Kitano.
"Miyamura, what do you think of my suggestion?"
"Not good," Tsuna shook his head, then asked curiously, "Don't you like your childhood friend Rinko? Why have you changed your mind now?"
"Ah…"
It was better not to ask; as soon as he asked, Kitano immediately pulled a long face: "Isn't it because I've completely given up hope? I see it clearly now."
"Please speak in human language."
"He completely understands that Rinko doesn't like him; she just sees him as a brother," Nishikata translated.
"…" Tsuna raised an eyebrow.
"I used to think that childhood sweethearts would always end up together. When I think of you and Shouko, I just… mmph mmph mmph…!"
Kitano's words were cut short as Tanaka covered his mouth from behind. "Enough, enough! I don't know how many times I've heard you say that; I can almost recite it!"
Taking advantage of this pause, Tsuna slipped away and returned to his seat at the back of the classroom.
As soon as he settled into his chair, Shouko leaned over, her curious gaze directly fixed on his face:
"Tsuna, what did Nishikata call you out for just now?"
Tsuna didn't rush to answer, his gaze first sweeping around the classroom.
Confirming that Ajitani was chatting and laughing with the group of Girl near the podium, he then turned to Shouko, whose expression had shifted from curious to puzzled, and explained in a low voice.
At the back, Takagi, who was leaning back in her chair contemplating how to tease Nishikata later, noticed the mysterious demeanor of the two and leaned closer.
"Really!? Kitano is going to confess to Ajitani-chan later??"
"Shh… lower your voice!" Tsuna's heart tightened, and he instinctively reached out to cover Shouko's mouth.
Before he finished speaking, he suddenly felt a soft, warm sensation lightly brush against his palm, which was pressed against her lips.
His arm stiffened, and he pulled his hand back as if electrocuted, then lightly flicked her forehead.
"Thwack!"
"That's disgusting! How can you just lick my hand!"
"It's not dirty at all!"
Shouko immediately puffed out her cheeks like a little hamster guarding its food, hands on her hips, her eyes full of sly triumph: "My Tsuna's hands are the cleanest!"
At the end of her sentence, she inexplicably tilted her chin slightly, looking a little proud: "The main thing is… they're incredibly good-looking!"
"…"
Takagi, who was inexplicably fed a mouthful of dog food, suspected this was a setup by the two of them.
"So… Miyamura, did you mean just now that Kitano will confess to Ajitani-chan after school?"
The two, who were bickering, were interrupted by her question.
"Takagi, don't let Shouko lead you astray, okay?" Tsuna pinched Shouko's slightly puffed-up cheeks, giving Takagi a helpless glance:
"He only said he'd give a gift to the class president after school, it's not as exaggerated as a confession."
"What's the difference between that and a confession?" Shouko gently slapped his hand away, rubbing her slightly reddened cheeks:
"Giving a gift to someone of the opposite sex on Christmas is pretty much the same thing, okay?"
"They're not old friends or anything. Kitano and Ajitani-chan have only known each other for less than a year. The total amount they've spoken in a week…"
"It's probably hard to even make five sentences."
Shouko said, shaking five slender fingers at them.
Seeing Tsuna and Takagi both fall silent, Shouko snorted and raised her chin, looking as if she had made her point and they should figure it out themselves.
Takagi felt that Shouko made a valid point, and as she thought about it… she even wondered if Nishikata would confess to her when he gave her a Christmas gift later…
Tsuna, on the other hand, was thinking about what surprises and a big meal his mom would prepare at home for Christmas today. If all went well, Shouko's family would also come over to eat together…
"Dong… dong…!"
The long, piercing school bell suddenly rang, and the students playing in the hallway instantly fell silent, rushing back to their seats.
Nanase-sensei stepped into the classroom, her gaze sweeping across the room. The four conspicuous empty seats below the podium silently announced the day's absentee list.
The day's lessons became mere embellishments; the warmth of the festival was the main event.
Nanase-sensei, smiling, assigned Ajitani to lead Tsuna and Nishikata to the teacher's office to drag in a large box of sparkling Christmas decorations.
Red ribbons, green pine branches, golden bells, five-pointed stars, and rolls of shimmering colorful streamers.
The time that followed seemed steeped in festive honey.
Nanase-sensei magically produced boxes of her carefully prepared Christmas cookies: gingerbread men, star-frosted cookies, and candy cane chocolate sticks.
A sweet, fragrant aroma instantly filled the classroom. Each person received a share, and the small surprise lit up every smiling face.
For the last two classes, the curtains were drawn, the lights turned off, and the glow of the screen illuminated focused faces.
A classic Christmas movie told a story of love and hope, until the school dismissal bell softly rang, and the air still seemed to echo with the joyful carols from the movie.
...
Takagi leaned lazily against the back of her chair, propping her chin, her gaze falling on Ajitani's backpack, which was almost bursting with gifts:
"I never thought Ajitani-chan would be so popular."
Colorful wrapping paper, gift boxes with tied bows.
Watching the other person comically struggle to squeeze in the last small box, only for the zipper to get awkwardly stuck, she couldn't help but let out a giggle.
"Exactly, exactly," Shouko nodded in agreement.
"Shouko-chan, you're not far behind, you know."
All day long, Ajitani's hands barely stopped exchanging gifts.
Regardless of gender, as soon as she received a gift, she would immediately return a homemade Christmas cookie.
Those were baked by her all night, specifically for a festival like today.
As for Shouko, because Tsuna was present, all the gift-givers were Girl, and she would also take out pre-prepared gifts in return.
Takagi's situation was a bit different; during breaks, she would also receive gifts from Girl, and a few from males as well.
However, Nishikata would watch them with a resentful look, but despite his staring, they would still give the gifts.
In contrast, the situation of males exchanging Christmas gifts with each other was much rarer.
Tsuna and Nishikata, from the moment they stepped into the school gate in the early morning until the dismissal bell rang in the afternoon, received a total of only four or five gifts.
One of them was Nanase-sensei's routine thoughtful gesture as their homeroom teacher.
Seeing Tsuna's significantly smaller haul compared to previous years, Nishikata naturally understood what was going on and wouldn't be foolish enough to tease him.
Because he was afraid of being killed by Shouko's glare, or, even worse, attracting the silent, shaking-head gazes of the three of them.
...
"Then it's settled, tonight at our usual spot, don't be late! Remember to bring your gifts!" Ajitani's breath misted in the cold air.
Waving to the four of them, she turned at the traffic light intersection into the street on the right, adorned with neon lights and colorful Christmas decorations.
Her figure quickly blended into the crowd of pedestrians, where Christmas carols faintly drifted and people hurried by wrapped in thick scarves.