Early December.
The results from the high-difficulty mock exam and the third nationwide mock exam were returned.
That Saturday.
Yuzuru and Arisa looked over each other’s score sheets and sighed.
“I lost again… to Ayaka-san.”
“Yeah… seriously, what is wrong with her?”
Both of them had been beaten by Ayaka.
Meaning she ranked first in the school, with Yuzuru and Arisa taking second and third.
Arisa shot Yuzuru a slightly exasperated look.
“More importantly, you’re strange too, Yuzuru-san. …Especially your English.”
“Well, I can speak English fairly well to begin with. My father and grandfather taught me.”
Yuzuru’s grandfather was of mixed American heritage.
Naturally, he spoke fluent English.
And Yuzuru’s father, having been raised by him, did as well.
Given that background, it was only natural that Yuzuru could speak it too.
Of course, he wasn’t a native speaker, so there were occasional mistakes.
Still, compared to most Japanese students, he had a huge advantage.
“That’s nice… I’m not very good at English.”
“So it seems.”
Despite putting effort into studying it, English remained Arisa’s weak subject.
“Well, I look like this, don’t I?”
“…Yeah, you look like you’d be able to speak it.”
There was a tendency in Japan to assume all Western-looking people spoke English.
And Arisa certainly looked the part.
“I’m actually a mix of Russian and French, so there’s not a single bit of English in me. And I was born and raised in Japan, so it’s a bit much to expect that.”
“All I can say is, my condolences.”
Yuzuru had never had to deal with that kind of expectation—he blended in well enough unless told otherwise.
In that sense, he was quite fortunate.
“…By the way, Arisa.”
“Yes?”
“…Do you have any plans for Christmas Eve?”
His school’s closing ceremony was on the 24th.
And it ended in the morning—
So unless she had other commitments, they could spend the evening together.
“I don’t have any plans. But… yes, you’re right. As fiancés, we’d normally spend it together, wouldn’t we?”
She said that, her cheeks faintly tinged red.
For a moment… she looked like she had feelings for him.
His heart thumped.
Ever since that conversation with Kobayashi, he’d become oddly conscious of her.
He shook his head slightly, brushing the thought aside.
“So… can I take that as you’ll spend it with me?”
“Yes. I’d be happy to.”
She smiled.
A beautiful, gentle smile.
Would she have answered the same way… if they weren’t “engaged”?
The thought flickered through his mind.
“So, where should we go? Maybe a date? Something classic like an amusement park.”
“An amusement park… It would probably be very crowded.”
“Yeah, true.”
Somewhere crowded wouldn’t allow for a relaxed time.
“From what I hear, it’s meant to be a day to spend quietly with someone important. So… how about we stay in and have a meal?”
“Yeah… that sounds good.”
Someone important.
That phrase lingered in Yuzuru’s mind for a brief moment.
“But if we’re eating at home, won’t that be a burden on you?”
“Please don’t worry about that. …I want you to eat my cooking, Yuzuru-san.”
His heart gave another thump.
Yuzuru instinctively looked away from her clear, beautiful eyes.
“Well, if you insist… I’ll gladly accept.”
“…By the way, Yuzuru-san.”
Her tone turned slightly serious as she called his name.
Her jade-green eyes blinked softly as she looked at him.
“What is it?”
“What colours do you like? …In terms of fashion, I mean.”
Why ask that all of a sudden?
He wondered for a moment—
Then realised.
It was probably about a Christmas present.
It seemed she was planning to make something again.
“Hmm… for accessories, I like bold colours. Like the one you gave me.”
He held up the leather bracelet she’d made for him before.
He was still wearing it, alongside his watch.
It was vivid enough not to be overshadowed.
Arisa lowered her gaze shyly.
“But for clothes… I prefer more subdued colours.”
“Subdued colours…”
“Yeah. …By the way, why do you ask?”
He asked teasingly.
Arisa immediately shook her head and hands in a fluster.
“I-it’s nothing! Just curiosity!!”
The way she denied it—
Was undeniably cute.
Without thinking, Yuzuru reached out and placed a hand on her head.
She didn’t resist.
His fingers brushed through her soft, flaxen hair.
Arisa closed her eyes slightly, looking comfortable.
“You’re mean, Yuzuru-san.”
“How so?”
“You know, don’t you?”
“I can’t say I know exactly what you mean.”
“…Just look forward to it.”
“Alright. I will.”
And for a while, the two of them spent time like that.
