Chapter 220 — Merry Christmas

Around ten o’clock, the three finally met up with Nijika and Bocchi.

They spent the morning wandering around, had lunch together, and in the afternoon stopped by a live house.

They ended up hanging out until nightfall.

“It’s Christmas! Of course we should spend it together!” — that was Kita’s proposal.

So, the group gathered once again at Aoki Kei’s place.

Perfect timing, the Christmas tree Ryou had bought earlier finally came in handy.

After decorating it completely, they held a small gift exchange before dinner.

Aoki Kei received a keyboard from Bocchi, a jacket from Kita, a gaming console from Ryou, and a belt that Nijika had helped him pick out yesterday at the mall.

He also handed out the gifts he’d prepared for everyone.

Everyone looked genuinely pleased — proof that their careful choices had paid off.

Then came dinner.

Nijika took full charge of cooking.

Aoki Kei had wanted to help, but the moment he offered, Ryou shut him down immediately.

“Absolutely not,” she said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Aoki Kei sulked — Ryou’s cooking skills were about the same as his, yet she was allowed to help.

Still, he didn’t push it.

After quite some time in the kitchen, all the ingredients were prepped, and dish after dish was carried to the table.

There was an impressive spread:

Some dishes learned from a recipe book, a bit of Japanese kaiseki inspired by online tutorials, roasted turkey, fresh seafood, and all sorts of desserts.

Once everything was ready, they gathered around the round table to eat.

Ryou sat next to Aoki Kei.

Halfway through dinner, she quietly slid a small plate of pudding toward him.

“Hey, Suki-san. I made this. Try it,” she said with a grin.

Kei blinked, took a small spoonful, and tasted it.

Instantly, his face twisted in pain — pure sourness exploded across his tongue.

When he turned to Ryou, she was biting her lip, struggling not to laugh as she looked away.

Annoyed, Kei scooped a big spoonful of the pudding, grabbed Ryou by the shoulder, and shoved it right into her mouth.

“Mmph—!” Her pupils widened instantly.

Her expression changed fast — from surprise, to resistance, to futile squirming, and finally, to tearful acceptance as the unbearable sourness hit.

Her eyes, usually lazy and half-lidded, filled with involuntary tears.

She slumped in her chair, utterly defeated.

“Suki-san… you’re so rough…” Her words, paired with that tone, sounded way too wrong for the situation.

By the time dinner ended, it was already past nine.

That was when Tokyo’s real Christmas night began — the illumination shows started around this time.

The group decided to head out again.

Kei’s apartment wasn’t too far from the light display, so they walked there.

The streets were alive — every shop decked out with Christmas decorations, the city bathed in light and color.

They kept walking until they reached the Sky Tree area, where the illumination was being held.

By then, light snow had begun to fall, dusting their hair and shoulders.

The air was crisp and cold.

Vendors lined the streets, selling snacks and trinkets, and small booths were running games.

Kei bought the girls some Christmas candies.

Then, they spotted something ridiculous — a giant Santa and reindeer display.

“Whoa! Suki-san, look! That reindeer is huge! Can we buy it!?”

“How could you even—no, of course not!”

“Eh? Aoki-senpai! There’s a goldfish scoop booth over there! I wanna try!”

“They have that even in winter!?”

“Ferris wheel! Let’s go see that next, Kei-senpai!”

“Hold on—”

“So many people… Aoki-senpai, I think I’m getting dizzy—ah! NW Band’s limited-edition skull ornament—!”

“The line’s too long. Bocchi-chan, you guys go look around. I’ll wait in line for that.”

The cheerful noise continued as they made their way forward.

Along the streets, buskers were singing Christmas tunes that perfectly fit the night’s mood.

♪ The Christmas bells are ringing somewhere~

♪ Words I never thought I’d say appear in my mind~

♪ Cold winds, yet my heart feels warm~

♪ Wait—am I falling in love?

They stopped to listen for a bit, until Ryou suddenly decided she wanted to borrow a guitar and sing too.

Before she could embarrass herself, Nijika flicked her forehead and dragged her away.

Finally, they arrived at the Tokyo Skytree.

When they looked up, the endless lights stretched from the ground all the way to the top — breathtakingly beautiful.

The chatter of the crowd, the music, the glittering lights — everything blended together into something magical.

It was almost unbearably romantic.

In that moment, Aoki Kei thought he might finally understand what Christmas was all about.

Just being together — with people who cared enough to share the view with you — was more than enough.

Then a cheerful voice echoed from the event’s speakers:

“Everyone! Make a wish under the Skytree, and Santa Claus just might hear it!”

“Huh? Make a wish under the Skytree…” Kita murmured, her breath forming little clouds in the cold air.

After a short pause, she smiled and said, “If it really works, then I wish we could all spend every Christmas together, just like today!”

Nijika followed, hesitating a bit before speaking.

“I wish… all of our dreams come true someday.”

Ryou tilted her head, thinking, then said softly,

“I wish this kind of everyday life could last forever. And, uh… Santa, please give me a lot of money too.”

Then Bocchi whispered, “I-I hope our band can reach the top of the world one day… and that I can, um… get over my social anxiety.”

Finally, it was Aoki Kei’s turn.

Snowflakes fell gently on his shoulders, the dazzling lights reflecting in his eyes.

He looked up at the towering Skytree and took a slow breath.

“A wish, huh… Then I wish I can pass my driver’s test quickly without getting stuck halfway.”

“Eh? That’s easy for you, Kei-senpai!”

“Such a simple wish, Suki-san. You should’ve wished for money like me.”

“Heh, this is fine too.”

His gaze drifted upward, tracing the tower’s lights all the way to the tip.

Then he smiled, turned toward the girls, and said—

“Anyway—Merry Christmas.”