After dark, during dinner time, Christmas songs are played in the store.

'Jingle Bells' by Christmas Favorites.

The atmosphere in the store was lively with the melody of "Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells."

Under the warm lights, the guests ate happily.

The five people rang the bell, called the waiter, and each ordered dinner.

Toru Watanabe ate potato curry and grilled chicken skewers.

The rich curry flavor is slightly spicy. Pair it with rice and take it into your mouth in one bite.

After chewing hard and swallowing, I picked up the browned grilled chicken skewers.

He bit a piece of chicken and a piece of shiitake mushroom with his teeth, and pulled them into his mouth together. The oil exploded in his mouth.

The joy and satisfaction of eating are especially felt at this moment.

"Christmas is coming soon." Aoi Ichimu held a fries dipped in ketchup in her hand.

"Christmas trees have been put up in many places, and some shopping malls have started discounts." Osamu Kunii took a big bite of burger and said while chewing.

"There's a discount. I want to buy clothes for the New Year." Yimu Kui said.

"My family also ordered a Christmas cake in advance." Saito Keisuke said.

Ichimoku Aoi's eyes slipped to Asuka Mai: "Senior Mai, do you have a date for Christmas?"

"...No." Asuka Mai concentrated on eating curry rice.

"Then do you want to go shopping with me? Eat KFC and buy clothes? My senior has been recommended by the University of Tokyo, so you can have fun." Ichimoku Aoi had probably been thinking about this for a long time.

Very smooth.

"...There is a dinner party at home."

"That's it." Ichimoku Aoi tried not to show too much disappointment, "Qingye-san, do you have a date for Christmas?"

Rin Kiyono wiped his mouth with a tissue and was about to answer when Toru Watanabe spoke first.

"Ichiki-san, what do you want to do?" His eyes were suspicious and warning.

"Watanabe-kun, you misunderstood me! I was just asking!" Ichimoku Aoi explained dissatisfied.

"What are you explaining? I'm asking you what are you going to do for Christmas?" Toru Watanabe asked confused.

Qingye Rin glanced at him.

"Only a ghost would believe you." Ichimoku Aoi whispered, and then said, "I'm going to go out with my friends from the instrumental club. Where are you, Watanabe-kun?"

"Go to Kiyono-san's house."

Ichimokui said "Eh--" in surprise.

Asuka Mai stopped eating and looked at Toru Watanabe expressionlessly.

No one doubted him, even Osamu Kunii and Keisuke Saito stared at Toru Watanabe in surprise.

Having said that, don’t these two people know the inside story?

Ichimoku Aoi asked quickly: "What about Kujo-san? She is your real girlfriend, won't you spend Holy Night with her? Is this really okay?"

"Break up?" Asuka Mai asked calmly.

Watanabe Toru sighed and said nothing.

At the small table for five, the atmosphere became silent and awkward.

The store still plays "Jingle Bells" on a loop, the smell of various foods passes through the tip of the nose, and the warm air blows through the hair.

At the next table, a child was blowing on the steamed dumplings and told his parents in an innocent tone that he hoped Santa Claus would give him a real Gundam this year.

Rin Kiyono rolled his eyes at Toru Watanabe and sighed as if there was nothing he could do.

She explained: "There is a party at my house, and he will attend it with Kujo-san."

"So that's it! I was scared to death. I thought I was asking something I shouldn't ask! Watanabe-kun, you are so annoying." Ichiki Aoi said angrily.

Asuka Mai used a spoon and continued to eat the curry, taking small bites.

Her lips are pink and attractive, like a flower bud, which not only makes people want to care for her, but also inspires evil thoughts that destroy her.

"But in this case, Qingye-san won't be able to go out to play on Holy Night, right?" Ichimoku Aoi said regretfully for Qingye Rin.

"Ichiki-kun," Kiyono Rin said without interest, "Two semesters have passed since the first year of high school. Instead of playing around, it is better to think more about the essay group or the science group in the second year of high school, and whether to prepare for the public school or private school in the future."

"I haven't seriously thought about this kind of thing. Where are you guys? Should you choose liberal arts or science?" Aoi rolled the fries in ketchup and looked at the other four first-year students with questioning eyes.

"I choose science." Saito Keisuke, who couldn't fit into the atmosphere, said his second sentence.

"Then I'll choose science as well." Osamu Kunii decided casually, "Watanabe, you can also choose science. Maybe then, the three of us can continue to be in the same class."

Watanabe Toru thought for a while and replied: "We'll talk about this kind of thing later. I don't know."

I don’t know if it’s because he has been reading literary novels recently, but he prefers liberal arts to science.

But it doesn't matter whether it's liberal arts or science.

He neither intended to be a scientist nor a writer.

He is very clear about what he is doing now and has clear goals, such as being ranked first in the country again, but what will he do when he graduates from college?

Thinking of this, Toru Watanabe suddenly felt confused.

"Have you ever thought about what you plan to do in the future??"

Rin Kiyono, who was about to reveal his choice of arts and sciences, changed his words after hearing his question:

"Inherit the family business."

She frowned slightly, as if she felt helpless about this kind of life - she obviously didn't like it, but she had to do it out of responsibility and obligation.

Watanabe Toru moved his eyes away from Kiyono Rin's face and looked at the person opposite her.

"Where is my senior tomorrow?" he asked.

Tomorrow Mai took a sip of iced black tea and showed a faint look of thinking with her clear eyes.

After three or four seconds, she whispered: "Music."

"Are you playing the euphonium?" When talking to Asuka Mai, Aoi Ichimoku's voice was always lighter.

Asuka Mai shook her head gently, her bangs swaying like sparkling lake water under the restaurant lights.

"...Oboe."

Rin Kiyono's eyes, like big black pearls, moved to the far right side of his eye sockets, staring at Toru Watanabe.

Watanabe Toru looked at her doubtfully, then picked up the grilled chicken skewers.

‘Do you want to eat?’ he asked with his eyes.

Kiyono Rin looked away.

"Why? Senior sister's euphonium is so good!" Ichimoku Aoi looked at Asuka Mai in confusion.

Tomorrow Mai looked at Toru Watanabe: "Watanabe, it's very good. I want to try it."

"Because of this." Ichimoku Aoi seemed to understand, "When I listened to Watanabe-kun's oboe, I was also shocked. It turns out that there are other instruments that can produce such beautiful sounds."

She suddenly waved her arm:

"It's decided! I will continue to play, become a professional euphonium player, and join the same performance group as my senior! Senior, wait for me!"

Asuka Mai nodded indifferently.

"Where are Kunii-san and Saito-san? What are you planning to do in the future?" Only Ichimoku Aoi present cared about these two people.

"I want to become a star baseball player with an annual income of 500 million yen!" Osamu Kunii said with his face raised.

"I want to work in the game industry and make good...games." Compared with others who were just talking about it, Saito Keisuke's expression was more serious.

But you want to talk about sister games, right?

Sure enough, desire is the greatest motivation for people?

When Tetsu Watanabe was thinking about his desires, Ichimoku Aoi asked him: "Watanabe-kun, what are you planning to do in the future?"

After finishing the curry, Toru Watanabe put down his spoon and wiped his hands with a wet wipe.

"I'm just asking you because I don't know what to do," he said.

Rin Kiyono also finished dinner and smiled contemptuously at Watanabe:

"Watanabe-san, if you can't find a job, you can come to me."

"Are you going to keep me?"

"...Can't you make a living? I think you still have the ability to clean toilets."

"If I am only responsible for your toilet, R-san, I think I can still take over..."

"Shut up."
To be continued...