Episode 55: Nothing for Christmas
Thanks to my sister, there had been all sorts of goings-on, and the end of November had been quite a struggle. Since then, there hadn’t been any major issues, and it was now mid-December.
I received a message from my older sister, Mayo-nee, saying that I would be starting a part-time job as a private tutor this week.
The student is a girl called Konno Miumi-chan, who attends a local secondary school and will be starting her first year of high school next year.
Although she’s in the middle of her exam period, she hasn’t been going to cram school and has managed on her own until now, but it seems she’s become anxious and asked for a private tutor.
Apparently, the high school she wants to go to is the same one I attend.
If she gets in, she’ll officially become my junior come spring.
The sessions are twice a week for about two hours each. As there aren’t many days involved, I’m glad it isn’t too demanding a job.
Ever since I stayed at Endo-san’s house with my sister, Endo-san has been acting strangely.
It might just be my imagination, but I feel as though she’s avoiding me.
I’m feeling rather gloomy about having to spend Christmas with Mai and Endo in just a week’s time.
Mai suggested we exchange presents, so I’ve been agonising over what to get every day.
We haven’t been having our study sessions lately because of Endo’s attitude. It’s not that I particularly want to see her, but it feels a bit lonely to lose something that used to be a matter of course.
With these thoughts in mind, I stepped out into the corridor and bumped straight into Endo.
Even though I’d told myself not to get involved, I found myself wanting to speak to her. I bit my tongue and headed over to where Mai was.
‘I’m looking forward to the Christmas party! I’ve decided on Christmas presents for both of you.’
Mai is all excited, but I’m not looking forward to it and haven’t decided on a present yet, so I’m feeling a bit conflicted.
‘Hoshizora, aren’t you looking forward to it?’
Mai peered at me anxiously. Thinking she might have somehow sensed my thoughts, which surely shouldn’t have been visible, I panicked and answered her question.
‘No. It’s just… it’s my first time going to a Christmas party with friends, so I’m not really sure what to expect.’
‘Is that so!’
Mai’s eyes sparkled as she said,
‘Don’t worry! Hina and I will make it the best Christmas party ever!’ she declared enthusiastically.
For some reason, I felt I wanted to speak to Endo-san just once before the Christmas party. As things stand, it looks like we’ll be heading into the 24th still feeling awkward.
However, Endo-san has club activities today.
Since she’s in the same club as Mai, I know which days she has practice.
Just as I was feeling down about it, I received a message from Endo-san.
‘Can you help me with my studies tomorrow?’
I was so happy to receive that message.
I don’t even know why I’m so happy, but I thought, ‘Finally, I’ll get to see her.’ However, tomorrow is my first day of my private tutoring job.
I don’t want to turn her down, but I have no choice.
‘Sorry. I’ve got plans tomorrow.’
‘What are your plans?’
The reply came back in a second.
It occurred to me that I hadn’t told Endo-san about my private tutoring job, but I thought I’d just mention it next time, so I ignored the question.
＊＊＊
The next day, after deciding on Christmas presents for the two of them, I headed to the student’s house for my tutoring job.
The house was only about ten minutes’ walk from mine, so I paid a visit.
Konno Miumi-chan was a really lovely girl. She asked questions enthusiastically and would ask me straight away if there was anything she didn’t understand after I’d explained it. So it was a learning experience for me too.
I felt that Miumi-chan was clever enough to aim for a higher-ranked high school. Yet, she told me she’d chosen a school close to home.
She seemed to be looking forward to starting at my high school, and she was absolutely delighted when I talked a little about it.
She has the sort of small-animal charm that makes her the type everyone would love. Her expressions change constantly, which I find easy to read.
‘Hoshizora-san, do you enjoy school?’
I can’t exactly say that I wanted to die from the first year right up until halfway through the second… but I do enjoy it now.
Mai always tries to cheer me up, and lately I’ve started to figure out how to respond to her. I think I’ve got a lot better at interacting with people.
And ever since I’ve started spending time with Endo-san, my heart feels all warm and fuzzy.
‘Yeah. It’s really fun. So, let’s keep studying together for a little while longer, shall we?’
Saying that, we resumed our studies and managed to finish the session without any trouble.
As I was leaving, she said something cute like, ‘Don’t go home yet, Sensei,’ so I gave her a gentle pat on the head and left Miumi-chan’s house.
My part-time job starts at seven, so it was already past nine o’clock.
December is cold. It’s quite chilly and the surroundings are completely silent.
On my way home, I passed near Endo-san’s house and glanced over to see that the lights were off.
Has she gone to bed already?
No, I don’t think Endo-san goes to bed this early. If that’s the case, she must be out having fun or doing something somewhere.
There shouldn’t be any club activities today.
So, with whom…?
Just as I was thinking that, someone called out to me from behind.
‘Takizawa…?’
It was a familiar voice.
When I turned round, there was Endo-san, looking pale as a ghost and shivering with the cold.
‘What’s the matter, Endo-san?’
‘Never mind me, what were you doing out at this time of night, Takizawa?’
‘It doesn’t matter, does it?’
With that, Endo-san said nothing and headed straight for her house. Perhaps I phrased it badly, but she didn’t seem like her usual self.
I’d been vaguely aware of it lately.
I think Endo-san probably doesn’t want anything to do with me anymore.
Seeing her today made it clear.
Endo-san no longer makes eye contact with me when we meet. She also treats me with that forced smile she used to wear.
That’s why I hate it.
Making memories and doing fun things.
I regret buying that Christmas present.
I felt like sighing.
＊＊＊
On the day of the Christmas party, Mai said exactly what I’d expected.
‘Hina can’t make it to the Christmas party. Shall we have a Christmas party just the two of us?’
Just as I thought…
It’s fun with just Mai and me, but I really don’t want to do anything that’ll stick in my memory. I hate events.
‘Let’s do it again when everyone can make it. I’ll bring the Christmas present I was supposed to give you tomorrow.’
I told Mai, putting on a brave face.
‘Right, I’ll bring mine too! But Hina, I feel so sorry for her. Catching a cold at such a lovely time.’
Eh…?
‘I’d been thinking she’d looked a bit under the weather lately, so I thought that must be it.’
Having said that, Mai immediately changed the subject.
Was that the reason she hadn’t been seeing me recently, or was there another reason? Was she trying to go straight home yesterday because she wasn’t feeling well?
No, I must stop interpreting things to suit myself.
I think Endo-san is an idiot for catching a cold at Christmas. They say fools don’t catch colds, but today proved that to be a lie.
And so, my Christmas this year passed without a single event…?