nhp | (Sutamai) Short Story, DGS January 2018

A Gathering of 30 Year Olds~ The ‘Manly’ Teppanyaki Christmas Party

Summary: It’s Christmas night in a city with gorgeously shifting colours. And for some reason, the three 30 year olds (or around there) and the one high school student are having a teppanyaki party!? Now you’ll be able to see each of their unexpected relationships with one another ♡

Characters: Hiyama Takaomi, Seki Daisuke, Hattori You, & Yamazaki Kaname.

Jingle, jingle, jingle, jingle…… The florid sound of the jingle bells could be heard coming from outside the window. And throughout the town was a sparkling and shining assortment of illuminations, and the festive figure of men and women.

Hattori: Goodness, the world at large is draped in Christmas.

Kaname: …… Yet this room has an overwhelmingly manly feeling to it.

Seki: Haha. There might be something quite stuffy about four men huddling against each other under a kotatsu.

Hiyama: And placed atop the table is a heated hot plate and a mountain of raw meat.

Kaname: It’s becoming more and more stuffy for that reason……

Hiyama: But what should we do about this? There won’t be enough space for when the teppanyaki chef comes around.

Seki: Um…… There probably won’t be any chef coming. I think it’s a system where you cook it for yourself.

Hiyama: It’s the same as a barbeque! I wonder if I’ll be able to cook the beef on my own again.

Kaname: (This is pretty much how it is for a super celebrity and their train of thoughts, huh……)

Hattori: Well then, why don’t we get started with this “Gathering of 30 year olds~ The manly teppanyaki Christmas party” thing?

Assembled here is Seki Daisuke, the section chief of the Investigation and Planning Division from the Narcotics Control Department of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare; Hattori You, the section chief of the Criminal Investigation Unit’s First Division in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department; Hiyama Takaomi, Japan’s prominent King of Real Estates and also the leader for Revel; and finally, Yamazaki Kaname, who is currently a high school student…...

Kaname: The only one whose title is lacking is mine. Also, I’m not anywhere near 30 years old.

Seki: No, no. Youth in the form of a high school student is a threat in itself, and it’s something like a prized possession.

Kaname: …… I’m getting the feeling as if that’s just some good-sounding excuse.

Hiyama: If there are only people of the same generation, then one’s view will be biased. In order to respectfully listen to a variety of opinions, it is necessary for there to be youngsters as well.

Seki: Huh? Is this party meant for discussing such serious matters……?

Hattori: Well, don’t worry yourself over the minor details. Let’s start off with a beer for you, Section Chief and for you too, Hiyama.

Seki: I’ll gladly accept that proposal.

Hiyama: You sure are quick to empty a whole glass before even toasting.

Hattori: They say that whether it be a fool who dances or a fool who looks on, either are fools so watching them all dance makes the alcohol taste delicious.

Kaname: Is this gathering for real……

Seki: Do you like meat, Kaname-kun? Is it okay to begin cooking from the salty beef tongue and spareribs?

Kaname: …… I’ll eat them.

Hattori: Here you go~ Underaged kids get juice. Cheers.

As the glasses of beer and juice were emptied one after the other, the mountain of meat continued to be consumed in no time at all.

Kaname: …… …………

Seki: You have a hearty manner of eating that’s fitting for your young age. Seeing that is reassuring.

Kaname: You’ve gone through quite a bit of alcohol and meat yourself though, Seki-san.

Seki: The amount that I’ve had isn’t any different to previous occasions, but I guess I’ve started to not want to eat any spareribs or parts with a lot of fat.

Hattori: Well now, in that case, what portion does the Section Chief like at the moment?

Seki: Maybe cow’s stomach where the more you chew, the more flavor bursts out. What about you, Hattori-san?

Hattori: Let’s see, for me…… it’d be this cut of the shoulder blade meat or this tri-tip.

Hiyama: Hattori. Just now, you ate the meat that I was cooking without any mercy……

Hattori: I’m always partaking in your meals anyway so don’t go being stingy at this point~

Seki: That’s right, you two are relatives of some sort.

Hiyama: But our relationship is more of a forced connection than one of blood. Hattori is simply always coming over to the mansion whenever it suits him.

Hattori: That’s because I can leave my trust in the things that Hiyama has had a hand in bringing to fruition. The same with this grilled meat.

Kaname: …… You weren’t kidding about it being a forced connection. You both appear even younger than usual.

Hiyama: I’ve never been conscious of it in that way, but…… we do speak to each other like we did in the past.

Seki: Having someone whom you can talk to in the same way as when you were young is also something to be envious of.

Hattori: And you’re talking on the basis as if you’re an old man.

Seki: I’m not young by any means. Don’t you feel the age difference when you’re leading your subordinates?

Hattori: Hmm, you have a fresh and inexperienced youngster over on your side after all. Of course that thought would cross your mind.

Kaname: Are you referring to Onee-san?

Seki: …… Her and Natsume are the same age. Everyone else is plenty young too.

Hattori: Goodness. Would there not be various things going on from young men and women lining up their desks next to each other?

Seki: Certainly not. She’s diligently working will all her might at her job, and the others as well……

Hiyama: Hattori. There seems to be another hidden meaning of sorts in your words.

Hattori: Well now, let’s see. Apparently, after turning thirty, men tend to lose “that”.

Seki: Hngh……!

Hattori: I was wondering what the case was for the Section Chief…… But that answer is already showing on his face.

Seki: Something like that is definitely not…… It’s just, that is…… No, nevermind.

Hattori: You’re still young, I see~

Kaname: (...... Hmmm. He’s making an expression like he understands, so he does have experience then.)

Hiyama: Hattori? You’re short of words. What is “that” something?

Kaname: (That’s right. A celebrity’s train of thought really is…… wait, huh?)

(How much of a natural airhead is this person for him to not realize things here?)

Seki: A-Anyways. I don’t have anything from the past to compare with so I wouldn’t know.

Kaname: The fact that you brought up that topic yourself must mean that you’re interested in it, Hattori-san.

Hattori: Listen up, high schooler~ It’s not a terrible thing to be able to control one’s drive.

Kaname: What do you mean by controlling?

Hattori: Just because it’s rough, that doesn’t make it pleasurable. Even if you make them cry, judge for yourself the time—

Seki: C-COUGH, COUGH…… I-Isn’t it about time to eat this meat here, K-Kaname-kun?

Kaname: You don’t have to hold yourself back on my account. Please continue with what you were saying.

Seki: No, um, isn’t Hattori-san’s talk a little bit over-the-top……?

Kaname: I want to hear about the many experiences that all you adults have for my own future reference.

Hattori: My my, such big talk~ You’re quite the adolescent.

Seki: H-hahaha…… You’re amazing, Kaname-kun. You’re knowledgeable and you’re bold despite being so young.

Kaname: Being young isn’t that much of a great thing, seeing as at some point, I’ll naturally turn into an adult too.

Hiyama: Well now, you appear as if you’ve taken on a rather far-off perspective of things.

Kaname: …… I don’t want to be young. I wanted to be closer in age to “that person” by even just one year.

Hattori: Goodness, you really are young. Almost to the point of it being so blinding that I can’t bear to look.

Hiyama: ……! I’ve finally understood what it is that you’re saying, Hattori!

Seki: H-Hiyama-san……?

Hiyama: Indeed, even I won’t be able to avoid losing my stamina when I’m in my thirties. However, the most important factor is love. When I’m able to look after them, I’ll treat them with utmost tender, loving care. I’ll remove any pests and I’ll give them plenty of water when necessary. If I do that, then—

Hattori: …… Beautiful roses will bloom?

Hiyama: Yes, precisely that. The difference between my lifespan and the roses can’t be closed but at least the portion of love that I’ve poured into them will live on.

Kaname: (Is it okay for me to stop commenting already……)

Seki: As one would expect of Revel. Does this mean that you have no intention of so easily selling over any personal information?

Hiyama: ? If it’s the method of growing roses full of love then I’ll tell you as much as you want though?

Hattori: Honestly, the missus that were to win over his favor this much is perhaps beyond saving.

Kaname: Is that something you should be saying, Hattori-san?

Amidst the hymn that could be faintly heard playing in the background, there seemed to be no end in sight for this Christmas party between ‘manly’ men. And beyond the rising smoke, they may have been visualizing just a tad about “her” titillating figure……?

Hiyama: But for a winter night as cold as this…… it makes me want to go see the night view with “her”.

Hattori: That girl certainly has a bunch of troublesome men on her back.

Seki: Wait, who are the both of you speaking of? You don’t mean—

Kaname: (...... I want to see you… Onee-san.)

But for now, that’s something that only God knows.