nhp | (Sutamai) ‘Can't Handle This ♡ Present on Christmas Eve’, Part 1

EVENT STORY INDEX

A holy night raining down with hope.

A day celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

Something that everyone has definitely experienced once in their childhood.

Those fun times pondering over presents.

Nothing but nervousness and excitement,

Packed generously full,

In the letter to Santa Claus.

The late nights staying up and the yawning from trying your best,

To catch a glimpse of the real identity behind the fella with the white beard.

But before you know it…… you’ve fallen fast asleep.

When you open your eyes…

There, beside your bed where the morning sun has brilliantly hit……

* * *

-Shopping District-

Rei: (A present!!)

(But huh, it’s a lot harder to choose one than I thought……)

My contorted face glared back at me in the shop window displaying the men’s winter collection.

December 24th—Christmas Eve—a shopping street full of couples.

I was all by myself in such a place. I got the feeling that Santa Claus hadn’t accepted my letter to him.

The thing is, it all happened about an hour ago……

-Downtown-

Miyase: …… Oh? Izumi-san.

Rei: Oh, Miyase-san. Hello.

Miyase: Hello. What a coincidence for us to meet here of all places.

…… Are you out shopping?

Rei: Yep. I was kind of working the whole morning.

But I’d hate it if Christmas were to end just like that, so I was thinking of doing some shopping.

Miyase: So you’re working even though it’s Christmas Eve. You must have it rough.

Rei: Not really. I didn’t have plans or anything from the beginning anyway.

Actually, I’m almost glad I’m working through the night. Ahaha!

Miyase: You’re a hard working person, Izumi-san. Keep up the good job.

Rei: Yeah, thanks. Aren’t you also in the middle of working yourself though, Miyase-san?

That’s a lot of stuff you’ve got there.

He was carrying a sufficiently bulging eco bag.

From inside it, fresh celery and a bouquet of flowers guarded by a plastic film could be seen peeking out.

It was clear that he was halfway through doing his shopping as a servant for the Kujo Household.

Miyase: Haha. As expected of your perceptiveness.

But rather than calling it work, these are preparations for a delightful time.

Rei: A delightful… time?

-Downtown-

Miyase: The truth is, we’re planning on holding a Christmas party tonight at the Kujo household.

So I’m here out shopping for that purpose.

Rei: Oh, a party, huh. How nice.

I take it then that you’re, of course, going to double it as a business function, and throw it in grand style?

Miyase: Haha. You’re mistaken there.

We’re only inviting people who are extremely close to us to today’s party.

As such, the attendees are all people that you know as well, Izumi-san.

Rei: So what you’re saying is…… it’s going to be like, Kaname-kun, Kirishima-san and Shindo-san?

Miyase: Correct.

Ooh, actually, that’s incorrect.

Rei: Huh?

Miyase: There’s also one other person. A lovely lady by the name of Izumi Rei.

May I invite you to the Kujo Household’s Christmas party?

Miyase-san smiled cheerfully as he took out from inside the eco bag……

… A stick of celery, which for some reason, he held out to me.

Rei: ???

Miyase: O-Oh, I do apologise. I’ve completely mixed them up.

I was presented anew with a single flower from him whose cheeks were flushed red like that of Santa Claus’ clothes.

It was of a beautiful scarlet rose.

Miyase: In place of an invitation card, please accept this.

Rei: (W-What a romantic way to ask someone……)

“Christmas? December 24th?”

“Isn’t that the birthday of Fukuhara Masuo, the mathematician from the Showa Era whose thesis I read during university?”

—was pretty much how it went for me, such that my shrivelled up heart began to taste salvation……

Rei: (No, wait, this isn’t the time to be swooning over celery and roses.)

Thank you for the invite. I’m happy to have been asked.

But are you sure it’s alright for an outsider such as myself to attend?

Miyase: By all means, please come.

I’m positive that Kujo-san would be thrilled as well. Plus…

A lovely flower truly is needed at a party.

As he said that, Miyase-san gently wrapped the end of the rose in his own handkerchief.

Miyase: Now then, here. Will you do me the pleasure of accepting this?

Rei: …………

-Shopping District-

Rei: (...... I wonder, is there anyone in this world who would refuse after being asked like that?)

Faced with Miyase-san’s smile right in front of me, I had nodded yes without thinking.

I decided to at the very least prepare a small gift for a present, but……

Rei: I was sure I’d no longer have any reason to pick out presents for anyone this year…

So I guess I’m feeling kind of giddy.

I definitely wanted to gift them something that would make them happy.

Rei: (Alright! I’ll do my best to choose a present!)

(I’ll start with Kujo-san’s one first……)

-Bookstore-

Rei: (That’s what I thought, so I tried coming to this bookstore, but…)

(If I really think about it, I don’t know what sort of books Kujo-san reads.)

Newly released literature, thick covers on economics, picture books, comics……

I groaned to myself as I stared down the spines of titles lined up.

Arakida: …… What are you doing?

Rei: Oh, Arakida-san. Hello.

(Woah, he’s got a bunch of books in his basket.)

(Could this be the coming of my blessed saviour!?)

Arakida: (...... What’s going on?)

(She’s looking at me with eyes like she’s badly asking to be rescued……)

Rei: I’m glad to have met you, Arakida-san.

Arakida: …… What?

Rei: If you would, could you please tell me what books you’d recommend!?

I kind of have a situation going on, so I’m looking for a book that would be interesting to anyone who reads it.

Arakida: (Something that would be interesting to anyone who reads it, and that I would recommend…)

(The only choice there is Tsuduki Makoto’s books though……)

Rei: The genre doesn’t matter.

But if possible, a bestseller that you almost can’t bring yourself to put down would be nice.

Arakida: (In that case…… there’s no mistaking it. It has to be Tsuduki Makoto’s books.)

Rei: A book even for someone who’s read a lot in their lifetime.

Writing that seems like it can profoundly stir up the heart.

A story with a clever development or an unexpected plot twist.

I think they’ll definitely be able to enjoy it until the very end if it has those……

Arakida: (Then it’s settled! Tsuduki Makoto’s books it is!!)

Rei: Oh…… Sorry. I’ve only been going on about what I want.

Anyways, if you could tell me of any good books?

Arakida: ………………

-Bookstore-

Rei: (...... Huh? Arakida-san’s somehow… angry?)

Um……

Arakida: ……………… That new title lying face-up there.

Rei: New… title? Ooh.

Arakida: It’s the latest work by Tsuduki-sensei.

………… I think it’s really good standard-wise.

Rei: That’s right! Makoto-san’s new book!

It was being promoted even during this morning's news about how it was doing super well in both sales and hype.

Arakida: …… Yeah, that sounds about right.

Rei: (Though they did also say that it was a “deeply moving work that can’t be read without shedding tears”.)

(I wonder if Kujo-san is the type to read a novel… and cry?)

Makoto: What are you doing standing around in front of a person’s new book?

Rei: Makoto-san!!

Arakida: !?

(To think that I would coincidentally run into Tsuduki-sensei at a place like this……)

(!! No way, is this……)

{Flashback}

-CIU First Division-

Shiba: Sigh~ Why do we have to work even through Christmas Eve? This is impossible. I want to go home.

Hattori: It’s your fault for leaving the paperwork to accumulate. You can’t go home until you finish everything.

Shiba: *Sniffle*…… You demon.

Hattori: I’m fine with being a demon.

Shiba: S-Santa-san, if you can, please save meee~

Let there be a Christmas miracle from time to time.

So that the paperwork clears itself away in the blink of an eye!

Arakida: …… Um, I’m done with handling the post-matter stuff so I’ll be leaving first.

Shiba: HUH!?

Hattori: Good work.

* * *

Shiba: Wait, Sosei!! Reviens!!! Je t'en prie!!!!!

Arakida: (What an idiot……)

(There’s no such thing as a Christmas miracle like something out of a novel.)

{End flashback}

Arakida: (That’s what I thought, but…)

(Isn’t this encounter… a Christmas miracle?)

-Bookstore-

Arakida: ………… Good afternoon.

Rei: (T-The furrows in your brows are really something else, Arakida-san…….)

Makoto: Fancy meeting you here.

…… So, I take it you were discussing your thoughts on other people’s new releases for all to witness then.

Rei: “For all to witness”, ahaha.

Arakida: (Whether it’s old or new, I can talk about your works for hours on end.)

(...... But I should definitely control myself here……)

………… Um, we weren’t really discussing our thoughts.

But I have read your new book.

Makoto: I see.

Arakida: ………… It was wonderful.

Makoto: Thank you.

Arakida: …… Did you come here to look for a book or something?

Makoto: Yes, as material for my next work.

But seeing as they don’t seem to have it in stock, I was thinking of having it back-ordered and then leaving already.

Arakida: Is that so…… You’re working hard.

Makoto: Yeah.

Rei: (Makoto-san looks like he’s busy this time of the year too……)

(But since I got to meet him and all…)

(Maybe it’s okay to try and ask for his opinion… if only a little bit?)

…… Um, Makoto-san. I apologise that this is sudden, but…

Could you perhaps tell me of any book that you would recommend?

Arakida: !

Makoto: It really is sudden.

Are you telling me to pick out your favorite book for you?

Arakida: (What’s with her? She’s asking for too much……)

Rei: It’s not for me. I’m actually looking for a Christmas present for an acquaintance.

Arakida: (And yet you’re still trying to get an opinion from Tsuduki-sensei. This is beyond asking for too much.)

(............ I want… to know sensei’s recommendations too.)

(No, something like that would be too godly.)

(But…………)

Makoto: Even if you simply say that they’re an acquaintance…

A present is something that you receive from the other person in which they return your feelings. That in itself gives it meaning.

Based on what sort of person they are, to what sort of feelings you wish them to accept, what book are you hoping to gift them?

Rei: (What sort of person… is Kujo-san?)

…… He’s the head of a major company, someone of a few words, and I believe he’s an intelligent person.

If I could make him even a little happy with the book for a present, then…… yeah.

Makoto: So in other words, you and this person have a surface-level relationship.

Rei: Huh?

Makoto: A lot can be gathered from just a short amount of time.

Where your understanding of the person is low, you first have to disclose who you are from your end.

In short, what your priority should be is to get the other person to know you.

Both: Get the… other person… to know you?

10.

-Bookstore-

Makoto: From the information that you have on hand right now, it’s impossible to precisely discern this person’s favourite book.

It’s extremely painful to have a book that you’re not interested in to be pushed onto you with the thought that you’ll “probably like it”.

That’s why you should change how you’re looking at it.

“I personally like these types of books” or “I want to be thought of as someone like this”.

I reckon it’s best to choose a book that you can appeal to him to.

Arakida: (...... Tsuduki-sensei really thinks differently from the rest of us.)

Rei: I see……

“I personally like these types of books.” “I want to be thought of as someone like this.”

Rei: (...... In that case, I would…)

I’ve decided. I think I’ll go with buying two copies of your new book, Makoto-san.

Makoto: Why two copies?

Rei: One is for me to read, and the other one I’ll gift as a present.

…… How does that sound?

Makoto: …… It’s not a silly conclusion to reach.

Rei: Phew! Thank you.

If I hadn’t run into Arakida-san and you, Makoto-san…

Then I wouldn’t have settled on such a wonderful present.

Arakida: …… I didn’t really do anything in particular.

It’s thanks to Tsuduki-sensei’s precise advice.

Makoto: …………

Rei: Makoto-san’s advice was certainly really helpful.

But a big reason for why I chose it was because you also recommended his new book.

Arakida: …… Right.

Makoto: …………

Both: (...... Hm?)

Makoto: …………

Arakida: (............ Tsuduki-sensei’s kind of…)

Rei: (... Looking at us…… really intently?)

Makoto: …… I get it now.

Rei: Excuse me?

Makoto: It seems like you both still haven’t made it to being lovers yet.

Both: L-Lovers!??

Makoto: Today is Christmas Eve.

This shopping street is recognised as being a date spot.

What’s more, if you’re out doing things together during this time of the day, then I had thought…

Rei: N-No, that’s not it at all!

Arakida: We just bumped into each other by coincidence—

Makoto: A coincidence on this special day?

…… In an unnecessarily large city, two people coming across one another by chance in the one bookstore and then talking…

From there…… something begins to bud.

Rei: (Huh!!??)

Arakida: (Could he be…)

Makoto: ………… But on Christmas Eve, what awaits them is an unforeseen happening. At that point, the two’s relationship will……

Arakida: (I thought as much! Has he come up with an idea for his next work!??)

Makoto: …………

Rei: M-Makoto-san?

Arakida: Wait.

Rei: Huh?

Arakida: Tsuduki-sensei is thinking about a new story at the moment.

Rei: R-Right, gotcha……

Arakida: …………

Rei: (Arakida-san…… looks somewhat happy?)

…… Well then, I’ll be leaving so as not to bother him.

Thanks a bunch for your help.

Arakida: Sure.

Makoto: Izumi Rei.

While I was a little surprised at being stopped in my tracks, I went to meet Makoto-san in the eyes.

Makoto: …… Let me just say this, Merry Christmas.

Rei: !

Yeah! Merry Christmas to the two of you as well!!