That day with that fateful visit to my girlfriend’s house. I remember heading there in high spirits, having just returned from a shopping trip with a gift to commemorate our first anniversary.
I thought I had my big surprise all planned out.
I had reserved a table at her favorite Italian restaurant for the evening.
I had even prepared an expensive bottle of champagne for the occasion.
I was sure she would be happy.
I remember approaching her house with eagerness, anticipating her reaction to my surprise. Yet, I also felt nervous—a voice in my mind kept nagging that I’d missed out on some details which would surely upset our joyous event.
But what awaited me as I reached her porch was neither dinner nor wine. I found myself faced with the view of my girlfriend holding hands with another man.
◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
Smoking was a habit I had begun this year. Standing in the park near the station, I watched the smoke as it billowed and shimmered like the snowflakes of the cold wintry sky.
I held a cigarette to my mouth, complaining to myself, “Santa won’t be coming even if you’ve been a good child—”
“But depending on Santa’s reward, one should remain a good child,” interrupted a voice from next to me.
I turned to look at Mino Ayaka. Her grin told me she was just waiting for me to ask the question she wanted to hear.
“And what should Santa’s reward be?”
“A boyfriend!”
“…Of course.”
Ayaka shrugged when she heard my nonchalant reply.
“What, ‘of course?’ That’s what people usually want at this time of the year.”
Watching me take out my third cigarette, Ayaka asked, “What do you want, Hasegawa Yūta?”
Even though she had asked the question, Ayaka seemed to know what my answer would be—her lips were already poised to mouth my answer.
“Money.”
“ Pfft . I knew it!” burst Ayaka as soon as she heard my response.
“Shut up!”
I squirmed in my seat. Ayaka only laughed harder at my expression.
“You’re still mulling over your ex-girlfriend!” she teased.
“That’s not it!”
“Hahaha! That’s not it oh, I can’t stop laughing…”
“Stop it!”
I was so angry that I raised my voice. Ayaka finally stopped laughing.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
“You have a terrible personality.”
“Come on, don’t go sulking again.”
Ayaka smacked me on my shoulder, her mouth twitching from stifling her laughter. I sighed inadvertently.
Ayaka and I had known each other since our second year of high school. Now, we were both college sophomores, studying in the same department at the same college. Needless to say, we spent lots of time together.
Ayaka was the belle back in high school; she had what everyone called a beauty’s face. But the longer I got to know Ayaka as a friend, the more her bad personality traits became clear. And for reasons only known to her, Ayaka couldn’t find a boyfriend.
One of her bad habits was to laugh at other people’s misfortune. But I honestly didn’t mind that—in fact, her laughing at my breakup actually helped to cheer me up.
When my friends heard that I broke up with my ex-girlfriend last month for catching her in an affair, most were upset on my behalf, and they tried to somehow console me. I hated to see them like that; I’d much rather have Ayaka laughing everything off.
Also, even though Ayaka had some bad personality traits, Ayaka was still very kind at heart. Take right now, for example. Despite being a non-smoker, Ayaka is able to speak to me without looking disgusted by all this smoke.
“So, how are things with your ex-girlfriend? Do you still keep in touch with her?”
“No, of course not. I’m not that strong, mentally.”
“Alright, I understand… Anyway, are you coming to the party?” asked Ayaka with a smile, her eyes twinkling.
She had a good reputation and is connected with people from various social circles.
So she sometimes asks me to play the role of co-host at social gatherings.
“Eh?”
“I’ll be your Santa!”
“Oh, will I get paid? If so, I’ll go.”
“No, you won’t! I don’t know which is sadder: you asking for money or me having to pay you!”
“Well then, I’ll see you later.”
I extinguished my cigarette in an ashtray and started walking away from the smoking area.
“So, are you going?”
“Sorry, I’ve got a part-time job today.”
“Oh. See you soon then. If you feel like going, give me a call.”
“Oh! Okay…”
Shortly after that exchange, I decided to go home.
I didn’t really like social gatherings.
The part-time job was just something I made up in the spur of the moment, but I couldn’t stop myself from lying even if I didn’t want to. I knew Ayaka would continue to bug me about the party if I stayed there any longer.
As I walked, I breathed in the remaining cigarette scent lingering on my clothes.
◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
Bright neon lights were hanging all over the city. It was the so-called Christmas season .
I sighed at the dazzling sight of red, green, and gold lights that mesmerized everyone passing by. This place was full of couples.
Darn. I just have to pass through a popular spot for romantic couples.’
I had adamantly refused Ayaka’s party invitation earlier, but seeing all the couples around me was causing my resolve to sway. Then, my eyes landed on a group of only men. I made my way toward the group, thinking that I had found a temporary place of belonging. But as I got closer, I was disappointed to hear their conversation, “She seems to like French cuisine, so we’ll go there next time.”
I had always walked with my ex-girlfriend in the past; now, I was suddenly unused to walking by myself. I hunched my shoulders and walked in the shadows so that I stood out less as the only bachelor this Christmas.
“Excuse me, um…please take this!”
In the middle of the hustle-bustle, a girl dressed in red clothes suddenly thrust a leaflet onto my chest. Dealing with marketeers was a pain in the neck. And since I was already frustrated by the sight of many couples around me, I reflexively knocked her arm away.
Swoosh.
The girl lost her balance and the leaflets in her arms scattered everywhere.
“Whoa, I’m sorry!”
I hurried to pick up the scattered leaflets. But the unfortunate thing that I was, things didn’t go my way: a group of students passed by and trampled on half the flyers.
I didn’t know how much the leaflets cost, but I fumbled and took out my wallet from my back pocket.
Seeing this, the girl in red looked flustered.
Her red clothes seemed to be a Santa Claus costume. I got the impression that her part-time job must be difficult. Suddenly I recalled my conversation with Ayaka about Santa’s coming—to think that my meeting with Santa would be such a strange encounter.
“No, it’s okay! I’m sorry I suddenly pushed the leaflet onto you. I’ll explain everything to my supervisor after distributing the unsoiled ones….”
“I’ll come along. I need to explain.”
I looked up as I handed the leaflets I managed to collect. The girl seemed confused and hesitant about my proposal.
Watching her, I found my mind wandering elsewhere entirely.
The girl looked exceptionally cute. Judging from her light make-up and dark, softly curled hair, I guessed that she was a college student. In her Santa’s dress, she stood out from the rest of the crowd, as if she was a visitor from a different world.
Perhaps this view of mine was not entirely wrong; I noticed passers-by glancing at the girl as well. Some even turned back to steal another look at her.
I was jolted out of my trance when I saw myself reflected in her big, clear eyes. I hastily picked up the remaining leaflets on the ground, covering my embarrassment.
“Thank you for picking them up.”
“No, no. It was my fault in the first place.”
“Honestly, I’m grateful because I’m in a tough position right now. But is this really okay? Because there’s still about an hour to go before you can talk to them…”
“I’ve got some free time in my hands, so I can wait.”
At that, the girl dressed as Santa made a slight bow.
“Then… I’ll see you later. I wish I could tell you where to rest…”
“Oh, that’s okay. The campus is nearby and there’s something like a garden around too. I’ll be waiting at a café called ‘Litters’ on the first floor of the shopping mall over there.”
“Is your university just around the corner?”
“There’s only one university in this area.”
As I nodded in reply, I felt that her face looked faintly familiar.
“That, I’m Mayu… Shinohara Mayu.”
“Hasegawa Yūta… Well then…see you soon.”
“Oh, yes. I understand. ‘Litters,’ right?”
“Mm-hmm”
Compared to talking with Ayaka, this goodbye was a little more awkward. I turned around and headed for the shopping mall full of couples.
Seeing the colorful Christmas-colored decorations again, I felt strangely light-hearted.
<blockquote>T/N: Heyyy!! I’m a newbie who joined the team recently. This is my first project. Please tell me if there is any problem in the translation and I’ll improve. And special thanks to my editor Tripletwelve (≧∀≦)</blockquote>