Rencontre avec mon duo.
It is time.
—I have a surprise for you at my sanctuary.
—At your?
It's okay… I could have said Great Tomb of Nazarick.
—My apartment.
I grab her hand and drag her.
— Kinari!
You'll see, Sakai, Chizu went out of her way to give you the best Christmas party ever.
— Kinari, stop!
And the meal! You'll be as surprised as Erina Nakiri!
—Kinari, you idiot, stop!
She's pinching my wrist.
—Yes, Sakai?
—Anzu, my name's Anzu, idiot!
What's the difference?
—I'm tired, don't drag me around like this!
Where do you get all this motivation all of a sudden? You're infuriating me,' Kinari said in jest.
—Sorry, Anzu.
—Idiot,' she repeated.
You didn't have to insist.
We arrive, after some adventures, in front of my sanctuary.
—Open, I beg you.
She steps through the door and gets tons of confetti on her face.
So this is a surprise?
—Merry Christmas!' my friends shout.
—Thank you!
I get manga, video games, a stuffed animal and clothes.
I am a real king today! Christmas is a wonderful time.
Don't get carried away, remember the first chapter, silly.
I approach Aneko, and give her her bracelet. Her cheeks instantly become flushed. She admires it, turns it around and whispers to me.
—Thank you, Kin'ri. Here, it's your gift.
Is it identical to mine? What the hell is this?
—It's the same as the one I gave you!
Has she been spying on me? Is she as good as Twilight? No way…
—Yes, our bracelets bind us, darling!
Bind us you say…
—Sensei!
— Yoshida-chan! Thank you for telling the boys.
—I'm happy to be with you, sensei!
She hugs me, and holds me tighter and tighter.
—Yo… Yoshida-chan?
—Call me by my first name, sensei. And leave me in your arms for one more minute…
She caressed the back of his neck and added in a honeyed voice.
—You left me alone, that wasn't cool at all…
Go back to being a oneesan, dreaming Kinari otaku.
—Sorry, Junko, I was in a hurry…
—It's okay, sensei.
She releases her grip. I turn my head away and notice Anzu looking annoyed.
I have something to calm her jealousy.
—Follow me, Anzu.
When we leave my apartment, she sees that all the gifts she bought are there.
How ingenious of me to have asked her father to drop them off for her. Another plan that went off without a hitch!
For once…
Shut up, nerds.
Surprised, she turns around, strokes one of her locks, and blows me away, tears in her eyes.
—Thank you, Kinari!
—It's normal, you don't have to thank me.
—Here, this is for you.
A book?
I open it, and contemplate it.
What happiness.
Droplets of water my cheeks.
I can't control anything…
—You still have those photos!
—I always kept them preciously! That's what kept my head up after I left…
This album will be a treasure much more important than my manga collection, for sure.
I turn the pages, one by one, and discover Sakai's evolution from her six-year-old, until now. I look at her hair getting longer, her face maturing, only one thing is the same among all these pictures. It's her smile.
So the otaku really has heartstrings?
Shut up, nerd…
—Dry your tears, Kinari, it's not like you!
I put my hands under my eyes.
I haven't cried so much since Menma's scene…
In a deep silence, we join our friends.
—Let's eat! shouts Chizu.
—Torikatsu? I love it!
—And that's not all, I also made a Christmas cake!
When it comes to cooking, no one can keep up with you, Sis, not even Sōma Yukihira.
Laughter, smiles, kindness, is that what a Christmas party is all about?
For the past ten years, I had always spent this event alone, with my sister. It was completely different, the atmosphere, the warmth transmitted, everything has changed in this apartment.
I hope Chizu is happy…
Maeda stands on the table and says.
—Shall we do karaoke in pairs, friends?
—Yes! exclaims Masuko.
Can you sing otaku?
Of course not…
We play shifumi for the creation of the teams.
Who are we betting on? Aneko? Masuko? Anzu? Junko?
—Aneko, you'll be with Chizu!
—I'm so happy to be with you, Aneko!
—Me too, sister-in-law.
I didn't hear anything, I didn't hear anything…
—Masuko, you'll be with Kinari!
Great, I'm with the nerd.
—I hope you have a good voice, darling.
You already know the answer, silly.
My friends are singing one after the other.
They master every song… I'm going to be the most stereotypical otaku in Japan…
—Chizu, Aneko, your turn!
Of course, Chizu has never hummed a single tune, and has never been to a karaoke bar. She will be my springboard to the exit of my own cliché!
She grabs the microphone, closes her eyes, and starts.
The sky that never stops crying wraps the city in a blue complexion.
One day, we watched it side by side,
And if I listen, I can still hear your voice now.
Hold me tight as you did then, just once more.
Come on, turn this way, smile and call my name just once.
Shine, shine, shine, farewell tears!
Stop time, grant my wish, don't stop love, just tonight.
Turn, turn, turn, farewell memories!
Close your eyes…
We were walking awkwardly as we stood side by side.
I made sure we shared a small umbrella.
The sky is crying, and even your voice can't reach me.
This will be the last time I complain, so watch over me.
Please look at me and caress me, just one more time.
Shine, shine, shine, farewell tears!
Stop time, grant my wish, don't stop love, just tonight.
Turn, turn, turn, farewell memories!
Close the eyes…
—Chi… Chizu what is this voice? You could be an idol if you wished it!
What a traitor. She is more talented than Hirasawa Yui…
—To you, Yamazaki-kun, Ota-senpai, go ahead and give it all!
Hey, the villain of the story, stop this air of Present Mic, nobody will have empathy for you.
Masuko approaches me, and whispers.
—Do you know any songs, darling?
—Apart from anime music, no, not really.
—Then, this one should do it, she tells me.
A mischievous smile? What is she going to do to me?
That melody… Sparkle? Thank you, President!
With experience, knowledge and slightly mouldy courage.
With unprecedented speed, I dive towards you…
She approaches me briskly, and whispers.
—Together this time, darling.
In heart, we continue.
While taking a nap, I dreamed of a world that wasn't here.
Inside my lukewarm Cola
Outside the classroom window
During a morning spent swaying on the train
Even the way I love starting to smell like you.
Even the way I am, has the sound of your smile.
Everything about you one day will melt and disappear
I'll burn it all away in my eyes
This ordeal is now over…
— Darling! You were right, we really are the best pair!
I nod and take a deep breath.
Now I've given it my all.
—Hey, guys!
Don't bring up anything, not you Junko.
—What should we do for New Year's Eve?
—We can celebrate at Kinari's, it's big enough here!
My shrine has become the secret base of the Super Peace Busters…
—If you like.
—Thanks, Kinari!
Do I have enough money for shopping?
The night is falling and the group is getting tired. One by one, they went to bed. I'm about to follow the movement when Masuko interrupted me by grabbing my sleeve.
—Can you come on the balcony with me, darling?
—Yes, yes.
What does she want from me, I'm beaten…
—The moon is beautiful tonight, don't you think, darling?
—Yes, it is.
She rushes into my arms, then whispers to me.
—I want us to spend more time together, a lot more.
Don't you?
Chizu was probably right when she told me that this reunion with Sakai would harm Masuko as much as Aneko. I paid for it…
She was competing with Anzu to see which one of them was closer to me. Maybe knowing that Anzu is Sakai, she lost all hope to win this competition?
I hate this harem, but I hate it even more when Masuko is in this state.
—Do you want to date before the new year?
Nah, it's not a date, it's definitely not a date!
—With pleasure, darling!
I like it better when you smile like that, silly.
Maybe this is what it's all about. Our society does wear masks that hide their own feelings. It's probably to avoid harming others that they put on false expressions. That's what Masuko did tonight.
—I love our duo, darling. I've never felt this way about a boy. I love being with you, I love spending time with you; I love your smile. I don't want to slip away between your relationships, I just want us to keep shaping this duo, together. We talk a lot with the girls, we tell each other all our lives, but that's the problem.
She leans against the balcony, letting her cheeks get flushed, then continues.
—You're our topic of conversation, it's all the time the same thing, I did this with Kinari, well I did that, blah blah blah. We're in constant competition, we compare our assets, whether it's our breasts, our time spent with you. And as soon as we feel the victory, we feel like we have succeeded something impossible, when in the end, it's only a small and stupid victory.
She turns around, puts her eyes on mine and adds.
She is cute…
—I haven't had many victories. It's always Aneko and Anzu who blow me away. All I have is my motivation, my knowledge, and damn, it's not easy. My body is normal, I don't have a huge chest like Aneko, I don't have a common past with you like Anzu. I'm only your club president, I'm only the one who helps you when you don't understand something in your lessons.
Her eyes become sparkling. She hugs me, presses my arm against her chest and confesses.
—So please, darling, let me show you how much I love you. Let me score some points and shut the other girls up!
She lifts her heels, reaches my forehead, and places her lips against my forehead.
That grapefruit, orange mixed with pineapple scent is amazing.
She grabs both my hands, bites her lips, pierces the stars with her eyes and declares.
—I love you, more than anything, darling!
Great Tomb of Nazarick: Shrine of Ainz Ooal Gown. (Overlord)
Erina Nakiri: Secondary character with an excellent kitchen. (Food Wars)
Twilight: Nicknamed the best spy. (Spy x Family)
Menma: Main character of the work Anohana.
Torikatsu: Japanese breaded chicken.
Sōma Yukihira : Main character specialised in cooking. (Food Wars)
Hirasawa Yui: Main character who sings. (K-ON)
Present Mic: Teacher and tournament commentator. (My Hero Academia)
Sparkle: Music of the Group Radwimps
Super Peace Busters: Name given to the secret base of a group of friends. (Anohana)