After having lunch and buying groceries, Kanda Shuichi returned to his dorm.
But as he reached his door, he saw someone pacing back and forth outside.
The person was so deep in thought that they didn't even notice him approaching.
Seriously? I already said I wasn't meeting anyone for Christmas, and now someone's waiting for me at my door?
"What are you doing, Honami?"
"Ah—ah!"
Kanda Shuichi's sudden voice startled Ichinose Honami.
"Seeing me isn't enough to make you jump, right?"
"Ahaha… Shuichi, did you go out?"
"Yeah, I went to buy some groceries. What about you? I remember that Nagumo was organizing an outing for the student council today. You didn't go?"
"Well, if you weren't going, of course I wouldn't go either."
Ichinose pouted, which made Kanda Shuichi quite happy.
"But you came to see me at this time—did you need something?"
Ichinose nodded. "Yeah, something like that."
Wait, is she asking me out? On Christmas Day? But I thought I told her I'd be staying in all day…
Or… does she want to stay in with me?
Well, better hear her out first.
"Come inside. It just snowed, so it's still pretty cold out."
As he spoke, Kanda Shuichi pulled his room card from his pocket, swiped it, and stepped inside.
The moment he walked in, he heard the door close behind him—then suddenly, Ichinose wrapped her arms around him from behind.
What the hell?! What's going on?
If it were Kamuro or Kushida, Kanda Shuichi wouldn't have been surprised. But this was Ichinose—the reserved Ichinose!
For her to do something this bold… what the heck happened?
"Uh, Honami? Is something wrong?" Kanda Shuichi asked cautiously.
"No, nothing. I just feel really lucky to have met you, Shuichi."
Ichinose let go and smiled.
But when Kanda Shuichi turned to look at her, he saw tears rolling down her cheeks.
And yet, her smile wasn't forced at all. So… even though she was crying, were these happy tears?
Kanda Shuichi set down the things he was holding and gently wiped away Ichinose's tears.
"Did something happen?"
Ichinose nodded quickly and pulled out her phone from her pink puffer jacket.
"I got a message from my little sister."
Oh, so that's what this is about.
Kanda Shuichi had thought something serious had happened.
"Let's go inside first."
"Okay, sorry for intruding."
As they stepped into the room, Ichinose casually took off her puffer jacket, revealing a snug pink-and-white turtleneck sweater underneath.
The fitted design accentuated her figure perfectly.
How should he put it? Well… impressive.
"Shuichi, my sister, Yui—she got the gift you sent her."
As she spoke, she pulled up a photo on her phone for Kanda Shuichi to see.
It showed a simple-dressed girl with a face somewhat resembling Ichinose's.
She was beaming with happiness, and in her hair was the silver-white hairpin Kanda Shuichi had given her.
Along with the picture was a message: *Thank you, Sis! I love you the most!*
It was a screen from a social media app. While students at this school couldn't communicate with the outside world, they could still browse information. They just couldn't reply due to IP restrictions.
When Kanda Shuichi sent his gift, he included a letter, and at the end of it, he mentioned this. And sure enough, Ichinose's little sister actually updated her social media.
"So this is Yui? She's definitely going to be as beautiful as Honami when she grows up."
Seeing the photo, Kanda Shuichi instinctively gave a compliment. But to his surprise, Ichinose suddenly became shy.
"Um, Shuichi… do you really think I'm beautiful?"
"Of course. Honami is really pretty."
"Hehehe."
Hearing Kanda Shuichi's response, Ichinose let out her usual goofy laugh.
"By the way, did you just go out to buy groceries, Shuichi?"
"Yeah, but I already ate lunch outside. These are for dinner."
"Then how about I cook for you tonight? Consider it a little thank-you."
She looked at him with an expectant expression.
This caught Kanda Shuichi off guard. He originally had no plans to spend Christmas with anyone, but now Ichinose had just invited herself over.
Well, whatever. He had said he wouldn't go on a date, but he never said people couldn't come to him.
"Sounds good. I'll get to taste Honami's cooking."
Kanda Shuichi didn't really care about Christmas, but having someone to spend the day with didn't seem like a bad idea.
They agreed to meet after six in the evening. After that, Ichinose checked the groceries Kanda Shuichi had bought and nodded.
"So, what do you want to eat tonight, Shuichi?"
"I'll leave that to the chef, of course."
As he spoke, he made a "please go ahead" gesture, as if he were a customer at a fancy restaurant.
Ichinose nodded, then asked another question.
"Okay, then… what time do you usually eat dinner, Shuichi?"
"I usually eat around seven."
Man, Kanda Shuichi wished Horikita could hear this. Back before summer break, when he asked her to cook for him for three days, she didn't even bother asking any questions—she just started cooking right away.
Ichinose, on the other hand, was different but not that different. The key difference was that she actually asked about everything—preferences, meal times, and even checked what ingredients were available.
Sigh! The difference is night and day.
Ichinose wins, hands down!
After listening to Kanda Shuichi, Ichinose touched her chin, thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Dinner at seven, got it. I'll be back then."
"By the way, doesn't your class have a Christmas party or something?"
Kanda Shuichi was curious. Even Class D had tried to organize one, though it didn't end up happening.
Class A had way better teamwork, so there had to be a Christmas party, right? If there was, Ichinose, being one of the central figures, would definitely be invited.
"We're actually having it this afternoon. It's starting soon, but I'll be there before six."
Ichinose said it with certainty.
"Uh… that sounds exhausting."
"No, no, not at all! Just knowing that Shuichi cares makes me really happy."
Seeing the genuine smile on Ichinose's face, Kanda Shuichi had nothing more to say. After all, this was her own decision.
Since she gave up a party to have dinner with him, of course, he was more than happy to welcome her.
"Alright, Shuichi, see you at seven tonight."
"Bye."
Not long after Ichinose left, the Jump magazine Kanda Shuichi ordered arrived.
"Huh? Wasn't it supposed to be delivered tomorrow?"
Seeing the same store clerk from earlier, Kanda Shuichi was a little surprised.
"Actually, my coworker got dumped, so he came back to work early."
"I see. Well… my condolences to him."
But wait, why do you seem so happy about it? Don't tell me you've been waiting for this to happen?
After checking the package, Kanda Shuichi let the clerk leave and spent the rest of the afternoon reading manga.
He had to admit, any manga that could get serialized in Jump had something special about it. At the very least, it made for a relaxing afternoon.
Then, a little after five, Ichinose arrived.
Not only did she come, but she also brought groceries—way more than what Kanda Shuichi had bought. Was she planning to go all out with cooking?
"You're not seriously planning to cook all of this, are you?"
Kanda Shuichi's expression was a bit strange.
"Yep!" Ichinose nodded.
"Uh… there's no way the two of us can finish all this, right?"
"Don't worry, it's not just the two of us. I ran into Kikyo while I was out shopping."
…
So, Kushida's coming too?
Kanda Shuichi's brain froze for a second. What was going on?
Wait, no—what should he do now?
Why did he suddenly feel a little guilty for no reason?
He sneaked a glance at Ichinose's face. She didn't seem any different. Good.
"Then, can I leave dinner to you?"
"Of course."
Ichinose smiled and took charge of cooking.
As for Kanda Shuichi?
Well, it was Christmas. He didn't really care about the holiday, but others probably did.
Now that Ichinose was here and Kushida was on her way, if he didn't invite Kamuro and she found out later…
[Masumi, want to have dinner together? At my place.]
Not even three seconds after sending the message, Kamuro replied.
[On my way!]
Seeing her response, Kanda Shuichi fell silent for a moment. He just hoped she wouldn't be disappointed or get mad when she got here.
A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Ichinose turned her head and was about to open it.
Kanda Shuichi quickly stepped toward the door.
No way—if you open the door first, things might get even worse.
"I'll get it!"
Before opening the door, Kanda Shuichi wondered—was it Kamuro or Kushida?
But when he opened it, he found both of them standing side by side outside.
Kushida was smiling as usual, while Kamuro had her usual serious expression.
"Merry Christmas! I'm here for a free meal, Shuichi."
Kushida was the first to speak, flashing a sweet smile and raising her right hand in greeting.
"Uh… welcome."
What else could Kanda Shuichi say after that?
"Shuichi, thanks for inviting me to dinner."
Kamuro countered immediately—one came uninvited, while the other was personally invited. The difference was obvious.
"Uh… no problem. Anyway, just come in already. Just looking at what you're wearing makes me feel cold."
"Then excuse us." *2
Both of them squeezed through the doorway at the same time, refusing to give way. But even then, their expressions remained unchanged.
"Welcome, Kamuro and Kushida."
Ichinose greeted them with a smile, wearing an apron and holding a cooking spoon.
Kushida seemed fine, but the moment Kamuro heard her voice, her body visibly tensed up. She then shot Kanda Shuichi a sharp look, as if asking:
Why is there someone else here?
How was he supposed to answer that?
"Ichinose, let me help you."
Unlike Kamuro, Kushida quickly took off her shoes, stepped inside, and headed straight for the kitchen.
Kanda Shuichi shrugged. "Well, it's complicated."
"Hmph~"
Kamuro let out a small huff, then walked toward Ichinose, who was still cooking.
Hopefully, they wouldn't start fighting. That would be a real problem.
About half an hour later, dinner for four was ready—just a simple home-cooked meal: rice, side dishes, and miso soup.
"Let's eat!" *4
After saying that, the four of them started their meal.
Kanda Shuichi was the first to pick up his soup and take a sip. It actually tasted pretty good.
"Ichinose, you're really good at cooking. This is delicious."
"Hehe, thanks for the compliment! What do you think, Shuichi?"
Before Kanda Shuichi could say anything, Kushida had already praised the food.
"Uh…"
Before he could respond, Kamuro, sitting across from him, put down her soup bowl. "Not as good as Shuichi's cooking, but it's okay."
"Ahaha, I'll keep working hard!"
Then Ichinose took a sip of the soup and nodded. It really wasn't as good as the chicken soup she'd had before.
"If you want to learn, Honami, I can teach you how to cook."
"Really? Then I'll thank you in advance, Shuichi!"
Ichinose immediately showed a big, happy smile. But...
You two, stop looking at me like that.
"*Ahem*, if Kikyo and Masumi want to learn too—"
"No need. As long as one person in the house can cook, that's enough." Before Kanda Shuichi could finish, Kamuro Masumi cut him off. "Besides, Shuichi will cook for me, won't you?"
Well, you're not wrong, but saying it out loud like that...
"Even if Kamuro is Shuichi's childhood friend, he can't be cooking for you every day, right? That would be a bit troubling for me."
Kushida Kikyo's words carried some weight. Were they... staking their claims?
"Shuichi, I'll work hard and cook for you instead!"
Ichinose's words made the other two turn and stare at her.
And just like that, the battle started again.
Since Kanda Shuichi hadn't officially chosen anyone, all three of them still had a chance. And none of them wanted to give up.
Meanwhile, Kanda Shuichi...
Didn't dare say a word and just kept eating in silence.
Even though Kamuro had said that, Ichinose's cooking was really good—almost as good as a restaurant's, definitely better than the cafeteria food.
"Shuichi, what do you think?"
What?
Kanda Shuichi, who was focused on eating, looked completely lost. What do I think about what?
"What do you think we should do, Shuichi?"
Noticing that Shuichi hadn't been listening, Kushida quickly reminded him.
Under the gaze of all three girls, Kanda Shuichi braced himself and spoke.
"Uh... I think getting along peacefully would be nice." Now was the time to speak his true feelings. "After all, you're all my wings!"
That was the most timid way to say the most arrogant thing...
The room went silent for a moment.
"Shuichi, are you planning to have one foot in two boats?"
Kushida tilted her head.
"Or three?"
Ichinose muttered softly.
Of course. Even these two wouldn't just hand over the guy they liked, especially when he didn't even have a girlfriend yet.
"I actually think it could work."
Kamuro's words made Kushida and Ichinose turn to her at the same time, both with looks of disbelief. Then they both stared at Shuichi.
Meanwhile, Kanda Shuichi was bursting with excitement inside—Masumi! Love you!
"Kamuro, what did you just say?"
Kushida's voice was filled with doubt. She couldn't believe what she had just heard from Kamuro.
Is this guy really planning to date three people at once?!
And you actually agreed to it?
Are you really that humble?
"What's so bad about it? The Kanda family business is pretty big. Supporting a few more people isn't a problem."
Kamuro spoke casually, completely unfazed by the shocked expressions of the three others.
Kanda family business? What does that have to do with me? Kanda Shuichi looked confused.
But he didn't really care. He had the system behind him. As long as he got the chance to create a value-added bank in the future, wealth wouldn't even be a concern.
That's why Kanda Shuichi dared to say such things. If he couldn't even guarantee financial security, he wouldn't have the confidence to make such bold statements and put forward such requests.
"But are you really okay with sharing Shuichi?" Kushida's face showed unwillingness. She had always known about Kanda Shuichi's ambitions, but she had never given him a clear answer.
"What choice do I have? It's not my fault this guy is such a flirt! He falls for every girl he meets!" Kamuro shot Kanda Shuichi a sharp glare.
Kanda Shuichi could only accept it silently without arguing. At the same time, he thought, Masumi, you really know me well as my childhood friend. But I don't just fall for every girl I meet.
What surprised him, though, was that Masumi was actually standing on his side. He was sure he had never talked to her about this before.
Was she… helping him build a harem?
Masumi…!
You have the grace of a queen!
If I were a king, you would be my queen!
Kushida was still unwilling to back down, Ichinose was still conflicted, and Kamuro just kept eating her meal like she had nothing to do with it.
"There's still plenty of time. You can think it over slowly. But if you both give up, that would be perfect. Then Shuichi would be mine alone."
Kushida and Ichinose, who had been hesitant, were instantly fired up by Kamuro's words.
For Kushida, Kanda Shuichi was irreplaceable. There might never be another guy who would accept her true personality.
For Ichinose, Kanda Shuichi was also one of a kind—he had forgiven her past mistakes and even helped her reconnect with her sister. How could she just give him up so easily?
What if Kamuro was just trying to trick them? What if she only pretended to accept Kanda Shuichi's idea to make them back off?
No way. Now was not the time to give up. As long as Shuichi wasn't married, she still had a chance!
And even if he got married, there was always the possibility of divorce!
As things settled down, Kanda Shuichi quietly glanced at the three girls.
It felt like… the problem had somehow been solved just like that?
Masumi, you never fail to impress me!