I open the front door.
I walk in and squeeze the scarf I just received.
Itâs warm.
Iâm glad I didnât ask Maika for a scarf.
ãMiyagi, are you going to be at the door all the time? Iâm freezing.ã
I hear a rushing voice behind me and a poke on my back.
ãI know that.ã
I take off my shoes.
I gently remove the scarf and coat, and go to the common space. I turn on the light, and Sendai-san picks up the remote control for the air conditioner.
ãArenât you going back to your room?ã
ãIs Miyagi going back?ã
ãItâs late, Iâm going to bed.ã
The Christmas party was fun but exhausting.
Besides, the date is about to change.
ââIt will be the 25th.
That means it will be the appointed day.
ãLetâs talk a little. I have a question for Miyagi.ã
Sendai-san ignored my words about going to bed, turned on the air conditioner, and draped her coat over the back of the chair.
ãWhat do you want to ask?ã
ãDid you consult with anyone when choosing my earrings? Did you choose them all by yourself, Miyagi?ã
ãThereâs no way Iâm going to consult anyone.ã
The earrings I gave to Sendai-san are a sign that she is mine and that I control her, so it makes sense for me to choose them and for me to put them on her. Itâs not something I would choose to discuss with anyone, and itâs something I shouldnât.
I donât need other peopleâs opinions on what I make so that Sendai-san can know she is mine.
ãOkay then.ã
Sendai-san says quietly and touches my earring. Her cold fingertips, dragging the cold outside, press down on the piercing and softly caress my earlobe.
ãâ¦Did Sendai-san choose my earrings after consulting with someone?ã
ãI made my own choice. I didnât talk to anyone about it.ã
With a soft voice, her lips are pressed against my ear.
Itâs not unusual for Sendai-san to kiss my earrings.
It happens all the time.
But today, I have a lot of strength in my back.
My body stiffens and I involuntarily push her shoulder.
ãAre we done talking, Sendai-san?ã
I ask, looking at my watch.
The date is still the same.
I am not conscious of it, but I am concerned about the time.
ãThereâs still more. Iâll make you some tea. Sit down.ã
Sendai-san pulls out a chair to hang her coat and smiles.
ãYou donât have to do that. If you have something to say, just say it.ã
ãOkay, I wonât make tea, but have a seat.ã
Her tone was light and it seemed like I had a choice, but in reality I had no choice. She tugged on my arm and forced me to sit in a chair covered with my coat.
ãIf you want to talk, Iâll stand and listen.ã
ãThereâs no need to rush.ã
I donât expect her to ask me to fulfill my promise as soon as the 25th comes, but I am restless about the time. But Sendai-san wonât let go of my arm.
I glare at her.
ãIâm gonna sit down, so let go of me.ã
I say strongly and the hand that was holding my arm leaves. I place my scarf and coat on the table, then sit down in my chair.
ãMiyagi, look over here.ã
Today Sendai-san has many orders.
I turned my body toward Sendai-san with my whole chair, as it seemed that doing as I was told would end the conversation faster than resisting by saying I didnât want to do it.
ãWhat would you like to do tomorrow?ã
She made me sit down, but Sendai-san doesnât sit down and asks in a cheerful voice.
ãâ¦Iâll go out.ã
I donât have a place I want to go, but if I stay at home, I will definitely worry about my appointment. So I want to be outside so that Sendai-san canât do anything.
ãWhere?ã
ãIâll just wander around as I see fit.ã
ãIf thatâs what Miyagi wants, fine.ã
ãWe can also eat outside.ã
ãIâm fine with that. What do you want?ã
ãWhatever. Iâll decide tomorrow.ã
ãOkay.ã
Sendai-san stroked my hair and unwrapped it, wrapping it around her index finger. The same thing was repeated over and over to kill time, and I kicked her leg lightly.
ãCan I go now? Iâm tired. Iâm going to bed.ã
ãStay up a little longer.ã
ãIâm going to bed.ã
I tell her shortly and try to get up, but Sendai-san takes the scarf from the table and wraps it around my neck.
Even though I like the scarf, itâs not something I would use in the room. I try to remove the freshly wrapped scarf, but Sendai-san interrupts me.
ãIt looks good on you. Itâs very pretty.ã
She sounds happy, but Iâm not happy. The unnecessary words donât fit in my ears, and I kick Sendai-sanâs leg. But she saidãprettyãagain and put her lips to my cheek.
Once, then twice.
A kiss I didnât ask for warms my cheeks. I press against Sendai-sanâs body, and this time her lips are attached to my temple, and I feel her body heat.
ãSendai-san, what is this? I told you Iâm going to bed.ã
I complain to Sendai-san, who kisses me on the cheek for the fifth time.
ãBecause, I couldnât do it earlier.ã
ãWhat do you mean by earlier?ã
ãWhen I gave you the scarf.ã
ãWell, then, youâve had your fill.ã
ãItâs not enough.ã
ãI have enough.ã
ãOne more time.ã
Sendai-san smiles and caresses my cheek.
Not much time has passed since I looked at the clock earlier, so it mustnât be 25th yet. The promised date is near, but only near, and itâs not yet a promise to be kept.
I make eye contact with Sendai-san.
To get back to my room, I have to deal with her standing in front of me.
Iâm going to step on Sendai-sanâs foot.
She doesnât move.
She doesnât move out of my way.
Perhaps she wonât move out of the way if I donât fulfill her request for one more time.
I stop to look at the clock.
There is enough time for one kiss.
ãItâs just one time.ã
After reminding her, I pulled on Sendai-sanâs clothes.
The hand that had been caressing my cheek touches my lips.
I thought the kiss was supposed to be on the cheek, but apparently not. I closed my eyes and felt something soft touch my lips.
Our lips gently overlap and should separate immediately, but they donât.
Quietly and slowly, our body temperatures continue to meet.
But the gentle kiss doesnât last long.
Something warm and raw, different from my lips, touches me and pushes in. It is, without thinking, the tip of Sendai-sanâs tongue, which naturally enters me. It was hot, unlike when only the outside of our bodies were touching each other. We exchange, and the body heat that we had been exchanging with each other turns into a one-way pouring sensation, and I choke. I grab Sendai-sanâs arm in agony.
A mass of heat entangles my tongue and I donât know how to breathe.
Soft yet resilient, it feels good, painful, hot, and Iâm afraid Iâm going to lose control.
When I clawed at the arm I grabbed for breath, Sendai-sanâs body finally moved away.
ãYou didnât tell me this is where youâre going to kiss me.ã
I kick Sendai-sanâs leg.
ãAny kiss is a kiss, right?ã
ãReally, thatâs annoying.ã
When she does weird things to me, I canât sleep.
The air-conditioned room is hot, and I try to take off the scarf, which is still wrapped around me, but Sendai-san gets in the way.
ãâ¦Are you waiting for the 25th by any chance?ã
I ask Sendai-san, who doesnât allow me to return to my room.
ãWhat if I told you I was waiting?ã
I hear a hushed voice and I step on Sendai-sanâs foot with all my might.
ãThat hurt.ã
ãThen get out of my way. Iâm going to bed.ã
ãThe 25th, and youâre giving it all to me.ã
ãThat promise, when didââã
I start to say it, then stop.
When is it going to happen on the 25th?
Itâs best not to make that clear. If she asks, it will become a new commitment, and even the time to fulfill the commitment will be fixed.
ãItâs nothing, Iâm going to sleep.ã
With the scarf still wrapped around my body, I pushes Sendai-sanâs body and forces myself to stand up and take my coat from the table.
ãIf Miyagi says itâs good to start now, itâs good to start now.ã
ãIâm not going to tell you. Even if I said for the whole 25th, Iâd still need at least some sleep.ã
ãYes, I know. Sleep well for tomorrow. Good night.ã
As I opened the door to my room, returning a good night to Sendai-san, who spun the words without hesitation, I turned to look back at her when she called me,ãMiyagi.ã
ãMerry Christmas.ã
Sendai-san says quietly and smiles.
The 24th and the 25th are no different.
Same with any other day, itâs not special.
I had always thought so, but Sendai-sanâs words sounded special.