"Kikyo, do you have any plans for Christmas? Want to go out together?"
With a week still to go before Christmas, people had already begun constantly asking Kushida about her plans. It couldn't be helped—she had so many "good friends," after all.
"Sorry, some classmates asked me to go shopping with them, so I probably won't have time." Faced with invitations from students in other classes, Kushida used that excuse to politely decline.
"Ah, an upperclassman already asked me to help out that day, so I might not have time." That was what she told her classmates.
"Sorry, senpai, I already have plans with friends." Kushida kept coming up with excuses like that, ensuring she could keep Christmas Day free.
But as more and more people asked, she gradually became irritated. So annoying. All of you.
What angered Kushida most were boys like Yamauchi. She knew perfectly well what they were after. How could she possibly agree?
Going out with someone of the opposite sex on a holiday like Christmas was a pretty obvious signal. Persistent guys were the most annoying.
Fortunately, that situation did not last long... Kushida soon learned from Sawahara that he would be on duty at the Student Council over Christmas.
"Mio, let's go shopping together on Christmas." Kushida swiftly chose a "friend" whose company would not affect her situation even if they went out together.
"Huh? Didn't you say you had something to do?"
"I took care of it in advance. Don't you want to go shopping with me, Mio?" Kushida said, pretending to be hurt.
"It's not that, Kikyo. Then that day..."
"Christmas is coming." Sakayanagi idly fiddled with the chess pieces on the table, replaying the second game Sawahara had played against her as she searched for flaws in his style.
"Mm."