Tokyo: Oreimo

"The more secret something is, the more curious we become."

"Boys are not allowed to pry into girls' conversations; that's the rule."

Saori jumped down from the edge of the table, walked to the window, and pushed it open. The cold December wind rushed in, making her long hair flutter.

"Shi Yuze, do you like winter?"

Ryosuke watched her retreating figure. Her white shirt was tucked into her dark skirt, highlighting her slender waist. Her shoulders hunched slightly in the cold wind.

"generally."

“I like winter.” Saori turned around and leaned against the window frame. Her silhouette was bathed in a thin halo of light in the backlight. “Because in winter, I can legitimately get close to the person I like.”

She reached out her hand to him.

"come over."

Ryosuke stood up, walked over, and stood in front of her.

Saori reached out and pulled the zipper of his coat up a little more, then grabbed his collar with both hands and pulled him closer.

Don't forget Christmas Eve.

"I won't forget."

"If you forget, I'll never talk to you again."

"Is it that serious?"

"It's that serious."

Saori loosened his collar, wrapped her arms around his waist, and buried her face in his chest.

Ryosuke paused for a moment, then raised his hand and gently placed it on the back of her head.

The office was quiet, with only the low hum of the air conditioner and the occasional sound of a tram outside the window.

"Shi Yuze".

"Ah."

Will you always be by my side?

Ryosuke's fingers paused briefly in her hair.

Why are you suddenly asking this?

"I just want to know."

He paused for two seconds, then said:

"meeting."

Saori nuzzled against his chest, her voice muffled:

"That's a lie."

Why do you think I'm lying?

"Because you can't even think about what you'll eat tomorrow, how could you possibly think about things that far ahead?"

Ryosuke was left speechless, both amused and exasperated by her words.

"Then what are you asking?"

"I just want to hear what you have to say."

Saori raised her head, rested her chin on his chest, and looked up at him, her dark eyes reflecting his image.

Even if it's a lie, I still want to hear it.

Ryosuke looked down at her without saying a word.

Then he lowered his head and placed a very light kiss on her forehead.

Saori closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling.

Is this considered an answer?

"Calculate."

"not enough."

She tiptoed and pressed her lips to his.

The wind blowing in from the window carried the crisp chill unique to December, stirring the documents on the desk and lifting a corner of the curtains.

Saori's long hair fluttered in the wind, brushing against Ryosuke's cheek.

She kissed him very lightly and slowly, as if trying to stretch the moment out indefinitely.

After a long time, she finally let go of him, her cheeks flushed slightly.

"Okay, back to work."

She clapped her hands, turned around and walked back behind her desk, picked up the sales report again, and wore an expression that said "nothing happened".

But the red tips of her ears betrayed her.

.....

In the evening, Ryosuke returned home from the company.

Ling Nai's shoes were placed in the entryway, with a little mud on the surface, as if she had just come back from outside.

After changing his shoes, he passed through the living room and saw Ling Nai sitting cross-legged on the sofa, holding a remote control and idly changing channels on the TV screen.

"You're back?" She didn't even look up.

"Ah."

Ryosuke walked over and sat down next to her.

The television screen was showing a variety show, and a comedian was imitating something, which elicited laughter from the audience.

When she saw something funny, Ling Nai seemed to have been tickled, and her shoulders twitched a couple of times.

Ryosuke glanced at her.

This guy's mood has recovered quite well recently; at least he's not as lifeless as he was a while ago.

"Hey."

Ling Nai suddenly spoke, her gaze still fixed on the television screen.

"You're going on a date with the giantess on Christmas Eve, right?"

"Ah."

"And what about Christmas?"

Ryosuke was taken aback.

"Christmas?"

"It's the 25th, the day after Christmas Eve. You didn't make plans with anyone else, did you?"

Ling Nai tossed the remote control onto the sofa, turned to look at him, and her golden ponytail swayed with the movement.

That look in his eyes seemed to say, 'Dare to say you're involved, you're dead.'

Ryosuke was both amused and exasperated.

On Christmas Day, besides family, it seems like the only other time to spend it is with your girlfriend; it would be strange if you had any plans with her.

Saori said she had other things to do on Christmas Day and did not ask Ryosuke to accompany her.

At the company, White Album 2 has just been released, and there are dedicated people handling the subsequent maintenance and feedback collection, so he doesn't need to keep an eye on it.

The title for "Is This a Zombie?" has already been submitted, and Arina Haruba is currently working on her manuscript, so there's nothing for him to do for the time being.

In summary, Christmas Day was indeed a free day; I didn't even have any work.

"Not at the moment."

"Then leave it."

Ling Nai shifted her gaze back to the television, gave a soft hum, and then said casually.

"Leave some space?"

"Ah."

"doing what?"

"You're so long-winded. You'll find out when the time comes anyway."

She picked up the remote, changed the channel, and a food program popped up on the screen. The host was exaggeratingly praising the texture of a steak in front of the camera.

Ryosuke looked at her.

The girl's profile appeared calm in the light from the television screen, revealing nothing unusual.

"Couldn't you have told me beforehand?"

"No."

"why?"

"Because I don't want to say."

Ling Nai shoved the remote control into his hand, stood up from the sofa, and, wearing her Buffet slippers, headed for the stairs.

Halfway there, she stopped and turned to look at him.

"Oh, right."

"Remember to dress warmly on Christmas Eve, so you don't catch a cold."

Her voice paused for a moment.

"While I don't care whether your date with the Giantess goes well or not, I'd be really bothered if you caught a cold and couldn't go out on Christmas Day."

After saying that, she ran upstairs without looking back.

Ryosuke sat on the sofa, holding the remote control in his hand, looking at the empty stairwell, somewhat puzzled.