Christmas Of Fire!-The Moment Of Judgement

“I’m spending it with Isshiki-kun.”

At those words, the venue fell into a deathly silence. Even I, the person who should have been expecting this, gazed at her with disbelief.

…I’ve been hoping for these words all along, and I carried out this plan for this very reason, yet…

Kamokura, who had been listening as if dazed, finally managed to move his mouth.

“That’s… a lie, right?”

Toko-senpai shook her head sadly.

“It’s true. I’ve made up my mind.”

“Breaking up with me… for a guy like this? …For someone like Isshiki?”

“Isshiki-kun is sincere. At the very least, he doesn’t lie to me.”

She informed him quietly and flatly. Kamokura turned eyes full of hatred toward me and shouted.

“You! A guy like you could never be a match for Toko!”

But I snapped back at him firmly.

“I know that! But while you were cheating with Karen, I was fighting alongside Toko-senpai the whole time. we supported each other through our shared pain! You are the one who isn’t worthy of her!”

“Don’t screw with me! In the first place, those lodging tickets were gifted to me and Toko. I won’t allow you to go with another man!”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Kamokura-san!”

It was Kazumi-san who flatly denied him.

“You agreed just a moment ago to hand both those tickets over to Toko. How she uses them is entirely up to her!”

With an expression like he was grinding his teeth, Kamokura pointed at me next.

“Shut up! Toko, you’re being deceived by this guy, by Isshiki! Don’t lose yourself!”

But to those words, Toko-senpai once again shook her head sadly.

“That’s the same line Karen-san used earlier. Tetsuya, don’t say something so disappointing at the very end.”

“No, absolutely not! Toko is mine!”

With that, Kamokura tried to lunge at Toko-senpai. I stepped forward to block him.

“Move, Isshiki!”

“I won’t! You’re the one who needs to back off!”

For a moment, Kamokura and I were scuffling. However, Nakazaki-san, the circle leader, immediately stepped in to stop it.

“Stop it, Kamokura! Toko-san’s heart has already left you! Give it up!”

Simultaneously, a chorus of boos erupted from the venue.

“Yeah, get away from Toko-san!”

“It’s your own fault, Kamokura-san!”

“Stealing your junior’s girlfriend is the lowest!”

“You reap what you sow!”

“You’re being pathetic, Kamokura!”

“Why would you choose someone like Karen!?”

“I’m disillusioned!”

“Disgusting!”

Fierce voices of condemnation, from both men and women, focused their fire on Kamokura.

“…Toko…”

The name leaked faintly from Kamokura’s mouth. But that voice likely wasn’t heard by everyone in the room. Probably only by Nakazaki-san, myself, and Toko-senpai, who were standing right there.

“…Toko…”

Kamokura repeated the name powerlessly. All the strength had drained from his body; he looked as if he was being held up by Nakazaki-san. It was the first time I had seen him look so weak and miserable.

Then, I gasped. I looked back at Toko-senpai. In that moment, she was…

While feigning a blank expression…

She was biting her lower lip ever so slightly.

And I alone understood. Toko-senpai was crying. Not with physical tears, but in her heart.

…Tetsuya is the type who can be the center of any group, but there’s no one who will help him when he’s truly in trouble…

…In those moments, I wanted to be the one to stay by his side…

Toko-senpai had said that before. And now, this situation…

When the storm of condemnation from the crowd subsided slightly, Toko-senpai spoke again.

“Tetsuya, there is something I want you to answer…”

Everyone’s gaze focused on her. Kamokura lifted his head weakly.

“The fact that I am breaking up with you here won’t change. I’ve already decided that…”

Toko-senpai paused for a moment. Then she spoke slowly, as if lecturing him.

“But depending on you, I will tear these lodging vouchers to shreds.”

I caught my breath. That meant she would cancel the plan to “spend the night with me.”

But I thought, Maybe that would be okay. I wanted to cherish Toko-senpai’s feelings. I didn’t want to leave Toko-senpai—the person who had supported me and helped me realize this revenge—feeling sad.

“Consider this your last chance to stop me tonight.”

Despite his dazed expression, Kamokura nodded his head firmly. The entire venue went silent.

“Tetsuya, from your perspective, what was my charm?”

Kamokura looked as if he didn’t understand the meaning of the question. He stared at Toko-senpai with a blank, gaping expression.

“To you, Tetsuya, what is my charm?”

Toko-senpai repeated the same words. She was staring at Kamokura with eyes that were almost frightening.

“Th-that’s… everything.”

Kamokura spoke, seemingly overwhelmed by Toko-senpai’s presence.

“What do you mean by ‘everything’?”

“I mean every part of you is charming, Toko.”

“I don’t want such an abstract answer. I want you to say it in a way I can understand. In a way that reaches me…”

Everyone listened intently to Toko-senpai’s quiet voice.

“W-well, Toko, you’re a beauty…”

Toko-senpai watched Kamokura in silence.

“You have a great figure, and your fashion sense is good too.”

Toko-senpai simply listened to what Kamokura was saying, without a word.

“You’re smart, and you have a strong sense of self. You aren’t swayed by the opinions of those around you.”

Toko-senpai gazed at Kamokura quietly—yes, just quietly.

“Your language is polite, and you’re refined and feminine…”

I looked back and forth between Toko-senpai and Kamokura.

“Is that all?”

Toko-senpai asked, as if to make sure.

“What do you mean ‘is that all’… what else am I supposed to say…?”

Toko-senpai closed her eyes. Then, after a long silence, she let out a deep sigh.

“Goodbye, Tetsuya.”

With that, Toko-senpai took my arm. “Let’s go, Isshiki-kun,” she said, and began walking toward the exit. The crowd in the venue parted to make a path for the two of us.

“Toko!”

Kamokura shouted. But Toko-senpai didn’t look back at him again.

Near the exit, she picked up her belongings. I followed suit and grabbed mine. Taking my arm once more, Toko-senpai stood before the exit and said this without looking back:

“Tetsuya, I think you should be more honest with yourself, too. Maybe that’s where we failed.”

Leaving those words behind, she walked out of the shop with me.