Christmas is coming up.
I love Christmas!
Me too! It makes me all warm and tingly.
Hmm-hmm!
Huh?
Isn’t that Kusuda’s desk?
Hey, just whaddaya think you’re doing sitting at my desk, Sogabe?
It’s hard to see the blackboard.
Hey, in front of the station, there’s a big Christmas tree that’s totally cute!
Have you all seen it?
Now I get it.
Really?
That’s pretty ballsy of you.
The way you’re going… you two might hook up this winter vacation.
Shh! Don’t reveal it!
It’s really important that I’m where she can see me!
While having your back turned to her?
Real men shut up and let their backs do the talking.
The back reveals the silent pain of being a man, a pain that Chikura-san will surely understand!
Looks like that trick ain’t working.
Chikura-san’s just shy. If I can just be alone with her, talk to her, make her laugh…
That’s it!
What the-?
What the hell?
If that’s how it is, then I just need to spend time with her on Christmas Eve!
Sure you will-in your dreams when you make a wish to Santa.
I didn’t say I wanted to meet her in my dreams.
This is real life we’re talking about here!
Can’t… breathe!
I just know Chikura-san will be spending that time with Enomoto and the gang.
It’ll be completely different with her if we get them to join us.
Completely different…?
What? A Christmas party?
Yup! It’d be fun if we all chow down and go nuts together.
You’ve sure got some nerve even to suggest that.
Especially with that face of yours. That kappa face.
Shut your blowhole, pruny!
Are you coming too, Zaitsu-kun?
I think I’ll pass on tha-
Kusuda-kun, just when did you take these?
Wha-What the?
Come with us and I’ll erase ’em permanently.
Yes! Zaitsu-kun will be coming!
All right!
Ayumi?
I’ll come too. Everybody should come!
Nice, Arihara-san!
Jeez, that girl…
Screw it, I’ll come too.
I’ll pass.
"I need to spend Christmas together with my Big Brother!"
Ooh, I wanted to say that myself!
Chikura-chan and Doba-chan are okay to go, right?
Oh, I’m taking a pass too.
Why? Club stuff?
You can say that something’s come up… probably.
Are you serious? It’s not like you have a boyfriend or anything.
How… how do you feel about this Chikura-san?
I don’t have anything planned.
So if Kei-chan and Ayumi-chan are going, I guess I’ll come along.
Score!
A Christmas with Zaitsu-kun!
A Christmas with Chikura-san!
And it will be three boys with three girls!
What about if everyone exchanges presents?
That’ll be great! Of course it’ll be from girls to boys…
And boys to girls.
Definitely!
Since when have those two been that close?
Dunno.
So I’ll be spending… Christmas with Kusuda?
"A guy will be happy even with a poorly-done homemade present if it’s made with love."
"Akio, High-school Junior."
Yeah right.
This is Kusuda. He’d definitely make fun of me again if I tried giving him that.
What should I get him?
I can’t think of anything that’ll please him except for porno mags, manga and whatnot.
Wait, why am I even assuming I’d be giving Kusuda anything?
I’m just as likely to be paired up with the other two guys.
But there’s still a one-third chance that I’ll be paired up with Kusuda.
So I gotta choose something that’ll make him get on his knees with gratitude and tears of joy.
Thank you so much for giving me something so wonderful!
And even after all the mean crap I said about you… I’m sorry!
Yeah, that’ll happen.
The truth is, I was mean to you only because I didn’t want to admit that I am in love with you.
Wait… what’s going on?
There’s no way that you’re in love with me.
I’ve always acted cold towards you.
And anyway, we’re totally not right for each other!
But you can tell by this wild fantasy that you’re into me.
But a guy equals his looks. Looks are everything!
When you stare at me with those dead fish eyes of yours…
When you stare at me… I…
Yuu…
What’s making you fret in your birthday suit, Kei-chan?
I will never admit it.
I was proposed to by a man making thirteen million a year just the other day.
But still…
Why is that…
That…
That guy who’s crappy in both looks and substance making my heart ache?
He really is a slimebucket.
Have you bought your Christmas present, Ayumi-chan?
Not yet. I guess I’ll have to think about that soon, right?
No kidding.
That’s right, what to do about the present…
How about we go shopping later?
Sure, what time?
Now that I think about it, this is the very first time I’ve bought a present for a boy.
Though I have received tons from boys.
This is adorable!
But I guess no guy would like this.
Ah!
This color’s sure to look good on Joe Blow Kusuda.
And I haven’t seen him wear a muffler.
So this’ll probably do.
Why the hell is Kusuda here?!
Did you come here to buy a present too?
Well excuse me! ’Sides, what’s up with that?
No self respecting guy would ever wear a gaudy-looking muffler like that!
Yes they will.
Do you even have one ounce of fashion sense? If not, then zip it!
Are those gloves, Kusuda?
That’s weird. I thought you’d be getting kinky lingerie or something like that.
Hmph, you’re more kinky than me.
I-I was just saying what’s going on in your…
I’d never buy anything like that.
Maybe for you anyways.
But I might be paired up with Arihara or Chikura for all I know.
You really do think like a geezer in heat, Enomoto.
Why does he treat Chikura and Ayumi like normal girls?
But, me… only me!
Enomot—
And what about you?
You think there’s any girl on earth that’ll be psyched over getting those tacky gloves?
If I was getting ’em, you know I’d dumpster those pink gloves in a heartbeat!
You probably got them from some bargain-basement sale, didn’t you?
Who’d think that anyone would get a present that’s on clearance?
You just have no clue what a girl wants, do you—?
Now wait!
What are you… Uh, hey…
Kusuda!
What am I gonna do? I just hurt his feelings.
Cold! Cold!
Crap, I’m late!
’Sup.
Uh… good morning.
Thank God. He doesn’t look pissed about what happened yesterday.
Hey, Kusuda…
What’s with those socks?
They couldn’t have come at a worst time!
I want to apologize for what happened yesterday.
It’s not like he’s brushing me off or anything.
But it’s definitely not like how it used to be.
Why did I blurt out those mean things?
I definitely need to apologize for what happened back then.
Yeah!
C’mon! Kusuda-kun, give me back my test!
But the more I want to tell him, the more time goes past…
…the more I become unable to put it out there.
Enomoto!
Yowch!
What was that about, Dobashi?
You’ve been navel-gazing an awful lot lately.
What are you… a She-Hulk?
Oho, there’s the verbal abuse I remember!
Huh?
It’s not like Enomoto the Alpha Girl to brood over stuff.
I am not brooding!
Alright, fine then.
It’s nothing really.
Just wondering if we even have the right people for the Christmas party and junk.
Christmas, huh?
Huh? You’re not worrying about something too, are you?
Dobashi-san!
What’s going on?
I know you’re going home with a friend, I’m sorry.
But can I have a moment with you?
Who’s he?
A guy from my school club.
There’s something I really need to talk to you about.
Sorry, but it looks like I’ll be going with him.
Later.
Huh? Did Dobashi…
…smile just now?
Forget her, the issue here is the Christmas party.
I don’t want to go with this feeling that I have.
They only got worse.
Kei-chan! Kei-chan!
What?
I’m not showing my report card to anyone, so don’t ask.
No, I wasn’t asking about that.
Hey, have you decided on what you’re going to wear to the Christmas get-together?
Not yet.
In that case, will you lay off wearing pink for me?
Lay off? We can wear what we want, right?
I just don’t want our clothes to clash.
Clash?
Look, I know you like pink.
Huh?
Are you saying that everyone thinks I like pink?
It’s true, isn’t it?
You have tons of pink stuff, Kei-chan!
Your pencil case, your notebook, your muffler, the bands you use to tie your hair back…
Those gloves…
Were they… for me?
There’s no way… that could be, right?
Anyway, what kind of face should I put on?
In any case, I’m gonna leave with a smile.
No more being a spaz. I’m going to keep it natural, normal and cool!
Sorry!
Am I the last one here?
Guess not.
Y… Yeah…
It’s not like Ayumi and Chikura to be late.
Well…
While we were waiting, a Santa guy collapsed.
Zaitsu-kun said he’d take him to the hospital.
Zaitsu-kun! Over here!
I swear it’s like someone lit a fire to his rescuing spirit.
And Ayumi’s with him now?
Huh? My cell?
Oh, it’s Chikura.
Hello?
Hi.
It looks like I caught a col—
I was really looking forward to today.
I’m really sorry. Please tell everyone I’m sorry.
Yeah, okay. Take care.
Chikura’s not coming because of a cold.
I see.
A cold’s a cold I guess.
I’m going!
What?
I’m going to check up on her.
I’m the only one that can save her.
What the heck? Does Sogabe have a thing for Chikura?
Charge!
Yup.
I had no idea.
Then that means I’m alone with Kusuda?!
But right now we’re literally in the middle of a cold war.
This might be a chance for some major detente.
This time I am really gonna apologize.
Uh…
I don’t like the vibes I’m getting.
It’s making it impossible for me to apologize.
Gawd! What do I have to do?!
Guess I’m off.
Huh?
It’ll be a sucky Christmas party if it’s just the two of us.
I’m calling it a night.
Now hold on!
Since we’re here, why don’t we have something to eat?
I’m starting to starve here.
Like I give a rat’s ass if you are.
But if I go home, there won’t be anything for me to eat.
It’s the same thing for you, right?
If you go home now, you won’t be left with any food!
So…
It’s snowing!
Fine, let’s go grab a bite.
Huh?
Hey, wait up!
I don’t believe this.
Well then, what shall I have…?
This is Christmas for God’s sake!
I wasn’t hoping for a hotel restaurant with a gorgeous night view… but why this place?
It doesn’t even have a damn Christmas menu!
Plus, we’re stuck to a wall!
No, I can’t think about those things right now.
I finally got Kusuda right before my eyes…
Huh?
Waitress! People are peeking at your panties!
Anyway, will you take our order?
Oh, sorry!
Uh… all right, I’ll take your order.
I’ll have the meat spaghetti!
Hey! At least pick something more Christmasy!
And what’ll you have?
I’ll have the hamburger steak set with a shortcake.
How’s that even remotely Christmasy?
It is! It has the shortcake!
I’ll repeat the order for you:
Meat spaghetti, hamburger steak set and a shortcake.
Will that be all for you?
Yes.
Your order will arrive shortly.
And she’s gone.
And she had a ripe pair on her too.
What the hell?
I’m here too, you know.
Christmas…
And here I thought it’s a day for the whole world to be merry.
At least it was what I thought.
Kusuda!
Let’s go to one more place.
Really, like where?
Maybe do some karaoke, or bowl?
They say there’s no vacancy in any of the karaoke bars.
And there are two-hour waits at the bowling alleys.
Wh… Hey-Kusuda! Wait up!
No.
Wait.
I haven’t even apologized yet.
We can’t leave feeling this way.
I don’t wanna leave like this!
Yeah! Whoo!
Yay!
I’m the first to play in the park’s snow.
Check it out, it’s really piled up!
What the hell are you doing?
What’s wrong with you?
You go running off by yourself.
This is nothing like Christmas!
You’re always a perv!
And you’re still gross to look at!
Wait, hold on!
Why are you always…
…so cold to me!
You’re the one to talk.
You’re always such a nag towards me.
Even today it’s been nothing but "Do this! Do that!"
That’s because you’re totally insensitive.
Fine!
Then just leave me the hell alone!
You don’t care how anyone feels.
I was actually…
gonna give you…
Welp, snowball fight’s over.
I’m leaving!
I told you it’s over!
And this is…?
It’s… it’s your Christmas present.
So it’s that gaudy-ass muffler, huh?
I brought it with me, so I might as well.
Thanks.
Fine, here’s yours.
I also brought it along, so you might as well have it.
Uh, thank you.
What in God’s name is this?
You know it’s from me!
I’m sorry.
Huh?
I said some pretty mean stuff back then.
Truth is, I thought they weren’t half bad.
Actually, I thought those pink gloves would seriously look good on me!
But even so…
Dang! I guess I must be a Vulcan.
Huh?
Those are…
I actually bought those right after the fact.
Look! I always knew pink looked good on me!
Won’t pink work with any girl?
Why don’t you try on the muffler I gave you?
No thank you.
Come on, don’t be shy!
You airhead, are you trying to kill me?
Friggin’ pruneface.
Whatsamatta, Kappa-face?
Are you in love right now?
Enomoto found out that I’m going out with Terai from my tennis club,
and now she’s telling me to not put up walls.
I should stick with giving crash courses in tennis.