Christmas Eve

“So, tell me, did I do a good job?”

Minami’s gaze was piercing Satoko’s eyes with an intensity she had never seen before. His jowls were blushing and his eyes were somewhat narrowed, looking at her with an eager expression, as if he needed to hear those words from her.

Satoko batted her eyebrows multiple times, trying to ignore the heat she felt on her body.

I feel strange, what… What should I do? She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling butterflies in her stomach. This is not good, I think I’ll run away…

But, as soon as she opened her eyelids, she was drawn by his magnetic glance, and she found herself lost in his glamorous amber eyes once again. They were framed by strands of his golden hair that fell orderly around them and shone under the light of the setting sun.

Time seemed to stop, as she was staring admiringly at him.

He looks ethereal, just like an angel.

Without thinking, she raised her arm and patted his head softly.

“Yes, you did a good job.” She timidly smiled behind her scarf. “You were handsome today.”

Minami widened his eyes for the surprise and immediately looked away, covering his cheeks with a hand, all shook-up.

“I’m glad” he whispered.

He closed his eyes for a bit, then turned to look at her again.

“Itou-san…” he called with a soft and airy voice.

Satoko glanced up. “Yes?”

Minami hesitated, as if he wanted to say something, but then he bit his lips and hinted at a smile.

“Shall we go?”

Oh, right, we’re still in class. Satoko realised.

“Okay.”

Minami took a few steps back to distance himself from her, with an expression that seemed a little embarrassed.

“It’s already the second time this has happened, I’m sorry.”

Satoko waved her hands and shook her head.

“D-Don’t worry, it’s fine.”

I love how thoughtful he is. She smiled a little, until she reflected on his words.

Wait, the second time? When was the first time?

She glanced at him, confused, but he was already walking away. He glanced back with a smile.

“That’s good. Let’s go, then!”

She followed him, clueless. I wonder what he meant by that.

“Oh right, about your friends, Itou-san…”

N-No, please! Satoko’s body stiffened. Don’t tell me he found out! My dignity will disappear in a second if—

“...They helped us a lot, but I didn’t have time to thank them properly. Could you thank them on my behalf?”

Satoko interrupted her flow of thoughts and stared blankly at him. It was only that… She relaxed her body. I panicked for nothing.

“O-Of course.”

Minami smiled with his eyes closed. “Thank you!”

Thank goodness he’s naive enough to not recognise them. Satoko thought, thanking heaven.

***

After the school festival, Satoko, Mei and Watanabe went to eat dinner together at a ramen place.

With a lot of embarrassment, Satoko told them everything that happened between her and Minami earlier at school because she couldn’t keep it all inside her chest.

“Girl, he clearly likes you!” Watanabe exclaimed, bickering in a mischievous way.

“N-No, it’s impossible!” Satoko shook her head, blushing.

Mei placed her head on one hand, resting her elbow on the table.

“Well, the other option is that he understood that you’re Satoshi and he wanted an objective opinion on his performance as a butler.”

“That’s even worse!” Satoko grumbled.

“Luckily, that’s not the case. I mean, what was that” — she raised Watanabe’s chin and looked at her with a dead serious expression — “‘I care only about your opinion’?”

Watanabe clapped her hands enthusiastically.

“He’s so down bad, kyaaaa! I love when boys act all soft and vulnerable!”

Satoko glared at both of them.

You’re embarrassing me even more this way!

Watanabe pointed at herself proudly. “Satoko-chan, let me tell you: as an expert romance reader, I can certainly diagnose that Minami-kun suffers from a desperate love for you.”

Satoko glanced at her, lost. Why is she treating it like a disease?

“Are you a doctor, now?” Mei asked, ironically.

“It was just a metaphor!” Watanabe replied.

Mei gave a laugh, then turned to Satoko. “Listen, this is your chance, Satoko. You’ve liked him since the first year and now there’s only a half year left before we finish high school: if you don’t do it now, you will lose him.”

“Don’t be so tragic…” Satoko complained.

“I’m not tragic, I’m realistic.” Mei shrugged. “I don’t want to hear your complaints when you regret not doing anything, so you’d better talk about it with him and get together already.”

Me and Minami-kun together as a couple? Satoko scoffed. As if…

“How can you be so sure that he likes me? What if he doesn’t and confessing to him will just ruin my last months in highschool, that are supposed to be a good memory?”

Watanabe shook her head in a stern way. “You’re overthinking it, there are all the signs. Trust me!”

“Also, if he says no, it’s not that deep: you keep living as you always do. On the contrary, you’ll free yourself of a burden, regardless of his answer” Mei added.

Watanabe nodded. “Yeah, Mei is right. If you don’t do it, you’ll regret it. Life is one and you have to live it, am I right?”

Satoko reflected on it. If I don’t do it, will I regret it?

She picked up a piece of meat with the chopsticks and put it in her mouth.

There’s not a lot of time left until I finish high school. After that, I won’t see Minami-kun again.

She felt a pang in her heart only thinking about it and her expression saddened.

Yes, they’re right: I would probably regret it.

***

About a month later

Satoko’s shift at The Nightingale had just finished and she was about to leave the cafe, as well as her colleagues. At that moment, Mr. Ikeda reached them on the second floor.

“Hello, my dear young butlers!” He smiled all perky. “How are you planning to spend your Christmas Eve?”

“You know I don’t have plans, I can work” Hiroto replied.

“What a dedicated part-time worker!” Mr. Ikeda clapped his hands happily.

“It’s the same for me. I don’t have a girlfriend, sadly” Kenji said.

“Yeah, me too, but not sadly” Akito replied.

“Perfect, then we will open tomorrow too.” Mr. Ikeda turned to Satoko. “And you, Miss Itou? I suppose you have someone special, right?”

Satoko furrowed her eyebrows, confused.

What is he talking about?

“No, actually. I can work too.”

Mr. Ikeda stared blankly at her, bewildered.

“Are you telling me that you and that blondie are still not together?”

“W-What?!” Satoko reddened to the tip of her ears, embarrassed. “N-No! Why would you think that?”

“I mean, he looks at you like you’re the love of his life, especially this last period” Akito added.

“I’m sorry, Satoshi, but I had the same idea…” Kenji said, mortified.

Satoko’s jaw dropped. Kenji, not you too… She lowered her head, sheepish. That’s not true, I can’t believe they really thought so!

The only one who was as surprised as Satoko was Hiroto.

“What are you talking about? Aren’t they acting as usual?” he asked, as fallen from the clouds.

Thank you, Hiroto, at least one normal person. Satoko thought, almost moved.

“Wow, even Kenji understood it better than you” Akito commented.

Mr. Ikeda patted Hiroto’s shoulder with pity.

“It’s fine, we know you’re not very discerning regarding certain matters.”

Hiroto moved his hand away, annoyed.

“Don’t treat me like I’m dumb!”

“Fine, fine.” Mr. Ikeda chuckled. “Well, then, I’ll see you tomorrow!”

Everyone left the cafe and Satoko started walking home. The streets were decorated with golden and blue illuminations, giving her a sense of joy.

I love when Tokyo is decorated for Christmas, everything is so shiny!

At that moment, she glimpsed a couple walking hand by hand amidst the crowded streets and what Mr. Ikeda told about her and Minami came to her mind.

How could they believe that? We’re not even that close…

She grabbed the edge of the coat’s sleeves with both hands.

It’s not that I wouldn’t like it, but I just can’t bring myself to tell him.

She pursed her lips, trying to hold back tears.

I’m too scared that he would hate me. After all, I lied to him all this time, knowing how he felt towards Satoshi.

She covered her face behind her white gloves.

I’m terrible. I hope you can forgive me, Minami-kun.

At that moment, a vibration distracted her from her inner thoughts.

A message? Who could it be?

She took her phone out from her pocket and took a glove off to unlock it. When she read who was the sender, she almost let the phone fall on the ground, startled.

M-Minami-kun?!

“Hello, Itou-san, are you free tomorrow?” she read in a whisper.

Her hand trembled and a tear of regret ran down her cheek.

I just told the boss I could work!!