On the first day of winter break, I was at the meeting place for my date with Satou. I'm already accustomed to dates, to the point where I can gauge from the other person's personality how many minutes early to arrive so neither of us has to wait.

And I make a point of arriving five minutes earlier than the estimated time to ensure the other person doesn't wait.

Sure enough, Satou also arrived about five minutes after I did.

Satou: "Sorry, did you wait?"

Kiyotaka: "No, I just got here."

Satou: "Okay then, let's go!"

Kiyotaka: "Before that, your outfit suits you. It's my first time seeing you in casual clothes, Satou."

At my words, Satou's face turned red.

Satou: "Th-thanks. You look good too, Ayanokoji-kun."

Kiyotaka: "I see. Thank you."

Satou: "W-well then, shall we go to a movie first?" 'Geez, why doesn't he get flustered! Ah, right, because he's told this all the time.'

Kiyotaka: "Sure."

After that, I entertained Satou using the various techniques I've cultivated through past dates. Making reservations at the restaurant, paying the bill before she could offer, etc...

Satou: "Hey, Ayanokoji-kun, aren't you kind of experienced at this?"

Kiyotaka: "Experienced?"

Satou: "I mean, you seem like you have a high level of dating experience."

'Did I put in too much effort?'

Kiyotaka: "Really? I just did what seemed natural."

Satou: "The level of 'natural' is way too high!"

'Finding the right balance is difficult.'

After that, since it was the Christmas season, I suggested we go look for some kind of present. Satou nodded, though she seemed embarrassed.

Then, after we finished choosing a present, we went to see the illuminations at Satou's suggestion.

Satou: "It's beautiful."

Kiyotaka: "Yeah."

'If she were my girlfriend, I might say something like, You're more beautiful, but I can't do that yet.'

And on the way back, we arrived at that place where I received my first confession in the first loop.

Satou: "Um... well... P-please go out with me! Ayanokoji-kun!!"

As expected, Satou confessed to me. Unlike last time, I had already decided on my answer.

Kiyotaka: "I also like you, Satou, in a romantic sense. But that might not be in a form that satisfies you."

Satou: "Wh-what do you mean?"

Satou was bewildered, caught between the joy of being told "I like you" and the indication that it might not lead to satisfaction.

'Well, no one would expect the person they fell for is aiming for a harem...'

Kiyotaka: "It's odd to say this myself, but you know that many girls harbor feelings for me, right?"

Satou: "Y-yeah. That's why I thought I had to act quickly too."

Kiyotaka: "Actually..."

Satou: "Actually?"

Kiyotaka: "All the girls I call by their first names are dating me, with mutual acknowledgement among everyone."

Satou: "H-huh?"

'A familiar reaction. It's just that the first two or three were abnormal. The most abnormal one is definitely me, though.'

Satou: "I still don't fully understand, but... is that a harem?"

Kiyotaka: "Frankly speaking, yes. Ultimately, I aim to change Japanese law and realize polygamy."

Satou: "The leap in logic is terrifying. Actually, the reason you were in Class D despite having such specs..."

Kiyotaka: "Yeah. Maybe it was judged as defective thinking. Even if this fact itself wasn't known, perhaps something seeped through."

In reality, it was the result of the director's consideration, but there's no point in saying that, so I kept quiet.

Satou: "How can the class leaders do something like that and not get caught?"

Kiyotaka: "Wouldn't you, Satou, know that better than anyone?"

Satou: "True... it's evaluated as you getting along with everyone equally..."

Kiyotaka: "Exactly. It's surprisingly not a problem. Even when I'm with leaders of other classes, it's assumed to be secret talks for deals or something."

Satou: "I-I see..."

Kiyotaka: "So, what do you want to do, Satou? If you're disillusioned, you're free to spread this fact around."

I presented her with a 'do or die' choice. Give up on me, or accept this and gain a future together with me.

Incidentally, even if she spread the fact, I could deny it using Kei or Kikyo, who have more influence. Without evidence beyond a verbal statement, it's not an issue. Though it would slightly damage my credibility.

Satou: "I... I'll accept it if I can be with you, Ayanokoji-kun."

Kiyotaka: "I see. Thank you, Maya."

When I called her by her first name, she looked bashful.

Maya: "Yeah. Take care of me, Kiyotaka."

After that, unlike last time when she ran off, this time we walked back together. That was only natural. She seemed to want to hold hands, but I refused, asking her to "be careful not to get caught."

After returning home, I made a cake for the first Christmas party tomorrow.

'If I do say so myself, it turned out well. Everyone should be pleased.'

And then, after hiding everyone's individual presents and making lots for the gift exchange, I went to sleep.

* * *

The next morning, I was awakened by a voice I've been familiar with since childhood.

Yuki: "Morning, Kiyotaka."

Kiyotaka: "Yuki, come here."

Yuki: "Hm?"

I pulled the approaching Yuki onto the bed using just the strength of my arms.

Yuki: "Not in the morning! Everyone else is coming too!"

Kiyotaka: "I want to sleep a little more. Since you came, be my body pillow."

Yuki: "Geez. Only for thirty minutes."

There was no way thirty minutes would suffice, and I ended up holding her for over an hour.

After separating from Yuki, I had a light breakfast and called everyone. As expected, I hesitated to hold the introduction meeting and the Christmas party on the same day, so I hadn't invited Maya. That's also why I gave her the present yesterday.

And then, after a while, everyone had gathered, and the first Christmas party of the Ayanokoji Harem began.

That said, since there are hardly any forms of entertainment in my room, we decided to start with the gift exchange right away.

Honami: "If it's a gift exchange, someone might have chosen something we can play with!"

Arisu: "I just hope there aren't any duplicates."

Kiyotaka: "It should be fine. After all, everyone here is quite unique."

Kikyo: "I think you, Kiyotaka-kun, fit that description the most."

Suzune: "Indeed. You're probably the only one who would think of creating a harem."

Airi: "But if it makes everyone happy... isn't that okay?"

Haruka: "Yeah, yeah, just like Airi said."

Yuki: "From the perspective of someone who's known about this since he was thirteen, I don't feel anything about it anymore."

Hiyori: "But it's only possible because you, Kiyotaka-kun, have the power to make it happen."

Kei: "Yeah, yeah! Kiyotaka's amazing, after all!"

My unnecessary comment derailed the conversation, but the gift exchange began.

We decided to use number tickets, drawing in the order of winning at rock-paper-scissors.

When we opened the presents, Kei, who had drawn the winning ticket, raised her voice.

Kei: "Who bought the Swi◯ch!"

Everyone looked at me. It seemed I'd been found out.

Kiyotaka: "It was me."

Kei: "You proposed a gift exchange without knowing the going rate!?"

Kiyotaka: "I thought that no matter whose hands it fell into, everyone would play together."

Kei: "Are you okay on points? You spent ten million on Hiyori-chan's transfer, right?"

Kiyotaka: "I have about six million left. Separate from the class savings, of course."

Kei: "I was an idiot for asking you. Why do you have so much?"

Kiyotaka: "Nagumo is very generous with his charity."

Honami: "Nyahaha, I don't think that counts as 'charity'~"

Thanks to my Swi◯ch, the impact of other gifts was diminished, but the gift exchange ended without a hitch.

After that, we took turns playing Sma◯h Bros. Since up to six people can play with controllers, having everyone except the top two players rotate works smoothly. All hail Sma◯h Bros.

Of course, I had also purchased six Pro◯on controllers beforehand, so everyone could play in an equal environment. It's been a while since I've had such an expense.

Yuki: "Kiyotaka, let's set a limit on the price."

Kiyotaka: "We needed controllers for this many people to play. Besides, this is pocket change."

Honami: "You sound like Nagumo-senpai."

Kiyotaka: "I dislike that comparison. I'll be more careful from now on."

As expected, being thought of in the same light as Nagumo was distasteful, so I genuinely resolved to be more mindful.

After that, we ate Christmas-appropriate foods like chicken and pizza, and then it was time for cake.

I placed my proud creation on the table.

Arisu: "Oh my, where did you buy this?"

Kiyotaka: "It's obviously homemade."

When I said it as a matter of course, the girls froze.

Honami: "When you celebrated my birthday, you bought one, right?"

Kiyotaka: "Yeah. If I made one for someone, it would reveal that I can bake. So I refrained until now to keep it a surprise."

Hiyori: "You made this after coming home yesterday?"

Kiyotaka: "Yeah. It took quite a bit of time."

Yuki: "That's why you looked sleepy this morning and used me as a body pillow."

Everyone: "Yuki 'Yukki' -san -chan!?"

Yuki let it slip, and the atmosphere dropped to freezing point.

'The heater is on, right?'

Kiyotaka: "Anyway, that's how it is. I'm baking tomorrow's cake today too, so please try not to stay up too late tonight."

Hiyori: "Understood. But you won't do something like only using Yuki-san as a body pillow, will you?"

Suzune: "Indeed. You've seemed busy lately, so we've been enduring it."

Arisu: "There's no need to worry. Kiyotaka-kun will attend to everyone."

After that, we somehow managed to settle things by deciding to take turns spending time with each other on days excluding today and the New Year's holiday. And so, I baked the cake.