On December 25th, I went to the student council room carrying the cake and the yogurt maker. No one was inside yet.

'For now, I'll put the cake in the refrigerator. As for the yogurt maker... it's wrapped, so it's fine as is.'

Next, Manabu and Tachibana arrived. Tachibana was carrying many party games.

'They're as close as ever. I wish there were some way to get them together...'

Manabu: "You're early, Kiyotaka."

Tachibana: "Good morning, Ayanokoji-kun. No, President."

Kiyotaka: "It feels strange being called President."

Tachibana: "It was a joke. The only one I want to call President is Horikita-kun."

Manabu: "True. Come to think of it, it's been that way since my first year."

Kiyotaka: "Well, I hope both of you enjoy today."

Manabu: "Yeah."

Tachibana: "Thank you for inviting us! I brought lots of things we can all enjoy together!"

Kiyotaka: "You can look forward to the cake."

Manabu: "You made it?"

Kiyotaka: "Yeah. It's in the refrigerator now. Showing it will be a treat for when we eat."

Tachibana: "I'm looking forward to it!"

After that, Honami arrived, but the two second-years were taking a while, so we chatted while playing the Game of Life that Tachibana had brought.

Kiyotaka: "I'm thinking of recruiting more members since we're short-handed, but I'm unsure who to choose."

Manabu: "Do you have any candidates in mind?"

Kiyotaka: "On the contrary, I have too many, so I'm hesitating."

Tachibana: "Why not just let everyone join? Ah! I landed on a payment space again!"

Manabu: "You mean those female students you're often with. I'll take 100,000 dollars."

Tachibana: "Horikita-kun, that's unfair! Give me some money too. I have two promissory notes, you know."

'Yeah, thanks to the Game of Life, the conversation isn't really sinking in.'

Honami: "Didn't Nagumo-senpai bring someone along before?"

Kiyotaka: "I kicked them out, of course. If both of them joined, the numerical ratio against the Nagumo faction would be the same. I don't intend to add any second-years."

Manabu: "A wise decision. Whether it's a second-year or a first-year, new additions are the same. In that case, I think you should add first-years who will definitely side with you."

Kiyotaka: "I also considered adding Arisu, the leader of Class B, but I decided against it. There were concerns about menial tasks due to her physical handicap, and the fact that I didn't add Katsuragi. I don't want the student council president to encourage something that could be a decisive factor in factional strife. The remaining candidates would be Yuki, Kikyo, Suzune, and Hiyori."

Honami: "What about Shiro-kun?"

Kiyotaka: "He refused, saying it was too much trouble. He'll move for the sake of the class, but apparently he doesn't want to go out of his way for the student council."

Tachibana: "Geez, enough of the stiff talk. Let's just enjoy ourselves today."

Kiyotaka: "You're right. Sorry."

After that, even after Kiriyama and Nagumo arrived, we continued the Game of Life and played until a winner was decided.

The results, from first place down, were: Manabu, Honami, me, and Tachibana. It proved that even I can lose when it comes down to pure luck.

When the Game of Life ended, it was time for the gift exchange.

We decided who would receive which present by drawing lots, then opened them all at once. And I ended up with an outrageous gift.

Kiyotaka: "Thank you very much, Nagumo-senpai. I will promptly dispose of it."

Nagumo: "If you're really grateful, you should treasure it. All the second-year girls want my life-size poster, you know."

Kiyotaka: "I don't have that kind of taste. Also, shall I ask Asahina-senpai on behalf of the second-year girls?"

Nagumo: "Why the hell do you have Nazuna's contact info?"

Kiyotaka: "I was just fishing. She was near you when I went to observe Class 2-A. As student council president, knowing someone's name is easy."

Nagumo: "Tch. You tricked me."

'Actually, I do have her contact info. I learned that it would be troublesome if he found out. I'll ask about the poster later.'

Kiyotaka: "Tachibana-senpai, what do you think of this?"

Tachibana: "The yogurt maker is quite something, but a poster of yourself is absolutely out of the question. And Ayanokoji-kun, please don't speak so politely only at times like this!"

Manabu: "I'm not entirely used to this, but I can tell it's out of the question."

Honami: "I don't think I've ever had a friend like that."

Kiriyama: "Nagumo, as a fellow man, this is embarrassing. Please stop."

Bombarded with criticism from everyone, Nagumo silently sent me points in lieu of a present. The amount: one million.

Kiyotaka: "Do you believe your own value is only about that much?"

Nagumo: "You're right, it's higher. You say something decent once in a while."

Saying that, he sent another one million points.

'He's a severe case. I'm benefiting, so I won't retort.'

Kiyotaka: "By the way, what did you mean by 'the yogurt maker is quite something'?"

Honami: "Kiyotaka-kun, that's a little..."

Manabu: "It's too eccentric."

Kiriyama: "Not as bad as Nagumo, but I don't think it has universal appeal."

Kiyotaka: "I see..." dejected

It seems my present was no good. I would have been happy to receive it, though.

Tachibana: "But I'll gratefully use it! Because it's something you, Ayanokoji-kun, worked hard to choose!"

Kiyotaka: "Thank you very much."

I felt saved by Tachibana. Unlike Nagumo's, the fact that it won't be thrown away is a blessing in itself.

After the gift exchange, we enjoyed the other party games Tachibana had brought, and then it was time to eat the cake.

Tachibana: "Nagumo-kun, Kiriyama-kun, this cake is handmade by Ayanokoji-kun!"

Kiriyama: "Is that true? Ayanokoji."

Kiyotaka: "Yes. It's my proud creation."

Nagumo: "Then let's see what the Mister President can do."

I took my proud creation out of the refrigerator and placed it on the table.

Kiriyama: "This is..."

Manabu: "I'm surprised."

Tachibana: "Your wifey skills are higher than mine!"

Honami: "Nyahaha. Today's is amazing too..."

Nagumo: "You've gotta be kidding me."

Each reaction was different, but the overall assessment could be summed up in one word: amazing.

Nagumo: "But it's no use if it only looks good."

Kiyotaka: "Cooking starts with appearance. Even if it tastes good, if it looks bad, no one will want to eat it. The taste, you'll know once you eat it."

Saying that, I divided the cake into six equal portions and placed them on each plate.

Everyone: "Thank you for the food."

And the impressions were...

Manabu: "It's delicious."

Tachibana: "It's tasty!"

Kiriyama: "Simply perfect."

Honami: "You really haven't attended any cooking classes?"

Nagumo: "I hate to admit it, but it's good. Make it again for next year's Christmas party."

The cake received rave reviews and earned the official approval of the student council.

The Christmas party continued after that, and we ended up eating dinner together as well before heading home. That night, since it was Honami's turn to spend the whole day with me, we returned, took a shower, and then got into bed together.

* * *

The next morning, when I woke up, Honami asked me something.

Honami: "By the way, what happened with that girl from your date the other day?"

Kiyotaka: "Ah. I thought about introducing her, but having the introduction and the Christmas party on the same day seemed questionable."

Honami: "So she joined the group."

Kiyotaka: "That's right."

Honami: "Then how about doing the introduction meeting today?"

Kiyotaka: "That might be good. If we don't do it soon, there's also the year-end cleaning to do."

Following Honami's suggestion, I decided to call her right away.

Maya: "Excuse me for intruding."

Kiyotaka: "Let me introduce you. This is Satou Maya."

Arisu: "The memorable tenth person."

Maya: "There were that many!?"

Maya was surprised, but the future brides calmly began explaining the rules as if they were used to it.

Kei: "So that's how it is. Take care of us, Maya-chan."

Maya: "O-okay. Nice to meet you too, Kei-chan. And everyone else."

Kiyotaka: "Speaking of which, I'm thinking of refraining from increasing the number any further for a while."

Yuki: "That's unexpected coming from you, Kiyotaka."

Kiyotaka: "I judged that if we increase any more, I won't be able to secure enough time for each individual."

Hiyori: "So your words about treasuring time with everyone were true."

Perhaps because everyone was prepared, knowing they would all have dates on the 23rd, this introduction meeting ended smoothly. My declaration that I would exercise self-restraint from now on was likely a significant positive factor.

Over the next few days, we fully enjoyed the winter break, doing things like year-end cleaning and taking turns having sleepovers.

* * *

And then came New Year's Eve. I made osechi cuisine starting in the morning. Since the morning would be busy with osechi preparation, the girls were scheduled to arrive in the afternoon.

'My osechi skills have improved. Until last year, I ate it with just the three of us—Yuki, Shiro, and me. This year, it's four times that number. Adding spiny lobster really drives up the points cost...'

However, thanks to the extra income from Nagumo, my finances are almost unscathed.

After I finished making the osechi and had lunch, the girls arrived one after another.

In the order they arrived, they would cling to me and flirt, then switch out, feeling the gazes of those waiting their turn. After a while, we played party games and relaxed, and then it was night.

After finishing dinner, it was time for family-like relaxation. When it was a reasonable hour, I made toshikoshi soba.

Haruka: "Kiyopon, you can make anything, huh?"

Airi: "A talent you'd want one of in every household."

Kei: "You're better at housework than me..."

Honami: "Even though you have more stuff than me, it's not messy at all~"

Hiyori: "The soba is boiled to perfection."

Yuki: "Did you fry the tempura yourself again this year?"

Kiyotaka: "Yeah."

Maya: "The guy advocating polygamy is better at housework than all his wives..."

Arisu: "It leaves one with no leg to stand on, as they say."

Suzune: "I can cook too. Though not everything can be done just by memorizing like he does."

Kikyo: "He's a prime catch!"

Amidst a chorus of praise, we ate the toshikoshi soba and awaited the moment of the new year.

And then...

Everyone: "Happy New Year. I look forward to another year with you."

Kiyotaka: "Here's New Year's money for everyone."

Honami: "We're not children, so it's fine."

Kiyotaka: "I have the most points, after all. I just wanted to try doing this a little."

Saying that, I transferred 10,000 points to each of them.

'I spent quite a lot over winter break. Well, it was fun, so it's fine.'

Thinking that, I tried to get everyone to go home for the time being, but...

Hiyori: "I'm already sleepy, so it's alright if I stay over, isn't it?"

Kiyotaka: "Please, no. Eleven people is simply impossible. Let me at least have a comfortable first sleep of the new year."

After that, everyone complained about not wanting to go home. But when I said that if they wouldn't leave, I would forcibly carry them home on my back, they reluctantly left. I was finally able to go to sleep.