Chapter 159 Fujiwara Chika's Gift
After the car stopped in front of the mansion, Sawamura Sayuri, sitting in the driver's seat, said to the two, "Today is a gathering for you young people. I won't be going in. Have fun today."
Bidding farewell to Sawamura Sayuri, who turned the car around and left, Kaede and Eriri rang the villa's doorbell.
"Coming, coming!"
Fujiwara Chika's voice quickly came, and the door opened, revealing Fujiwara Chika in a light pink long dress standing at the entrance.
"Oh, it's Asakura-kun and Eriri-chan! Welcome!"
"Excuse our intrusion, Fujiwara-senpai."
After entering, Eriri handed over the box of pastries she was carrying. "Although Fujiwara-senpai said not to bring anything, after much thought, we still bought some pastries."
"Oh! You're too kind. Please come in quickly."
Fujiwara Chika smiled, accepted the box of pastries, led the two to change into slippers, and then brought them to the villa's living room.
In the living room, several people had already arrived: Shinomiya Kaguya, Shirogane Miyuki and his sister, and another girl with pink hair, similar to Fujiwara Chika, who was likely Fujiwara Chika's younger sister, Fujiwara Moeha.
Shirogane Miyuki had been quite nervous upon arrival because he was the only boy. Now, seeing that Kaede had finally arrived, he breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Watching Kaede, who had finished introducing himself to Shirogane Kei and Fujiwara Moeha and was now sitting beside them, Shirogane Miyuki said, "In that case, only Ishigami-kun hasn't arrived yet. That guy wouldn't dare not show up, would he?"
"He shouldn't."
Shinomiya Kaguya thought for a moment and said with a smile, "This is a party where everyone is supposed to come, and Fujiwara-san has even prepared gifts. No matter how socially anxious he is, or how much he fears the hot weather, he should still come."
(T/N: Umu, after all he is Ishigami, a true man)
The phrase "what is said comes to pass" seemed to suit Shinomiya Kaguya well; immediately after she finished speaking, the villa's doorbell rang.
Fujiwara Chika quickly went to open the door and saw Ishigami Yuu standing at the entrance, breathless.
"Phew..." He exhaled, glanced at the time on his phone, and said to Fujiwara Chika, "Fujiwara-senpai, I'm not late, am I?"
It was 9:57 AM, just three minutes before the 10:00 AM time Fujiwara Chika had specified.
Fujiwara Chika, while letting Ishigami Yuu in, repeatedly confirmed the time. "Oh dear, it's a shame, you really aren't late. I had already thought of a punishment for Ishigami-kun!"
"..."
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Ishigami Yuu asked nervously, "Um, may I ask what Fujiwara-senpai's punishment was?"
"Hehe, don't worry, it's not a terrifying punishment." Saying this, Fujiwara Chika ran to the kitchen under everyone's gaze, then came out holding two bitter gourds. "The original punishment was to make the latecomer drink bitter gourd juice. They say it's good for you in the summer!"
Seeing the bitter gourds appear, everyone present shivered, including Fujiwara Chika's younger sister, Fujiwara Moeha.
"I didn't even know Sister Chika prepared this..."
Shinomiya Kaguya swallowed, desperately maintaining the smile on her face, but bitter gourd, even if prepared by the Shinomiya Family's chef, she couldn't eat it expressionlessly.
Upon seeing the bitter gourd, Eriri tugged on Kaede's sleeve and said, "Kaede-kun, I just thought of another vegetable I don't like: bitter gourd. Let's never buy this to cook, okay?"
Kaede nodded without hesitation. "Yes, I don't like it either, or rather, most people don't like this stuff."
Fortunately, no one was late, so everyone was spared the fear of being dominated by bitter gourd.
After Ishigami Yuu sat down, everyone had arrived. Fujiwara Chika asked everyone to wait a moment, then, pulling her sister along, went upstairs to retrieve the gifts she had prepared for everyone.
The others chatted while waiting.
"Oh, Ishigami-kun, have you met Asakura-kun and Sawamura-san before?"
Shinomiya Kaguya, seeing Ishigami Yuu, Kaede, and Eriri interacting familiarly, asked with some surprise.
Kaede smiled and nodded, "Yes, we met when we went to a game store before."
Compared to Ishigami Yuu knowing the two, Shirogane Kei, the youngest person present, was concerned about something else.
"Um, although it might be rude to ask, I'm really curious."
Shirogane Kei looked at Kaede and Eriri and asked, "Excuse me, are the two of you seniors dating?"
Kaede paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded, "Yes, didn't Shirogane-senpai tell you, Kei?"
"No," Shirogane Kei said after glancing at her brother, "My brother, that guy, if I don't ask, he won't say anything about himself. And even if I ask, there are many things he won't say, so I later stopped bothering to ask."
Hearing his sister say that, Shirogane Miyuki scratched his head awkwardly.
Just as he was about to offer some defense for himself, Fujiwara Chika and Fujiwara Moeha came downstairs, carrying two boxes.
"Ta-da-da-da~~~ I've brought everyone's gifts! Now it's Chika's gift distribution time!"
After putting the items down, Fujiwara Chika picked up a beret and placed it in Shinomiya Kaguya's hand. "Kaguya-san, I saw this in Paris, and I immediately thought you would look so cute wearing it. Try it on!"
"Me?"
Looking at the dark blue beret in her hand, Shinomiya Kaguya had never tried such a hat before. She chuckled and said, "Thank you, Fujiwara-san."
Saying that, she put on the beret.
"You look so cute, Kaguya-san!"
Fujiwara Chika clapped her hands happily when she saw Shinomiya Kaguya wearing the gift she had given her.
"Eh? Really?"
Holding the brim of the hat with both hands, Shinomiya Kaguya looked at everyone with a hint of anticipation, specifically focusing on Shirogane Miyuki.
In an instant, Shirogane Miyuki was pierced by Shinomiya Kaguya's gaze, unable to extricate himself.
While everyone was praising her, Shirogane Kei noticed that her brother hadn't said a single word. She immediately elbowed him angrily. "At least say something!"
"Pfft..."
Clutching his arm, which hurt terribly from the impact, Shirogane Miyuki finally stammered, "It's, it's very suitable for you, Shinomiya."
Although everyone had praised her, it seemed that only Shirogane Miyuki's words were most appreciated by Shinomiya Kaguya, who broke into a radiant smile.
Seeing this scene, Eriri, sitting next to Kaede, tugged on her boyfriend's sleeve and whispered, "Are these two not dating yet? I feel like it's so obvious."
Nodding, Kaede also whispered, "They're probably shy, and I feel like everyone else has probably noticed, but since no one has said anything, let's not be nosy either."
Meanwhile, Fujiwara Chika continued to hand out gifts.
She gave a high-end hand cream to Shirogane Kei, who often worked part-time and was busy with her junior high Student Council accounting duties. To Shirogane Miyuki, she gave an Egyptian pyramid souvenir that he was very interested in. Additionally, Fujiwara Moeha also prepared a perfume for girls for Shirogane Kei, so Shirogane Kei was the only one present who received two gifts.
Next, it was Kaede and Eriri's turn for gifts.