From the viewpoint of the chemistry club advisor, a character not featured in the main storyline, this tale unfolds before the main events.
Our school, a haven for aspiring scholars, schedules the onset of winter break quite lateโcommencing only on December 25th. As expected, this delay brews a mix of dissatisfaction among the students. For a teacher like me, handling classes amidst such discontent proves to be a challenge.
Now, the issue at hand involves my club members. On the eve of winter break… essentially, right after classes on the 24th, they dive into a training camp. When I inquired if they were truly alright with spending both the 24th and 25th at camp, their expressions were amusingly indescribable. These guys aren’t exactly the type to have ties with girls. Maito, who cheekily questioned if it was appropriate for someone nearing thirty to join such a camp, was swiftly tasked with organizing the chemical storage.
Reflecting on it, Maito is a girl, technically making this a Christmas connected with girls for them…? Well, I reckon Maito herself would probably dislike being counted in such a manner.
Maito, through a twist of fate, ended up as the sole female member of the club, somewhat pitiable. As it happened, the other female members all quit simultaneously. She doesn’t seem bothered and rather appears to be relieved… As a teacher, I’m not privy to all the finer details, but I am aware there was some friction between her and the other girls at that time. Maito took a brief hiatus from club activities, but now she’s back, nonchalantly as if being the only girl is no big deal. If she’s fine with it, then it’s not for others to fuss over, right?
The real quandary, though, is the nature of their camp activities.
Our club lacks a “stopper”… Typically, Maito or Toriumi are the ones to ignite the chaos… Suzumoto and Hagasaki might seem like they’re trying to intervene, but in reality, they just divert the chaos slightly. It’s worse because the damage becomes less predictable. Hariu fans the flames, while our “president” gleefully escalates things, tossing not just oil but gasoline into the fire. And before you know it, Kadomi is caught up in the blaze, with Katori commenting, “Wow, it’s getting warm,” as Kariya watches on with a distant gaze.
I didn’t stop them from whatever they planned for the camp. I respect the students’ autonomy, and honestly, they’re quite entertaining to watch.
They’re already causing a commotion in the hallway. Probably busy preparing dinner for the camp.
Upon entering the lab, I’m greeted with quite a scene…
“Ah, Sensei. Merry Christmas Eve!”
Maito, sharpening a knife, catches me off guard. “Stop that, don’t swing the knife around.”
“I got so frustrated with the dullness of the lab’s knives that I started sharpening them.”
“Do we have a whetstone?”
“It’s mine.”
Ah, that’s typical of her. I don’t dislike it.
“And over here…”
“Sensei! Help! I can’t figure out how much of the carrot’s skin I’ve peeled!”
Toriumi… Seemingly struggling with a peeler, unable to distinguish between the carrot’s skin and flesh, leaving a mess of ribbon-like shavings. He’s generally adept, so it’s odd to see him falter like this.
Toriumi excels academically, is well-behaved, sociable, and quite a conversationalist. However, his peculiar hobbies and slightly larger physique limit his athleticism. But I have no concerns about his future. He’s smart, a hard worker, and will undoubtedly find his way.
“It’s like not knowing whether you just rinsed out shampoo or conditioner,” Hariu laughs, oblivious to his presence.
Hariu… He’s brilliant and committed but lacks planning. He’s the type to start summer homework in the final week of break. He’s skilled at navigating social interactions, always cheerful and well-liked. I’m quite fond of him.
“…Sensei, about this cabbage… um, how much of it should we actually eat?”
Next to him, Kadomi is tackling a cabbage. Peeling it layer by layer, it eventually becomes hard to differentiate between the core and the leaves. I’m sure Maito will sort it out.
When Kadomi first joined the club, I genuinely worried that he had signed up for the wrong group. The guy had the legs of someone destined for sports, clearly built for physical activity. Rumor has it he’s quite athletic, though I can’t confirm. But once we got into the swing of things, it was as expected – his thoughts took their time to form. However, this made him a valuable asset when conducting experiments with the students; he thinks things through slowly but surely. Initially, his reticence alienated the other members, but once they realized he simply took time to think of what to say before the topic changed, that issue faded away.
“Ah, Sensei, should the tofu go in later?”
“Ask Maito, I’m staying out of this.”
Speaking of Katori…
“Why are you just standing there with tofu in your hand?”
“Uh, well… I’m afraid to cut it while holding it, you know?”
I don’t know, really. Why did you take it out of the package in the first place? Were you planning to put in the whole block as it is?
Katori, well… His absent-minded air is somewhat misleading. It’s not really a faรงade, as he does have a bit of a dreamy personality, but he’s surprisingly quick-witted under that guise. You might think he’s not making progress at first glance, but then you find he’s finished everything in a blink. He really embodies that laid-back, grazing-in-the-meadow vibe.
“Hey, Kariya’s doing pretty well over there.”
“Oh, thank you.”
Next to him, Kariya was skillfully chopping daikon. He must cook often; his hands move with ease.
I often think Kariya undervalues himself. His grades aren’t bad (in fact, there are others I’m more worried about!), and he’s quietly competent in sports. Above all, he has a good heart. If only he weren’t so self-deprecating… He seems to think his looks aren’t up to par, which might be the root of his low self-esteem. He’s quite the diamond in the rough.
And then there’s…
“Why are you guys just hanging around?”
“I tried to help, but Maito-san kicked me out.”
The president… Yeah, I wouldn’t want him cooking either, just a hunch.
He’s just a tad overzealous. If he could temper that a bit, he’d be an outright genius… but then, that might take away half his charm. His strength lies in his ability to pursue his interests relentlessly. His personality, though, is like someone who’s trimmed away the unnecessary, only to accidentally cut off some essentials too – like common sense and a conscience.
“I figured they’re fine without my help.”
Hagasaki is pragmatically indifferent in both good and bad ways. I mean, it’s fine, but why not enjoy preparing the camp dinner together? I misjudged him at first too. He looks like your typical, study-focused modern youth, but he’s actually quite aggressive. It’s his strong rationality and calm demeanor that mask this trait. He’s the type to confidently pursue a flush in poker, even discarding a pair, and then bluff his way to victory with a no-pair hand. And well, let’s just say his aggressive side is most evident in his tsundere tendencies, not that he’d admit it.
“Suzumoto-kun’s the same.”
Suzumoto seems adept but might just be avoiding situations where he’d slip up. Or maybe he’s just lazy. Come on, man, you’re the club president! Get to work!
He’s the embodiment of ‘jack of all trades, master of none.’ That makes him appear highly skilled, but in reality, he’s not as adept as he seems. However, his pride and intelligence prevent this from being obvious. Between you and me, I know a couple of girls who like him. He’s blessed with good looks and seems handy, so I hope he finds someone who appreciates his sincerity, his straightforwardness, and earnestness. Otherwise, he might face a brutal breakup shortly after starting a relationship. Ahaha.
“…So, what are you up to now? Playing Daifugล?”
“Yeah. Wanna join, Sensei?”
“No, thanks. I’d probably lose years off my life playing with you lot. What’s with this tension?”
“The person who ends up as the ‘Daifugล’ has to go out for any missing supplies.”
Ah, I see… Wait a minute! So, you were planning to send me out on errands if I lost? These kids are really something…
Amidst this lively banter, the dinner pot was ready, and everyone seemed to be enjoying their meal. Moments like these remind me how youthfully spirited they are. There’s something genuinely endearing about it.
“Now that we’re done with dinner, let the dark game begin!”
“Yay!”
I thought they were just eating hot pot, but something else was starting. A dark game? Are they betting their souls or something?
“Here are the mini cakes I made!”
Maito opened a box, revealing neatly packed, bite-sized, simple-looking mini cakes. Considering how delicious the cookies she made last Valentine’s Day were, I have high expectations… if it weren’t for the ominous introduction.
“There are 30 pieces in total. As we are 10 people, that’s three each.”
So, I’m part of this too. Well, why not? It might be fun to join the students for a change.
“But beware, there are three types of ‘misfortune’ cakes.”
“Do we really need ‘misfortune’ cakes?”
“Wouldn’t it be too easy to just enjoy cakes in a dark game? Embrace the Christmas Eve nightmare, everyone!”
Well, it’s Maito, so I guess it can’t be helped.
“There are three excessively sugary cakes, three with citric acid cream, and three spicy cakes. So, nine are ‘misfortune’ cakes in total.”
I already identified the overly sugary cakes โ probably the ones with a darker bake. Sugar helps with rising and browning, so with that knowledge, I could easily spot those three.
The real challenge is identifying the other two types… and I have absolutely no clue. Maito really didn’t have to go to such lengths with her culinary skills.
“Let’s decide the order and each pick and eat one.”
Maito reached out first and deliberately chose a darker cake.
“Mm. Quite well-made, I must say. The sweetness is just right.”
Maito grinned, causing Hagasaki, President, and Toriumi to wince… So, my guess about the sugary cakes was off. She probably added extra browning to regular cakes to throw us off. She really goes all out with these things.
Well, since Maito went through the trouble of bringing such an entertaining sideshow, it’d be a shame not to join in.
“Alright, I’ll take one too.”
As the club members watched with bated breath, I casually picked one and tasted it… Indeed, quite delicious.
Watching my reaction, the members began to select their cakes in turn.
First up was Suzumoto. He nonchalantly grabbed one, chewed it, and swallowed it.
Seems like he didn’t pick a misfortune cake.
Next, Hagasaki hesitated over the box before finally picking one at random and biting into it… Instantly, his face froze. Ah, a misfortune, huh?
“What is this?”
“If it’s sour, it’s citric acid.”
“Figures.”
Looks like he got one of the citric acid cream cakes. I wonder what citric acid cream is exactly. I should ask later.
Hagasaki, sipping his tea, was bypassed by Toriumi who nonchalantly grabbed and ate a cake.
Then Hariu reached in and grabbed one too, but both seemed to have avoided misfortune.
“Wow, six people in and only one misfortune so far. How’s that for luck?”
Considering one in every three is supposed to be a misfortune…
Maito, slightly worried, watched as Kadomi reached for a cake.
And then, in an instant.
Kadomi clamped his mouth shut and dashed out to the hallway. The sound of running water could be heard. Yeah, that must be the spicy one.
“Whoa, is Kadomi okay? Yeah, this is tasty.”
Katori, seemingly lucky, didn’t get a misfortune either. These guys really do have good luck.
“Uh, Maito-san, I think I got the extra sugary one.”
Kariya reported, though he didn’t seem particularly troubled. Well, if it’s just extra sweet, that makes sense.
“Your turn, President.”
Maito offered the box to President, who chose a darker baked cake.
“I got the extra sugary one.”
Aha, smart. So, he figured if Maito went as far as to manipulate the color of the extra sugary cakes, some might be deliberately made darker. Better to risk sugar than citric acid or spice. Clever indeed.
After another round, both Suzumoto and Hagasaki ended up picking the spicy cakes, running off to the hallway together. Maito’s wicked sense of humor was on full display, darkening the baked color to disguise the spicy cakes. Maito herself seemed to have gotten a citric acid one, her expression indescribable. The rest, who didn’t get any misfortune cakes, are just plain lucky.
In the end, it was Toriumi and Katori who got the remaining citric acid and extra sugary cakes. Toriumi’s reaction was so exaggerated, I thought he could make a living as a reaction comedian.
While Maito tidied up after dinner, the others started warming up. Despite just eating, they were full of energy.
Apparently, they were planning a game of tag using the entire school building. I decided to sit this one out; I’m not as young as I used to be…
Kadomi was chosen as the first ‘it.’ I figured he’d be switching roles soon enough. The game was played in shifts, with a 20-second countdown before the ‘it’ could start chasing after being tagged. They even had glow-in-the-dark bracelets as markers. These kids go all out when it comes to playing.
Returning from the restroom, I stumbled upon Hariu screaming as he ran, chased by Suzumoto. Ah, the peace…
After everyone played to their heart’s content and was completely worn out, it was time to move everyone to the lodging. I needed to lock up the school and it seemed like it would take a while to get all the futons ready.
“I’ve got the bath ready, so let’s play Daifugล until everyone’s done!”
I heard Maito’s voice as I was laying out my futon. She had finished setting up the futons and joined the boys in their room.
I stopped by to check on them after finishing some paperwork, and they were already deep into a game of Daifugล.
“Sensei, joining us? You can start as a commoner.”
“Eight-enders, eleven-backs, revolutions allowed, and suit locks starting with pairs. Sequences are also in play.”
I had no idea what these special rules for Daifugล meant.
“No, thanks. You all should head to bed soon, alright? We’ve got experiments to do tomorrow.”
“Okay, goodnight, Sensei!”
They definitely won’t be sleeping anytime soon.
After wrestling with paperwork for a while, I glanced outside to see snow falling. No wonder it’s cold.
Deciding to call it a night, I listened to the distant sounds of their laughter, feeling too cold to continue with the paperwork. Checking the clock, I realized Christmas Eve was almost over.