Soul for a Girlfriend?

Moriko's POV

It was a cold winter day, and the sky was rather dark since days were becoming shorter. There was a festive mood among us since Christmas was approaching as well as New year so it was going to be a busy week.

Our winter holiday was also starting in a few days and that was rather clear from the excitement of my classmates. The entire atmosphere of the classroom was agitated and untroubled.

It was already snowing lightly and I could see my breath fogging up from under my muffler. The glimmering of tiny little lights on the street along with decorations for Christmas clearly illustrated the festive mood.

We were sitting in a fast-food restaurant. It was quite cold outside and the warmth of the heater inside was rather comfortable. I felt like putting my head on the table and taking a small nap, but the sound of friends laughing and talking among themselves was enough to keep me awake.

Looking towards the noisy bunch, I sighed and started nibbling on the pizza slice while listening to them as everyone was discussing their plans for Christmas Eve because it was approaching in just two-three days.

We were planning ahead of time because it is quite a busy time of the year.

Christmas was the festival of joy and is, after all, one of the most celebrated ones. Everyone had plans to spend this special time of the year with family, friends, or loved ones. That's why we had to make reservations in advance if we're about to go somewhere.

I was looking forward to it as well because why not?

I remember being this reserved kid in middle school and that led to me wasting my years of middle school instead of enjoying them to my fullest. When I first entered high school, I already made it firm in my mind.

I had to enjoy my high school years.

And I was living by it, to be honest. 

I was trying to make the most of it because I wanted to stop being the Adachi I was in my middle school years. The timid and scared Adachi, who never voiced her own opinion because of the fear of rejection.

I have changed a bit since then.

"So what are you thinking?" One of my friends' high-pitched voices took me by surprise and I looked towards her with a dumbfounded look and replied, "Eh… me? Why me? Come on, y'all decide…"

I wasn't even listening to them.

I zoned out.

"Ayo, we're waiting for you to decide here!" She whined while putting her hand on my shoulder as I noticed others looking at me with anticipation in their eyes. Narrowing my eyes, I laughed and replied in an uncertain tone, "Ahh… I don't know. Still haven't given it much thought."

"Ehe… you're always so reluctant to make plans."

"It's just conservation of energy." I replied with a hint of sarcasm as another friend asked, "Since when are you studying science, girl?" followed by a peal of laughter among us.

"So what are we gonna do?" One of my friends asked with a bored look on her face as the girl beside Suzuha raised her hand and replied in a plain tone, "Well… what do people do on Christmas Eve?"

"You raised your hand for that?" One of the girls asked, narrowing her eyes and she nodded with no hesitation in her voice, "Basically…"

"You idiot!"

"What!?"

We all laughed at their silly exchange while the girl was actually lost about why she was called an idiot out of nowhere and then being laughed at by everyone.

"Let's hit up Karaoke. We can sing our heart out and eat as well." One of us suggested and that idea actually piqued our interest since karaoke was a common place for us to visit and everyone seemed to be in favour of it, "Ahh… that sounds like a good plan to enjoy ourselves for the evening."

"I know right!" She smiled widely and then turned towards me, "So what now, Adachi?"

"I'm in if y'all good."

"What about Shiraishi?" The girl next to me asked while glancing at Suzuha, who seemed to be immersed in her mobile, texting with someone. 

Not paying much attention to that, I poked her on the arm with my index finger and asked, "Suzuha, will you join us?"

"Wha… sorry… What did you say?" She turned her mobile off and looked at me while smiling. I narrowed my eyes at her, as she laughed, "I was zoning out."

"We were asking if you'll join us for Christmas Eve…" The girl beside me asked, but she showed her palm and replied with a nervous smile, "Ahh… sorry I've plans."

I could easily tell that she was doing something fishy by the way she was acting. She was agitated but had this unwavering smile on her face, which she always used a mask for concealing her ulterior motives.

I knew her well, so it became rather natural for me.

"With whom?" She asked, as Suzuha replied in an instant, "My boyfriend."

"Ah yes… that guy from class B, right?" One of the girls commented, but another one cut in with a silly smile on her face and glanced at Suzuha, "That guy looks way too gloomy to be with someone like you, to be honest."

Suzuha didn't say anything except to laugh along with them as they kept teasing her. But it wasn't like she was tolerating them because that was very out of character for her. Rather, it was that she had nothing to refute them with.

"Yeah… what did you even like about him, Suzuha?" One of our friends asked while grinning as Suzuha seemed to reply after giving it a bit of thought, "I think his face… he is kinda cute."

Of course, she would like someone based on their looks only.

She was my friend and I shouldn't say this, but she was a very shallow person.

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