Chapter 77: Kissed by my childhood friend on Christmas Eve 2

Kissed by my childhood friend on Christmas Eve 2

The place we arrived at is a luxurious residential area about a thirty-minute walk from our homes.

There, amidst the cleared mountains, stand opulent houses and Aya and I have always called it the ‘Gorgeous Town’.

And there, behold!

“Wow, it’s beautiful!”

Aya exclaims with joy at the illumination in front of us.

Colorful decorations adorn each house, twinkling brightly. Multicolored illuminations extend to the other side of the street, featuring Santa-shaped displays and even ferris wheel-shaped lights.

It’s not a widely covered illumination spot due to being in a residential area, but among those in the know, it’s a hidden gem.

“The last time we came here was when we were in sixth grade, right?”

“Yeah, we came by bike. The decorations seem more extravagant than before.”

Whether it’s due to the rivalry between houses or not, every house we pass is more decorated and lit up than it was when we visited a few years ago.

Although it’s a normal residential area, we can’t stop and admire. There are other couples and cars on dates, but everyone is passing by leisurely.

Like them, we link arms and stroll casually.

“Hey, let’s eat before it gets cold.”

I take out the bag of chicken Ryouji-san gave me from my backpack. I offer one to Aya, who looks a bit awkward.

“Oh, Boyan, you got some too.”

She takes out a bag of chicken from her bag and hands one to me.

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“What’s this about?”

“I bought them and reserved them for later, thinking we could eat them together.”

“Then let’s each have two.”

“Sounds good.”

We walk through the dazzling Gorgeous Town, munching on chicken.

Come to think of it, the last time we came here, we walked while eating hot dogs from a convenience store.

“It feels nostalgic, doesn’t it?”

Aya mutters as if relieved. Her profile is flickering in the seven-colored lights, creating a fantastical scene.

“Yeah.”

“Hehe, Boyan, your face looks amazing.” Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

She looks up at me, raising both eyebrows in a surprised expression.

“Is that so? Same goes for me.”

My side profile must be sparkling in seven colors right now.

“Hehehe… Rainbowyan.”

“You said that last time we came here too.”

“Did I?”

Aya happily clings to my arm.

“Hey, Boyan, can we do that thing?”

“That thing?”

“Yeah, you know, the thing where you lift me up with your arms.”

“Oh, that thing.”

I recall the last time we came here. I’ve forgotten the details of how the conversation led to it, but Aya unusually made a request.

I lift her, holding onto my biceps.

Back then, I couldn’t lift her more than a few inches, probably due to the ticklish sensation of her grabbing onto my biceps. But now…

“Alright, hold on.”

“Got it.”

I flex my biceps and Aya hangs onto them with all her might.

My arm is pulled down a bit, but it’s not unbearable. Instead, I’m somewhat surprised at how light she feels.

“Here we go.”

“Yay!”

I lift my arm and Aya’s body floats a few dozen centimeters.

I walk with her hanging and, getting carried away, spin around.

“Whoa, whoaa…”

She also defies centrifugal force with the muscles she trained in her club activities.

After spinning a few times, I slowly lowered her to the ground.

“How was it?”

“Yeah… it was even more thrilling than I expected!”

Seeing her genuinely happy smile, I can’t help but smile too.

“Boyan, thanks.”

“It’s my pleasure.”

I’m delighted that Aya is being affectionate without reservation.

Gradually, it feels like any lingering sense of reservation towards me is fading away. It’s a very welcome change.

Perhaps it’s because we haven’t been to Gorgeous Town in a while.

Certainly, today, we…

Prefer a familiar place over going to an unfamiliar town. That’s how it felt.

After walking for a while, the illuminations gradually decrease.

We’re nearing the end of Gorgeous Town.

We’ve also finished both chicken skewers.

But I remember that if we continue straight down this road…

“Aya, how about we visit our old elementary school?”

“Huh, is it down this way!? Sure, let’s go!”

Great.

We can enjoy this arm-linking time a little while longer.

After about another twenty minutes of walking, we find ourselves in front of the old and somewhat weathered school gate.

“It looks like we can’t get in after all.”

“Boyan, breaking in and entering is definitely a no-no.”

I wanted to take a look around the school grounds and buildings, but the gate is securely locked. Even if I were to break in from above, Aya, being the earnest person she is, would probably dislike it. Besides, a school at night is inherently eerie. Without considerable hype, it wouldn’t create any mood.

Oh well… should I give this to her here?

“Aya, a Christmas present from me too.”

“Huh?”

I take a navy blue package from my backpack. I asked the store clerk to wrap it as a present.

“Oh, thank you…”

She looks genuinely surprised. On the other hand, I find it curious that she didn’t consider the possibility of her relatively new boyfriend giving her a gift.

Maybe because, until now, they exchanged stationery as childhood friends during Christmas and she expected the same this year.

But I always wanted to give her a proper present like this.

“Wow, it’s a scarf.”

Aya takes out a deep green cashmere scarf from the package.

“I pondered and I thought green would suit you. Can you put it on?”

“Yeah…”

She accepts the scarf and wraps it around her delicate neck. Aya, offering her neck a bit shyly, looks cute.

“Yeah, it suits you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, it gives off an elegant vibe.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

While gazing at her blushing and smiling face, I couldn’t contain my overall exhilaration.

Green. It suits Aya remarkably well. But more than that…

—Green Boyan.

I recall the nickname Aya gave me at school. She said I resembled that green figure near the emergency exit.

So, this green color is also my color.

Adorning herself in my color, I want Aya to make it clear who her boyfriend is.

It’s a desire that, even to myself, seems a bit awkward, but well, if I don’t say it, she won’t catch on.

“It feels like I’m wrapped up in Boyan.”

“…It’s cashmere material, you know.”

“Thank you… I’m really happy, Boyan.”

She narrowed her eyes and smiled softly.

Just seeing this smile makes me think it was worth giving her the present.

Then Aya also started rummaging through her bag.

“You know, I also have a Christmas present for you.”

Saying that, she hands me a beige-wrapped package.

Upon opening it, I find brown gloves inside. The back of the hand is made of brown fabric and the palm side is made of a black, rubbery material.

“Cool gloves, huh?”

“Yeah. You can still use your smartphone with them on. Boyan, you do a lot of outdoor photography, right?”

Since Aya is offering her palm, I hand her the gloves. It seems she wants to put them on.

“I actually hesitated between red and this color, but I thought this one might suit you better.”

While saying that, Aya skillfully puts the gloves on my hands.

Wrapped in the soft, warm material, I realize how cold my hands were.

“Aya, these are really warm… Thank you. I’ll use them for work.”

“Yeah.”

Observing both of my hands, she smiles satisfied.

Unable to resist the impulse to finally embrace Aya, I gently hold her hands.

“It’s cold, right? Come here.”

If I gently pull her, Aya jumps into my chest.

Her soft and warm touch spreads throughout my body.

“Boyan’s scent.”

Her brown head rubs against my chest.

Despite this innocent gesture, my lower region inevitably responds.

Blame it on Aya’s sweet fragrance and the soft touch of her breasts.

“Boyan, um…”

“What?”

“Is a kiss… not allowed? Until the exam results come out?”

“If I hold back, I might die, you know?”

She bursts into laughter against my chest.

Would they say it’s exaggerated or that it’s not good to talk about death so lightly?

“I might die too.”

My heart pounds.

Aya’s straightforward expression of desire still has an incredible impact.

“After the exams, we might not be able to meet much after school on weekdays… but I still want to kiss you, Aya. If possible, every day.”

“Yeah… me too.”

So, please spare me such a cute response. At this rate, I might end up giving in on the first day of the challenge.

While I’m struggling with my thoughts, Aya suddenly lifts her head.

I thought tears would be welling up in her eyes, but her face was full of a bright smile.

“Boyan, is it okay to kiss? Um… from me.”

“Of course.”

I respond immediately, somewhat overlapping.

“Fufu… then, can you hold me?”

“Sure.”

Lifting her up while still hugging her, I look up at Aya, who is now taller than me.

“Is this okay?”

“Yeah, thank you.”

Aya places a Santa hat on my head.

Against the backdrop of a perfect starry sky, she wears an enchanting smile.

Slowly narrowing her eyes, she approaches my face.

With a light sound, a pleasant sensation touches my lips.

That delightful warmth quickly fades away.

“Boyan’s lips taste like chicken.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, see?”

Now her tongue lightly licked my upper lip.

Next, she gave kisses—chu, chu—first on my nose, then my cheek and forehead.

“Aya?”

“Boyan, keep your eyes closed.”

Her voice took on a sultry tone. Since when did she start speaking with such a seductive voice?

There was a kiss on my eyelids, leaving the sensation of her lips.

From both eyebrows, to my head, ears, Aya showered me with kisses.

Unable to engage in deep kisses, it seemed she opted for quantity.

Each soft kiss, like a courtship ritual, ignited a warm fire deep within me.

When I opened my eyes, her face was still adorned with a smile, unchanged from before.

“I’m okay.”

She must be referring to becoming Chiharu-san’s exclusive photographer.

Her words, an attempt to reassure me, tightened my chest.

“Yeah, we’ll be okay.”

Absolutely.

“Yeah, I know.”

Her lips clung to the space between my eyebrows.

After that, Aya continued to shower me with countless kisses.