Editing Shinmai Maou no Keiyakusha:Volume 6 Chapter 4 (section)

===Part 2===

When the appetizers have been served to everyone, the meal started.

First up are three types of platters like ham and cheese, followed up by Italian pasta with an abundance of mushrooms, before coming to the main dish for Christmas.

It was large roasted turkey meat with sauce made from sherry vinegar and grilled onions.

''…This is really high-class.''

From at the ala carte menu, although the prices are more reasonable than the high-class restaurants, it still wasn’t at a level really affordable for a high-schooler. With the meals, the beverages were free-flow, so naturally it wasn’t really much cheaper.

It looks like the bill will go into the student council’s budget; either they have got sufficient funds, or there was a special discount from the fact that Jin and the boss are old friends. Basara looked around through the corners of his eyes, and saw the others focusing on the dishes, eating heartedly.

…Nevermind, this isn’t something I should be worrying about.

We've already begun eating already, so worrying about it would do nothing.

Following the others, Basara cut out a piece of meat with a knife and fork and put it into his mouth, and the flavours of the meat and sauce immediately spread, a refreshing vanilla fragrance filling his nose… probably rosemary was added to whether the sauce or oil.

“Delicious…!”

“Is that so… Glad that you like it.”

Seeing Basara give praise, Kajiura gave a gentle smile.

That was an elegant expression that he had never seen on the Organising Committee… Kajiura’s unexpected side, caused Basara so unconsciously stare at her.

“——————!?”

And he almost dropped the knife and fork, but that was not because his hand slipped due to Kajiura causing his mind to wander off. There was a hand, suddenly pinching the inner side of his thighs. Looking down, Hasegawa who sat beside him had put her left hand under the white table cloth—

“………”

As Hasegawa was wearing a sexy dress that attracts glances to the breasts unconsciously, Basara tried to avoid looking at her as much as possible, but she made an attack on him while he was in a disarray… Basara sent a sideway look at her saying ‘What are you doing’, and Hasegawa quietly stopped moving that hand; however, that hand still remained on Basaras thigh, and it remained like that even after finishing the wine in the cup. She ordered another cup, and the waitress came with the bottle. Just then—

''…Wha…!''

Toujou Basara’s whole body suddenly stiffened. Hasegawa’s fingertips had then begun gliding over his thighs, indigenously using just enough force to almost make him let out the wrong sounds – it past the stage of producing an itching sensation, a provocative caress.

“Is this much fine…?”      “Ah, yes… Thank you.”

As Hasegawa thanked the waitress that poured wine, she kept her hand at a dead spot where the others couldn’t see, nonchalantly caressing Basara’s thigh.

“………!”

To Hasegawa, that might me a small prank, but Basara couldn't stand it anymore.

Basara sent a sideway glance to Hasegawa for her to stop, but she just continued chatting with Takei before her, while using her fingertips to write ‘cheater’<ref>It was originally Uwakimono(うわきもの), referring to a cheater; unfaithful person; adulterer</ref> on his thigh.

''…What!?''

Basara became protested in his heart, and his sentiments accidentally appeared on his face—

“ ? Toujou-kun, is anything wrong?”        “…No, nothing’s wrong…!”

Basara hurriedly evaded it, pretending to be calm and turned his attention to the food. Since in the situation with him holding on to a knife and fork, he would be at Hasegawa’s mercy.

“Oya, what’s the matter, Toujou-kun? Why did you suddenly begin eating so hastily?”

At that moment, Hasegawa took a dig at Basara with a carefree smile.

“ ! …It’s because the turkey is very delicious, and I can’t stop once accidentally let myself go…”

“I see – since you like it so much, I’ll let you have half of my portion too.”

Saying that, Hasegawa then pushed her own plate to Basara who had a tight expression.

“I’ve already cut them into pieces already, so don’t worry about hygiene and eat with a peace of mind.”

Looking down, half of Hasegawa’s turkey meat has already been cut into bite-sized pieces.

''…S-She can predict what I will say…?''

Doing this much preparation for a under-the-table prank was definitely too thoughtful.

“You don’t have to, sensei shouldn’t…”

“Young people shouldn’t hematite about something like this. Also, don’t start eating so quick so suddenly… it might cause indigestion, okay?”

Hasegawa revealed an exquisite smile to Basara who declined, but Kajiura asked worriedly:

“Sensei – is it not to your taste? It’s still early now, I can go to the kitchen to ask for a change of dish for you, is it okay?”

''Nice one, senpai!'' – Basara cried out happily in his heart.

“No need, the food is delicious… it’s just that lately, I’m on a diet.”

“Nonono, Hasegawa-sensei has got such a nice figure, there’s no need for any diet?”

Kanou said in an irresistible tone to Hasegawa who had a wry smile, but unexpectedly—

“I’m also a woman – once I find a man that I love, of course I would want to become even more beautiful for him, no?”

Hasegawa instead replied openly.

『……………』

After the sudden confession caused everyone to widen their eyes—

“Eh～～～～～～! So sensei does have a boyfriend~!”

Takei’s upper body leaned towards Hasegawa, and said with sparkles in the eyes:

“Many people in the school was saying, sensei becoming especially beautiful for the past month…is definitely because you have found a boyfriend!”

Basara originally thought that Kajiura whose personality is to go by the book would stop Takei who was trying to conceal the excitement from showing – but in the end she was still a girl, and asked while shocked and curious:

“Could sensei be going for a date after this?”

“No, but if the other person wants to, then I guess we will.”

Hasegawa shot a glance at Basara after saying that.

''…Uh…''

He already had a headache from the prank under the table, and now the topic is becoming dangerous. As he became even more uneasy—

“—sensei, please give me the meat.”

To halt the topic, Basara moved the turkey meat to his plate, inserted the meat quickly into his mouth one after another.

“Delicious… This turkey meat really is amazing!”

However, no one wanted to look as Basara gobbled the food.

“It’s probably a workplace love! Could it be, sensei’s lover is someone in the school?”

“Well, what do you think…?”

At Takei’s questioning, Hasegawa calmly smile and evaded the question.

“Then at least tell us if the person’s age is bigger or smaller than yours! Sensei is usually so cool, could it be that you’re different when the two of you are alone?”

“Well… his age is smaller than mine. As for whether I’m the same when we’re alone, I also don’t really know; but…”

Hasegawa moved the hand that was caressing Basara’s thigh further in, and said:

“Usually I don’t really care about the gender between me and other people… But before him, I will often remember that I’m a woman; so I want to show to him, the appearance of a woman that no one else will see.”

『………!』

Hasegawa’s bewitching appearance of Hasegawa giggling took everyone’s breath away, and words to tease her couldn’t be voiced out.

“ ! –thank you sensei!”

Just then, Toujou Basara put down his knife and fork after finishing all of his meat and the portion sensei’s had given, and moved a hand under the table to grab Hasegawa’s hand that was caressing his thigh.

However – Hasegawa had already expected that he would do this.

“Why did you finish it so quickly, Toujou… Is it really that delicious?”

“Thanks to you…”

Basara’s words to Hasegawa had an irony that only she understood, and that exquisite and glamorous infirmary teacher giggled while her fingers crossed with Basara’s in a lover’s grip, and raised her index finger and began moving it towards Basara’s thigh, and drew a few heart shapes ♥.

“T-Toujou-kun… You’re really sweating a lot?”

“I-I’m alright… The turkey’s spices probably helps perspiration.”

Basara tried to muddle past it, and said something like that.

“—would you like to have the deserts served now?”

Seeing everyone’s plates are now empty, the waitress came forward and asked.

“O-Okay… I see, please do so.”

Only then did Kajiura return to herself and hurriedly nodded while replying.

“Today’s desserts are Tiramisu<ref> an Italian dessert consisting of layers of sponge cake soaked in coffee and brandy or liqueur with powdered chocolate and mascarpone cheese </ref>, ice cream, and mixed berries. What would everyone here like?”

Everyone here immediately chose their own favourites from the waitress’s provided options.

When she went back to the kitchen to submit the orders, the atmosphere at the table changed—

“…Since only the deserts are left, I guess we can probably start that presents exchange now.”

“The Student Council tradition is finally here… Then time to take it out.”

''…Ah…''

After Kajiura's suggestion got Kanou's echo, Hasegawa’s hand drawing heart shapes on Basara’s thigh under the table finally stopped. ‘’At least it stopped…’’ Basara cautiously let go of Hasegawa’s hand, and Hasegawa hand slowly appeared from under the tablecloth.

“Fufu…”

And with a satisfied smile, she used her hand to naturally unhook the hair behind her ear.

''…Finally.''

Basara heaved a sigh of relief, reached for the storage basket under the table, and took out the paper bag containing the presents. He had known beforehand that there would be an exchange of presents today, and had not forgotten to bring presents. The budget was up to two thousand yen, and to respect the intentions, handmade gifts are fine too; but probably no one wants a gift handmade by a male, thus what Basara were gifts bought using the budget given.

When everyone got their presents ready, Kanou went to retrieve a square box about 30cm wide on each side over from a neighbouring empty table; on four sides of the box plus the top, holes 15cm wide have been made, which made Basara who had noticed this strange box early on curious.

“So it really was prepared by senpais… Just what is that?”

“This? This is a student council tradition our Hijirigasaka Academy passed down from generation to generation, 『Doki Doki Box-kun Z』.

Kanou placed the box on the table and sat back down, and said:

“As the celebration was held at Christmas, the Student Council president at that time had suggested for everyone to exchange presents… and the legendary vice-president I had told you about before said that simply just exchanging presidents is boring, and thought up of a game that used this box.”

“There’s five holes on the box, right? In every one of those holes, there are paper strips. The top is『Assigning Numbers』, and the holes at the sides are for『What Number to Receive Present From』, 『How Long or How Many Times』, 『By Yourself or With What Number』, and 『What To Do』.”

Kajiura then continued:

“In other words, this is while drawing lots to exchange presents… it is a game where you have to do what is written on the paper strip.”

“ ? For some reason, Kajiura-senpai seems very reluctant to play this…”

Basara felt that there was something wrong from Kajiura’s tone and expression.

“It’s because some of the instructions are quite audacious… it all depends on your luck, and the instructions were all prepared by the senpai back then. Just like the game of Kings<ref>a game where an appointed ‘King’ gives an order for someone to do something</ref> where you can give reckless instructions to someone, it can do things like breaking down relations between people to the point where it cannot be salvaged.”

“…I-Is that so?”

''What the hell was that damned dad thinking?'' – amazed, Basara asked:

“Then, inside that large white bag over there is…”

“Yes, there are many items that the instruction will use, and they’re all in here.”

''What a scary Christmas gift pack.'' Speaking of which—

“Um… If you really do not want to play, you can just simply exchange presents, okay?”

Jin is the idiot that thought up of the stupid race of being sandwiched between females in that year, so everything in the box will definitely be instructions filled with bursting youthful exuberance.

“No… This is something that must be done.”

Unexpectedly, Kajiura shook her head and said:

“Didn’t I just say ‘tradition’? That generation of Student Council that created that unprecedented grand Sports Festival, is the legend of our school… so to gain some of the atmosphere of success, the tradition gift exchange held at this restaurant will begin.”

“Rather than saying tradition, it feels more like a curse. Because—“

Kanou said:

“In the past, there were many who didn’t want to play this game, or had changed the instructions to be a little lighter… but at the next Sports Festival, there were unexpected calamities”

“You mean…?”

Basara asked as he looked at Nanao and Takei talking.

“…Nn, I’ve only heard about it today.”

“If we don’t play it this time, something will go wrong for the next generation who will be organising the Sports Festival.”

The two of them gave a bitter smile to Basara.

“…Is there really such a thing? It feels more like a superstition…”

“Probably.” Kanou said to the doubtful Basara:

“Wasn’t there the issue of too many people in the Organising committee this year, the quarrel with the third years, the sudden tornado on the day itself and many other problems…? To tell the truth, at last year’s celebration, there was a red-face that said [I won’t do as this instruction says!], making some big talk that she won’t lose to this curse and will definitely make the Sports Festival we had organised this time a success.”

“……!”

Hearing Kanou’s words, someone’s body twitched, and the face turned red.

That person, was none other than Kajiura. Seeing her reaction, Kajou added on with a wry smile:

“But from my point of view, the Sports Festival this year wasn’t really successful… so in consideration for next year’s Sports Festival, I hope you can respect this curse.”

“I see…”

“…I’m sorry, Toujou-kun. It looks like I had dragged you into it.”

“No, that…”

That was not something Kajiura should be apologising for. If anything, Basara wanted to apologise for Jin’s mismanagement.

“Hasegawa-sensei… For that reason, we’ll probably become very noisy later on, so we’ll need to have you bear with it.”

Kajiura said, embarrassed:

“Of course, we won’t do something illegal like drinking alcohol.”

“Isn’t this something that went on for over ten years and is like a tradition? After so long, I had not heard of any trouble caused after the previous student councils play it, and we had also reserved the whole shop; if we play it here, there probably won’t be any troubles… so don’t worry, I won’t be a wet blanket and not let you play because of just a little noise. Besides—“

Hasegawa continued:

“I had never seen such a game… I’ll be watching as the audience, so you guys enjoy yourselves.”

“—sorry to keep you waiting.”

As Hasegawa said while smiling, the waitress arrived with their deserts.

“Now then – we’ll start as we eat the deserts.”

After that, Hijirigasaka Academy’s gift exchange tradition began with Kanou’s words.