Winter: Christmas, part 1
The trio of young women sported identical disgruntled expressions on their faces as they sat in a café decorated with holiday lights.
"We're all in a lousy state," complained Jinko.
"Yeah, Christmas Eve is going to be a bust," Satomi agreed, sniffing. "I can't believe that Ryo can't get out of his part-time job. This was supposed to be our first Christmas together!"
"And Narasaki's band has a live gig all the way up in Sendai!" Jinko looked more furious than sad. "And then…you too, Kotoko!"
"I know," she sighed, stirring her milkshake with a spoon. "Taketo's grandfather insists on the entire family returning to the old homestead on Hokkaido each year. Not that any of the family lives there year-round anymore."
Satomi pressed her arm. "Why can't he take you with him in that case? That's so unfair, ruining your first Christmas by being apart."
Kotoko smiled up at her. "It's all right. There is literally no room for anyone besides family. The old house is usually only used when family members take a skiing trip. When everyone is there, they're sleeping on top of each other, but grandfather won't allow them to stay anywhere else. It's a," she made air quotes, "'family congregation to honor their ancestors'."
"That's a great tradition," Jinko frowned, "but making everyone take extra time off at Christmas?"
"Yes," Kotoko agreed. "Plus, Taketo says that bad weather sometimes delays returns." She laughed. "Once when he was living in California, his family was a week late returning to the United States because heavy snowfall trapped them there."
"Man, you're worse off than we are," Jinko said as she slumped back in the chair.
"What?" Kotoko looked confused.
"You might not be able to see your man for a lot longer than us." Satomi wiped away tears and slapped her hand to the table. "That does it! We're having a girls-only Christmas party!"
"Yeah!" chimed in Jinko. "It will be a 'treasure your friendship' event!"
"Right!" Kotoko stood up. "Let's have a grand old time on the 24th!"
Kotoko hummed as she walked home. It had been a long time since she and Jinko and Satomi had just hung out together. It seemed that college classes, extracurricular activities, part-time work, and boyfriends had distracted them from enjoying their long-term bond. "Let's see, meet at the train station, go out to shops and cafés, then come to my home for gift exchange and sleepover!" She counted on her fingers. "Sounds great! Just like old times!"
"Kotoko-chan, dear, since Taketo isn't going to be here on Christmas Eve, would you like to come to a party that Pandai is holding that evening? There will be food and dancing and entertainment…?"
"Oh! I am so sorry, Obasama!" Kotoko bowed an apology. "My friends will also be without their boyfriends at that time, and we have already made plans together. That is, if it's all right for them to stay the night that evening?"
"Oh, of course, Kotoko-chan. It's a shame, though, that you can't make it. Onii-chan is going to be there as well." She raised her eyebrows as she smiled broadly.
"Irie-kun?" Kotoko inquired. "I thought he hated big parties like that."
"Well, yes, but he so impressed the stockholders when he worked at Pandai last month that we told him it was imperative that he make an appearance. Since the party will be mostly old people, I thought it would be nice if he could have a younger, familiar face around." Mrs. Irie looked sideways at Kotoko as she spoke.
"That's a nice thought, but since I have plans I can't make it," she declared with a smile.
"But Kotoko-chan, surely they would understand—!"
Kotoko opened a fashion magazine to a turned-down page. "Obasama, do you think this dress would suit me? I'm saving up my money to buy it for our Christmas get-together."
Mrs. Irie took the magazine. "It's lovely, Kotoko-chan. And if you change your mind, it would be absolutely perfect for the Pandai party!"
"Are you sure you won't reconsider, Kotoko-chan? That dress is just wasted on a party with girls!" Mrs. Irie's almost whined.
"No, I'm quite happy," Kotoko replied as she continued to arrange cookies on a platter then reached for the plastic wrap to cover them. She looked up at familiar footsteps. "My, Irie-kun, you look especially handsome tonight! Looking forward to the party?"
Naoki's face was grumpy above his formal suit, and his carefully brushed hair already had a lock falling to his forehead. "It's just going to be a bunch of old geezers, expecting me to vow my commitment to joining Pandai upon graduation. Why doesn't Dad give it a rest?" His hand stretched out towards the cookies then froze. "Did you bake these, Kotoko?"
"No," she laughed, "I bought them."
He took one. "Good, then they're edible."
Mrs. Irie peeked around the corner to see Kotoko beating Naoki with the roll of plastic wrap, laughing "Take that back!" and her son with an unaccustomed grin on his face as he endured the mild punishment. "Oh, Kotoko-chan, I wish you were coming!" she whispered.
As Kotoko adjusted the fidgeting Yuuki's tie, Mrs. Irie handed her the telephone. "A call for you, Kotoko-chan! It's Jinko-san! "
"Thank you!" she juggled the receiver as she waved the family toward the door. "What? What?! You can't make it?! Why?" After a pause, she said, "Well, I suppose it is your first Christmas together. Fine. Okay. I'll tell Satomi. And have fun!"
"What happened?!" Mrs. Irie rushed to her as the rest of the family stood frozen in the vestibule.
"Ah, Narasaki-kun's concert was canceled, so he and Jinko are going to spend the evening together. That's all."
"Kotoko-chan! Come with us!" She urged one more time.
"No, no!" Kotoko laughed, waving her hands. "Satomi and I will still go out. Don't worry—we'll have fun, just the two of us!" She hustled them out the door and watched them enter the family car. She wondered at the intense look that Naoki sent her way before he ducked his head to get in the back seat. The phone was ringing again as she turned the door lock. "Hello? Satomi? What?!"
"It's just you and me, Chibi," she said mournfully as she patted the dog's head. She slurped another mouthful of noodles. "And I was so looking forward to a café meal and cakes! Well! No need to pout about it! I suppose I can work on English homework. I've been putting it off, but if Taketo-kun gets snowed in, I'll get behind waiting for him. I need to learn it myself, anyway!"
Three hours later, with the sound of Christmas carols playing softly in the background, she nibbled on a cookie while pondering a translation. "I don't know that I have that exactly right. Chibi, do you have any suggestions?" She bent her head under the kitchen table to ask the sleeping Saint Bernard.
"Maybe I can help?"
"Eek!" She jumped at the sound of Naoki's voice, kicking Chibi awake, who shook the table, causing her coffee cup to turn over.
Naoki strode over and caught it before it rolled off the table. "Never a dull moment when you're around, Kotoko," he commented. "It's a good thing the cup was empty. I don't suppose there's any more?"
"No." Kotoko was still gasping with a hand to her chest. "The music must have covered up the sound of you coming in. I can make more coffee." As she poured water over the grounds, she glanced at him. He had shed his jacket and was loosening his tie. "Aren't you home a little early?"
"I snuck away,"he admitted.
"Really? But how was the party? Was it as beautiful and amazing as your mother described?" she asked as she took another cup from the cabinet.
"No, not really. I got tired of meeting and greeting that pack of old farts, so I skipped out. Dad must be furious right about now. What about you? Weren't you supposed to go out?" He sat sideways in a chair and rested an arm across the back.
"Well, right after you left, Satomi called. Ryo had planned a big surprise dinner for her and she really wanted to be with him…"
"Yeah, I know."
"Huh?"
"I saw them entering the hotel restaurant, so I knew that you had been left high and dry. Some friends you have there." His fingers absently tapped the table.
Kotoko looked down. "Well, it was a disappointment, but I'm glad that they can have fun with their boyfriends."
"Looks like yours was a no-show though."
She laughed nervously. "What do you mean? I wasn't expecting Taketo to come. He's hundreds of miles away with family. And family is important."
"Right." He looked across the table. "Are those cookies all you've eaten tonight?" he asked.
"What? No, I had a cup of instant noodles…"
"Then I guess you aren't hungry for fried chicken and Christmas cake…" As he lifted the unnoticed bags from the floor, her stomach gave a loud rumble. He laughed. "I stand corrected. Now, pour us some coffee and let me look at your translations."