Heya, I managed to somehow make this. Initially, I thought about making a special christmas chapter as well, but I couldn't come up with any ideas so I changed my mind. This is just an extra chapter, so it's really SHORT and it's somewhat similar to a "what if" scenario. Meaning that this happens at some random time, you should not try to put this with the rest of story, like "the Yotsuba announcement was at the new year, so did this chapter happen one year later?". This is just one small idea I had to celebrate the new year so don't think too much about it.

I was actually planning to release this yesterday but the small celebration party I held with my family lasted through the entire day, something I was not expecting. So, I only managed to do it now.

Mahouka - Speech

Mahouka - place/time

[Mahouka] - random background character speech

{Mahouka} - author comments

I don't own anything.

New Year's Eve

"It seems we were the first ones to arrive, Tatsuya-sama."

"We did get here a little early after all."

The sky was already dark and midnight was approaching. Meaning that the last day of the year was coming to an end.

[Hey, look at these two!]

[They are so gorgeous! Two beauties walking side by side… Wait a second.]

[There's actually a guy with these two?!]

Normally, Tatsuya would be walking with Miyuki but, this year, something was different. Walking besides Tatsuya and on the opposite side to Miyuki, there was a beautiful blonde girl with blue eyes. Since Lina was staying with the Yotsuba, she decided to accompany Tatsuya and Miyuki to the shrine so they could offer their prayers together. Or at least, that's what Lina said to them. In truth, Sylvia pressured Lina with "all of them are going to meet up at New Year's Eve, are you really going to be the only one left out?". Though Sylvia could understand that Lina wanted to spend the New Year with her, Sylvia knew that Lina was definitely going to feel bitter about missing out later.

Tatsuya was wearing a black haori hakama, Miyuki was using a light blue yukata with a floral design, and Lina was using a pink yukata. It really gave the image of two opposite lilies.

"This brings some memories."

"Now that you mention it. You were also here last time, right Lina?"

"Oh, are you talking about the time you were… spying on Tatsuya-sama, Lina?" {refer to Volume 9, Season 2 Episode 1}

"...I'm indeed talking about that but… Could it be, you both noticed?"

"I'm surprised that you are even asking this Lina."

"Fufu. You weren't exactly discreet, Lina."

"Wha-! What was not discreet about me?!"

"Everything, from the attire to the behaviour."

"...Please don't mention the attire."

Tatsuya gave a blunt response to Lina's disbelief. Tatsuya could recall that he wasn't sure if he should laugh or cry at Angie Sirius's lack of training as a spy. Lina on the other hand, remembered the scolding Sylvia gave her. Before Lina arrived in Japan, she did some research about their culture, including clothing. However, the data acquired was... outdated, which resulted in Lina picking a very conspicuous outfit.

"I believe Ayako should be just… Oh, there she is."

Ayako, dressed in a yukata as black as the feathers of a black crow, walked towards them smiling.

"Good evening, sorry for making you wait."

"It's fine. We are the only ones here for now."

"Oh, is Fumiya-kun not with you?"

"He really wanted to come here and meet Tatsuya-san but he decided to keep Otou-sama company."

"How thoughtful of him."

Ayako wanted to say that rather than "thoughtfulness", pity was a better word. Both Fumiya and Ayako knew that while Mitsugu accepted the engagement, he still felt bitter towards Tatsuya. Seeing Ayako dressing up to see Tatsuya instead of spending time with her family, Mitsugu sulked a little, even if he didn't intend to.

"Anyway, everyone should be arriving soon."

"Oh, I see them."

"Yahoo!"

"Good evening, Tatsuya-san, Miyuki and Lina too."

"Good evening."

Tatsuya's group was greeted by Erika, Honoka and Shizuku. Erika was wearing red, matching her hair, Shizuku was wearing the same furisode she used during the Pillars Break event, and Honoka was wearing an orange yukata. For a moment, Tatsuya looked around and wondered if Leo, Mikihiko and Mizuki weren't around but then remembered that they haven't spoken since the school break started, before the Yotsuba made their announcement.

"Did something happen with the others?"

Even without asking, Erika could guess who the "others" referred to.

"They said they weren't coming."

"Did something happen?"

It didn't look like anything serious. But Tatsuya just thought it was a little strange that all of them (Tatsuya and his fiancees), with their complicated circumstances and family matters, managed to meet up but Leo, Mikihiko and Mizuki didn't.

"They said that they didn't want to get in the way."

"More like, they didn't want to feel like third, fourth and fifth wheels."

"...While I don't believe they would be bothering anyone, I do understand their reasoning though."

Shizuku said exactly what she heard from them while Erika, not bothering to sugarcoat it, just translated the exact meaning. Tatsuya could understand his friends but he still hoped, somewhere in the corner of his mind, that at least Leo or Mikihiko would show up to lessen his burden. Now, unless he coincidentally met an acquaintance, he was going to be the only man among a big group of beautiful women. He could already feel jealous gazes focused on him and he knew it was only going to get worse as his group grew in number.

"Sorry for the wait."

"Good evening, everyone."

Looking at the direction where the voices came from, they could see Mayumi and Kyouko approaching and waving at them. They were both wearing yukatas, Mayumi used a light pink one while Kyouko used a pure white one, somewhat similar to her army uniform.

"I was taking care of some work. I hope I didn't make you all wait too long."

"I'm really sorry but I had some family issues to take care of."

"I can understand Kyouko-san, but Mayumi-san too?"

"By 'family issues' you mean Izumi?"

""Ah.""

""?""

Miyuki wasn't sure about what Mayumi's problems could be but Tatsuya could instinctively guess what it was. Hearing it, Honoka, Shizuku and Erika immediately understood why it was an issue. The same could not be said about Lina and Ayako who were not familiar with Izumi.

"By Izumi, are you referring to Mayumi-san's little sister?"

"Indeed."

"But why is she a problem?"

"Ahaha… Convincing her not to come was a lot harder than I thought. If Kasumi-chan didn't support me, it would have been impossible."

"You could have just let her come too."

"It would just make Tatsuya-kun's situation look worse. I also don't doubt that Izumi-chan would try to make some plan to distract Tatsuya-kun with us while she spends some time alone with Miyuki-san."

"That… doesn't sound too far-fetched."

"It would definitely happen."

"Hahaha… Mayumi-san, you shouldn't talk about your own little sister like that."

"...Miyuki-san, even if you laugh like that, everyone can tell you are actually relieved that Izumi didn't come to interrupt your time with Tatsuya-kun."

"And she also didn't deny that Izumi was going to try something."

Miyuki just laughed softly while lightly brushing aside Mayumi's comment about Izumi. Mayumi then pointed out Miyuki's real feelings and Kyouko followed suit. By the way, Miyuki was indeed grateful that Mayumi managed to stop Izumi. She didn't want to be harsh on her kouhai but she also couldn't tolerate someone trying to get in the way of her time with Tatsuya.

"Speaking of which, I don't see Minami anywhere."

"Though not official, this is supposed to be only between us but..."

"Minami was given a break. With all of us together, I really don't think anything is going to happen anyway."

"I guess."

Jumping on the topic about "people that could here but are not", Honoka asked about Minami. Lina was indeed right that they wanted this to be an event somewhat exclusive to the ones engaged but she also didn't want to actually prohibit anyone from tagging along. Tatsuya gave them the excuse of a holiday vacation to the others but, in truth, Minami felt the same as Leo and Mikihiko did. "There's no way I want to get stuck in the middle of that harem". Even if she was supposed to be Miyuki's bodyguard and maid, it was still too much.

"But we are all here now, so how about we get going?"

"I guess, if a group as big as ours just stands around, we might get in the way."

Lina suggested they move since they weren't waiting for anyone else. Miyuki also agreed but not for the main reason.

"I think the real concern lies somewhere else but..."

"Yes, we should move before Tatsuya accumulates more animosity."

"It's not a problem… yet."

Even without focusing his ears, Tatsuya could easily pick curses and stuff coming from the people around. It had already surpassed the point where people would say how jealous they were of him inside their heads. Tatsuya was certain they were mumbling to themselves and he felt that soon enough, they would start actually shouting.

[Hey, That group of beauties is getting bigger and bigger but there's still only one guy.]

[Who the hell is that bastard?!]

[Hogging them all to himself while some of us are alone! The nerve!]

When he used to go shopping with just Miyuki, he could pass as her boyfriend, even if his looks were not on par with hers, his composure and his mature air made him seem like someone fitting for her. But this was on a whole different scale. He was pretty sure that at some point, some random guy in the crowd, intoxicated with his own justice (jealousy), was going to call out to him. If someone came out screaming that Tatsuya was a playboy, he was not entirely sure about how he would cope with it. Tatsuya's main plan was to just say that Miyuki was his girlfriend and the others were his friends, while it wouldn't sound convincing, a third party has no say in Tatsuya's matters. The problem lies on the inside rather than the outside, if he went through with his strategy, he was pretty sure that his partners were not going to like being called mere "friends".

"Don't worry Tatsuya-kun. If anyone tries anything, I will give them a little shocking experience." *wink*

"Oh, how about we compete then? I will use a really fast move that Tsugu-aniue taught me and we can see who takes him/her down faster."

"This isn't supposed to be a competition though."

Seeing Tatsuya was a little worried, Kyouko decided to act as the most mature of the group and reassure him. Erika stepped up and tried to heat things up but, as Shizuku emotionlessly pointed out, this was not a game nor a competition… Or maybe it actually was a competition.

"Then, let us go. This way, Tatsuya-sama."

"I will be taking this side, Tatsuya-san."

""Aah!""

"Eeh?!"

"Hou..." {for those that don't know, this is some kind of japanese onomatopoeia that they make when they are impressed or surprised by something, mostly in a good way. Not in a "What the hell?!" way, more like a "hm, not bad" way.}

"...Too fast."

"I wonder if I should say 'as expected'."

Miyuki swiftly seized the initiative and hugged Tatsuya's right arm and Ayako quickly followed suit and grabbed Tatsuya's left arm. They were both showing the difference between the ones acquainted with Tatsuya since childhood and the ones who aren't. Honoka and Lina were the first ones to scream, Honoka was actually shocked that someone beat her to hugging Tatsuya with Miyuki. Mayumi was also surprised to see someone as "aggressive" as Miyuki. Erika was a little surprised but used that as a way of pumping herself up. Shizuku just sent a small comment while inwardly lamenting her own lateness. Kyouko somewhat expected it so she didn't react much, on the outside that is.

Tatsuya's group moved through the crowd, more like, the sea of people split up, making a path for them. Jealousy and awe, nothing else could be felt from the surroundings. People were supposed to go visit the shrine so they could pray for fortune in the incoming year, and yet, Tatsuya could already feel that a lot of onlookers were going to use the visit to pray for his misfortune. He agreed to visit the shrine with his fiancees mostly because Miyuki insisted on it, but that still meant he had to clench his teeth and bear it as he had the option of refusing and still chose to accept it.

"Then let us go, Tatsuya-sama. All together."

"Hey, even if I'm not in school anymore, I'm still your senpai, ok? Don't you dare think about leaving me behind Tatsuya-kun."

"You offered your hand to me before so don't complain now Tatsuya."

"Let's create many more memories together this year as well, Tatsuya-san."

"I-I may not be as powerful or influential as the others but I won't lose to them, Tatsuya-san!"

"Tatsuya-san, next year I will ask my father to book a shrine. That way we'll make it easier for you."

"There isn't a single dull moment with you around, Tatsuya-kun. Let's keep it up this year as well."

"Even if someone causes you trouble, don't worry about causing a ruckus Tatsuya-kun. I will properly hack the cameras around so there won't be any evidence left."

For the first time in the evening, or rather, the first time in the year, Tatsuya felt at peace. He looked at the women surrounding him and knew that even if the entire world was against them, they will never let anyone separate them.