As Chitoge stepped inside through the main door, warmth immediately welcomed her. The aroma of winter dishes mixed with the scent of Christmas tree wood filled the air. The spacious living room was filled with colorful lights, and in the center stood a large Christmas tree with sparkling ornaments, golden ribbons, and a bright star at the top.
The servants were busy carrying trays of cakes, warm drinks, and main dishes. The sound of lively chatter echoed, typical of the Ichijou family's big house that was always full of life.
But among the crowd, Chitoge saw him right away—Raku.
He stood not far from the Christmas tree, wearing a warm navy-blue sweater. In his hand was still a gift box with a red ribbon, as if it were a treasure that must not be lost.
Raku turned toward her. His gaze was clear, innocent, yet full of sincerity. When he saw Chitoge, his face immediately lit up.
"Ah, Chitoge! You came…"
Chitoge swallowed hard, suddenly nervous. She tried to smile.
"Of course… I couldn't possibly skip Christmas just like that."
They stood facing each other under the glittering lights, as if time slowed down for a moment.
Ryunosuke, who stood not far away, smiled faintly, then signaled the servants to let the two of them be.
"Welcome, Ojou-chan," greeted Issei who suddenly appeared, patting Raku's shoulder. His voice was loud yet warm. "Bocchan has been waiting for your arrival since earlier. Come in, enjoy the party."
Chitoge gave a small nod. Her eyes returned to Raku, who now looked awkward, but also happy.
The party began with great cheer. Shu, Ruri, and Onodera had already arrived earlier, waving when they saw Chitoge. Onodera smiled gently, though her eyes briefly glanced at Raku with a feeling that was hard to describe.
The servants brought in a large Christmas cake with white cream and strawberries on top. The young children of the yakuza family ran around laughing, while the adults chatted, laughed loudly, and even occasionally sang.
Raku stood next to Chitoge, watching it all with a face full of wonder.
"So this is… the atmosphere of Christmas. So lively, but… warm," he muttered softly.
Chitoge turned, a little surprised by his tone. There was an innocence in it that made her heart tremble.
"Of course… Christmas is indeed the time to gather with important people."
Raku looked at her for a moment, then smiled.
"In that case… thank you for coming. To me, you are also important."
Those simple words left Chitoge speechless. Her pale cheeks slowly turned red, and she quickly shifted her gaze to the Christmas tree, pretending to be busy admiring the decorations.
Claude, who stood far near the entrance, could only let out a small sigh with a faint smile.
The main hall of the Ichijou residence that night felt like another world. The giant Christmas tree in the middle of the room stood proudly, surrounded by small twinkling lights as if stars had descended to earth. Bell-shaped ornaments, crystal balls, and golden ribbons decorated every branch. The scent of pine wood mixed with the aroma of freshly cooked dishes, making anyone's stomach growl.
"Merry Christmas!" Issei's loud voice echoed, making the lively room fall silent for a moment, then erupt in cheers. He stood at the front, wearing a black yakuza suit, but his face shone with a big smile rarely seen. "Today we don't talk about business, no outside affairs. Tonight… we are all family. Eat, drink, laugh—and make beautiful memories together!"
Cheers erupted again. Glasses were raised, the sound of kanpai! rang out from every direction.
Ryunosuke stood beside Issei, also smiling. He glanced at Raku who stood not far away, accompanied by Chitoge. That Bocchan looked a little confused, his eyes scanning the crowd, but the small smile on his face did not fade.
The servants began to enter in rows, carrying trays full of dishes: roast turkey covered in sauce, creamy pasta, warm soup, colorful salads, and small sweet cakes. The long table that had been prepared was soon filled with food. The savory aroma filled the air, blending with laughter and chatter.
Shu, Ruri, and Onodera sat side by side, a little awkward in the midst of the lively yakuza family atmosphere. But they quickly got swept up when one of the servants offered them hot chocolate. Shu immediately joked, "Ahh, now this is a party! I regret not coming to your birthday, Raku!"
Raku gave a small smile, nodding. "It's alright… I'm glad you came today."
That innocent answer made Shu pause for a moment, then laugh while patting Raku's shoulder. "You really sound different now, Raku."
Ruri only sighed, sipping her drink. "For some reason I feel… this is Raku but not Raku." Her eyes glanced at Onodera who had been silent all along, just smiling softly while staring at her plate. Her heart was clearly still shaken, but she tried to enjoy the atmosphere.
On the other side, Chitoge sat not far from Raku. Though she tried to appear normal, her heart pounded every time she saw the sincere expression of that Raku. Claude stood behind her, faithful as a shadow. Occasionally his eyes scanned the whole room, cautious, but his gaze softened when he saw Chitoge finally smiling in the middle of the party.
Issei raised his fork, his voice loud again. "Alright! Don't hold back. Eat as much as you like, tonight our kitchen worked hard for everyone!"
Another cheer. The servants busily filled plates, serving juicy turkey slices, and pouring drinks.
Raku looked at his plate with awe. "So this is… Christmas dinner. Everything looks so delicious."
Chitoge turned, smiling. "Of course. Christmas without a big dinner is… incomplete."
Raku looked at her, then smiled gently. "I'm glad… you are here."
Those simple words made Chitoge's cheeks flush red, and she quickly turned her gaze away while stabbing a slice of turkey on her plate.
Elsewhere, Shu had already started a "battle" with Ryunosuke.
"Ryunosuke-san! I'm sure I can eat more turkey than you!"
Ryunosuke chuckled. "Heh, don't dream. Bocchan himself has more chances of beating me than you."
"Eh?!" Shu gaped, while the whole table burst into laughter.
Ruri shook her head slightly. "What a party… noisy, but warm."
Onodera lowered her gaze, hiding her smile with her hand. Though her heart still hurt, the warmth of the atmosphere slowly melted her sadness.
Christmas music began to play, performed by a family member who happened to be good at piano. Some children sang, dancing around the Christmas tree. The twinkling lights became even more festive, the star on top of the tree gleaming beautifully.
Claude stood calmly, but even his lips curled slightly seeing Chitoge chuckle when one of the children tried to put a Santa hat on Raku's head. That Bocchan could only smile awkwardly, letting the child cheer happily.
Everyone was swept away in laughter, chatter, and the warmth of the night. As if the world outside, full of cold and snow, was completely shut out, unable to enter the grand Ichijou residence.