Chapter 128

24 December or Christmas eve is the day where people celebrate Christmas with their partner, family, or friends. The day where people all over Japan are likely in the festive atmosphere and the day where events and parties will be held in towns and houses in Japan.

Naturally, we will also hold a Christmas party in our house inviting all of our friends. I also invited my parents and my girlfriends' parents as well, except Kaguya's father of course. But it seems they decided not to come because they said it's going to be awkward if there are old people in a party full of young people.

Well, Shirogane Papa and Shirogane Mama have a different reason, though. It seems they're going to have a date since it's a good time because their son and daughter will have a sleepover at my house.

"Izu! Look who's coming!" Suddenly, Kaori excitedly shouted from the entrance. The fact that she was very excited and I could sense two presences at the entrance means the one who comes must be our best friends, Kousei and Tsubaki.

Although we haven't met that much these three years, we always chatted in a line group regularly. It was a group of only five people which are my and Kaori's best friends in middle-school which are Kousei, Tsubaki, and Ryouta.

I walked to the entrance to find Kousei who although didn't change that much in the term of face, became almost as tall as me who was 185 cm height. And beside him, of course, there is Tsubaki who is different from before, has long hair.

"Yo, long time no see, you two!" I greeted them with a smile.

"Long time no see, Izumi! I saw your performance at the concert with Igawa-san! That was so beautiful!" Kousei excitedly said.

"Ah, I saw that too together with Kousei. Although we never talked before, I'm glad for Igawa-san. Still, I think if my Kousei entered many international tournaments like her, I am sure he will be chosen!" Tsubaki greeted and excitedly said.

"Heee...My Kousei, huh… I wonder who was in denial for wanting to enter the same high school as the person she liked before…" Kaori smirked and said.

"I wonder about that too… If I remember, she even has bags under her eyes because of the lack of sleep after studying tediously. Oh and, thanks for watching it!" I smirked and said too.

"Oi! D-don't say that! It's embarrassing!" Tsubaki retorted with her cheeks flushed because of embarrassment.

"Pffftt…." Kousei looked away while covering his mouth.

"You too, Kousei!! Don't laugh about that!" Tsubaki pointed and said with a bit of anger and an embarrassed expression.

Then, we looked at each other before laughing together because it's been a long time since we teased them like this as we rarely met with full members of our group attending.

Well, Ryouta wasn't here yet, though. Because he said he will be late as he is going to take something before coming here that he said will be a surprise. Still, I can imagine he will say something like 'Protagonist will come late as always' when he arrives.

"Come here, Tsubaki. I will introduce you to my sister!" Kaori dragged Tsubaki away as she said.

"Yes, yes. Let's go." Tsubaki sighed with a smile and obediently got dragged by Kaori.

"How about we play a game while waiting for the other?" I looked at Kousei and suggested it.

"Sure thing. Let's have a match in Street Fighter. But don't think it will be like before. Because I have played that game with Tsubaki many times and I think I was good at any game now." Kousei confidently said.

"Hooo...Alright, I accept your challenge. Let's have a look at your newly acquired skill." I raised my eyebrow and said.

Thus, we went to the living room and played street fighter V with Nanaka, Kaguya, Ai, and Abby watching the match. And of course, I won all of our matches which made Kousei devastated and wanted to challenge me more. But before we were able to have another match, Yukino messaged me that she, Yui, and Hikigaya had arrived and were waiting outside.

"Welcome, Yukino, Yuigahama-san and Hikigaya-kun." I greeted them with a smile.

"Yahallo, Kitahara-sama! Thanks for inviting even Hikki and me to the party!" Yui joyfully said.

"Yeah, thank you very much, Kitahara-san," Hikigaya said while looking at the house with amazement. My intuition told me he was thinking something like this 'Whoa...I didn't know a model got so much money…'

"Being a model didn't make me this much money, you know? I have restaurants and hospitals besides being a model and a pianist too." I said with a smirk.

"What, really?! What a winner in life… Wait, please stop doing that, Kitahara-san!" Hikigaya amazedly said before he retorted.

"Your thought was just easy to read, Hikki. Besides, didn't I tell you about Kitahara-sama having restaurants and hospitals before?" Yui asked.

"Fufufu, he can't remember if he didn't have a brain in the first place, you know?" Yukino said with a smile.

"Err...I forgot… And oi! That's rude!" Hikigaya smiled wryly before retorting once again.

"Hikki…" Yui looked at Hikigaya with a pout.

"Ahahaha…" Hikigaya laughed dryly.

"Anyway, thanks for inviting me today, Izumi," Yukino said with a beaming smile.

"Is thanks really needed after having my toothbrush in the same cup as yours in your apartment or kissing my cheek before the train's door closed?" I said with a teasing smile.

"T-that's true…" Yukino said with a tender smile and her cheeks reddened. Then, we looked at each other with smiles before Yui coughed.

"*Cough* Yes, yes, thanks for the treat. It warmed me even in this cold weather. And I don't know you are that bold, Yukinon," Yui said with a smirk.

"..." Yukino only looked away without saying anything.

"Hehe, my bad. Come on in, although there are many people who have not come yet, we could talk or play games in the living room." I said as I invited them to come in.

When we arrived in the living room, I found Kousei got destroyed by Abby in Street Fighter. Poor Kousei, he didn't know that Abby was actually good at this game. Then, as the girls started their girls talk, Hikigaya, Kousei, Abby, and I played another game.

By the way, I also invited Shizuka-chan and Renjou Suzu and his girlfriend as well, but they can't come because they have another matter to do. Shizuka-chan said she can't come because she already promised to come to a party with her high school friends while Renjou and his girlfriend need to attend his family party.

Of course, I also invited my subordinates, Kuro, and the Maoxing family. But alas, Maoxing asked if it was fine for him to spend Christmas Eve with his wife because he wanted to have a child. Well, there is no need to guess what they're going to do, so I accepted it right away.

Meanwhile, Kuro said he wasn't suited for this kind of party. Moreover, he will have to attend another party with his colleagues, so he can't come here.

After that, one after another guest such as Musashi, Miyuki, Maki, Ishigami, and Miko. Meanwhile, Kei, La Folia, Alice, and Emi have been here since last night too. So, the only one who has not arrived was Ryouta.

After waiting for a while, Ryouta chatted on the Line and said he had arrived and was waiting at the entrance. Then, when I arrived at the entrance, I saw Ryouta with two girls who were actually his girlfriends beside him.

"Yo, long time no see, Ryouta, Kyouko, and Ikumi." I greeted them with a smile. Yes, in fact, his girlfriends attended the same middle school as us and he already dated them since then. So, it's natural that I knew about them.

"Long time no see, Kitahara-sama." Kyouko and Ikumi said with a polite smile.

"Hehe, long time no see, Izumi!" Ryouta greeted back with a happy smile.

"You look so happy, Ryouta. I guess the surprise that made you late was that good." I said.

"Of course! And besides, the protagonist will always come late after all." Ryouta said with a confident smile.

"Well, I know you would say that. At any rate, I will look forward to the surprise and come on in you three!"

---

"Right, before we start the party, I want to hear what surprises Ryouta had for us first. Come on stand up and tell us, Ryouta!" I said.

"Alright!" Ryouta stood up and said while holding a bag in his hand.

"Now, do you guys remember my oath when we graduated from middle school?" Ryouta asked with a smile.

"You swear to become a popular soccer player, right?" Kousei said.

"And you also asked us to watch your match as Japan National Team's player," I added.

"That's right. You know, I have done my best these three years and as you already know I even got called into the Young Japan National Team. But as there were no tournaments at that time, all I did was just have a friendly match against other countries' young national teams.

However, in June next year, there is a soccer cup that everyone knows which is held every four years, the FIFA world cup. This time it will even be held in Japan.

Of course, the players that will be chosen to wear the blue jersey of Japan would be the best of the best players in Japan. So, it was natural if they chose those who were experienced in this cup. That's why...look at this!" Ryouta took something from the bag and showed it to us.

It was an official Japan National Team's blue jersey with the name Ryouta and number 18 written on it.

"Yes! I was chosen to be one of the players! I even got chosen to be the striker in the main line up because of my performance in Young Japan National Team and High School inter-high where I brought my school to win for two continuous years.

So, at that time, do watch my first match in the biggest international cup and I will show you who was the best striker in Japan. And I will also make sure we will win our first FIFA world cup's trophy." Ryouta said with a confident smile.

Hearing that, Kousei stood up and hugged him and I also walked to them as the others stood up with a happy smile on their face.

"Woooooo! You did it, Ryouta!" Kousei excitedly said with happy tears flowing from his eyes.

"I'm happy for you, Ryouta…And of course we will watch it directly in the stadium!" I added with a smile as I grasped Ryouta's shoulder. Of course, everyone also congratulated Ryouta after that.

"Thank you, everyone…" Ryouta emotionally said as tears also flowed from his eyes.

'Really, congratulations, Ryouta… I am certain you could give Japan its first FIFA world cup trophy'

Thus after the happy announcement from Ryouta, the party started with a very festive mood until very late at night.