As soon as the chairman announced the start of the Christmas party, many dishes were brought in all at once.
　There were meat dishes, vegetable platters, seafood, soups, fruits, and many other delicacies that I couldn't even name.

(...... smells good)

　The appetizing smells are coming from everywhere.

(But wouldn't there be a stampede of people if all these delicious-looking dishes were brought in at once ......?

　I took a step back and looked around - all the students seemed to be calm and relaxed.

　Some were chatting with friends.
　Some ordering drinks.
　Some modestly placing food on their plates.

　It was very calm and warm, and the commotion I had expected was nowhere to be seen.

(......) It's no wonder, when you think about it.

　Everyone here is from a noble or good family.
　I guess they are used to this kind of standing-room-only parties.
　I felt a kind of 'difference in experience'.

　And then...

"Here it comes, Allen!　Let's eat it quickly before it's gone!

　The highest-ranking "princess" in the room seemed to be unable to hide her excitement at the food in front of her.

"Hmm... Let's go.

　I followed behind her as she walked quickly and picked up one of the plates on the table.

It's a very expensive looking plate. ......

　It was as shiny as a mirror, with a golden arabesque pattern painted around the edge.
　To be honest, I have no idea what these things are worth, but I'm sure they must be expensive.

(Just make sure you don't drop it by mistake. ......)

　Then, with some nervousness, I put the meat and vegetables on my plate in a balanced manner.

　Leah had a heavy plate of lamb chops and meat.
　Rose chose her favorite dishes, mainly vegetables and sweet desserts.
　Claude, with a practiced hand, took only the meat.

　Even a single plate of food can show the individuality of each person.
　After we had finished our dishes, we gathered in a small area and sipped on our favorite dishes.

This is ...... a very fresh vegetable!　It tastes so good!

"Hmmm ......!　I love lamb chops!

This ice cream has a nice sweetness to it!

"Hmm, not bad meat.

　While we were all enjoying the food, we heard an elegant orchestra.
　While we were all enjoying the food, we heard an elegant orchestra.

This is the fourth movement of the ...... Liebeshaib Symphony.

　This is the fourth movement of the Rieves Hive Symphony," Leah muttered after hearing only a short prelude.

"So, you know a lot about it?

　I asked her.

"Huh, of course!　Of course you do! You're a brilliant woman who's learned everything there is to know about all things ancient and modern!

　I'm not sure if it's a good thing or not.

　Claude, who interrupted me from the side, looked very happy, probably because he was praising his own lord.

　After that, there was a lot of chatting while listening to a live band famous in Orestes, the appearance of a huge Christmas cake, emergency orders for food because Leah had eaten too much, and so on.

　An hour had passed since the party started.

"Now then, let's begin the much-anticipated 'Great Exchange Party'!

　The chairman of the party went up to the stage at the far end of the main auditorium and announced in a high voice.
　At the same time, the dark curtain on the stage slowly went up, revealing a large number of gifts.

　All of them must have been brought by us.

"But that's a lot of stuff. ......

　One grade has 180 students, which means there are enough presents for all 540 students in the school.

I'm not sure how they're going to allocate the gifts, though. ......?

　If I were to distribute them one by one, it would take a lot of time.

"First of all, everyone in Class 1-A, please gather in front of the stage.

　The chairman's clear, beautiful voice echoed through the hall.

"Our class is first?

"Can't wait to see what kind of gift we get!

"Yeah, I guess so.

　While talking with Leah, I walked towards the stage.

　In front of the stage, there were ten boxes labeled "Lottery Box.

Each lottery box contains a lottery ticket with a number written on it. The present with the same number as that number will be yours.

　If you look closely, you can see that the gifts lined up on the stage are labeled with a piece of paper with a number on it.

Oh, so it's completely random.

Yeah, I guess so.

　Then we drew lots from the lottery box.
　My number was forty-first.

I drew the number forty-first, and I said, "Class A, have you finished drawing your lots?　Please raise the lot above your heads.

　As instructed by the chairperson, everyone in the class held up their lottery tickets above their heads.

　And the next moment.

"Ooooh!

　Thirty presents flew into the air.

(This must be a ...... manipulative soul suit.)

　Looking around, I saw a female student holding a thin sword offstage.
　Apparently, this is her ability.

　Then - a wrapped box flew towards me.



"......, is this mine?

As I picked up the gift labeled "41," I felt a little strange.

(Hey, is that a ...... wrapped box?

　It looked a little familiar.

(...... Let's open it anyway.)

　I carefully removed the wrapping and slowly opened the box to find a hand-sized stuffed animal.

(What can I say? ...... It's exquisitely ugly.)

　It was probably a stuffed tiger ...... or maybe a fox?

(I wonder if this is what they call "fugakawaii" ......?

　When I was looking at the stuffed animal with such mixed feelings.

I'm not sure if this is a present from ...... Allen?

　I'm not sure what to make of it.

"That's ...... definitely. It's a wooden sword that I bought.

　The reason I was able to say that so clearly was the wrapped box at her feet.
　It's the only one of its kind in the world - the one I made.

　At the store where I bought the wooden sword, I asked, "Can you pack it as a gift? The shop where I bought the wooden sword asked me if I could pack it as a gift, but they refused, saying, "Well, that's really ......," so I had no choice but to make it.

I knew it!　The only person who would choose a wooden sword as a gift would be Allen!

"Oh, really? ......?

　Is this a compliment to ......?

Thank you, I'll take good care of it!

　She said and looked at the wooden sword happily.
　Apparently she liked it.

Oh, I'm glad you do. ...... And by any chance, is this Leah's?

　I showed her the strange stuffed animal I had just gotten.

　I showed her the strange stuffed animal I had just gotten. It had a unique sense of style that was very different from the general public.
　The same wrapping box that Leah had on the way there.

　I'm pretty sure it was a gift from her.

"Oh, that's my bear!

"...... bear?

"Yeah. I found this stuffed bear when I was looking for a gift. Isn't it cute?

Oh, yeah, it's .......

　This ugly yellow thing is a ...... bear. .......
　I'm staring at the stuffed animal in my hand.

"But how did you know?　But you know what? This is the gift I picked out.

　Leah nodded her head.

She tilted her head and said, "Oh, it's such a small ...... thing. Leah is the only person I can think of who would choose such a distinctive stuffed animal.

"Hmm, nice present, huh?

Oh, thank you. I'll treasure it.

　It's one of those things that obviously spoils the look of your room, but not if it's a gift from ...... Leah.
　I'll put it in the most prominent place in my room.

But what are the odds?

　It seems that we were among the 540 students in the school who exchanged gifts with each other.

"Hmm, that's true, ......!

　Leah said, beaming with happiness.

　After the exchange, we showed each other our gifts and got even more excited.

　Later, as the clock struck 20, the chairman, who had been busily moving from place to place, went up to the stage again.

"Well, everyone!　Now that the Great Exchange Party is over, it's time for the main event of the day!　The annual "Doki Doki!　The annual "Doki Doki! I'd like to hold the annual "Doki-Doki!

　The moment she said that.

"Yes!　The time has finally come!

"Oh, Allen is very popular, isn't he, ......?

What are you talking about?　Women have guts!　You'll get your ass kicked!

Ugh, I don't want to get smashed. ......

Huh!　I'm going for you, Leah!　I'm going for Leah! I can't stop thinking about her. ......

Wow, that's probably the one with the highest difficulty and death rate. ....... I hope Allen doesn't kill you. ......

　The second and third year students were suddenly in a state of excitement.

The second and third years were suddenly in color.　Coupling ......?

What the hell is that ......?

　It seems that we freshmen are the only ones who don't understand the situation.

(This feeling .......) It's very similar to the way it was during the Ura-Senba Festival,.......

　The chairman said earlier that it was an annual event.
　This is why the second and third year students know the outline of the event, and only the first year students are confused.

(But what the hell kind of event is ...... that?



　As I was thinking about this, I happened to make eye contact with the president.
　When she noticed me, she smiled and waved her hand from side to side.

(Oh, I see. ...... this?)

　It seems that the "Doki Doki!　Coupling competition! It seems that the "Doki Doki!

(Now that I think about it, the president of ...... has been very busy during this party. ......)

　And I haven't seen any of the other student council members, Lilim and Ferris.
　Perhaps, while everyone was having fun at the Christmas party, they were working on some kind of "trick" related to this event.

(This is something ...... you need to keep in mind .......)

　It was already 20 o'clock in the evening.
　This is the last major event of the Christmas party.

(Hmm .......) It's a school event.

　This is a school event, and more importantly, it's one that the chairpersons have carefully prepared for.
　If I refuse to participate, it will be very, very troublesome.

　So I made up my mind and went to the "Doki Doki!　Coupling Battle! I went to the "Doki-Doki!