The group looked on with bemused smiles. They’d never imagined that the Wolf Queen, whom they’d taken to be a completely fantastical character, would show such appetite, like some little girl.

But all Rion said was, ‘OK. And this is for you, too.’ He reached around to take a small package out from his backpack, and handed it to her. ‘We had this at home, but if you don’t mind, I’d like you to have it.’

They’d talked about not exchanging presents, but he’d apparently brought something anyway. The Wolf Queen stared for a time at the package in his hands, before finally accepting it.

‘OK,’ she said, placing it behind her back.

Kokoro had expected the Wolf Queen to unwrap it immediately. Rion made no comment.

‘So, let’s have some cake,’ he said.

DESPITE THE DECISION NOT TO bring gifts to their Christmas party, Aki, too, had brought something: pretty patterned paper napkins like the ones she’d brought before. She handed one out to each of them. These were part of the same series as those she’d given Fuka on her birthday, though in a different pattern.

‘Jeez, I should have brought something, too!’ Ureshino said loudly.

What surprised Kokoro most was the moment when Masamune laid out a pile of manga products for boys and told them they were presents.

‘Take as many of them as you want,’ he said.

Kokoro was stunned. A lot of them were freebies found in the back of manga, but there were some gift tokens for books, too.

‘Wow! Tokens for the One Piece series!’

Kokoro loved manga, too. She turned the gift token over and noticed there was the maximum amount of 500 yen on it. Masamune always brought in lots of video games, and seemed to own so many things. But he didn’t seem to consider money and possessions as particularly important.

‘These are all manga for boys. So I don’t know what they are, and I don’t need any,’ Aki said, making a face.

But Subaru said, ‘Hey! Are these new? In that case, I’ll take one.’ He reached out for one of the gift tokens.

‘Which ones do you prefer?’ Aki asked him.

‘If you’re not bothered about them’ – Masamune was irritated – ‘then don’t get involved.’

‘It’s such a surprise,’ Aki shot back. ‘Whether I’m interested or not is beside the point. I’m just so astonished that you’d even think of bringing us presents, Masamune.’

‘You’re so annoying. If you’re going to diss them, then give them back. It took time to get all this stuff together, you know.’

‘No, I’ll have one, actually.’

Kokoro moved in to thank him.

‘No problem,’ Masamune said, looking away and blowing out his cheeks.

Rion’s mother’s cake was deliciously spongy, rich with egg and light as air.