You Will Regret This Ichinose! [197]

The setting sun cast its final rays from beyond the sea, bathing the entire room in a deep crimson hue.

Pure white snowflakes drifted through the sky, swirling aimlessly, infinite in number. Under the glow of the sunset, they reflected a breathtaking shade of red.

[17:42]

Uesugi Gen put away his phone, took a deep breath, and switched on the room’s light, dispelling the crimson glow and replacing it with a pure, pristine white.

The time had come—this was the decisive moment!

Ding-dong~

The doorbell rang at a leisurely pace. Uesugi Gen could tell from the tone that the person outside was in an exceptionally good mood.

He turned the doorknob, and in the next second, a gust of fragrant air rushed toward him.

"Gen-kun!"

Ichinose launched herself at Uesugi Gen, wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing their faces tightly together as if they would merge under atmospheric pressure.

"Alright, alright, how old are you? Still clinging like a child every time we meet. If our classmates saw this, you’d definitely turn bright red again."

Uesugi Gen encircled her slender waist with his arms. Her long, shimmering golden-pink hair draped over his hand, tickling him down to his heart.

"Hmph hmph!"

Ichinose let out a soft, playful hum before closing her eyes and tilting her head, revealing her flawlessly smooth cheek to him.

Her intent was clear—kiss me!

"……"

Uesugi Gen found the situation a little amusing.

The same girl who once stood proudly at the podium at the beginning of the school year—exuding confidence, commanding the class, her presence sharp and unwavering—had, step by step, been transformed by him into this soft, sweet, and utterly adorable creature.

"Mm~"

Ichinose hummed again, this time with a hint of urgency—Hurry up already.

"You leave me no choice."

Smiling indulgently, Uesugi Gen leaned down and pressed a kiss against the smooth, snowy cheek she offered him.

"This side too, alright?"

He turned her face slightly and placed another kiss on the other cheek.

"(@^.^@)"

Ichinose opened her sky-blue eyes, her gaze brimming with his reflection. She reached out, gently turned Uesugi Gen’s face toward hers, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him on the lips.

"That’s my thank-you gift," she said brightly.

"How sneaky," Uesugi Gen feigned dissatisfaction. "I kissed you twice, and you only gave me one in return."

"Hehe, I learned it from you, Gen-kun."

Ichinose giggled as she steadied herself against him, bent down to unzip her brown knee-high boots, then stepped forward lightly in her black tights, skipping happily into the room.

She wore a V-neck beige sweater with a brown coat over it—the same style as Uesugi Gen’s own coat. Beneath it, a pleated skirt peeked out, half-concealed by the hem of her coat, revealing a pair of long, slender legs wrapped in sheer black tights. She carried a youthful charm, yet there was an unmistakable touch of mature allure.

Even after countless similar moments, every time Uesugi Gen saw Ichinose like this—so effortlessly enticing—he could barely suppress the urge to pin her down from behind, to wrap her tightly in his embrace, to press their bodies together and feel every curve against him, to listen to the sweet, birdlike melody of her voice as it grew hoarse...

No—wait!

Uesugi Gen bit the tip of his tongue. A sharp sting shot through his mind, pulling him out of his dangerous thoughts.

If he did something like that now, by tomorrow, he’d be sporting eighteen stab wounds, and the police would rule it a suicide.

A quick glance at his phone—

[17:51]

The timing was just right. Time to execute the plan.

Ichinose had already opened the fridge and started taking out the ingredients she had prepared in advance.

Now!

Uesugi Gen's gaze sharpened. Feigning curiosity, he asked, "By the way, Ichinose, did you buy fried chicken?"

"Huh?"

Ichinose looked up in surprise. "Wait… don’t tell me, Gen-kun’s family has a tradition of eating fried chicken on Christmas?"

She had assumed that, coming from a prestigious family, Uesugi Gen wouldn't follow such customs.

In the 1970s, KFC had introduced a Christmas chicken meal. The marketing campaign was wildly successful, and fried chicken, along with teriyaki chicken and similar dishes, became popular Christmas alternatives in Japan—eventually solidifying as a holiday tradition.

"Ah…"

Uesugi Gen turned his head toward the window, where the moon had silently risen, and—like an actor slipping into his role—he mused aloud, "Well, I just really like fried chicken."

"That’s… a major oversight on my part."

Ichinose puffed out her cheeks, furrowing her brows in frustration. "I can’t believe I didn’t ask about your family’s Christmas traditions beforehand. That’s such a failure on my part."

Oh, my adorable Ichinose, while it’s true that I like fried chicken, my family’s Christmas gatherings are these stiff, formal affairs—several families dining together, totally old-fashioned, with zero relation to any real traditions.

Uesugi Gen smirked internally.

Ichinose straightened up and reached for the coat hanging by the bed. "Wait here for a bit—I’ll go buy some—"

"Whoa, whoa, Ichinose, hold on!"

Uesugi Gen quickly stopped her. "You stay here and cook. I’ll go get it. Keyaki Mall is probably packed right now, and there’s no guarantee you’ll even find any. But I have some connections with the shop owners over there."

"Well… alright then."

Ichinose’s voice sounded a little deflated, clearly disappointed.

"If you keep spoiling me like this, I’ll turn into a useless man."

Uesugi Gen wrapped his arms around her waist, whispering gently.

"Mmm…"

Ichinose let out a soft whimper, but soon gathered herself, balling her hands into little fists. "Then I’ll do my best to make a delicious meal for you to come home to!"

"Sounds like a deal."

"Be careful on the way!"

Ichinose watched him leave, her eyes filled with warmth.

...

Uesugi Gen shut the door softly behind him and leaned against it, taking a deep breath.

A puff of white mist escaped his lips, rising into the cold evening air.

The operation begins!

The next second, a burst of wind split the silence. As the mist dispersed, Uesugi Gen’s figure vanished from sight.

First up—the easiest and quickest to deal with: Miss Horikita Suzune.

Ding-dong~

A dozen seconds later, the doorbell to Horikita Suzune’s room suddenly rang.

With a soft click, the door opened. Suzune felt a gust of air brush past her cheek.

She turned her head—Uesugi Gen was already kneeling at the table, sitting upright, elegantly picking up a pair of chopsticks, and preparing to eat.

"……"

"Why do you look like a thief? Are you on the run from someone?"

After confirming that no one was actually chasing him, Horikita Suzune shut the door, narrowing her sharp, fox-like eyes in suspicion.

"Who says I’m not? When your brother heard I was coming to eat with you, the look in his eyes said he was about to kill me."

Uesugi Gen clicked his tongue dismissively.

But in the next moment, his expression lit up with excitement.

"So I convinced Secretary Tachibana to invite your brother to a Christmas gathering. Took him out with one move."

"……"

Why is this guy like this? Constantly provoking my brother… If he actually gets mad, I won’t be able to stop him.

After all, my skills in taekwondo and karate were all learned from him.

Horikita Suzune sighed, lowering her gaze.

Not that it really mattered.

She could never win an argument with this guy, and while she could beat him up…

If she went easy on him, he’d just shamelessly stick around.

And if she hit him too hard… she wouldn’t be able to bring herself to do it.

"Just a few more minutes. Sit still and wait."

Horikita Suzune reminded him, glancing at Uesugi Gen—who had managed to maintain a proper sitting posture for only thirty seconds before sprawling out on the floor in a completely unseemly manner.

She had no idea what his body was made of. Wasn’t he cold, lying there like that?

"Got it. But Suzune, if you keep getting so worked up, you’ll end up aging faster, you know?"

Uesugi Gen remained on the floor, speaking lazily.

"#!"

Who the hell do you think made me like this?! Before meeting you, my emotions were perfectly stable.

Horikita Suzune didn't bother bickering with him any further. Instead, she focused on the final touches of her cooking.

By the stove, the girl stood gracefully, her deep blue apron cinched tightly around her slender waist, tied in a neat bow at the back. Underneath, she wore a white knit sweater. Moving further downward…

Uesugi Gen’s face immediately fell.

"Suzune, where are your thigh-high socks? Why did you switch to those totally unappealing straight-leg pants?"

He sounded utterly heartbroken.

"I'm not as resistant to the cold as you. It's winter—why on earth would I still wear those?"

"Tights would’ve been fine too! Without your long legs to admire, my appetite is going to drop by at least two bowls of rice."

"Shut up, you pervert!"

A flush crept up Horikita Suzune’s ears as she scolded him without turning around.

"Ugh… This is why I hate winter!"

Uesugi Gen’s resentment toward the cursed Christmas season deepened yet again.

"Alright, we can talk about my pants later. Move aside for now."

Wearing thick oven mitts, Horikita Suzune carefully carried the pot over to the table and set it down with a solid thud.

As she lifted the lid, steam curled into the air, filling the room with an incredibly rich aroma.

"Ohhh…"

Uesugi Gen’s nostrils flared as he eagerly peered into the pot.

Inside, beautifully marbled slices of snowflake Wagyu beef lay atop a medley of napa cabbage, shiitake mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, garland chrysanthemum, and konjac noodles—all bathed in a broth made from soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar.

"This is… Japanese Wagyu sukiyaki!"

"It's the best thing to eat in winter."

The normally cold and aloof girl allowed herself a small, satisfied smile at Uesugi Gen’s delighted expression.

But that smile barely lasted two seconds before it froze.

"What are you doing?"

Uesugi Gen had whipped out his phone, snapped a picture, and was now tapping away.

"Sending it to your brother to make him jealous. Also, checking if he actually went out for dinner with Secretary Tachibana."

"……"

Horikita Suzune took a deep breath, desperately trying to calm herself.

Don't get mad. Don't get mad. Horikita Suzune, this is your own fault for letting this guy into your life. You can’t beat him up tonight—it's Christmas Eve. You need to keep the peace. Hitting him now would be bad luck.

"Go wash your hands!"

"Aye, aye~"

...

Outside, snowflakes fluttered down in the quiet night. Inside, warmth filled the air.

"Ohhh~"

Freshly washed and carrying a bowl, Uesugi Gen marveled at the vibrant, beautifully arranged ingredients in the pot.

The thin, delicately marbled Wagyu beef had just been placed into the simmering broth. Fresh green spinach, silky white tofu, and a variety of mushrooms—each ingredient stood out like strokes of color on a masterfully painted canvas.

Seeing his childlike excitement, Horikita Suzune hesitated for a moment before speaking softly.

"Um… Is your family usually very busy?"

"Hmm… well," Uesugi Gen mused with a nostalgic look. "Before I turned ten, I spent most Christmases alone. It got better after that."

Horikita Suzune sat down, staring at the bubbling pot. She spoke absentmindedly.

"Before high school, my brother and I used to sit and eat together like this all the time. But after he enrolled at Advanced Nurturing High, it never happened again."

"Oh?"

Uesugi Gen scooted a little closer to her.

"So in a way, we’re opposites. If we had met earlier, we might’ve balanced each other out."

"I’ll pass."

Horikita Suzune half-closed her eyes and refused without hesitation. "I’d like to live a few more years, thank you. If I’d known you earlier, I probably would’ve died of frustration. Also—can you stop getting so close to me?"

"Don’t be so distant."

Uesugi Gen grinned and moved in even closer, their shoulders touching.

"I saw on TV that eating sukiyaki like this in winter is the best way to enjoy it. Ah! It’s done!"

Swiftly, he plucked a piece of beef from the pot, coated it evenly in raw egg, blew on it twice, then flashed a mischievous smile.

"Suzune."

"Hm?"

Horikita Suzune turned her head. "What do you wa—mmph!"

Uesugi Gen expertly popped the piece of beef into her mouth before she could react, looking immensely pleased with himself.

"It’s a thank-you gift."

The beef required no chewing. The moment it touched her tongue, it melted effortlessly. Horikita Suzune, her face tinged pink, glared at Uesugi Gen.

"You idiot, you already took a bite and then fed it to me!"

"Stop being stubborn and just eat. Otherwise, there won’t be anything left for you soon."

Uesugi Gen nonchalantly continued piling food into her bowl.

Horikita Suzune raised an eyebrow. Staring at the still-full pot of ingredients, she asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"Heh heh~"

Uesugi Gen glanced at the food in her bowl, mentally calculating her usual appetite. It should be enough.

The next second, his chopsticks moved. And the second after that—half the food was gone.

...

Fifteen minutes later.

Horikita Suzune twitched as she stared at the now-empty pot.

She had prepared enough for four people just to be safe.

Yet, in a matter of minutes, this guy had devoured everything as if a tornado had swept through.

And…

Horikita Suzune glanced at the towering pile of food in front of her.

He had actually been considerate enough to leave her a full portion.

"Urp—"

Uesugi Gen grabbed a napkin, wiped his mouth, then promptly flopped onto Horikita Suzune’s lap.

"Don’t lie down immediately after eating. It’s bad for you."

She scolded him like a nagging mother.

Uesugi Gen didn’t answer. Instead, he simply raised a hand and gave her a big thumbs-up.

"Perfection."

Seeing that he had no intention of moving, Horikita Suzune sighed and let him be.

She silently took a bite of food—somehow, it tasted even better than before.

After a long pause, Uesugi Gen’s voice drifted up from her lap.

"Suzune."

"Hm?"

"Can you switch back to thigh-high socks? Your pants are really uncomfortable to use as a pillow."

"Go to hell!"

---

T/N: i wonder if they'll all catch him at the same time

This is a fan translation of 人在实教，一之濑你会后悔的 by 作者：白良. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!