"It's so lively..."
The hot breath exhaled from her mouth turned into white smoke and dissipated in the air. Yutsuki walked alone on the way ho, slightly glancing around.
Various colored lights hung on the dry branches of the trees lining the street, twinkling with colorful lights as if they were dancing, enveloping the entirety of Tengu City in a dreamlike hue.
Today, December 24th, Christmas Eve.
"Yeah, it's already this ti of year."
Yutsuki muttered absentmindedly.
In her past life, Yutsuki didn't really celebrate holidays, but most of the ti it was simply because there was no compelling reason to, not because she hated the holidays themselves.
However, Christmas was the only exception. Yutsuki couldn't accept it no matter what.
The reason was simple. Tomorrow, December 25th, was Yutsuki's—no, rather, her past self, Guan ng's—birthday. At the sa ti, it was also the anniversary of Guan ng's mother's death.
"Is there anywhere you want to go today?"
"Anywhere is fine, as long as I can be with you. I'm the happiest no matter where we go on Christmas."
"I love you. Having a girlfriend like you makes so happy."
"Mhm, I love you too."
Not far away, a sickeningly sweet couple was ignoring the single passersby around them and wildly flashing their PDA. If it were Valentine's Day, Yutsuki would probably curse "normies explode" a hundred tis in her heart.
But now, Yutsuki felt as if even the energy to complain had drained away. Like an engine that had stalled, she let out a sowhat stifled sigh and silently walked ho. Contrasting with the joyful atmosphere of the holiday, Yutsuki exuded an aura of depression, making her whole walk ho feel a bit more desolate.
"I'm ho..."
"Honey~ Welco back. Do you want to eat? Or take a bath? Or do you want Mi—ku—?"
"Let's skip that routine."
Entering the Itsuka household, Yutsuki helplessly pushed away Miku, who was trying to pounce on her like an octopus. Yutsuki's originally gloomy mood brightened a little.
"It sounds really lively in the kitchen."
Hearing the busy sounds of everyone coming from inside the house, Yutsuki couldn't help but say.
"Well, Christmas is coming, after all."
Miku answered with a light laugh.
"Pfft, yeah. I really didn't expect things to turn out like this."
Seemingly recalling sothing, Yutsuki couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Yes, speaking of Christmas, one naturally thinks of Santa Claus. Just a few days ago, the innocent Tohka and the others learned of Santa Claus's existence and heard Shido say, "If you're good kids, Santa Claus will give you presents." Since then, they had been exceptionally well-behaved these past few days, looking forward to the presents Santa Claus would bring tonight.
"I'm really looking forward to it, Christmas."
Miku said cheerfully. Because of the Christmas Eve party today, Miku decided to stay over at Kotori's invitation.
"Mhm... yeah."
Turning her head away slightly, Yutsuki answered in a vague tone.
"So slow, why did you co back so late, my comrade!"
Just as Yutsuki walked into the living room and put down her backpack, she heard the complaints from the kitchen.
"It can't be helped, it was my turn for cleaning duty today."
Yutsuki shrugged and answered.
"Dissatisfaction. We agreed beforehand to go to the shopping mall together to buy ingredients and decorations, but you actually stood us up. Yutsuki was too careless today."
"Tsk, tsk—This won't do, Yutsuki-chan. You'll be considered a bad kid by Santa Claus like this, and you won't receive any Christmas presents."
"That's why I'm apologizing. I didn't expect it to drag on so long either."
Yutsuki apologized with a bitter smile.
"Don't say that... Yoshinon... Yutsuki-san... will definitely get a present too."
Seemingly feeling apologetic for what Yoshinon said, Yoshino walked out of the kitchen, bowed slightly, and softly encouraged Yutsuki.
"Thanks, Yoshino."
(Sorry, Yoshino.)
A sliver of guilt surfaced in Yutsuki's heart.
Indeed, she had to stay at school because of cleaning duty, but that wasn't a coincidence. She had deliberately asked the teacher to arrange it this way, and purposely dragged it out until now, so she could find an excuse not to go with Shido, Tohka, and the others.
Yutsuki had absolutely zero interest in celebrating Christmas. If she were to prepare with everyone, her depressed attitude would inevitably be exposed and ruin everyone's mood. Although she didn't want to celebrate Christmas, she didn't intend to be insensitive and throw a wet blanket over everyone either.
The Christmas Eve dinner was being prepared by Shido and the Spirits, excluding Yutsuki. Probably because it was a Western holiday, the dishes being prepared in the kitchen were mainly Western-style. From the living room, Yutsuki could see Tohka and Shido busily working in the kitchen.
However, although they wanted to show their well-behaved side, they weren't people who cooked often. Tohka's thod of peeling potatoes as if swinging a broadsword clearly wouldn't clean them properly; Yoshino, trying to mix a large bowl of salad while wearing Yoshinon on her hand, also looked worriso; Yuzuru and Kaguya had unknowingly entered speed-run mode while cutting at... Yutsuki could see awkward sweat breaking out on Shido's forehead.
However, this ti Yutsuki didn't step in to help like she usually did. Miku, Kotori, and Natsumi, who were decorating the room with ornants, didn't help either. They just looked sleepy and lay on the sofa pretending to sleep.
—Santa Claus's present. Honestly, Yutsuki didn't really want it. If he really gave presents to good kids, then Yutsuki would rather be a bad kid these few days.
———————————
Finally, in the carefully decorated living room, the dining table where they usually ate was now filled with a variety of sumptuous dishes. There were large plates of pasta and salad, bite-sized rice croquettes, and brightly colored thin slices of raw at. Although the main dish wasn't turkey, it was a very substantial roast chicken. Besides these, there was also a Christmas cake bought from the cake shop in the shopping district. Everyone showed satisfied expressions at such a delicious Christmas dinner.
After finishing dinner, it naturally beca ti for gas and fun.
Jenga, UNO, The Ga of Life, Pop-up Pirate, Twister—various gas were prepared. Although midway through Twister, the ga was terminated because Miku actively hindered ga, and there was the situation of Origami being completely unreachable. But everyone's spirits were still very high.
However, around eight o'clock, Yutsuki really couldn't keep up with that cheerful atmosphere anymore. Claiming she was tired from playing, she returned to the Spirit apartnt to rest first.
"Are you okay, Yutsuki?"
When walking Yutsuki back, Shido couldn't help but ask worriedly.
"I'm fine, I'm fine~ I just stayed up a bit late playing gas yesterday. A short nap and I'll be good."
Yutsuki smiled and waved her hand.
"I see, you need to have a slightly more regular lifestyle, Yutsuki."
"Yes, yes."
Seeing that Yutsuki indeed didn't seem to have any problems, Shido felt a little relieved and said,
"But it's really surprising. I usually feel like you're the most enthusiastic about celebrating holidays, Yutsuki, but today you seem a bit absent-minded."
"Well, I occasionally have periods of fatigue too..."
After a mont of silence, Yutsuki spoke softly.
"Shido, tomorrow is Christmas, right."
"Mhm. Yeah." Shido nodded and answered. "What's wrong, Yutsuki?"
"No, it's nothing."
Hearing Shido's answer, Yutsuki couldn't help but sigh in relief slightly, and a calm smile appeared on her face.
December 25th, that was her birthday. Yutsuki had once accidentally revealed this to Shido in Arusu's ga. Although Shido had recovered his mories of the ga world, it was, after all, just a trivial matter that happened during one of many reloads. It was perfectly normal for Shido to forget it, no—it was better that he forgot it.
She didn't expect Shido to do anything for her on Christmas back then anyway; it was just a sudden whim.
"Then see you later, do your best, Shido."
"Mhm. You too, Yutsuki, get so good rest."
After saying that, Yutsuki returned to her room in the Spirit apartnt and quickly went to sleep. And Shido returned to the Itsuka household to continue playing with everyone.
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