After giving Shido a sound scolding, Kotori cald down slightly. Understanding that complaining wouldn't help the situation, she pondered silently for a mont. Then, with a deep sigh of utter helplessness, she nodded and agreed to Yutsuki's proposal.
[It can't be helped. Yutsuki-nee, I'll have to trouble you to support this useless brother of mine from here on out.]
"Understood."
After answering with a gentle nod, Yutsuki looked at Shido, who was a bit depressed from Kotori's scolding, and patted his back.
"Alright. Don't look so down in the dumps here. Aren't we supposed to go deliver presents now? Santa Claus~."
"You're right."
Slapping his own cheeks forcefully, Shido quickly gathered his feelings and mustered his motivation once again.
Next, the two walked out of Yutsuki's room and arrived at Room 410 on the fourth floor—Tohka's room. It was said that this room was specially chosen to match April 10th, the day Shido and Tohka t.
"I'm opening the door..."
After whispering to Yutsuki behind him, Shido pressed down on the door handle. As expected, Tohka's room didn't have an electronic lock engaged like Yutsuki's, and it opened easily.
Gently pushing the door open, Shido and Yutsuki picked up their flashlights, turned them to low light, and tiptoed into the room.
Walking silently down the hallway and into the bedroom, both Shido and Yutsuki simultaneously heard the sound of steady breathing coming from the girl with night colored long hair asleep on the bed.
(This Tohka, she's going to catch a cold like this.)
Perhaps she kicked off her blanket while dreaming, but the blanket wasn't covering Tohka's stomach. Even though the heating in the Spirit apartnt kept the inside from being as cold as outside, considering it might cause indoor sickness, it wasn't turned up very high.
Shido seed to have noticed this too, a helpless, bitter smile on his face.
Yutsuki carefully pulled the blanket back over Tohka's shoulders. At the sa ti, Shido took the piece of paper with the gift request from her pillowside. Then, the two quietly left the bedroom.
"So, what did she write?" Yutsuki asked softly.
"Um... 'I want to eat a humongous hamburger steak I've never seen before.'"
Shining his flashlight on the paper, Shido read it silently.
(That's very much like a wish Tohka would make.)
The two thought in unison. After exchanging a glance, they couldn't help but smile.
After telling Kotori about Tohka's wish, Kotori said she would quickly have her subordinates send over the necessary ingredients for the dish. And this subordinate was none other than Murasa Reine, wearing a reindeer mascot suit and looking as sleepy as ever.
Because it was so unexpected, Yutsuki almost couldn't hold back her laughter.
Assuming it was a disguise to fool the Spirits if they happened to see her, Yutsuki didn't press the matter. She took the ingredients Reine brought and, together with Shido, started making the requested extra-large hamburger steak in the small kitchen attached to the room.
"I'll put the hamburger steak in Tohka's room. To save ti, you go on to the other Spirits' rooms first, Shido."
"Mhm, sorry to trouble you, Yutsuki."
Shido nodded, gathered his large sack, and continued to the next person's room. anwhile, Yutsuki held the pizza-sized hamburger steak wrapped in cling film and gently pulled the bedroom door open with her foot.
"Mhm... slls so good..."
Seemingly attracted by the aroma released during cooking, Tohka rolled from the center of the bed to the edge, her stomach also very honestly letting out a growl.
"What an honest reaction..." Yutsuki muttered speechlessly.
She placed the hamburger steak by the bed, then carried Tohka back to the center of the bed and covered her with the blanket. Then she took out a sticky note and a marker, and quickly wrote:
[Rember to ask the family mber who knows how to cook to heat it up for you when you wake up. rry Christmas! —by Santa Claus.]
Putting the note and silverware into the Christmas stocking on the wall, Yutsuki quietly left.
The next target was Room 405 on the sa floor—Yoshino and Yoshinon's room.
[I want a cute hat. —Also, even though it's the middle of the night, please do your best,Santa Claus-san.]
"Cute..."
"Yoshino is such a good girl..."
Seeing the considerate encouragent and the childish crayon drawing on the note, Shido and Yutsuki couldn't help but feel their hearts healed.
"There's another note."
"This one is probably Yoshinon's."
With so curiosity, Shido and Yutsuki unfolded the note. Its contents were—
[I want so new clothes~ Ah, right, right~ In return, you can kiss Yoshino's lips as much as you want while we're sleeping~ Santa Claus.]
"..."
"..."
Leaving Yoshino aside for a mont, Yoshinon had definitely figured out Santa Claus's true identity.
"Let warn you right now, Shido. Minimum three years, maximum death penalty. I've already dialed the number on my phone, don't force to press the call button." Yutsuki warned very seriously.
"I wouldn't do it!" Shido retorted, his face red.
After this short little farce, Reine soon brought over a hat and new clothes for Yoshino under Kotori's instructions. Yutsuki and Shido put them in their Christmas stocking and left the room.
Next was Room 802 on the eighth floor—Yuzuru and Kaguya's room. Because it was quite a distance, Shido and Yutsuki took the elevator straight to the eighth floor.
"By the way, why did they absolutely have to live on such a high floor? It makes waking them up every day a hassle having to take the elevator."
"Well, because they strongly requested to live in the sa room, they were given a larger double room."
"Is this a hotel...?"
Hearing Yutsuki's quip, Shido smiled bitterly under his fluffy white fake beard.
Entering the eighth floor, Shido and Yutsuki arrived at the Yamai sisters' room. However, what Shido found eerie was that the lights in the living room weren't off, and he could even hear voices.
"Say, Yuzuru. What ti do you think Santa Claus will co?"
"Unknown. Have not heard a specific ti. Are you getting sleepy, Kaguya?"
"Kuku—Impossible! The night has only just begun. I couldn't possibly fall asleep before seeing Santa Claus. Yuzuru, play this ga next!"
"Understood. I, Yuzuru, will keep you company until the end."
Hearing the content of Yuzuru and Kaguya's chat, Yutsuki instantly guessed the intentions of her two bad friends with eighty or ninety percent accuracy.
"It looks like they plan to stay up all night playing video gas, and then catch Santa Claus red-handed."
"What should we do..." Hearing this, a troubled expression appeared on Shido's face.
"Well, fortunately they're playing gas in the living room and not in the bedroom. If we're careful, there's still a way."
Saying this, Yutsuki touched her forehead and pondered for a mont. Soon, she had an idea.
"Next, I'll be responsible for stalling those two. Shido, you take the opportunity to put the presents away."
"Mhm, I guess that's the only way."
Shido nodded in agreent. Indeed, Yutsuki was wearing casual clothes right now. Even if she appeared suddenly, she would just be considered coming over to play.
"I'm counting on you, Yutsuki."
"Leave it to ."
Next, Yutsuki stopped hiding her footsteps. After knocking on the door, she swaggered in.
"Yo, Yuzuru! Kaguya! You two aren't asleep yet, as expected."
"...Tch. What, it's just you, Yutsuki. Getting my hopes up for nothing."
"Disappointnt. I thought Santa Claus had finally appeared."
The Yamai sisters were startled at first, but after seeing that the newcor was Yutsuki, they slumped their shoulders in disappointnt.
"Your attitude is really rude... well, whatever. I couldn't sleep so I ca over to hang out with you guys. You're playing video gas, right? Count in?"
"Kuku—No matter, this is the perfect chance to avenge my defeat from the other day. I will make you understand that today's is a completely new person."
"Welco. Of course Yutsuki can join us."
(This should do it...)
Poking his head out slightly to glance into the living room, the Yamai sisters were already completely engrossed in their match with Yutsuki. Shido didn't miss this opportunity and silently yet swiftly sneaked into the bedroom.
...
"Proposal. Since it's a rare opportunity, how about we set up a penalty ga?"
In the middle of playing, Yuzuru suddenly proposed.
"Oh... a very interesting proposal. As expected of my other half."
"Well, I have no objections. But what are we betting on?"
Not pausing her tapping on the controller for a mont, Yutsuki asked with so curiosity.
"Smug. The loser has to—say what they like about Shido, okay?"
"—Ugh! Wh-What kind of penalty is that!"
Kaguya couldn't help but let out a high-pitched cry, her cheeks turning bright red.
"Hey, hey, isn't that a bit unfair to Kaguya?"
Glancing back slightly, Yutsuki deliberately showed a malicious smile.
"Ugh! You talk big, my compatriot. Fine! I accept the bet. The one exposing their embarrassing secrets today will be you! Yutsuki!"
"Wide open~"
"Eh? Wait—"
Provoked, Kaguya lost her focus on the ga for a mont. Yutsuki didn't let this opening slip by. A ruthless, infinite mid-air combo directly depleted Kaguya's character's health to zero.
"The gaming world is just as ruthless as reality~"
Yutsuki sighed in self-satisfaction.
"Conclusion. Kaguya loses."
"Uuuu... why did it turn out like this////..."
Glaring at Yuzuru and Yutsuki with resentful eyes like a wronged little wife, but she had to accept her loss. After a long while, Kaguya, blushing, managed to squeeze out a sentence softly.
"...He's very gentle."
"Doubt. Kaguya's voice is too soft, Yuzuru cannot hear clearly."
Perhaps wanting to tease Kaguya, Yuzuru wore a very "delighted" smile.
"Ku—!"
Tears of embarrassnt faintly welling up in the corners of her eyes, Kaguya gritted her teeth, and finally shouted in desperation:
"He's! He's very gentle! That's what I like most about Shido, are you satisfied now!!!!????"
Thud—!
Just then, there was the sound of sothing hitting a door fra.
Oh no!
The mont she heard the sound, Yutsuki knew sothing had gone wrong on Shido's end.
"That sound?"
"Astonishnt. Could it be Santa Claus?"
Naturally, the sudden noise in the room caught the Yamai sisters's attention. Seeing that Shido was about to be exposed, Yutsuki suddenly had a stroke of genius. She pointed at the empty balcony and shouted:
"Look! Santa Claus appeared!"
"What? Where, Yutsuki?"
"Confirmation. Did you really see him, Yutsuki?"
The Yamai sisters imdiately turned to look at the balcony.
"Mhm, there's no mistake. An old man wearing red and white clothes and carrying a big sack just passed by the balcony. That must be Santa Claus."
Yutsuki nodded with absolute certainty.
"Exactly as described in the stories. It's definitely the real deal!"
"Realization. There's no chimney here, so he must have co from the balcony."
The target they had stayed up waiting for had finally appeared. Both Yuzuru and Kaguya looked very excited.
"Kuku—Just you wait, Santa Claus. Today, the Child of the Typhoon will tear off your veil of mystery."
"Boiling. Capture operation comncing."
Without a second word, Yuzuru and Kaguya stood up and jump out of the room like a hurricane, completely ignoring the bedroom.
"Phew... that was close."
After letting out a long sigh of relief, Yutsuki looked helplessly towards the bedroom.
"You can co out now. Seriously, be more careful, you two."
"Haha... you were a big help, Yutsuki. Thanks a lot."
Pushing open the bedroom door, Shido also walked out in a cold sweat.
"Sorry... Yutsuki... it was , the corner of my clothes accidentally bumped the door fra."
Saying this, Reine, wearing the reindeer mascot suit, slowly bowed, seemingly apologizing for her mistake.
"Well, anyway, it's fine as long as nothing happened."
It would indeed be quite inconvenient to move around in such a mascot suit. Yutsuki hadn't intended to bla them in the first place. Sighing softly, she quickly adjusted her mood and prepared to go with Shido to finish delivering the rest of the presents.
(I feel a little bit sorry for Yuzuru and Kaguya.)
Lying to her family for the first ti, Yutsuki couldn't help but feel a bit guilty.
However—
"Found him! Santa Claus!"
"Pursuit! We absolutely won't let you get away!"
—Eh?
Thanks to a Spirit's superior hearing, Yutsuki happened to hear the Yamai sisters' excited shouts from outside the apartnt, instantly leaving her utterly bewildered.
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