"Achoo! Crap, I was too hasty and actually went into battle without wearing my cold-resistant robes."
"Shivering. Santa Claus was unexpectedly agile. Not preparing for a prolonged outdoor battle was a miscalculation."
Because they ran outside wearing only indoor clothes, soon enough, this duo who claid to "fear no winter" returned shivering from the cold, exactly as Yutsuki had expected.
"What are you guys doing..."
Yutsuki couldn't help but sigh helplessly. She took coats from the closet to drape over them and handed them each a cup of warm milk.
"Phew. I feel alive again."
"Praise. Yutsuki is considerate as always."
Holding the mugs and taking a sip of the hot milk, the Yamai sisters' expressions gradually relaxed.
"Go to sleep early after drinking that milk. Since he was discovered, Santa Claus probably won't co back for a while."
Although she was very curious about who could escape the pursuit of the Yamai sisters, since they said the person was also dressed as Santa Claus, maybe it was a neighbor who planned to give presents to their family, just like Shido.
Originally, Yutsuki thought the Yamai sisters would protest with things like "The night has only just begun!" or "We need to gear up and go catch Santa Claus again!" But unexpectedly, both Yuzuru and Kaguya nodded readily this ti.
"Regret. Although it's very unfortunate, it's just as Yutsuki said. Let's call it a day."
"Although my fighting spirit is still burning, indeed. Let's leave it at this for today. After all, we need to rest and recharge for tomorrow's outing—ugh."
Before Kaguya could finish, Yuzuru gently nudged her with her elbow.
"Outing? Are you doing sothing tomorrow, Kaguya?"
Yutsuki couldn't help but ask curiously.
"Answer. Kaguya is going on a sweet, sweet date with Yuzuru tomorrow. Right, Kaguya?"
After answering Yutsuki nonchalantly, Yuzuru turned to Kaguya for confirmation. To this, Kaguya nodded knowingly.
"R-Right! Exactly. Although going out on the day the Son of God was born goes against my principles, for the sake of my cutest other half, I'll make an exception this ti."
"Oh, I see."
A look of sudden realization appeared on Yutsuki's face.
Co to think of it, these two could indeed be considered to be in a sort of romantic relationship. Going out to show off their affection on a holiday like Christmas wasn't anything strange.
"Alright. Then it's about ti I go back to sleep. Good night, you two."
Shaking her head with a bitter smile, Yutsuki didn't suspect anything else. After saying goodbye to the two, she went to find Shido, who had already gone to deliver the next set of presents.
________________________
After confirming Shido's location from Reine, Yutsuki took the elevator to the top floor of the Spirit apartnt—the floor where Natsumi lived.
"Yutsuki, you're here."
In front of the door in the hallway, Yutsuki saw Shido preparing to invade—uh no, preparing to sneak into Natsumi's room.
"Shido, have you already finished delivering Miku's present?"
Yutsuki asked. Miku was staying over in Room 901, the floor above the Yamai sisters, today. After all, it was Miku; she might make so request like "I want an entire photobook of Darling in swimsuits (♀)." Yutsuki originally thought Shido would spend quite a bit of ti at Miku's place.
"Uh, about that, actually..."
Hearing this, Shido scratched his cheek in a troubled manner and explained to Yutsuki.
Indeed, after leaving the eighth floor, Shido did go to the ninth floor where Miku was first. However, Miku wasn't in her room.
"Kotori said she'd help track Miku's movents. So I ca to Natsumi's place first."
"Uh..."
Seemingly realizing sothing, Yutsuki wore a very subtle expression.
"Yutsuki, did you think of sothing?"
"Well, pretty much. Let's go prepare Natsumi's present first."
Yutsuki sighed lightly and pulled the door handle, preparing to enter. But imdiately after, she seed to rember sothing and turned to ask Shido.
"By the way, Shido, what were the presents Yuzuru and Kaguya wanted again?"
"Eh? Ah, Kaguya wanted silver jewelry, and Yuzuru wanted a digital cara."
Although surprised by Yutsuki's sudden question, Shido answered honestly.
"I see."
Very normal things. Yutsuki thought to herself. Kaguya's reaction earlier had caught her attention, but it seed the two were acting like their usual selves.
Tiptoeing into Natsumi's room, Shido took out a folded slip of paper from Natsumi's bedside.
"...A book?"
Shido couldn't help but frown slightly. Not because this present was difficult to obtain, but because he noticed that next to the word, there were traces of it being frantically scribbled out with a marker.
Using the flashlight for a closer look, Yutsuki and Shido discovered that the words "Makeup Tools" had been written there.
They exchanged a helpless glance. For a mont, both Shido and Yutsuki pictured Natsumi from a few hours ago: agonizing over what to write before finally writing her wish, then falling into negative thinking and self-loathing for making such a wish, frantically crossing out the ssage on the paper, finally choosing to brush it off hastily, and then pulling the covers over her head in despair to go to sleep.
(It's a pity, but hiding things from Santa Claus is impossible, Natsumi.)
After pondering for a mont, Shido spoke to Kotori.
"Kotori, please prepare a set of makeup tools and costics. Also, a beginner's guide to basic makeup. Right, right! Natsumi's skin is a bit dry, so choose a toner with good moisturizing properties. Rember not to forget the lotion. Although I'd really like to prepare various blushes and lip glosses, it's better to stick to calm colors at first. As for the book, I think Shinisha's Basic Makeup Techniques That Won't Damage the Skin is very good. And also... wh-what's wrong, Yutsuki? Do you have any suggestions?"
Halfway through speaking, Shido suddenly noticed Yutsuki watching him with an incredibly satisfied smile, which made him feel very uncomfortable.
"No, nothing at all. You're an excellent Santa Claus, Shiori-chan~"
"Ugh!"
Hearing how Yutsuki's address him, Shido suddenly realized that his suggestions didn't sound like they ca from a guy at all. Although he really wanted to retort, "Who's Shiori?!", it wouldn't be very convincing right now, causing a faint sense of sadness to spread in Shido's chest.
"Mhm... Ngh... Uh..."
Suddenly, Natsumi on the bed let out a low groan, causing Shido to instantly hold his breath in tension.
He thought Natsumi had been woken up by him, but after a mont, Natsumi didn't sit up from the bed.
"What's wrong? A nightmare?"
Seeing that the part of Natsumi covered by the blanket was much larger than Natsumi herself, Shido couldn't help but worry if her Spirit power was backflowing due to a nightmare.
"No... it's probably a bit different from what you're thinking, Shido."
Unlike Shido, Yutsuki appeared much calr. She walked to Natsumi's bedside and gently lifted the blanket.
"No... you can't do that...Natsumi-san~"
What appeared before their eyes was Miku, hugging Natsumi with a blissful expression and mumbling in her sleep.
"..."
Shido's eyes instantly turned into two small black dots.
(I knew she was here.)
Yutsuki thought without a hint of surprise. After all, on Christmas night, if Miku wasn't in her own room, she was definitely taking advantage of the unlocked doors today to launch a night raid. And since Shido and herself were both here, Miku's most likely target for a night raid was Natsumi.
Yutsuki turned her head and cast a questioning glance at Shido.
—What do we do, Shido?
—Let's pretend we didn't see anything.
—Agreed.
Nodding gently, after mourning for Natsumi for three seconds in her heart, Yutsuki took another piece of paper from beside Miku and covered them with the blanket.
"Phew... Phew—"
Shido took a few deep breaths, trying hard to erase the image he had just seen from his mind. After calming down slightly, he opened Miku's note—
[I want Darling and Honey's co-sleeping ASMR CD (Various characters, at least three modes)]
"..."
"..."
Just like when they saw Yoshinon's note, Shido and Yutsuki fell into silence in unison. Only this ti, an indescribable sense of oppressiveness vaguely added to the silence.
Finally, Yutsuki rested her forehead in her hand and sighed in an impressed tone.
"...Should I say, as expected of Miku... A perfect two birds with one stone."
"Haha... Yutsuki, I'm counting on you."
Shido said with a bitter smile.
"I know. After all, I did say I would help. I will see it through to the end."
After Shido explained the situation to Kotori, about ten minutes later, Reine, wearing the reindeer mascot suit, walked in. She brought the various makeup tools, costics, and the beginner's guide Shido ntioned earlier—as well as six scripts titled Itsuka Shido Co-sleeping ASMR CD Script (1/2/3) and Ryougi Yutsuki Co-sleeping ASMR CD Script (1/2/3).
Seriously, isn't the work efficiency of the Fraxinus staff a bit too high? Or did you already plan this out in advance, Kotori!?
Yutsuki and Shido sat on opposite ends of the sofa holding the scripts. Reine sat on a chair in front of them with a mini laptop on her lap. Wearing headphones over the mascot suit, she pointed two microphones at Shido and Yutsuki respectively.
"To save ti... Shin and Yutsuki, please take turns recording... If there are overlapping parts, I will handle them in post-production..."
—It can't be helped. They saw the helplessness in each other's eyes. After a light sigh, Shido and Yutsuki opened their scripts and took turns reading their lines.
Shido: "...Wh-What? You say you're sleepy? Hmph... who cares?"
Yutsuki: "What, can't sleep alone? What a cute little kitten~"
Shido: "Why... do I absolutely have to... do such a thing..."
Yutsuki: "Hoh-hoh~ Is it really okay? Making such a cute expression, I might~ not be able to resist eating you up."
Shido: "—!"
"Shin... your voice cracked... Also, the line just now, please re-record it with a slightly more tsundere tone."
Reine slowly interjected.
"I-I got it."
Shido nodded sowhat awkwardly. For the voice acting just now, he was supposed to play a tsundere character, but he completely failed to capture the feeling. After all, voice acting was sothing he was completely new to; it was inevitable he would be unaccustod to it.
Another reason was that Yutsuki's concurrent voice acting of a carnivore-type character was so dominant and realistic that it caused him considerable damage in a certain sense.
(No, no. Focus, focus!)
After repeatedly warning himself, Shido took a deep breath and pulled himself together to record again.
Shido: "Why are you making that kind of expression... Geez, there's nothing I can do with you."
Yutsuki: "You're right, it can't be helped. Actually, I'm the one who can't sleep and wanted you to keep company. We're in the sa boat."
...
Shido: "Five minutes! Only five minutes, I'll lend you my hand. D-Don't get any weird ideas. If you can't sleep, I won't care, you'll have to deal with it!"
Yutsuki: "Don't worry. I won't let go. I'll keep holding it until the mont you can sleep peacefully."
...
Yutsuki: "I love you. Those clear eyes, that beautiful hair, those alluring lips. Everything about you fascinates and intoxicates . Hm? Say it again? I have no choice, huh. I'll keep you company and say it as many tis as it takes until you fall asleep."
Shido: "I-Idiot! Saying 'love'... how can you say it so easily..."
...
Shido: "A-Are you really... okay with being with soone like ?"
Yutsuki: "What are you worried about? Don't worry, not just tonight. Every day, every night, as long as you wish for it, I will always be by your side."
...
Yutsuki: "Then good night, my beloved little~ lamb~"
Shido: "Mhm, I love you too. Good night, honey~."
...
Oh no, this is embarrassing. Super embarrassing!
Shido felt his cheeks burning hot at this mont.
How should he put it? Although he and Yutsuki were just taking turns reading their respective scripts, for so reason, even though the lines were completely unrelated, as they kept reading, it inexplicably felt like they were acting opposite each other. And then, a very awkward atmosphere unknowingly brewed between them.
At first, Shido thought it was just an illusion born of his own overactive self-consciousness. However, when Shido finally couldn't help but look up, he found that Yutsuki also had her head down, and the ears peeking through her long hair were completely red, like a ripe tomato.
And then, Shido felt his cheeks get even hotter.
"...? What's wrong? The progress is only halfway done..."
Seeing Yutsuki and Shido suddenly stop, Reine tilted her head, completely oblivious.
(Only halfway?!)
Hearing those words, Shido and Yutsuki's minds almost broke.
In the end, it took a total of an hour and a half for the two to finally finish recording. Each with steam practically rising from their heads, they walked out of Natsumi's room blushing and without saying a word.
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