Date a Live:This is not the date I wanted! Chapter 272 272: Yumetsuki's Santa Claus (Part 5)

After finishing the co-sleeping CD Miku requested and distributing almost all the Christmas presents, Shido and Yutsuki returned to the first floor of the apartnt to et up with Kotori.

"Thanks for your hard work, Yutsuki-nee. Sorry to trouble you to stay up so late with us."

"It's fine, Kotori-chan, you're the one who worked hard."

"Kotori, what about ?"

Feeling sowhat ignored, Shido pointed to himself with a slightly depressed look. To this, Kotori rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"Who told you to make such a rookie mistake right at the start of the operation? Serves you right... Although I'd love to scold you rcilessly like that, I'll let you off the hook since it's Christmas today. Thanks for your hard work, Shido."

As she spoke, Kotori's tone softened a bit, and she blinked with a light smile.

"Look. It's snowing!"

Yutsuki looked outside and called out in pleasant surprise.

Stepping out of the Spirit apartnt, unnoticed, small, crystalline white snowflakes had begun drifting down from the dark sky. The tiny ice crystals sparkled like stars under the illumination of the streetlights.

The streets, walls, and roofs of every house were covered in a thin layer of powder snow, taking on a white hue as if sprinkled with sugar. The glowing moonlight shone through the clouds onto the town, making everything look hazy and dreamlike, like a fairy tale.

"Wow..."

"So beautiful..."

Stepping outside with Yutsuki, Kotori and Shido couldn't help but light up at the snowscape, letting out heartfelt sighs of admiration.

"It wasn't snowing yet when we went into the apartnt."

"It looks like it only started snowing recently... But to actually encounter a white Christmas. It really is rare."

Tengu City is located in the southern Kanto region. December isn't a month with frequent snowfall, so running into it coincidentally on Christmas could truly be considered a small surprise.

"But it's such a pity. It would have been better if it snowed earlier, then everyone would have been able to see it."

While captivated, Kotori also felt a bit of regret.

"Haha... maybe it's a present from the real Santa Claus to Kotori-chan. After all, Kotori-chan worked very hard too."

Yutsuki said with a light chuckle.

"That's not it. Yutsuki-nee, don't make that kind of joke."

Feeling a bit unworthy of the praise, Kotori waved her hands with a blushing face.

"No, no, I think so too. Because I know Kotori has always been a very good girl."

Shido nodded in strong agreent.

"Shido, don't just agree like that! And can you save that kind of flattery for when you're conquering Spirits."

Yutsuki shrugged teasingly.

"Not at all, we are very serious and an it from the bottom of our hearts. Right, Shido?"

"Exactly, that's right."

"Ah—I can't take this, I'm going to sleep!"

Seemingly unable to handle the teasing from Yutsuki and Shido, Kotori shouted with a bright red face. After lightly kicking Shido in the calf, she turned and marched angrily towards their house.

"She left."

"Yeah. She left."

The two exchanged a glance, and simultaneously showed helpless smiles.

"Yutsuki. Are you sleepy?"

"Not really. I slept relatively early, so I'm still quite awake."

"I see. Although I feel a bit bad asking, could you accompany to deliver presents to the others?"

Shido proposed sowhat sheepishly. He knew it was a bit brazen of him to ask, but fortunately, Yutsuki seed to understand his thoughts and nodded readily.

"Understood. The presents aren't all delivered yet, right? Santa Claus."

If Shido tonight was Santa Claus, then Yutsuki today would be like Reine, playing the role of the reindeer assisting Santa Claus.

Returning to the Itsuka household, the two arrived at the door of Kotori's room. After confirming the person inside was asleep, they tiptoed in.

Shido placed the prepared gift box at Kotori's bedside.

"rry Christmas. Kotori."

Stroking his sister's head, Shido softly offered his blessing once more.

And then, next—.

"Next, although everyone else's presents have been delivered... but Shido, if you forget one person, you'll suffer a huge loss."

Yutsuki reminded him earnestly.

"Mhm, I know."

Nodding gently, Shido looked at the door of his own room, swallowing nervously with a serious expression.

Why would Shido returning to his own room make the atmosphere so tense? The reason is simple: at yesterday's Christmas Eve party, Origami didn't show up.

You ask what the connection is? The connection is huge! That's Origami, Tobiichi Origami. The woman who, when carried on his back, unreservedly licks Shido's neck; who, when shaking hands, naturally rub his palm sensually; who, even after having her skirt accidentally pulled down by Shido in public revealing her panties, unabashedly asks him "Shall we?" under the gazes of bystanders, and then proceeds to take off her panties.

Of course, to be technical, Shido and Yutsuki had no absolute proof that Origami was currently inside Shido's room. Origami might have truly been tied up with other matters at the ti.

But! Shido absolutely wouldn't believe that Origami hadn't prepared a surprise (scare) for him on Christmas.

"Maybe she's hiding under Shido's covers, or maybe she packed herself inside a giant gift box. But whatever it is, she's definitely only wearing a red ribbon over her naked body, declaring herself as the present, and pouncing to eat Shido up. Without a doubt."

Yutsuki stated with absolute certainty.

"That's too convincing, please stop talking!"

Shido cried out, looking as if he wanted to cry but had no tears.

"Yutsuki, are you really not coming in with ?"

"No way. I'm not that insensitive."

Yutsuki helplessly spread her hands, indicating there was nothing she could do.

"Alright, hurry up and go in. Stop dawdling and act like a man. At worst, you just give away your vir—beep as a Christmas present."

"Yutsuki, didn't you just say sothing incredibly outrageous?"

"Well... it's just your imagination. Anyway, if sothing really goes wrong, I'll go in and stop it, so don't worry."

The corner of Shido's mouth twitched. Looking at Yutsuki's nonchalant attitude, he couldn't help but wonder what he was to her.

(Forget it, I know it's dangerous, but I have no other choices)

Sighing helplessly, Shido ntally prepared himself for the extrely visually shocking scene he was about to witness, and pulled the handle of his room's door.

Then, he saw a giant Christmas stocking standing in his room, and the white-haired girl hiding inside it—Tobiichi Origami.

"Present. rry Christmas, Shido."

After offering this blessing expressionlessly, Origami let go of the edge of the Christmas stocking she was holding, and the large stocking instantly fell to the floor.

And then, appearing before Shido's eyes, was Tobiichi Origami—pronounced as "Christmas present"—wearing absolutely no clothes or underwear, with only a pink ribbon wrapped around her to cover the crucial parts.

(As expected of Origami, should I say? She didn't disappoint my expectations at all.)

Shido thought, caught between laughing and crying.

In the end, under Shido's stubborn resistance, he managed to avoid being completely devoured as Origami's Christmas present. However, in exchange, Shido had to do nearly a hundred sit-ups and push-ups continuously in his room in the middle of the night, and then give his sweat-soaked Santa suit to Origami as a present.

After a commotion in the room, there was a clank, the door opened, and Origami, having received her present, happened to run into Yutsuki waiting outside.

"..."

"Yo."

Yutsuki raised a hand in greeting. To this, Origami seed to be in a good mood and nodded in response.

"See you tomorrow."

"Ah? Ah, see you tomorrow."

Perhaps it was just standard social politeness, but Yutsuki answered sowhat surprised.

"Hah... I'm exhausted."

Before long, Shido, who had already taken off the Santa suit, walked out of the room looking completely drained. Honestly, if she didn't know the cause and effect, Yutsuki might really have thought the two had just climbed the stairway to adulthood inside the room.

"Good job, Shido. With this, Santa Claus's work is done, right?"

Yutsuki chuckled softly and spoke gently to the boy.

"Now you should get so good rest, but before sleeping, go take a proper bath. If you're too tired to move, I can wash you."

"N-No, that's not necessary."

Shido waved his hands with a bitter smile. While it was indeed a very tempting proposal, Yutsuki had actually put in quite a lot of effort throughout the entire process as well. Acting spoiled towards soone who put in the sa or even more effort than him felt, how should he put it, a bit pathetic.

Smack—! Smack—!

Slapping his own cheeks hard, the stinging sensation instantly made Shido a bit more alert.

"Since it's a rare chance, I want to look at the snow outside again. Yutsuki, want to go together?"

"What, an invitation to a date?"

Yutsuki couldn't help but tease with a smile.

Unsurprisingly, Shido answered sowhat awkwardly.

"Eh? N-No, nothing that exaggerated, I just don't want to go to sleep so early. It's not a date... don't get any weird ideas."

"Shido, a guy being a tsundere isn't moe at all."

Yutsuki answered with a helpless look.

"I'm not being a tsundere!"

"Thanks for the al~"

Muttering softly, Yutsuki also put away her thoughts of teasing Shido and nodded in agreent.

"Is that so. I understand, I also wanted to see the snow just now one more ti."

And so, the two walked outside again. However, slightly to Shido's dismay, the light snow outside had already stopped.

"What a sha..."

Shido dropped his shoulders in disappointnt.

"Well, it can't be helped. The weather doesn't change according to our moods, after all."

Leaning against the wall, Yutsuki lowered her head and stepped on a small pile of snow on the ground. When she looked up again, Shido saw that a bright smile had returned to Yutsuki's face.

"Besides, look, this snow was the Christmas present Santa Claus gave Kotori. Doesn't it feel romantic thinking about it like that?"

"That's true, but..."

Letting out a small laugh to humor Yutsuki, Shido then fell into silence. He pursed his lips slightly, and after a long while, he finally spoke.

"What about you, Yutsuki? Is there any present you want?"

"? It's fine, I don't really fit in with this kind of holiday anyway. Seeing everyone happy is the best Christmas present for ."

Shaking her head gently, Yutsuki answered.

However, Shido was a bit dissatisfied with this answer.

Shido knew very well what kind of person Ryougi Yutsuki was. So he also naturally knew that her words were not a lie.

Moreover, during the events of the past few days, Shido had also faintly noticed Yutsuki's abnormality.

After hearing that Santa Claus would give presents to good children, her actions beca inexplicably passive;

She, who would usually be the first to propose celebrating a holiday, seed unenthusiastic about the Christmas party;

Even though it was announced in advance that Santa Claus would appear tonight, Yutsuki locked her door and didn't prepare a note with her wish.

Perhaps, Yutsuki really didn't like Christmas.

Although he didn't know the specific reasons, Shido vaguely understood that it probably had to do with Yutsuki's past life.

(That's not sothing I can just casually butt into.)

Shido thought silently.

Ryougi Yutsuki is soone who knows contentnt, and she is an optimistic person. She might be happy to receive sothing, but she wouldn't choose to be disappointed or complain because she didn't get sothing. On the contrary, she would choose to recall the things she already possessed, and cherish and protect them even more.

(But... But you see, Yutsuki...)

Looking at the brown-haired girl quietly gazing up at the moonlit sky, Shido couldn't help but murmur in his heart.

—That is not a reason for soone who works hard to not be rewarded.

"If you put it that way, then hasn't your goal not been t yet, Yutsuki?"

"Eh?"

Hearing Shido's words, Yutsuki couldn't help but show a puzzled expression.

"I haven't received a Christmas present yet. Or does 'everyone' not include , Yutsuki?"

Shido pointed to himself as if it were a matter of course, even a bit smugly.

"Uh... In other words, Shido wants to receive a Christmas present from ? Even though you're Santa Claus?"

"Exactly."

Seeing Shido nod with absolute certainty, Yutsuki couldn't help but drop a sweat.

"...Alright, then let's hear what present Shido wants. If it's not too difficult, I'll help you make it co true. How does that sound?"

"Mhm, that will do."

Getting Yutsuki's nod, Shido took a light breath, looked at Yutsuki, and said solemnly:

"Go on a date with ."

"Eh?"

"The location is the Hachiko statue in front of the station, the ti is tomorrow... ah, it's past midnight so I should say today, at 1 PM. If you have ti, go on a date with ."

"Well... it's not impossible. I'm quite free anyway."

After thinking for a bit, Yutsuki nodded and agreed to Shido's request. Then, she asked sowhat curiously:

"But is this okay? It's Christmas, you know. Didn't Tohka and the others ask you out on a date?"

"Unfortunately, just like you, Yutsuki, I am also very free on Christmas."

Shido shrugged self-deprecatingly.

"Oh, I see."

Yutsuki said, sowhat surprised.

"No problem, I'll be there on ti."

Seeing Yutsuki accept his request, Shido sighed in relief. Then, a strong wave of sleepiness washed over him, making him let out a big yawn.

"Ti for bed. Good night, Shido. Rember to take a bath before sleeping."

"I know. Ah, by the way, Yutsuki."

"What?"

"...No, it's nothing. The date, I'll be looking forward to it."

Shaking his head gently, a soft smile appeared on Shido's face.

"Don't pressure , I'm not good at this kind of thing."

Yutsuki shook her head with a bitter smile. After saying goodbye to Shido, she returned to the Spirit apartnt to get ready for bed.

__________________

Clatter—

In the night, perhaps because she fell asleep a bit early, Yutsuki wasn't sleeping very deep when she dozed off again. She heard her window being gently slid open, and soone entering her room.

(Who is it? A thief?)

Yutsuki didn't get up imdiately, instead choosing to stay in bed, pretending to be asleep to observe the situation.

"Honestly, what exactly happened today. I snuck in without making a sound, but ended up being discovered by Yamai-san and the other Yamai-san and get chased for so long. Then when I ca back, Origami-san had taken off all her clothes and was waiting in Shido-san's room. I almost froze to death waiting outside in the snow."

Perhaps thinking Yutsuki hadn't woken up, a muttering full of resentnt reached her ears.

(Uh, I feel kind of bad.)

Yutsuki inexplicably felt apologetic. And honestly, this voice sounded very familiar.

"ow~"

"Shh! Shh! Don't make a sound, Kurokichi-san, it'll be bad if Yutsuki-san discovers us!"

(OK! The intruder's identity is completely confird.)

Yutsuki thought helplessly.

Honestly, if this were any other ti, Yutsuki would absolutely remain on high alert against this person. But for so reason, today, Yutsuki didn't feel any hostility from the other party's voice, and even felt a bit of gentleness.

"Alright, with this, Yutsuki-san's present is also delivered."

With that, Yutsuki felt sothing being placed by her bedside.

"Thank you, this is a token of gratitude for changing history last ti. Ah~ Heating..."

Listening to the slightly distancing footsteps, Yutsuki quietly opened her eyes. By the moonlight filtering through the window, Yutsuki saw that the most evil Spirit, in this cold winter, was wearing an extrely skimpy and sexy Santa Claus outfit. She was crouching by the heating unit in Yutsuki's room, and a black cat was standing on her bare shoulder.

(..Let's sleep.)

Although she didn't want a present, Yutsuki, who had previously stumbled upon the other party playing with cats and thus acquired a painful dark history, decisively chose to pretend she didn't see anything, closed her eyes, and went back to sleep.

Then, when morning ca, everyone in the apartnt was thrilled to have received presents from Santa Claus. Tohka and the others naturally went without saying, and Kotori was also quite pleased to receive a small pendant.

However, the most surprising thing was that even Shido received a present from Santa Claus, seemingly a golden pocket watch.

"Gifting a watch... to , that subtly implies murderous intent." (TL: In Chinese, "gifting a watch" sounds like "attending a funeral" or "bidding farewell to the deceased".)

After secretly remarking on the cultural differences, Yutsuki unwrapped her own present.

Inside was a pair of plush gloves shaped like cat paws.

"Uh, it even slls like silver vine."

Looking at the present before her, Yutsuki wore a very subtle expression.

"That person... didn't she misunderstand sothing?"