Chapter 178
Today I had two nuisances along on my trip to the Petit salon . This was supposed to be my sanctuary…
I ended up swinging the bags in both hands as I walked .
Seeing this, Enjou spoke up .
“That looks pretty heavy . I’ll help you carry it . ”
Oh? Well in that case .
I handed him the largest one .
“Whoa . This is pretty heavy . What’s inside?”
“Some season-limited Christmas chocolates for the kids . ”
Since I was told that Yukino-kun had gotten me a present, I thought about getting presents for him, Mao-chan and Yuuri-kun .
Then I thought about how bad I would feel for the other kids, so in the end I decided to prepare enough chocolate for all of them .
Food and consumables were great for casual presents .
“Huh . I didn’t realise that brand produced Christmas chocolat,” Kaburagi mused .
“It is an assorted set . Some of them are shaped like Christmas trees and the like,” I replied .
“You’re pretty knowledgeable about time-limited products, huh,” he said as her peered into Enjou’s bag from the side .
Also we weren’t close enough for him to know that about me . Oh, was it the peach marshmallow that I gave him to ward off evil?
When we arrived at the Petit salon we were immediately greeted by smiles .
“Reika-oneesan!”
“Gokigen’yoh, Yukino-kun . Gokigen’yoh to you as well, Mao-chan, Yuuri-kun . ”
“Gokigen’yoh, Reika-oneesama!”
“Hello Reika… oneesan…”
Yuuri-kun was still as shy about calling me that as ever .
Mhm, mhm, he was a boy after all .
If it’s too hard for you, Yuuri-kun, you can just call me Reika-chan instead, you know?
Anyhow, nobody had any idea that Enjou and Kaburagi were coming . Given how standoffish they generally were, the kids were excited about the rare opportunity to meet them, and immediately crowded them .
Huh .
All this time I was the only visitor here . I’d been monopolising the popularity of being a visiting upperclassman and yet today all their hearts were taken away in an instant .
Even Mao-chan who was like a little sister to me was taking glances over at those two!
Arghhh! I really shouldn’t have brought them here!
“Reika-oneesan? What’s wrong . Come sit down?”
Aaah! Yukino-kun! You’re my only ally here!
I did as he suggested and took my seat on the sofa . Ah, Enjou-sama, please just give out the chocolates however you like .
“You know, there was actually something I wanted to give you, Reika-oneesan . ”
Yukino-kun held out a red-ribboned box in his two small hands .
“Reika-oneesan, it’s a little early, but Merry Christmas!”
“Thank you, Yukino-kun!”
I opened the box .
Inside was a snow globe with a boy creating a snowman in front of a Christmas tree . So cute!
“Is this boy you, Yukino-kun?”
“Mhm!” he nodded with a smile .
Given how frail his body was, perhaps he’d never done this before in real life .
I think I remember being told that Enjou and Kaburagi would build snowmen in view of his window when he was sick .
I hoped that he could one day build one himself .
“Then it is my turn next . Merry Christmas, Yukino-kun . ”
My present for him was a thick scarf to match his uniform . At the ends of it were little white snowflakes .
I wasn’t sure though, since he might not have much need for a muffler being driven to school and all .
He wrapped it around his neck .
“Wahh! It’s so warm~!” exclaimed Yukino-kun as he rubbed his face against the scarf fringe . “Is the snowflake because my name is Yukino(snowfield)?”
“It is . The snowflake is your symbol . ”
“Thank you,” he beamed .
I specially ordered it, actually . I was glad that he liked it .
As for Mao-chan and Yuuri-kun, I got them matching lesson bags; tote bags large enough to carry things for both school and extracurricular lessons . Having matching things sure was nice for a couple~
I wanted to try something like that myself one day . Ah, not matching clothing though .
“Thank you, Reika-oneesama! I’ll take care of it . Also Yuuri-kun and I got you something too!”
The two of them had gotten me fluffy boots for indoor use . It was completely adorable with little ribboned bonbons attached!
“My! Thank you! I think I shall be using them quite a bit considering how bad I am with the cold . ”
They were pink and would match my belly warmer perfectly . With this I was set for winter .
We relaxed for a while, before Enjou and Kaburagi came over having distributed the chocolates .
Mmn . Well done, you two .
You can keep the remaining chocolates as thanks for your hard work .
“Yukino, did Kisshouin-san give you that muffler? Thank you, Kisshouin-san . ”
“My pleasure . I should be giving thanks instead for these cute presents I received . Thank you very much . ”
That was when the other kids began to thank me for the chocolate, and I ended up surrounded by smiling children myself .
Nuhoho, the presents were super effective .
“I wish you could come to my Christmas party though, Reika-oneesama,” pouted Mao-chan .
“Mao . Reika… oneesan, also has her own plans, so you can’t be so selfish . ”
“But…”
Uuu, I want to go too, Mao-chan!
Why did my pride have to get in the way back there! Reika, you idiot! What if I told her that I could come now…
“You’re coming too, right, Yukino? Thanks for looking after him,” Enjou smiled .
“Yes!” said Mao-chan as she blushed .
Mao-chan! Yuuri-kun is right next to you!
“By the way, Masaya’s mum said it was a shame you couldn’t come to her party, Kisshouin-san . ”
“Yeah,” Kaburagi nodded without much care .
During my family’s party last month his mother had invited me, and then my parents told me a number of times to go, but completely refused .
It was tiring having to keep up appearances . All those parties were like that .
My parents had stopped trying once the thing with my eyebrows happened though .
All it took was some fake tears and a “I cannot possibly show up like this!”
As a fellow woman, Okaasama could sympathise .
Life is all about turning misfortune into fortune .
“Will you be attending their party, Enjou-sama?”
“Nah, I’ve got some things to do that day . ”
Oh? All right then .
Seeing Yukino-kun turn with a pout, Enjou smiled helplessly and patted him on the head .
“I’ll be right back,” he said .
So the little angel showed his brother these kinds of faces .
How cute~
“Will you be attending your family’s party then, Kaburagi-sama?”
“Pretty much . I didn’t last year, so this year my mother told me to at least make an appearance . I’m planning on heading right home though . ”
“I see . ”
Last year… Oh, you were on your journey, weren’t you .
Kaburagi seemed bored, because he got up and began gathering the children .
What was he planning .
“You said you were going to spend Christmas with your friends, Kisshouin-san?”
“Well, yes,” I told Enjou .
He was a sharp person . What if he realised I was spending time with my air friends…
What if he realised and then thought of me as some sad case…
I had to change the subject somehow…
“Yukino-kun, what are you hoping from Mr . Santa this year?”
“Eh?”
He looked startled . How come?
“As long as Mr . Santa chooses it, I’m okay with anything,” he replied with a smile .
What age did children stop believing in Santa Claus again?
*
Kaburagi made a coin disappear, and then made a tissue float, and then some other stuff to the applaud of the children .
Party tricks?
*
*
*
And so Suiran entered its winter break .
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