December 24th. Christmas Eve.
At the Nakayama household, a Christmas party was scheduled for today.
It seemed that Shiho was planning to go out for a family meal the next day, so it was decided that our party would be the day before.
“Merry Christmas!”
Shiho, dressed in a Santa outfit, shouted as she popped a cracker. Meanwhile, Azusa, who was also dressed in a Santa costume, puffed out her cheeks and sulked.
“Why does Azusa have to participate too? I’m not at the age to enjoy parties like this.”
“Because you’re my little sister.”
“No, Azusa is my little sister.”
Even though they were bickering, they were sitting next to each other in the kotatsu, so it looked more like playful teasing than a real argument.
While I occasionally glanced at the heartwarming scene of the two of them, I was busy preparing for the party.
“Kotaro-kun, is the cake ready yet?”
“Onii-chan, I want some juice soon.”
…If those two helped out, the party would start earlier.
However, the kotatsu was probably just too cozy. They didn’t move an inch.
Well, even though the preparations only involved slicing the cake, warming up the pre-cooked turkey, and serving chicken from a fast-food place with a jolly mascot, it wasn’t a particularly grand party.
Nevertheless, Shiho really liked seasonal events like this and seemed to be having a lot of fun.
“Rudolph, hurry up or I’ll turn you into meat!”
“If you turn me into meat, I won’t be able to help… but isn’t Onii-chan dressed as a deer, not Rudolph? Those antlers look more like a deer’s.”
“Huh? Isn’t Rudolph just the English version of a deer?”
“…Is that so? I don’t really know either.”
“Oh dear, Azu-nyan, don’t say silly things even if you’re a little clueless.”
“You too, Shimotsuki-san!? Ugh, I feel like we’re having a conversation with a low IQ…”
So, which one am I, a reindeer or a deer?
I’m not sure, but whatever. For now, I continued with the preparations.
I sliced the cake, served the chicken, and warmed up the turkey before slicing it… I realized only then that it might be a bit too much meat, but I convinced myself that having a lively table was fine for a party, and finished the preparations.
“Oh! This feels like a real party… Well then, let’s eat!”
“Ah! Wait a minute, I wanted to eat that marzipan!!”
“…So you’re starting with the cake.”
I wondered if their staple food was sugar. The cake we bought was a strawberry shortcake. Watching them fight over the delicious parts, I ate the chicken.
“Then the strawberries belong to Azusa.”
“Then I’ll have the cream!”
However, their squabble was getting rather pointless, and it seemed like it might turn into a way of eating that would disappoint the pâtissier who made the cake, so I decided to intervene.
“Shiho? If you’re a bad girl, Santa won’t come, you know?”
The moment I said that…
“—Oh, that’s right!”
Shiho visibly quieted down.
“Azusa-nyan? I’m sorry… Here, go ahead and eat whatever you like. I’m fine with the leftovers.”
“…D-don’t suddenly apologize. It makes me look like I’m being greedy!”
I see… It seems Shiho’s parents also use this to make her listen to them. “Santa won’t come” is the ultimate phrase for a girl who believes in Santa.
Well, even though I wondered if it was really okay at 18, that innocent side of Shiho was part of her charm.
“Shiho, you’re doing great. That’s what makes you Azusa’s Onee-chan.”
“Ehehe~”
“Ehh!? Wait a minute, Onii-chan, don’t call Shimotsuki-san ‘Onee-chan’ too!”
…Even Azusa, despite her complaints, seemed to be louder than usual, probably because she was excited.
I also felt more cheerful than usual.
Regardless of age, Christmas was still a special event.
