Christmas Special Episode II
Breakfast finally ended, and the gang split off for the day without ceremony.
Their schedule was tight, so they kept to the available time.
Morgan was already waiting at Tengu Square, resting by a sign, glancing at his wristwatch.
He was dressed casually beneath.
But a long dark coat draped over him, reaching down to his knees.
He exhaled.
A thin cloud of mist spilled from his lips and vanished almost immediately.
Despite supposedly being cold-resistant, he somehow found himself rubbing his hands.
His fingers were absurdly stiff.
Just as he did, Morgan tilted his head back, staring up at the sunless sky.
"So long had passed before I knew it…"
The words slipped out quietly followed by a mist of air before disappearing.
And since when had he started taking this relationship so seriously?
Confidence had never been his problem.
Morgan trusted his strength, his decisions, and his instincts.
Yet being with her, somehow..
Had a way of dragging his thoughts into places he didn't like to linger.
Especially after the Neighboring World incident.
His hand came up to his head, threading briefly through his hair as his jaw tightened.
Just as he did—
"Kihihihi~ seems like someone is still blaming themselves for no reason."
The voice came from behind, sounding almost amused by his actions.
Morgan stiffened and turned.
In that pure white world, he saw a mix of three colors staining the white world.
Black hair with mismatched crimson and golden eyes.
On her face was a thin smile, curled in mischief.
"Kurumi—"
He barely got her name out before she stepped closer, closing the distance without hesitation.
A slender finger pressed gently against his lips.
Despite wearing a smile, her smile wasn't gentle. No, it was far from it.
It was smug and playful.
"Thanks to you, I was able to reunite with her, and I don't regret anything."
Kurumi said softly.
There was no bitterness in her tone, nor was there any attempt to deflect blame.
Kurumi had accepted the truth long ago.
She knew what she had done.
She understood the weight of her actions, how ugly they had been.
Even if they were committed in the name of justice.
The innocence she once clung to had been worn down, scraped away piece by piece.
She never played the victim.
That was also why she hated the idea of being saved.
Kurumi wasn't a naive girl.
Even if she stopped, Kurumi surely knew that she would be dragged to hell.
But she didn't worry.
Her finger withdrew as she leaned back, folding her hands neatly in front of her.
"If anything, you're rather the bold one~"
Kurumi then continued, with a tilt of her head.
She lifted her hand to cover her lips, a giggle slipping through her fingers.
Morgan rolled his eyes.
Of all days, this was not something he wanted to hear.
"Let's go, it's not like we have all the time today."
Morgan shoved his hand inside his pockets, as he turned away.
He took a step forward.
Kurumi remained where she was, staring at his back, eyes wide, then slowly narrowing her eyes in amusement.
How could someone be this naturally tsundere?
Naturally, that only made him more tempting.
"Dear me, I ended up with such a troublesome person… with a troublesome personality."
She said lightly, following after him as her boots made crunching sounds in the snow.
Morgan paused.
No, he staggered.
His foot slipped slightly on the now ice-encased tile covered in snow.
Kurumi's grin widened.
Not to mention—
"I thought you would have at least complimented me, or perhaps… Am I not good enough?"
The black-haired beauty had said that.
She slowed her steps just enough to fall half a pace behind him.
After saying that last part…
Kurumi feigned distress.
The female placed a hand dramatically against her chest as her shoulders dropped as though she were wounded.
It was a flawless performance.
Morgan glanced back at her, watching the drama she was playing as the corner of his lips twitched.
Yeah.
He didn't need to think twice to know it was fake.
"No, I'm not ready to get dragged into another women's store again."
It was already a trend for her to do that, so he rejected her with a calm smile.
Of course, it wasn't that she didn't look good.
Rather, on the contrary.
She looked way too good.
But he simply didn't want to give her the satisfaction she was looking for.
Love might actually be war here.
With that in mind, he turned to her, lifting both hands, crossing both his index fingers into an X.
Naturally, he paired it with a killer smile.
Kurumi's smile froze, but it didn't falter.
Instead, she maintained that perfect facade while nodding her head.
Though he said that, she could tell he was very happy with the dress.
Reaching into her bag, she pulled out her phone and unlocked it with a light tap of her thumb.
The screen lit up immediately.
Displayed across it were Morgan's vitals.
A small fluctuation stood out in the record translated to her, which had been recorded just about a minute ago.
"Kihihihi~ It's fine to deceive yourself, but you aren't deceiving anyone."
Kurumi giggled softly, angling the phone so only she could see it.
Of course, all of this was thanks to her.
Beta.
On the screen, the AI avatar flashed a smug grin and threw up a peace sign.
Putting the phone away, Kurumi stepped closer to him.
Her shoes clicked lightly against the cold paved road as she slipped her arm through Morgan's.
She linked them together, then, she leaned in.
Kurumi rested her head against his shoulder as her hair brushed against his coat.
"…Shall we?"
Morgan exhaled, relaxing his shoulders just a bit.
"Yeah. Let's."
Both proceeded to Tengu City Mall, which was not far.
It was just right in front of them.
Naturally, they started with the ice-cream shop, which had now unofficially become their favourite place.
The bell above the door chimed as Morgan pushed it open.
"Merry Christmas—ah! It's our regulars!"
Behind the counter, the waitress beamed a smile to both of them as they approached.
Morgan nodded once.
"Yeah. We'll have our regulars. Thanks."
"No problem at all," she said cheerfully. "Anything for my favorite couple—oops, I said too much!"
She clapped a hand over her mouth, before turning on her heel and practically sprinting away to prepare their order.
Morgan and Kurumi took their usual seats by the window.
Only then did Morgan look at her.
"How's she been?"
Kurumi rested her chin in her palm, elbow on the table.
"She's recovering, though she's quite angry at you. Kihihihi."
Morgan scratched the back of his head.
That was expected.
After the stunt he'd pulled back then, he'd honestly imagined she'd be hunting him down already.
With that thought—
Morgan pointed at himself, brows lifting slightly.
"Does she know, then?"
Kurumi stared at him for a moment.
Then she broke into a bright, charming, almost comically exaggerated, smile.
"Yes, she also expressed a strong desire to make mincemeat out of you."
Kurumi said sweetly.
Ain't that a bit too harsh?
Morgan thought, staring at the table as the bell chimed again behind the counter.
But he understood where she was coming from, so he didn't argue.
"I… kinda feel bad for her now."
Morgan admitted with a sheepish smile.
"You ought to repent for that, Clair."
Morgan looked back at her, unimpressed, tapping under his chin rhythmically.
He looked up, then stared in circles before dropping his hands and looking straight at her.
"Unfortunately, I don't think I have much to offer her."
"I believe she'd be satisfied if she could get a piece of you."
Kurumi replied immediately, her eyes narrowing just slightly as she leaned forward.
Morgan mirrored the gesture, lowering his gaze to match hers.
"Hou? Is my girlfriend trying to make me take responsibility for her friend?"
"My, my, you wouldn't dare.
Kurumi replied sweetly, followed by an audible click Morgan heard from underneath the table.
Beneath the table, Kurumi held her archaic pistol leveled casually at him.
Her finger rested comfortably near the trigger, and she was smiling.
Morgan let out a long, weary sigh and rested his elbow on the table, propping his cheek against his hand.
"…I think I might have caused this."
Of course, in the next moment, Kurumi released the grip.
The pistol slipped from her hand.
It dropped soundlessly into the shadow beneath the table.
"How is little sister doing?"
"She's doing okay. She has plans with her teammates, so they're probably enjoying themselves now."
Kurumi stifled a smile just as the waitress approached.
The order was placed on the table gently, as the waitress smiled with a gentle smile.
"Here you go, I hope you both have a Merry Christmas."
"We will."
Morgan and Kurumi replied with a nod.
They dug in.
Almost immediately, Kurumi cupped her cheeks with both hands.
Her eyes fluttered shut as she leaned back slightly, tilting her head upward.
"Mmm~!"
The sound was borderline theatrical.
Morgan paused as the spoon hovered near his mouth.
"You're exaggerating this, Kurumi."
For him, the flavor was there; it was sweet, but he couldn't fully enjoy it.
"Well," she said, opening one eye to glance at him, "my situation is different from yours, isn't it?"
She paused, then continued.
"We spirits possess long lifespans… and supernatural powers."
Her spoon traced slow circles in the bowl before she pointed it toward him.
"However, for you and her, it's a very different matter."
Finally, she finished that, tapping the air lightly.
Morgan scratched the back of his head, letting out a breath, offering no reply.
Kurumi studied him for a moment, then nodded.
"Let's leave those talks aside for now."
She returned to her dessert, and after a brief hesitation, Morgan did the same.