Lollipop has joined the chatroom.
Lollipop (Yūki Chinatsu): "Is everyone here?"
Yosuganosora (Kamiyā Yuu): "I'm about to start cooking, so if there's something, say it quickly."
Lollipop (Yūki Chinatsu): "You can cook too!?"
Yūnosora (Kamiyā Sora): "Yuu has always been the one cooking. Recently, his skills have improved noticeably. Besides Japanese cuisine, he's started trying Chinese and Western dishes too."
Lollipop (Yūki Chinatsu): "Sora's here too? Even better than."
Yūnosora (Kamiyā Sora): "?"
Lollipop (Yūki Chinatsu): "Tomorrow is Christmas and also the official release date of 'Yellow—Ashen Paradise.' I thought everyone could get together and celebrate. I've always been really curious what Yuu's little sister looks like. Sora seems way more reliable than Yuu."
Yūnosora (Kamiyā Sora): "Thank you for the compliment."
Sunflower (Morishita Aoi): "Not a bad idea. None of us has any special plans for Christmas anyway, so let's have a Christmas party together. ヾ(o???)?ヾ"
Purple Embroidery (Uehara Etsuki): "Sorry, I might not be able to make it that day."
Sunflower (Morishita Aoi): "Worried about Murasaki, right?"
Purple Embroidery (Uehara Etsuki): "Mm."
Sunflower (Morishita Aoi): "Then bring her along too."
Purple Embroidery (Uehara Etsuki): "But... she's not a member of [Yosuganosora]."
Yosuganosora (Kamiyā Yuu): "The woman we saw at HANA last time? I don't mind. A Christmas party should be lively."
Lollipop (Yūki Chinatsu): "Ooh~ How generous! Yo~ Boss!"
Yosuganosora (Kamiyā Yuu): "...Forget it. Then it's settled. We'll hold the Christmas party at Sora's office on Christmas Day. Aoi, I'll leave this to you. Deduct whatever money is needed from the operating funds. There'll be another large influx of money when 'Yellow—Ashen Paradise' releases, so don't worry about the budget."
Sunflower (Morishita Aoi): "OK, Boss! (^_^)"
...
December 25th, Christmas Eve, night.
Since the Meiji Restoration period, Japan has consistently adopted a Westernization policy for development. While valuing its own traditional culture, it had also integrated advanced Western cultural concepts. After so many years, Western cultural influence had become deeply ingrained in Japanese society, making Christmas a major non-traditional festival in Japan.
Japan had now fully entered winter. Many people going outside had to wear thick down jackets to keep warm, yet the cold night wind failed to disperse the lively and passionate atmosphere filling the evening.
Across the international metropolis of Tokyo, Christmas decorations could be seen everywhere. In every street and alley were couples walking arm in arm, their bodies pressed close together to drive away the winter chill. Under the colorful lights of Christmas trees, the atmosphere seemed even warmer and more passionate. If one of the archmages from the FFF Inquisition were to cast an Explosion spell onto the streets, over ninety percent of the targets would definitely "deserve it."
Because nearly everyone shopping on Christmas was a couple, Christmas in Japan was also known as a "normie holiday." Being able to walk around with a girlfriend on that day basically meant graduating from the ranks of the wizards. The miserable archmages could only curl up at home, cursing this annual celebration of normies, while even more miserable were the office workers still doing overtime and the Christmas cake salespeople shouting on the streets.
"Sora, don't you girls feel cold wearing skirts?" Kamiyā Yuu asked with a strange expression as he looked at the giant Christmas tree in the plaza before him. Whether it was Sora or the couples passing by him, a large portion of them were wearing skirts in this freezing weather. He had checked today's weather forecast—the average temperature was below zero degrees Celsius. Could that thin fabric and skirt design really keep anyone warm?
Kamiyā Sora was dressed in a black gothic-style winter outfit. If there was any difference from usual, it was the thick shawl draped over her for warmth. Since tonight was her first formal meeting with the members of [Yosuganosora], she had even specially worn a black mini top hat. Her calm gaze rested upon the enormous Christmas tree, four or five stories tall. After closing her eyes and making a wish, she once again wrapped herself around Kamiyā Yuu's arm and lightly shook her head.
"It's fine. It's not that cold."
"Then let's go. Aoi and the others have probably been waiting a while already," Kamiyā Yuu said gently. Before leaving home, he had spent considerable effort trying—and failing—to get Sora to wear warmer clothes.
"Wait, Yuu."
"What is it?"
"Do you know why that Christmas tree is called the Tree of Love?" Kamiyā Sora softly asked as she gazed at the brilliantly lit tree with shining eyes.
"Uh, that tree has a nickname like that?" Kamiyā Yuu asked curiously. He genuinely knew nothing about this sort of gossip-like information.
Watching the couples gradually gathering nearby, Kamiyā Sora revealed a cute smile. Turning her head slightly to look into Kamiyā Yuu's eyes, she explained, "There's one minute left until seven o'clock. Supposedly, couples who kiss beneath this Christmas tree at this time will receive a blessing and stay together forever."
Kamiyā Yuu glanced at the couples gathering around them and found no reason to doubt the claim.
"Yuu."
Sora slightly raised her head and closed her eyes. Her adorable, delicate face and the faint blush of shyness made his heart tremble. After hesitating briefly, he lowered his head and kissed those warm cherry-colored lips.
When the official bell rang out, cheers and applause erupted around Kamiyā Yuu. The couples smiled as they offered blessings to Kamiyā Sora and Kamiyā Yuu.
Looking around the plaza, Kamiyā Yuu noticed that among the dozens of couples present, only very few others were actually kissing beneath the Christmas tree like they were. Surrounded by couples watching them with expressions that practically said "I get it," Kamiyā Yuu awkwardly pinched her little face and complained,
"You lied."
"Mm. Although this Christmas tree is indeed called the Tree of Love, all you have to do at this time is make a wish," Kamiyā Sora explained with a soft smile, lightly panting with fragrant breaths. Having succeeded with her little scheme, she mischievously stuck out her tongue.
"Why?"
"The atmosphere was nice, so I wanted to do it." Kamiyā Sora tugged at his arm and shyly urged him onward, unwilling to continue being watched by the surrounding couples. "Let's go. We can't keep Sister Aoi and the others waiting too long."
"Yuu, do you think wishes really come true?"
"What wish did you make just now?"
"Secret. If you say it out loud, it won't come true."
"Then I don't know the answer either."
"I see."
"As long as it's something Sora wishes for, no matter what the wish is, I'll do my best to make it come true."
In the endless night, delicate snowflakes like bits of cotton drifted down from the sky, falling unnoticed into the corners of the streets beneath the dazzling lights.
The white season had quietly arrived.