episode_0034

The atmosphere in the hallway where I came out to eat breakfast was a little different than usual.

It was a little lighter, and there was a subtle anticipation on people’s faces.

As I looked around curiously, Shine also made a similar expression to me, perhaps feeling different than usual.

“Amy.”

“Huh?”

“People seem to be in a good mood.”

I spoke while looking at the faces of people passing by.

Amy looked around at my words.

“Really?”

As she said that, she took her cell phone out of her pocket.

On the slightly visible screen, white snow was falling.

“Because it’s almost Christmas season.”

“Christmas… .”

I nodded to her words.

Christmas is when Santa comes.

I didn’t believe it before, but now I do.

If you ask why, it’s because I told you that Amy is there… .

“Amy, Santa is real, right?”

“Of course.”

When I asked her a question as if to confirm, Amy answered with a confident expression.

I trust Amy.

“What exactly do you do on Christmas?”

“Um… .”

Amy nodded at my question.

He stops walking as if he is deep in thought.

Shine and I, who were following behind her, stopped in the middle of following Amy.

“Do you have to do something for Christmas?”

Shine asked me a question.

I hesitated for a moment as she asked me her question while holding my hand tightly.

“That… . Usually people do something.”

christmas.

I searched my memory.

What was I doing on this day last year?

Since it was a public holiday, I didn’t even go to work.

I think I took a long nap at home and woke up around lunchtime.

“Is it a special day like your birthday?”

Shine still seemed to have no idea what exactly Christmas was all about.

I’m not the type of person who is good at taking care of children.

Amy would be a better fit than me to introduce her to the concept of Christmas.

“Amy… .”

I tugged at Amy’s pant leg as if asking for help.

Amy’s head, which had been lost in thought, rises.

“Yeah. I have to make a tree for Christmas.”

“Tree?”

“And. People who like each other gather and have a party.”

“Like a birthday?”

“That’s right, like a birthday. Christmas is an anniversary.”

“What are you celebrating?”

“Well, I don’t know. I don’t know what it was like in the past, but these days, it seems like they set a specific date and everyone treats it as a special day, exchanging gifts and eating delicious food.”

Shine nods at Amy’s explanation.

Since she seemed to have a rough idea, I released my hold on Amy’s pants.

As we followed Amy to the restaurant, we noticed a large tree in the center of the shelter.

” and… .”

As I looked up at the large tree, the people who were installing the tree waved at me.

“What is this?”

“They are making a tree.”

The man who answered my question climbed up the ladder.

I stared blankly as the ornate ornaments in his hands began to hang on the tree.

Lots of glitter, wires.

Ornaments that make the eyes sparkle begin to hang on the trees.

The final decoration was a large star hanging at the very top of the tree.

It was a softly shining light that gave a warm feeling.

When the tree was completed, people around clapped their hands and cheered.

It really is Christmas.

Since I’m not usually the type of person who cares about Christmas, I would realize that Christmas was coming when I saw the tree on my way to and from work.

I was blankly staring at the tree, then I put my hand on my forehead as a headache slowly started to rise.

The memories I had just recalled began to fade.

The sound of creaking footsteps.

Carols can be heard from all directions.

A flashing neon sign.

Snow falling from the sky.

Cold air.

White breath.

“Jeff.”

At the end of my memory, I stopped walking home and looked up at the large tree.

“Jeff.”

Memories become hazy.

A noise that slowly creeps in, as if in a fog.

Fragments of memory slowly sink.

“Huh!?”

I was startled and reacted half-slowly.

A huge tree.

Tree.

Any remnants of the last memory you saw immediately disappear.

I shook my head, looking at the tree in front of me.

“Jeff, where does it hurt?”

Shine holds out her hand worriedly.

Her hand moves gently, caressing my cheek.

Soft hands pulled my cheeks to the sides.

“Ugh.”

I answered, shaking my head slightly.

It doesn’t hurt.

My pronunciation is slurred because of my open mouth.

Shine smiled at the sight.

Just because Christmas is approaching doesn’t mean work is any different than usual.

It was only natural, since it wasn’t Christmas Day yet.

After dinner, I played with Shine and Amy.

After that, I went to Victor and received training in controlling my abilities.

“Victor. It’s almost Christmas.”

“I know.”

After finishing my training, I sat down next to Victor and opened my mouth.

Victor and I have become quite close.

Shine still seemed to dislike Victor, but as I sat closer to him, Shine also sat next to Victor.

Victor didn’t even care about us.

Amy, who had been dozing off on the chair, stretched out and got up from her seat after seeing that the training was over.

After briefly stretching, she stood on the ring in the center of the gym and spoke to Victor.

Her body was incredibly light.

“Victor. Let’s play a game together after a long time?”

One game?

As I looked at Amy with a puzzled expression, she threw the gloves that were hanging in the ring at Victor.

Victor’s answer seemed unnecessary.

Amy, bouncing around with an excited expression, threw a punch into the air.

“How is it?”

“I am a patient.”

Victor answered with an annoyed expression.

However, it seems that he is thinking of responding to Amy’s suggestion by putting the glasses he was wearing on his face back on.

“You know it’s all better, right?”

Victor stood up from his seat without saying a word, freeing himself.

I didn’t notice it because I just sat there all day, but Victor was quite tall.

As I looked up at Victor as if I was curious, Shine grabbed my arm with a look of discontent on her face.

My body tilted to the side without any resistance and I was held in Shine’s arms.

“In one piece?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve been able to eat something expensive.”

“Do you think you can win?”

Victor did not fall for Amy’s provocation.

Victor put on his gloves and kicked the ground.

His body floats lightly and falls into the ring.

Amy also started waiting while wearing gloves.

“Sha… . In… .”

Shine was pressing down on my body, preventing me from escaping.

“Jeff.”

“Yeah… .”

“That’s strange… .”

Kookkook Shine pressed my cheek with his finger.

I was able to escape from Shine’s embrace, twisting my head from side to side with a ticklish feeling.

“What?”

“It’s nothing.”

Shine looked tired.

She reached out and hugged my waist.

I found myself in Shine’s arms once again.

Shine hugged my back and rested her head on my shoulder.

“Are you tired, Shine?”

“Yeah.”

Shine quietly closed her eyes.

I looked away from her and towards Amy and Victor.

Victor and Amy’s duel had begun.

The sound of air slicing through the air and the loud sound of footsteps on the ring filled the gym.

Both of them dodge each other’s attacks with quick movements.

As the rough movements continued, it was Victor who was pushed back.

Stay still.

At that moment, a small whisper was heard in my ear.

Victor, who had been moving quickly, suddenly stopped moving.

It was a very brief gap, but Amy didn’t miss it and swung her fist.

Amy’s blue-gloved fist struck the center of Victor’s face.

A thud resonates throughout the gym.

Victor’s body floats up and falls to the floor.

“I won?”

Victor, sprawled out on the floor, muttered blankly.

“What is it?”

“What? Should we do it again?”

“No… .”

Victor shook his head and stood up.

His red nose made him look like he was drunk.

“What are you looking forward to tonight?”

Victor waved his hand weakly at Amy’s playful remark.

“Guys! Victor bought me something delicious for dinner!”

Something delicious?

I looked at Victor with sparkling eyes.

Victor nodded weakly, perhaps noticing my gaze.

He just rubbed his forehead as if he didn’t understand his own movements.

Amy came down from the ring and approached us with an excited gait.

“Shine looks tired.”

I shifted my gaze and looked at Shine hanging behind me.

She was burying her face in my back with her eyes closed.

Amy hugged Shine, seeing that she looked quite tired.

“You stayed up late again.”

“Shine doesn’t sleep late?”

“Sometimes, I’m awake at dawn and can’t fall asleep.”

“What was Shine doing?”

“Well? I didn’t sleep and just sat there blankly.”

Amy, who was holding Shine, deftly took off her glove and threw it into the ring.

Victor was left to sort out the gloves that had fallen down without any strength.

When he turned around with a disgruntled expression, Amy stuck her tongue out with a mischievous expression.

“You seem to be on good terms.”

I looked at Amy and Victor and talked.

“Sai? Well. It’s good.”

“How long have you known each other?”

“It’s been almost 6 years?”

Amy said as she waved at Victor.

It was a sign that I was leaving the gym.

Victor also waved at us.

After Amy and I left the gym, we headed straight to our room.

I wanted to go to the park, but it was difficult because Shine was asleep.

It’s no fun playing alone, so I’ll have to go when Shine wakes up.

“Jeff~”

When I returned to my room, I was playing with a big teddy bear.

The teddy bear named [Baekshi] became Shine’s best friend when she wasn’t playing with me.

But Amy wouldn’t leave me alone like that.

I looked back with an uneasy look.

Amy was sitting at the table with a thick workbook in her hand.

Help me, Baekshi.

I moved quickly and hid behind Baek-shi.

Baek Si, wearing a large witch’s hat, stepped forward in front of Amy with dignity, covering my body.

“Jeff isn’t here.”

“Really? Then who are you?”

Amy’s playful voice continues.

I moved my head to mimic Baek-shi’s deliberately deep voice.

“I’m Baek-shi. I’m Jeff’s friend.”

“So Baekshi? Where did Jeff go?”

“Jeff wait a minute… .”

“Wait?”

“I went out for a bit.”

Did it work on Amy?

I gently pushed Baek-shi’s body away while holding my pounding heart.

The faint sound of footsteps suddenly gets closer.

The white silk that had been covering my body tightly was lifted into the sky by Amy’s hand.

“Oh no!”

I sat down on the floor in shock.

Amy started laughing hysterically at the sight of me like that.

“Jeff. How was your trip?”

I just rolled my eyes at Amy’s question.

But there seemed to be no way out.

“It’s time to study.”

“Yes… .”