99.4. [Merry Christmas]

I was invited as a guest for the Angu Ogu Christmas Livestream, but…

<<So that’s what Christmas is like in Japan, huh? In America, ham and mashed potatoes are the classics. We leave a letter, milk, and cookies as a thank-you to Santa.>>

<<Oh, I see.>>

<<On that day, it’s the children’s job to wake up their parents. And under the tree, there are lots of presents. We tear the wrapping paper eagerly.>>

<<It’s like Christmas straight out of a movie, huh?>>

<<Hahaha! In Japan, I guess they carefully unwrap each present, right? By the time they finish opening them, Christmas is over!>>

<<That’s a good joke! Hahaha! Or not!?>>

What’s with this American joke?

Don’t involve me in weird things! And besides…

<<Ogu, let’s stop here.>>

<<Don’t say that, Iroha. It must be lonely for you.>>

<<Oh no! This guy is getting annoying! You’re drinking alcohol??>>

<<That’s not true, you know.>>

She can’t even speak properly.

Oh well, she’s drunk. She shouldn’t have overdone it since she’s not used to drinking.

<<Ogu, you’ve had too much to drink. You should drink moderately, it’s harmful to your body.>>

<<Because, you know! Hyeeee,>>

Now she’s crying her eyes out!

Angu Ogu cries out in a sobbing voice.

<<But, but~! I’m so saaaad! It’s Christmas today, but I’m all alone and lonely. I wanted to feel closer to Iroha, so I went to the trouble of preparing Champagne. Isn’t it okay to have a little? Beeeeeeen!>>

<<Ogu, you were thinking that huh?>>

>Hmmm!

>Oh, so Champagne is that kind of alcohol. (U.S.)

>Ogu, don’t cry! (U.S.)

<<Wait a minute, Ogu. Are you drinking Champagne?>>

<<Huh? Y-Yes. In Japan, you drink this sweet sparkling wine, right? I can only get it in Japan, so I went through the trouble of ordering it. Wait, is it not okay to drink it?>>

<<…Sigh.>>

<<W-What’s wrong?>>

I let out a sigh at that moment.

<<What the hell?>>

I let out a sigh.

It was grand.

<<Ogu, let me tell you one thing. “Champagne” isn’t alcohol!>>

<<???>>

<<It’s juice! It doesn’t have any alcohol in it!>>

<<Wha-wha-wha-!?>>

>OMG

>Wow, that’s embarrassing! (U.S.)

>I didn’t realize it while she was drunk, but some people pointed it out in the chats. LOL (U.S.)

<<No, no, no!? But everyone in Japan drinks it. That’s what Ah-nee said!>>

<<Well, children…>>

<<Um, well, in that case, umm…>>

<<By the way, why were you so drunk, Ogu?>>

<<Don’t tell me to stoppplll!?>>

<<Could it be that you got so drunk just from the atmosphere? Hehe, you’re such a child, aren’t you? And you were getting all clingy and crying while sober.>>

<<Nooo!?>>

>Stop it! LOL (U.S.)

>Ogu’s life gauge has been at zero for a while now!

>Confirmed clip material LOL (U.S.)

<<Th-this is. Yes! It’s because the eggnog had brandy in it! That’s why!>>

>Your excuses are getting desperate LOL (U.S.)

>Isn’t eggnog a drink made with eggs, milk, and cinnamon? I heard people drink it during Christmas in America.

<<I see. So it was because of the eggnog. So, where is it?>>

<<Aaaah. To-to-that’s all for today’s stream! “Rest in peaceeee!”.>>

>Rest in peace (U.S.)

>Can you rest in peace after this? (U.S.)

>She ran away LOL

Angu Ogu’s Christmas became filled with embarrassment.

But, I think.

It’s much better than sadness.

***

Late at night on that day,

As the date changed and Christmas Day arrived,

I was enveloped in drowsiness, gazing at the snow falling outside the window when suddenly, “――Bam! Crash!”.

What a noisy sound!

I jolted awake, hastily pulling the blanket over me.

“Phew, thank goodness Iroha-chan isn’t awake!”

But I was wide awake!?

However, I couldn’t just act like I wasn’t awake.

After all, the noise source had somehow infiltrated the room, and it was none other than Ah-nee, who was now dressed up as Santa Claus.

“Phew, that was close. Even though Iroha Mama asked me to play Santa today because I couldn’t go home, I almost messed up.”

Mom, seriously! It’s a casting mistake!

Ah-nee is unsuited for covert operations!

“………….Iroha-chan.”

Suddenly, she spoke to me gently, and my heart skipped a beat.

Did she somehow realize that I was awake? But no, it was different.

“I know deep down, Iroha-chan is a kind child.”

Ah-nee gently stroked my head.

Why is that? Without thinking, I almost said, “…………”

“Maybe there will be difficult times ahead. Iroha-chan has a special power, so you might be expected to act accordingly. But don’t forget,”

[——]

“Just remember what you truly ‘like.’ As long as you don’t forget that, everything will be alright. With your abilities, Iroha-chan, you can overcome any challenge.”

Perhaps she noticed that I was awake?

Hey, Ah-nee. I am—

“Wait a minute! Wasn’t I super cool just now?! I was saying something that sounded right, but it felt like I knew everything!”

You’ve ruined it!

I cried in a different sense. Return the emotion!

***

The next morning, I sat absentmindedly on the bed.

After that, Ah-nee enjoyed playing make-believe and continued saying those lines.

It was so noisy that I couldn’t sleep at all!

And I was waiting for when she would finally leave after leaving the presents.

I stared down at the floor, completely absorbed.

There, I saw…

“Snoring… Zzz…”

“Hey!”

Ah-nee in Santa costume was sprawled on her back, belly exposed, and fast asleep.

That’s a complete disaster!

– This is a story from before Iroha entered middle school.

Just an ordinary moment from Iroha’s everyday life.