Merry Xmas - Prologue

[bakemonoremy]

Location: Dorm Room (Yuzuru & Tori)

Yuzuru: “And so, the townspeople were able to enjoy a peaceful and happy Christmas together.”

“The fairies had a joyous Christmas too, singing and dancing together with the forest dwellers.”

“ — So the fairies turned to the forest dwellers and spoke:”

“Thank you all. We pray that next year’s Christmas will be a blessed one as well. And they lived happily ever after.”

Young Master, if I may...? What curious turn of events might this be, with you suddenly requesting me to read this picture book to you?

Naturally, it’s a butler’s duty to obey their master’s every whim, and so I did read it all the way to the end…

This chilly season makes one long for the warmth of others. For the Young Master to ask for such childish indulgences, could it be that you’ve undergone infantile regression at last? Aww~, there, there ♪

Tori: As if! And don’t pat my head~! Well, I actually kinda like to get headpats, but the way you went about it just now felt somehow insulting and that rubbed me the wrong way.

Yuzuru: I see. Then what was the reason for this request?

Tori: So, you know how we still haven’t finished unpacking our boxes from the move into the dorms yet?

Yuzuru: The Young Master’s boxes are the only ones that have yet to be unpacked, actually.

I have long finished unpacking and putting away my own belongings. The only one who has been putting this off with a variety of excuses is the Young Master.

And whenever I offer to put them away for you, you insist that you’ll do it yourself after all.

Nevertheless, I felt it necessary to unpack at least your daily necessities for you.

Which is the only reason why the Young Master can go about his day without inconvenience despite the fact that he has yet to finish the aftermath of his move-in to this very day.

Tori: Urgh… I mean, that may be so, but…

Geez, I really was too busy to take care of it myself until now. If I got started on it and only got halfway through, it’d just bother me even more. But I still wanted to take care of my own stuff myself.

But now I finally finished putting everything away, so there!

Yuzuru: Yet I cannot shake the feeling that this took you entirely too long.

Tori: Anyway! While I was opening boxes, I found this picture book Papa got for me. I loved this as a child!

And remember, Christmas is already coming up next month. That’s why I kinda felt like reading it, so I asked you to read it to me, Yuzuru.

Yuzuru: So that’s what happened…

If I may, Young Master… To tell you the truth, the Master has sent word…

Regarding this year’s Christmas, the Master and Madame —

Tori: I already know. Because of their work, Papa and Mama won’t be able to come home for Christmas this year, right?

Yuzuru: You took notice of that?

Tori: Yup. I figured it’d be weirder if they hadn’t contacted you about Christmas yet.

And since I never heard anything from you, it must’ve meant the news was something you didn’t know how to break to me.

Yuzuru: I see. Indeed, it is just as you say, Young Master. I truly was agonizing over how to tell you of this matter.

Tori: Well, no need to worry. I’m not a child anymore, you see. Of course it makes me feel lonely that I won’t get to see them, but I won’t throw a tantrum about it or anything. Besides, this year it’s my turn.

Yuzuru: The Young Master’s turn — for what exactly?

Tori: So far, I only ever awaited other people’s presents… But now I’m in a position where I can give the people around the world something back.

So that’s why, I won’t just be waiting this year. I’ll be fulfilling other people’s dreams, too!

That way I’ll get through to my papa and mama and little sis, right? ♪

Yuzuru: Young Master…

Indeed. I believe the Master and Madame and Young Lady will be tremendously surprised and overjoyed to see how much you’ve grown.

The same goes for me. Saying that these circumstances don’t make me feel lonely in the slightest would be a lie, but hearing this fills me with joy.

Tori: Ehehe ♪ I’ll give it my all.

Last year, a lot of stuff happened, and I was pretty down in the dumps*, but we managed to have a fun live show at the end of it all. Now I wonder what this year’s Christmas is gonna be like~?

Yuzuru: Undoubtedly, it’ll be the most fulfilling Christmas of them all — I am certain of it.

Because Santa will be there to deliver the finest of presents to all the good children.

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* Starlight Festival: Jingle Bells