Snowy days were good.
Of course, only in childhood. By the time I was a teenager, I hated it because it was slippery and cold on the way to school, and as an adult... snow removal is PTSD, folks.
Snowy days used to be good. In childhood, especially on a white Christmas, it was good.
When did it start... when I began to dislike Christmas, beyond just snowy days.
A harmonious family and a happy commemorative day. But...
At some point, it wasn't for me. Living alone in a cold house, Christmas became just another day off.
I stopped celebrating my birthday too, so what was Christmas? At most, it was just ordering delivery food.
Sometimes I was envious, sometimes... I wanted to go back to childhood.
As I grew up, as an adult, I didn't have many happy days. Sometimes... I wanted to return to that time when everything was pure, fun, and happy. To go back to innocence, to those days spent laughing with everyone.
At some point, as I became an adult, I had to distance myself from such things.
Then sometimes... I'd get oddly sentimental and buy a small piece of cake.
And just play games... living an ordinary, mundane life.
"Christmas? How can this be, it's not even summer yet and it's already Christmas? The operator's gone mad! Is this BB's idea?"
"No, it's me?"
".... Huh, who's that? Ah... ah, I remember. Udon, right?"
"No, I'm Udon Rider..."
"Just kidding, I remember. Georges Melies. A fan of lunar travel."
Though the content is ultimately imperialist, so that's a problem.
Kiyohime's transformation finally ended, and we suddenly had to do a prepared Christmas event.
Coming back from work to more work... Ah, who caused what accident this time?
"By the way, Ritsuka, using Black Jeanne... are you planning to become a priest later?"
"If I have no way to make a living, maybe that would be good~?"
"Don't. That'll give you mental issues. Right?"
"... Why are you looking at me."
"Eventually, all church priests are nutcases. The priests I've seen were like that."
Were there any sane ones among Type-Moon priests... Caren maybe? Though she was a side character.
"Ahem... Anyway, all the actors are gathered here."
Edgar clears his throat and draws everyone's attention.
"The planner this time is indeed Georges. But, we didn't prepare this scenario. While we planned the framework, the real director is separate. We're just planners and actors too."
"You guys are painting the big picture too? So? Who started this event?"
"At least not here. Except for me and Georges, that is. Umi, no, Zuo Miren, she's just a bonus anyway."
"But I'm Santa!"
"Did you really believe that? How naive. You're just like the salad that comes with tonkatsu."
"Damn it..."
Did Sempai get tricked again? But she's cute and that's her charm, so it's fine, right?
"... I think I might understand why."
"? What did you say, Mash?"
"No, it's nothing. So, what should we do from now on?"
"I'll explain that..."
Skadi, who came out after changing clothes again. As she waves her staff, the room transforms into a Christmas atmosphere.
"Now, follow me. I'll guide you to the party venue."
Following Skadi's guidance, we head inside. A Christmas party, huh...
I hope the lead isn't Báthory or something like that? And the members participating are less than 20?
From what the kids say, they didn't do much to get here. The usual chaotic daily life continues, and this Christmas will probably end messily as always.
Skadi stops in front of a door at the end of the corridor.
"Now, from here, I'd like only the Master to blindfold himself."
"What's this, am I being tortured?"
"That's impossible. Please cooperate."
"Sigh, fine."
I blindfold my own eyes with cloth. What in the world...
I feel Mash's touch, and Mash takes my hand and leads me inside. I don't know where, but Mash places me somewhere and sits me on a chair.
What kind of event is this... It feels ominous.
No sounds around, and I sense something is about to happen. Then something is placed on my head. A hat? A moment later, the cloth blindfolding my eyes is removed...
Pop! Bang!
"... Huh?"
Firecracker sounds are heard, and the bright world makes my eyes squint as I look forward...
""Merry Christmas! Happy birthday~!""
".... Wha, what?"
When I open my eyes, in the large room with a Christmas atmosphere, all my Servants are there.
On the table in front of me are various kinds of cakes, and the banner hung in the room says "Happy Birthday."
Birthday...?
"... Today isn't my birthday, though?"
"Yes, we know, Mom."
Jack comes forward holding a small cake. A small cake that looks homemade, unattractive but you can tell effort was put into it.
"But, Master's birthday is on Christmas, right?"
Bunyan says to me with a smile.
Christmas...
Now that I think about it, I did set my birthday on Christmas day.
"But it's not Christmas either, is it?"
"But, isn't that how it is? If we say it's Christmas, it's Christmas! I, Santa, guarantee it! Today is Christmas! So, it's Reindeer's birthday!"
"... But why?"
"Because we wanted to celebrate you like this."
Koyanskaya walks over and says to me with a smirk.
"It's still a long way off in reality. But, we were too impatient. With all the things happening, over the past few years, we could only celebrate Master's birthday modestly."
"So... even like this, we wanted to celebrate the birthday you've missed for years. Of course, I just found out about it."
"That's because Mash was too obvious~"
"Haha..."
Birthday... huh. It's too sudden. Is there some foreshadowing or plot point? None at all. It's an abrupt story with no plausibility, and even Ritsuka and Chaldea are quite bewildered.
Then, for some reason, the Director in a smaller Santa costume comes and holds out a cake with candles.
"Happy birthday."
"Birthday..."
Suddenly doing this, I'm flustered too. Suddenly Christmas, and then out of nowhere, a birthday celebration...
The Old Man of the Mountain comes before me, kneels on one knee, and meets my gaze.
"I bless your birth, contractor."
"....."
`You don't know what's wrong? Just your very existence is the problem. Because of you, half the class atmosphere is shit.`
`Who asked for your help!? I'm reporting you to the police. How dare you touch me like that! Just because you have a handsome face!? Because of you, everything's ruined!`
`Hey, let's be considerate. We came all this way, don't ruin the mood. You're such a hypocrite, you bastard. The senior said you were okay, so we brought you along, but just get lost. If you tell the others, you're dead then.`
`What's this, affinity rate is only this much? Another useless guy has arrived. Just send him to the ocean.`
`Playing the angel again? Our classmates are all demons, right? Just hit him a bit! Is that so hard!? Keep doing that alone, let's see if you don't change till the end.`
`Funeral? Maternal or paternal side? Maternal? You said they were fine recently. Where are you trying to skip out, you brat? No vacation. There's important training soon. No excuses, do it. Only you having a hard time?`
`Let's meet this Christmas? You know we're having a hard time, why say that. We're not kids anymore. What's so great about Christmas. Just buy something tasty and eat alone.`
Honestly... I didn't live that hard. I didn't live gloomily either. I just lived, experiencing conflicts anyone goes through, with occasional tough times. Broadly speaking, I lived ordinarily like everyone else. Got involved in many troublesome things... and because of that, I came to dislike stepping forward to help or getting entangled in bothersome matters.
As an adult, I couldn't act like a child anymore, and as an adult, I had to live solitary, so I lived alone. Just, that's all, a common story.
I'm not a good person. Not a bad guy either, just an ordinary human you might find anywhere. In a way, I'm a selfish guy.
Just a fool who lived upholding some pointless principles.
I wasn't at an age to receive birthday celebrations.
When was the last time I received birthday wishes? Probably in middle school.
At some point, I didn't need to receive them, and didn't think about receiving them. But...
Why is this? This overwhelming emotion...
"Really... don't make people emotional..."
Now... I, I'm really loved beyond what I deserve.