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Chapter 77 – Christmas (2)

“Merry Christmas!”

Everyone in the room turned to look at me.
And aside from one person, all of them had surprised expressions frozen on their faces.

The location was a room in the elementary school dormitory next to Ootori Academy.

Since the second semester had already ended, the only children left here were those who had no place to return to for New Year’s.

Ootori Academy’s elementary division has about 100 students per grade on average, so the total number is quite large.
But only about 20% live in the dorms. 

And around the year-end and New Year holidays, most of them go back home. So during this period, less than 10% remain.

The old, wooden, two-story dormitory is divided into separate buildings for lower and upper grades. 

I had come to visit the lower grade dorm.
The number of kids left here was at most around twenty.

It was just around the time after dinner, when free time was about to begin. 

I had contacted the dorm supervisor in advance and asked them to have the children wait gathered in the dining hall like this.

“Merry—”

“M-Merry Christmas?”

Triggered by the response of that one exception, the rest of the children awkwardly echoed the same greeting.
Some even stood at attention and gave a deep formal bow.

Among them, the one who calmly began to move was the silver-haired girl who hadn’t been fazed by me.

She’s too smart for her own good, so I figured she had probably realized what was going on.

That’s why I also acted like I usually do.

“Thanks.”

“Good work.”

Exchanging brief greetings, I sat down on the chair that she—Yoshi-chan—had prepared for me.
Meanwhile, Shizu and a few of the maids who had come with me quickly began setting up what they had brought.
And in truth, this was the reason I had prepared the Santa dress—to become Santa Claus for these kids. It was the excuse I’d come up with in my own heart.
“Reiko-sama, may I ask what brings you here this evening?”
“I came to enjoy a Christmas party with everyone. Was I intruding?”
“N-not at all, of course not. Then, um, this food and, uh, these candies I’ve never seen before…?”
Micchan came running up to me to ask, which was convenient, since I could use our exchange to explain things to the others too.
In contrast, Teruo-kun, who had also come to stand by my side, remained silent as always.
Since Micchan had already asked the question, he probably thought there was no need for him to repeat it.
Being the quiet type, he never wastes words.

“Since it’s Christmas Eve, I thought I’d come eat together with everyone.”
The Ootori family takes decent care of the orphans and children without families they take in. Especially when it comes to food, clothing, and shelter—they’re very attentive.
At New Year’s, they even prepare not just osechi and ozouni, but also otoshidama.
But as expected, they don’t go so far as to provide Christmas cakes or throw parties.
That’s why I brought more than enough cakes, sweets, and juice.
And I had the same things delivered to all the students remaining in the school dormitories. So from the dorm building a little further away, I could even hear cheers and laughter.

“Why?”
Teruo-kun asked me as he watched the maids efficiently prepare the tables.
It was the kind of tone that implied he didn’t understand because it wasn’t rational.
He still had a long way to go before becoming a true silent-type character.
“I’m spending tonight alone at home, so I thought I’d come have fun with everyone.”
“But you have relatives in the family, don’t you, Ojousama?”
“The adults are all busy entertaining guests tonight, Teruo. Right, Ojousama?”

“Yoshi-chan’s right. This year, the adults are making a big deal out of Christmas too, and in the Ootori family, Christmas has always been more of an adult social affair.
Of course, Shizu and the others stay at the mansion, but I send home anyone who doesn’t live in, so the house is always quiet this time of year.
Besides, even if the adults were there, you can’t really throw a party with just old folks.”

“Then why didn’t you come last year?”
“…It just didn’t occur to me.”
I answered Yoshi-chan’s question honestly, but her usual cynical smile didn’t fade.
Her strangely pale-colored eyes were watching me with amusement.

On the other hand, Teruo-kun was still looking at me, a bit puzzled.
“You must have been terribly lonely last year,”
he said, his words slightly teasing and not quite like his usual tone.
But since there aren’t many people who talk to me like that, it felt more comforting than annoying.

So I pouted a little in response.
“That’s right. Money can’t fill the heart.”
“What a shame, despite having enough money to buy anything. …Well, I suppose it can’t be helped.
Alright everyone! Tonight, let’s make some noise for this unfortunate person!”

Yoshi-chan exaggeratedly called out to the group, but everyone, having been raised with strict manners and loyalty to the Ootori family, didn’t really know how to react.

“Understood.”
“H-huh?”
The immediate responses came from Teruo-kun’s flat voice and Micchan’s somewhat confused one. The rest were still exchanging glances, unsure of what to do.
Well, it was understandable—many of them weren’t in the same grade or class as me, so they were bound to be confused.

(Looks like I’ll have to speak up myself.)
I felt the distance between us and was just about to open my mouth.

And then it happened.
One by one, in small voices, they began to respond.
Seeing that, Yoshi-chan took the chance to stir things up even more.

“Hmmm? The Ojousama says she can’t hear you!”
“Yes, ma’am!!”

(Well, this is pretty normal for lower elementary school kids.)
Yoshi-chan, having taken it upon herself to act as instructor, turned her gaze to me. She was probably saying, “This much should be good enough, right?”
So I met her eyes briefly, then turned to the children with a smile.

“Tonight, it’s no-holds-barred! Anything goes except fighting and violence. Let’s make some noise! If anyone can’t, I’ll come over and give you a direct order!”
“Yes, ma’am!!”
“Good response! Alright then, let’s play a game—starting with bingo! I’ll explain how it works, and we’ve got Christmas presents ready for everyone in the order they get bingo!”

The bingo game used a type where you draw cards from a custom-made box I had requested.
Watching everyone’s happy faces, I felt like this year’s Christmas Eve was going to be a lively one.
And just as I’d expected, we let loose and had a great time.

But on Christmas Day, the very next day, I ended up paying for the fun—since I’d gotten too excited on Christmas Eve and barely slept, all the tasks I had to do were tough to get through.
School was on break for the holiday, but I had a packed schedule: greetings at various churches and Christian-related facilities we had donated to, attending ceremonies to hand out presents to underprivileged children, and more.
This was part of the Ootori family’s emphasis on churches and Christianity, even though we’re not a missionary organization. The other Ootori children were also visiting different locations that day.

Still, what crossed my exhausted mind after finishing everything was, “That’s it—I should start greenhouse-growing strawberries. Then we could have strawberries ready in time for Christmas cakes!”
It was practically a form of escapism.
After all, a Christmas cake without red strawberries does feel a bit lonely.

――――――――――――――――――――
Bingo
It was originally called “Beano.”
According to one theory, it changed to “Bingo” for the first time in America in 1929.
If that’s true, then once again, the protagonist here has jumped ahead of history.