Izumi Chihiro touched his cheek, his expression a little surprised.
"Why are you so shocked?! Don't forget, you're my chosen fiancé. This action isn't that strange, is it?"
Yamada Elf said with dissatisfaction.
But as she spoke, she was actually full of guilt.
"It's still a kiss, after all. Shouldn't my failure to react be a normal response? And about the fiancé thing, it's not even a remote possibility yet, and you've decided it on your own?"
He suddenly laughed.
"There's no need to question something like this, because you'll eventually be captivated by this young lady's charm!"
Yamada Elf was full of confidence, a smile playing on her lips.
"Is that so? Then I'm somewhat looking forward to it."
Izumi Chihiro's tone softened inexplicably, his gaze fixed on her.
This made Yamada Elf blush.
"What's with that look?"
She couldn't take it anymore and averted her gaze.
"Alright, we've been outside for a long time. The weather is getting colder and colder, it's time to go back."
Izumi Chihiro looked up at the sky and called out.
"Wait, I still have something to tell you."
Yamada Elf stopped him.
"Elf, you have so many things."
He grumbled as he turned around.
"Actually, it's nothing much, it's just that I have to go home for a while, so I'm letting you know."
Yamada Elf pouted.
"So, Elf, you'll also be absent from the upcoming events?"
Izumi Chihiro understood.
"That's right! You'd definitely be lonely if I wasn't there, wouldn't you?!"
Yamada Elf put on a boastful smile.
"Not at all."
He said indifferently.
"Oh, you said 'also'. Did anyone else take time off?"
Yamada Elf completely ignored his feigned indifference.
"Muramasa."
"That woman would give up such an opportunity? She's probably never been to a place like that before, and with you of all people."
"Because that day is her mother's death anniversary, so she has to stay in the countryside for those few days."
Izumi Chihiro explained.
This was the message Muramasa had sent him via phone when he invited her earlier.
"I see."
Yamada Elf nodded in understanding.
The conversation was about to end.
"Well, see you later then."
As snowflakes drifted down, Elf skipped back to her own fence, smiling and waving goodbye.
The next day, he woke up.
"Wow, it's snowing! It's so beautiful!"
Sagiri crawled out of her warm bed, looking at the traces of white snow outside the window, and exclaimed.
Although the snow hadn't accumulated to a great depth, for a girl who had never seen a snowy landscape before, it was still something special.
"I have to tell Ni-san!"
She thought about sharing this information with her brother, so she ran downstairs wearing the pink cotton pajamas she had bought some time ago.
"Ni-san, it's snowing."
Knocking on the door, Sagiri delightedly pulled him to look out the window.
"Is it? It's snowing, really!"
Izumi Chihiro pretended to be oblivious, his gaze fixed on the window.
Sagiri's smile grew even wider.
This was the joy of sharing.
During breakfast, Mashiro came out of her room, having changed into Pikachu-like pajamas, her flowing golden hair blending in with the cuteness of her outfit.
"Kawaii! Ni-san, I want to buy a set of those pajamas too!"
Sagiri's eyes lit up.
"Not bad, Mashiro, you're able to change pajamas based on comfort now."
His focus was completely different from his sister's.
"Pika Pika~"
Mashiro tilted her head, as if deep in thought, then made two sounds.
"What are you doing? I don't remember having such a big pet."
Izumi Chihiro's mouth twitched.
"Cosplay, it's fun."
Mashiro replied.
She had tried it yesterday and felt like she was addicted.
"Even if you cosplay, you won't be able to understand the thoughts of the character you're cosplaying."
Izumi Chihiro saw through her thoughts.
"Is that not allowed?"
Mashiro's eyes flickered, and she actually asked seriously.
"It's not."
He also responded seriously.
Mashiro sat down beside him as if nothing had happened.
"Is Santa Claus fake too?"
"Of course he's fake."
"Oh."
...
A few more days passed.
It was the agreed-upon day, the start of Winter Comiket.
After Izumi Chihiro woke up, he checked his phone.
Kani Nayuta had sent him a message.
[Senpai, should I go or not?]
"Why do you ask that? Because of Eriri?"
"Mm."
"There's no need for that. Just be yourself."
Kani Nayuta thought about it, and it seemed to be true.
She wasn't the main wife or anything, just an outdated childhood friend.
With that thought, the inexplicable tension that had risen earlier disappeared.
Now, she was her Senior's secret girlfriend, so she didn't need to worry about anyone else threatening her position, not even Eriri!
...
Meanwhile.
After Yamada Elf returned to England, she faced a trial.
Outside the luxurious villa, a mature woman, somewhat similar to Yamada Elf, stepped out of a black car.
Madam Granger, wearing sunglasses that concealed her eyes, slowly walked into the villa.
"Mother, long time no see, Merry Christmas!"
Yamada Elf showed no restraint, greeting her very lively.
Madam Granger took off her sunglasses, her expression stern as she said, "Elmi has already told me. You've decided on your fiancé."
"That's right! He's a very excellent boy. I feel like if I'm with him, my future life won't be boring."
Yamada Elf reached out, her eyes sparkling with an inexplicable light when she spoke of him.
"Give up. I will choose your fiancé for you."
Madam Granger shattered her fantasy.
"...No!"
Yamada Elf's expression froze, then became serious.
She rejected her mother for the first time.
Because.
"This is something I must decide for myself!"
"That boy is very popular, isn't he? There are so many girls around him, the one from Shiina, and the one from Spenser. They're even childhood friends... You can't compete with them."
Madam Granger calmly advised.
Before this, she had learned about these relationships through Elmi. Although she hadn't heard from the person himself, she imagined he must indeed be an excellent boy, otherwise he wouldn't attract so many outstanding girls.
His taste was commendable, but trying to get involved would only lead to heartbreak.
"Don't underestimate your daughter's charm! Whether it's Eriri, Mashiro, or anyone else... I won't lose!"
Yamada Elf declared emphatically.
"You child, why won't you listen to advice?"
Madam Granger was a little angry.
"I'm sorry, Mother, but on this one point, I will not yield!"
Yamada Elf said with a stern face.
"You... think about it carefully! I'll come again tomorrow."
Madam Granger, fuming, stormed off.
Over the next few days, the mother and daughter had several more 'cordial' conversations, but they never lasted more than a few minutes before one of them angrily left, and the two fell into an atmosphere of cold war.
---
💯 PS = 2 bonus chapter