Christmas

December 24, 2013

It's been a few days since he started working in Chiba Academy.

So far, the students aren't bad as Kazuya said. Sure they were naughty and sometimes played pranks on him or even gang up on him in a closed space but other than that, there was no actual harm done.

He thought that it's probably because of their sheltered nature.

"It's Christmas Eve." He looked at the sky while muttering. He didn't expect that his stay here would actually be close to one of the biggest holidays of the year.

Christmas.

He's not gonna lie. He may have been accustomed to this world in his stay here but he still feels a little sad that he can't go back anymore.

"Should I visit Kazuya-san?" Although it's not been a long time yet, paying him a visit should be no problem.

"But Christmas huh?" He looked at his palm and muttered.

It's kind of bizarre when he thinks about it. He was just studying back then and now? He's on another world with a weird body that will be destroyed sooner or later by aliens.

Worst of all is that he knows all this yet can't stop it.

"Hey!" Turning his head, he saw the familiar figure of Kiana waving at him.

"Finally! Took you long enough." He stood up.

"Hmph, let's go visit Mei-senpai." Kiana ignored what he said.

Daniel shrugged and agreed.

Leaving the place, they walked together in silence. 

Usually, they would at least argue about one of the most pointless things in the world.

But for now? 

"Snow huh?" Daniel muttered as he looked around. This brings back memories.

"Is it your first time seeing snow?" Kiana asked curiously.

"No. Though, it's my first time seeing them with someone else, aside from that time." He said the last part with a low voice.

Although he said it in a low voice, Kiana, with the blood of Kaslana flowing within her veins, heard it loud and clear.

Kiana just slowly nodded her head and followed him

—

"Ahhhh, that was amazing!" A purple haired girl with bandages in her arms exclaimed.

"Kyuusyou-san. Please mind your manners." A girl with twin tailed hair said.

"Ehhh? But Homu is the best, Bronya," The girl named Kyuusyou replied.

"Kyuusyou-san is right about that." Bronya nodded. Hearing the word Homu, she didn't continue any further.

They were walking on the street after finishing at an arcade. Since it's Christmas Eve, the two of them planned on just enjoying the day before Christmas happened.

Bronya just got into Nagazora City a few days ago and met her roommate Kyuusyou Houraiji the same day.

She was… odd. She's hyperactive and noisy. Despite this, there are times where she was caught off guard by her acts.

As they were walking, Kyuusyou started ranting about the new Homu merch that she didn't manage to get due to it being sold off immediately.

Bronya didn't show any expression but deep inside, she was also in pain because she knows what Kyuusyou is talking about.

While listening, Bronya noticed two people staring at a glass panel. 

It's a claw machine.

Usually, she wouldn't care about what some people are doing but for them, it's different.

They are the two people acquainted with her target, Raiden Mei.

That's right, Bronya is an Anti-Entropy agent sent by her mother Cocolia to monitor Raiden Mei.

After the case of Raiden Ryoma, she moved into the city to observe his daughter and the people around her.

Kiana Kaslana and Daniel.

Although it's not been for very long, these two are the ones accompanying Raiden Mei currently.

"Bronya?" Seeing her dazed look, Kyuusyou followed Bronya's gaze and saw the same two people staring at a claw machine.

Curious, she walked towards their direction to see what they were staring at.

As she was coming closer, she heard the man speaking. 

"You idiot Tuna. Since you want it, why didn't you bring some money?" He asked with annoyance.

"How would I know that it'll be here?!" The white haired girl retorted angrily.

Looking at the claw machine, Kyuusyou saw something that almost made her jaw drop.

It was the Homu merch that was supposed to be sold off!

How?!

"Muu, hey Daniel. Lend me some money, please?" Kiana turned around and did the puppy eyes trick.

Daniel looked at her for a while before saying…

"No." 

Kiana immediately grabbed his leg and started shaking it.

"Please Daniel! Pleaasssseeeeee!" And Kiana started making a scene.

"Homu!" Kyuusyou turned to see Bronya intently looking at the Homu doll in the claw machine.

Not hesitating further, she immediately walked forward with the intent of claiming the Homu for herself.

As Kiana was still shaking Daniel's leg, she didn't notice the small figure approaching them.

"Excuse me. Da Bronya wants to use the machine next." Turning her head, she saw a gray haired girl tied into twin tails staring at her.

"Huh? What are you doing shorty?" Kiana asked, annoyed. She's already having a hard time begging this guy and now a kid wants to steal her Homu?

And her face is annoying her for some reason.

Bronya's eyes twitched after hearing that. This idiot looking girl called her short….

"Woah, woah! Bronya, calm down." Kyuusyou put herself between them. 

"The Bronya is calm." She took a deep breath and replied.

Kiana didn't pay attention to her anymore and started shaking Daniel even more vigorously.

She can see that this little girl wants her Homu. 

"Daniel, if you do, I'll do whatever you want after!" Kiana shouted.

Now that got Daniel's attention. It would really be useful once they are in a tough situation. 

He can just say the bet and make her for example, call for help and not be a stubborn kid.

"Deal." 

"Hmph, what kind of request do you want, pervert?" Kiana muttered and stood up.

Daniel glared at her after hearing that. 

He gave her the money and watched her go to the claw machine.

"Wait." As Kiana was about to put the coin inside, she heard the little girl's voice.

"Bronya has a reques.."

"Denied." Kiana didn't even need to hear it and refused.

Bronya clenched her fist hearing that. She really wanted to summon Project Bunny and blast this girl away.

Unfortunately, since she's on a spy mission, she can't reveal too much or else she'll attract unwanted attention.

'But Homu…'

"Are you really sure you can get it?" Having no choice, Bronya started using psychological tactics instead.

"Huh?" Kiana paused hearing that and looked at her.

"Does Subject Kiana have the confidence to get it?." Bronya continued. She heard her name was Kiana from that man's mouth so it won't be suspicious when she's saying it.

"I-I…" Kiana stuttered. She has a point.

Hearing this, Daniel rolled his eyes and took the coin from Kiana's hand. Putting it on the machine, he easily grabbed the Homu doll under Bronya and Kyuusyou's shocked gaze before giving it to Kiana.

"There, let's go. Mei is waiting for us." He grabbed her arm and walked away.

Seeing this, Bronya looked at the leaving figure of the two, and the claw machine before back at them again.

"Kyuusyou…." Not even addressing her companion with formality anymore. Bronya went to her knees and looked at the sky in despair.

Kyuusyou quickly supported and comforted her. Anyway, she also likes Homu but it's not on the level of Bronya so she wasn't that affected.

Of course, there is another reason.

Looking at Daniel and Kiana who was excitedly looking at her Homu doll, Kyuusyou sighed before a smile appeared on her lips.

—

"The fuck?" Daniel exclaimed while looking at the huge mansion in front of them.

"So this is where Mei-senpai lives." Kiana looked around while holding her Homu doll. 

"Live? What do people do in a house this big?" This estate is as large as Chiba Academy.

Kiana didn't know what to say and just pushed the doorbell.

*Ring* 

After a few seconds, the smaller gate opened, revealing Raiden Mei who's wearing a purple winter jacket.

"You're both here. Come inside please." Raiden Mei beamed up seeing them and quickly invited.

Kiana and Daniel shrugged before excusing themselves and entered the household.

It's Christmas Eve, Daniel is just planning on enjoying this day while avoiding trouble.

—

"Is there something wrong, Bronya?" A buxom blonde woman asked the child beside her. 

"Nyet, Matsuhka." Bronya shook her head. 

The blonde woman's mouth twitched hearing that. 

It would've been believable if Bronya wasn't staring at nothing for almost an hour now.

After Daniel and Kiana left, Bronya and Kyuusyou went their separate ways which ended the former going there.

To her mother Cocolia's side. 

Cocolia didn't ask further. This is the first time they are spending Christmas away from the orphanage and away from her sisters.

"Matsuhka, when are we going to proceed?" 

"Oh? It's Christmas Eve. You should relax." Cocolia shook her head.

Bronya didn't reply and just continued to stare at nothing.

"Bronya, is it because of Seele?" 

"...Da." 

"Don't worry, we'll save her soon." Cocolia patted her daughter's head.

Bronya just leaned on her mother's touch and closed her eyes.

'Wait for me, Xi'er.' 

—

"Hmmm… this goes like this?" Raiden Mei muttered while pinching some salt.

They were currently in the kitchen trying to cook something. After they entered her house, she was about to offer that they should just order some food but with Kiana's persuasion and Daniel's reluctance of spending money, they ended up here.

Cooking their own food.

"When are we going to eat?" Kiana muttered while looking at the ingredients.

Raiden Mei's face flushed after hearing that. She didn't know how to cook and it's her first time doing so.

"Is food all you think about? Maybe we should help her." Daniel said before rolling his sleeves.

"Really? Then I'll help!" Instead of getting angry, Kiana gave an enthusiastic nod which caught both of them in surprise.

'Huh, maybe she's more useful than I thought.' He looked at her for a moment. Seeing her head, for some reason, he wanted to pet her.

"What are you looking at?" Kiana noticed

his look and asked.

"Nothing," Daniel shook his head and gestured to the kitchen, "How will you do it then?"

For some reason, something tells him this is a bad idea. 

Meh, he's probably just overthinking it.

Raiden Mei on the side looks curiously at Kiana. She didn't think that she's the type to cook.

"Hmph, when I was living alone. I also learned how to cook. My dad taught me before." Kiana boasted.

Hearing that, Daniel's suspicion lessened. Right, with how much this girl eats, she should at least know how to cook her own meals.

"What's the dish we're going to make?" 

Raiden Mei took a look from the cookbook and said, "Let's start with something simple. I guess apple pie?" 

Daniel nodded at this. He also wants to eat some desserts.

Kiana twirled the ladle in her hand and pointed to herself with a smile.

'Maybe this isn't so bad.' 

—

"It's worse…" Daniel looked at the kitchen with a speechless expression.

He looked at Kiana who was looking down on the ground after making a mess.

At first, they really thought that Kiana knows how to cook but then…

She started putting weird things together!

One tablespoon of sugar became the entire sugar. The apples haven't been sliced up and the flour didn't even have water.

The fire almost burned the entire kitchen too.

Seriously? How did this girl survive with this kind of instinct?

"Never cook again Kiana." He said with utter seriousness.

Kiana looked down with guilt after hearing that. 

"But my dad did the same…." She muttered quietly.

"Stop it Daniel. She didn't mean it." Mei came to Kiana's side and defended her.

"Mei-senpai!" Kiana immediately hugged her and buried her face to her chest. She was touched. 

As expected, only her beloved Mei would never scold her.

"Kiana-chan!" Mei blushed at the intimate contact and quickly tried to pry her off.

Daniel just sighed, "So what now? We won't have anything to eat if this continues." 

"Maybe we could order now?" Mei suggested while still trying to pry the snuggling Kiana off her.

"That won't work," Daniel shook his head, "If we do that, then we don't know if it'll get here before Christmas." He looked at the clock.

It's 10 pm.

"Let's cook. I'll do it this time. Help me Mei." Daniel suggested.

"You can cook?" Kiana asked with doubt. How can this guy cook and not her?

"I'm not that good but I can make some decent meals." Daniel wasn't offended and explained. 

"Now let go of her so we can start."

Kiana slowly removed her arms and sat down properly. Her stomach is arguing with her desire to hug Mei more.

It won for now.

Picking up the cookbook. Daniel started listing out the ingredients which were quickly gathered by Mei.

Seeing this, Daniel started preparing the dish while reading the book.

—

"Woah!" Kiana looked at dishes in front of her

There are some delicacies that she has never seen before.

"You really outdid yourself Mei." Daniel on the side, commented.

At first, he was indeed the one cooking, but after some time, Mei got the hang of it and started cooking herself.

It got to the point where they almost lost track of time and it's only a few minutes away before Christmas.

"Hahaha, I don't think so." Raiden Mei looked at the dishes with pride. 

She can't believe she did this. As if she was possessed.

"Hey, let's eat!" Hearing Kiana, Raiden Mei snapped out from her thoughts and quickly prepared the table followed by Daniel.

"""Thanks for the food!"""

—

"Looks like my baby doll is having fun." Looking at the three of them with binoculars, Siegfried fondly remembered the memories he had when he and Kiana were still together.

It was also snowing back then.

"There's still no sign of that boy being dangerous." He scratched his head. It's not like he's hoping or anything. From the looks of it, he and her daughter are very close.

He just didn't want anything interfering if possible. That includes whatever that boy is.

"If your mom is seeing this. I'm sure she'll be happy."