“No news from Shino, huh? Well, it isn’t likely that something would suddenly come up,” Masamichi muttered as he checked his phone while walking along the usual shopping street on his way home from his prep school.
It was pretty interesting for a specter to have a smartphone in the first place, and Masamichi was impressed by how proficient Shino was in using it.
Though its uses were mostly for business—communicating with clients and shopping online—according to Shino, many bargains could be found on the internet for old books and antiques.
He occasionally sent short messages to Masamichi, but they were mostly shopping instructions, and it was safe to say he couldn’t expect Shino to give him detailed information, like what time he’d be returning.
Even when he tells me to pick something up on my way home, he never explains anything. It’s just something like “two tomatoes, one bag of baby corn.”
Recalling such interactions with Shino, Masamichi giggled just as he reached a familiar pastry shop.
He could hear Christmas songs playing inside the automatic glass doors. Holiday music was also coming from the speakers attached to the streetlights outside, and they blended for a few seconds as he walked in front of the store. It sounded peculiar, with multiple festive songs mixing.
Everyone’s getting ready for Christmas. Shino said he already ordered a cake, so that’s one thing we don’t have to worry about.
He glanced back at the pastry shop and smiled.
Shino said that every Christmas, the previous Bougyoudou owners used to buy bucketfuls of fried chicken along with cakes that were too big.
He said he couldn’t understand humans when Masamichi showed interest in the part about the cakes but seemed to have decided to order one for him.
It was funny how he said to give up on the chicken. I wonder if he’s going to make something special. But, gee, he’s my master. I shouldn’t expect so much from him.
Despite chiding himself, he couldn’t help but feel lighthearted thinking about his first Christmas with Shino.
“…Oh.”
Masamichi walked as if on clouds, and eventually, he stopped in front of a specialty shop.
The show window was fascinating; it was full of select Christmas items from various manufacturers and a lovely Christmas tree.
We brought out a huge Christmas tree back home every year. It was the one my grandparents gave me as a present since I was sick and couldn’t play outside much.
Masamichi looked at the Christmas tree, which was decorated with beautiful lights and ornaments, and his heart was filled with nostalgia.
By the time he was in the third or fourth grade, he had already realized the truth from what his classmates said.
The presents placed at the base of the tree on Christmas morning were gifts from his parents and grandparents. Santa Claus didn’t really exist.
Christmas lost its sparkle after that, and Masamichi began treating the holiday with a frigid attitude. It became a day when the family had a bit of a feast, and after the holiday, the tree was put away in the storeroom, never to be brought out for display again.
I wonder if they’ve already thrown away that tree.
If only he could have been a child a little longer—one who honestly enjoyed Christmas and didn’t disappoint his parents and grandparents during the holidays.
With bitter regret, Masamichi felt a renewed desire to cherish Christmas with Shino. He wanted to feel innocent again, have fun, and enjoy the day with his master.
Cooking was Shino’s domain, so Masamichi figured he could at least buy a tree and decorate their little house.
He didn’t know if it would make Shino happy, but he could take it to his room if the specter didn’t like it.
It was probably quicker to show Shino the tree and ask him what he thought than to request permission to buy one, like a little kid.
I don’t want to use the allowance Shino gives me for something like this. How much do I have left from the part-time job I had before…? Hmm, yeah, it should be enough to buy a small tree.
Quickly checking the contents of his wallet, he put it back in his bag and then stepped inside the shop, his eyes sparkling like a child’s.
About ten minutes later—
—Masamichi came out of the store carrying a long and narrow cardboard box.
In it was the Christmas tree he had chosen after much consideration.
He hadn’t bought string lights, deciding it might be going overboard, but he had gotten several ornaments. It was far from a grand Christmas tree, but it should be suitable, even for a traditional, Showa-era Japanese house.
It’s gotten late. Shino said he wouldn’t be back until evening, so he probably hasn’t come home yet…but I should hurry. He said he’d pick up dinner, so the least I could do is draw a bath for him.
Masamichi hurried home, his cheeks already reddened by the cold north wind that had been blowing before night fell.
Shino said that neither hot nor cold weather affected a specter, but Masamichi thought it would be nice if his master could take a hot bath when he came home from a long trip on a chilly winter night.
After he passed through the small-scale downtown area by the train station and entered the residential area, the streets became sparsely populated.
It gradually became darker, and Masamichi noted how the atmosphere seemed to become drearier when the streetlights flickered on. As the smell of dinners wafted from the houses he passed, Masamichi’s stomach growled, and he continued walking at a brisk pace.
I’m hungry. I wonder what Shino’s going to pick up for dinner. He went to Kanazawa, so…maybe crab? No, that’s asking for too much. Oh, bento boxes will be cold, so perhaps he won’t get mad if I at least make some miso soup.
Because he was on the move, he no longer felt that cold. But he’d forgotten his gloves, so his hands were cold and numb as he carried the box that contained his tree.
Masamichi’s body bent forward slightly as he walked against the strong north wind. He suddenly came to a stop when he reached a small park near Bougyoudou.
Involuntarily.
It wasn’t a natural pause. It was like when someone was out walking their dog, and it suddenly took off, stretching the leash until they jerked to a stop.
By the laws of inertia, his precious box was thrown forward and clattered to the ground.
But Masamichi didn’t have the room to worry about it.
He realized then that he’d had to stop because someone had grabbed the hood of his coat.
Did it catch onto something…? That’s what must have happened…
It seemed unlikely that there were any structures nearby that could snag his clothes while he was simply walking down a paved residential street, but he wanted to believe that.
Without proceeding forward, Masamichi cautiously turned around, expecting to see his hood snagged on a tree branch. He jumped away as soon as he recognized what he saw.
It was an incredibly quick move for a guy who was usually slow and mild-mannered.
But that was no wonder.
He saw no tree branch.
A man stood before him, looking cool, with a hand raised slightly in an unnatural way… It was none other than that man he could never forget—Kagiroi.
“Wh-what…are you doing here…?!” Masamichi yelped.
He knew he had to run. But even if a human, especially a slow one like him, ran at full speed, the specter would easily catch up in no time.