6 - Freshman Year, Winter 1

It’s December now. My plans to avoid my death flags continue going smoothly. There have been no catastrophic consequences of my becoming friends with Serena rather than completely independent of her. There have been no signs of war so far.

Sergius’ coup doesn’t worry me, as I’m still holding his reins.

It’s Christmas today, too. Back on Earth, this was a Christian holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, but it still exists in this fantasy world despite having no equivalent religion here. Was this really okay?

Though to be fair, the name may be the same but the mythology behind it is quite different; in this world, Christmas is a festival for lovers. The story goes that there was a great king from ancient times who gave his wife a beautiful white Gracia flower on this day, her birthday, every year without fail. It still doesn’t explain the Santa Claus imagery, but you know what, forget about it.

Today Serena was supposed to go on a date with the character she had raised the most affection flags with. And from here on out, she will be locked onto that character’s route rather than the common events so far.

In line with that, I forced a reluctant Sergius back to his home country for the holidays, to prevent his route. I’ve also ensured that everyone but Arthur is busy with something on this day, to prevent the Reverse Harem route.

If Serena ends up on Arthur’s route, I’ll escape my fate at the May Ball he’ll be hosting next year. I’m not bullying Serena, after all, so he’ll never have reason to abandon it to protect her. Moreover, since she and I are such good friends, I’m not going to be executed.

As expected of a perfect person like me.

“Eli, let’s go out and have some fun today!” Eli cried.

“Huh?” I asked.

Serena is here. Weird, she should have been going on a date with Arthur at this point.

Eventually, I decided to go out with Serena this Christmas. The first place we visited was the Christmas Market at the royal capital.

“Hey, Serena,” I say, pointing to a display of Santa costumes, “want to try wearing one of those?”

“Eh? But those are so embarrassing,” Serena replied.

“I’m sure you’ll manage,” I said.

“Fine, if you really want me to try it on, I’ll try it on,” Serena says.

We head into the shop, Serena took a set with her to the changing room. “How’s it look?” she asked as she stepped out, now dressed in a Miniskirt Santa outfit.

Oh, she might just be the cutest thing in the universe. “Excuse me, I’d like to buy something!” I called out immediately—I needed to have a memento to help preserve this in my mind.

“Hey, what’s gotten into you, Eli?” Serena asked.

“There’s barely any cuteness left in the world,” I replied.

“If it’s this big a deal to you, Eli, you should wear one too,” Serena said.

Wah, should have seen that coming.

“Don’t try to get out of this,” Serena said. “If I can wear it, you can, too.”

I ended up becoming a second Miniskirt Santa. “Well?” I asked as I stepped out of the room.

“You’re cute, Eli!” Serena cried. “ Super cute! Excuse me, I’d like to buy something as well!”

“Going for the matching couple look?” Yoshie asked.

“Don’t call us a couple, Yoshie,” I grumble. I stop as I notice she’s here and dressed as a reindeer. “… Yoshie?!”

“Shi, what are you doing here?” Serena asked.

“I’m helping out the minor nobles with their businesses,” Yoshie explained.

“Because it’s Christmas?” Serena asks.

“No, I hate Christmas,” Yoshie replied. “So, two Miniskirt Santa costumes?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Thank you for your patronage,” Yoshie said.

We said goodbye to her and headed for another spot.

“Hey, Elie, why don’t we exchange gifts?” Serena said out of nowhere.

“But I don’t have a present for you,” I said. I thought she was spending it with Arthur and I had planned on spending mine alone.

“So why don’t we go look around for something for an hour, meet back up, and do it then?” Serena asks.

“That sounds fun, let’s do it,” I say.

“Then see you under that tree over there in an hour?” Severa asked, pointing.

“See you there in an hour,” I reply.

Thus, my gift hunting began.

I’m worried about what I’m going to get her; up until now, I’ve only ever had to send presents to Arthur because he was my fiance. However, those were all formal, courtesy presents, and now I was getting something for my dear friend, Serena.

I can’t mess this up.

“Did you get anything, Eli?” Serena asks after the hour is up, we return underneath the tree.

“I did, and it’s perfect,” I said.

Speaking of meeting underneath trees, the legend goes that confessing underneath a Christmas tree will ensure that love is true. In MaSLo, Serena would be confessing to her capture target by giving them Gracia flowers. Now, I’m the only one here and Serena doesn’t like me in that way, but this is fine; if we keep going like this, she won’t enter any routes and put my life at risk.

“Want to exchange now?” Serena asks.

“Yes,” I said as I prepare my gift-wrapped package.

Severa stops, pulls out her own, then we both laugh.

“Eli–” “Serena–”

“–We had the same idea,” we finish together, holding our identical packages together.

“Eli, can I look inside now?”

“Of course, can I?”

“Yes,” Serena replied.

We pull out two identical pendants with the same Gracia flower pattern, a standard Christmas gift in this world.

“We match,” Serena said. “It’s perfect for us.”

“It is,” I said.

Severa suddenly hugged me. “Eli, I love you.”

I hug her back, and say, “I love you too.”

Serena giggles as we pull away. I was so happy I can’t help but laugh with her.

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I forgot to mention, in this world’s Flower Language, Gracia flowers are for “swearing eternal love.”