Chapter 99.4 - SS 4


    SS 4. [Merry Christmas]


    I was invited as a guest for the Angu Ogu Christmas Livestream, but


    <<So that''s what Christmas is like in Japan, huh? In America, ham and mashed potatoes are the ssics. We leave a letter, milk, and cookies as a thank-you to Santa.>>


    <<Oh, I see.>>


    <<On that day, it''s the children''s job to wake up their parents. And under the tree, there are lots of presents. We tear the wrapping paper eagerly.>>


    <<It''s like Christmas straight out of a movie, huh?>>


    <<Hahaha! In Japan, I guess they carefully unwrap each present, right? By the time they finish opening them, Christmas is over!>>


    <<That''s a good joke! Hahaha! Or not!?>>


    What''s with this American joke?


    Don''t involve me in weird things! And besides


    <<Ogu, let''s stop here.>>


    <<Don''t say that, Iroha. It must be lonely for you.>>


    <<Oh no! This guy is getting annoying! You''re drinking alcohol??>>


    <<That''s not true, you know.>>


    She can''t even speak properly.


    Oh well, she''s drunk. She shouldn''t have overdone it since she''s not used to drinking.


    <<Ogu, you''ve had too much to drink. You should drink moderately, it''s harmful to your body.>>


    <<Because, you know! Hyeeee,>>


    Now she''s crying her eyes out!


    Angu Ogu cries out in a sobbing voice.


    <<But, but~! I''m so saaaad! It''s Christmas today, but I''m all alone and lonely. I wanted to feel closer to Iroha, so I went to the trouble of preparing Champagne. Isn''t it okay to have a little? Beeeeeeen!>>


    <<Ogu, you were thinking that huh?>>


    >Hmmm!


    >Oh, so Champagne is that kind of alcohol. (U.S.)


    >Ogu, don''t cry! (U.S.)


    <<Wait a minute, Ogu. Are you drinking Champagne?>>


    <<Huh? Y-Yes. In Japan, you drink this sweet sparkling wine, right? I can only get it in Japan, so I went through the trouble of ordering it. Wait, is it not okay to drink it?>>


    <<Sigh.>>


    <<W-What''s wrong?>>


    I let out a sigh at that moment.


    <<What the hell?>>


    I let out a sigh.


    It was grand.


    <<Ogu, let me tell you one thing. "Champagne" isn''t alcohol!>>


    <<???>>


    <<It''s juice! It doesn''t have any alcohol in it!>>


    <<Wha-wha-wha-!?>>


    >OMG


    >Wow, that''s embarrassing! (U.S.)


    >I didn''t realize it while she was drunk, but some people pointed it out in the chats. LOL (U.S.)


    <<No, no, no!? But everyone in Japan drinks it. That''s what Ah-nee said!>>


    <<Well, children>>


    <<Um, well, in that case, umm>>


    <<By the way, why were you so drunk, Ogu?>>


    <<Don''t tell me to stoppplll!?>>


    <<Could it be that you got so drunk just from the atmosphere? Hehe, you''re such a child, aren''t you? And you were getting all clingy and crying while sober.>>


    <<Nooo!?>>


    >Stop it! LOL (U.S.)


    >Ogu''s life gauge has been at zero for a while now!


    >Confirmed clip material LOL (U.S.)


    <<Th-this is. Yes! It''s because the eggnog had brandy in it! That''s why!>>


    >Your excuses are getting desperate LOL (U.S.)


    >Isn''t eggnog a drink made with eggs, milk, and cinnamon? I heard people drink it during Christmas in America.


    <<I see. So it was because of the eggnog. So, where is it?>>


    <<Aaaah. To-to-that''s all for today''s stream! "Rest in peaceeee!".>>


    >Rest in peace (U.S.)


    >Can you rest in peace after this? (U.S.)


    >She ran away LOL


    Angu Ogu''s Christmas became filled with embarrassment.


    But, I think.


    It''s much better than sadness.


    ***


    Late at night on that day,


    As the date changed and Christmas Day arrived,


    I was enveloped in drowsiness, gazing at the snow falling outside the window when suddenly, "Bam! Crash!".


    What a noisy sound!


    I jolted awake, hastily pulling the nket over me.


    "Phew, thank goodness Iroha-chan isn''t awake!"


    But I was wide awake!?


    However, I couldn''t just act like I wasn''t awake.


    After all, the noise source had somehow infiltrated the room, and it was none other than Ah-nee, who was now dressed up as Santa us.


    "Phew, that was close. Even though Iroha Mama asked me to y Santa today because I couldn''t go home, I almost messed up."


    Mom, seriously! It''s a casting mistake!


    Ah-nee is unsuited for covert operations!


    ".Iroha-chan."


    Suddenly, she spoke to me gently, and my heart skipped a beat.


    Did she somehow realize that I was awake? But no, it was different.


    "I know deep down, Iroha-chan is a kind child."


    Ah-nee gently stroked my head.


    Why is that? Without thinking, I almost said, ""


    "Maybe there will be difficult times ahead. Iroha-chan has a special power, so you might be expected to act ordingly. But don''t forget,"


    []


    "Just remember what you truly like.'' As long as you don''t forget that, everything will be alright. With your abilities, Iroha-chan, you can ovee any challenge."


    Perhaps she noticed that I was awake?


    Hey, Ah-nee. I am


    "Wait a minute! Wasn''t I super cool just now?! I was saying something that sounded right, but it felt like I knew everything!"


    You''ve ruined it!


    I cried in a different sense. Return the emotion!


    ***


    The next morning, I sat absentmindedly on the bed.


    After that, Ah-nee enjoyed ying make-believe and continued saying those lines.


    It was so noisy that I couldn''t sleep at all!


    And I was waiting for when she would finally leave after leaving the presents.


    I stared down at the floor,pletely absorbed.


    There, I saw


    "Snoring Zzz"


    "Hey!"


    Ah-nee in Santa costume was sprawled on her back, belly exposed, and fast asleep.


    That''s aplete disaster!


    This is a story from before Iroha entered middle school.


    Just an ordinary moment from Iroha''s everyday life.