The Charm of the Popular Beautiful Succubus in Class Doesn't Work on Me ~ For Some Reason, This Beauty Keeps Trying to Hold My Hand ~ - 69

Chapter 69: Christmas Special Ss: The Magic of Christmas

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It was my first Christmas since entering high school. As the sky darkened, the city lights flickered to life, gradually transforming the familiar streets into an enchanting, dreamlike landscape. Couples walking arm in arm, fathers carrying their children on their shoulders, families holding boxes of cake… Everyone had a warm, happy smile on their face.

In the midst of it all, I, Kisara Sarashina, stood shivering against the biting wind, absentmindedly gazing at the clothes displayed in the shop window. I hated Christmas. It wasn’t that I wished Christmas would disappear or that Santa would vanish. It was just,  with this “ability” of mine, I couldn’t help but envy those who could simply enjoy Christmas like normal.

I knew I wouldn’t be able to spend Christmas together with someone I loved for the rest of my life. Thinking about that made everything feel meaningless. I had always been alone on Christmas and this year was no exception. My parents were away on an overseas business trip and had been gone for some time.

This morning, a package had arrived for me via international mail. I knew for sure it was a Christmas present, but I  didn’t feel like opening it, so it remained untouched on my desk. Even the friends I usually hung out with were out on dates today. One of them had told me she was going to see the Christmas lights in Odaiba and then stay over with her boyfriend.

I let out a white breath with a sigh. The reflection in the shop window was of the same “beautiful girl” as always, yet my face looked completely out of place in the festive atmosphere. The face of the “beautiful girl” in the window was clouded with gloom.

“Welcome!”

A lively voice suddenly reached my ears. It was such an out-of-place greeting that I instinctively turned toward the sound. There stood a small cake stall, tucked away in a less-than-ideal location. While the surrounding stores had long lines of customers, this one was completely deserted. Perhaps as a way to distract myself from my loneliness, I found myself approaching the stall.

“Ah, Merry Christmas! Would you like a cake?”

A boy who seemed to be working part-time called out to me. He was dressed in a Santa costume, a thick, fluffy fake beard covering his mouth. With the Santa hat and fake beard obscuring most of his face, I couldn’t tell what he looked like, but he was probably around my age. Working so hard in the cold, even going so far as to dress up as Santa… I couldn’t help but admire his effort. At the same time, the realization that not everyone spent Christmas with their significant other made me smile just a little.

“Then, I’ll take one shortcake.”

I spoke to the part-time worker and he responded.

“Ah, I did say ‘Would you like one?’, but you don’t have to stick to just one. How about getting one for your boyfriend too?”

His completely off-the-mark sales pitch made me burst into laughter.

“Fufu~ One is enough for me. I don’t have a boyfriend.”

Why was I even talking about this with some stranger? Still, there was something about his slightly awkward demeanor that I found kind of endearing. I wanted to keep talking to him, even if just for a little longer. I took a small step closer to him.

“And what about you? Working here on Christmas… Your girlfriend must be sad.”

I glanced up at him teasingly.

“You’re mean, Onee-san. Is this payback for what I said earlier?”

He laughed heartily. Well, that made sense. If he had a girlfriend, he wouldn’t be working here on Christmas. For some reason, I felt like I had found a kindred spirit, and my heart warmed just a little.

But… That fact was only true for this year only. There was a fundamental difference between him and me. He was normal. I was not. One day, he would find a girlfriend. One day, he would walk through these glowing lights, arm in arm with someone special. Just like the happy couples passing by now, with smiles full of love. That thought made the heavy, sinking feeling I had been trying to suppress rise up once more from the depths of my heart.

“…Watching happy people makes you jealous, doesn’t it?”

By the time I realized it, I had already blurted out something like that. Then, I snapped back to my senses. It was true that I had envied those who could spend Christmas like normal, but to seek other people’s agreement… To want someone to sympathize with me…

Was my heart really this clouded? A wave of self-loathing washed over me.

“I-It’s nothing,. Forget about it.” 

I said, hastily reaching into my wallet for money, but then, he said to me.

“I’m happy, you know.”

“Huh?”

His sudden words made me look up instinctively.

“Do you know why Santa Claus gives out presents?”

He asked, watching my expression carefully.

Why does Santa Claus give out presents…?

Now that he mentioned it, I had never really thought about it.

“…Why is that?”

Unable to come up with an answer, I tilted my head slightly in confusion. Seeing that, he cleared his throat with a confident air around him.

“There are various theories about its origins, but the most famous story is about a priest who, upon learning of a family so poor they had no choice but to sell their daughter, threw gold coins into their stockings from the fireplace to save them.”

That was the first time I had heard such a story. A priest who helped a poor family, huh… His words sank deep into my heart.

“…That’s a beautiful story.”

Saying that, I reflected on myself and lowered my gaze.

“Actually, until recently, I had been hospitalized for a long time due to a serious injury.”

His tone shifted from the playful one he had used earlier to a calm, composed voice.

“But strangely enough, it wasn’t all that hard for me. My family, my friends, my teachers, the nurses… So many people supported me.”

He gazed into the distance, speaking thoughtfully.

“That’s why I decided.. I’d be Santa this year.”

“…Be Santa?”

I didn’t quite understand what he meant, so I asked without thinking. No, but with that flawless cosplay, he had already become Santa, whether he liked it or not…

“Of course, the stars of Christmas are the children receiving presents. But for that to happen, there needs to be someone handing out the gifts and that person is Santa. So this year, as a way to repay the kindness I received during my hospitalization, I thought I’d dedicate myself to spreading happiness.”

He grinned brightly, adding.

 “Though, honestly, the only thing I can give out is this cake.”

“This tiny cake can bring smiles to couples, families, or even exhausted salarymen. And if I can repay a little kindness at the same time, that’s a win-win, don’t you think? That’s why…”

He took a breath before continuing.

“I’m happier than ever right now.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Giving happiness to others makes you happy… Seeing people smile brings him happiness… 

He acted to make others happy, and that, in turn, made him happy. And me? Had I done anything to find happiness? Today, I had only envied the people around me, despaired over my own misfortune, and made no effort to grasp happiness for myself. I should have known better… That just longing for happiness wouldn’t bring it to me. And yet, it took a complete stranger in a Santa suit to make me realize it… I still had a long way to go. I still had so much to learn.

I handed him the money and took the cake box he passed to me.

“Merry Christmas.”

His smile melted the ice in my heart. This was probably the first time in my life that these words had ever felt so warm. That’s how much kindness was packed into his “Merry Christmas.” Before I knew it, I let out a soft chuckle.

What a strange person.

One moment he was joking around, the next he was telling a serious story. And in the end, he filled the empty space in my heart.

Yeah… This year, I’ll just focus on receiving happiness. But… Maybe next Christmas… I hope I can be like him and give happiness to someone else too.

“Thank you, Red-Haired Santa Claus. Merry Christmas.”

Saying that, I left the store. The sound of my footsteps echoed as I walked back the way I came. Then, glancing at the shop window from earlier, I saw a reflection—of a “beautiful girl” smiling happily.

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