2018 Christmas Recollections

## Christmas Eve Planning

 Oh, you came at such a great timing. おお、君たちいいところに来たな

 Did Taints appear again or something? また侵蝕者でも現れたのか

 There are no Taints... But it's an important task I can entrust only to you. 侵蝕者ではない……が、これは君たちにしか頼めない重要な任務となるだろう

 Something only us can do? What is it... 僕たちにしかできない?　それって……

 Well, let's leave the details later. First of all, please do dress up in these and don't say a word. まあ細かいことは後だ。まずは何も言わずにこれを着てくれ

*Masamune Hakuchou is wearing a reindeer outfit, while Takamura Koutarou is dressed up as green Santa Claus...*

 What on earth is this? これは一体、何の真似だ

 You see, actually I thought to ask Aka and Ao do this.
But it turns out that by mistake there got delivered huge-sized things.
If we would place an order once more, they wouldn't arrive on time for Christmas. 実はな、アカとアオにこの役を頼もうと思っていたんだが
どうやら、手違いで大きいサイズのものが届いてしまってな
今からもう一度頼むとなると、クリスマスには間に合わんのだ

 So because of the size of those things, you could only ask us... Right? それでサイズからして僕たちにしか頼めない、と

 Yeah, in those outfits, I want you to distribute the presents we've prepared for the kids visiting the library on Christmas Eve. ああ、その格好でクリスマスの日にこの図書館へ来てくれる子供たちに
用意してあるプレゼントを配ってほしい

 Hmph, and I was wondering what this all was about. This is ridiculous. I shall withdraw from this task. ふん、何かと思えば……くだらん。俺は辞退させてもらうぞ

 Wait a moment, Hakuchou-san. Are you really okay with making the children sad? ちょっと待って白鳥さん、子供たちが悲しんでもいいの?

 You can do it all alone. お前ひとりがやればいいだろ

 There's a good reason for a reindeer to come with the Santa.
Besides, if the children will come to like the library, they might read the books we've been protecting. サンタといっしょに、トナカイがやってくるということに意味があるんだよ
それに、図書館を好きになってくれたら、僕たちが守った本を読んでくれるかも

 That might be so, but there are also other ways to make them like books, right? そうかもしれないが、本を好きになってもらうなら他にも方法はあるだろ

 It's true that there are other ways too. But if we're dealing with children, an exceptional event happening in this library on a special day like Christmas should become an unforgettable memory for them. 他にもあるのは確かだけど。相手が子供たちなら、クリスマスという特別な日に
この図書館で起こる特別な出来事は、忘れられない思い出になるはずだよ

 Hm... You beat me. If you so insist, I'll accompany you. However, don't expect anything from me. ふん……しかたないな。そこまでいうなら付き合ってやる。だが期待はするなよ

## Christmas Eve's Presents

 Thanks for the hard work, both of you. The kids were also delighted. ご苦労だったな二人とも。子供たちも喜んでいたぞ

 It's been a while since I was dressed as Santa, but still do love seeing children's smiling faces!
...The reindeer was also very popular. 久しぶりにサンタになったけどやっぱり子供たちの笑顔っていいな!
……トナカイも大人気だったね

 Hmph... I didn't do anything. Those kids just came swarming around me by themselves. ふん……俺は何もしていない。あいつらが勝手に集まってきただけだろう

 That makes me jealous. Probably because of my loud voice, the kids didn't approach me at all. 羨ましい限りだ。俺なんて声が大きいせいか、ちっとも寄って来なかったんだぞ

 In the end, Shuusei-san was the one who the children loved the most.  何だかんだで秋声さんが一番子供たちに好かれていたね

 Whatever. I'm leaving. どうでもいいね。俺は行くぞ

 Wait, I've got presents for you guys too. 待ってくれ、君たちにもプレゼントを用意してあるんだ

 This is... Just what I wanted! Fufu, I'm so glad.
I think with this I can put more enthusiasm into my sculpting than never before! これは……ちょうど欲しかったやつだ!　ふふ、嬉しいなぁ
これまで以上に彫刻に熱が入りそうですよ!

………………

 What's wrong, was it something you don't want? どうした、いらないものだったか?

 No, I just don't know how to react during moments like these. いや、こういう時にどう対応したらいいかわからない

 You don't have to worry like that. There's the word that the children said you today, right? そんなに悩まなくても、今日、たくさんの子供たちに言われた言葉があるじゃない

 T-thanks... あ、ありがとう……

## After Christmas

 Good news, both of you.
Since Christmas, the amount of kids using the library has increased. 朗報があるぞ二人とも
クリスマスから図書館を利用する子供たちが増えたんだ

 Is that so? So it paid off to dress up as Santa and reindeer. そうですか、これでサンタとトナカイの恰好をした甲斐がありましたね

 Hm... Isn't that great. Excuse me then. ふん……良かったじゃないか。失礼する

 Ah, Hakuchou-san. Where are you going? あ、白鳥さん。どこに行くの?

 I'm just going to return the book I borrowed. 借りた本を図書館へ返しに行くだけだ

 Hey, wait right there. There hasn't passed too many days since Christmas.
If you go there now, the kids will find out you were the reindeer, wouldn't they? おいおい、クリスマスからそんなに日も経っていないから
今行くとトナカイってことがばれるんじゃないか?

 Where I go is my business.
Besides, what does it even matter if they find out? 俺がどこへ行こうと勝手だろ
それにばれたところでどうだというのだ

\*leaves\*

 Did he really go... I hope there won't be bad consequences. 行ってしまったか……何もなければいいが

 Did Hakuchou-san get curious about the children and go see them by any chance...? 白鳥さん、もしかして子供たちが気になって見に行ったんですかね……?

 ...I assume he also must have his eyes fixed on the future. Well then, I guess I also shall get back to working. ……彼も未来を見据えているのだろう。さて、俺も仕事に戻るとするか