#shunin blew his doubts away in an instant by saying his gift smelled as comforting as him when he was worried they'd be grossed out

[shunin-gumis]

(Not) Lonely SANTA's Mission - Track EP

Seasonal Event: Christmas 2024

Finally, the nagishuu chapter... If possible, do try to read the translation alongside the in-game chapter so see Nagi's expressions change in real time.

Location: HAMA House - Living Room

Tao: *sigh* I’m back… 

Nagi: Welcome back, Tao. Thank you for taking the time to help despite the cold outside.

Raito: Oh? Where’s Kuguri?

Tao: Don’t ask me. I left him behind.

Tao: I tried contacting him through the headset but got no response. We handed the present over to Murakumo-san with no problems, though, so rest assured.

Liguang: You must have been troubled, Kinouchi. But I appreciate it all the same.

Tao: I mean, he’s always like that.

Nagi: With this, we can finally say Mission Santa: Complete.

Nagi: I wouldn’t have been able to pull this off by myself. Please accept these bath bombs as a present from me.

Nagi: Tao, thank you for lending me your strength as part of Team Noel.

Tao: Ahaha, you’re welcome.

Nagi: Kuguri-san might not be here but… I’m happy he helped out too. I’ll make sure to give him his present later.

Nagi: Raito-san, you had to run around HAMA for my sake as part of Team Ginger, thank you for your help. HAMA Nice Ramen.

Raito: HAMA Nice Ramen, too! Feel free to call me anytime you need my help, or my cooking.

Liguang and Nagi: …… 

Liguang: (The night felt long, and yet it passed in the blink of an eye…)

Nagi: Liguang-san, about what you wrote on this card… 

Liguang: Hm?

Nagi: “No man is a failure who has friends.” I think I would’ve given up again if it weren’t for this.

Liguang: “Again?”

Nagi: I’m used to not having my wishes granted. That I’d dare wish for something beyond my reach… It’d only be natural that it would slip through my fingers. 

Liguang: Beyond your reach, huh… 

Nagi: I was lucky to have you advise me. Having such admirable people who’d lend me a hand is the best gift of all.

Nagi: Since you helped me out yet again, I’ll redouble my efforts to repay you starting from tomorrow. I’m willing to do anything from wake-up calls to shoulder massages—

Liguang: That won’t be necessary… I’ll admit, I enjoyed myself as well.

Liguang: Hachinoya. It’s not so bad to have more people to treasure.

*Liguang leaves*

Nagi: Ah… I can feel it.

Nagi: (The arrival of happiness.)

Location: HAMA House - Terrace

*winds blowing*

Nagi: Brr…Cold… Good, this is exactly what I need. 

Nagi: (First, I’ll sit down on a chair covered in snow.)

Nagi: (And now… to dump some of this snow down my shirt…)

*Nagi shivers*

Nagi: …! …!!

Nagi: O-O-Okay— 

Nagi: (That should keep the Yajirobe in balance for the time being.)

Nagi: *sigh* …My sinuses hurt… 

Nagi: (Oh… There are lights on in the mansion across from here…)

Nagi: A Frame of Happiness: “Houses Lit Up at the Dawn of Christmas”... Card captured.

Nagi: …… 

Nagi: “The Department Store on Christmas Day.”

Nagi: “Family Car Packed Tight on Christmas Day.” “Christmas Trees and Ornaments that Reappear Annually.”

Nagi: (I love this season. Everyone gets to experience a Christmas miracle, just like in the movies. I can’t help but share in the happiness, even if it’s just leftovers from other people.)

Nagi: “A Family Crossing the Road, Huddled Together Like Penguins.” “A Baby Swaddled in the Backseat of a Car.”

Nagi: “Breaths that Mist Together.”

Nagi: (In the space between myself and the scenery in front of me, I can see an outline of what could have been, if I had a family of my own…)

Nagi: Yep. As I thought, I can’t help but feel uneasy when I don’t have someone I can impose my excess happiness onto.

Nagi: (I should try and remember how I got by before I met the Chief, instead of just sitting around and tracing the patterns formed by other people’s families.)

Nagi: Phew… 

~~~

???: Nagi-kun?

Nagi: …Chief?

Chief: What are you doing out here, so early in the morning?

Nagi: I could ask you the same thing. I thought you’d be arriving later since you were with your family.

Chief: Erm… 

Chief: (I can’t very well tell him that I regretted not making sure of what his plans were for Christmas Eve… And that I cut my plans short to come back early—) 

Chief: My brother had something come up, so we decided to part ways sooner than expected.

Nagi: I see. I guess that can happen some years, since you know you have the next year, and the year after that to— 

Chief: —So, what brought you out here now?

Chief: (I was worried whether Nagi-kun’s past might cause him to have mixed feelings about this season… Is that why he’s awake so early in the day?)

Nagi: I couldn’t keep up with my debt of happiness, so I’ve been using the cold and the snow to keep my Yajirobe in check.

Chief: …So that means you’re not out here because you’re sad, or lonely, right?

Nagi: Huh? Yeah.

Chief: Thank goodness…! That means you’re happy enough that it’s actually turned into a debt, huh!

Nagi: …Yeah.

Nagi: Oh, right. Welcome home, Chief.

Chief: Yeah! I’m glad to be back!

Nagi: …… 

Chief: (I’m relieved. He looks like he’s in a good mood.)

Chief: Right! I’ve brought you back a souvenir as a Christmas present!

Nagi: This is… A huggable koala doll?

Chief: Yeah! These were handcrafted by an artisan, each and every one having a unique face!

Chief: So I splurged and got one for everyone at HAMA Tours… I couldn’t help but think this little one here has a face that kinda looks like yours.

Nagi: There’s no way I look this pretty… 

Chief: Here, I’ll put it on your finger.

Chief: Merry Christmas, Nagi-kun!

Nagi: —....

Nagi: (“The Reassuring Feeling of a Koala’s Hug.” …This is the strongest card.)

Nagi: …This is dangerous.

Chief: Huh?

Nagi: If I didn’t already have a gift on hand, I’d be worried that HAMA House would explode on the spot. Bombed, even.

Chief: A bomb?

Nagi: Merry Christmas, Chief. This is my present for you.

Nagi: It’s a bath bomb. You can use it next time you take a long soak in the bath.

Chief: Oh wow, thank you…! 

Nagi: …… 

Nagi: (Wait. What if my shoddy handicraft is making her cringe on the inside… I mean, that’d go for everyone else too.)

Nagi: (Maybe I should just take them all back before everyone wakes up—)

Chief: The smell of flowers and soap is really comforting, just like you, Nagi-kun!

Nagi: …!

Nagi: Oh, um, I tried choosing flowers that’d suit everyone individually…. 

Chief: What! That’s really impressive!! 

Akuta: WOOOOAHHHH, WHAT THE HECK IS THIS—!! SANTA!? IS SANTA ACTUALLY FOR REAL!?

Ushio: SO FUCKING LOUD!! Can you NOT shout right in my ear first thing in the morning!? How has your throat not gone to hell by now!?

Chief: …Huh? Why’s it so noisy inside?

Chief: Let’s go back in for now. We should ask them what happened!

Chief: C’mon Nagi-kun! Christmas is about to start!

Nagi: …Ah, yeah.

Nagi: (Does this mean… I finally get to peek into the other side of “Houses Lit up at the Dawn of Christmas?”)

Nagi: (What a wonderful Christmas this turned out to be…)

Note:

The flower used in the bath bomb Nagi made for the Chief are red tulips, which in flower language can have the meanings "love's confession" and "gratitude for family."

~~~

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did 😭

I will be unprofessional in the tags as usual!!

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