Part 3/4
After returning home and enjoying Emily and Wendy’s cute outfits, Hayato and I headed to the kitchen.
We needed to prepare dinner, including portions for everyone who had been helping, and I was also curious about how the Christmas cake turned out.
Just as we were about to step into the room, Chris came out into the hallway.
「Ah, Hayato-sama, onii-san. Welcome back!」
Chris greeted us, her cheek smeared with cream.
Since this girl never did such things on purpose, it made her look overwhelmingly cute.
「Chris, you have cream on your cheek」
「Eh, really?」
「Don’t move」
Hayato gently wiped it away with his finger, then popped it into his mouth.
Ah, ah, that’s hot, that’s hot.
It was like the snowy mountain from earlier had been nothing but a lie.
「H-Hayato-sama… that’s embarrassing…」
「Eh, ah…」
The two of them suddenly realized what had just happened and their faces turned bright red.
Shall I lend them a guest room?
They could take it slow for a couple of hours, if they wanted.
「Ah, um, that’s right. The cake is finished!」
Chris reported quickly, as if to change the subject.
Ah, right.
I had asked her to do the decoration.
I’d completely forgotten because the mood had already turned so sweet and sugary.
「Ah, so you were making the cake! I can’t wait to see it」
「Well, I already know you two are lovebirds, so there’s no need to force yourselves to hide it」
I grinned, and once again their faces turned red as they lowered their heads.
With these two, I hoped they would always stay that fresh and innocent.
Now, about the cake…
「「Ohh」」
The cream had been smoothed beautifully.
Not only fruit but also baked sweets were arranged on top and along the sides, creating a lovely, girlish cake, aside from the massive size.
「H-how is it?」
「Looks great! Not a problem at all!」
「Yes, it’s big and it looks delicious」
It wasn’t a bûche de Noël but rather a giant whole shortcake.
Still, Hayato seemed more than satisfied, which was a relief.
Alright then, let’s store the cake safely in the magic space and get started on tonight’s dinner.
-0-
「「「「We’re back 」」」」
「Oh, you’re back. Welcome back」
「We brought something impressive」
「The gate area was a real pain…」
Ah… well, if you carry an entire tree as it is, of course the gate guards would be confused.
I should have thought that through better.
「For now it’s just left in the yard, but what should we do with it?」
「Ah, ask Wendy where in the garden would be best to plant it. Everyone must be hungry, so we’ll start preparing dinner right away. I’ll leave it to you」
「「「「「Okaaay」」」」」
Sorry to trouble them when they’re tired, but they can rest plenty tomorrow, so I’ll count on them!
「Newbie-san. We’ve managed to finish some of the decorations」
「Ah, perfect timing. We’re about to set up the tree, so for the ornaments… Hayato, could I leave the supervising to you?」
「Leave it to me! I’ll go help over there」
「Then I should take the ornaments out to the garden, right?」
「Yes, please do」
Phew… it’s getting a little hectic.
But if we’re forcing everything into just two days, this much is to be expected.
There’s still plenty to do tomorrow, so after dinner tonight we’d better get to bed early to prepare for the day ahead.
-0-
The next morning, right after waking up, I headed straight to the alchemy room.
Today I needed to plan and create the presents to hand out to the children.
For gifts to children, toys would be best, right…?
But there are no video games here, and if I’m limited to toys whose structure I know well enough to make, then something like tops or yo-yos, things you can play with on their own, would be ideal.
Although spinning a top requires quite a bit of skill to master… Still, everyone can play together, so I’ll keep that in mind.
For the girls, perhaps accessories would be good.
Simple, cute hair ornaments maybe?
Nothing too expensive, since that might attract thieves. I’ll keep the cost down and focus on design.
「Fufufunnn」
I hummed a tune as I started making toys.
The tops would be the kind that spin by pulling a stick to launch them, rather than using a string.
Pretty much the same as a certain toy maker’s product, but this is another world anyway.
I’d also need a field to play with them. I could leave that at the orphanage.
Next, the yo-yos.
Yeah, those would need to be able to do long sleepers.
That’s just my personal fixation, but making the bearings sounds fun.
Still, if they’re made entirely of metal, they could be dangerous.
I’ll cover the outside with slime membrane for safety.
If testing proves it safe, then it should be fine.
Since they wouldn’t have any special abilities, I could mass-produce them with the ‘Forgery (Multi-Copy)’ skill. And if I engraved unique, meaningful patterns on each one, they’d surely become items that stir a boy’s heart.
…Hopefully they’ll be happy with them.
With that thought, I carefully etched designs into each piece, putting my feelings into every stroke.
Now then, next was accessories for the girls.
This would be the tricky part.
Something similar to what I made before, but not so similar that it would feel repetitive.
Girls are actresses even when they’re small. Each of them is bound to have their own sense of beauty.
Knock knock
A knock came at the door.
I turned and answered, and with the sound of the latch opening, an unexpected visitor appeared.
「Newbie-san. Hm? What are you doing?」
「Ah, Riito-san. You came again today」
「Well yes, I was given some time off. Oh? Looks like you’re making something strange again」
「Yes, the children from the orphanage are coming, so I thought I’d prepare some presents for them」
「Ohh. I’m sure they’ll love that」
「I hope so. But I’m having a bit of trouble with gifts for the girls…」
「Oh? What are you working on now?」
Riito leaned in and peeked at my hands.
Her chest brushed lightly against my shoulder, but I didn’t flinch.
I’ve been trained well enough for that!
「Well, I’ve prepared toys for the boys… but for the girls I thought accessories might be best」
「That’s a lovely idea. The orphanage children rarely get luxuries like that. Any donations they receive usually go straight into buying necessities like clothes. In that case, maybe I should prepare some simple cosmetics for them」
「Would you really?」
「Of course. If it helps lighten your burden even a little, I’d be glad to assist」
Ahh, Riito-san really is a good person…
Why is someone this kind and beautiful still single?
Back in my old world, she would be in high demand.
Is it because of Reinrich, perhaps?
「But when it comes to cosmetics, there’s always the risk of allergies, so I’ll stick to simple ones」
「Yes, since they’re for children, simple would be best」
「Then, if you don’t mind, I’ll work here」
「Of course. Aina and the others are out inviting the children today, and Wendy’s group is continuing with the clothes-making, so I think we’ll have plenty of time to work peacefully」
「Ah… those bright red outfits, right?」
Oh, she’s already seen them?
Ah, she must have checked before coming to the alchemy room.
「Um… this might be a silly question but… is there one for me too…?」
「No… I was thinking just for family, actually…」
「R-right, of course! That makes sense! Someone my age wearing it wouldn’t be amusing at all, would it!」
「Eh? I think it would suit you」
Riito-san is honestly beautiful, and with her figure she’d definitely look good in it.
Still, asking a guest to wear that outfit felt a little too much… or so I thought.
「R-really? Ahaha…」
「Um… would you like to try it on?」
「Ehh!? Wh-what should I do…? B-but, if Newbie-san said he wanted to see it, I might just end up wearing it… maybe」
Ahh… I get it now.
She ‘wants’ to try on a cute outfit even though she feels she’s too old for it, and if someone else pushes her a little, she can use that as an excuse.
In that case, as thanks for all she’s done, I should give her that push!
「I’d like to see it. Riito-san in a Santa outfit. So I’ll ask for one to be made!」
「Eh, really? I-is that so? If you say that, then I won’t refuse… As long as you don’t mind the sight…」
「Not at all, I’m sure it’ll look great on you. They’ll probably take measurements later, so please agree when they do」
「All right! Ahaha, I let myself get talked into it」
With Riito-san, there’s absolutely no problem.
If Reinrich wanted one, I’d stop her immediately, but Riito-san is still young in my eyes. I can see it as nothing more than a grown woman letting herself have a little fun!
-0-
After that, everything continued smoothly.
During lunch, I asked Wendy to make a Santa outfit for Riito as well.
By the afternoon, Meira and Dama came by and decorated the outer walls of the house.
All that was left now was tomorrow, the day of the event itself.
…Though I couldn’t shake the feeling I’d forgotten something.
But if I couldn’t remember, then surely it wasn’t a big deal.
Cake, check. Food, check. Santa suits, check. Tree, check. Snow, check. Presents, check.
See? No problems at all.
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