nhp | (Sutamai) ‘A Wish to Santa ♡ Fulfilling the Christmas Eve Promise with Him’, Part 1

EVENT STORY INDEX

December 24th—Christmas Eve.

With work being my top priority this year, I wasn’t holding out for any “lover’s Christmas”.

But, oh silent night.

If just a hint of romance were to come my way—like that of being gifted something small—then please.

As I held onto such faint hope somewhere inside my heart, in this very moment……

-Downtown-

Rei: …… Aaah, the light’s are going to change!!

I was running full speed across a city decorated in illuminations.

Rei: (There’s nothing silent about this Christmas Eve……)

For this holiday of when couples would snuggle up to each other…

I was stuck dealing with sprinting back and forth from being batted around by everyone.

Rei: (This is all their fault!!)

-December 20th-

-Investigation & Planning Division-

It all started from the one memo.

Rei: Good morning!

Yui: Morning, Izumi.

Aoyama: Morning. You’re rather early today.

Rei: It felt like my workload was kind of piling up…… so I was thinking of finishing it off and putting it away.

(...... Hm?)

Yui: What’s up?

Rei: No, it’s just this memo……

Yui: …… “Emergency! Come at once! - 1st div”. What in the world is this?

Rei: No, um, I don’t have any memory of sticking that on there……

“1st div” as in… the CIU First Division?

Aoyama: Oh, right. Sugano came by before.

Now that you mention it, it did look like he stuck something on your desk.

Rei: Sugano-kun did……?

(...... What does he mean by “emergency”?)

Rei: (“I can’t say it over the phone,” huh...... I wonder what happened.)

-CIU First Division-

Rei: …… Excuse me.

Sugano: Oh, you’re here! Morning, Rei~

Hattori: Goodness, that was fast. Have a pat on the back.

Rei: …… Huh?

(Hold on a second here. This is an emergency situation, right?)

(Why are these people…… relaxing and eating candy while taking it easy?)

Asagiri: I can tell what it is that you wish to say. But for the time being, come this way.

Arakida: …… Here, use this chair.

Rei: Oh, pardon me. But like, what exactly is going on……

Sugano: Now, now~ C’mon, eat up. Here, some coffee.

Rei: Huh? Okay…… Thanks, I guess.

(This may be the first time I’ve been treated in this manner here……)

(It’s so strangely kind that it’s almost suspicious.)

All the while thinking that, I peeled open the expensive looking wrapper. As soon as I plopped the chocolate into my mouth……

Hattori: Right, so you ate it then.

Rei: …… Huh?

Hattori: Does it taste good? Your advance reward for a job well done, that is.

-CIU First Division-

Rei: An a-advance reward?

Asagiri: For this.

Rei: Huh? What are these documents……

Hattori: That guy there? He’s being suspected in a certain case at the moment.

Just a little bit more, and we’ll be able to seize him by the scruff of the neck.

Sugano: But the thing is, we’re lacking in information for that “just a bit more” part~

Rei: I-I see.

Hattori: And yet, Hiyama’s working himself up over a different matter.

So he really hasn’t been cooperating with us.

Rei: (Don’t tell this is what I think it is……)

…… H-haha, is that so? That must be rough. Well then, I’ll just be on my way……

Arakida: Don’t run away.

If it comes to that, then the one who has to chase you down…

Will be me.

Rei: ……!

-CIU First Division-

Asagiri: Since that’s how it is, we’d like to ask you to bargain with them in our place.

That’s our real business with you today.

Rei: I-I’m busy right now……

Hattori: The deadline is at 11.59pm on the 24th.

Rei: And there’s only four days left too!!???

Hattori: You ate the chocolate, didn’t you?

Rei: W-Well yeah, I ate it. But something like this is……

Hattori: “I’m just going to take what I can get and not do my job”.

Surely that can’t be it, right?

Rei: (...... I’m clearly being told something unreasonable. But his smile is way too terrifying that I can’t argue back……)

Sugano: Anyway, I’m sure you’ll be fine! You seem to be chummy with them after all.

Rei: Er, no, I don’t think that’s what you call being chummy though……

Hattori: Well, since that’s settled, we’re counting on you.

By the way, if you can’t get a hold of the information……

Then I’ll have you pay back the reward with your body, so do your best now~

-Investigation & Planning Division-

Seki: …… Ah, yes. If it’s that case, then we did receive a formal request for cooperation in the investigation.

Rei: !

Seki: I’m sure all that talk because you ate the candy was just a joke.

Rei: H-Haha, so it was just a joke…… of course.

Natsume: But there could actually be a penalty though.

Rei: Huh?

Watabe: Well, it is Hattori-san we’re talking about here~

Rei: W-Wait, cut it out. Don’t jinx it.

Natsume: For example, how about being kept back at the Police Department not just for Christmas, but for the New Year’s holidays too?

And being worked like a slave.

Rei: !

Aoyama: No, I feel like it’d be something more mentally draining.

Imaoji: That is a possibility. Such as continuously being kept under tight surveillance while doing a forever endless amount of deskwork.

Rei: !!

Yui: Izumi’s brainwaves from being stressed…… I’m intrigued.

Seki: Hey now, don’t frighten her. Even if it is Hattori-san, surely……

…… Something like that would be out of the question.

Rei: Um, that pause just now is what scares me the most!??

-Revel’s Bar-

Rei: …… And that’s the story……

I-Is there somehow no way I can ask this of you?

Hiyama: ……

Rei: Also, um, I was told to pass on the message, “I’m reflecting on my actions regarding the flowers in the garden”......

Kagura: Right, you mean how he went ahead and plucked them and then Hiyama-kun got incredibly pissed?

You really lost your temper that day.

Hiyama: If he needed a boutonniere then he could've just said so. I would have lent him one. Instead, he went and……

Maki: (...... He’s holding quite the grudge here.)

Rei: Y-You’re absolutely right to be angry. B-But if you could somehow put that aside……

For the sake of a peaceful Christmas and New Year’s holiday!! As such!!!

Hiyama: …… It’s not something for you to bow your head over, Izumi.

Otani: Now, now. She’s going this far to ask us, so why not hear her out?

Kagura: She probably doesn’t have any intention of backing down until we give in anyway.

You really are a troublesome one.

Rei: I-I can’t quit here no matter what’s said to me today!

Maki: No, that’s how it usually goes.

Rei: Ugh……

Hiyama: …… Very well then.

Rei: !

Hiyama: However, it’ll be an equivalent exchange.

-Revel’s Bar-

Rei: …… Equivalent exchange?

Hiyama: Get Tsuduki Makoto to write one short story with Christmas as the subject.

Rei: …… H-Hiyama-san, when did you join Makoto-san’s editorial department……

Kagura: As if he did.

Hiyama: I need to have it prepared as a bargaining item for a certain trade.

I was planning on asking Maki or Kagura to get it through Tsuduki Kyosuke, but……

I reckon there’s a higher chance of success through you, who has direct interaction with the person himself.

Rei: A-And the deadline is……?

Hiyama: The 24th.

Rei: W-Wait just a minute!

Even if it is just a short story, that due date would be pushing it for Makoto-san……

Maki: The aim this time is a 5000 word count. So long as he gets the pen flowing, he’ll be able to write it in 4 hours.

Rei: !

Otani: In other words…

It’s your job to get him to agree to it and to get that pen flowing smoothly, Rei-chan.

Rei: …… I hear you loud and clear. In any case, I’ll give it my best shot.

Kagura: It’s not just about doing your best. It’ll be an inconvenience if you don’t 100% bring us the manuscript.

Otani: There is that too. Well then, how about…

We decide on a penalty game so that you can tackle the job with a sense of desperation?

Rei: How did it come down to that!!???

-Revel’s Bar-

Maki: There you go again with that kind of talk……

Otani: What cosplay do you want Rei-chan to put on, Maki?

Maki: …… Who cares.

Rei: (That answer in its own way stings……)

Hiyama: An outfit that suits Izumi, hmm……

Rei: Um, no, you don’t have to think about it!

Kagura: A onesie is more than fitting enough.

Rei: A o-onesie?

Otani: Oh, so like a reindeer? Not bad.

Rei: !

Otani: Well then, I believe your penalty is to cosplay a reindeer at the Christmas party.

The one held at Kagura’s house.

Kagura: Nu-uh, no way. If you come dressed looking like an idiot with no shame then I’m going to throw you out.

Rei: …… G-Going from the sound of things, you don’t mean to say that it’s required of me to come wearing the reindeer from my house, r-right?

Otani: In that case, shall we make it at Maki’s apartment?

Kagura: Are you trying to pick a fight?

Maki: Why are you the one complaining, Aki……

Hiyama: The negotiations have been settled. I’ll be counting on you then.

Rei: (Nothing’s been settled at all!!)

10.

-December 21st-

-Makoto’s House: Entrance-

[Ding Dong]

Rei: …… Huh?

(Maybe he’s out……)

[Click]

Makoto: …… So it’s you.

Rei: Oh, hello! Sorry to bother you while you’re busy—

Makoto: Have you seen a stout, friendly-looking man in a checkered jacket around?

Rei: Huh? Er, no. No one of that description……

Makoto: …… Come on in. I hope you don’t mind that Kyosuke’s here at the moment too.

Rei: Yeah, sure, no worries!

(Actually…… by a friendly-looking, stout man… doesn’t he mean his editor?)

…… Makoto-san.

Makoto: What is it?

Rei: Are you making any progress?

Makoto: …… I don’t want to hear those words right now.

Rei: (It’s just as I thought. He’s right before the deadline……)