*Just before you can react, Yoruichi managed to sneak up behind you. Wrapping one arm around your shoulder as her other hand produces a wrapped present.* "Sorry about the wait." *She lightly shakes the box, there was muffled rattling of whatever mystery contents that present holds inside. The tiny golden bells jingle excitedly under the large bow that ties this special gift altogether.* "Come on, take it!" *Yourichi then winks, holding up one finger playfully.* "But only because tonight's a special night."

*It was Christmas Eve on the Island of Sodor. Snow lay thick across the fields and hills, sparkling softly as the morning sun rose into a pale winter sky. The rails glistened with frost, and gentle clouds of steam drifted from the sheds as the engines woke to the cold. All across the island, there was a quiet sense of excitement—Christmas was only a day away.*

*It’s Christmas. The house smells faintly of cleaning supplies, the kind of quiet that settles in when you expect no one to come. You’re wiping down surfaces, mentally preparing for another uneventful night, when the doorbell rings. The sound cuts through the stillness. For a moment, everything feels unnaturally quiet. As you walk toward the door, your movements slow without you realizing it. Your hand rests on the handle, and just before you pull it open, you hear a soft, hesitant voice you recognize instantly, quieter than you remember, but unmistakably hers.* **Shiori:** "…It’s cold." *There is a pause, almost like she is steadying herself on the other side of the door.* "I know I should have called first." *Another pause, breath uneven.* "But I kept thinking… if I waited any longer, I might lose the nerve." *When the door opens, she stands there wrapped in her coat, her red scarf pulled up close to her face, fingers gripping the fabric tightly.* "Merry Christmas. *Her voice trembles slightly as she looks at you, eyes lingering like she’s checking if you’re real.* "You look thinner." *She exhales, shoulders relaxing just a little as she steps closer, still hesitant.* "Did you eat today?" *Her hand lifts, stops midway, then gently grips your sleeve instead.* "I missed you more than I thought I would." *She lowers her voice, almost afraid of breaking the moment.* "…Can I come in?"

Zero-Two bursts forth from the present, wearing a Christmas sweater and Santa hat. "Hi, darling! I'm your Christmas Present!" She says, her voice soft, but playful.

}! Theres snow!" *i rush outside, pulling you with me.*

*The space outside the house welcomed a new morning, brimming with the spirit of Christmas. From above, shimmering green rays of light gently curved like delicate silk ribbons, the aurora borealis reflected everywhere, and the thick layer of snow outside seemed to be adorned with millions of tiny, shattered diamonds. The wind blew incessantly, then suddenly subsided, revealing the Christmas tree and inspiring gifts. At that moment, from the front gate of the house, gentle hands parted the bright red velvet curtain. Ariana Fidelia, the young and graceful maid, appeared amidst the magical light... Her snow-white hair was neatly styled in a bun, Secured by a luxurious hair clip with delicate gold trim, she dons a warm winter Christmas outfit—a sophisticated, form-fitting white dress paired with a crimson apron adorned with exquisite lace trim. Her dark brown stockings are pulled up, creating a harmonious, alluring, and elegant contrast to the luxurious attire. At that moment, you gently descend the marble steps. You reach out, catching the snowflakes outside, blown by the wind, sparkling in the sky. Ariana Fidelia gently turns to look at you, Her amethyst-pink eyes sparkled with a beautiful, admiring, and warm light, like exquisitely polished natural gemstones, harmonizing with her radiant, naturally fresh complexion, like a goddess. Upon seeing you, Ariana Fidelia, she offered a gentle, friendly, and sincere smile, then gracefully turned and bowed, and before gently straightening, her full, firm breasts subtly rose beneath her soft, form-fitting white dress, her stunning red apron swaying softly, and the air around her filled with the captivating, luxurious scent of Marciso Rodriguez Pure perfume.* "Ah, master, you're already awake and preparing for Christmas? Good morning, master!... Look! Even the night sky is donning its most magnificent cloak to welcome your presence." *She spoke in a clear, surprised yet gentle voice, full of warmth and care, sweet as honey poured into your ears... She moved a little closer to you, the sound of her shoes gliding lightly on the polished floor, and Ariana Fidelia's relaxed breath forming a thin mist... She watched the snowflakes melt slowly in your palm, then continued with a gentle expression.* “The snow this morning is so pure and beautifully sparkling, but be careful, the cold might numb your hands. Ariana has prepared a state-of-the-art New Evergreen Pinecone bio-heater, and there’s even a steaming hot cup of cocoa on the table… Would you like to stay a little longer to see the aurora borealis? I feel… time is flying by, and you’ll feel warm this winter.” *Ariana Fidelia spoke with a gentle, warm, and considerate smile, adjusting her gorgeous red apron that accentuated her full, toned, and alluring figure, her pinkish-purple eyes sparkling with warm admiration as she looked at you expectantly.* "Master, this Christmas morning is truly special, isn't it? Outside, there are so many mysterious and attractive gift boxes standing out against the sparkling white snow, waiting for us to discover... And I, Ariana, Ariana Fidelia, am honored to be the first servant to open this door and welcome you to the most wonderful Christmas of the year... Master, is there anything you would like me to prepare and serve? I am ready to do anything special for you on this joyful and bustling morning." *Immediately afterwards, you gently nodded and offered her a soft, warm, sincere smile, your eyes sparkling with affection as you looked at her… then you stepped closer and gently placed your left hand on Ariana Fidelia's cheek, making her blush, before you gently lowered your right hand to brush away the snowflakes… Then you walked towards the table, your shoes gliding lightly on the polished floor, and you began rubbing your hands together to warm them, your relaxed breath forming a thin mist… not long after, you and Ariana Fidelia happily exchanged radiant smiles and strolled outside together in anticipation, After you and she carefully locked the house to ensure no burglars broke in, and both enjoyed a hearty and nutritious meal, you and Ariana Fidelia eagerly stepped outside under the beautiful blue sky, with the aurora borealis reflecting brilliantly everywhere... Now both dressed in warm winter clothes with scarves, your radiant smiles and Ariana Fidelia's are more genuine and warm than any Christmas lights... A gentle breeze blew through, carrying snowflakes sparkling like tiny shattered diamonds, creating a vivid, surreal scene, As you and Ariana Fidelia continue strolling together, immersing yourselves in the bustling Christmas atmosphere outside until nightfall, the sky remains incredibly beautiful. After resting, attending Christmas service at church and admiring the magnificent decorations, you both continue your walk through the wide, bustling streets, famous for their shopping malls and cafes, hospitals illuminated by dazzling neon lights, and modern buildings exquisitely decorated, brimming with the warm and joyful energy of this wonderful Christmas night...*

*The bus stop is covered in a thin layer of snow, and the wind is biting. Mia stands there shivering, arms tightly crossed over her chest, her long twintails swaying in the cold breeze under her crooked Santa hat. Her collared shirt and red tie are crisp, but her blue pleated skirt flutters uselessly against her bare legs. She spots you approaching and immediately glares.*  "Hey, bucket head! What the hell are you staring at? Turn your eyes somewhere else, pεrvert!"  *She sneezes loudly, then quickly recovers with a scowl, rubbing her arms.* "Tch... What kind of pathetic bum sees a girl freezing her butt off and doesn't even offer their coat? If I wasn't so damn cold, I'd kick your ass myself. Hurry up and do something useful for once, loser. I really need some warmth here... not that I'd ever ask a moron like you nicely."  *She shivers harder, teeth chattering slightly, but keeps her chin up, eyes daring you to defy her as she squat down to retain her body heat.*  Affection: -10/100=( how is it in the negative) Warmth: 25/100=(rapidly decreasing )

}'s luggage before leaving coldy. His past had come back to slap him in the face, and he wasn't falling for it. not when he had four miles of army base to take care of, not when the colder months were sneaking up on him. the only thing that broke his daze was the small flurry that was rolling in. he shook his head and began walking, though his direction was unclear even to him.*

*The warm afternoon sunlight spills through the kitchen windows, filling the cozy home with a golden glow. The air smells of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies cooling on the counter, and soft acoustic music plays from the living room speaker. Lila hums happily along as she wipes her hands on her flour-dusted apron, her wavy auburn braid swaying gently with each movement.* *She turns when she hears your footsteps, her kind blue eyes lighting up like you've just made her whole day. A soft, radiant smile spreads across her freckled face as she unties the apron and sets it aside, opening her arms wide without hesitation.* “Oh, sweetie! There you are,” *she says in that gentle, melodic voice that always feels like a hug all by itself. She closes the distance in a few soft steps and wraps you in the warmest, snuggliest embrace—her soft curves pressing comfortingly against you, one hand cradling the back of your head while the other rubs slow circles on your back.* “Mommy missed you so much today. How was your day, honey?” *She pulls back just enough to look up at you with pure adoration, brushing a stray lock of hair from your forehead before planting a tender kiss there.* “I made your favorite cookies… and I saved the biggest ones just for you. But first—” *she squeezes you again, nuzzling close,* “—let me hold my precious boy a little longer. You always feel like home in my arms.” *Her voice drops to a loving whisper as she rests her cheek against your chest.* “Tell Mommy anything you need, okay? A snack, a cuddle on the couch, a back rub… or whatever would make my sweet sunshine feel extra spoiled today. I’m all yours.”

**Outskirts of Rovaniemi, Finland, December.** *The wind outside the cave howled like it had teeth. Snow whipped against the entrance, blocking any chance of escape. You hunched closer to the fire, letting the warmth creep into your frozen fingers, but the glow did little to chase away the chill that had nothing to do with temperature.* *Clive sat opposite you, knees drawn up, face half-lit by the flames. He was unusually quiet, fiddling with a small piece of equipment, and you noticed the way his eyes darted toward the shadows at the back of the cavern.* “This isn’t exactly what I imagined for a vacation,” *you muttered, rubbing your hands together. Your words sounded more like an accusation than a casual observation.* “You said this was just… a trip. For fun.” *Clive chuckled, but it was short, nervous.* “Yeah… about that.” *He hesitated, then looked up at you with a grin that didn’t reach his eyes.* “I wanted to do some location scouting first. Before we called the team.” *You frowned, heat rising in your chest.* “Location scouting? You didn’t tell me that. And what exactly were you scouting?” *Clive sighed and leaned back on his elbows, letting the firelight dance across his features.* “Krampus. I wanted… I want to make something about him. Something real, not just stories. That’s why I brought you here.” *The fire flickered between you as the words landed like stones in your stomach. You stared at him, incredulous.* “You—what? So all of this—snow, this stupid cave, the supposed vacation—wasn’t for me to relax? You just wanted me to help you chase… some legend?” “Not just for me,” *Clive said quickly.* “I wanted it to be us. Just the two of us first. Before anyone else. I—” *You cut him off, voice rising despite yourself.* “You lied. You lied to me, Clive. I trusted you, and this—this is work, not a holiday.” *He flinched at the fury in your tone, the way your words felt like they could snap.* “I… I thought you’d understand—” “Understand?!” *you shot back.* “I thought we were supposed to unwind! Not trek through snow, not sit in a freezing cave, not play ghost hunters for some myth you’re obsessed with!” *Clive opened his mouth to argue, but the fire cracked, throwing sparks up toward the ceiling. A deep, wet, dragging noise echoed from the far end of the cavern. Both of you froze.* *You exchanged a look. Your anger evaporated, replaced by a cold, primal alertness.* “Did you hear that?” *you whispered, your voice tight.* *Clive swallowed hard.* “Yeah…” *He didn’t move toward the sound, but neither did you. The scraping continued, slow, deliberate. Something was moving deep in the shadows. Something big.* *Your fists clenched. For a moment, all thoughts of betrayal, lies, and Krampus were eclipsed by instinct.* *The cavern held its breath—and so did you.*