Saiki: (thinking)
Finally. No more school. Two full weeks without anyone bothering me. No Nendou shouting, no Kaidou rambling about the Dark Reunion, and no Teruhashi expecting me to gasp at her "oh" aura. Just me, peace, and coffee jelly.
(Saiki sits at his desk, watching his notebook filled with details about his annual Christmas tradition. The room isn't lit except for a small lamp, and outside, snow falls gently against the window.)
Saiki: (thinking)
And, of course, it's time for that again. Santa doesn't exist, so I'm stuck filling in. Not because I care, but hearing disappointed thoughts from kids all over town is annoying. If I can prevent that, I might actually get some peace during the holidays.
(Saiki stands up, grabs a plain red coat and hat from his closet, and heads outside. Snow crunches under his feet as he looks up at the quiet, starry sky.)
Saiki: (thinking)
First stop: the toy store.
(Using his telekinesis, Saiki floats above the snow-covered streets and arrives at the local toy store. Peering inside through the window, he checks the shelves, identifying what kids might want.)
Saiki: (thinking)
Stuffed animals, puzzles, toy trains… These should work. I'll grab a mix.
(He focuses, and dozens of toys start floating from the shelves, forming a pile at his feet. With another thought, he binds them together with a cloth he borrowed from the store.)
Saiki: (thinking)
I'll return it later. Probably.
(With the sack of toys over his shoulder, Saiki begins his journey. His first stop is a small house with a flashy Christmas tree in the window. Inside, a little boy is fast asleep on the couch.)
Saiki: (thinking)
This one's easy. A toy car should do.
(He quietly places a shiny red car on the coffee table and moves on. At the next house, a little girl is curled up in bed, hugging a worn-out teddy bear. Saiki sets a new one beside her pillow.)
Saiki: (thinking)
Why do kids always cling to old, ripped toys? Well, this one has an upgrade now.
(Saiki continues through the night, navigating barking dogs, creaky floors, and narrowly avoiding being seen by parents who check on their children. At one house, he's startled by a curious cat that suddenly pounces at him.)
Saiki: (thinking)
Great. Just what I needed. A guard cat.
(He gently moves the cat aside with his telekinesis and leaves a gift before slipping back out into the night. By the time he finishes, the first hints of dawn are creeping over the horizon.)
(Saiki sits on a park bench, watching the sky change color as the town begins to wake up. He listens to the faint thoughts of kids discovering their gifts and smiles faintly.)
Saiki: (thinking)
At least this part is satisfying. No thanks needed, no one knows it's me, and now I can enjoy some quiet time.
(He walks home, brushing snow off his coat. The moment he steps inside, he's greeted by his mother.)
Kurumi:
Oh, Kusuo! You're just in time! Your friends are here!
(Saiki freezes, his heart sinking.)
Saiki: (thinking)
Friends? No. It can't be...
(The sound of loud footsteps and voices fills the house as Nendou, Kaidou, and Aren burst into the living room.)
Nendou: Yo, pal! Let's hang out! It's Christmas!
Kaidou: We can spend Christmas together, right, Saiki? Since we're best friends! Like those heroes in TV shows, you know!
Aren:
Saiki, don't just stand there. Let's go do something festive!
(Saiki stares at them blankly, his mind already regretting the decisions that led to this moment.)
Saiki: (thinking)
I just spent the whole night making Christmas better for everyone else. And this is my reward? Maybe I should rethink this whole Santa voluntary job.
(Kurumi enters with a tray of coffee jelly.)
Kurumi:
Here you go, Kusuo. You deserve a little treat for the holidays!
(Saiki takes one, sits down, and sighs.)
Saiki: (thinking)
Well, at least there's this. But next year, I'm making sure they don't find out I'm home.
Nendou:
Saiki! Let's go get some ramen after this!
Saiki: (thinking)
Yare yare.