"Big brotheeeeer... bam!!"
"Whoa! Haha, Mio-chan, welcome!"
Like a tiny guided missile, she slammed right into my midsection. I scooped her up and gave her a high lift—a standard physical greeting to start things off.
I was basking in the healing power of Mio-chan's delighted squeals when two figures appeared on the stone steps of the Shrine. They looked around restlessly until...
"Ahhhhh! I knew it!"
"Mio-chan, that’s not fair!"
As soon as they saw us, they let out a barrage of accusations directed at Mio-chan—and, by extension, me. They were two little girls.
Honestly, I thought that was a bit much.
"It is too fair! Big Brother is Mio’s big brother, so only Mio gets hugs!"
"Muuu..."
"Uuuu..."
The two girls puffed out their cheeks at Mio-chan’s rebuttal. They directed even more resentful glares toward her... or rather, toward me. Meanwhile, the culprit herself began rubbing her cheek against mine like a kitten in full spoiled mode. Man, she was cute... Wait, no!
"Haha, as popular as ever, aren't you, Kazunari?"
"Seriously. I'm practically green with envy."
"To be fought over by girls so intensely... Takanashi-kun, you're quite the charmer. Maybe I should tattle to Sara."
"Listen here..."
Natsumi-senpai and the others were watching from behind, clearly enjoying my plight. If they had time to tease me, they could at least help with the other two girls. Especially the two guys laughing back there!
"Oh goodness, I’m so sorry, Takanashi-san. Mio is always like this."
"My apologies, Vice President. Sakura, come here now."
"Yuki-chan, let’s let go of the Big Brother, okay?"
The mothers arrived a bit after the children. Seeing the chaos, they rushed over to peel Sakura-chan and Yuki-chan off my legs. Mio-chan, however, dodged Kazumi-san's grasp and clung even tighter to me—shifting from kitten mode into Koala Mode. It was starting to get chilly, so her warmth was actually quite nice.
To catch everyone up: today’s guests included the guest of honor, Mio-chan, her friends Sakura-chan and Yuki-chan, and their three mothers. Added to our group, it made for quite a large Christmas Party.
Mio-chan had bragged about her party with us at her kindergarten, and her best friends had insisted on coming. She’d asked me directly a few days ago, which is how we ended up here.
"Um... I know it’s a bit late to ask, but is it really alright for us to be here?"
"Exactly. If it's too much, we could just leave the children and come back to pick them up later..."
"No, it's perfectly fine. Besides, if we just left the kids here with people they don't know, they’d probably get anxious."
Sakura-chan and Yuki-chan didn't seem particularly shy, but being thrown into a crowd of older students would likely be nerve-wracking. That’s why we’d invited the mothers too.
"We’re truly sorry for being such a bother..."
"Please, don't worry about it!" I kept my tone bright and welcoming to put them at ease.
"Big Brother is so kind~"
"Yeah. I wish the boys at kindergarten would take notes."
"Ehehe~ Mio's Big Brother is the best in the world!"
Mio-chan gave a smug little look at the praise. Then she went back to rubbing her cheek against mine. She was in total spoiled mode today.
"Wait... Hey, Big Brother, what’s that white stuff? Is it snow?"
Mio-chan peered over my shoulder toward the Meeting Hall.
"Ahhhhhh!! It's snow!!"
"Whoa! There’s a snowman too!!"
Sakura and Yuki dashed off in excitement. Mio-chan looked at me pleadingly.
"Go on, Mio-chan. You go too."
"Okay!! Snow, snow, snooow!!"
She took off after them with her clumsy, pitter-patter run. I was worried she’d trip, but she reached them safely.
"Takanashi-san, that snow... how?"
"It's artificial snow. We had it brought in specially."
"A-Artificial snow...?"
"Just like that? Goodness..."
I laughed. It made sense they were shocked. Bringing artificial snow to a private residence isn't exactly a common thing.
"And that Christmas tree is massive..."
"Um, I hate to bring this up, but... what about the cost?"
"We can't just say 'thank you' when you've gone to this much trouble..."
The adults were clearly worried about the bill.
"Really, it’s fine. But if you're that concerned..."
"The sponsor is inside," Natsumi-senpai cut in to help me out. "You can thank them directly. We’ll introduce you later."
The mothers looked at each other and nodded. Natsumi-senpai's delivery was perfectly reassuring. I'd praise her, but she'd just get cocky.
"Big Brother, Mama!! Over here, hurry!!"
"Mama, come here!!"
"Mama, look at the big Christmas tree!!"
The mothers smiled and headed toward the kids.
"You guys hurry up too!!"
"Coming!" I turned to my friends. "Shall we?"
"Yeah. Let's go."
"Right. I need to have enough fun to make up for our ruined date..."
"Yuji, shut it!"
We started with a little snow festival.
"Okay, Mio-chan, you first."
We wrapped up the snow play and stood before the doors of the Meeting Hall. Sara and the others were waiting inside for the big entrance.
"E-Excuse me..."
Mio-chan looked a bit nervous as she led Sakura and Yuki through the door. We’d thought about turning the lights off for a surprise, but decided against it so we wouldn't scare them.
"Waaaah, so cute!!"
"Look! There are so many reindeer!"
"Look, it's Latte-chan!!"
The entrance was covered in decorations, including a famous character on a reindeer sleigh. Seeing their faces made the prep work worth it.
"One, two..."
""MERRY CHRISTMAAAAAAS!!""
Pop! Pop-pop!
The party poppers went off in a chorus. Sara and the others stepped out from their hiding spots. The kids were startled for a second, but then broke into huge smiles.
"Sara-oneechaaaaaaan!!"
Mio-chan launched a Small Missile Charge at Sara. Sara deflected the impact perfectly and scooped her up into a gentle hug. She really was good with kids.
"Welcome, Mio-chan."
"Yeah! I'm here... rub-rub."
"Fufu... that tickles, Mio-chan."
"Ehehe, Sara-oneechan."
Mio-chan was being even more clingy with Sara than usual. Sara looked genuinely happy about it, too. I couldn't help but smile watching them.
"Big Brother, here!"
Mio-chan beckoned me over. I stood next to Sara, and Mio-chan reached out to grab my hand.
"Together with Big Brother and Big Sister!!"
"Haha, that's right."
"Fufu... are you happy, Mio-chan?"
"Yeah! Ehehe..."
She looked between us with a smile as bright as the sun.
"...Whoa. They really do look exactly like a young couple with kids."
"...Fufu, it’s a lovely sight, isn't it?"
"...Oh, Eririn’s surprisingly chill about this."
"...Ufufu, I’m honestly looking forward to seeing my great-grandchild's face now♪"
"...Isn't it a bit early for that?"
"...Ahaha."
"Uuu... I’m jealous of Mio-chan."
"Yeah. Big Brother and Big Sister..."
I noticed Sakura and Yuki looking a bit left out. Sara was holding Mio, so I...
"Mio-chan?" I asked. She let go of my hand, giving me the 'okay.'
"Sakura-chan, Yuki-chan?"
I beckoned them over. Their faces lit up as I held out my hands. They each grabbed one—Sakura clinging to my arm for good measure.
"...Wait, the kids increased to three!?"
"...Yoko, don't say it like that."
"...Honestly, Kazunari attracts the weirdest fanbases."
"...True. I never expected him to be popular with this demographic."
"...Ufufu, Sara-chan’s future is looking bright♪"
"Ehe, Big Brother♪"
"Big Brother, can you be Sakura's big brother too?"
"No! Not allowed!!"
"Hmph! Mio-chan is a meanie!"
"Haha..."
"Fufu... you certainly have your hands full, Kazunari-san♪"
Sara laughed warmly at the kids' bickering. Seeing her so happy made it all worth it.
"Well then, Kazunari-san. Shall we take them in?"
"Right. Is everyone ready?"
""Yeaaaaah!!""
With that, the party officially began!