Slow Start ch160

Good morning, Hana-chan!

Eh?

T-Tama-chan!?
?
What's the matter?

E-Erm...?
Ufufu.
You are a strange one, Hana-chan.

Tama-chan...!
Tama-chan's...!

That properness feels out of place... Is this going where I think it's going!?

Mm~ Mmm~
Tama-chan's hair is the appropriate thickness...!

Hah!

Ah.
She's awake.

Morning, Hana.
Good morning, Hana-chan!
Morning, Hana.
G-Good morning...

Were you having some sort of nightmare?
I like Hana's nightmares.
Yep. A nightmare?
Eh?

Eh?
E-
Erm, not really...
Oh?
Is this a nightmare you're familiar with?
Tell us all about it.
Yep. A nightmare.
Tell us.

?

Presents...?
These are different from the ones we got from yesterday's gift exchange, right?
Yep.
These are presents from Santa.

Eh?
Santa?
Yep.

Pure eyes

D-Don't tell me
Kamuri-chan still believes in Santa...?

In that case, I can't possibly crush Kamuri-chan's dreams!!
Sa-

Th-That's right! Santa!
Santa came! Alright!!

He came to our sleepover and brought presents for everyone! Amazine!
Wasshoi
With his big round belly!

That's Santa for you!!
Wasshoi

Um.
Could it be Hana-chan still believes in Santa?
S-A-N-T-A!

Yep. Knowing Hana, it's possible.
S-A-N-T-A!
Eeh?

Uuuh...
I-I thought you still believed in Santa, Kamuri-chan...
sp I didn't want to crush your dreams...
How embarrassing...
Nope.
I learned about Santa's true identity at a pretty early age.

I read a lot of books when I was little, after all.
Ah~ I learned it from a book too.

I-I see.
Yep.
But thank you for being considerate.
Kamuri-chan...

So,
what are these then?

Ehehe. They're presents from me.
I wasn't really planning on it or anything, but I was teaching Mikki and figured I'd make some myself while I was at it.

These are snoods.

I knitted them with some nice-feeling cotton, so I guarantee you'll have pleasant dreams if you wear them while you sleep.
My, how lovely.
Is this a mail order show?

Fwah~
It feels nice...
I know, right?
Yep. Thanks, Eiko.
Ehehe.

We gotta try them out right away.
We need to go back to sleep again.
Back to sleep. Back to sleep.
You guys.

Oh.

Good morning, Miki-san!
Good morning...

Or rather,
Merry Christmas.
Oh, you're right.
Merry Christmas!
I'll be sure to learn from this!

Um, here.
If you'd like.
Hm?

It's Christmas and all, so here's a present.
A present!!

What's this...?
A snood.
You wear it around your neck to keep warm.

Ooh...!
I'd be happy if you wore it at home.
My sister recommends wearing it while you sleep.
I see.

It certainly feels nice.
I'll just put it away for now.
It's low quality since I made it while my sister taught me, though.
No, that's not true at...
Eh? My word!

You made this!?
Uwah! Thank you, Miki-san!

Truth be told, I wanted to make a scarf,
but my sister stopped me, saying it's not something an exam-taker should try to make...
Hahaha.
That sure sounds like Eiko-san.

And just like my sister said,
even making something of this size was cutting it close.
It looked a lot simpler when she does it.
So Eiko-san's good at that kind of thing?

In the time it took for me to make just one, she had made five of them.
Five!? So fast!
Eiko-san sure is amazing.

...Thank you, Miki-san.

I'm looking forward to going to bed tonight.
...I'll be happy if it helps.

I'll be sure to repay you for this.
Eh?

No, don't.
There's no need.
No, no, no, no. I won't be able to rest easy until I do.

But
when should one repay someone for a Christmas gift?
...New year's?
...I'll look into it.

...It's warm.
Ow, that's hot.

Eiko-chan's warmth has reached her.

Warning