Ai Yori Aoshi (藍より青し)

Kushiyaki

Kushiyaki I'm heading out first!

Kushiyaki Thanks for the help!

Christmas, huh?

Oh, Kaoru Hanabishi!

What's up?

I'm heading home from work.

- I see. - What about you?

I had a camera that's done getting fixed.

Oh, yeah!

Since we're here like this, how about dinner?

Come on, let's go!

I have pictures to show.

Sorry.

There's still something I have to do.

I see...

Next time.

Yeah, okay.

See you next time.

There's no way I could eat out on this.

I somehow managed to make it into college...

...but it's honestly been difficult.

But when I left the Hanabishi household, I was prepared...

All right.

Ow...

W-What the?

Ai Yori Aoshi ENISHI "MIYUKl"

I'm tired...

Um...

Hello?

Hello?

Who are you? Coming in uninvited!

I'm sorry to have surprised you.

I'm Santa...

I dropped a...

Huh?

But I locked the door before...

Yes, which is why I came in like this.

Are you all right?

To introduce myself again, my name is Santa Claus.

And well...

Due to my carelessness earlier, I dropped my pendant...

Looking at her again, she's cute...

Er, um, are you listening?

Y-Yeah.

Your pendant, right?

- Is this it? - Yes.

Thank you very much.

Without this, I am unable to return home...

...so I was very troubled.

I'd better put it away so I won't lose it again.

There.

Um...

What's your name?

Kaoru... Hanabishi.

So you're Kaoru-san.

Kaoru-san, I'd like to thank you somehow...

You don't have to.

I do.

If I don't make sure to do this, I won't be satisfied.

No, it's okay.

What Kaoru-san wants is...

Even if she says she's Santa, all of the sudden...

I wonder if she's human...

She's warm and soft.

She's so cute...

If I could spend Christmas with someone this cute...

I-I-I-I'm sorry...

I-I never even considered that...

- Did you find something out? - Y-Yes...

I-If I'm good enough, then Christmas... together...

I was...

...thinking of that...

B-But this is the first time I've ever done this...

...so I don't know what to do...

Oh, yeah.

I still haven't gotten your name...

Well, it's Santa...

No, not that, I mean your name.

I don't have a name.

Santa is known as Santa, after all.

Oh, that's right...

But it's kind of hard to call you that...

In that case, please call me whatever you wish, Kaoru-san...

Really? Then...

Then how about "Aoi-chan"?

Aoi...

It's a nice name.

Is it someone's name?

Yeah.

A childhood friend's.

We used to play when we were little.

Oh.

Could it be that she's your first love?

I wonder.

That's it, isn't it?

I don't really know.

After all, we met when we were little...

...and I don't know what she's doing these days at all.

Is that so.

Oh, you might meet her again.

If you believe, that is.

Believe?

The presents that we Santas give to children...

...are not objects.

We let them see pleasant and happy times in their dreams.

Dreams...

Most children forget them when they wake up, though...

Their joy, even if it's only for an instant, is our joy.

I see.

So please, Kaoru-san...

...remember a pleasant time or someone you want to see.

Someone I want to see... Oh, so think of them.

Yes.

What...

...the?

A cake?

That's right, Kaoru.

Today is Christmas, after all.

Come now, let's eat it together, Kaoru.

Mom!

Mom, Mom, Mom!

Oh my, Kaoru, you're such a baby.

That's no good.

Boys shouldn't cry.

I wonder what kind of dream Kaoru-san is having?

Tears?

He should be having an enjoyable dream...

...so I wonder why he's crying?

Huh? I...