Pardon the Intrusion, I'm Home! (ただいま、おじゃまされます！)

You don't need to come with us, Rinko.

You like to stay at home anyway, right?

Mommy's busy taking care of your big brothers.

I rented lots of anime for you, so go watch those.

You can even eat the cake.

Yay!

I love staying home...

Today's...

Christmas Eve...

So?

So?

Who will you choose?

Who will you choose?

Pardon the Intrusion, I'm Home!

Pardon the Intrusion, I'm Home!

Pardon the Intrusion, I'm Home!

Pardon the Intrusion, I'm Home!

Rinko Nakama

Christmas?!

Everyone and their grandma's too festive!

What's so good about Christmas?

I'm crunching here to meet end-of-year deadlines!

I know it's also my duty as his chef-sistant,

but I want to spend this Christmas with Satsuki-san and Usaharu-sensei.

It doesn't seem to be the right time to ask, though.

I finished my work with time to spare,

so I'm going to drop in on a writers' drinking event around sunset.

I'll spend time with you after.

Stop making it sound like I'm a slacker!

It's not my fault I'm a best-seller!

Let's go see a Christmas tree after dinner.

I heard the lights at the park this year are amazing.

Wow!

Hold on!

No fair! Don't leave me outta the plan!

I'm going, too!

I definitely will!

I'll consider it if you can even manage to finish your manuscripts by then.

Yeah, no problem!

I'll finish them at light speed and go see the tree with Rinko!

You were just complaining about this holiday...

Any requests for tonight?

Oh, yeah. I'd say a miniskirt Santa.

Excuse me?

What are you saying?

Satsuki-san...

Rinko-chan would look best in one that's just above the knees.

Ho ho ho!

Satsuki-san?!

Um, I was talking about the menu...

Oh, yeah. Of course. I was just joking.

Liar.

No need to go above and beyond. I'd be grateful for just the usual meal.

R-Really?

I'm fine with anything as long as you make it, Rinko.

What's with that face?

Then let's regroup at dinner!

Okay.

All right!

I'll finish up at max speed!

Tada-Oja.

Usaharu-sensei had such a childlike smile.

I know they said the usual's okay,

Merry Xmas

but I'd like to make something Christmas-y for the season.

I'll make something in secret so I can surprise them.

I'm going to make this a wonderful Christmas for the three of us!

Almond Flour

Milk

Let's see.

Eggs, granulated sugar, almond flour, milk, baking powder...

Wait.

Don't tell me...

Oh, no! Now I've done it!

My failure of a lifetime!

Huge Xmas Sale

Sweets

Christmas Sale

Baking Powder

Sold out...

It's probably in high demand this season since people make things from scratch...

Yes, hello?

Oh, Nakama-san. Sorry to bother you on your day off.

Are you able to make it to the office now?

What? Right now?

The data we received from Okuda-san was corrupted,

and she's already away on vacation.

We've got her password, so could you help find the files?

Thank you! You're a lifesaver!

Now I can rest easy for the new year!

I'm happy to help!

W-Well, have a good rest of the year!

Will do!

Christmas Market

This is going to make me lose so much time!

I'll have to give up on making a cake from scratch.

I'll buy one frozen from the supermarket and head home...

Baking powder

It's here!

The fancy grocery store by my office...

I don't usually come here since it's expensive.

What on earth?

Thank you, Santa!

Usa! Nya! Usa! Nya! Usa-usa nya!

Hello?

Oh. You answered.

What does that mean?!

Didn't you call me expecting me to answer?

Well, these last few years, you've always been out with girls, living it up.

I couldn't even reach you!

I don't have time for that!

Huh?

Don't you usually carry on without a care?

Did you find another publisher, Sensei?!

Like hell I did!

I just wanted to free up some time.

So I need to focus.

Oh?

Is this about that muse of yours?

That's good to hear.

Oh, speaking of which,

Fukami-san from the literature department wanted to talk to you.

Fukami-san from the literature department wanted to talk to you.

Fukami?

We were talking about your muse, and it sparked a lot of interest.

Don't go around blabbing about that.

Man, you have some loose lips.

Sorry about that.

Maybe there'll be some novel-related work in it for you?

Uh-huh.

Well, put in a good word for me.

Editor Kaneko

Usa! Nya! Usa! Nya! Usa-usa nya!

Mao

Big Bro Haru, are you done yet?

Hey, Mao.

I told you I can't make it this year.

Aw, you're no fun!

Can't you come visit me at least on Christmas?

I'm busy right now, so I'll call you back!

Jeez...

Merry Christmas!

Welcome in! Merry Christmas!

Huh? Where have I seen him before?

Pome-kun, could you take these?

Oh! Of course! Right away!

Welcome.

You're late, Satsuki-kun!

The party's already started!

It's the same stuff every year.

Gotta hurry! Gotta hurry!

I wasn't sure if I could pull this off.

Now I just need to wait until it's all fluffy and risen!

I hope Satsuki-san and Usaharu-sensei will like it.

You don't need to come with us, Rinko.

You like to stay at home anyway, right?

I rented lots of anime for you, so go watch those.

You can even eat the cake.

Yay!

I love staying home!

Let's go!

Yeah!

I get to watch a ton of anime!

There's even cake today!

Christmas is the best!

Christmas is... the best...

Oh, no!

Yikes...

I should still have time to make it!

Yay! Merry Christmas!

Christmas!

Merry Christmas.

Oh, that's right.

The owner said we can take home any leftovers!

Thank you, Santa!

Everyone's so nice.

We need to hurry and make it big so we can repay them.

Cogi is feeling more fired up!

I feel like next year, we'll finally...

...make big money!

Tada-Oja!

It's done!

I can get things done if I put my mind to it!

Usa! Nya! Usa! Nya! Usa-usa nya!

Hello, this is Rinko.

Yo.

I was just at a work party with my remote-work assistants.

So you managed to finish your manuscript!

Congratulations!

It's nothing.

Since your manuscript is done, that must mean

the three of us can hold our Christmas party, like we planned—

Big Bro Haru! Let's eat the cake already!

Yeah, I'll be right there!

Sorry.

After the party, I stopped by my parents',

and they forced me to stick around.

Oh...

Please don't worry about dinner here.

Spend some quality time with your family.