-Spiritual Kinship- 2nd half

Chapter 4 - Christmas Spirit End

"A gift....what is it for?" Asked Kurumi as her doppelgangers mutually interchanged perspectives.

"Why don't we prepare a present for [Darling], Christmas is hard to come by after all."

"But we can't just deliver it to his house. Our relationship with [Darling] is very delicate."

"Then let's sneak in at midnight and place it beside [Darling]'s pillow."

".........." Kurumi let sweat flow down her forehead.

More importantly, she planned to masquerade as Santa Claus. That was no joke as Kurumi brusquely shook her head.

"Are you kidding me? Do as you please to give Syouji-san a gift." It was no different from letting her younger clones handout present to Syouji.

Although that would settle it, Kurumi's younger clones were unstable compared to her, and would get themselves entangled in their emotions with the excuse of [We can't resist].

She was afraid that they would develop exceptional attachments to Syouji due to prolonged contact with him.

It was bad enough that this [Darling] epidemic started, ever since one of her younger clone came into contact with him during the Tanabata festival.

Just like that time, there would be no other way but to slay them. However, it was somewhat displeasing to kill herself and forcefully restricting them would affect their obedience.

"There's no other way. I'll do it, then."

Kurumi sight with resignation as her words caused her clones to be radiant with joy.

"Finally, a decision has been made."

"Hihihi, what should we get him?"

"Any suggestions?"

"But should we act tonight? If we were to get ready now—" As they fervently discussed a certain version gracefully raised her hand.

"Leave this to me."

"Y-You?!"

"Me from five years ago!"

The others immediately cleared a path for Kurumi to view her raised hand, as if it was a drama stage.

"...Ara."

Interjected Kurumi as her cheeks momentarily twitched. Her reaction was expected as although Origami who stood there was indeed herself, she was slightly distinct from the other Kurumi's in the way she was dressed.

Instead of tying her hair into bundles, this Kurumi had them with ornamental roses and wore a formal black and white dress with frills.

In addition, she wore a medical eyepatch to conceal her clock-faced left eye. Her clone, who was fascinated by that eyepatch in an attempt to hide her heterochromia five years ago was there.

 Kurumi couldn't help but feel a sense of shame while looking at her previous self who thought it was quite cool at that time. To be honest, she didn't even want to meet her.

"Leave it to you? What do you mean?"

"hehe, it means what I said."

Ridiculed eyepatch Kurumi as she took out a small box from her bosom. "I knew this day would come ever since that time when he lost control and gave [us] a rose. I prepared a little something in case [We] wanted to repay him somehow."

"How thoughtful, [Me]."

"As expected from [Me]."

A gust of wind blew, but Kurumi was still sweating anxiously. The was because she had a bad impression of the gift selected according to Eyepatch Kurumi's taste.