Speaking of Santa Claus

Gingaza Staff
-and after the performance, they will each give out presents to the audience. The lead actress Lilja will be in the block in the front centre, Wang in the front right, Senju in the front left-

Lilja
...

Gingaza Staff
That's the general flow. Does anyone have any questions?

Lilja
Will I be doing this as Santa Claus?

Gingaza Staff
No, you'll still be in costume, but you can forget about the role. You're free to do fan service as long as it's within the time limit.

Lilja
...I see.

Gingaza Staff
Any other questions?

Gingaza Staff
If not, we're dismissed. Good work.

Lilja
...

Lilja
...I still can't get used to the beard...

Hikari
Lilja-san? Aren't you going to go home? The meeting's over, you know?

Lilja
Hmm? Yeah...

Lilja
...

Ramona
You look dissatisfied. For the question you asked earlier, you didn't have to play the role, right?

Lilja
Yeah.

Ramona
You're not satisfied?

Lilja
I'd rather be Santa Claus. Don't you think so too?

Ramona
What do you mean?

Lilja
Santa Claus is never not Santa Claus.

Lilja
The children would want presents from Santa Claus more than me, right?

Lilja
That's why I thought about things like a beard and Santa Claus-speak.

Hikari
You really do have a lot of respect for him...

Xue
It doesn't matter which one it is, as long as the children get a present, they'll be happy. It's easier to just speak as you like than to keep improvising the role.

Ramona
You’re pretty bland, Xue.

Hikari
I think the children would all be happy if they got a present from Lilja-san, too, wouldn't they?

Koyomi
I agree.

Koyomi
I'm sure everyone at school was happy, too, right?

Lilja
Because Santa Claus came to school. Not me.

Xue
You're being picky, Finland. Just because you worked part time at Santa Village, it doesn't mean you have to be that into it, does it?

Xue
You always say things like 'this role is just about standing there, so it's easy'.

Koyomi
Well, I think everyone has their own memories of Santa Claus. I think there's also a sense of 'when it comes to actually doing it myself...'

Ramona
It's true, when you hear the words 'Santa Claus', it makes your own childhood heart stir, doesn't it?

Hikari
Me too! Hearing the words 'Santa Claus' makes me feel excited!

Hikari
But you mean that this event might ruin that excitement?

Lilja
Yes. Because I'm not Santa Claus.

Ramona
That's a tough one...it's not like you can just stick to playing Santa Claus by yourself, is it?

Lilja
Well...that's true.

Lilja
...

Hikari
Hey, hey, hey!

Hikari
So, how old were you when you stopped believing in Santa? I believed in him until I grew up!

Xue
Don't talk like you're an adult now...

Koyomi
When I was a child, my sister and I would get presents every year. We even wrote letters together.

Ramona
I used to write letters when I was a child too. It might be a slightly different culture to Japan, but we also used to get presents.

Lilja
There's no need to believe or not believe. We worked together, and every year since I was a child, I’d invite him in through the front door and have tea.

Hikari
Eh!? He actually came and talked to you? That’s great! I'd love to have tea with Santa too!

Hikari
What about you Xue? Did you get a lot of presents because you have lots of brothers and sisters? Did you all write letters to Santa? Did you have a Christmas party?

Xue
Not really.

Lilja
Not really?

Xue
Santa Claus has never come to our house. So I don't have any memories of him.

Hikari
What? I'm sorry...

Xue
It's okay. Don't worry about it.

Hikari
...

Xue
It's not something to be depressed about. We weren’t a family that did that kind of thing, and we weren't even capable of doing it, that's all.

Hikari
But...

Xue
We didn't have lavish meals or presents for everyone, but I don't hate anyone for that. I don't feel jealous either.

Ramona
...

Xue
Oh, you guys are so annoying! We all grew up in different places. Of course there are some differences.

Xue
You've experienced things I've never experienced. And the same goes for the other way around. Just the way we spend the winter is a problem.

Xue
Besides, I like my name 'Xue'* because it's beautiful.

Xue
...The only downside is that in winter you freeze and can't do housework.

Xue
But it's fine. You guys were raised like that. I was raised like this. That's all.

Koyomi
...You're being very calm about it.

Xue
If I was moping about every little thing like this, I wouldn't be able to survive here.

Lilja
...

*Xue is written with the kanji for ‘snow’

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Pub: 21 Dec 2024 21:23 UTC
Views: 21