Loss 4: Prelude to Sixteen

Loss 4: Prelude to Sixteen

Loss 4:

Prelude to Sixteen

S UNLIGHT TRICKLED IN THROUGH THE GAPS IN the curtains, mingling with the winter air. It was a cold Christmas morning.

I threw my blanket over my head. I had a holiday, a birthday, and a closing ceremony to deal with all in one day. My alarm hadn’t gone off yet. I deserved an extra few minutes in—

“Merry Oniisama! Happy birthday!”

A sonorous party popper cracked noisily.

Credit to Kaju, she always did something different every year.

I sat up, rubbing my eyes. “Morning… Kind of a loud one.”

“It’s a special one. Up, Oniisama! Up!” She pinched the hem of her red dress and did a twirl.

“New outfit?”

“Yeah! What better aesthetic for Christmas than a Santa aesthetic? How do I look?”

She had a pair of reindeer antlers attached to a hairband on her head.

“Cute. But I thought Christmas was banned.”