Ah, that's right. This is for Kud. She seems to be having a lot of troubles this season, so it makes sense for me to give her a present. I approach Kud and hand her the gift. She accepts it immediately.

"Wafuu~! A gift for me, Riki?" She's incredibly eager to open it.

"Go ahead and open it," I allow her with a warm smile. She tears it apart quickly, eager to see what's inside. When she sees inside the package, her eyes widen.

"This is..." Her expression falters as she examines the gift. "Riki, can I really have this?"

"Hey, show us what's in the box!" Masato shouts to her. Kud, in response, pulls out from the box a miniature Strelka. It wasn't highly detailed, but it was enough to lower everyone's spirits by a sizable margin.

"Oh, um..." Masato looks the other way upon seeing the doll. "Riki, did you have to gift that to her?"

I don't understand what he means. What's going on? Did something happen that I don't know about? Why is nobody telling me? I look at Kud again. She's cuddling the Strelka doll...and tearing up.

"I don't get it," I voice out loud. "I thought it would make you happy because it's a tiny Strelka. Why is no one happy about this? Is it something I said?"

No one utters a sound, except Rin, who looks just as confused as I am. I...just ruined the mood, didn't I?

"Riki," Kud utters to me in a low voice. "Please...come with me."

"Um...yeah," I agree. I just want to get away from this awkward atmosphere that I created. The two of us quietly leave the cafeteria, and walk outside. The outside world is darker and colder than I could have ever thought it to be. It reflects the dark, depressing spirit I feel within myself. What have I done?

Kud stops me around the area between the dorms. The reason I can still see her among this impossible darkness is the slight glow of her mantle. She's likely doing this for my sake. I can't even imagine what's going through her head right now. Where is she even taking me?

"Look there," Kud points me in the direction of the fence up against the girls' dorm. I see something that I don't recognize. It looks like a large boulder behind a mound of dirt. I approach it, Kud following close behind to provide me light. Upon reaching the boulder, I squint to get a closer look at it. There's writing inscribed on the rock, scrawled on by some kind of wedging tool. The letters are hard to read, but I remember these letters specifically. They were on Strelka's collar.

"Oh my..." I realize what this is. It's a gravestone. Below it is... "Wait...how did...?"

"Do you remember what happened before you entered Kyousuke-san's room?" Her question rings in my ears. Of course I should remember. Rin and Masato helped fight off Belka and Strelka, respectively. Masato was about to...Wait, you're kidding.

"Masato...did this?" I'm shocked. Masato...would never kill an animal...would he?

"I'm afraid so," Kud moans. "When this night ends...so will he."

"Wait..." My vision grows bright. I turn around, and I see Kud in full Reaper form, the moon in full view above the clouds. She hasn't forgiven him. From the looks of things, she might not forgive me, either.

"Do not be afraid, Riki," she assures me with a cold stare. "You will not die tonight. Nobody should have to die on Christmas...but Death does not make exceptions."

I couldn't do anything but stare at her horrifyingly elegant form. I begin to feel drowsy. Sleep is overtaking me again...Masato...don't die...

"Good night, Riki," Kud whispers to me. "I liked your present, so I promise you'll forget all about him soon."

END