Disclaimer: I don't own Zombieland Saga or any of its characters.

Chapter 2: Mizuno Ai

My family was the only one on our street that celebrated Christmas. Christmas in Japan was still mostly a couples thing during my lifetime, but my dad really, really loved Christmas. We even had a synthetic Christmas tree that he went and bought back when he visited America as an exchange student. Every year we'd wrap our presents and put them under the tree, and on the eve we'd each open just one of them. On the day itself we'd each take turns opening presents, enjoying the reactions our gifts got. Sometimes it took hours cos we'd do them one by one, but that was the fun of it. Afterwards we'd go eat a chicken dinner at KFC – they always had a special menu on this time of year. We did the same thing every Christmas, but I never got tired of it. Even when I started getting busy with my idol work I'd make time in December to come home and be with my family.

Today Kotaro is making us put up a tree. I'm sure there's some ulterior motive to his request, but he is, as ever, completely unreadable. He's just standing there watching us. I have to admit I appreciate him decorating the house though. I don't know what I'd do if I had to watch December go by as if it was just any other month. It's hard enough trying to ignore the fact that my family has to be out there somewhere, missing me this Christmas...

Junko's hand brushes mine as I begin to snake golden tinsel around the tree's branches. She gives me a shy smile. I was so lost in my thoughts I didn't even notice she hadn't finished putting the lights on the tree.

"Sorry..." I say.

She shakes her head, "I'm sorry for taking so long."

I start taking the tinsel back off of the tree.

"No, Mizuno-san! You keep going. I'll stay out of your way."

"But you can't finish the lights if I wrap the tree in tinsel now."

From behind me I hear Saki jeer, "Jeez you two, get a room already!"

I feel heat rush to my cheeks. I keep my mouth shut and just remove the tinsel from the tree. Soon Junko has finished the lights. When we're done with this it'll be the others that get to put the ornaments on. Tae seems particularly keen on doing the decorating, but then she also seems keen to eat the ornaments.

Starting from the top I coil the tinsel around the tree. Junko picks up some red tinsel and joins in. The red and gold run down parallel to one another, sparkling in the glow of the multicolour tree lights. It's near-perfect, but...

"Maybe just one more..." I say.

"It needs more red!" Saki calls out.

"No, pink!" says Lily.

"Maybe a cooler colour would be good," Sakura suggests.

"RED!"

"PINK!"

I look back. Kotaro is staring forlornly into the distance, or at least I think he is; it's impossible to tell with those glasses. Saki and Lily are rolling around wrestling on the floor, and Yugiri is just calmly having a smoke, as always.

"Mizuno-san..."

I look back at Junko.

"...how about white?"

"Do we have a white one?"

Junko reaches into the box of tinsel and sure enough, there's a long strand of white hidden amongst the rainbow assortment of colours.

"You can do this one if you want," I say.

"I don't mind if you do it, Mizuno-san."

"It's fine..."

She smiles, "I insist."

I take one end of the tinsel from her hands, "How about we do it together?"

Saki cries out, "I'D PAY TO SEE THAT!"

Now Junko's blushing. I ignore Saki and help Junko to wrap the white tinsel around the tree. In no time, it's all done and ready for decorating. It's not as big or as flashy as some of the trees I used to see standing in the department stores in Tokyo, but it's ours. It's our little tree. It's so pretty, and it's not even fully decorated yet. I suppose you could call it our family tree. We sort of are a family, in a weird way.

"Mizuno-san...?"

Lost in my thoughts again. I need to pull myself together.

"Sorry, I just got-"

"Why are you crying?"

Was I crying? I hadn't even noticed. Is it because I'm a zombie that I couldn't feel my own tears?

Warm arms wrap around me from behind.

"Guaahhrghh..."

"Thank you Tae."

Lily joins in and glomps me from the front. Then Sakura, and Saki. Even Yugiri takes the time to put out her cigarette and come over. Now I can feel myself crying. I didn't wanna be alone over Christmas. I can't even imagine it, being without them. My family. They've had to spend Christmas without me for so long.

"You'll never have to be alone for Christmas while we're around, you idiot," Saki says, her voice muffled by my hair.

Did I just say all that out loud!?

"Your family wouldn't want you crying on Christmas, right?" she continues, "No sense in you getting miserable."

"You're right," I reply, "Thanks, all of you. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"What kinda leader would I be if I didn't look after my team?"

Lily chimes in, "We're all here to cheer you up!"

"You'd do the same for us," adds Sakura.

I feel someone softly take my hand. Surrounded by all the members of Franchouchou, I can't tell who it is, but in my heart I know.

Mom, Dad, I think, this time not out loud, wherever you are, I want you to know that I'm okay. I have friends who care about me, and I'm doing what I loved doing while I was alive. And although I can't tell you in person, or give you any presents, or Christmas cards, I want you to know this: I love you, and I hope you have a very merry Christmas.

Also, I hope that 7-eleven still does those Christmas cakes they used to do, cos I could really go for one of those right about now.