"Ah, the snow is falling..."

Flakes of snow started falling from the night sky like the cherry on top for all the lovers.
Lights are hung all over the trees, contrasting with the dark all around us and blending in with the stars.
So beautiful, I think to myself, admiring the decor.

Munch.
Munch.
Slurp.
Why am I so pitiful!?

I find a spot on a nearby bench with a hamburger and medium drink I bought from BcDonald's.
BcDonald's was having a Christmas Day special! I beam to myself. So great-so much food for so little!
Burger in my left, drink in my right, I look to around me once again.

The pretty snow.
The lights.
The stars.
The Christmas music.
The couples.
Their smiling faces.

I'm immersed in all of it, but at the same time, not really at all.
It may be one of the coldest nights, but their hearts are warm.

"Eat away my misery!" I erupt in a burst of sadness, holding back my tears as I shove bits of my burger in all at once.
I do this all the time at school, so this is something I'm quite used to, actually.
But...

"How strange..." I hear a couple say. "Is she alone?"
"It looks like it..."
"Sad..."

I sat there, eyes locked on the ground in front of me. No one should recognize me, Yoshioka Futaba, on this day, December 25th.
No one should be able to witness something so pitiful.

But isn't it even more pitiful to just sit here in front of everyone?
You stand out like a sore thumb.
The only one alone amongst the pairs.

Wiping a tear that escaped my eyes off my cheek, I threw away my wrapper and plastic cup and decided to keep moving on.

Crunch.

The snow deepened with each of my footsteps.

Crunch.
Crunch.
Crunch.

The stores all seemed so alluring.
"Merry Christmas!" mascots would gleam, jingling their merry bells and offering hand outs to random passerbys.
Store fronts decorated with Christmas trees and hearts and chocolates all the same.
I wanted to go in, but some part of me told me not to.
I had brought money along with me, but so far all I've spent it on is food. There's no way any girl in this lonely state of mind can find time for hardcore shopping, no matter how much I wanted to distract myself with it.
Plus, it doesn't fit me to look girly, anyways.

Crunch.
Crunch.

And so this is my Christmas.
This is how I, Yoshioka Futaba, will spend December 25th.
A sack of pity.
Aimlessly walking through a city of lovers.
I want to leave.
But not go home.

Crunch.