#02: Frozen Capital of Eternity
– "Sorry, Merry! But I've never seen such an elaborately decorated Christmas tree before."
– "I've never seen this tree here before at all. Is it real, or artificial?"
The figure of a large pine tree stood in the center of the shopping district, dotted with countless colorful ornaments. In theory, an artificial tree had the advantage of being able to last eternally, but in practice it was probably more transient than a living tree, in that it would inevitably be destroyed after the season had passed.
For now, reflections danced off the glass decorations, half-translucent, shaped like tiny bullets. Renko grazed one of them with the side of her finger.
– "Even if it's fake, these ornaments are beautiful. Almost like treasures from another world."
– "Hm..."
Merry began to ponder a thought, until Renko said something that caught her off-guard.
– "You know what else is beautiful?"
– "W-what?"
– "That perfect tree-topper! Just by looking at that star, I can tell the time is truly Christmas."
They both tilted their heads skyward. At the very peak, a classic five-pointed star cast its aura over the tree's mountainous cone of a synthetic body.
– "...You're not wrong. But couldn't you use your atmosphere-reading abilities to finish that line properly? You're supposed to tell me that I'm beautiful."
– "Eh? That goes without saying!"
Merry responded with a flip of her golden hair, satisfied.
– "You flatter me."
– "Then, will the beautiful Merry accompany me for a Christmas date tomorrow?"
– "Of course. I assume we're going to spend it at the usual place."
– "Don't be late!"