> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://kani.uoooh.dev/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # SS: Around Christmas — Akane's Case — - URL: https://kani.uoooh.dev/post/misaki-chan-lo-0003/ - Published: 2026-08-20T05:48:14.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-14T06:36:07.000Z - Author: nguuuquaaa - Tags: Misaki-chan! LO Source: [https://ncode.syosetu.com/n6656dn/](https://ncode.syosetu.com/n6656dn/?ref=kani.uoooh.dev) December 24th, the changing room at Moriya Welding Works. The employees were changing clothes as their shift ended. "Everyone showing up on Christmas Eve? Aren't we kind of insane?" "Totally insane\~" "Well, it’s way better than dealing with some old geezer coming to a hostess club on Christmas, right?" "I feel you, I feel you\~" The employees here were all women who didn't seem to have much to do with factory work. Though they were all Japanese, their skin tones and hair colors varied. Piercings in their ears were a given, and some even had them in their noses or tongues. None of them came from gentle backgrounds or prestigious histories. If they had one thing in common, it was that they all looked up to Akane. Everyone had met Akane by chance, fallen for her personality, and ended up here. "By the way, what about AneOlder sister? Isn't she supposed to be working?" "Right? It's like, a fated reunion or something. It's so dramatic, it's making my inner maiden's heart beat again." "I know, right! She says nothing's going on, but she's definitely lying\~" "Even though she acts like that, she's so innocent... I love how she's so focused on her dreams, but... ugh! It's so frustrating!" —Akane was listening to that conversation from outside the changing room. Having finished her work and headed to the changing room, Akane had frozen the moment she heard those voices as she reached for the door. *Honestly, those girls and their loose lips...* she thought, but the timing was so bad that she didn't feel like opening the door. *I'll go in once they've settled down.* However, instead of dying down, their voices only grew more energetic. In the end, Akane did not get the free Christmas she had hoped for. "Those girls..." In the morning, Akane woke up on her futon and muttered resentfully, remembering yesterday. "It's not like it's *that* kind of thing with Ryousei..." They told her to spend Christmas together, but the thing was, Akane had no way to contact Ryousei in the first place. She could contact the company Ryousei worked for, but that would be incredibly unprofessional. And so, Akane was left with nothing to do. Akane lived in a 1DK rental apartment. Since it was just a place to sleep and wake up, the interior hadn't changed since she first rented it. The floor was tatami, and the room was six mats wide. The walls were made of sand and looked like they might crumble if you tapped them. The ceiling was decent-quality wood, with a remote-controlled light fixture installed in the center. Lying on her futon atop the tatami, Akane stared blankly at the ceiling. Akane's midsection was hidden by the duvet, but it didn't reach all the way down to her feet. There was a window at the foot of her bed, and the sunlight streaming through it felt pleasantly warm against her bare feet. It was a quiet, comfortable morning. However, her second sleep showed no signs of coming. Of course, that was because she was lost in thought. After her father's factory was stolen from her, life had been nothing but hardship. As someone who was completely alone in the world, there were no adults to look after her, and she had no desire to rely on the people who had quickly abandoned the factory. Originally, Akane should have been given a large sum of money from the sale of the factory, but because she was a minor, a "guardian" had acted as a proxy to receive it. Naturally, Akane didn't know who this "guardian" was, and she doubted such a person even existed. As a result, Akane was forced into a life of homelessness. Scavenging for leftovers and surviving by turning on faucets in parks—that was her life. Her life was so wretched that she had considered suicide many times, but every time, Ryousei's face would flash in her mind. *Ryousei wouldn't give up like this.* Having continued to live, Akane eventually met a girl who was in a similar situation to her own. By befriending her, she made other connections. Through a repetition of such events, she had arrived at where she was now. That was why she had never had the time to think about things like romance. She had simply been desperate to survive. So, how about now? Akane had somehow managed to attain a life that could be called "normal," giving her the mental space to think about things. With that in mind, she tried thinking about Ryousei. Ryousei had appeared suddenly, and then disappeared suddenly. But she could never forget him, and as she had told him, he was the hero in her eyes. She admired him. She loved him. Was this feeling love? Akane didn't know. "...As if I'd know. I have no experience." Right after she muttered that, a *ping* sounded above her head. It was the sound of her smartphone. Akane rolled over onto her stomach and picked up the phone. 『Are you enjoying your date? (((o(*゜▽゜*)o)))?』 Akane let out a deep sigh. After debating whether to just leave it on read, she replied with a single sentence. *I don't know your contact info* There was an immediate reaction. 『Oopsie! (T\_T)』 It's not "oopsie." She said it in her head and set the phone aside. A few seconds later, her default ringtone began to play. Akane narrowed her eyes and answered the call with a look of pure annoyance. "..." Akane remained silent, waiting for the other person to speak. From the phone held to her ear, she could only hear a sound similar to static. 『Shall we have a tea party now?』 It was a voice so bright it was almost refreshing in its audacity. Akane felt all her strength leave her. "How about tomorrow? I don't really feel like moving today." 『Understood! I'll make sure everything is perfectly prepared! ...As an apology.』 "I'm not even mad, so don't worry about it." --- And so, the next day. December 26th. Akane was wandering aimlessly through a mall near the party venue. Since she hadn't been told where the party was being held, Akane had assumed they would just make a ruckus at an izakaya or someone's apartment. That was why she was surprised when she heard over the phone that they had actually secured a venue. The amount of money spent wouldn't be much different from drinking at an izakaya, but it should be difficult to secure a venue during this season. Either a miracle cancellation had opened a slot, or... "They do have some weird connections..." Muttering to herself, she stopped and checked the time on her wristwatch. It was about a twenty-minute walk from here to the venue. Considering the snowy roads, it would likely take closer to thirty minutes. Calculating backward, it was probably time to head out. Akane slipped her hands into the pockets of the coat she wore over her thin T-shirt and began to walk slowly. Akane didn't own many clothes. Part of the reason was that there were few clothes that actually fit her size, but another reason was that she didn't look for any function in clothing other than covering her body. Between her way of speaking and her attitude, Akane thought she was a woman who was more like a man. Just then, her gaze happened to fall upon a hand mirror. It was in a variety store, and the mirror seemed to be one of the items displayed on a shelf near the entrance. Akane approached it somewhat aimlessly and reflected her image in the mirror. "...I mean, I look like a normal girl." She changed her angle and tried making different expressions. Akane's skin was pale. Even though she wasn't wearing makeup or avoiding the sun, she was as fair as a foreigner. Her eye color was a typical Japanese brown, but even that felt a little light. "...Actually, aren't I kind of good-looking? No, wait, if I said 'Ryousei is actually cuter than me,' would he get mad?" She pressed a hand to her mouth and chuckled. Immediately after, she snapped out of it and bit her lip hard. "What am I doing? How embarrassing..." She looked down and hurried away as if fleeing. *This is all their fault. You guys better be ready at the party.* Just as Akane thought that, a familiar voice reached her ears. *...Ryousei?* Thinking it was impossible, she turned her eyes toward the source of the voice. "What is he doing in a place like this?" The moment she spotted Ryousei, she didn't realize that her cheeks had softened into a smile. *Alright, I'll sneak up on him and scare him. Slowly, slowly... hehe, he hasn't noticed at all. I'll just go from behind... wait, what?* "Squishy, squishy." *Squishy, squishy? What the hell is that kid? Is Ryousei being bothered by someone?* For someone bothering him, the sense of distance was quite close—it didn't feel like they were strangers. If so... a relative's child? Did Ryousei have any relatives like that? "Misaki is a girl, after all." *What's with that guy, looking so happy? They look like... parent and child? Did Ryousei have a kid?* ...She was curious. And so, Akane stood a short distance away, glaring intensely at the two of them. She glared, and glared, and glared... ...Whoa, suddenly they started spinning around. Is that kid an idiot? Everyone watching is laughing... and besides, it's making *me* feel embarrassed! "How long are you going to keep that up!" Akane approached Ryousei with heavy breathing and thrust out a fist. "Eh? Wait, she dodged?" Akane was surprised that her fist, which she was certain would land, had been avoided. "Oh, it's you, Akane. You startled me." "What do you mean, 'it's you'?" Akane directed a displeased look at Ryousei's words. *...The way he treats me is so casual, it's annoying.* "What's with this kid?" Akane approached the girl Ryousei was holding and asked. "Who are you?" The girl replied with a blank expression. *...No, that's my line.* "Misaki is Misaki. This is Akane," Ryousei said. *I see, her name is Misaki. No, that doesn't tell me anything, and that's not what I wanted to ask.* "Is she a relative or something?" "No, as you can see, we're parent and child." Hearing those words, Akane felt a sudden chill run down her spine. *Parent and child. Parent and child. Parent and child.* Ryousei had definitely just said "parent and child." Which meant... "...Ryousei, were you married?" "No." "But you said parent and child just now." "Well, there's a lot going on." "A lot...?" "Yeah, a lot." *What do you mean, 'a lot'?!* She was dying to know... but he didn't seem like he wanted to talk about it. Was it something he couldn't say? *Not married but they're parent and child, and it's something he can't talk about... does that mean he failed at birth control, just decided to have the kid anyway, and then just left it at that...? No, Ryousei isn't that kind of guy! Besides, Ryousei is the one with the kid!* Then what was it? Did they stop being able to see each other for some reason? But he wouldn't just run away after having a kid... so, does it mean they can't meet anymore? *Wait, how old is this kid? She's tiny, maybe five? If so, does that mean Ryousei made a kid right after that!?* *No, that's impossible... but... ugh, dammit! I don't get it!* "Are you okay?" *Am I okay? I'm not okay! I'm agonizing because of you!* "What are you?" "Hmm\~?" *Damn it... this kid is actually kind of cute.* "Is this person your papa?" "Ryo-kun." "Is he your older brother?" "Ryo-kun." *Hey, Ryousei, what the hell is going on!* "Explaining my relationship with Misaki would take a long time. Just don't worry about it." "...I'm asking because I *do* worry about it." *Are they... parent and child?* *But she doesn't look like him... maybe she takes after her mother?* *And what's with 'Ryo-kun'? They seem really close.* *Setting that aside, since she doesn't call him 'papa,' does that mean they aren't parent and child, but have some other kind of relationship...?* *Ugh, I can't figure it out no matter how much I think about it!!* *Wait, how many minutes have passed? ...Ugh, if I don't run, I won't make it in time.* "I have things to do. Tell me the whole story later." "Got it. By the way, what are these 'things'?" "Something like a party." "I see. Well, go have fun." *Don't just say "go have fun" so nonchalantly!* *...Ah, dammit, I'm so curious. I'll definitely get the truth out of him one of these days!*