"No lighting it," Maki Nishikino said.
"Huh?!" The two of them looked at Maki Nishikino in confusion, a little disappointed.
"It isn't that cold yet, and if we dirty the chimney before winter comes, Santa Claus will have a hard time getting in. That's what my dad said."
"Dad?"
"Santa Claus?"
The two looked at each other and murmured the two words Maki Nishikino had said.
"That sounds wonderful."
"What a kind father."
Minami Kotori and Umi Sonoda understood what Maki Nishikino meant very well.
"I've always kept this chimney clean myself. Up until last year, there hasn't been a single time when Santa Claus didn't come."
Maki Nishikino spoke with a hint of pride and gentleness in her tone. Remembering the past and how she had felt when she received her presents made her heart feel warm and sweet.
"Hmm..." Honoka Kosaka and Rin Hoshizora looked at each other curiously again.
"There's proof, too. Look inside."
Following Maki Nishikino's lead, the two peered carefully into the fireplace. On the sooty black wall inside, there was a snowman drawn in chalk on the left, Santa Claus's face on the right, and the words "Thank you!" written in the middle.
"Heh~"
Maki Nishikino proudly scratched her hair.
"Pfft, you..." Yazawa Nico wore an expression like she was holding back laughter. "Maki believes in Santa Claus..."
"Nico-chan!"
"You can't say that!"
Hanayo Koizumi and Eli Ayase, who were beside her, immediately grabbed her shoulders and cut her off.
"Ow! That hurts! What are you doing?!"
Yazawa Nico yelled back in dissatisfaction.
"You can't. Saying that would be a serious crime."
"That's right. That one sentence might affect Maki's entire life!"
Honoka Kosaka and Rin Hoshizora, who had been looking at the fireplace, stood up and said solemnly.
"But this is that Maki.