Being in another country, it's obvious that cultures are very different.
And you might say, "Well, that's normal, are you an idiot?"
Yeah, I get it. But what I mean is that Christmas here in Japan isn't the same as where I came from.
Instead of being a day to celebrate with family, it's more of a time to hang out with friends or your partner.
It's also just a regular day—people still work, students still go to school, and stores are open like any other weekday.
Because of that, giving gifts to your kids during Christmas isn't really a thing here.
And since I'm someone who remembers a previous life, I couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.
Still, there's something similar during New Year's, so I can't really complain.
So then… what's my point?
Even if cultures differ, I still carry a piece of my old one with me. That's why, every month, I save a bit of money to buy a Christmas gift for my lovely little sister.
And since it's a gift, she never complains.
Normally, people our age buy presents for their friends too, but getting a part-time job while you're still a minor is harder than it sounds. That kind of thing only becomes common once you're in your last year of high school or already in college.
Of course, there are exceptions—especially if you come from a rich family.
That's somewhat my case. My parents both work and earn enough to keep us comfortable. We're not millionaires, but money has never been a problem.
I guess I'm just lucky to have been born into a stable family.
Which brings me to why I'm here—at the mall, searching for a Christmas present for my adorable little sister.
Luckily, there was no need to wander around. I already knew what she wanted, so I headed straight for the Pan-san store.
Rumi's a huge fan of that panda who knows how to fight and protect his forest from intruders—and honestly, I like him too.
It might sound childish, but the animation quality in the Pan-san anime and movies is insane.
The fights are so fluid and well-choreographed that it almost feels like the studio steals budget from other seasonal shows just to pour it all into Pan-san.
I'm not kidding—people online even complain about it.
"How can a panda kids' show look better than a top-tier shonen anime?" they say.
At first, I thought the same thing.
When I was around four, I'd watch Pan-san after kindergarten, and somehow, the animation kept improving every season. And the movies? Pure cinema.
That's probably why Pan-san merchandise sells out so fast—it's one of the most profitable franchises around. It even has its own theme park area now.
So, there's nothing wrong with liking the character—whether you're five, ten, fifteen, twenty, or older.
Since Rumi's a big collector—her room's practically a museum of Pan-san figures and merch—the best option was the new holiday edition plush that had just released.
When I walked into the store, the cashier greeted me with a polite smile, wearing panda-ear accessories.
I doubt they get paid enough to wear those all day, but hey—props for commitment.
I went straight to the plush section and found it: Pan-san Christmas Version 3.0.
Anyone would say it's the same plush with a new accessory—and they'd be right.
But come on, the accessory's new! That's what matters.
I grabbed one and headed to the counter.
The clerk scanned it and began wrapping it in Christmas-themed paper.
"That'll be all. Thank you for your purchase," he said with a friendly smile.
"By the way," I asked, "do you know when the Deluxe version of Pan-san will be released?"
According to the forums, a limited-edition plush was supposed to come out next year alongside the new movie.
No official date yet, but fans said pre-orders wouldn't be available—you'd have to show up in person to get one.
"Normally, that information is confidential, and we're not allowed to share it," he said, lowering his voice a bit. "But since you're a regular—and one of the few guys who admits to liking Pan-san—I'll tell you. It's coming out in early September. There'll be two release dates, so you'll have two chances to get it."
"Thanks for the info," I said, relieved. That gives me plenty of time, and since the release is before Rumi's birthday, it's perfect.
He nodded. "Just try not to share that information, okay? It's confidential, and I'm only telling you as one fan to another."
"Don't worry," I replied with a grin. "It's not like I want more competition lowering my chances of getting one."
After saying that, I nodded in gratitude and left the shop.
I should keep an eye on the release date for that plushie. I'm sure Rumi will love it—and as a good big brother, it's my duty to make my little sister happy.
Alright, now that I've bought Rumi's gift, it's time to head home…
Or at least, that was the plan—until my adorable little sister said something before I came to the mall.
"Onii-chan, since Christmas is coming, you should get something for Yumiko-san and Kawasaki-san."
Isn't she just the sweetest?
So, as a good big brother, I answered her words with flawless logic:
"Huh!? Why should I buy them anything?"
I've only known them for a few weeks, and they've given me more headaches than I could've ever imagined. Spending money on gifts makes no sense.
At least, that was my perfectly reasonable argument.
But my cute little sister knew exactly how to counterattack.
"If you keep thinking like that, you'll never get a girlfriend."
I can still remember the pity in her eyes. It was the kind of look that pierces straight through your soul.
"I don't need a girl when I have my adorable imouto. She's the cutest girl in the world, and I'm perfectly happy with my little sister's affection."
Those were the kind of words that could win me the "Big Brother of the Year" award.
Any other little sister would've rolled her eyes, but Rumi is special—she knows how to use my words against me.
"That's a shame… I told my friends I have an amazing big brother—someone really sociable, who's even giving gifts to his friends this year. Now I'll look like a liar… What should I do?" she said in a dejected tone.
I've taught Rumi many things, but maybe I taught her too well.
With no other choice, I fell for her trap and decided to go buy gifts for those two.
My sweet little sister is quite the manipulator…
Anyway, I have absolutely no idea what to get them.
You might say, "Just give them anything," and that was my plan—but Rumi said that if I did that, she'd be mad at me. She knows me too well.
Sometimes I think she's the older sibling.
So, I wandered around the mall, waiting for inspiration to strike.
There are plenty of stores—something has to come to mind. With that thought, I kept walking.
…
"It's pointless…"
I sighed tiredly, taking a sip of a sweet drink.
I've spent the last hour walking through the entire mall, trying to come up with something for Yumiko and Kawasaki, but nothing comes to mind.
Especially for Yumiko—she can get anything she wants just by asking her parents for their credit card.
And as for Kawasaki… I have no clue. Maybe a book on how to act like a girl?
Bad idea. She'd kill me if I gave her that—though the thought is kind of amusing.
There's no point; the more I think about it, the less I can come up with.
Oh well, I tried. It's the thought that counts, right?
Alright, time to head out.
With nothing else to do at the mall, I started walking toward the exit.
On the way back, I needed to come up with a believable excuse to tell Rumi.
"Tsurumi?"
Lost in thought, I turned around when I heard someone call my name.
"Kawasaki?" I said in surprise. I hadn't expected to run into her here, of all places.
She was wearing a dark green jacket and blue jeans—pretty much the same kind of outfit she wears when we walk home after karate practice.
"Didn't expect to see you here," she said, eyeing me with mild curiosity.
"I should be the one saying that. I never thought I'd see you in a mall."
"What's that supposed to mean?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Who knows? Anyway, what brings you here?"
I doubted Kawasaki would come all the way to one of Chiba's biggest malls just to buy something simple. If that were the case, she'd have gone to one of the smaller ones nearby.
"I came to buy a present for Keika."
"Santa Claus?"
"Obviously," she replied without hesitation.
Even though Christmas is celebrated differently in Japan compared to other countries, there's still that same man in red who brings gifts to children. Most kids believe in him until they're around seven or eight, when they realize it's just their parents leaving the presents.
I still remember asking Rumi—she was seven back then—what she wanted from Santa, and she said, "Nothing. He doesn't exist."
It's scary how easily kids learn things now with the internet at their fingertips.
Keika, on the other hand, is still young enough to believe in Santa Claus.
"I'm sure Keika would be happy with any gift you give her."
When kids are small, even simple gifts can make them happy.
"I take Keika's presents very seriously."
"Siscon…"
Normally that word's used for guys who are obsessed with their little sisters, but it works both ways.
"Hey! You're the last person who should call me that." She pointed at the bag I was holding. "Does your sister still believe in Santa Claus?"
"Huh? Rumi's old and smart enough to know he's not real." I lifted the bag. "This is a present from her great, dependable big brother to his cute little sister," I said proudly.
"...Siscon." She looked at me with disgust.
"I'm just a brother who loves his little sister."
"That's literally the definition of the word, idiot."
"Only idiots call other people idiots!"
"That's something an elementary school kid would say!"
Before either of us could continue, we noticed a few people staring at us. Not exactly the best place to argue.
"Maybe we should go somewhere else."
"I was thinking the same thing."
We started walking.
"So, what are you buying for Keika? Or do you not know yet?"
"Who do you think you're talking to? Of course I know. That's why I came to this mall," she said, full of big-sister pride.
"And that would be?"
"A coloring book, and a set of crayons." The way she said it didn't sound nearly as confident as she tried to make it.
"I'm pretty sure you can get that at any bookstore."
It's a common item for kids, sold just about anywhere.
"Don't look at me like I'm an idiot," she shot back. "I know that. But the one Keika wants is from a special edition of a kids' anime."
That made more sense—franchise goods like that are usually sold only in bigger stores, and this mall's bookstore is huge.
"When you put it like that, it makes sense."
No point in dragging this out. Kawasaki had to buy her gift for Keika, and I was heading home anyway.
Still, with her right here, it was a good chance to observe her and maybe get an idea for what to give her later. And honestly, I wasn't in much of a hurry to go home.
"Kawasaki, mind if I tag along? I've got nothing better to do."
Following her from a distance was out of the question—I didn't want to look like some kind of stalker. It was safer just to walk with her.
"Your honesty might be your biggest flaw," she said, raising an eyebrow before starting to walk.
"I'll take that as a yes," I replied in my usual tone, and we continued on our way.
…
It didn't take us long to reach the bookstore. On the way there, we talked about random things—nothing too important—since she's a lot more open with me now when it comes to holding a conversation.
Once inside, Kawasaki went straight to the receptionist to ask about what she came for, while I got distracted by the shelves filled with books.
"I didn't expect to find this."
Among the many titles, one in particular caught my attention. That panda looked very familiar to me.
When I picked up the book, I read the title: Panda's Garden. The rest of the cover was written in English.
Looking back, I remembered that Pan-san was based on a book written by an American biologist for his son.
Since it focuses on the study of pandas, it never really interested me before—but now that I have it in my hands, I'm curious about what's inside.
Besides, it's written in English, which isn't a problem for me.
I made up my mind: since it's Christmas, I'll buy myself this book as a gift.
With the book in hand, I headed to the counter to pay for it, where Kawasaki was already standing in line with Keika's gift.
"Magical girls, huh?" I said, noticing the coloring book she was holding.
"It's Keika's favorite anime. She gets mad when I forget to record the episodes."
It's kind of obvious, but here in Japan, anime airs on TV at specific times. If you can't watch it live, you can record it and watch it later.
As for magical girls—it's a huge franchise, so it's no surprise little girls love it.
"I get that. Rumi also sets her shows to record in advance."
Little sisters are terrifying when they get mad.
Kawasaki nodded in agreement, completely understanding that feeling. As older siblings, we just get each other on certain things.
…
After paying, we left the store.
Kawasaki had her purchase wrapped in gift paper to make it look like Santa Claus left it.
Speaking of gifts, even though I chatted quite a bit with Kawasaki, I still couldn't think of what to get her.
Rumi's definitely going to scold me for that—though, honestly, she's pretty cute when she's angry.
There are still a few days left until Christmas, so I'll look online for ideas on what to give a fifteen-year-old girl. The internet's a great source of knowledge, after all.
Putting those thoughts aside, since we'd both finished what we came to do, we started heading toward the exit.
"Hey, Tsurumi, can you hold this for a sec? I just remembered Keika wanted me to buy that seasonal dessert they sell at that café."
Kawasaki pointed toward a sign showing a limited-edition treat.
"No problem, I'll wait outside."
I held Kawasaki's things and watched her walk into the café.
Since she'd take a while, I decided to sit on one of the benches in the shopping center.
Maybe I should buy one of those sweets for Rumi too?
Then again, she's been eating too many desserts at home lately. It might be bad for her health if she keeps up that sugar intake.
"Raiden?"
While I was weighing the pros and cons of spoiling my adorable little sister, I heard someone call my name.
I didn't even need to look up to know who it was—after all, there's only one person who calls me like that.
"Hey, Yumiko."
She stepped out of the café, holding a coffee. She was wearing a red blouse and brown jeans—part of the clothes she bought that day.
Can't deny it—she looks really good in that outfit.
"What are you doing around here, Raiden?"
"Buying a gift for Rumi." I showed her the bag I was holding.
"You bought quite a few things. I'm sure Rumi will be thrilled to get all that."
I didn't quite get what she meant, until I realized I was also holding Kawasaki's stuff.
Right. That explains it.
"And you, Yumiko? Doing some pre-Christmas shopping?"
Maybe the Christmas spirit hit her, and she decided to decorate her whole house.
She seemed happy to hear my question—for some reason.
"Yeah," she said proudly. "I came with my parents. It's rare for Dad to have a few days off, but he managed to clear his schedule, so we decided to go out as a family."
She smiled brightly as she said that. It's nice that she gets time to spend with them.
"By the way, Raiden, since you're free, why don't you come with us? It'll be fun."
Her voice was cheerful and kind—though it didn't sound like an invitation to a fun outing. More like a trip to the slaughterhouse.
What do I mean by that? It's simple.
Everyone knows fathers are overprotective of their daughters. So if Yumiko introduces me to her family, her dad will probably see me as some punk with bad intentions toward his precious girl.
I can already imagine Yumiko's father glaring daggers at me—and I'd rather avoid getting skewered alive by parental judgment.
"I don't want to bother you. I've got things to do as well, so I'm heading home."
Even if my words sounded like an excuse, they were true. After all, a half-truth is still a truth.
"That's a shame, maybe next time."
"Who knows."
I'd rather that next time never come.
"See you, Raiden."
After saying that, Yumiko took a few steps forward but suddenly stopped, as if she were looking for something.
"Raiden, have you seen my phone?" she asked, sounding worried.
"Did you leave it in the café?" I said, pointing toward the shop.
Japanese culture is pretty honest—if you leave your phone somewhere, chances are you'll find it exactly where you left it, or at the lost-and-found later.
"Hold this for me."
Yumiko handed me her coffee and went back inside.
And as if they were magnets with the same charge, just as Yumiko entered, Kawasaki came out of the café.
"There are a lot of people. Must be a really popular sweet," Kawasaki said, showing the small box she was carrying.
"They're seasonal products; it's normal for them to be popular," I replied, as usual.
Before Kawasaki could answer, her gaze dropped to what I was holding in my hand.
"Did you buy yourself a coffee?" she asked curiously.
"Actually, it's not mine—it belongs to…"
Before I could even finish, Kawasaki started patting her pockets in a hurry.
"I think I forgot my wallet. Be right back." With that, she spun around and headed back into the café.
Is today Forget Your Stuff Day or something?
I know Yumiko and Kawasaki can both be clumsy, but maybe they have more in common than I thought.
A moment later, Yumiko came out again, looking relieved—guess she found her phone.
Are they like oil and water or something? It's like they repel each other.
"Looks like you found your phone." I handed her the coffee.
"Just a little slip-up," she said, taking it back with a small smile.
"Feels like that's pretty common for you."
"Are you implying something, Raiden?!"
Her glare could've frozen lava.
"Plenty of things," I said, shrugging, "though not all of them are right. By the way, won't your parents worry if you take too long?"
That made her expression soften.
"You're right. I told them I'd only be out for coffee—I shouldn't keep them waiting."
She turned and began to walk away, stopping a few steps later.
"See you at school, Raiden!" she called out before disappearing into the crowd of the shopping mall.
I raised a hand to wave goodbye.
A few seconds later, Kawasaki stepped out of the café.
"For some reason, everyone's forgetful today," I couldn't help but point out.
"It was just a little mistake! It doesn't mean I'm forgetful!" she snapped back.
Seeing Kawasaki flustered was… honestly kind of cute.
"I get it, I get it—no need to stress about it."
At least that seemed to calm her down.
I handed her the shopping bag, and we started walking toward the exit together.
Once outside, I glanced at Kawasaki and realized what kind of gift I could get her.
I like to think I'm observant, but when it comes to certain things, I'm painfully slow.
It'd be best to buy it now—knowing me, I'll forget later, and I'd rather avoid getting scolded by Rumi.
"I just remembered I still need to buy a few things," I said, stopping in my tracks.
"And you call me forgetful," she shot back immediately, clearly clinging to that earlier jab.
"Unlike you, this just came to mind, so technically it doesn't count as forgetting."
"Excuses, excuses," she said with a teasing grin. Watching that expression of hers is always entertaining.
I can't help but enjoy these little exchanges with her.
"Anyway, I'll see you at the academy." I raised my hand in farewell.
"See you later, Tsurumi," Kawasaki replied, waving back before walking off.
Time for me to finish shopping and head home.
I turned around and stepped back into the mall, intent on wrapping up the last of my errands.