Reindeer House pt.20.5

“LET’S GO ICE-SKATING!!!!” Kometto burst into the lounge room, eyes sparkling like he’d just spotted destiny itself.

“That’s the best idea I’ve heard all day, darling!!” Bikkusen clapped his hands delightedly. “Come along, Dashaa, let’s go~ !!”

Before Dashaa could protest, he was yanked clean off the lounge chair they’d been sharing.

“H-HEY—!! I was resting between workouts!!” Dashaa snapped, already being dragged toward the door. “And don’t hang off me like that, you’ll—”

“Ice-skating?!! I’ve always wanted to learn!!” Buritsen beamed, narrowly ducking as a heavy present fell from the second floor and smashed into the spot where his head had been moments earlier. A faint “sorrry!!” drifted down from upstairs.

Rudorufu adjusted his glasses, eye twitching. “…Why do we still have unsecured objects?”

“Ah!! Rudorufu, Puransa,” Kometto pleaded sweetly, clasping his hands. “Surely you can take time off for some light exercise?!!”

The two looked up from their respective documents.

They glanced at each other.

They sighed in perfect, exhausted unison.

⸻

“WHEEEEE!!” Kyuupiddo zipped across the ice, clutching Rudorufu’s hands with alarming speed. “Thanks, Rufu, for lookin’ after me!!”

“I am not looking after you, I am actively preventing a disaster,” Rudorufu muttered, skates wobbling as Kyuupiddo dragged him along like a festive projectile.

Nearby, Donaa stood steady and serene, gliding with effortless grace while gently supporting a white-knuckled Puransa.

“I can’t believe I’m going to die like this,” Puransa whispered tensely.

“You’re doing fine,” Donaa said calmly. “You’ve only closed your eyes twice.”

CRASH!!

Everyone winced as Buritsen slid past on his stomach, spinning slowly.

“I’M OKAY!!” he called cheerfully, colliding with the barrier. “This is actually really fun!!”

From the sidelines, Dansaa snapped approximately forty photos. “This is cinema,” he whispered reverently.

Kometto gazed across the ice dreamily. “Ah… skating… so romantic… just like walking beside the Yule Goat beneath falling snow—”

“She’s not even here,” Puransa groaned.

As the sun dipped lower and the rink filled with laughter, crashes, near-misses, and far too many selfies, one thing became clear: They were terrible at ice-skating. They were a danger to themselves. And they were having the absolute best time.

Rudorufu watched the chaos unfold, sighed deeply, and quietly began drafting a new document: “Ice Rink Safety Incidents — Preliminary Report.”

It was already several pages long.

To be continued...