Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

“…And that’s what happened yesterday.”

Kou related the story of how she met Sorleon’s cousin the previous day.
Hijiri had been listening attentively, really interested in the whole affair.

“Wow, so you met a princess. I really wish I could have been there too…”
“Ahahah, I mean, she seemed pretty interested in visiting our castle, so I’m sure she’ll come hang out eventually. I’ll introduce you when that happens.”

Saying that, Kou turned around to lay looking up, and Hijiri’s face looked down at her with a smile.
Kou was currently laying down on a couch, using Hijiri’s lap as a pillow.
They were not just flirting around, there was a proper reason for that. Even if most of the reason for it was actually spending time as a couple.

“I’m sorry I made you cancel all our plans to go out, even though it’s Christmas Eve.”
“Ahahah, don’t worryyy~ It’s not your fault it happened again so soon…”

…Christmas Eve was usually a big time for couples to go out together.
But Kou and Hijiri stayed home, lounging around… That was because Kou’s “time of the month”, which Amari explained should start arriving at a less frequent rate compared to regular humans, but with more variance, had come earlier than expected.

“And also…having a house date like this is pretty nice too, I like it.”
“Mm…thank you.”

Both of them quickly abandoned the idea of going out, as the city would surely be packed with people during Christmas. Instead they stayed at Kou’s home, in a corner where a home theater (which was one of her father Sora’s hobbies) was set up, watching various old movies.

“Do you think they got to the hot springs already?”
“Probably, it’s almost lunch time so I’d say they’ve arrived by now.”

While most businesses kicked into high gear to benefit from Christmas shopping sprees, Amari and the rest of NTEC, as well as the players, were taking it easy for once.
They had only released a small fetch quest to obtain somewhat useful items in Destiny Unchain Online, allowing most of the company to take a breather.
When Kou and the twins heard that, they banded together to make reservations at a popular hot springs place close to S-City for their parents…so currently the adults from both the Mitsuki and Furuya households were away.
That only left the other twin unaccounted for, Subaru, who was…

“So he ended up going on a date with Miyuki?”
“Yes he did, I don’t think he’s aware that’s what he’s doing though.”
“Hahah… I guess he just can’t fathom that a girl would ever be interested in him.”

Then they let out a collective sigh.
Miyuki, already known for being shy and reserved, had given it her all to send him an invitation under the pretext of buying skiing gear for their upcoming trip, so they had gone out together that morning.

“I guess we don’t really have a right to say anything though…”
“Mhm… And I don’t think Miyuki would want us to interfere too.”

As they discussed that…they both received a notification of an incoming message on their NLDs.
They checked it at the same time… and surely enough, it was Subaru texting them on their group chat.

Seeing those two messages, Kou and Hijiri’s eyes gradually lost their luster.

[Like I care about that]
[This is an order as your older sister. Figure it out yourself]

They impulsively, being rather harsh with him.

***

Later during the afternoon that day…

“Oww…so we ended up having to go out after all…”
“Ahahah… I completely forgot we had to pick up that cake.”

A cold wave had washed over the city, with large snowflakes falling on the city.
It was a bit more snow than one would hope for a white Christmas, and Kou constantly cried about the cold as they headed to a bakery, and Hijiri tried to comfort her.

…Preparations for their Christmas Eve dinner were already done, worked on by Amari, Sora, and Hijiri the night before.
It was all sitting in the fridge now, just waiting to be put in the oven to roast and be eaten.
But they had also ordered a cake from a nearby bakery… The original plan was that Hijiri and Kou would pick it up on their way home from their date that day, the date they were forced to cancel, while completely forgetting about the cake.

“Let’s just hurry up there, and we can go back to snuggle in a warm room, okay?”
“Okay…”

A slight nod was all Kou could muster in response to Hijiri’s encouragement, still holding her hurting belly, and then…

“…Huh?”

She turned around sharply, following a hue of red that seemed oddly familiar.
A tall young man wearing a half coat had just passed by them…and the red Kou noticed was his hair.

“Ah, Kou?!”

Hijiri called after her in shock.
But Kou seemed to forget everything around her the moment she saw that red haired young man, chasing after him.

…She could never forget that red hair. She had seen it before, way back in grade school when she still attended that dojo…

Driven entirely by impulse, she approached the young man and raised her voice.

“…Excuse me! You taught us swordplay at the dojo, right?! Years ago, back in Hasekura Dojo!”
“…Hm?!”

Hearing that, he stopped and turned around, looking intently at Kou.

“White hair, that face… Ahh, you must be that kid, Amari’s son!”

When he first turned around he seemed suspicious…but then replied with excitement.

Afterword:
I wonder who that could be~