Side Story: “Holly Girl”
This is the first of short stories that we will be publishing in the Mailbag. This one takes place in a slightly modified version of Hello Girl’s world. Merry Christmas!
“Hup!”
Twintails stands on the shoulders of Helmet, reaching tall in the Christmas tree to hang a shiny red ornament at the target. Helmet wobbles ever so slightly below.
Courier sighs, unimpressed, from the neighboring ladder. “Why’d you have to place them next to each other?”
“What’s the problem?”, Twintails huffs. “I did what you asked of me. If you wanted something more specific you should’ve said so.”
Ana steps out of the kitchen, a sweet scent following her. She’s holding two long glasses in her hand, passing one to Courier on the ladder.
“What’s this?”, Courier says, sniffing it.
“Mulled wine.”
Courier takes a sip of it, her eyes widening. Anise. Cinnamon. Brandy. “Oh. It’s strong.”
Ana smiles. “You looked like you needed it, going through all this trouble.”
“No these two they’ve been… great help.” Courier looks down at the twins, who are now arguing between star and crystal ball. “You just have to ask them to do simple things.”
Courier eagerly takes another sip of the wine. “Is this liquor? How’d you even get this?”
Ana puts a finger over her lips. “Secret.”
Courier squints at her. “What the heck?”
“Can I help you with anything?” Ana winks.
“Yeah.” Courier steps down from the ladder, leaning into Ana’s ear. “Can you like, separate them?”
Ana looks at the twins, who are throwing ornaments at each other. She walks over to the two. “Can you help me with something?”
The twins stop arguing, looking at Ana. “What is it?”, they say in unison.
Ana puts her hand on one of the near-identical twins. “Could you help me set the table?”
Helmet looks at her sister, who nods at her, then back at Ana. Can they communicate telepathically? Ana wonders. She’s not receiving anything herself.
Ana takes Helmet by the hand and leads her to the kitchen. She looks back at her sister, who’s still standing there, looking at the tree.
“I was wondering if you could help me set the table. Can you do that?”
“Okay,” she pauses. “Plates, right? Forks.”
Ana nods. “Yes, that’s right. And cups.”
“How many?”
“Let’s see. It’s you, your sister, me, Courier, and Milsy. So five sets.” Ana counts on her fingers.
“What about Yuno?”
“Oh, right. Six.” Ana had forgotten that there was a third girl in the solider squad.
Helmet nods, and starts looking for the plates. Ana points her to the cupboard.
Ana lifts the lid off the pot on the stove. The steam wafts up into her face, and she takes a deep breath. It’s a sweet, spicy smell. Carrots and berries bubble around a big roast. It’s coming along nicely.
In the other pot, the mulled wine is simmering without bubbling. The other day, Maillard had come over with a nondescript bottle of brandy for the occasion. She said that she had made it herself, but Ana had been skeptical of this fact. The wine just came from the cellar, yet another thing the owner had left it behind. Can’t get that anymore, probably.
Ana takes another sip of the wine, it warming her belly. She’s starting to feel a little tipsy. Better take it easy.
Helmet comes back to carry more stuff to the table. Ana points her to the cupboard on the right. “The glasses are there.” Helmet nods, just barely able to reach the shelf. It feels a little silly to ask someone struggle their way through the task when she could just do it faster herself.
Ana takes back to the main room. The tree is starting to look nice. Courier has taken over the decorating, leaving Twintails to pass her the ornaments from the bottom of the ladder. Looks like she’s finally established some order.
She looks to the blue-haired girl sitting in the window. She’s watching the snow fall outside, her breath fogging up the glass. She had been sitting there alone the whole time, not saying a word.
“Yuno?” Ana says.
She jumps a little in response. “H-how’d you know my name?”
“Secret.” Ana winks. It’s because the twins told her. They asked really nicely if they could bring a third over. As long as they behaved.
“What do you want?” Yuno’s voice has a sharp edge to it.
“I just wanted to make sure you weren’t feeling left out.”
“I’m… fine.” Yuno says flatly, looking back out the window.
Ana sits down next to her. They only saw each other briefly while crossing paths with the twins. She knows on thing that can always get people to open up.
“Do you like wine?”
Yuno looks at Ana. “I’ve never had it.” She mumbles a little, maybe embarrassed.
“Here, try some.” Ana hands her cup over.
Yuno cautiously takes a sip, making a grimace.
“It’s… warm.”
“It’s mulled wine.” Ana says.
Yuno looks at her, then back at the cup. She takes another sip.
“It’s not my thing.”
Ana thinks to change the subject. “It really is snowing out there, huh?” The weather.
Yuno looks back out the window, silently.
“Snow is cold. But in here it’s warm.” Ana takes another sip of the wine. Nothing.
“So how do you know the twins?” She continues with the small talk.
“They’re in my squad.”
“Really? What do you do?”
“Patrol.”
“Mm.” This isn’t going anywhere.
Helmet comes back to Ana. She looks behind the twin, seeing that the table is set. “Good job.” She pats her on the head. Yuno’s eyes go wide.
Helmet looks at the tree. “You have a lot of ornaments.”
“They were all in the spare room.” Ana says.
“Oh.”
“Is… there anything I can help with?” Yuno’s voice is hushed.
Helmet and Ana both turn their heads to look at her. Ana smiles. “Want to help me put the food on the table?”
The guest’s eyes intently watch Ana set the roast down on the table. Enough to feed everyone, and then some. The vegetables have been laid out in a neat band around the centerpiece. Anticipation fills the room.
The twins are quiet for once, watching the proceedings with interest. Yuno looks indifferent. Courier looks the hungriest of all. Ana often wonders how she can eat so much and still be so thin. Maybe it’s because she moves around so much. Ana can always tell the difference after she’s eaten something indulgent.
“I set the table for six,” Helmet says. “Did I miscount after all?”
“No, you didn’t.” Ana says with a smile.
“She’s late.” Courier sighs, looking at the clock. Who’d have thought it.
“Should we just start then?” Helmet tilts her head.
Ana looks at the door. “I suppose the food’s getting cold.”
“Let’s eat.” Courier says intently.
The door opens with a gust of wind. It’s Maillard, her coat covered in snow. She’s carrying a bag of something.
“Now the party can start.” She says, taking off her coat, revealing her postal uniform underneath. “I brought a little side dish.”
“Where were you?” Courier asks, crossing her arms. “You were supposed to be here an hour ago.”
“I was just out for a smoke.” Her eyes fall on the table. “Looks like I was just in time.”
“We could’ve used your help.” Courier remarks.
The twins eyes light up. “Aunt Maillard!” They say in unison.
“Well if it isn’t my two favorite little nieces.” Maillard ruffles their hair. “And you’re all dressed up. You look like Santa’s little helpers.”
Courier and Ana look like question marks. Aunt? Nieces?
Maillard sits down, everyone squeezing in around the table to make room. Twintails pushes against Yuno, who’s looking at the new guest with a little trepidation.
“Let’s eat.” Maillard says, taking a slice of the roast. “I’m starving.”
The room is filled with the sound of clinking glasses and silverware. The twins are talking animatedly with Maillard. Ana and Courier are just stunned that Maillard has any family at all. Yuno is eating quietly, looking at the twins with envy. That drink she had is making her feel strange, too.
Before long, some argument breaks out between the twins again. Ana is trying to mediate, but it’s not going well. Yuno is trying to stay focused on her food, but it’s hard with all the noise.
Courier looks to Maillard. “How do you do it?”
“Huh?”
“Deal with them.”
Maillard looks at the twins, then back at Courier. “What are you talking about?”
Helmet and Twintails shove each other back and forth, knocking over a glass. The liquid spills all over the table, running down into Yuno’s lap. The group immediately scatters, trying to clean up the mess. Only Maillard and the twins are left at the table.
“Hey!” Yuno stands up, the chair scraping against the floor. Soda running down her uniform. “What’s wrong with you two?”
The twins stop, looking at Yuno. They’re both red in the face, looking down at the floor.
“Can’t say anything?” Yuno’s voice is sharp. “You two are unserious. You’re not even trying to be soldiers.”
The twins look at each other, then back at Yuno.
“I’m sorry.” Helmet says. Twintails nods.
Yuno looks at them, then back at the table. “Pathetic.” She says. “You only have each other.” Her voice echoes in the room.
“Only each other and no one else. Do you have any goals? Any dreams? You’re just wasting your time.”
The twins look at each other, then back at Yuno. Tears are forming in their eyes.
“What are you going to do when the bombs start falling? When the bullets start flying? You’re going to start crying too? Get a grip.”
“This roast is good as fuck.” Maillard says, taking another slice. Her voice kills the whole conversation.
Yuno storms off. There’s no point in arguing with these fools.
The cabinet is nice and quiet. You almost can’t hear the voices in the other room. Yuno was always fond of small spaces like this. They made her feel safe.
Those twins are nothing but brats. They have something precious and they only know how to throw it away. Once this snow clears up she’s going to execute her special plan once and for all, and then she’ll never have to see them again.
The cabinet opens up partway with a creak. “Are you ready to come out now?” Ana’s gentle voice calls out. “You can forgive them, okay?”
Yuno pulls the hem of the dress she’s borrowing. Ana doesn’t understand at all.
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