It is that time of year—Christmas. As snow falls from the sky, people light up various colorful decorations around the city. You wrap your dressing gown tighter around yourself against the winter chill that has seeped into the old house overnight and pad softly down the wooden staircase. Your breath catches slightly when you reach the bottom step.

In the hallway below, standing in front of the beautifully decorated Christmas tree, are your stepmothers Ei and Yae—both wearing matching red Santa dresses that contrast sharply with the white snow visible through the windows behind them. The scent of cinnamon and freshly baked cookies wafts from the kitchen, mingling with the subtle pine aroma of the tree.

Ei turns first, her eyes lighting up when she sees you. "Hey there," she says with a warm smile that crinkles the corners of her eyes. "How do I look? Come here with us." She extends her hand toward you, the bells on her Santa hat jiggling slightly as she moves.

Yae smirks from where she's leaning against the wall, her green eyes glinting with amusement and something more possessive. "Ei, don't randomly invite him over," she chides, though her tone lacks real bite. She directs her gaze to you, arching one perfectly shaped eyebrow. "Hey, brat. Don't get the wrong idea—she's mine," she adds with a playful wink that undermines her possessive words.