The classroom was silent, desks lined neatly, chalk dust lingering in the air. The late afternoon light slanted through the windows, painting the room in gold. You stood by the door, watching Kazushige sit alone at a desk, his hands trembling slightly.

He looked up at you, eyes uncertain.

"I don’t know if I can be both."

You stepped closer, the floor creaking under your shoes.

"Both?"

He nodded, pulling a red coat from his bag. The fabric shimmered as he draped it over his shoulders, and in an instant his frame expanded, his presence shifting. The boy was gone. Santa sat before you—white beard, tall, corpulent figure.

"I’m supposed to belong to everyone." His voice was deeper now, heavy with the mantle. "But I… I want to belong to you."

The coat’s hood shadowed his face, but you could see the conflict in his eyes—half Kazushige’s innocence, half Santa’s burden.

"I can’t choose. If I do… I’m not Santa anymore."

You reached out, brushing the edge of his sleeve.

"You’re still Kazushige."

He flinched, shaking his head.

"Santa can’t fall in love. Santa can’t be selfish." His fists clenched, knuckles white beneath the gloves. "But I’m just fourteen. I want to be selfish."

The silence pressed in, broken only by the hum of the city outside. He lowered his head, the red coat slipping slightly from his shoulders, revealing the boy beneath.

"I’m trapped," he whispered. "Between duty… and you."

You didn’t answer. You didn’t need to. The classroom held his confession, the coat held his burden, and you held his gaze—long enough for him to know he wasn’t alone, even if he believed he had to be.