Jay Kidman's Card story – Christmas Counseling

[kozvme]

Jay: W- What!? The "Pretend Play Major Leaguer set" is a no go!?

Asch: ... Haah?

Jay: !!
Sorry... I'm gonna change room, so wait a second...

Asch: ...?

Jay: Hah, good grief.
This has become troublesome. I'll have to think it over again.
I thought I hit upon an ideaー

Asch: ......

Jay: Mh?

Asch: ......!

Jay: That's right, Asch-

Asch: Tch... Shit, I shouldn't have looked.

Jay: There's one thing I'd like to ask, can I?

Asch: Nope.
I'm freaking busy right now. Don't talk to me.

Jay: I see, so you're busy... It looks like you're just lying in bed reading a magazine, though?

Asch: Yeah, that's right. I'm ridiculously busy, but I'm lying in bed reading magazines.

Jay: ......
What kind of presents did you get from your parents when you were little, Asch?

Asch: Kh, you deaf!? I told you I'm busy right now!

Jay: That's right, I fuuully understand you're busy, but I was wondering if you could listen to my problem just a bit?
You see, I'm coming up with a Christmas present for my son. He seems to be obsessed with Major League lately, so I was thinking of giving him a "Pretend Play Major Leaguer set".
But only a moment ago my wife called and told me that the "Pretend Play Major Leaguer set" will be Santa Claus' present, so I have to find something else...
I was so eager to buy it that I didn't think of a plan B... Christmas day is just around the corner, but nothing came up.
So it would be great if you could help me think about what to give himー 

Asch: I said I'm not gonna!

Jay: Mmh...

Asch: You've already wasted a minute of my time with your long and boring explaination. How dare you us up more of my precious time?

Jay: You're a tough one...

Asch: Besides, asking me that stuff is pointless. I ain't interested in Christmas, if anything, I hate it.

Jay: You're still saying that... Didn't I tell you it's your loss if you say such negative things?

Asch: I ain't gonna lose anything. It's none of your business.
Oi, you're gonna waste my precious time again? Counseling is over, too bad for you.

Jay: ......
Got it. Can't be helped, I guess I'll put myself in his shoes for now...
Though, if I were to go back to when I was 9...
Eeeh!? It's more than a quarter century ago!

Asch: Shut uuup!!!
For the millionth time, you're so fucking loud when you talk to yourself, quit it! Just do something about this! And about your snoring! 

Jay: Haha, sorry, sorry... I'm aware that I raise my voice when I talk to myself, I'll be as careful as possible.

Asch: Tch...



Asch: Hm, workout was quite fulfilling today. Thanks to that Oscar being at the gym at the right timeー

???: A present for your 9 year old, huh...?

???: I'm sorry, this is sudden. I've been thinking about it by myself, but I'm not going anywhere...

Asch: ? ... What?



Lily: Hmm, let's see... This year my kid wished "to be a princess for a day" for Christmas.

Jay: "Princess for a day"...?

Lily: As the name suggests, it seems she wants to dress like a princess and to be treated as one for a day.
I imagine she liked dressing up on Halloween and for some reason whined that she's fine with that; cute isn't she?

Jay: Haha, she wants to be treated like a princess, huh? How are you going to spend the day?

Lily: We'll go to the shopping mall with her dressed as princess, buy a present together, and eat her favorite macaroni and cheese once at home.
If I told her that's not Christmas-y at all, she'd whine again that it's fine since it's the Christmas of a princess...
Oh, sorry. The plan was to give you advice, but I unintentionally ended up talking like your usual doting parent.

Jay: No, I don't mind. You look particularly happy when you're talking about your daughter. I also enjoy listening to you.

Lily: That so? Would that be a good reference, though...

Jay: I think going to the mall together to pick presents is a good idea...
Unfortunately, my situation's a bit tricky.

Lily: Right... not just Christmas, I can see the same happening on every occasion.

Jay: Well, staying negative just because we're living apart will solve nothing.
I'm going to do everything I can both on Christmas and his birthday.

Lily: Haha. That positive attitude is your strong point, Jay.

Asch: ......

Jay: Hmm... Alcohol got in the way and I couldn't ask for advice anymore.
In the end, I still haven't decided on a present...
Well, I'm in a slump, nothing I can do about it. I should hit the sack for today and reboot my thoughts for a moment... Ops.
Oh no, this is bad, I ended up raising my voice again. Asch is going to get pissed...

Asch: ......

Jay: Ooh, he's already asleep. I should move quietly so that I won't wake him... Nh?
There's something on my bed. A flyer? No... It's a title deed of an island!?
What's this... Wait, this amount... 1, 10, 100, 1000... 5,000,000 dollars!!!??
Are these real... no, they're fakes. Thank god, there's no chance someone'd leave these in such a place...
Anyway, why are these things...

「What kind of presents did you get from your parents when you were little, Asch?」

Don't tell me... this is the answer to that question!?

...

What made him change his mind and help me? I'm very happy and grateful for this, but...
"Being a princess for a whole day" is still acceptable, but buying a child an island is...
Going overboard, I guess? Ahahah...