âI like your makeup,â says a ratty-looking girl.Â
Nico turns around. She could eat her, but, like, kids? Especially one this thin, who complimented her makeup? Nico thinks not.
âThank you.â
The girl smiles, a bit shakily. Â âDo you have money please? Iâm hungry.â
âDo you have a family?â Nico asks carefully.
âGhouls ate them.â The girl wraps her arms around herself to ward off the December chill.Â
âWhy didnât you go to CCG, then?â Nico canât believe sheâs saying this.Â
âDaddy liked ghouls. He didnât believe in killing them.â The girl pouts. âBut now Iâm very cold. I think everyone thinks Iâm dead anyways.â
âYou canâŠcome home with me for tonight, at least,â Nico suggests. Nico, why? âI can give you food and a warm place to sleep. Besides, itâs Christmas Eve.â
âI know.â The girl looks sad. âI miss my parents.â
âThen come with me so you donât freeze.â Nico extend her hand, and the girl takes it. Her fingers are like icicles.Â
Nico stops to buy cookies and milk for the girl and coffee for herself.Â
The girl gasps as soon s they enter Nicoâs apartment. An elaborate tree too big for the room, stuffed with gaudy decorations, stands there. âI love it!â
âIâll use the couch. You can have my bed,â Nico tells her. âBesides, Santa wonât care if an adult sees him.â
âSanta doesnât know where I am,â says the child, greedily snatching the cookies.
âHe has his ways.â Nico helps feed the chid, and even gives her soap to bathe herself. As the kid showers, Nico sends frantic text message after text message to her fellow clowns.Â
Adopted a human.
Get me presents.
Presents to give to her.
All of you.
You too, Donato. If you eat her, Iâll eat you.Â
Do I have to? Souta replies.
Youâre the Bureau Director. Of all of us, youâre the richest, Uta says.Â
Get her fancy makeup. Nico sighs. Tomorrow will be a happy-ish day for this weird human if itâs the last thing she does.Â
