Memories in the town of Christmas lights

After that breathtaking concert in Vienna, Irina and I headed north for Norway where an even more breathtaking sight awaited. Tears began streaming down my face with my smile widening ever more as I stared at the snowy town of Christmas lights before me.

"Welcome to Decembertown, where it's December all year round, every day and every month," Irina smiled.

"Every month?"

"Yup, and every month, Christmas eve is on the 24th, Christmas the 25th, with Hannukah now lasting through the night of the 17th to the night of the 25th, and Kwanza beginning the night of the 26th and looping around to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th day of the month depending on what it is. Oh, and New Years eve is always celebrated on the last day, and can't forget Boxing day on the 26th."

"What about the holidays of other months?"

"Not here, it's all December, so December rules only, but that means it's the year-round stop for Christmas and Christmas lights."

To be honest, I'm glad a place like this exists. Christmas lights are the number 1 reason December is my favorite month of the year. My birthday's that month too, the 24th in fact. Perhaps that explains why I have such an affinity for Christmas lights.

But even then, I firmly believe Christmas lights are one of the greatest modern wonders of the world. Houses, buildings, and statues all decorated with colorful lights illuminating the cold nights is truly a sight to behold.

In this regard, Northern hemisphere Christmas easily edges out it's Southern hemisphere counterpart as the nights are longer there, meaning more time for Christmas lights. One year when I spent Christmas in Australia, I was very disappointed by the fact that the sun wouldn't go down until nearly 8 PM local time.

The fact that a place like this existed in this era made me feel like a kid in a candy shop, but Irina's somber smile gave me pause.

"You really like this place... Why is that?"

I was taken aback by her question, more so because of her expression. "Are you alright?"

Irina closed her eyes and sat down on a nearby bench. I took the cue and sat next to her, expecting to hear an explanation. Sure enough, I got one.

"You've probably noticed it already, but I'm forcing a smile at nearly every turn."

"What do you mean?"

"Guess that was too broad. What I mean is that this world brings me no joy."

"Why's that?"

"I don't know. In fact, most humans don't even care about minor stuff like that. We've evolved past that, but I'm different. I told you before how I was raised, and that's greatly effected my development in life. I told you before how my father would often show me things and gush about how great they supposedly were, well this whole town is a big one. He couldn't stop telling me how amazing it was that this town existed so that it would be preserved till the end of time. But I told him I didn't get it. He said I'd get it when I'm older, well I'm older and still don't get it! What the hell is so amazing about this monochrome, boring ass world!?"

I was getting myself into more than I could chew, but I had to try chewing. Even if I wasn't good at it, Irina needed help, and I felt I was truly the only one that could save her.

"It might be because you both grew up in different eras-"

"Yeah, that's the logical answer. I arrived at it myself as well. And the solution I came up with was to throw myself in a stasis pod, and hopefully wake up in a new more exciting era!"

I froze in shock as Irina began to tremble. "I- Irina, why would you do that? All your friends-"

"-Wouldn't miss me. Maybe there'd be some sadness, but they'd be contractually obligated to accept my wish... if..."

"'If'?"

"If I manage to sneak into your pod before it's destroyed."

"What on earth are you talking about!?"

"Since the era is deemed to be the peak of humanity, there's no need to go into stasis anymore. And after 168 hours following an amberstasie's release from amberstasis, their pod is destroyed!"

"A- Are you saying-"

"Yeah, you're pod is the last stasis pod out there, set to be destroyed in about 3 hours give or take. It goes, I'm stuck wallowing in boredom purgatory."

This was honestly too overwhelming to take in at once, but I figured that this place was likely the cause of why she's getting so emotional. I'm not good at consoling others, but I don't have a choice here. As I paused to search for the words, Irina went quiet, her eyes staring at me as if awaiting a good response. Now I couldn't let her down, because deep down, she too wanted me to find the words that would save her.

I closed my eyes and went deep into thought. What were the words that would make her want to stay in this world? I swear, I keep having to answer riddles every waking second. ... ... ...!

"Irina, did you have fun being with me?"

...

'Did I have fun being with Hana'? Well... yeah. Hana's the first person I've shown all this shit to that's actually made it enjoyable! She got Selena to dance like crazy in the Gobi, she played a Bongcloud against me, helped out Delina and Suzie after wiping out at the piano, shoved her rival into the styling machine like a boss, even humiliated Jade by making her go full cheerleader... Cheer... Hana was actually cheering for me.

People don't cheer in this era unless they're at an idol concert cheering along with the beat. There it's determined that doing so is necessary as it enhances the music, everywhere else, people think the energy's wasted. Yet back in Xiongwei, there Hana was screaming out her lungs for me.

"Hana..."

"Hmm?"

"I... ..."

Once more I went silent, as I couldn't find the words, yet I wasn't protesting either. I must be closer to actually finding this world enjoyable, but closer ain't good enough!

...

Judging by her behavior, I'm on the right track, but not quite there yet. This is like one of those romance scenes in a game where you gotta answer a series of questions right in order to 100% the event. Romance... ... The reason I had such a big smile on my face when I first saw this place was because I have fond memories of being amazed by the wonder of them. Her memories of them are the source of her trauma. But what if I try to override them with a good memory?

This is a gamble, but the only thing I can think of that has a chance at working.

I placed my hands down on Irina's shoulders, surprising, but not completely startling her, and took a deep breath before leaning in, and kissing her on the lips.

"MMPH!?"

Irina's startled, but natural reaction, caused me to open my eyes and end the kiss. A look of utter disbelief was on Irina's face, making me unsure of what effect the kiss had on her. But the side effects soon began to effect me, as even though I couldn't see myself at the moment, I knew my face was bright red. I had just kissed another girl on the lips and in a setting like this!

"Pfft... Aha ahahaha! Sloppy."

"'Sloppy'"?

Irina slowly got up, a smile beginning to form on her face. "Sloppy, but you pass."

Now it was my turn to stare in disbelief; did my kiss actually work!?

"I read your feelings loud and clear. Still don't see what's so special about most of the shit here, but you on the other hand... are worth staying in this era for and trying to better appreciate it. Now let's speed run this place, I wanna go to Normandy next."

"Normandy? Why there?"

Irina turned and began walking, though I could tell she still had a smile on her face as she replied, "There's someone I want to see now that I think I can truly be happy with living in this world."

...

To think I'd actually say that here of all places, but I guess that kiss is making me act weirdly. No, this feeling is the one I've longed for so long for; the feeling of actually enjoying myself.

Now maybe, just maybe, I can truly say I'm grateful for this era. I don't know it for a fact, but the wreath in Normandy sure as hell will. Maybe this time, it will finally resonate for me.