That's the story before Ryder's disappearance -

On a warm spring day, children are playing happily in the park's children's playground. Only the girl sat alone on the rest chair and read quietly, which seemed a little out of place compared to the children playing.

"Hey! Do you like fairy tale books? ”

Ryder, who had finished playing with his friends for a while, walked over and asked.

"Yes, especially the story about Santa Claus."

The girl pointed to the book with an illustration of Santa Claus flying across the night sky on a sleigh pulled by nine reindeer.

"Every Christmas, I get a gift from Santa Claus, it's really great!"

"Hahahaha!!"

Hearing the girl's innocent words, Ryder suddenly laughed.

"Why are you laughing?"

The girl asked curiously.

"Santa Claus doesn't exist."

Stop smiling, and Ryder tells her the truth.

"The Santa Claus you saw before was actually disguised by adults to make the children happy. As for the gifts received, it is also the adults who prepare in advance. ”

“”

The girl felt as if something was going to hit her inside.

"Aren't you going to play with everybody? will be isolated. ”

Not at all aware that there was anything wrong with his words, Ryder made an invitation to the girl.

"I want to be quiet and not disturb me reading? Ryder. ”

The girl who knows the truth is not in the mood to play, and she can't even calm down when she reads.

"Looks like I've let you down."

Noticing the girl's expression, Ryder continued.

"In fact, every child will be disappointed when they know the truth, and I used to be too." "Ryder!"

The children in the distance were calling him.

"My friends are calling me, I'll see you later."

After saying goodbye to the girl, Ryder ran back to the children who had just played together.

"Santa Claus doesn't exist"

The girl lowered her head and muttered to herself.

※※※※※

The Human World, 2003

Mina. Albarrea, does not like his parents.

To be precise, I hate it very much that my parents go on an adventure in a strange world with a friend who has lost their son because they satisfy some curiosity.

"Mina, Mommy and Dad are going to a very strange world, and Ryder is waiting to come home in that world. We may not be able to come back for months. Aunt Mary will take care of you, so be obedient. ”

Before parting with her parents, Mina was left in the care of her distant relative, Aunt Mary.

The father stroked Mina's head with his hand and said goodbye to the child.

"Mommy, Dad, can you come back before Christmas?"

Mina, who is only seven years old, asks her parents expectantly, she at least hopes they can be with her at Christmas.

"Well, we'll do our best."

The mother leaned down to look at her little daughter, and a slight smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.

"Mina, you are our treasure and we will definitely be back. When the time comes, Mina will know a lot of interesting things. ”

"Yes"

Mina nodded slightly, and she could see the determination in her parents' eyes.

"Mary, Mina will leave it to you."

In the end, Mina is entrusted to the care of Aunt Mary.

Looking at the figure of her parents leaving, Mina felt that she was psychologically empty and a little uncomfortable.

Aunt Mary is actually a bit confused, but also a kind-hearted person.

She loves children very much, but for some reason she can't have them.

So, Mina was really well taken care of at her aunt's house.

Mina, who lives at her aunt and uncle's house for the time being, prays every day that her parents will come back sooner until Christmas draws closer———

※※※※※

"It's going to be a great Christmas this time, isn't it, Mina?"

On the way home, Aunt Mary held Mina's little hand and murmured.

Every house on the street decorates their homes with holly and mistletoe parasites; As people walk down the road while browsing the display windows of the shops, they all look happy with smiles on their faces that are more pleasant than usual.

"What would Mina want for Christmas? If you pray, Santa Claus will make your wish come true. ”

Aunt Mary looked at Mina with a smile.

"I wish Mom and Dad would be back on Christmas Day"

Seeing that the other children were able to be with their parents at Christmas, Mina also expressed her wish. Aunt Mary's smile brightened with sadness when she heard the girl's wish.

She leaned down and gently placed her hand on Mina's shoulder.

"Mina's wish may be a bit difficult, but Mina must have other wishes, you have always been a good boy, Santa Claus will compensate you in other ways"

"I know that Santa Claus doesn't really exist, and that the gifts that children get are just that their families know in advance and have them ready."

Mina lowered her head slightly, Ryder had told him the truth about Santa Claus before he disappeared.

"Miracles don't exist"

"Mina, I understand your feelings."

Seeing the girl's loss, Aunt Mary sighed slightly and said earnestly.

"Your parents love you, but they only had to leave you because they had to do a very important job. What's more, after your friend Ryder disappeared, everyone was really worried, and it was sad that they decided to temporarily separate from their families in order to protect their loved ones, so don't hate them."

"I see, I'm sorry"

Mina nodded, apologizing softly.

"Sure enough, Mina is a good boy, I really envy your parents"

Aunt Mary gently touched Mina's head.

"Even if your parents are gone, your uncle and I will take care of you as if you were our own children."

"So, at least a Merry Christmas should be had."

—1—

As night wore on, Mina enjoyed a Christmas dinner with Aunt Mary and her uncle, and after the meal, she sat in her auntie's favorite rocking chair and listened to her uncle read a book.

"Mina, now you can open the gift, you'll love it."

Aunt Mary's voice came from the hall, and there was a hint of anticipation in her voice.

"Go ahead, Mina."

Uncle closes the book and urges Mina to open her Christmas present.

"Aunt Mary has been looking forward to it."

"Yes."

Whispering yes, Mina walked down the hall.

The hall is adorned with a tall Christmas tree, decorated with sparkling ornaments, surrounded by countless candles, and piled with gifts wrapped in ornate ribbons and flowers.

"Wow"

Mina's eyes widened at the sight of so many Christmas presents.

"Mina, these are all your Christmas presents!"

Aunt Mary sat by the Christmas tree and waved to Mina.

"Open it up and take a look!"

"Thank you, Aunt Mary."

Mina smiled happily and walked over to the presents under the Christmas tree.

"Let's start with this"

Mina plans to open the smaller gift box first.

She carefully unwrapped the wrapping paper, then opened the carton to see a stack of neatly arranged green cards stacked inside.

Mina picks up the stack of cards, the first of which depicts a vampire wearing a red mask in medieval costume.

"Vamdemon"

Mina reads the text above.

"This is a Digimon card?"

"Yes, these cards were brought by your father's Japanese friend. Card games are still popular in Japan, and they are fun to play. Before leaving, he gave me the card, hoping that it would be a Christmas gift for you. ”

Aunt Mary kept a smile on her face, as if she had misunderstood something

"Mina will love to play fun games, too."

"This"

Mina looked at the card in her hand with a complicated expression, not knowing how to express it. She didn't understand why her father had given the Digimon card to Aunt Mary as a Christmas present. Besides, Mina doesn't have much interest in card games at all.

Even among boys, there aren't many people who play Digimon cards.

(Does it really make sense?) ）

"Mina, open the next present, you'll love it."

Aunt Mary's gift was a bit embarrassing to her husband's uncle, and it seemed that Mina seemed to be a little confused by such a gift, and it was not enough to be happy. In order not to disappoint the girl, the uncle hurriedly asked Mina to open the next gift.

At the very least, most of the gifts were carefully selected by the uncle.

Compared with the first gift, the later gifts are much more normal, and they are also very much in line with the little girl's love.

Pretty scarves, cute teddy bears, and Mina's favorite storybook

Every gift made Mina happy.

"Sure enough, Mina hates your parents, that's why she doesn't like this gift."

Aunt Mary was a little devastated by Mina's completely different attitude towards other gifts and Digimon cards.

"No, Aunt Mary, I actually like it"

Seeing Aunt Mary's disappointed appearance, Mina was a little panicked for some reason.

"yes, you're thinking too much."

Uncle was also on the sidelines to comfort Aunt Mary.

"Hehe, I see...... That's great. ”

Hearing this answer, Aunt Mary finally smiled again.

※※※※※

After unpacking all the gifts, Mina sat back in her rocking chair and listened to her uncle read to her, in order not to disappoint her aunt. Mina also deliberately carried her father's card with her to show her love for her parents.

The rocking chair shook just right, and Mina herself began to feel a little sleepy.

"It's almost time to sleep."

When he noticed that Mina was dozing off, his uncle carried Mina back to the room, gently placed her on the soft bed, and covered her with a quilt.

"Good night, Mina, and Merry Christmas."

Aunt Mary kissed Mina on the forehead, smiled at her uncle, and left the room together, closing the door gently.

—2—

"Uh......h Woo......"

Mina, who was asleep, was awakened by a continuous, but faint sound, like the voice of some animal. Mina sat up from the bed and rubbed her eyes.

The hands of the alarm clock showed 1 a.m., and the slight sound came from the window one after another. The sound was quiet, but it kept Mina from sleeping.

Disgruntled, Mina went to the window and wondered what animal was making her sleep.

"What's that?"

Seeing outside the window that she had never seen a strange creature before, Mina's sleepiness was swept away, and her eyes widened in surprise.

It was a few creatures with a faint golden glow all over their bodies, strange, but very cute, like fairy-tale elves.

"Chirp~~~Chirp~~~"

Seeing Mina walk to the bed, the elves seemed to be happy, and kept flying by the window, as if to signal her to open the window.

"Do you want me to open the window?"

Mina asked the elf outside the window, and the other nodded.

"It's incredible."

Or maybe children are born with a crush on cute presences, and Mina doesn't feel any uneasiness, but opens the window and wants the cute elf outside the window to fly in and accompany her.

"Chirp!"

The elf flew into the room excitedly, flew around Mina, and then suddenly stretched out his little paws and grabbed Mina's hands.

"What, what's wrong?!"

Mina was taken aback by the elf's actions.

At this moment, the elf's body emitted a blinding golden light, which was so dazzling that Mina had to squint.

At the same time, something happened to the room, and Mina's expression became panicked.

Time seemed to have stopped, and although Mina remained conscious, her body could not move, not even make a sound, and the elf continued to hold Mina's hands.

(Who's going to save me!) ）

Mina prayed desperately in her heart, hoping that it was just a simple nightmare.

Countless white data cubes of light overflowed from the elf's body and surrounded the entire room, and even the ground became data cubes, as if entering another world.

Immediately after, a white vortex appeared from under Mina's feet, and the strong suction force sucked Mina into the vortex.

"Ahh!!h

Mina let out a scream, she felt herself fall down in the air, the strong wind ruffling her hair, and she could only squint her eyes, unable to see where she was falling.

Then, Mina lost consciousness

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