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[dereban]

I'm free.

And yeah, feel free to stop by. I'll hand you your gift when you do. You're not allowed to open it until tomorrow, though.

[spacialeyes]

May I also bring your gift by, then? I’m free until the party!

Criste Maesse rules are so scary! If you cheat with mine, though, then I won’t tell anyone.

[dereban]

That's fine.

I'm not going to cheat. I still have honor for Christmas.

[spacialeyes]

Darn! I guess that I can’t trick you into giving me an easy victory, huh?

I’ll be right over then. Is there anything else that I should bring for you?

[dereban]

What do you mean? I'm going to be the one who'll win here.

No need to bring anything else.

[spacialeyes]

We’ll see about that, huh~?

Okay! Incoming!

[And there’s a light crunching on the snow outside of her door as Yuuto lands. He’s holding a lavender wrapped box in his arms, otherwise bundled in scarves and his coat.

He also has way too much energy. That probably won’t last.]

I~naba! Good morning!

[dereban]

[ And she'll open the door, holding a small pink bag. ]

Mornin'. I already ate breakfast, so you don't have to worry about cooking anything. Anyway, here. I know that we're supposed to have a judge, but the gift is a bit... personal to have it looked at.

[spacialeyes]

[Yuuto hands her the wrapped box in exchange, making sure she has a good grip since it’s a bit heavy. Holding the bag now, he can’t help but laugh lightly in a matching confession.]

Mine too… If Ryoko isn’t judging, how should we decide who wins Christmas? [He may have started this as a contest, but Yuuto lost sight pretty fast. He won’t say it, but he’ll be happy as long as she doesn’t hate her gift.]

… Thank you for thinking of me, Inaba.

[dereban]

Hmm... let's go with 'emotional reaction'. If I can get you to cry, then that's a win in my book.

[ Although wow, this is a bit hefty... ]

[spacialeyes]

Do my tears make you happy, Inaba?

[He’s not even teasing: Yuuto sincerely wonders if she actually wants to see him crying again.

And, for the moment, he gestures into the house.]

Do you have time to be together for a bit, or are you helping Santa? I… [And he shifts his weight shyly,] I got my prep done early, so you could be my priority this morning.

[So she doesn’t have to feel bad!]

[dereban]

Only if they're happy tears. I finished doing all my Christmas stuff, so I'm basically free all day.

[spacialeyes]

I’m sure they will be then. [And he gives the gift bag a gentle squeeze. Just getting this is already enough. Knowing they’re still friends is already more than he deserves.]

Let’s set your gift inside and find something to do, then. There are lots did snow sculptures and most of the shrines are lit up? Unless you had something in mind?

[dereban]

I didn't really have anything in mind. Honestly, I was just going to reread something on my own but that'll have to wait now.

[spacialeyes]

I don’t have to keep you for very long then.

[He’ll wait for her to be ready to leave,] Have you had a chance to see the Winter Kami shrine yet? It’s pretty extravagant for something that’ll only last a few months.

[Yuuto is still trying to think of something she’ll enjoy. Despite all of his positive momentum lately, he still needs to justify their spending time together with something useful to Inaba.]

Or… we could try to make Ryoko and Aisaka-san a Christmas cake, hm… or…

[dereban]

I haven't. I've been too busy--working on the Wishing Boards and then the Christmas presents on top of that.

[ It's been nonstop work, trying to be busy, trying not to think too hard about things. But she knows that when she gets too tired, it comes back to haunt her. ]

... Ah. Well, I don't think I'd be any good at baking.

[ She knows how to cook thanks to having three years of being taught, but she's never really baked anything before, as she's never really had to. ]

[spacialeyes]

That’s right… You’ve probably been working this whole time while I was sleeping, huh..?

[He feels guilty for that. Even if Yuuto doesn’t like how he has to sleep for weeks at a time, he also recognizes that it’s not hard work. Just scary.

There was a place here for him to spiral into self-loathing and guilt himself to tears… But instead, Yuuto breaths in and grins.]

Then today, I’ll spoil you with sooo much relaxing! I’d even give you a massage or teach you to bake, if that’s what you wanted. Okay? Any wish you have is my… strongly noted suggestion!

[dereban]

Don't spend too much time with me. It is Christmas Eve, after all. I don't want to die just because I stole your time.

[spacialeyes]

Are you sick, Inaba?

[He squints suspiciously,] I already told you. I put aside the first half of the day for you! You're not stealing my time. I'm giving it to you.

[dereban]

. . . Oh. I get it now. Nobody's told you, have they? Christmas Eve is actually the couple's holiday. Like, you'd go on a date with your significant other day.

1/2

[spacialeyes]

Aha! I see. Well, I already planned to be with Akutagawa this evening, so don't worry about that!

2/2

[spacialeyes]

Though... Now the pressure is on, huh..?

[He sighs. He'll get nervous later! After smacking his cheeks to correct his nerves, Yuuto tries to smile at Inaba again.]

I still don't mind hanging out, but... Do you hate it?

[dereban]

... Hate is a strong word. It's more - awkward.

[spacialeyes]

I guess that it would be, huh..?

[And his smile becomes more awkward to match. They haven't had many chances to actually hang out since they broke up, so Yuuto is still learning how to navigate their new relationship.

He holds the gift a bit tighter and closes his eyes, thinking through his thoughts and feelings for once.]

... For me, I don't want for my friend to be alone today. I think that's all that there is to it for me. Ryoko told me that Christmas was for your friends, and you're the whole reason I have any, so...

[dereban]

I really don't mind being alone, you know. At least it's better than some of the other Christmases I've had.

[ She's not dead, for one. It's a very low bar. ]

[spacialeyes]

[He almost shrinks into submission. Maybe this is a bad idea. Maybe he's being troublesome. He's selfish and he's hurting her by being here. It would be better to let Inaba escape him. She has better options for friends, ones who aren't a confusing pile of heart broken pieces and confused emotions.

But he's holding a gift that she made for him. He's been writing in a journal that she gave him.

Yuuto breaths in to steady himself and fight off as much self-loathing as he can.]

I mind. I want to be with you.

Do you want to go do something or not?