The campus was bathed in the soft glow of winter lights. Snowflakes drifted gently, catching the faint shimmer from the decorative trees scattered across the courtyard. The students' laughter echoed faintly in the distance — Christmas Eve had turned the usually cold and quiet Advanced Nurturing High School into something almost alive.
After the long morning meeting with Ayanokōji and Ryūen — and the unexpected appearance of Ibuki being dragged into it — I was finally on my way back to the dorms. My breath misted in the freezing air as I rubbed my hands together and sighed.Christmas Eve, huh?Even in this isolated school, people still found ways to enjoy it. Lights in the dorm windows flickered with life; some students were hosting small gatherings, others exchanged gifts, and a few — well, a few preferred solitude.
I, however, wasn't expecting company.
"Finally," a cold voice snapped from ahead. "Do you even know what time it is?"
I blinked. Standing right at my door, wrapped in a thin coat and tapping her foot impatiently, was Ibuki Mio.
She looked like she'd been standing there for quite a while, her cheeks slightly flushed from the cold. "I've been freezing out here for twenty minutes, Miyamoto."
"Eh? Why didn't you go inside?" I asked, fumbling for my key.
"Because someone didn't give me one!" she huffed, crossing her arms. "And before you ask — no, I didn't feel like barging into your dorm. I have standards."
"Standards, huh?" I said with a grin, unlocking the door. "And here I thought you'd learned to pick locks after hanging around Ryūen."
She shot me a glare sharp enough to cut steel. "Say that again, and I'll make sure you spend Christmas in the infirmary."
"Alright, alright," I said quickly, pushing the door open. "Come in before you turn into an icicle."
Ibuki stepped in and immediately made a beeline for my bed — again. Without hesitation, she dropped her bag and threw herself on it, rolling into the blanket like it was her rightful territory.
I stared. "...Do you just like stealing my bed or is this a power move?"
She peeked at me from under the blanket, a smug little smirk forming. "Your floor looks cold. And since you're the one who made me wait outside, this is compensation."
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "I'm starting to think you're using 'compensation' as an excuse for everything."
"Maybe," she said lazily. "But it works."
The room fell into a strange but comfortable silence. The faint sound of distant laughter seeped in from outside, along with the scent of winter. Ibuki was sitting up now, arms folded over the blanket, looking out the window.
"Hey," I said suddenly, "you doing anything tonight?"
She raised a brow. "Do I look like I have plans?"
"Well," I said, trying to sound casual, "how about a Christmas date?"
Her reaction was immediate — her eyes widened, cheeks turning slightly pink. "Hah? What nonsense are you—"
"Relax," I chuckled. "Just something small. A walk, some food from the café — it's Christmas Eve, you know."
Ibuki hesitated, then muttered something under her breath before standing up. "Fine. But if you're buying, I'm ordering whatever I want."
"Deal."
The air outside bit at our skin, but the illumination of the Christmas decorations gave everything a strange warmth. We walked side by side under the canopy of lights that hung between the dorm buildings.
Ibuki, dressed in a white coat and black scarf, looked more elegant than usual — though, knowing her, she'd deny it instantly if I said so.
"I still don't get why you dragged me out here," she grumbled, blowing into her hands for warmth.
"Because if I didn't, you'd just hog my bed until morning."
"I was comfortable," she said flatly.
"Sure, but even I have limits. My bed isn't big enough for you and my dignity."
"Your dignity was gone the moment you offered me a date," she deadpanned.
I laughed. "Fair."
Despite the banter, we ended up stopping at the small campus café. The warm drinks and gentle chatter inside melted away the December chill. Ibuki ordered hot chocolate and a piece of cake; I got coffee. Watching her quietly enjoy the sweetness was oddly peaceful — the usually sharp-tongued girl seemed… softer tonight.
Afterward, we wandered through the courtyard again, occasionally brushing shoulders. I noticed she didn't move away this time.
When we reached the dorm entrance, Ibuki stopped. "...You're not bad at this," she muttered.
"At what?"
She looked away. "Making things… less annoying."
I smiled. "Merry Christmas, Ibuki."
She scoffed, but her lips curled into the faintest smile. "Yeah. You too, idiot."
Back in my room, the heater hummed quietly. Ibuki immediately collapsed onto my bed again, pulling the blanket over herself.
I handed her a small key. "Here. A spare, in case I'm not around."
She looked at it, then at me. "You sure about this? I could rob you blind."
"There's nothing to steal except textbooks and instant ramen."
"Good point," she said, pocketing the key.
I sat on the floor, but the chill from the tiles quickly seeped through the blanket I'd grabbed. "Man, winter's brutal."
Ibuki peeked at me, sighed, then mumbled, "...If it's that cold, you can sleep on the bed."
I blinked. "Wait, really?"
"Don't get the wrong idea," she said quickly, turning away. "It's just stupid to freeze on the floor when there's space."
"Well," I grinned, climbing into the other side, "I'll try not to invade your territory."
"Try harder," she warned.
We lay there in silence for a while, the only sound being the faint wind brushing against the window. It wasn't awkward — just strangely calm. The kind of peace that comes when two people finally stop pretending to be annoyed at each other.
After a while, Ibuki spoke softly. "Hey, about that day… on the rooftop."
I turned slightly. "Yeah?"
"I should've listened to you," she said quietly. "You told me not to get involved, but I didn't. Sorry."
I looked at her — the fierce, stubborn Ibuki Mio apologizing like that was rare. "It's fine," I said. "You're just too straightforward for your own good. That's… kind of what makes you interesting."
She frowned, probably unsure if I was teasing her. "You're impossible."
"I get that a lot," I said, smiling.
We kept talking — about the rooftop, about Ryūen's ridiculous plans, about how Christmas felt different here. At some point, our voices got quieter, words turning into sleepy murmurs.
Eventually, the world blurred into silence.
When I woke up, sunlight was barely seeping through the curtains. The first thing I noticed was the warmth pressed against my arm — Ibuki, fast asleep, her head resting on my shoulder, her breath slow and steady.
Her hair was a little messy, and her usual scowl was gone. For once, she looked… peaceful.
Then I realized my arm was completely numb.
"Ugh…" I whispered, trying to move it. "She's heavy…"
She stirred slightly, and I froze. Her brow furrowed for a moment, but she didn't wake. The sight was— honestly, kind of adorable.
I hesitated for a moment, then smiled and whispered, "Merry Christmas, Ibuki," before placing a soft kiss on her cheek.
A second later, her eyes snapped open.
"...You just kissed me, didn't you?"
"Ah. Good morning?"
Her fist came flying before I could blink. "You're dead, Miyamoto!"
I barely dodged as she sat up, red-faced and furious, throwing a pillow at me.
"Hey, hey, it was a friendly Christmas greeting!"
"Friendly my ass!"
I laughed, backing away as she glared, but there was a faint blush lingering on her face. "You know," I said, grinning, "you could've just said you didn't mind."
"Shut up!" she shouted, but I could see the corner of her lips twitching upward despite her anger.
Later that morning, as Ibuki stormed out of my room — still muttering threats — I couldn't help but smile. Christmas morning, huh? Maybe it wasn't the most peaceful one, but somehow, it felt… warm.
The kind of warmth that didn't come from heaters or blankets — but from the company of someone who, despite all odds, stayed by your side.