-9:07 AM SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016-
The first thing Jousuke Daikuhara saw when he opened his window that morning was snow—soft, clean, and quiet, falling over the sleepy streets.
He leaned against the windowsill, letting the cold bite at his cheeks as he watched the world slowly turn white.
Christmas Eve, he thought, exhaling softly, his breath forming a cloud in the cold air.
His phone buzzed on the desk, jolting him from his thoughts.
"Jousuke, we're going to the mall. Don't bail. – Asa"
Seconds later:
"Natsu's coming. We'll meet at the station in an hour."
And then another:
"Don't be late, Daikuhara, or we'll leave you. – Kaito"
And then:
"Don't mind Kaito, haha. Take your time, bro. – Joutarou"
Lastly, a calm, short message:
"See you later. – Ryuusei"
Jousuke let out a soft laugh, warmth rising in his chest despite the cold.
-11:09AM SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2016-
-MALL, MAIN ATRIUM-
The mall was alive with the comfortable hum of holiday cheer, Christmas lights blinking in soft rhythm above them as people moved through decorated aisles, scarves brushing against coats, laughter mixing with the quiet sound of snow falling outside the glass windows.
"Man, I'm telling you, the curry bread here is the best during winter." Kaito insisted, gesturing dramatically with a bag in one hand.
Natsu giggled, hugging her shopping bag. "You say that about everything, Kaito."
"I'm serious this time!" Kaito pouted.
Joutarou patted Kaito's shoulder with a lazy grin. "We know, we know."
Asa was busy taking selfies with a holiday tree behind them, pulling Natsu into the frame while she protested, cheeks flushed.
Meanwhile, Ryuusei walked calmly beside Jousuke, hands in his coat pockets, his quiet eyes observing the group.
"Are you buying something for yourself today, Jousuke?" Ryuusei asked, his tone soft.
Jousuke shrugged. "Not really. I just came because Asa dragged me."
Ryuusei's lips curved into a faint smile. "I see."
They stopped near a bench under a large Christmas display, warm lights dancing above their heads.
"Okay, listen up..." Asa said, raising a finger dramatically, "...today is for buying Christmas snacks, looking at lights, and just chilling. Everyone clear?"
"Yes, commander." Joutarou drawled, earning a soft laugh from Natsu.
Kaito grinned. "As long as we get curry bread, I'm in."
Jousuke tucked his hands into his pockets, looking around the bustling mall. The air smelled of cinnamon, hot chocolate, and roasted chestnuts.
It's warm, he thought, even if it's cold outside.
-LEAH-
At the same time, Leah was in her kitchen, the heater humming as she carefully wrapped a small white box in blue ribbon.
Inside were small penguin-shaped cookies she had baked late last night, each decorated with chocolate eyes, tiny icing scarves around their necks.
She held the box against her chest, cheeks pink as she looked at the tiny penguin plush sitting on her desk, the one Jousuke had given her.
"Tomorrow... I'll give this to Daikuhara-san." she whispered, her heart fluttering.
Litsuko called from the living room, "Leah, can you help with the vegetables?"
"Coming!" she replied, smiling softly as she placed the gift carefully in her bag.
-MIYAZAKI-
Miyazaki sat on her bedroom floor, wrapping a black scarf into a neat bundle before slipping it into a paper bag. She glared at it as if it had personally offended her.
"Why am I even doing this...?" she muttered, cheeks warm.
She imagined Jousuke's dumb grin, brushing snow off his hair without a scarf, letting the cold hit him without caring.
"He's such an idiot." she mumbled, tightening the knot on the paper bag.
She hugged it against her chest for a moment, burying her face in it before quickly pulling back, her face red.
"Tomorrow, I'll give it to him... and that's it." she whispered, hiding the bag under her desk.
"Ah! What's with him? I love him!" she thought, blushing.
-RIKA-
Rika sat at her desk, threading a tiny silver charm onto a handmade keychain shaped like a small book painted in soft blue.
She held it up, watching it spin under the soft light of her desk lamp.
"Tomorrow... I'll give this to Daikuhara-san." she whispered, pressing it gently to her lips before slipping it into a small pouch.
Her father called from downstairs, "Rika, lunch is ready."
"Just a moment!" she answered, carefully placing the pouch into her drawer, her eyes lingering on it before she left the room.
-BACK AT THE MALL-
"Hey, Jousuke, come on." Asa called, waving him over toward a small shop selling warm drinks.
Jousuke walked over, the scent of hot chocolate mixing with the cold air that rushed in as people entered and left.
They bought cups of hot chocolate, steam rising as they stood together near the windows, watching the snow fall outside.
"Tomorrow's Christmas." Natsu said, sipping carefully, her eyes bright.
"Yeah." Joutarou replied, leaning back with a lazy smile. "Wonder what everyone's doing tomorrow."
Kaito threw an arm around Jousuke's shoulders. "You're probably getting a bunch of gifts from girls, huh, Jousuke?"
Jousuke choked on his drink, coughing as Asa and Joutarou burst out laughing.
"Don't tease him." Natsu scolded lightly, but she was giggling too.
"I'm not." Kaito grinned, "I'm just saying, it's obvious."
Ryuusei looked at Jousuke, a calm but knowing smile on his lips.
"Gifts..." he thought.
Jousuke's mind flashed with Leah's quiet determination, Miyazaki's soft stubbornness, Rika's calm and gentle eyes.
They were probably at home now, getting ready for tomorrow.
"I'll see them tomorrow..." he thought again.
"Hey, Jousuke..." Asa said, nudging him, "...we're planning to hang out tomorrow after lunch, before family dinners. You coming?"
Jousuke blinked, pulling himself from his thoughts. "Uhm... sure."
Natsu clapped her hands, smiling. "Great!"
They left the café and walked through the decorated halls, browsing small shops, laughing as Kaito nearly slipped on the tiled floor while trying to catch a snowflake outside.
Joutarou snapped pictures of Asa and Natsu as they posed by the Christmas tree, the lights reflecting in their eyes.
Ryuusei stood beside Jousuke, quietly sipping his coffee, his calm presence grounding amidst the noise.
"Are you okay?" Ryuusei asked softly.
Jousuke looked at him, surprised. "Yeah, why?"
Ryuusei's eyes crinkled with a faint smile. "You just seem... thoughtful."
Jousuke looked down at his drink, the warmth seeping into his hands.
"...Tomorrow's going to be busy," he admitted, a small smile forming.
Ryuusei nodded. "Yeah. But it will be good."
They left the mall as the sun began to set, the snow glowing under the soft light of the streetlamps.
"See you tomorrow, Jousuke!" Asa called, waving as he and Natsu walked ahead.
"Don't be late!" Kaito shouted.
"Text us when you're heading out." Joutarou added lazily, hands in his pockets.
Ryuusei gave a small wave, the quiet understanding in his eyes comforting.
Jousuke stood under the falling snow, watching his friends walk away as the cold brushed against his cheeks.
"Tomorrow..." he whispered.
He suddenly imagined Leah's soft hands, Miyazaki's flushed face, Rika's calm but trembling fingers.
And in that quiet moment, with snow falling around him and the warmth of the day settling in his chest, Jousuke realized "I have to face them..."
The snow fell, softly and endlessly, as Christmas Eve wrapped the city in gentle white.
And in the quiet of that cold evening, Jousuke felt something in his heart preparing to bloom, waiting for the warmth of tomorrow.