The entire evening was spent walking and stopping, occasionally erupting in laughter, and sometimes falling into collective silence.
Under the eaves light at Azigaya Home.
Ajitani turned around, a bright smile on her face, "Thank you for walking me home! See you tomorrow!"
Before her words even faded, a playful flying kiss shot from her fingertips, flying straight towards Shouko's cheek.
Then, she gracefully spun half a circle on the spot, raising both hands high and waving vigorously at the two of them, stirring up a cool breeze.
With a "click," she opened the door behind her, and her figure flashed, disappearing into the warm light within the doorway.
"Let's go too."
"Mhm, mhm."
Shouko nodded, took his hand—which he had finally freed from the full snack bag—and with a light step, she led the way into the soft snowdrift ahead.
Nishikata and Takagi had parted ways with the trio at the traffic light intersection.
Originally, the two had also planned to walk Ajitani home first, but Tsuna refused, saying their home was further from Azigaya Home.
Late at night, everyone was worried about Ajitani being alone and unsafe, even on Christmas.
In Neon, the crime rate in that regard was quite high, but not as high as India…
… … …
Under the warm yellow streetlamp between Miyamura and Xigong Family.
Shouko gently tugged Tsuna's sleeve, stood on her tiptoes, and her warm breath brushed against his slightly cool earlobe:
"A quick kiss first, okay?"
Tsuna's gaze lingered for a moment on her eyes, which were dyed honey-colored by the lamplight. He said nothing, only lowered his head.
…
… …
… … …
It wasn't until tiny snowflakes landed on their eyelashes that the two separated.
Shouko was breathing heavily, taking half a step back, feeling her tongue go a little numb.
The heat on her ear tips hadn't faded yet, and a sweet, slightly tingling itch seemed to linger on the tip of her tongue, making her voice sound a bit clumsy when she spoke:
"Then… then I'll head back first… "
She reached out and took the snack bags he handed her, her slender, cool fingertips accidentally brushing against his warm palm. Her voice had a soft, nasal quality:
"Tsuna, can… can we… can we do it again…? My… my tongue… my tongue is fine again… "
"Tomorrow," Tsuna pinched her slightly reddened nose, "It's so late. What if Auntie suddenly comes out to wait for you and sees us?"
"Then… okay then." The girl was clearly a little disappointed.
"Tsuna, after I get home… remember to answer the video… video call, okay?"
After saying that, she didn't dare to look at his lamplit eyes again, afraid she wouldn't be able to control her mouth…
She just waved quickly, then turned and scurried, blending into the shadows of the Xigong Family porch with a rustle.
… … … … …
"I'm home."
"Mom, you're still not asleep?"
Tsuna, having changed his shoes, walked into the living room carrying the still-warm snacks and saw his mother staring unblinkingly at the TV.
"I brought you something good to eat. It's on the table, remember to eat it."
"Got it, got it." Shizuka didn't even look at him, just waved her hand.
Tsuna nodded understandingly, humming the Christmas song melody that had been playing in the shops earlier, and turned to go take a bath.
He didn't see his old man around, guessing he was busy with office matters in the study, so he chose not to disturb him.
… … … … …
"I'm home!"
As soon as Shouko's voice sounded, two cute little heads peeked out from the living room.
"Sis, did you bring me anything good to eat?"
Shouko shook her head, placing the bags in her hands on the entryway floor: "No."
But Yuzuru clearly didn't believe her, and along with Hachiko beside her, she scurried out, stopped in front of Shouko, and squatted down to pick up the snack bags.
"I love you the most!"
"Woof!"
"Just at dinner, you said you hated me."
Shouko looked up and met her gaze. She inexplicably looked away guiltily, laughing twice, "Where, where… "
Her tone shifted: "But… Sis, why are your face and ears so red? You didn't secretly do something shameful with Onii-san, did you?"
Shouko only felt the heat on her cheeks flare up even more intensely.
She instinctively reached up and pulled the scarf she had just taken off higher, covering half her face, her voice muffled as it emerged from the scarf:
"… The heating is too hot… I just came in."
After speaking, she almost immediately avoided Yuzuru's eyes, which were full of "I don't believe you," and abruptly turned around, pretending to adjust her backpack strap.
The perceptive Yuzuru merely raised an eyebrow playfully, then called Hachiko, who was circling Shouko, and together they scurried into the living room to start eating.
"Shouko, the bathwater is ready. Go take a soak and warm up."
At this moment, Grandma Ito's gentle voice came from the living room, but it failed to interrupt Shouko's dazed state.
… … … …
The bathroom door pushed open with a "click."
Steaming white vapor enveloped Tsuna's warm figure as he emerged, his hair still dripping wet, his skin slightly flushed.
"Tsuna, come here!"
"What's wrong? Is there a bug in the snack?"
He instinctively paused his action of rubbing his hair with a towel, and walked towards the living room, carrying a lingering scent of warm, damp steam.
The warm yellow glow of the table lamp spread a small, soft circle of light on the tatami mat.
Shizuka was sitting cross-legged by the low tea table, with two cups of milk on the table, and the tip of the bamboo skewer she held still had half a takoyaki ball impaled on it.
Seeing Tsuna sway over with his wet head, she reached out and patted the tatami beside her.
"What do you want?"
Tsuna walked over and sat beside her, seeing his mother's mysterious expression, a little afraid she would pull some crazy stunt.
"Actually, you're not my biological child. I found you on a snowy day."
"… …"
The living room atmosphere was silent for a few seconds. Tsuna took a sip of milk, then looked at her speechlessly. Shizuka was waiting for him to speak first.
"Mom, you said that many times when you used to scare me as a kid. Only that idiot Shouko would fall for it every time."
This wasn't some melodramatic Mary Sue drama; he had memories since he was pulled out of his mother's belly.
"Sigh…" Shizuka let out a seemingly disappointed sigh: "Why did that trick never scare you when you were little?"
"Maybe…—"
"When you two were out playing earlier, we discussed it with Yaeko, and we plan for you two to get married as soon as you graduate from university."
"What?!"
"Cough… cough cough!"
Tsuna choked on a mouthful of milk, instantly erupting into violent coughing. As he bent over from coughing, physiological tears were forced out.
Shizuka, seeing this, quickly helped pat his back, wanting him to recover quickly.
"It's not that surprising, is it…?"
"Alright, alright…" Tsuna, having recovered a bit, quickly stopped her hand: "If you keep patting, I'll get internal injuries."