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“Prepare yourself, Tendou Maya! I won't lose to you!” Claudine declares, jabbing her finger in said girl's direction.
Maya's eyes blazed at the challenge. “I look forward to seeing what you have to give me, Saijou Claudine!”
Hikari rolls her eyes at the two's antics. She doesn't understand why they even bother with the act when everyone in the academy knew that they were dating. Hikari herself had caught them in a compromising position in the practice room at one point. Also, they were being too loud.
It was Christmas Eve and they were hanging out in the common room after Nana's Christmas dinner. Karen, Futuba, and Junna were all playing a card game while Maya and Claudine were, for some reason, playing twister with Nana taking pictures of their squabbling. Mahiru had just left to make some tea and honestly, Hikari doesn't know where Kaoruko is, but she's pretty sure it has something to do with the fact that she heard her mumbling about “Kuro's special grape juice”.
Mahiru… Hikari fidgets with the pillow she was hugging. She had been debating all day how to give Mahiru her present. Normally, it would have been an easy affair but normal was kind of out the window at this point. See, Mahiru's present was a one and a half meter tall plush of Suzudaru Cat that Hikari happened to find on the internet and didn't hesitate in ordering. The plush that wouldn't fit anywhere in their room without Mahiru seeing that ended up in Hikari's empty dorm room at Nana's suggestion.
Hikari chews on her lip and looks around the room thoughtfully. Actually, now would probably be a good time seeing how everyone else was preoccupied for the most part. Tiptoeing into the kitchen, she is greeted by the sight of Mahiru preparing a pot of tea.
“Ah, Hikari-chan!” Mahiru smiles “I'm almost done with the tea; sorry for taking so long.”
Hikari just shakes her head, instead opting to tug on Mahiru's sleeve, “I have something to show you,” she mutters, gesturing to the hallway.
She could hear her heartbeat pounding in her ears as she led the other girl towards her old dorm room. Would she like her gift? Was it too much? Where would she even put it? This was such a bad idea.
“Hikari-chan?” Soft hands grasp at the finger she was chewing her nails on, pulling it away from her face “What's wrong?” The warmth and understanding in her eyes ease the churning in Hikari's stomach and gives her the strength to take Mahiru by the hand and lead her the rest of the way.
It's a bit musty in the unused room with motes of dust lazily drifting through the air. Maybe this place wasn't the best place to hide the plush. Though, she didn't really have anywhere else to hide it. Maybe she could have asked Maya if she could hide it in her room instead. Hikari's train of thought is interrupted by an excited gasp from the other girl.
“Ah! Is that—?” Hikari nudges her towards the gift and smiles as Mahiru hesitantly puts a hand on it before outright hugging it. The surprise and joy on her face dispel any lingering anxiety she had over her choice of a gift.
“Wait, this is for me, right Hikari-chan?” Mahiru asks, sheepishly extracting herself from the arms of the giant cat.
Hikari nods, “Your Christmas present. Do you like it?”
Mahiru just takes Hikari's hands in hers and gives her the biggest, heartfelt smile that creates this gentle warmth that settles in her chest. “I love it! Actually, I have something for you too! Wait here, okay?” And before she could even blink, Hikari is left alone in a daze with nothing but a giant Suzudaru Cat plushie to keep her company. She doesn't have to wait long before Mahiru appears in the doorway again, a red and green gift bag in her grasp.
“Here,” Mahiru says, offering the bag to Hikari. She pulls out the gift and it seems to be a scarf of some sort and nearly drops it in excitement because it's not just a scarf, it's a Mr. White scarf. It's soft when she buries her face into it, the little plastic nose cold as it presses up against her cheek.
“I love it.” She whispers it into the scarf before moving a bit closer to hug the other girl “Thank you.”
She just giggles, wrapping her arms around Hikari. “Merry Christmas, Hikari-chan.”