Legend has it that every year on December 25th, an old man driving a reindeer-drawn sleigh flies around the world, carrying a sack full of gifts.
He delivers presents to children everywhere.
By his side, there's a list of good children and naughty children.
The naughty ones receive no gifts—this is their punishment for misbehaving throughout the year.
As for the good children, as long as they sleep soundly on Christmas Eve, Santa Claus will climb down the chimney, staining his bright red coat, and personally tuck gifts into their stockings.
However, Kaoru encountered a rather different Santa Claus today.
She, too, wore a bright red coat—though hers was an off-shoulder dress.
She didn't climb down a chimney because Kaoru didn't have a house.
This Santa Claus originally had two little reindeer, but they were busy building snowmen, so they couldn't pull the sleigh for now.
Even so, she still managed to hand Kaoru this year's Christmas gift.
"Hey, say something. Your silence is making me nervous."
After watching Kaoru stay quiet for a long while, Amikura Mako grew increasingly tense.
"I was just thinking how lucky I am that Mako isn't angry." Kaoru examined the gift bag in his hands, surprised that the girl's pockets could hold more than his.
"Can I open it now?"
"No!"
The moment she said it, Amikura Mako regretted it and quickly corrected herself.
"Actually, fine. Go ahead. If you don't like it, just give it back."
"Even before seeing it, I already like it." Kaoru unwrapped the package to find a pair of fluffy gloves inside—likely bought from a store.
One gave a handmade scarf, the other gave gloves. It was a strangely fitting coincidence.
"I'll cherish these for a lifetime." Kaoru slipped them on earnestly.
He wouldn't be disappointed by the difference between the two gifts.
Even if it wasn't handmade, the girl must have put considerable thought into selecting it.
"Not bad," Amikura Mako said, trying to hide the slight upturn of her lips.
If not for his earlier words, she might have at least given him a warmer expression.
In truth, Mako had been somewhat prepared for what he said—it wasn't entirely unexpected.
After all, Ichinose had already given her a heads-up.
What angered her was Kaoru admitting that he had been using her at the time.
Before long, the two returned to where they had started.
Though it had taken a while, Ichinose didn't comment.
Instead, she watched with keen interest as Kaoru decorated Olaf.
At one point, Hirano Rin noticed Kaoru's gloves and asked if he had bought them.
Kaoru replied that they were a Christmas gift but didn't say who had given them to him.
Before Rin could press further, Kaoru handed her a present.
Shiranami Chihiro and Kobashi Yume also received Christmas gifts from him.
The surprise delighted them.
Yume gave Kaoru one of her jingle bells in return, Rin promised to get him something next year, and after hesitating for a long time, Chihiro finally managed to say.
"Merry Christmas."
As Olaf stood tall on the snowy ground, the girls grew excited, snapping countless photos in the freezing landscape—dragging Kaoru into the shots as well.
Of course, a snowball fight soon followed.
By the time he came to his senses, Kaoru realized he now had plenty of photos with them, including group shots with Ichinose and Amikura Mako.
"Eh? Honami-chan, are you coming back with us?" Yume exclaimed in surprise, sneaking a glance at Kaoru's reaction.
"That's right! I plan to spend the evening with you all!" Ichinose replied cheerfully.
"Is that okay?"
Though the question was directed at Ichinose, Yume's eyes flicked toward Kaoru.
"I still have some business tonight," Kaoru said without disappointment.
On one hand, he had a prior arrangement with Sakayanagi Arisu.
On the other, Ichinose had whispered something to him earlier.
Yes, she didn't want to monopolize Kaoru's entire day, even if she had her own selfish desires.
Knowing others were involved, forcibly keeping Kaoru to herself would only strain their relationships.
This was simply the downside of sharing a boyfriend.
"What a shame!" Yume said, both saddened and happy. S
he had thought Ichinose was no longer part of their group, but now she was back.
Kaoru waved goodbye, deciding to use what little time he had left to deliver more gifts.
…
After changing out of her Christmas outfit, Mako returned to her regular clothes.
As she stepped out of the changing room, she caught sight of Ichinose smiling.
"Mako-chan was so cute today," the girl hummed playfully. "If it were me, I wouldn't have been able to resist confessing to you."
Confessing—the word brought back memories of the earlier scene, leaving Mako with mixed feelings.
She wasn't sure if the plan had succeeded or failed.
"Those gloves were your gift to him, weren't they?" Ichinose giggled. "In the middle of a snowy landscape, a Santa Claus appears before him, shyly handing over a present with all the bashfulness of a maiden. Hehe, for a pervert like him, it must've been quite the surprise."
"Can we not talk about this?" Amikura Mako's face turned slightly red. "And when have I ever been shy?"
"Right now." Ichinose Honami grinned and pinched her cheek.
"Well, it's pretty much like you said, but the gift he gave me was a bit unexpected." Amikura Mako averted her gaze, struggling to find the right words.
Ichinose Honami studied her expression and asked, "Did he tell you about what happened back then?"
"You knew about it too?" Amikura Mako's mood darkened.
"I did. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to upset you." Ichinose Honami hugged the girl in front of her.
"I know he was despicable, but we were just as bad."
There had never been any Christmas event at the boutique.
They had privately contacted the store to stage the whole thing, all to make Kaoru let his guard down.
"Everyone has a dark side. Some things are unacceptable, while others can be forgiven. It's not just about what he did back then, but also what he's done since."
After the theft incident, Ichinose Honami had become more open-minded—no one was perfect.
"Why can Honami accept it?" Amikura Mako couldn't help but ask.
"Because I've already decided I like him. Whether he's like this or not, I like him." Ichinose smiled. "Of course, if there are things about him that aren't good, I'll help him change."
"But... but isn't this just letting him off too easily?" Amikura Mako couldn't bring herself to say it—not just two people, but so many others were involved with him. "
If you keep being with him, Honami, you'll just keep letting him go meet other people like you did earlier."
"What else can I do?" Ichinose murmured. "Should I just let him go?"
Just like Kaoru's "Take all" philosophy, she too had reasons she couldn't let go.
Amikura Mako fell into a long silence until Ichinose Honami broke the quiet atmosphere.
"What about you, Mako-chan?"
"I haven't decided yet. My reply to him was to start as friends."
"Mhm, that's enough."
Ichinose patted her head, but Mako guiltily buried her face in her chest.
This so-called "friendship" might not be an ordinary one—perhaps she would even allow Kaoru to peek at her safety shorts.
Of course, it might not stop at just safety shorts.
After all, Ichinose had permitted her to get close to Kaoru.
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