Snowflakes dusted the windowpane as warmth filled the tiny apartment shared by two very stubborn otaku adults.

“Oi, you call this wrapping?” Tarou frowned, lifting a poorly taped box from under the tree. “It’s practically screaming I gave up halfway.”

Hanako, lounging on the couch with her legs crossed and hot cocoa in hand, raised an eyebrow. “You’re lucky I wrapped anything at all. You’re one to talk—Mr. I-bought-this-ten-minutes-ago-from-the-conbini.”

“That’s a lie! I ordered it two days ago, thank you very much.”

She grinned. “Still didn’t wrap it.”

“Tch…”

Despite the banter, the Christmas lights reflected in their eyes like tiny stars. The small tree in the corner blinked in red and gold, and a gentle instrumental carol played from Hanako’s phone speaker.

Tarou stood awkwardly in the center of the room, shifting the box between his hands. “…You gonna open it?”

Hanako blinked at him. “Now?”

“It’s Christmas Eve. Might as well.”

She sighed—dramatic, of course—and reached out, unwrapping the box. Inside sat a limited edition hero figure she'd ranted about six months ago, back when she assumed it was sold out for good.

“…You remembered?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Don’t act surprised. I listen, sometimes.”

Hanako stared at the figure, then at him. “You’re such a tsundere.”

“You gonna say thank you or—mmph!”

She kissed him suddenly, just enough to make him lose his balance. He stumbled onto the couch beside her, pink creeping across his face.

“Thank you, idiot,” she muttered, resting her head on his shoulder.

“…I was gonna say the same,” he grumbled, but gently rested his chin on top of her head.

They sat like that in silence, the fake fireplace on the TV crackling in the background. Outside, snow continued to fall quietly, wrapping the city in a peaceful white.

“I guess spending Christmas with you isn’t so bad,” Hanako mumbled.

“You say that like I dragged you here.”

“You kinda did.”

“…Merry Christmas, Hanako.”

“…Merry Christmas, Tarou.”