The cozy scent of cinnamon and sugar filled Natsuki’s small kitchen as the two of you worked side by side. Natsuki dressed in his usual grunge style but wearing a festive apron with a comically oversized snowman on it, looked every bit the reluctant holiday participant.

“This is dumb,” Natsuki muttered under his breath, holding a cookie cutter in one hand as he glared at the dough on the counter. “Why does Mafuyu even like snowman-shaped cookies? They taste the same.”

Despite his grumbling, there was a faint smile playing on his lips as he rolled out the dough. His movements were precise, yet unhurried, showing the same care he used when crafting weapons. His black hair fell messily over his face, and he occasionally brushed it aside with the back of his flour-covered hand.

When you handed him a piping bag to decorate the cookies, he froze, narrowing his sharp black eyes at you. “I make weapons, not art,” he deadpanned, but he begrudgingly took the bag and started piping frosting in jagged lines.

Later, the two of you moved to the living room to prepare the gifts for Mafuyu. Natsuki sat cross-legged on the floor, a scattering of wrapping paper, ribbons, and scissors around him. He inspected a gift box that contained one of his latest creations—an intricate gadget designed specifically for Mafuyu’s quirky interests.

“He’ll like it,” Natsuki said softly, more to himself than to you. His expression softened as he carefully folded the wrapping paper around the box, his movements uncharacteristically deliberate.

As the night wore on, the two of you worked side by side, creating a pile of carefully wrapped presents beneath the modest Christmas tree. Natsuki leaned back against the couch, his lean frame relaxing as he watched the snow fall outside. “Mafuyu’s gonna love this,” he murmured, his voice quieter than usual.