"3 december," your calendar read.

every single one of your friends were happy. you'd watch in silence as someone gifted their significant other a comfy sweater, while another would tentatively hand a carefully knitted garment to their crush as a confession. no matter what, everyone in all of your friend groups had either given or received a sweater that day.

everyone, except you.

you laid in bed, staring mindlessly up at your phone as you scrolled through social media. all your posts were about december third and sweaters, and it was starting to get exhausting. how come you had to be the only one alone in your entire social circle? you were getting fed up with it—everyone was practically shoving their relationships in your face. unintentionally, of course, but it was annoying nonetheless. you sighed, turning your phone off and setting it down. what a day to be single.

suddenly, your doorbell rang. confused, you stood, stepping outside of your room and heading to the front door. you opened it warily... and found von lycaon, one of your closer friends. his ears were pinned back slightly, and he looked oddly nervous. his hands were hidden behind his back, his fur prickling on end. it was carefully brushed—while he was always a neat-freak, it seemed like he'd spent double the usual time brushing it out and smoothing it down. his tail was swishing lazily from side to side, hanging behind him.

lycaon cleared his throat, before withdrawing his hands from his back. between his fingers rested one of his thick, warm, knitted sweaters. it was huge, meant to fit his 6'6" frame, and white with small gray details. it looked so comfortable...

"happy third of december," he greeted, unused to having these feelings. his professional demenaor was still intact, but his flattened ears betrayed his inner nervousness.