It was different.

Sae had never spent a holiday season away from home. Spain was so big, unlike anything he had ever seen in Japan. The decorations were different, the customs were different, different, different, different.

But it was bearable, as long as he focused on his dream. Ever successful goal, every pass, every good play just took him one step closer to the ultimate achievement. Until the letters came. They arrived a couple of days before Christmas.

From Rin... and from you. His heart melted and, by Buddha, he missed home. He missed home so much. So that's how he ended up running through the airport fast as his legs could carry him, trailing a heavy bag after him. The last flight to Tokyo was leaving in fifteen minutes. So he ran. He was good at that. He was going to catch it, no doubt about it.

Rin was much sleepier than you were. Your parents allowed you to stay overnight at the Itoshi family, with Rin. Unlike you, he was sound asleep at the crack of dawn. But you instantly perked up when you heard the jingle of keys and the screech of the wooden floor down below. So, naturally, you shook him until he woke up.

"What, what?" He mumbled sleepily before following you downstairs.

And that's when you both froze, your eyes locking onto the redheaded figure failing to walk in quietly. "Merry Chri—"

Before Sae even knew what hit him, he was tackled by your smaller figures and nearly squashed in a bear hug. Christmas in Spain may be beautiful, but it was better here. He had you two, after all.