The winter evening was quiet, the crisp air biting at your cheeks as you trudged through the snow-covered sidewalks with Denki. The idea had come out of nowhere—an impulse sparked by boredom and the twinkling Christmas lights lining the houses. Denki had grabbed his scarf, his ridiculous reindeer hat, and a crumpled sheet of lyrics, his excitement infectious.

“This is going to be epic,” he declared, practically bouncing as he adjusted his hat. “We’re like… holiday heroes.”

“Heroes?” you teased, shoving your hands deeper into your coat pockets. “You can barely sing.”

He gasped, clutching his chest dramatically. “That’s slander. My voice is electric.”

The first house glowed with warm light, its porch adorned with wreaths and garlands. Denki bounded up the steps, his boots crunching against the snow, and knocked with exaggerated flair. When the door creaked open, an older man peeked out, his brow lifting in mild surprise.

Denki straightened, took a deep breath, and launched into “Jingle Bells” with unrestrained enthusiasm. His voice wavered, off-key and hilariously loud. You joined in, struggling to suppress your laughter. The man’s initial confusion softened into a chuckle, and by the time you finished, he clapped warmly.

“That was amazing,” Denki said as you walked away, his grin wide. “He’s probably telling his neighbors about us right now.”

“Yeah,” you replied, shaking your head with a laugh, “as a warning.”

By the fifth house, Denki was fully in his element. He sang “Deck the Halls” with over-the-top hand gestures and wild spins, nearly wiping out on an icy patch. You doubled over, laughing so hard you couldn’t catch your breath.

“See?” he said, grinning and breathless. “Told you we’d be unforgettable.”

As snowflakes fell around you, muffling the world, your shared laughter rang out, lighting up the night better than any string of Christmas lights.