[Bonus Arc 2: A Gift Wrapped in Snowflakes]
[Chapter 1: The Secret Behind the Santa Hat]
It was mid-December, and snow had begun to drift lazily outside the windows of Class 2-B. The usual chatter had a festive lilt, and even the usually indifferent Takumi Tachibana couldn't help but notice the shift in the atmosphere.
Paper snowflakes hung from the classroom ceiling, strung together by glittering silver thread. A small Christmas tree stood by the teacher's desk, decked out in unevenly hung ornaments. The class representative, Kana, was enthusiastically taping a "Secret Santa Box" sign to a decorated cardboard box.
"Alright, everyone!" she clapped her hands. "This year, we're doing a class-wide Secret Santa! Put your name in the box, and tomorrow we'll draw names."
A collective cheer followed, though Takumi raised an eyebrow.
Haturo leaned over. "You gonna join?"
Takumi slouched in his seat. "Seems like a hassle."
"Yuri's joining."
"I'm in."
Haturo smirked. "Thought so."
[Chapter 2: A Familiar Name, A Tough Decision]
The next day, names were drawn from the box. Takumi glanced at the folded paper he received and blinked.
Shinomiya Yuri.
He quickly stuffed the note into his pocket, heart skipping just a beat. His mind spun through endless possibilities. What the hell was he supposed to get her?
Candy? Too boring. A book? Too impersonal. Clothes? Too weird. A plushie?
He sighed. This was going to be harder than a history test.
That afternoon, as he stared at a snow-covered shop window downtown, his thoughts were interrupted by a voice behind him.
"You look like a lost puppy."
He turned. Yuri stood there, scarf pulled up to her chin, her light brown hair dusted with snowflakes.
"Following me now?" he asked.
"I could ask you the same."
They ended up walking together without another word, stopping by a bookstore. As Yuri wandered toward a display shelf, Takumi's eyes caught something—an elegant music box shaped like a park bench under a translucent umbrella. Inside, when wound, it played a soft melody and a tiny figurine of a boy and girl rotated slowly beneath the umbrella.
He stared at it longer than necessary.
It reminded him of that rainy afternoon—The quiet swings. Her pink umbrella. That fragile connection. It wasn't perfect, but something about it felt right.
He bought it without hesitation.
[Chapter 3: The Exchange]
The classroom buzzed with excitement on the last day before winter break. Each desk had a small wrapped gift on top.
Takumi eyed the carefully wrapped box he had left on Yuri's desk earlier. Inside was the music box—and a small note, handwritten in awkward but clear letters:
> "I hope this reminds you of something you still remember. – T"
As students opened their gifts, laughter and surprise filled the air. Yuri gently unwrapped hers. The moment her fingers touched the music box, her eyes widened.
She stared at it, unmoving.
Then, slowly, she smiled.
Takumi, watching from across the room, felt a strange warmth bloom in his chest.
Just then, Haturo nudged him. "Check yours."
Takumi unwrapped his gift—a sketchbook, plain but high-quality. Inside the front cover was a pressed flower and a tiny keychain charm of a pink umbrella.
His breath caught.
Yuri met his gaze and mouthed the words: You remembered late. But I never forgot.
Snow drifted past the windows, but inside, warmth settled between them—wordless, soft, and glowing like a candle.