— — — — — —
Oikawa was in despair.
The moment he arrived at the Kawasaki household and was about to knock, the door opened, and there she was, standing there holding a bag of McDonald's takeout.
Oikawa froze on the spot. The smile on his face stiffened completely.
Well, damn. Had Kawasaki gotten sharper after reading all those law books lately?
Grinding his teeth, Oikawa glared at her, "Be honest. Did you secretly check Taishi's phone?"
"Of course... not."
A snowflake landed on Kawasaki's hair. And a playful smile spread across her face.
For her, smiling wasn't all that common. And playful? That was even rarer.
"Is that panda for me? I like it." She looked at the giant panda plush in his arms, her eyes bright, then walked over and casually took his hand, her fingers wrapping around his ice-cold ones.
"It's not for you!" Oikawa shot her a look, but still let her lead him inside.
"Oikawa-nii!" Keika came running over with excitement written all over her face, winking at him as she ran, like she was reminding him she'd stick to the plan.
That only made Oikawa feel worse.
He glared at Kawasaki again, "Keika-chan, this panda's for you. Do you like it?"
He placed the giant panda in front of Keika.
For a split second, she just stared. Then her whole face lit up.
"Oikawa-nii, really?! This huge panda... it's not for my sister? It's really for me?"
Her eyes were glued to it.
"Of course. Since when have I ever lied to you?"
To be fair, he hadn't. The panda hadn't originally been for her. But it was now.
Beside them, Kawasaki narrowed her eyes at him with a dangerous glint.
Oikawa pretended not to notice.
"Oikawa-nii, you're the best! When I grow up, I'm going to marry you!"
"Deal. Pinky promise."
And so, under the first snow of winter, Oikawa made a solemn promise with Keika-chan.
Standing beside them, Kawasaki wore a smile so gentle it almost felt threatening.
"Keika, aren't we going to McDonald's? Hurry, let's go!" Taishi clearly hadn't figured out what was happening yet. He was still trying to carry out the plan he'd made with Oikawa.
"No need." Kawasaki lifted the McDonald's bag in her hand. "I already ordered takeout for you."
Then she walked into the kitchen and said over her shoulder, "Taishi, take Keika and wash your hands. I'm making tonkatsu. Once it's ready, we'll eat."
Taishi stood there, confused.
This was not how the plan was supposed to go.
He shot Oikawa a pleading look. Keika did the same, hugging her panda and silently asking, 'Do I still need to fake a stomachache?'
Oikawa rubbed her head. "Go wash up. We're eating at home tonight. After dinner, Taishi, bring me the problems you don't understand. I'll help you."
Inside, he was cursing Kawasaki for being way too clever.
But things had already gone sideways. All he could do now was accept it and look for another opening.
"Got it, Oikawa-nii." Taishi took Keika toward the bathroom.
Normally, Oikawa would've gone straight into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around Kawasaki from behind.
But today? He wasn't in the mood. He was seriously annoyed.
He'd spent so long planning this, and in the end, it had all gone down the drain.
But then he looked at Kawasaki's back in the kitchen. And remembered the curry in his fridge.
The warmed-up electric blanket. The spotless room. The washed laundry.
Just like that, his anger faded.
Letting out a sigh, he walked into the kitchen. "Miss Kawasaki, is there anything I can help with?"
"Take out the burgers, fries, and sides. Pour the drinks."
"Yes, Your Highness." His words dripped with sarcasm. So did his tone.
But Kawasaki only seemed more amused.
...
In the kitchen, Kawasaki worked on frying the pork cutlets.
Taishi had already washed up and sat at the table.
Keika, on the other hand, was still busy bonding with her giant panda.
In the short time since receiving it, she'd already given it a name.
"..."
Sitting at the table, Oikawa stared at the golden, crispy tonkatsu Kawasaki set down, his appetite instantly kicking in.
Fine. If romance had failed, he'd turn his pain into food.
He picked up his chopsticks, ready to grab a piece. But then Kawasaki's voice cut in, "Wash your hands before eating."
"..."
Oikawa shot her a look and headed to the bathroom.
The moment he turned on the faucet, Kawasaki slipped in behind him.
The two locked eyes.
"What, Kawasaki? Supervising my handwashing too?"
She didn't answer. She just looked at him. Then stepped closer.
Oikawa's back hit the wall as she pressed into him, wrapping her arms around him.
Their bodies fit tightly together.
Today, Kawasaki's lips carried a faint taste of cherry.
Oikawa's hands, meanwhile, started wandering.
Kawasaki's face flushed bright red, but unlike usual, she didn't stop him.
Before long, her breathing turned uneven. Her eyes grew hazy, almost dazed.
The redness spread across her face, like all the blood in her body had rushed there at once.
Her skin burned hot under his fingers, almost scalding.
To Oikawa, kissing her was like tasting something addictive. The more he had, the more he wanted.
And he wanted to go further.
But Saki Kawasaki suddenly started struggling until she finally broke free, "N-not today... I... I'm not ready yet."
Oikawa looked at her pleading face, his reason and desire locked in a fierce battle.
"Oikawa-nii, the pork cutlets are getting cold!" Taishi's voice rang out from outside.
Kawasaki seized the chance while Oikawa was distracted and bolted from the bathroom like she was escaping for her life.
Kawasaki froze for half a second, her face heating up.
"He... he's not in there anymore," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "He went to get something for me. He'll be back soon. Let's eat first."
The sound of their footsteps faded.
Oikawa let out a long breath, splashed cold water on his face, and shook his head helplessly.
"Well... at least that's progress. Made it to third base."
After calming himself down and getting his head straight again, he stepped out of the bathroom.
Tonight, he was definitely going to have some interesting dreams.
...
..
December 26th—
Today was the day of the joint Christmas event hosted by Sobu High and Kaihin High. The event would start in the afternoon.
But early that morning, Yui showed up at Oikawa's door, ringing the bell with Sable in her arms.
"Yahallo!"
Today, Yui had her hair down for once. She wore a white coat, a soft feminine scarf around her neck, and a yellow crossbody bag over her chest.
Too bad it was winter.
If it were summer, that bag slung across her would've been an absolute spectacle.
"Woof!" The moment Sable saw Oikawa, he leaped right out of Yui's arms and lunged at him.
Once Oikawa caught him, the dog let out a few aggrieved little whines. Like he was complaining about how rarely Oikawa came to visit.
"Come in first." Oikawa rubbed Sable's head as he waved Yui inside.
"Oikawa-kun, your place looks really clean." Yui clasped her hands behind her back and looked around curiously.
"It's not like this is your first time here, Yui. What's with the curiosity?" Oikawa said, still petting Sable.
"Hehe... Well... I'm actually more curious about you, Oikawa-kun... Ah! No, that's not what I meant! I mean, I'm curious about what you like. No, that's not it either, I actually... I actually..."
Yui suddenly panicked, her hands flailing in front of her chest like helicopter blades.
Oikawa laughed, "If you're curious, you're curious. Nothing to be embarrassed about. Here. Your Christmas present."
He pulled out the record player he'd prepared.
He hadn't forgotten how much Yui loved singing. And he hadn't forgotten the dream she'd once casually mentioned.
So he figured... a record player was the perfect gift.
"A... record player?" Yui's eyes sparkled like stars. The awkwardness from before vanished instantly, all her attention locked onto the gift in his hands.
"Do you like it? I remember you said you wanted to stand in the middle of the Sydney Opera House one day. Let this stay by your side until you make that dream come true." Oikawa placed it in her hands.
"Oikawa-kun... you remembered?"
Yui took the record player, and tears slipped from her eyes. They were tears of pure emotion.
"Why are you crying, silly girl?" Oikawa reached out and wiped the tears from her face.
She looked like she was crying. But also smiling.
"I'm happy... I'm really happy. I never thought... someone would remember something I only said in passing."
Her voice came out broken and uneven.
"How could I forget? Every dream in this world deserves respect. And honestly... I really believe in you, Yui Yuigahama. I think you can make it. Didn't I tell you before? Your singing is really good." Oikawa smiled at her, sincere and warm.
He truly believed it. And he truly believed Yui deserved to chase her dream.
At eighteen, dreams were the most beautiful.
"Oikawa-kun... thank you. But I... I only prepared this for you." Yui carefully set down the record player and pulled a pair of gloves from her yellow bag.
They were... honestly pretty ugly.
"I... it's my first time knitting gloves." She lowered her head.
She'd thought it was a good gift. But compared to the record player Oikawa gave her, it felt insignificant.
"I love them." Oikawa pulled the gloves on immediately, then looked at her with complete certainty. "What am I supposed to do now, Yui? I feel like my record player can't compare to these gloves at all. Why'd you have to give me something this good?"
"But the record player costs way more——"
Before Yui could finish, Oikawa cut in, "That's not the point. What matters in a gift is the thought and effort behind it. And it's clear these gloves are worth way more than my record player."
Yui shook her head, "The record player's better. It has your feelings in it too."
"The gloves are better."
"The record player's better."
"The gloves."
"The record player."
The two of them started bickering like little kids.
Using affection as bargaining chips, neither willing to back down.
Then Oikawa suddenly switched sides, "The record player's better."
"The gloves are better." Yui shook her head again, more fiercely this time.
"See? You admitted it." He flashed a sly grin.
Poor Yui was so flustered she didn't even realize she'd walked right into his trap.
"Oikawa-kun, you're awful." Yui shot him an aggrieved look.
Oikawa smirked. "If you're going to say that, maybe I should take the record player back."
"No way!"
Yui hugged the record player tightly to her chest, like it was some priceless treasure she wouldn't let anyone else touch.
Oikawa scooped up Sable and lifted him into the air. "See, Sable? Your owner really can't say what she means. We're not playing with her anymore."
"It's because you're the mean one, Oikawa-kun." Watching Oikawa happily playing with Sable, Yui smiled brighter than ever.
This was the most precious Christmas gift she had ever received in her life.
Not because the record player itself was priceless. But because the person who gave it to her was.
...
..
The Christmas event wasn't set to begin until the afternoon.
Yet before noon, Oikawa had already arrived at the civic hall alone.
Yeah, alone. He hadn't come with Yui.
She'd gone home first to drop off Sable and put away the record player. Originally, Oikawa had planned to walk her back and then come to the hall together. But right before leaving, he'd gotten a call from Isshiki.
The gist of it was simple. They were short-handed. Get here fast.
So the moment he arrived, he got roped into physical labor, hauling around instruments and stage equipment. Luckily, it wasn't too exhausting.
Then by the time he stepped into the cooking room, the place looked like a battlefield.
"Oikawa, bring me the milk!" Yukino stood at the center of it all like she owned the room, directing everyone around. And honestly, she had every right to.
When it came to baking, she was practically an expert.
Maybe even more authoritative than Kawasaki.
"Here."
Oikawa was starting to feel like a brick.
Wherever someone needed something, they tossed him there. But what could he do? Nothing except curse Shizuka Hiratsuka under his breath.
"Thanks." Yukino took the milk and immediately mixed it into the cake batter.
Then she called over to Hina Ebina, "Ebina-san, the cookies only need five minutes in the oven. Don't let them go over."
"Got it. I won't mess it up." Ebina gave her a soldier-like salute.
...
Five minutes later, Yui eagerly raised her hand. "Yukinon, do you need any help? All the cookies are packed already. I can help bake the cake!"
"No." Yukino didn't even look at her. "Yui, just stand there. Do not involve yourself in any step of the cake-making process."
Cold. Brutal. Completely merciless.
But Oikawa didn't think she was being unfair.
If Yui got involved in baking, the old people and kids eating those cakes would probably end up in the hospital.
Her cooking was catastrophically bad.
"Oh... okay." Yui lowered her head, sounding dejected.
She looked genuinely hurt.
"I'll help too!" Isshiki rushed into the room, sweat on her forehead, sleeves already rolled up.
Yukino nodded, "Isshiki-san, go make gingerbread. The instructions are written on the note beside the ingredients. Just follow them."
Isshiki simply answered, "Got it," and immediately got to work.
"Oikawa, mixer."
Oikawa found the hand mixer and passed it over.
The whole thing looked strangely funny.
Yukino looked like the lead surgeon in an operating room. And Oikawa was her assistant, handing over tools.
Before long, Hayama Hayato and the others entered the cooking room too.
With more hands helping, progress sped up fast.
By around one in the afternoon, all the cakes and sweets needed for the Christmas event were finished.
Everyone had sweat on their foreheads. But every single one of them was smiling.
.
.
.