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It was a lovely weekday afternoon just a few weeks before Christmas. Bell, Otoha, and Wakana were eating together during lunch break when Bell’s phone started to ring. It was Hiro.
“Good Afternoon!” Hiro cheerily said after Bell had picked up and put the phone on speaker. “I need a favour from you girls.”
“Hiro! It’s been a while since we talked like this.” Though they had seen each other at events, Bell and the others had generally not heard much from Over the Rainbow since they graduated high school. “Sure, what do you want?”
“Are any of you available on the 25th? I need some people to accompany Kazuki and me during Christmas. It’s a long story”
Hiro explained. He had originally planned for him and Kazuki to spend Christmas alone together. However, before Hiro could even finish going over the rough details of their romantic Christmas date, Kazuki fainted as his nose bled.
“He really can’t handle any sort of mushy stuff, can he? Kazuki-senpai, that dumbass...” Wakana added, sighing as she rested her face on her hand and recalled his various reactions from the times when she and An tried to pursue him.
Hiro continued. “It’s a shame, isn’t it? Anyways, that’s why instead of a one-on-one date we’re trying to have a party. But Kouji’s spending Christmas with Ito-chan and Septentrion is busy with work so we can’t ask any of them.”
“What about the other Happy Rain girls?” Bell asked.
“An-chan is celebrating with her extended family, and Naru-chan’s been transported to an alternate universe again, so they can’t join either.”
“Oof, I can’t make it either,” Wakana replied, though she seemed oddly excited. “We’re going on a family trip overseas over the break!”
Bell and Otoha turned away to speak to each other for a moment and Otoha spoke to the phone once again “Um, Hiro-san, me and Bell were already planning to spend time together for Christmas, so why don’t you join us? We’ll make it a double date!”
“Sounds great!” Hiro exclaimed! “Hey, how about we also exchange gifts again like that last time!”
“Oh yeah, we both got gifts from you and Kazuki-san back then. Alright, we’ll make sure to give you some good gifts” Bell replied. After going over details, Hiro ended the call. Bell looked up and was surprised by her girlfriend’s slightly concerned expression, though she kind of understood why. Otoha was probably recalling that time.
It was the Christmas party they all held at Prism Stone three years ago. They decided to exchange gifts via Secret Santa, not the kind where you get a name and have to pick out a gift for that specific person, but the kind where you each brought a present and it would randomly be given to another, which means most of the time you end up with a shitty surprise (that’s how it is in this system). Otoha was one of those people, as after she opened her present, she screamed as she was greeted with the sight of a loincloth decked out in wild flame decals.
“Ah, that’s my present! It’s a ‘burning fundoshi!’” Kazuki exclaimed. Everyone else looked at each other awkwardly. Even An and Wakana, who had initially so desperately wanted Kazuki’s present changed their minds as soon as they saw what it was.
“Kazuki-san… meant well, I guess.” Bell said as she tried to comfort Otoha.“ Look on the bright side. He probably won't make that mistake again this time."
Otoha and Bell decided to go to a nearby mall in order to find gifts. Bell was going to get Hiro’s and Otoha was going to get Kazuki’s.
“What do you plan on giving Hiro-san, Bell?” Otoha asked.
“Let’s see, I was hoping to give him some kind of perfume,” Bell replied. “ I’m not saying he smells bad, but if I ever catch him smelling like Axe or Fabreze again during an event, I’m kicking him out of the Bell Rose building.”
Otoha laughed but soon sighed. She remembered that she hadn’t been able to figure out what present Kazuki would want. Kazuki was a very practical guy and at times it seemed like there wasn’t anything more to him than street-style prism shows and painting, both of which he didn’t really need any new supplies for at the moment. Kazuki considered them to be good friends and as she would do for her other close people, she wanted to give him something unique that he would use. If only Kazuki wasn’t such a weirdo.
Just as she was about to give up and just buy him something like a scented candle, Otoha noticed the window displays of the fashion shops around her. Her eyes were drawn to the bold prints and designs found on the clothing items worn by the mannequins.
Bell noticed Otoha looking around. “Otoha, did you find something?” She asked.
“No, but I think I have an idea for my present,” Otoha replied. “Let’s go buy some fabric and fabric dye.”
It was finally Christmas Eve and the sun was about to set. Otoha and Bell managed to find their way out of the cold as they decided to wait inside the bustling Prism Stone for the other couple to arrive. The store’s doors opened and the boys walked in.
“Good evening!” Hiro said cheerfully as he and Bell waved to each other to signal where they were.
They sat down and chatted for a little bit.
“So we’ll quickly exchange presents and then head out, right?” He asked.
“Mm-hmm. We’ll start with the presents this time. Here’s your present, Hiro” Bell gave him a small box wrapped in layers of tissue paper.
Hiro unwrapped it. Inside the box was a small bottle of fragrance. “Wow! Thanks, Bell!” he replied. “It smells delightful!”
“Otoha suggested that it would be a nice scent for you. It has nice rosy notes to it.” She said. “Don’t ever use Axe again. Seriously.”
“Wow. Thanks, Bell.”
It was then Otoha’s turn.
“Kazuki-san, here is your present.” Otoha handed him a flat box wrapped in floral print paper and a ribbon.
“Oh! Thanks a lot, Otoha!” Kazuki cheerfully replied. “I kinda feel bad messing up the nice wrapping, but let’s see what’s inside…” He undid the bow and wrapping paper and opened up the box. His expression, as well as Hiro and Bell’s, turned into a surprised one. “This is…”
“I-it’s a ‘Meruhen Fundoshi’ as I call it” Otoha explained. “I made it myself. I thought that because of what you decided to give me last time, this would be a good idea. So...what do you think?” Everyone was waiting for Kazuki’s answer.
“Wow, this is amazing!! I can’t believe you made something like this!” Kazuki exclaimed as his eyes sparkled looking at the intricate details and impressive scenery depicted on the hand-painted fundoshi. “I’ve never seen anything like this before! It’s a little flashy but I like it, it’s so beautiful! It just screams ‘freedom’! Once again, thanks a lot, Otoha!”
Otoha sat back in her chair and sighed in relief. She smiled. Though she might never understand why Kazuki had such weird tastes, she was nonetheless delighted knowing how happy he was with the present she had given him.
“I’m gonna try it on right now! Coo-san! Let me use one of the change rooms!” Kazuki ran to the other side of the store immediately.
“What” The other three exclaimed immediately.