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White flakes drifted down outside the classroom window, creating a ripple of excitement amongst the students.
Aiba put down his chalk and walked over to the window, beckoning to the children to join him. Each year there seemed to be less snow, so this was special, particularly because in only two weeks it would be Christmas Eve.
There was one notable exception to the row of fourteen year olds jostling each other for the best view. In the far back corner of the room, Takahashi Kyohei sat with his head bowed, staring blankly at the scuffed surface of his desk.
The boy barely acknowledged the existence of his classmates, and seemed to have no particular friends. Kyohei's grades hovered in the lower rankings of the class, and he showed little interest in anything apart from the music he had plugged into his ears whenever he wasn't in the classroom.
After discussions with the school's music teacher Sakurai-san, and Kyohei's parents, Aiba had come up with an idea which he hoped would give Kyohei something to aim for, and hopefully bring him to life.
As the children dashed out of the room at the end of the day, Aiba pulled Kyohei aside.
"Takahashi-kun, if you have a few minutes, I have something which might interest you."
"Sure, Aiba-sensei," Kyohei replied flatly. "I don't have any plans."
Hopeful that Kyohei might give him a different answer for once, it was impossible for Aiba to resist asking, "Aren't you going to enjoy the snow with your classmates?"
Kyohei shook his head. "I'd rather go home and play games by myself."
"Oh." Aiba realised that this was going to be hard work. "Anyway…" He pulled a folder out of his desk drawer and offered it to Kyohei. "Sakurai-san told me how good you are at singing, and your parents said that you used to take dance lessons, so I thought that you might want to apply to Johnny's. I think it might bring you out of your shell."
For an unguarded moment, Kyohei's eyes sparked into life, before the shutters came down. "They won't want someone like me."
"Don’t undervalue yourself. I think that you stand a very good chance of getting in," Aiba said with a confidence he didn't quite feel. Kyohei was a good looking boy, and talented too, but if he decided to not make an effort, there wasn't much that Aiba could do.
After roughly shoving the application form into his bag, and excusing himself, the expression on Kyohei's face told Aiba that the boy didn't believe that he stood any chance of success.
Aiba prayed to whichever gods were listening right then for them to bring confidence to Kyohei, and give him something to smile about.
××
Although Aiba was bursting with curiosity, he was unable to ascertain whether Kyohei had submitted the application or not.
Each morning Kyohei slunk into the classroom late, and left the second the bell rang, depriving Aiba of the chance to ask the question.
And now it was Christmas Eve, and Aiba’s birthday.
After a pleasant evening celebrating with Sakurai-san and some of the other teachers, Aiba arrived home close to midnight.
Everyone had been buying him drinks, to the point that he'd lost track of how many he'd had. This meant that Aiba was pleasantly tipsy when he arrived home, and also the reason that he tripped over Kyohei, who was huddled in a shivering heap on the snow covered doorstep.
"Ow!" Kyohei let out a squeak as Aiba knocked him backwards.
"Are you okay?" Aiba regained his balance and helped Kyohei to his feet. "I didn't see you there in the dark."
"It's my fault. I should've checked to see if you were at home before I came," Kyohei said as he straightened his knitted cap. While brushing snow off his jacket, he paused and patted his pocket. An expression of horror spread over his face. "Oh no! It's gone."
Kyohei dropped down onto his hands and knees and began frantically digging in the snow.
"Did you lose something?" Aiba swayed slightly. The cold air was doing little to sober him up. He started to take a step back, and almost fell over as Kyohei flung himself forwards and snatched something from under his foot.
"Got it!" Kyohei hugged a small green rectangular box to his chest and sagged with relief. He thrust the box into Aiba’s hands, and looked shyly down at the ground. "This is for you, Aiba-san."
"For me?" The box was a slight weight in Aiba’s hands. The box was lined with purple tissue paper protecting seven slightly misshapen chocolate truffles. They had obviously been handmade with much care. They were prettily decorated with shiny red and green pieces of candy. "They're so cute!," he exclaimed. "Thank you, Kyohei-kun. How did you know that it's my birthday? Or is it a Christmas present?"
"Neither." Kyohei raised his head, and when he looked at Aiba his smile was like a dazzling beam of sunlight. "It's to say thank you. I found out today that I have been accepted by Johnny's."
At that moment, Aiba could see the idol that Kyohei would become, and promised himself to be front and centre at every concert.