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The gentle hum of the train filled Claudine’s ears. It reminded her of the sound of jet engines, but something about it was different. It filled the silence naturally, as if it was meant to be there.
“Hmmm…”
Maya snored. She was leaning towards Claudine, her face concealed by a fallen tress of hair. Her outline seemed to be projected against the brilliant white landscape outside.
Something about the sight held Claudine’s gaze. It was familiar and unfamiliar. The fringes of Maya’s bow, dancing with the motion of the train. The tips of her perfectly curled bangs. The curve of her lips.
The vision was extinguished as the train entered a tunnel. Claudine looked away.
What had that been just now? Her thoughts were a jumble. She clenched her hands. There was a whistling in her ears.
She turned back to Maya, as if to confirm that she had just been in some kind of trance. When she did, the train burst back into the light.
Claudine’s eyes burned. All she could see was the color purple. There she sat for a second, then two, then five.
“...-san.”
Caudine shook her head, as if waking from a dream.
“Saijou-san, are you alright?”
Maya’s face was tinged with worry.
“Y…yeah. I’m fine.” Claudine turned away. She heard faint giggles behind her.
“You know Saijou-san, skiing is nothing to get this nervous about.”
Claudine’s cheeks flushed a bright red.
“Hey!”
Claudine’s family was going to be in Tokyo this Christmas.
Maya knew she should be happy. Claudine had seemed overjoyed to see them, and Maya wanted to share in that excitement. But still, something about the idea of her not being with the rest of the class this year was tinged with loneliness.
“Say, Maya,” Claudine wondered absentmindedly, “would you want to join us for Christmas?”
“Huh?”
“I said, do you want to join my family and I for Christmas? I’m sure you have to see your family for New Years’, but I thought, maybe--”
“I’d love to.”
The words came out before Maya had time to think.
“Great. I’ll tell my parents you’re coming.”
A rush of worries flooded Maya’s thoughts. What should she get Claudine? Should she get Claudine’s parents anything? Will they have baumkuchen? Will Claudine’s family like her?
“Maya,” Claudine’s voice interjected, “I’m glad you’re coming.”
Maya closed her eyes. The nerves had subsided.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
The snow was thick, but light. It was draped across the city, decorating rooftops like bolts of white silk. A white Christmas.
Claudine had woken up early, hurriedly putting together her cards and wrapping her presents. She checked in the mirror one last time. Not a lock of hair was out of place.
Today was going to be perfect.
She trotted down the stairs and found Maya already waiting by the door.
“Oh, look who decided to show up.” She flashed that infuriating smile.
“The taxi isn’t supposed to be here for fifteen minutes!”
“Excuses, excuses.” Maya chuckled.
“You know I didn’t have to invite you, right?”
“No, but I know you wanted to.” That smile again. What an infuriating woman. Claudine turned her head up with a huff.
“So, who else is going to be there?”
“Oh, just us.”
“Just you and me?”
“No!” Claudine blushed a little. “You, me, and my parents.”
“That’s what I meant, of course. What were you thinking?”
“Aren’t you full of life today, didn’t someone tell you that Christmas is about kindness?”
Maya feigned shock. “Really? I thought it was about eating delicious food and spending a special day with the one you love.”
“That’s the ones you love.”
“Sorry, Freudian slip.”
“Just what are you implying!”
Ugh!
Their banter was interrupted by a honking horn outside.
“Come on, it’s time to go.”
“I thought it was supposed to be fifteen minutes?”
“Are you still on that?”
Maya wasn’t sure what she had expected. She had visions of Claudine’s house decked out in lights and gaudy Christmas decorations. Instead, all that distinguished it from the surroundings were the candlelights in the window. It was…
Elegant.
Like Claudine’s mother, who was dressed a little too nice for a family Christmas. A twitch of nervousness struck her.
“Welcome to our home.” She inclined her head.
“Thank you for inviting me,” Maya returned, with a slight bow.
“Come on Mom! There’s no need to be so formal. It’s just Maya--”
Mrs. Saijou cut Claudine off with a sharp glare. “Miss Tendou is a very important guest. You should be on your best behavior.”
Claudine looked away. “Yes, Mom.”
“Well, we shouldn’t just stand in the cold.” Mrs. Saijou clapped her hands. “Let’s go inside.”
The inside was just as lovely as the outside, full of red and green and gold, topped off by a lavishly decorated Christmas tree accentuated with a portable electric fireplace. Three stockings hung nearby, knitted with each family member’s names.
As Maya stepped across the threshold, she had a moment of apprehension. It was like entering Claudine’s private world, the thought was exhilarating, but also nerve-wracking.
“Oh, if it isn’t the star of today’s proceedings.” A deep voice rumbled from across the hall.
“Now, dear, I thought we said no puns in front of our honored guest.” Mrs. Saijou responded with a strained smile.
“That’s not a pun!”
“It’s still embarrassing, Dad.”
Maya tried to hold back the laughter, but couldn’t stifle a snort.
“I’m sorry, you’re just too cute sometimes.”
Claudine flushed bright red. Her parents’ faces broke into warm smiles. But there was something else there, was it…
“So, Maya, it seems like our little Clau-chan has taken a liking to you.” Mr. Saijou added with a wry smile.
“Dad!”
“I wouldn’t be so presumptuous as to assume so,” Maya demurred.
“Oh, nonsense, you’re the first person she’s ever invited here.” Mrs. Saijou added. “You must be very special.”
“...”
Maya waited for Claudine’s retort, but it never came. She just stood there, looking at the floor.
“It…it’s an honor.”
“Well, we don’t have much on the docket just yet, do you want anything for breakfast?”
“Croiss-”
Maya stopped herself.
“Maya, are you assuming that just because my wife is French, we have croissants for breakfast?” Mr. Tendou asked with a hint of a frown.”
“I’m sorry for assuming, what I meant to say was-”
“Ahem,” he smirked, “what I was going to say was, you are exactly right. These two can’t get enough of them. Let’s eat.”
The day had passed quickly. Maya had won a few games of shogi, set a new record for making Claudine blush, and had generally done a fine job of ingratiating herself with the Saijou family.
Now, it was time for the most important part of the day.
Presents.
Claudine was first. The irregular shape of the wrapping paper on the gift she received from her parents was suggestive of the contents, but she politely kept her reaction under check until she had torn off the packaging. She really was a great actor.
“Oh wow! A fishing rod!”
“That one’s carbon fiber. Thought you might want a new one given how things went last time,” Mrs. Saijou added.
“The fish weren’t biting that day and you know it .” Claudine narrowed her eyes.
“Sure, sure, believe what you want…next up is Miss Tendou!”
Maya gently peeled off the tape on the small present in her hand, slowly unveiling the contents.
“Is this…”
“A DVD of the very first production of Arrie! Our little Clau-chan is so cute in it, we thought you might like it.”
Oh.
My.
God.
“I’ve been looking for this for years!” She tried not to think about how Claudine would respond to that comment. “How did you know?”
Mrs. Saijou put on an expression that looked for all the world like her daughter.
“Let’s just say it was mother’s intuition.”
“I’m…I’m opening mine next!” Claudine nearly shouted. She took out the present from Maya, a single gilt envelope. She nearly tore it open.
“What are these?” Claudine asked quizzically.
“Lift tickets!” Maya beamed back. “I thought we could go skiing.”
“Oh…I’ve never been skiing before.”
“Don’t worry about it, I can teach you.” Maya put on her best ‘responsible best friend’ look.
Claudine hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Alright, I’m looking forward to it.”
The air hung like that for a moment, before Maya turned her attention to the delicate present in her lap. It was from Claudine.
“Go ahead, open it,” Mr. Saijou urged.
Maya pulled open the box, revealing a snowflake made of crystal glass. The reflection off the arms left rainbow refractions on the box. In the middle was a picture. It was of her and Claudine, standing together on stage.
“I wanted to show how much I treasure the moments we spend together on stage.” Claudine said quietly.
Maya blinked away a tear. She met Claudine’s lavender eyes.
“Thank you.”
The moment was still. Snow fluttered down softly outside.
A voice came from the couch.
“Awwwww…”
“Dear! Let them have their moment!”
“Sorry…”
“The next stop is Ueno, Ueno. Please gather all your personal belongings…”
Ah, this was Claudine’s stop. Her legs ached from hours on the slopes, and her jacket was nearly soaked through with melted snow. She wanted to sleep.
She thought to the small weight on her shoulder. Brown locks laid over her arm. Maya was snoring again.
Claudine smiled, and settled back into her seat. She could wait one more stop.