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Christmas Eve had arrived in Yokohama, the streets alive with twinkling lights and the gentle hum of holiday cheer. Yu Nanba leaned against the counter in Survive Bar, fidgeting with a neatly wrapped package in his hands. The bright red wrapping paper, decorated with cartoon reindeer, was creased slightly from his nervous grip.
He glanced over at the table where Ichiban Kasuga was enthusiastically decorating a tiny plastic tree with tinsel, ornaments, and a hilariously oversized star that made the tree lean precariously.
“You think it’s too much?” Ichiban asked, turning to Nanba with his usual lopsided grin.
“It’s perfect,” Nanba replied, his voice soft. He felt his chest tighten in that familiar way that happened whenever Ichiban looked at him like that—like he was the only person in the world who mattered.
He tucked the package behind his back as Ichiban turned his attention back to the tree, oblivious to Nanba’s internal turmoil. The Nintendo Switch had cost more than Nanba had originally planned to spend, and he’d agonized over whether it was too much. But every time he thought of Ichiban’s wide-eyed excitement when he talked about video games, he couldn’t resist.
“Hey, Nan-chan!” Ichiban called, breaking him out of his thoughts. “C’mon, let’s finish decorating together! It’s not Christmas without teamwork!”
Nanba rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide his small smile as he joined Ichiban at the table. They spent the next hour stringing up lights and finishing off the tree. Ichiban’s unbridled enthusiasm was infectious, and by the time they were done, Nanba felt lighter, as if the weight of his doubts had melted away.
As the clock struck midnight, Ichiban clapped his hands together. “Alright! Time for presents!”
Nanba stiffened. “Presents?”
“Yeah! Don’t tell me you forgot,” Ichiban teased, reaching behind the couch to pull out a badly wrapped package. The paper looked like it had been mauled by a bear, but Ichiban presented it with pride. “This one’s for you, Nanba.”
Nanba blinked in surprise. He hadn’t expected Ichiban to get him anything. Taking the gift, he carefully peeled away the paper to reveal a hand-knitted scarf in deep green. It was lumpy and uneven, with stray threads sticking out, but Nanba’s chest ached at the effort Ichiban must have put into making it.
“It’s terrible, isn’t it?” Ichiban laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. “I tried my best, but—”
“It’s perfect,” Nanba interrupted, wrapping it around his neck. The warmth of the yarn was nothing compared to the warmth spreading in his chest.
Clearing his throat, Nanba pulled out his own gift. “Here. This is for you.”
Ichiban’s eyes lit up as he tore into the wrapping paper. When he saw the Nintendo Switch box, he froze, staring at it like it was some kind of treasure.
“No way,” he whispered. “Nanba… are you serious?”
Nanba nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. “You’re always talking about how much you miss playing games, so… I thought you’d like it.”
Ichiban’s grin split his face, and before Nanba could react, he was pulled into a bone-crushing hug.
“This is the best gift ever! Thank you so much!” Ichiban exclaimed, his voice thick with emotion.
Nanba hesitated for a moment before wrapping his arms around Ichiban in return. “I’m glad you like it,” he murmured, his face buried in Ichiban’s shoulder to hide the blush spreading across his cheeks.
They spent the rest of the night setting up the console, Ichiban practically bouncing with excitement as they played Mario Kart. Nanba let himself get swept up in the moment, his heart swelling every time Ichiban laughed or cheered.
As the first rays of dawn peeked through the windows, Ichiban turned to Nanba, his eyes soft and his smile genuine. “You know, Nanba, this Christmas wouldn’t have been half as amazing without you.”
Nanba’s breath caught, and for a fleeting moment, he considered confessing the feelings he’d kept hidden for so long. But instead, he simply smiled. “Merry Christmas, Ichi.”
And in that moment, as his friend beamed back at him, Nanba realized he didn’t need anything else. Seeing Ichiban happy was the greatest gift of all.