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This was Regina’s first Christmas. Actually, she had no idea what Christmas was before this. The decorated trees had given away that there was something going on, but nobody, not even Mana had told her. She had noted how her girlfriend had started wearing furry reindeer antlers on her head however, which was only a little bit unusual.
She’d dotted around the girls every so often, hoping that someone would explain what was going on. But Alice had seemed too busy and Rikka too stressed to say anything. It was only when she asked her pseudo-sister Aguri about it that she got an answer.
“Wha- but didn’t you kidnap Mana on Christmas Eve last year?”
“I was under a spell! And I didn’t take notice of my surroundings, that's all…”
Aguri looked away from her for a second to think. “Well…Christmas is a big holiday in December. It originated from a Christianity, but is generally for everyone nowadays. Gift giving is probably the biggest part of it though.”
“Gift giving? Like, showering someone with presents on their birthday?” Regina asked. Her curiosity had peaked slightly, though Aguri was still not too interested.
“Kinda? I’m surprised you remember what a birthday is. But it’s more broad. It’s usually…you usually get a few gifts for family and friends.” Aguri replied. Regina nodded. She understood the general sense of it. Mana would probably give one to her, Makoto, Alice and Rikka then. She didn’t wanna be selfish anymore, but she did feel slightly off about it.
“Ohhhh I get it!” Regina “so why is Mana wearing-”
“I’m not explaining that whole thing.” Aguri cut her off. Right, that was it out of her. Regina nodded again.
“Okii!”
Her sister walked off, though before completely leaving, turned around one last time. “Make sure you actually think about what you’re getting for people, don’t just use your magic.”
Regina huffed a little bit. No using magic? Then what the heck was she supposed to do? Go out shopping? But she didn’t have that much money on her! She only had what she had because of the few part-times she’d partaken in, but since living with Mana had already had everything covered, she figured she didn’t need too much on her own.
But enough about money, what could she even buy? No shoddy gift would do, she needed something special for her very special girl. And it couldn’t copy anything else that Mana would get! So, in that moment, she decided she needed to snoop around the other cures.
–
Rikka was first. It was obvious, since she was one of Mana’s closest friends.
“Hey Rikka! What are you getting Mana for Christmas?”
“Why are you asking?” Rikka replied almost immediately. She was helping to set up a Karuta game, so wasn’t paying Regina much attention.
“Oh I just wanna see so I don’t accidentally copy anyone.” Regina said. “I'm sure you’d understand-”
“I do.” Rikka cut her off, walking over to the other side of the room to pick something up. “It just happens that I still don’t properly know either. Mana’s notoriously hard to shop for sometimes.”
Regina giggled, and could tell Rikka’s face was going red. “Well then, any advice? I’ll just leave if-”
“No, I do have advice…” Rikka sighed. “You want to be extra special this year for your girlfriend, don’t you?”
Regina spun in place. “Yeah! I wanna give her the best present ever!” she exclaimed. Rikka then giggled. This made Regina pout.
“What are you laughing at?!”
“Oh nothing.” she smiled. “I get it, though. It is difficult to pick gifts sometimes. So when I choose them I think about what they really love and get something according to that.”
“Something she really loves…she really loves me!”
“That’s more of a joke gift. Think more about the other things she likes!” Rikka then noticed the time. “Now if you don’t mind It’s time for my club so you’re gonna have to get going.”
“Okay okay. I think I got it now!” she then said. “Thanks Rikka!” and then she snapped her fingers, disappearing from the room entirely.
—-
Alice was next. She was pouring some tea for herself while tending to her flowers. As soon as she spotted Regina, she smiled and waved, offering a cup for her. Regina nodded, Alice’s tea was always nice after all, and whatever Mana liked Regina liked.
Though, that did give her a little idea. If she liked all the same things that Mana did, then trying to pick something out would be easy! Something cute and pink? Or perhaps a thing to do with all of her school stuff? Or maybe even something for when she became cure heart.
“I can tell you have a problem. Is it Christmas related perhaps?”
“You’re creepy sometimes.” Regina muttered under her breath, surprised how quickly she picked up on it.
Alice took a sip. “I’m aware. So what’s your issue?”
“I bet you can guess that too.” Regina joked. Alice giggled, cutting a few flowers and laying them on the table.
“Well. I can assume a lot of things. For example, You haven’t properly celebrated Christmas before. And you’re stuck on what to do, specifically with Mana.”
“Did Aguri or Rikka say anything by chance?” Regina then said, making her voice sound dead.
The other girl laughed. “No, I don’t recall either of them talking to me today. But I still haven’t properly guessed, have I?”
“Well no, but you probably will so I’ll just say it. What are you gonna give Mana for christmas?”
“What am I going to give her? Hmmm that is a question. Well, these flowers are part of it.” she answered. “I wanted to make something I’m sure she’d love.”
“Make something?” Regina then asked. That was something she didn’t think of before. Right, if she couldn’t buy something, she could craft something. Interesting.
“Right! I was thinking about making chocolate or baking. It’s always nice to make something for someone you care about.” Alice explained with a bright smile. “I know Mana loves things when they’re home made specially for someone.”
“I knew that!” Regina cut in. she in fact, completely forgot that Mana liked those things. But it did give her ideas. And on top of that, she was now thinking of all of the plushies she had in her room. Just maybe…
“I hope that’s helped you in some way. How’s the tea by the way? I’m trying a new flavour.”
Regina then realised she had been neglecting the teacup sitting near her, so she downed the whole thing in about a minute. Then she coughed. “That’s- extremely sweet.”
Alice tilted her head. “Oh, is it? I will improve that for next time. You have somewhere else to be now, correct?”
Regina nodded, trying to cool her slightly burnt tongue. At this point she didn’t care too much on whether Alice knew her every move or not. She was just odd like that. This time she had the decency to leave the mansion before snapping her fingers.
—-
The last girl on her list was Makoto. Arguably the one who liked her the least. At least she had softened up lately, but still, there was a reason Regina left her for last. Makoto was also the most busy with her idol career, so she couldn’t really pop in any time she wanted.
Thankfully, Regina managed to catch her at a fine enough time, as she was all done with her rehearsals, and was being driven home. She probably shouldn’t have appeared in the car though.
“What the heck are you doing in here?!” she immediately yelled. Davi looked back for a second, knowing she had to keep her eyes on the road, but knowing it was only Regina was fine for her.
“Oops. sorry!” She playfully apologised.
“Well, what do you want?” Makoto then asked, now slightly annoyed.
“What are you getting Mana for Christmas?”
Makoto scoffed. “Why do you need to know? I’m sure there’s other people you can talk to.”
Regina laughed “I already have! You’re just the last one.” she said. She recounted all of the chatter from earlier. She had learned quite a bit, though she was still so confused at the same time.
Makoto took a deep breath. She’d calmed down a little since the sudden jumpscare, but she was still a little cranky due to her being tired. “Well. I don’t have one for her.”
“What?!”
“Sometimes, just yourself is enough. I don’t really have anything to give that she doesn’t already have.”
Regina pouted. “Rikka already said just giving myself to her would be a joke though..”
“You’re her girlfriend. She’s obviously going to expect something from you.”
Regina pouted again. This was a bit of a dud. But, something she doesn’t already have? That stuck a little bit with her. Oh well, that was this convo done. “Okay thanks. See ya.” she said, before snapping her fingers once more and leaving the car, leaving Makoto confused.
—-
So. What did all of this come to? The three pieces of advice she had received were as follows. Think about what she likes, hand-made was usually better, and not give her anything she didn’t already have. At least, that’s what she took from it. And this time. She was sure she found the perfect gift. It was customised, she knew Mana would like it, and she was sure she didn't have anything like it.
Christmas eve was afoot. A cold snow washed over Tokyo, staining it even whiter than it had previously been. Regina had tried her best to wrap up, though she did somehow catch a common cold a few days before this. She was terrified, to be frank.
Regina stood outside the Aida household. The whole thing smelled of bread and vanilla, which just lulled Regina in. What if she didn’t like it? She gently tapped on the door, unsure if anyone could even hear her. And when the door opened, Mana greeted her with a smile. She looked adorable.
“Hi! I’ve been expecting you at some point, come on in!”
Mana had the same reindeer antlers she had been wearing since the start of december, but she also had a cute christmas themed jumper that was dyed pink and looked like the inside of a snow globe. She also had the fluffiest pair of leg warmers on. It made Regina immediately lose her train of thought.
“I uh- yeah. I’ll do that.” she said, trying to hold herself together. The moment she stepped in and the door was closed she was blasted with an even stronger smell and instant heat. At that point she had nearly fallen over, but she still kept her composure as to not accidentally squash the present or anything along those lines.
“I have a big surprise for you! Bet you can’t guess what.” Mana laughed, taking hold of Regina’s hands. Okay, she had to get back on track now.
“I don’t know, what ever did you get me?” Regina replied in a voice that sounded extremely saccharine for her, batting her eyelids in a way that you could tell she was being sarcastic.
“Well, let’s go upstairs and find out!!” Mana replied, starting to lead her up the stairs to her room. Regina was practically being dragged at this point, as she really didn’t know what she was doing.
When they both entered Mana’s room she immediately spotted every little Christmas thing she could, as the place was decked out with so much tinsel, lights, and just about anything. It calmed her down at least a little.
“So…how are you feeling?” Mana asked.
“About what?”
“Well, it’s our first Christmas together after all!!”
“Right! I knew that.” Regina was still incredibly nervous. But she snapped her fingers, which made a wrapped box appear on Mana’s bed. She was thankful she stored it like that after all. “So um, I got you a little something.”
“Really?! Oh you shouldn’t have! Oh my gosh what is it?” Mana chirped with excitement.
“Open it and see for yourself!” Regina yelled, though her face had gone red. Mana tilted her head in confusion for a second before giggling and picking up the box. It was decorated with a red ribbon much like the one in Regina’s hair and a Red stick-on bow. Mana’s eyes were sparkling with excitement as she started clawing at the wrapping paper and ripped off the tape of the cardboard box underneath.
Inside was a little pink teddy bear. One with yellow hair, and a pink dress that resembled a certain magical costume, and to top that it held a little heart that simply read ‘Mana Aida’. As soon as she saw this, Mana cradled the small thing in her hands before knocking Regina over into the bed with a hug. She was pleased. “So..?” Regina said.
“I love it! It’s so cute and adorable and just like you!!”
Regina giggled. “Really?” she asked. Mana got off of her, then went to go get another present, this one looking like a box, but looked more in the shape of a board game box or something. It was about that size too.
She was quick to try and open up the box, not giving a care to the wrapping paper or anything, and what came from it was a book. A thick book, more like a folder or file from how the material felt, which was tied shut by a ribbon. “What is this?”
“Open it!”
Regina did as she was asked, pulling the little ribbon that kept the book shut, opening it to reveal that it was a photo album that she had been given. And this album wasn’t empty. It was full of photos of the two of them, as well as everybody else in Regina’s life. But most of them were of her and Mana. She flicked through the pages, each one bringing back more and more memories of the time they’d had together, both before and after redemption too.
Just then, a tear fell from her cheek onto the plastic. Why was she crying? She couldn’t be crying. This was a stupid time to cry. But then she looked up at Mana, who reached out to wipe her tears away. “Thank you..”
“So, do you like it?”
“Like it? I- I-” She stood up, giving Mana a giant hug, then a little kiss on the lips. “I love it!” she laughed, trying to recover quickly. Mana returned the kiss, nuzzling against her slightly.
“Merry Christmas Regina.”
“Merry Christmas Mana.”