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Maki made it clear that she doesn't want any gifts for Christmas.
Mostly because it makes her feel embarrassed, and she hates asking for things.
Life is good these days, and she prefers that over artificial values like perfume or shoes with a price tag attached to weigh up for love, because people feel the need to do so. That doesn't matter to her. What counts is being together.
Of course, Maki gets Kaito a gift regardless, even if she herself doesn't want any. He's been eying that purple coat almost every time they passed that store in the past weeks, always lamenting over the price. It's not necessarily very pricey, just more expensive than his usual wardrobe. He wouldn't buy things like that for himself.
He's generous with anyone but himself, really, despite his hero complex that shows at times. He's selfless. He puts everyone above himself.
It makes him feel selfish, he says, spending so much money for something he wants that he could put into someone else. His friends, and of course, Maki. That idiot.
But when Maki puts the gift under the tree, there's another one under it. It's wrapped up like candy - dark purple wrapping paper and an awkward ribbon at both ends.
Maki pouts. It's not hypocritical of her. Not at all. Kaito ignored her request for not getting her anything.
"No way! A present for me?"
Maki flinches and nearly drops the gift. She turns to see Kaito stand in the doorframe, his arms crossed with a wide grin on his lips.
"I told you no gifts", she glowers, staring him down.
Kaito doesn't let that deter him in the slightest, looking so smug about it. "Says you."
Maki presses her lips into a tight flat line. She'd love to argue that this is different, but it's pointless. It's not like he's gonna take the gift back, and now...
She is curious. She's not really used to getting presents on Christmas. That spark never happened for her during her childhood.
"Let's open it."
Kaito crosses the space through the living room and sits down next to her on the floor. Maki bites her lip and half-heartedly shoves her present for Kaito over to him.
"You first."
"Yours is so neatly wrapped. Can't compete with my Super-Maki!"
"Don't call me that."
She hates how hot her face feels, and she hates that Kaito definitely sees how much she's blushing.
He carefully opens the gift and his eyes widen, along with his jaw hanging wide open.
"Close it before the flies come", Maki murmurs.
Kaito either doesn't hear her or doesn't take it to heart. He beams like a little child in a toystore. "Maki-Roll! You shouldn't have... That was expensive! It's almost too valuable to wear..."
"Don't you dare not wearing it." Maki fumbles with her present. "It's not really that expensive. You're just stingy."
"Not true!", Kaito retorts, "I'm just managing!"
"Recovering gambling addict. How old are those shoes, by the way?"
Kaito had that pair ever since Maki met him. In high school. He had to glue the sole back on at least three times.
"They're as good as new!", Kaito mumbles and tries the coat on to distract. Maki wins.
It nicely compliments his hair and Maki has to admit, the pattern of stars inside make it look beautiful, softly sparkling in the dim light of the living room. Kaito doesn't put the second arm through the sleeve and Maki frowns.
"Put it on properly."
"It looks better like that! I already feel like a hero!" Kaito flexes his biceps and grins triumphantly at her and she rolls her eyes.
"So annoying..."
"You like it!"
She does, but she wouldn't tell him that. It would get to his ego, and she's definitely not feeding into that.
"Come on now, open mine! You'll love it!"
Maki sighs and carefully tears the wrapper. The gift is so crumpled, there's no saving the paper anyway.
Inside is an LED lamp - the kind to press on to turn on. Maki furrows her eyebrows, but Kaito has already jumped to his feet and pads over to turn off the big light.
"I already put batteries inside. Press it!"
Maki presses it. And through tiny holes, the lamp projects tiny sparkling stars to the walls and ceiling. She finds herself inside a little home galaxy, Kaito barely illuminated by the twinkling lights, and even if it's childish, she can't stop her lips from parting in awe.
"Now you won't have to miss me when I go to space", Kaito states, "You'll be right there with me! You don't have to cry yourself to sleep, because I'm gonna be almost next to you!"
Maki crosses her arms and scoffs, puffing her cheeks out into a pout. "I am not crying myself to sleep."
"You would! The way you always cling to me at night!"
Maki throws a glare at him. She can see that huge smile sitting on his face.
"Do you wanna die?"
It used to get a reaction out of Kaito, now his features only soften when she says it. Sometimes she hates how easily he reads her, when she's always been so good at keeping everything concealed.
But she doesn't want to hide away, not from him. Not from the only person she ever learned to trust. So it's alright, to allow the tease, to be childish and entertain his stupid hero fantasies.
That's why she loves him, after all.
Kaito makes his way over to her, slowly wraps his arm around her and pulls her close, that dumb loose sleeve flapping against her arm. He leans in and presses a kiss against her cheek, his goatee tickling her a little, and Maki hums in content.
"Merry Christmas, Maki-Roll", Kaito says softly, "You'll always be my home planet, you hear? Even a star astronaut like me gotta return to his home base!"
He's nervous, Maki can tell. Because deep down he's the one having trouble being alone, but now is not the time to tease him with that. It's too nice a moment.
Instead, she curls her fingers into his collar and pulls him into a proper kiss, hearing him gasp in surprise like that's the first time she's done it.
She wishes she could capture this moment - the both of them out in space, among the stars Kaito loves so much, where nothing can touch them.
But they're only at home under their Christmas tree, and Maki will definitely tell him to put that sleeve on properly.