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On a normal Tuesday in the Shinsou-Bakugou household, everything usually ran like clockwork. Katsuki Bakugou handled the mornings with his usual efficiency, herding everyone through breakfast and out the door, while Hitoshi Shinsou handled the evenings, calming the chaos as they unwound from the day. But during the holiday season?
All bets were off.
Their cozy little home bustled with holiday spirit—or at least with the effort of trying to get there. The living room was warm and festive, decked out with twinkling lights, stacks of wrapped presents, and their proud centerpiece: the Christmas tree. It stood half-decorated, branches glittering with tinsel, waiting for its final round of ornaments. And of course, sprawled lazily on the couch was Marmalade, their chubby orange tabby, blissfully unaware of her role as the day’s impending chaos agent.
The jingling of bells on the front door barely echoed before it slammed shut, signaling Bakugou’s departure. Their 4 year old Sakura waved enthusiastically, standing on tiptoe to peek over the couch, her tiny mittened hand flapping furiously. “Bye, Papa! Don’t forget the marshmallows!”
“Yeah, yeah,” Bakugou grumbled, tugging his scarf tighter against the biting cold. His words came out gruff, but as he reached the door, he paused, glancing back over his shoulder. Catching Sakura’s eager gaze, he pulled a funny face—his cheeks puffed out, lips pursed like a fish—which sent her into a fit of giggles.
Satisfied with her laughter, Bakugou allowed a small, fond smile to break through. “Be good for Daddy,” he called, his tone softer now, before stepping out into the snow-dusted street. The door shut behind him with a quiet click, and the winter chill filled the space he left behind.
Sakura turned back to the living room, her cheeks puffed up in determination. “I’m always good,” she declared proudly, climbing back onto the couch with a bounce. Marmalade stirred slightly, giving her a sleepy, unimpressed blink before curling up tighter.
Shinsou, leaning casually against the wall, watched the exchange with an amused smirk. “Alright, Miss ‘Always Good.’” he drawled, pushing off the wall and stepping into the living room where Sakura was practically vibrating with excitement. “Looks like it’s just us now.”
Sakura spun around so quickly she almost toppled over. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she pointed dramatically to the half-decorated Christmas tree standing in the corner of the room. The lower branches were already overloaded with ornaments, mostly chosen by her earlier—a chaotic mix of glittering baubles, homemade popsicle-stick crafts, and colorful ribbons. The effect was endearing but decidedly lopsided, with the upper branches looking almost comically bare.
“Let’s finish the tree, Daddy!” she exclaimed, bouncing on her toes.
Shinsou tilted his head, raising an eyebrow at her enthusiasm. “Think we can get it done before your papa gets back?”
Sakura puffed up her chest with all the determination of a tiny soldier about to conquer a great mission. “Yes! We’re a team!” she declared, pumping her fist in the air for emphasis.
Shinsou chuckled, crouching to her level and brushing a stray curl out of her face. “Alright, team leader,” he said, his tone warm and teasing. “Let’s get to work. But just so you know, if Papa asks, this was all your idea.”
She nodded solemnly, her little face scrunched up in concentration as she grabbed the ornament box from the coffee table. “He’ll be so surprised when he sees how pretty it is!”
Shinsou stood, stretching slightly as he followed her to the tree. While Sakura was clearly motivated by the idea of impressing her papa, he had his own reasons for diving into the task. Bakugou might’ve had a knack for creating a picture-perfect tree, but Shinsou wasn’t about to let him have all the credit for the holiday magic.
“We can totally do this,” Shinsou muttered under his breath, eyeing the lopsided tree. It was a challenge, sure, but how hard could it be?
Sakura was already digging through the ornament box, pulling out a shiny red bauble and holding it up like it was a treasure. “This one’s my favorite! It’s sparkly!”
“Good choice,” Shinsou said, grabbing a nearby step stool. “Alright, team leader. You pick the ornaments, and I’ll hang the ones you can’t reach.”
“Deal!” she chirped, practically vibrating with excitement as she began sorting through the decorations.
As Shinsou worked to even out the decorations on the higher branches, Sakura scurried around beneath the tree, carefully placing ornaments wherever she thought they looked best. Marmalade, their chubby tabby cat, watched the activity with lazy interest from her spot on the couch, her tail flicking occasionally as Sakura darted past her.
“This one goes here!” Sakura declared, standing on tiptoe to hang a glittery snowflake on one of the middle branches.
“Good call,” Shinsou said, stepping back to admire her work. He reached out to adjust a crooked ornament, only for Sakura to place her hands on her hips and frown.
“No, Daddy! It’s perfect like that!”
Shinsou raised his hands in mock surrender, a small laugh escaping him. “Alright, team leader. Whatever you say.”
Sakura grinned triumphantly and went back to work, chattering away about how surprised Papa was going to be when he saw the tree.
“He’s gonna be so happy!” she said, twirling in place as she held up a gold ribbon. “He’ll say, ‘Wow, Sakura, you’re the best decorator ever!’”
Shinsou chuckled, his heart swelling at her excitement. “That’s exactly what he’ll say,” he agreed, taking the ribbon and looping it around a higher branch.
With every ornament they hung, the tree seemed to grow more alive—filled with mismatched decorations, crooked tinsel, and the unmistakable energy of a four-year-old’s creativity. Shinsou couldn’t help but smile as he watched her work, her giggles filling the room. It wasn’t perfect, but it was theirs, and that made it more than enough.
Little did they know, the chaos was about to escalate in ways neither of them could predict. But for now, Shinsou relished the moment, knowing Bakugou would come home to a tree that was imperfectly perfect—and the memory of decorating it would be even better.
Shinsou adjusted his grip on Sakura, his hands steady as he held her just high enough to reach the upper branches of the tree. “You good, squirt?” he asked, tilting his head to check her balance.
“I’m good!” Sakura chirped, her tiny hands gripping the tree’s uppermost branch for support. Her face lit up with excitement as she inspected the spot she’d chosen for the tree’s crowning decoration. “Daddy, look! Right here!”
Shinsou smiled at her enthusiasm, his gaze softening. He couldn’t help but marvel at her focus, the way her little brow furrowed with determination. “Alright, team leader,” he said, reaching into the ornament box beside him to retrieve the glittery star.
The star caught the soft glow of the string lights as he held it up, and Sakura’s eyes widened in delight. “Oooh, it’s so shiny!” she whispered, her breath fogging up the glittered surface as she leaned closer to inspect it.
Shinsou chuckled. “Careful, don’t smudge it before you put it up.”
“I won’t!” she promised earnestly, holding out her hands. Shinsou handed the star to her carefully, his hands lingering for a moment to make sure her grip was secure.
With the star in her grasp, Sakura shifted her focus entirely to the tree. She tilted her head to one side, her lips pursed in thought as she tried to find the perfect angle. “It has to be really straight, Daddy. Like, super straight.”
Shinsou suppressed a laugh at her seriousness, nodding solemnly. “Of course. The star has to look perfect, doesn’t it?”
“Uh-huh,” she said, squinting as she adjusted the star ever so slightly. “Not crooked like last year.”
“Hey, that was your Papa’s doing,” Shinsou teased, smirking as he remembered Bakugou’s half-hearted attempt to top the tree the previous Christmas.
Sakura giggled, her focus unbroken. “Okay, I think it’s ready!”
“Alright, let’s make sure it stays put.” Shinsou steadied her with one hand while he reached up with the other, gently nudging the star into its final position. “There. How’s that look?”
Sakura pulled back slightly, tilting her head to the other side to inspect her work. Her face lit up with a satisfied grin. “It’s perfect!”
Shinsou’s heart swelled as he looked up at her, her eyes sparkling with pride. “You did great, Sakura. Looks like we’re almost ready for Christmas morning.”
“Yeah!” she cheered, throwing her arms up in excitement—nearly toppling the star in the process. Shinsou caught her quickly, laughing as he brought her safely back to the ground.
“That’s enough for one day, daredevil,” he said, setting her down gently.
“But Daddy,” she said, her hands clasped behind her back, her eyes wide and pleading. “Can I put just one more ornament? It’s Papa’s one!”
Shinsou sighed, ruffling her hair affectionately. “Fine. But just one .”
As she skipped back to the ornament box, humming a Christmas tune, Shinsou watched her with quiet fondness. Marmalade, now fully awake, watched the pair from under the tree, her tail swishing lazily.
In that moment, with Sakura’s laughter filling the room and the soft glow of the lights casting a warm, festive glow, Shinsou couldn’t imagine a more perfect Christmas tradition.
They’d already hung garlands, carefully placed ornaments, and untangled strings of lights (with varying degrees of success). Marmalade had been escorted out of the chaos more than once, only to sneak back in for another round of “helping.”
“Alright, kiddo,” Shinsou said, kneeling down to lift her up. “Ready for your favorite one?”
She nodded solemnly, holding the explosion-shaped bauble in her small hands with the care of someone handling a precious treasure. The decoration sparkled in the soft light, its intricate design mimicking the fiery burst of a cartoonish explosion. It was her favorite because it reminded her of her papa, though Shinsou secretly loved it just as much for the same reason.
“Be careful,” Shinsou said gently, his hands steadying her waist as she balanced on tiptoe on the couch cushion.
“I will, Daddy,” Sakura promised, her face full of determination as she reached toward the tree. She always insisted on hanging this bauble herself, claiming it was the most important piece.
“Almost there,” Shinsou encouraged, watching her tiny fingers maneuver the bauble’s hook.
“Nice and easy, kiddo,” Shinsou murmured, watching her carefully.
“Mmmm,” she replied, her tongue poking out in concentration as she reached up. But excitement got the better of her. In her eagerness, her hand brushed one of the lower branches, dislodging a fragile ornament that had been nestled there.
The glittering sphere wobbled, catching the twinkle of the tree lights as it tilted—then fell.
The fragile bauble wobbled precariously, its glossy red surface glinting in the soft twinkle of the string lights. Shinsou saw it teeter but had no time to react before gravity claimed its prize.
Crash
The ornament hit the hardwood floor, shattering into glimmering shards that scattered like snowflakes.
“Uh-oh,” Sakura whispered, wide-eyed, freezing in place. “I—I didn’t mean to!”
Shinsou sighed, lowering her carefully to the ground. “It’s alright, Sakura. Accidents happen.”
But the sound of the crash had stirred another resident of the house.
The crash of the bauble hitting the floor had barely echoed through the room when Marmalade, the resident mischief-maker, sprang to life from her spot under the couch. Her ears perked up as her wide eyes locked onto the sparkling shards. Her orange fur a blur as she darted toward the glittering shards of glass. Her tail swished high, a signal of her unbridled enthusiasm. With an almost comical sense of purpose, she darted forward, batting a large shard across the floor with her paw.
“Marmalade, no !” Shinsou barked, lurching toward the cat, but his outstretched hand closed on empty air as Marmalade expertly dodged him. With the agility of a feline born for mischief, she batted one of the larger shards across the room, sending it skittering under the couch.
Marmalade, as if fueled by the spirit of chaos itself, batted the shard again, sending it skittering across the room like a hockey puck.
“I’ll get her!” Sakura cried, diving to the floor on her hands and knees in pursuit of the orange fluff ball.
“No, wait—be careful of the glass!” Shinsou called after her, moving to grab a dustpan.
“Daddy, she’s gonna knock over everything !” Sakura cried, clutching the edge of the coffee table as she scrambled to her feet.
“I know, Sakura, I see it!” Shinsou shot back, his voice edging on desperation as Marmalade darted under the tree, her eyes glinting with that unmistakable sparkle of cat mischief.
Marmalade, seeing the sudden attention on her, darted under the tree, tail swishing. Her movements sent more branches swaying, dislodging tinsel and a precariously hung candy cane that Sakura had placed earlier.
“Stop her, Daddy!” Sakura called, as Shinsou scooped up the largest shard, trying to also keep Sakura a safe distance from the rest.
“Stay right there, Sakura,” Shinsou said firmly, his voice calm despite the chaos. “I’ll handle it.”
But Marmalade had other ideas. The mischievous cat had already squeezed herself through the bottom branches of the tree, a strand of tinsel snagging on her tail and trailing behind her like a celebratory streamer. Her eyes gleamed as she zeroed in on another shiny ornament dangling perilously low.
“Marmalade, no!” Shinsou called, lunging for her, but the feline was faster. She batted the ornament with a playful swipe, sending it tumbling to the floor.
The tree wobbled ominously, its branches swaying as Marmalade wriggled further into the greenery, letting out a smug chirrup .
“Alright, that’s it.” Shinsou dove forward, managing to grab Marmalade just as her claws reached another bauble. He lifted her squirming form out from under the tree. The cat let out a string of indignant meows, twisting in his grip. “You’re officially on timeout,” he muttered, carrying her over to the couch and depositing her there unceremoniously.
Sakura shifted nervously, guilt written all over her face. “I’m sorry, Daddy,” she murmured, eyes dropping to the floor.
Shinsou sighed, his expression softening as he knelt down in front of her. “It’s okay, Sakura. Accidents happen. We’ll just clean this up before your papa comes home and thinks we can’t handle a little tree decorating, alright?”
She nodded solemnly, her lip trembling slightly, but her resolve firm. “Okay.”
Just as they began sweeping up the shards and setting the wayward ornaments back in their box, disaster struck again.
Sakura’s elbow brushed against the edge of the ornament box as she leaned down. The box tipped precariously before spilling its contents onto the hardwood floor.
“Uh-oh,” Sakura whispered, wide-eyed as ornaments rolled in every direction like a mini avalanche.
One particularly bouncy snowman figurine skittered across the floor, its path arcing directly into Marmalade’s field of vision.
The cat’s ears perked up, her tail flicking with renewed energy. She leaped off the couch with surprising speed, landing with a soft thump before barreling straight for the runaway snowman.
“Marmalade, stop!” Shinsou shouted, his hands still gripping the trunk, but his plea fell on deaf feline ears.
The cat dove through the branches of the tree in hot pursuit, her orange tail disappearing into the green. The tree swayed dangerously again. With an audible rustle of needles, the tree leaned dangerously to one side. A particularly jingly ornament—Sakura’s favorite glittery silver ball—plunged free from its branch, tumbling through the air before thunking onto the floor and rolling under the coffee table.
Sakura let out a startled squeak, throwing her arms up as if shielding herself from falling debris. “The ornaments!” she gasped.
Another bauble—a bright red one shaped like a candy cane—dropped next, hitting the ground with a soft clink but miraculously staying intact. Shinsou winced.
“Stay behind the couch, kiddo!” he called, trying to shift the tree back upright.
But Sakura, already in the midst of a tactical retreat, dove behind the couch with a giggle. “This is a disaster !” she declared, her little head peeking out just enough to watch the chaos unfold.
From her safe hiding spot, she spotted Marmalade’s orange tail flicking back and forth as the cat poked her head out through the branches. Marmalade’s wide, curious eyes focused on a particularly shiny ornament dangling just within her reach. With one lightning-quick swipe of her paw, she sent it spinning.
“Not that one!” Sakura cried out, her hands clutching the edge of the couch as she peeked over it.
The ornament tumbled, bouncing once against a lower branch before finally settling into Marmalade’s grip. The cat batted it triumphantly to the floor and leapt after it, sending a shower of pine needles scattering in her wake.
“Marmalade, I swear—” Shinsou grumbled, using one hand to steady the tree and the other to reach for the mischievous cat.
But Marmalade was faster. She darted under the couch with her prize, her tail disappearing just as quickly as it had appeared.
The tree wobbled ominously once again as Marmalade squeezed her way between the bottom branches. A strand of tinsel snagged on her tail, trailing behind her like a streamer as she made a beeline for another ornament that had come loose during the commotion.
“Get her, Daddy!” Sakura yelled, lunging forward.
“I’m trying!” Shinsou huffed, dropping to the floor and crawling toward the tree. He stretched out a hand, but Marmalade, perhaps sensing the end of her freedom, made a bold escape move—bounding through the bottom branches of the tree.
The tree wobbled dangerously for the nth time...
Then it happened: Marmalade leapt up, landing squarely on one of the middle branches, her weight making the tree sway precariously. Ornaments clinked together like wind chimes, a glass snowflake tumbling from a higher branch and narrowly missing Shinsou’s head.
“This cat is possessed,” Shinsou muttered, scrambling to his knees. “Sakura, go around the other side! We need to corner her!”
“Okay!” Sakura called, darting around the tree with all the determination of a four-year-old on a mission. She crouched low, arms outstretched like a professional wrestler, ready to scoop up the wayward cat.
Marmalade, sensing her impending capture, hissed playfully and leapt to another branch. This time, her landing caused a string of lights to come loose, the bulbs dropping like a luminous waterfall to the floor.
“No no no no—” Shinsou groaned, lunging forward to grab the lights before Marmalade could pounce on them.
The cat, meanwhile, made a daring escape, bounding down from the tree and dashing across the room. She vaulted onto the couch, knocking over a stack of neatly folded blankets, then made a sharp turn, skidding across the hardwood floor like a fluffy orange bowling ball.
“Get her, Sakura!” Shinsou yelled, pointing wildly.
“I’m trying, Daddy!” Sakura shouted back, her small legs pumping as she chased Marmalade in circles around the coffee table.
Marmalade, reveling in the chaos she’d unleashed, darted toward the TV stand. Her sudden stop caused Sakura to overshoot, crashing into the side of the couch with a dramatic “Oof!”
Shinsou, meanwhile, tried a different tactic. Grabbing a toy mouse from Marmalade’s nearby scratching post, he waved it like a white flag of surrender. “Alright, Marmalade. Let’s make a deal. You stop destroying Christmas, and I won’t put you in kitty timeout. Deal?”
Marmalade paused, her ears twitching at the sight of the toy. For a brief, shining moment, it looked like she might actually cooperate.
But then, like the true agent of chaos she was, she pounced—not on the toy, but on the dangling tinsel still stuck to the tree.
The entire tree leaned sideways, its top brushing against the ceiling as ornaments clinked and swayed.
“Daddy, the tree!” Sakura yelped, pointing as the star at the top tilted.
“I see it!” Shinsou lunged again, grabbing the trunk just in time to stop it from tipping entirely. His other hand darted out to catch the star, narrowly saving it from following the bauble’s fate. “Sakura, grab Marmalade!”
Sakura sprang into action, cornering Marmalade against the wall and scooping her up triumphantly. “ I’ve got her! ” Sakura cried triumphantly, holding the cat aloft like a tiny, wiggling trophy.
Marmalade let out a plaintive meow , her tail flicking indignantly as she dangled from Sakura’s arms.
“Sakura, hold on tight!” Shinsou shouted, lunging forward to grab the tree just as it threatened to tip completely. He planted his feet and braced himself, his muscles straining as he pushed the tree back into place. “Careful, Sakura! Watch for broken ornaments—no running barefoot!”
Sakura skidded to a halt and glanced down at her socked feet with a sheepish grin. “Oops. Sorry, Daddy!”
For a moment, there was silence.
Shinsou sighed in relief, still gripping the tree trunk. “Alright, step one: let’s get Marmalade to safety. Step two: clean up this mess. Step three: somehow finish the tree before your papa gets home and thinks we’re useless.”
“Did we... did we do it?” Sakura whispered, clutching Marmalade like a furry football.
Shinsou glanced around the room. Shinsou flopped forward, hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. “Next year,” he muttered, “we’re tying the tree to the wall.”
With the tree finally standing still (for now), Shinsou let out a breath, stepping back cautiously. He glanced at the scattered ornaments, the crushed tinsel, and the smug-looking cat now curled up with Sakura, on the floor behind the couch, her toy-ornament firmly trapped between her paws.
“Yeah,” Shinsou said, panting as he wiped his forehead. “I think we did it.”
Marmalade, thoroughly unimpressed, let out a grumpy meow before squirming in Sakura’s arms.
“Sorry, Marmalade,” Sakura said, giving her a kiss on the head before depositing her onto the couch. “But you caused too much trouble !”
“Well,” Shinsou muttered, wiping his forehead, “if your papa gets back and asks what happened, we’re blaming the cat. Deal?”
“Deal!” Sakura giggled, crawling out from behind the couch to help gather the scattered ornaments.
Shinsou crouched beside her, shaking his head as he reached for a stray garland. “And to think, I thought we’d be done decorating by now. What was I thinking?”
“You were thinking we’re the best team ever,” Sakura chirped, holding up an unbroken ornament proudly.
Despite himself, Shinsou laughed, ruffling her hair. “You’re not wrong about that, squirt.”
The two of them sat there for a moment, taking in the chaos they’d barely managed to contain. Marmalade curled up on the couch, grooming herself like nothing had happened.
Shinsou sighed, tilting his head back to look at the ceiling. “Now all we have to do is clean this up before Papa gets home...”
At that exact moment, the door swung open.
The front door creaked open, and Bakugou stepped inside, balancing grocery bags in both arms. “I’m back—”
He froze mid-step, his words cutting off as he took in the state of the room.
It was a disaster .
There were ornaments scattered everywhere—some rolling across the floor, some glittering among the pine needles littering the rug. The coffee table was askew, half-pushed against the couch, which had clearly been moved. His daughter, Sakura, was sitting cross-legged on the floor, and the their wide-eyed cat, Marmalade, who was on the couch looking suspiciously guilty.
And then there was Shinsou.
Shinsou was standing near the tree, hands half-raised like he’d just been caught in the middle of something incriminating. His expression was a mix of sheepish and dumbfounded, like he wasn’t quite sure how to explain the scene unfolding around him.
The silence in the room was deafening .
Bakugou’s sharp eyes scanned the mess, the scattered pieces of garland, the broken shards of a glittering bauble glinting dangerously in the soft light, and the slightly tilted Christmas tree, swaying ever so slightly. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out.
And then, as if the universe couldn’t resist one last punchline, a gust of wind from the open door slammed it shut with a resounding bang .
The impact sent a shudder through the room, rattling the precarious balance of the already unstable tree. Before anyone could react, the tree teetered—tilted—and began to topple once again.
“Daddy?” Sakura squeaked, as Marmalade watched on bored.
“TOSHI?!?!” Bakugou yelped, dropping the groceries where he stood.
“I’m a-ok!” Shinsou called back, diving forward to catch the tree just in time. His hands gripped the trunk firmly, holding it upright despite its weight. He glanced over his shoulder, shooting Bakugou a wry grin. “Though a little help wouldn’t hurt.”
Bakugou was already moving, his boots crunching softly against the stray ornaments as he closed the distance. He slid in beside Shinsou, gripping the tree alongside him. “What the fudge happened in here?” he demanded, his tone more exasperated than angry.
“Well…” Shinsou began, his eyes darting toward Sakura, who was watching them with wide, nervous eyes.
“It was Marmalade!” Sakura interjected, her voice rising in pitch as she went to hug the cat. “She climbed the tree, and then everything went crazy ! But we tried to fix it! I promise!”
Marmalade meowed plaintively, as if denying any involvement in the chaos.
Bakugou groaned, glaring at the cat for good measure before turning back to Shinsou. “You couldn’t keep an eye on one kid and a lazy-ass cat for thirty minutes?”
Shinsou raised an eyebrow, clearly unbothered by the jab. “She’s got her papa’s energy, and the cat’s smarter than she looks. It was a losing battle from the start.”
Bakugou huffed but didn’t argue, too busy helping Shinsou stabilize the tree. He gave it a slight shake, testing the balance, before stepping back. “There. Should be good now.”
Shinsou released his grip cautiously, letting the tree stand on its own. It swayed slightly but held firm. He straightened up, brushing stray needles off his shirt.
Sakura’s voice piped up again, hesitant but hopeful. “Is it okay now?”
Bakugou glanced at her, his annoyance melting just a bit when he saw her wide, nervous eyes. “Yeah, flower. It’s okay now.”
Sakura beamed, loosening her grip on Marmalade, who promptly leapt from her arms and darted under the couch. “We’re sorry, Papa,” she added earnestly.
Bakugou sighed, running a hand through his hair before ruffling hers affectionately. “Just stay clear of the glass, alright? I’ll clean it up. And no more letting the furball climb the tree.”
Shinsou smirked, leaning closer. “You’re taking this surprisingly well.”
“Don’t push your luck,” Bakugou muttered, though the corners of his mouth twitched upward.
Shinsou chuckled, pulling him into a quick, one-armed hug. “You love us anyway.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Bakugou grumbled, but the way he squeezed Shinsou’s side before pulling back said enough.
“Alright, kid!” Bakugou barked, turning to Sakura with a mischievous glint in his eye. “Let’s finish this tree properly before it decides to fall over again.”
“Yes, Papa!” Sakura chirped, bounding to her feet with a renewed sense of purpose.
Bakugou grumbled under his breath as he steadied the tree, glaring at the cat who was now lounging contentedly on the couch. “Damn cat’s a menace.”
Sakura giggled. “She’s just excited for Christmas, Papa.”
“Well, she better not break anything else,” Bakugou muttered, grabbing the fallen star and handing it to Shinsou. “Here. Finish it.”
Shinsou smirked, taking the star and holding it out to Sakura. “Team leader, you want the honors?”
“Yes!” Sakura cheered, scrambling to her feet and placing the star carefully on top of the tree with Shinsou’s help.
As the lights twinkled and the chaos settled, Bakugou crossed his arms, his scowl softening. “Alright. Not bad.”
Sakura beamed, throwing her arms around his legs. “See? We did it, Papa!”
Shinsou exchanged an amused glance with Bakugou, who rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide the small smile creeping onto his face.
“Merry freaking Christmas,” he muttered, reaching for a stray ornament.
And with that, the family got to work, the chaos slowly but surely turning into something warm, bright, and full of laughter.