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"Please, Hasegawa, do something!" The First Division Captain shouted in desperation.
"For the last time, Narumi, there’s nothing I can do."
"But there’s no way I can give a gift to Bowl-Cut Head!" he lamented dramatically.
"The Vice-Captain Hoshina is an admirable man. You should be grateful that he came up in the exchange."
Narumi rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, sure," he replied sarcastically. "Actually, I’m the admirable one. He’s just an arrogant fox-eyed jerk."
"On the contrary, the Vice-Captain is highly respected in the Defense Forces. Everyone admires and likes him. Many would be thrilled to give him a gift during the exchange. You should learn something from him—"
But Narumi cut him off quickly. "Wait, wait, wait. Repeat that."
"That you should learn something from him?"
"Ugh, of course not!"
"Then that he’s a respected fighter?"
"Stop praising him!" Narumi snapped, exasperated. "I meant the part where you said many would be thrilled to give something to Bowl-Cut Head."
"Yes, and what about it?"
"Isn’t it obvious?! I just have to trade! That way, I won’t have to give anything to that useless guy. Yes, my plan is perfect!"
Hasegawa started rubbing his temples, feeling a headache coming on from all this nonsense. "If that’s what you want, then do it."
"Of course that’s what I want! I don’t have to give anything to stupid Hoshina. He doesn’t deserve it."
"Are you sure about that?"
Something about Hasegawa’s tone and the look he gave wiped the confident grin off Gen’s face in an instant.
There was something unsettling in his words and gaze that made Narumi feel exposed, almost vulnerable, in a way that left him uneasy.
Trying to regain his composure, he spoke. "Of course I’m sure." But it didn’t come out as confident as he hoped.
"You should reconsider. This could be a good opportunity for you."
"Opportunity? What are you talking about?"
"I’m talking about the fact that you’ve been, quite literally, obsessed with the Vice-Captain for years. This could actually be good for you—"
"What are you saying, Hasegawa?! I’m not obsessed with that idiot!"
"Listen, I don’t fully understand the strange relationship you two have had all this time, but from what I’ve observed, he’s influenced you in a positive way. This might be your chance to make up for it."
"Are you saying that stupid Hoshina has influenced me? No way! You’re wrong. In fact, I’d say you’re crazy. Maybe you should take a vacation, for once. It’d do you good."
Frustrated by Hasegawa’s words, Narumi stormed out of the office, refusing to entertain the idea any further.
Letting out a long, tired sigh, the older man leaned back in his chair, gazing up at the ceiling and thinking about how stubborn that young man—his boss—could be.
As brilliant as he was at exterminating the most massive and monstrous creatures, he was utterly hopeless when it came to everything else, especially when it involved feelings.
Narumi’s entry into the division had been, in part, a coincidence. His first encounter with the boy had been, frankly, terrifying. Finding a high school student with the corpse of a kaiju he’d single-handedly taken down? That had been the biggest shock of his life. He should’ve known then and there that he was doomed to follow that kid through every reckless decision he’d ever make.
At first, it was relatively easy—Narumi had been a bit too obsessed with surpassing Mr. Shinomiya, which kept him out of trouble most of the time. But once he was promoted to captain, and Mr. Shinomiya had less time to deal with him, he wreaked havoc left and right for weeks.
Without a worthy rival to surpass, Gen’s mind lost its motivation and purpose. Being the best all the time was dull; everyone seemed utterly boring to him.
Everyone except Vice-Captain Hoshina.
The vice-captain had always been labeled by Narumi as a nuisance—a sly, bothersome fox with a bowl cut. Yet, despite his constant snide remarks, Narumi paid unwavering attention to anything Hoshina did. At first, Hasegawa dismissed it as finding a scapegoat and even pitied the vice-captain, given that Narumi was a relentless force of chaos in his life.
But, against all odds, Soshiro Hoshina didn’t seem annoyed, disturbed, or weary of the constant whirlwind of destruction that Captain Narumi brought. On the contrary, he seemed amused, entertained, and even, dare he say, fascinated by all the attention he received—even if it came laced with sarcastic comments and faux-repulsed glares.
Hasegawa silently thanked the heavens that those two had crossed paths.
Narumi could deny it all he wanted, but it was clear that Hoshina’s influence had only improved his life. And although he might try to reject the idea, it seemed that their relationship went beyond rivalry or mere coworkers.
It was plain as day to everyone—except Gen himself.
Hasegawa had considered the Secret Santa gift exchange the perfect way for Narumi to finally realize what was really going on between him and the vice-captain of the Third Division. Every time Narumi barged into his office or intercepted him in the halls, Hasegawa had steadfastly refused his requests to swap assignments. But now that the younger man seemed intent on persuading someone else to trade, Hasegawa knew he had to step up.
After all, he wasn’t willing to endure another second of the daily complaints, insults, and unnecessary commentary about Vice-Captain Hoshina’s life that Narumi dumped on him.
---
"Sorry, Captain, Hirai-san is waiting for me to train. I’ve got to go!" The cadet hurriedly excused himself, dashing down the hallway before Narumi could respond, disappearing from sight.
Now, the First Division Captain was officially done—with everything and everyone.
How, in the name of all things holy, was it possible that absolutely no one was willing to swap their Secret Santa assignment with him?
In fact, it seemed like they were all avoiding him like the plague, inventing excuses left and right to escape after flashing him a nervous smile.
It was infuriating.
The soldier who had just fled was the twenty-eighth person Narumi had approached, and like all the others, he’d failed to convince him.
Gen had given up. It was time to resort to his last option: his annoying apprentice.
He’d been avoiding asking her for help because of how bothersome she could be—especially since she was the last person he wanted to owe a favor to. But this was a desperate situation, with the Christmas dinner fast approaching and him absolutely refusing to give a gift to the bowl-cut vice-captain.
Grumpily, he made his way to the training room, knowing she would be there.
Sure enough, she was, but she wasn’t alone. Kaiju No. 8 was with her. They didn’t seem to be training, and as soon as he entered the room, both turned to look at him—Kikoru with an irritated expression, and Kaiju No. 8 with a mix of nervousness and curiosity.
"What are you doing here, dumb captain?" Kikoru asked, scowling.
A vein throbbed on his forehead as he forced himself to speak calmly. "I need to talk to you about something, shorty."
"Then spit it out. Kafka and I are busy."
"I was wondering if you’d trade Secret Santa assignments with me."
"And why would I want to do that, stupid captain?" she asked arrogantly.
Ah, how insufferable this girl could be.
"Because I’m asking you to, you spoiled brat!"
With a smug expression, Kikoru looked at him. "That doesn’t sound like a very polite way to ask for a favor, does it, Kafka?"
The poor man jumped in his seat, clearly wanting to avoid getting involved.
"I don’t know," he muttered, trying to make himself as small as possible.
Honestly, if Narumi hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed this guy was their strongest weapon against Kaiju.
"Come on, shorty. If you trade with me, I’ll owe you a favor, damn it."
Kikoru chuckled lightly. "Very tempting, but no."
"Why not?!" he exclaimed, exasperated. After a whole day of hearing that same answer, his patience was running thin.
"Because I already bought a gift for my person, and I’m not interested in helping you."
"You’re such a pain." He glared at her, but she didn’t flinch. "Kafka, what about you?"
"S-sorry, sir, I can’t either."
"Don’t tell me you’ve already bought your gift too."
Kafka nodded slowly, and Narumi let out a groan full of frustration.
"Why?! It’s incredible how no one in this damned base wants to help me," he grumbled.
"Well, you’d better start thinking about what to give Vice-Captain Hoshina, and it had better be good because he’s incredib—"
"What did you say?" Kikoru froze mid-sentence.
"I didn’t tell you who my Secret Santa assignment is. How do you know it’s him?" he asked, suddenly suspicious and angry, sensing she was hiding something.
But Kikoru, being a good liar, tried to cover it up. "It's not hard to guess, you know? It's obvious you're so desperate because you don't like that person, so I deduced it."
"Sure." He didn’t believe her at all, but fortunately, she wasn’t the only one in the room.
"Kafka, why does the little brat know who I have to give a gift to?"
The color drained from Kafka's face as he began stammering incoherent and unintelligible things. Narumi, fed up with both of them and even more frustrated than before, started walking out and left the place.
For the rest of the day, no one else spoke to him. He wasn’t sure if it was because his frustration was evident or because the rumor had spread that if the captain approached you, it was to ask you to swap whoever you got for Secret Santa. It didn’t matter, though. He was tired, fed up with so many rejections. Everyone could go to hell with their stupid gift exchange. Christmas was ridiculous, the JAKDF was ridiculous, Hoshina Soshiro was ridiculous, and he could go straight to hell—
The sound of the rooftop door opening distracted him from his thoughts, and recognizing the sound of the footsteps, he stayed in place, waiting for the scolding, the reprimand, or whatever reason Hasegawa had for being there.
"You should bundle up. It’d be troublesome if the captain of the first division got sick." Gen shrugged, dismissing the comment despite his red nose and pale lips. The tall man stood next to him, and now they were both watching the sunset on the horizon. It was a good moment until, once again, his vice-captain decided to speak. "I heard you couldn’t switch your Secret Santa."
There was no malice or mockery in his words, but that didn’t lessen the frustration Narumi felt coursing through his veins.
"Maybe it's for the best. Just give Hoshina-san a gift and move on."
He turned to look at him, but Narumi refused to meet his gaze.
"Don’t act like a child. If you don’t give him something, you’ll make the entire first unit look bad. Remember, the reason for this exchange is to improve relations between—"
"I know, I know, dammit, of course I know."
To Hasegawa, Narumi was nothing more than a child throwing a tantrum, especially seeing the pout forming on his lips and the way he stared at the ground as if it were the most fascinating thing ever, refusing to look directly at him.
It almost made him regret issuing the order that no one—absolutely no one—could switch Secret Santa with Narumi.
Almost.
If he was honest, he couldn’t blame the younger man for his behavior. Narumi had probably never felt anything like this for someone until he met Vice-Captain Hoshina, and ever since leaving the orphanage, everything had been overwhelming. Everything was filled with new people, smiles, and happy moments that Gen never thought he deserved.
But he’d had enough of Narumi’s stubborn denial about his feelings. He wasn’t planning on spending another year listening to the younger man’s complaints about every grand achievement the vice-captain accomplished.
"If you know, stop making things more complicated."
"I’m not the one complicating things! It's that bowl-cut bastard who complicates everything!"
"The vice-captain isn’t even here. How could he be the cause of everything?"
"I swear, Hasegawa, ever since I met him, everything has been more complicated. He’s like a demon, creating chaos wherever he goes."
"That's strange. He doesn’t give me that impression." A small smile appeared on his lips.
"That's because you don’t know him like I do! He’s an irredeemable show-off. He mocks me and makes me look like an idiot."
"I don’t think anyone but yourself makes you look like an idiot, Narumi."
"You’re not listening, Hasegawa! He’s definitely evil."
"I’m listening. It just seems like what you’re saying doesn’t make sense." Narumi now looked at him, offended.
"But I will grant you one truth," he added, hoping to get the captain’s attention. "I don’t know the vice-captain like you do."
Gen’s magenta eyes widened in surprise.
"In fact, I don’t think anyone besides you knows him that well, Captain. So you shouldn’t worry so much about Secret Santa. I’m sure no one else could give Vice-Captain Hoshina a better gift than you."
Silence accompanied Hasegawa's words. For the first time in a long while, his captain had nothing to say, and he relished the rare moment when Narumi simply shut up and listened—to both what others had to say and to what his own heart had been screaming at him for so long.
Gen had grown up an orphan and hadn’t received many things in life. Since joining the JAKDF, he had never participated in any Christmas exchange. But this time, this year, was different.
Many in the unit were excited that their captain had finally decided to join in, wondering what had prompted the change. They didn’t fully realize that the only thing different this time was that the Secret Santa included the third division.
Now, as Narumi stared at the horizon, realization dawned on him.
All the fights, the comments, the late-night training sessions, and the fervent wish for Hoshina to keep surprising him—it wasn’t rivalry.
It was his feelings for that stupid fox-eyed man.
The realization hit him like a bucket of cold water, making his entire face flush a bright red. With nothing else to do, he tried to hide it with his hands, but it was useless. This warmth and persistent tingling enveloping his entire being only grew stronger with each passing second.
Fortunately for him, only Hasegawa was there, and they both knew that nothing said or done here would leave this place.
"Listen, Gen." It was the first time Hasegawa called him by his name. "It doesn’t matter what decision you make about what you’re feeling, but I need you to think, above all else, about doing what will let you live without regrets."
The words deeply resonated within the captain of the first division. Slowly, he removed his hands from his face and, gathering all his strength, looked directly at Hasegawa, aware that the flush on his cheeks and ears was still evident.
"We, above all other humans, are fleeting, ephemeral. Tomorrow we might not be here. If that’s the case, you can’t let mundane things like feelings overwhelm you. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?"
Biting the inside of his cheek, Gen could only nod slowly.
With a nod in return, Hasegawa left the rooftop silently, leaving him alone with his thoughts and a million stars now shining in the sky, keeping him company.
---
Actually, Gen hadn't had much time—or inclination—to dwell on his feelings for the bowl-headed idiot. Between preparing for the stupid Christmas gift he'd planned and the constant training he had to do for himself and his annoying apprentice, the days had passed much faster than he had anticipated.
Now, just a day before the Christmas dinner and, therefore, the secret Santa exchange, Gen was wondering what his plan should be. I mean, what the hell was he supposed to do? He wasn’t sure how secret Santa exchanges worked; he’d never done one before, and he didn’t know how to make his gift seem casual and unimportant.
Everything felt confusing to him. He couldn’t deny what he felt anymore, but he couldn’t fully understand it either. Him, in love with that idiot Hoshina Soshiro? It felt like a bad joke. And above all, he couldn’t believe it had been Hasegawa who made him realize what he was feeling.
He was about to keep mulling over everything that had happened lately when a sharp blow to his head interrupted him.
“Listen to me, you stupid master!” Kikoru’s shrill voice broke through, and all Gen could do was let out an annoyed groan.
“Don’t hit me, you spoiled little brat!”
“I wouldn’t have to if you’d actually listen when people talk to you! I’ve been calling you for ages; geez, you really are a lost cause.”
“Just tell me what you want already. I’m busy, you know?”
Kikoru rolled her eyes but still spoke. “I was asking if you’ve got your gift for the vice-captain ready.”
“Why do you ask?”
“Because you’d better have it ready—the exchange is tomorrow! Do you know how bad it would look for the First Division if you acted like an incorrigible child and didn’t give the vice-captain a proper gift? It would be a total and absolute embarrassment for the entire division.”
“Ugh, shut up already. Yes, I have it. Happy now?”
“What is it?”
Now more frustrated, Gen couldn’t hold back his shout. “Why the hell should I tell you?!”
“Because I have to make sure it’s good and not something stupid!”
“You could just trust me more, you know?”
“Absolutely not.”
“You really are a pain in the ass.”
“Don’t care. Just tell me what you bought him.”
“I don’t have to tell you. You’ll find out tomorrow like everyone else. Got it?”
“Why not? Is your gift so bad you’re ashamed to say?”
“I don’t have to tell you anything, you spoiled brat. Now go bother someone else, will you?”
Tired of arguing, Kikoru rolled her eyes and started to walk away, but not before saying, “Be nice to him tomorrow, will you? Or at least treat him like a human being.”
Narumi was about to yell at her to leave and stop bothering him, but the serious look on her face silenced him, forcing him to pay attention. “He’s incredible—probably one of the best people I’ve ever met—and I know he deserves to have a good time, at least on Christmas.”
“Are you in love with him or something?” he asked, curious about her seriousness.
“Are you stupid or what?” Yep, no doubt she was a little shit. “I just want the vice-captain to be happy.”
“Well, yeah, but I’m not sure anything I do matters much to him.”
Kikoru looked at him as if he didn’t understand anything. “Wow, master, you really are an idiot beyond saving, aren’t you?”
“Stop insulting me, you little piece of—!”
“Whatever, just don’t mess it up tomorrow, okay?”
And with nothing more to add, the younger girl left.
Saying that Narumi wasn’t affected by his exchange with Kikoru would be a lie, but he didn’t have time to dwell on it—he still had to pick up the gift.
When he entered the large room, everyone there seemed to have been waiting for him, and they quickly directed him to where the present was.
If he could be honest, he was surprised by the craftsmanship. It was incredible, delicate, classic, perfect.
Just like its recipient.
Satisfied, he left the room and headed back to his quarters, ready to add the finishing touches and hope that tomorrow everything would go well.
---
He was late.
He wasn’t exactly sure how it had happened. He’d started playing on his console to relax while waiting, and time slipped away faster than he would have liked.
Now, as he ran through the building toward the hall where the dinner would take place—with his dark gray sweater inside out, one boot untied, and carefully cradling a large box to avoid damaging its contents—he could only hope the secret Santa exchange hadn’t started yet.
His tension eased significantly when he reached the wide white doors leading to the celebration. The noise coming from inside was considerable, and the walls did little to muffle it. However, when he heard his name being called, his brief moment of calm vanished, and he sprinted even faster, pushing open the heavy wooden doors and drawing more attention than he intended.
Dozens of eyes turned to look at him, but he pretended not to care. He also feigned confidence, walking slowly along the edges of the room until he reached the stage. He climbed the steps deliberately, still holding the box intact in his hands.
Once at the top, it became even more evident that everyone in the room was watching him. He did his best to avoid making eye contact with anyone.
“Well, Captain of the First Division, it’s a pleasure to have you here as the last participant to give and receive your Christmas gift,” said the young woman holding the microphone, flashing a bright smile at the audience. Narumi didn’t recognize her, so he assumed she was from the Third Division. “Now, could you please start by describing the person your gift is for?”
The woman handed him the microphone, and he froze. This was much scarier than fighting giant Kaiju.
“Evening,” he began, trying to buy himself more time to gather his thoughts. “This is, as many of you know, my first time participating in this activity, and it’s been… interesting.”
From the crowd, he started to pick out a few familiar faces. Kikoru was staring at him with one eyebrow raised and her arms crossed. Hasegawa looked at him expectantly, with a hint of confidence that Narumi didn’t know how to interpret.
But among the sea of people watching him, he found a pair of deep eyes filled with curiosity, waiting to see what he would do next. Unable to resist, he returned the gaze to those purple eyes, grinning with mischief and satisfaction. He silently dared them not to look away, reveling in the attention.
“The person this incredible gift belongs to is, frankly, a pain,” he said. He heard various reactions, ranging from offended gasps to murmurs. But the one that mattered most was his favorite.
Hoshina Soshiro, upon hearing those words, smiled.
It was the brightest, most genuine smile Narumi had ever seen from him. His ears turned pink, his sharp little fangs peeked out, but his gaze never wavered from Narumi.
“He’s loud, arrogant, smug—a complete pain in the ass,” Narumi continued, marveling at how Soshiro’s smile didn’t falter. “And without a doubt, he’s the most amazing person I know,” he finished, silencing the room instantly.
Once again, all he could do was marvel at Soshiro’s reaction. This time, his eyes widened in genuine surprise, and Narumi couldn’t help but find it endearing. A flicker of doubt crossed the Vice-Captain’s brilliant eyes, but Narumi couldn’t let that linger for too long. Feigning exasperation, he said, “Vice-Captain Hoshina, would you please come up already?”
A playful smile tugged at his lips as he watched Soshiro walk up under the attentive gazes of everyone present.
As Soshiro approached, Narumi noticed the gift he carried—a red-wrapped present with snowflake patterns and a golden ribbon.
Well, how about that? Turns out they were each other’s secret Santa. Life really was full of surprises.
Soshiro was wearing a finely knit dark purple sweater with elegant patterns along the edges, paired with black trousers and shoes that gave him a formal yet polished look. Without a doubt, he looked utterly glorious.
“Merry Christmas, bowl head,” Narumi said first, eager to see his reaction.
The look Soshiro gave him reflected every emotion he was feeling—doubt, confusion, anxiety, and amusement. As he set aside the gift he’d brought, Soshiro carefully took the matching box from Narumi’s hands and opened it, revealing its contents to everyone present. Narumi held his breath.
“Did you make this?” Soshiro whispered, so softly that even the woman onstage couldn’t hear. With careful hands, he lifted one of the swords from the box, inspecting it closely.
Everyone seemed to fall silent, analyzing what was happening—surprised by the gift, Gen's words, and the shift in the atmosphere when the vice-captain pulled the first sword out of its case.
"Do you like it?" he asked instead.
Hoshina looked at him, still too stunned, but with an inquisitive and piercing gaze before asking again, "Did you make this?"
This time, there was no dodging the question. "Technically, no."
The other nodded, as if processing the information.
"Well—well, Vice-Captain, would you kindly hand over your gift to Captain Narumi?"
Something seemed to click within Soshiro, and he simply set the swords aside, picking up Gen's gift once again.
"I hope it's the right one," he said briefly as he handed over the present. Puzzled by the comment and curious about what it could be, Gen quickly tore off the wrapping paper, revealing a video game.
A video game that wasn’t supposed to hit shelves until April next year.
"What the hell?" he asked, astonished. Once again, the atmosphere shifted as laughter echoed throughout the room. "How did you get this?" he continued, still unable to comprehend how Soshiro of all people had managed to get his hands on it—or how he even knew that this was the game he’d been dying to play.
"I could ask you the same thing," Hoshina replied with a sly grin, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Narumi was about to retort, but the girl’s voice interrupted him.
"Let’s give a big round of applause for this wonderful end to Secret Santa!"
With a slight gesture, she invited them to step down from the stage, and both complied in record time, eager to have a private conversation.
"Follow me," Gen ordered.
People were starting to move in their direction, but before anyone could approach them, the two of them bolted from the hall, with Gen leading the way.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Right now? My room."
Soshiro looked at him incredulously, but Gen came to a halt and stood stoically, meeting his gaze. The other seemed to hesitate for a moment.
Gen couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst out laughing at his expression.
"Stop laughing."
Of course, Gen didn’t stop laughing but managed to answer, "Relax, bowl head. We’re just grabbing some coats."
Hoshina nodded. "We’re heading to the rooftop?"
"Exactly."
And with that, they resumed their pace. Luckily for them, Narumi’s room was fairly tidy; only a couple of figures and games were out of place, but overall, it was presentable.
"You can leave your gift here. We’ll grab it later," he commented, setting his new video game on the nightstand before heading to his closet to fetch coats for both himself and his companion.
Narumi didn’t realize what he was doing until he saw Hoshina wearing his coat. God, he looked so adorable.
He had never considered himself romantic—he found all that cheesy stuff ridiculous, and sharing clothes was one of those clichés he found repulsive. But someone, please explain to him why seeing Soshiro Hoshina in something from his wardrobe made him feel like he was on fire.
He wanted more. Now that he’d acknowledged his feelings, he couldn’t help but crave more of this man.
"Do you have a scarf I can borrow?"
Hoshina’s question snapped him out of his thoughts, and nodding slowly, he went to find one. Almost instinctively, he grabbed the large red scarf and wrapped it around Soshiro, noticing how his own ears began to burn. He realized what he’d done far too late to take it back.
He expected an inquisitive look from Soshiro, but instead, the man wasn’t even looking at him—his gaze was fixed on the floor, and his cheeks and ears were red.
He was so damn adorable. How had he not noticed this before?
"Here," Gen said, handing him a pair of gloves and a matching hat. Soshiro quickly put them on, and Gen did the same. Now ready to face the cold, they headed quietly to the rooftop.
When they opened the door, gusts of wind greeted them, chilling them to the bone. Suddenly, their precautions didn’t seem sufficient.
"We can go somewhere else," Narumi offered.
Hoshina shook his head. "I like this place."
Agreeing with him, Narumi began to walk.
"So," he started, catching Soshiro’s attention, "how the hell did you get the game four months early?"
Soshiro moved to stand beside him, ignoring his gaze entirely. "I could tell you, if you tell me how you managed to craft those swords in such a short amount of time."
Narumi fell silent. Revealing how difficult that feat had been was something he’d planned to take to his grave. Others could theorize about the strings he had to pull and the money he had to spend to keep everything a secret, but they’d remain just that—theories. He had no intention of exposing himself further after everything he’d already done in front of everyone earlier.
"See? You won’t say anything either." Soshiro was now looking at him, amused.
"I guess we’ll both stay curious."
Hoshina seemed to consider this for a moment. "Even so, Captain Narumi, I’d like to know why you did it."
God, the answer to that question felt even more humiliating than the previous one.
"It’s the first gift exchange I’ve ever participated in. I wanted to do it right," he lied through his teeth.
Hoshina gave him a skeptical look. "It must’ve been annoying that it was me you had to give a gift to, right?"
"Absolutely unbearable. A total and complete bother, bowl-head."
Narumi was about to keep spewing nonsense, but the look on Soshiro’s face stopped him. Did he look… sad? Disappointed? He couldn’t pinpoint it, but he didn’t like it.
"I figured as much," Soshiro whispered, starting to walk back toward the door.
"Wait, wait, why are you leaving?" His voice came out more panicked than he intended, and he had to pause for a second to regain his composure. "Can’t you just have a conversation with me, you stupid vice-captain?"
Still walking, Soshiro replied, "It’s never a conversation with you, Captain Narumi."
"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"It means I can’t figure you out!" he shouted.
It was the first time Narumi had seen him lose his composure. Normally, it was him yelling and being annoyed.
"Sorry, I didn’t mean to yell," Soshiro said, sighing as he looked up at the sky. "It’s just that I seriously can’t understand you, and I’m tired."
What was Narumi supposed to say to that?
"Every time we’re near each other, you can’t stop cursing at me, and for all I know, you do the same even when I’m far away."
Well, yeah, Narumi had never hidden how much Soshiro’s presence annoyed him, so he had a point.
"But then you go and do things like giving me a damn pair of swords and saying I’m the most incredible person you’ve ever met, and I get completely lost."
"Yeah, I’ve done that, haven’t I?"
"I need you to explain why you act so contradictory." Soshiro looked at him again, calmer now but with a storm still brewing in his eyes. "Do you hate me?"
The insecurity in that question terrified Narumi. Did Soshiro really think he could hate him? Him?
But in that moment, Narumi understood.
Of course, Soshiro would think he hated him. Hell, he could probably swear he’d outright told him so at some point and didn’t even remember because, to him, they were just meaningless lies and trash he said without thinking about how they might affect Soshiro.
He was an idiot.
"Of course, I don’t hate you," was all he could manage. But Soshiro didn’t seem relieved after hearing it.
"Then why do you act like you do?"
"Shit," he muttered, rubbing his face with his hands. "I don’t know why I do it."
And it was true. To this day, he didn’t know why he acted so hostile every time Soshiro was around. Was it some kind of defense mechanism? He wasn’t sure, but it felt ridiculous.
"I think it’s best if I leave."
Narumi panicked. Right now, he didn’t know much, but one thing he was sure of was that he didn’t want Soshiro to leave.
"Wait, don’t go," he pleaded.
"Captain, can you at least give me one reason to stay on this freezing rooftop on Christmas Eve?" Soshiro asked, eyes probing.
"Because I don’t want you to go."
Hoshina’s cheeks began to redden, and as he ran a frustrated hand through his hair, he spoke. "Once again, Narumi-san, what the hell is that supposed to mean!?"
Gen laughed—a genuine, amused laugh—as he took in how adorable Soshiro looked in his clothes, with flushed cheeks and messy hair.
"Are you laughing at me?"
"Of course I am!"
Soshiro rolled his eyes.
"Sorry, it’s just… you looked adorable." And it wasn’t until he saw Soshiro’s eyes widen that he realized what he’d just said.
"That’s what I mean, Captain. Why do you say things like that?"
Gen started to feel a little sorry for Soshiro. He genuinely seemed confused and tired of his behavior, and honestly, he couldn’t blame him. He’d been a complete jerk.
"I’m sorry," he began, and Soshiro looked confused. "I know I’ve been an ass since I met you, and you didn’t deserve to be treated that way." He couldn’t meet his eyes; he was too embarrassed. "But every time I’m near you, it feels like I’m the worst version of myself."
"What the hell does that mean?! Are you saying I make you a worse person?!" Soshiro yelled, a strange mix of emotions on his face.
"Wait, that’s not what I meant!" Frustrated, Gen shouted, cursing himself internally for how idiotic he sounded. "It’s all my fault. I’m sorry."
Raising an eyebrow, Soshiro gave him a doubtful look. "Of course it’s all your fault."
Gen sighed. "Yeah, I know." He glanced at Soshiro, a little embarrassed. "Listen, bowl cut, what I’m trying to say is… I don’t hate you, not even close. In fact, it’s the exact opposite."
Once again, Soshiro’s cheeks turned red.
"And what’s that supposed to mean?"
Ignoring Soshiro’s persistent gaze, Gen replied, "It means what it means."
If this were a cartoon, steam would have been shooting out of Soshiro’s ears by now.
"That’s it! I’ve had enough. I’m leaving!" He turned to open the door.
Panicking, Gen grabbed his arm, stopping him and pulling him closer in the process. "I like you!" he blurted out.
Soshiro’s eyes widened in surprise at the confession, but he didn’t have time to process it because Gen cupped his face in his hands and planted a kiss on his lips.
It was clumsy—hesitant and slow, as if any second Soshiro might push him away. But Gen clung to Soshiro’s face like his life depended on it (and maybe it did).
He was shocked when Soshiro slowly began to move his lips in return. Relishing the moment, Gen teased his tongue against Soshiro’s lips, pleading for entry, which was granted almost immediately.
Like a man savoring an elixir, he took it all in—every sigh, every sound, every flavor he could taste from Soshiro. He made sure to commit it to memory so he’d never forget.
When the need for air hit them both, they pulled apart slowly. A thin string of saliva still connected them, their breaths ragged and eyes blown wide, making it hard to see the red and purple hues of each other’s irises.
They stayed silent for a few moments, studying each other’s faces. Soshiro was the first to pull back, trying to calm his heart, which felt like it was about to explode.
As the distance grew, Gen took the chance to study him. While Soshiro gazed out at the horizon, a hand covering his swollen lips and his chest heaving with exertion, Gen realized this was the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen.
"You too," Soshiro muttered.
"What?" Gen asked, confused as he snapped out of his reverie.
"You too. I like you," he confessed, and Gen could swear he’d never felt happier in his entire life.
"Yeah, I figured. I mean, you did kiss me back so enthusiastically—"
"Oh, shut up! Don’t ruin this," Soshiro snapped, pretending to be angry. "This could’ve been so much easier if you’d realized sooner, you idiot."
"It’s not my fault! It’s hard to think straight when you’re around."
Soshiro smirked mischievously. "Interesting."
Damn it, Gen really needed to be more careful about what he said in front of him.
"Anyway, it all worked out, didn’t it? We’re together now, and we’ve got some pretty great Christmas presents to enjoy."
"I guess you’re right," Soshiro conceded.
"Still, I’m surprised you ended up with me in the gift exchange, Soshiro."
Soshiro looked surprised for a second, but his face quickly returned to its calm expression. "Actually, you weren’t originally my match. I swapped with someone."
"Really?" Gen asked, intrigued. "Who’d you trade with?"
"Captain Ashiro," Soshiro said, amused. "She asked me to take her spot—she didn’t want to get you a present, so I took on the difficult task for her."
Gen huffed in annoyance. "Whatever."
With a soft chuckle, Soshiro quickly grabbed Gen’s hand. Gen just stared at him, slightly dazed, which only made Soshiro laugh again.
"We should head down now, don’t you think? It’s freezing out here."
Tightening his grip on Soshiro’s hand, Gen nodded, and together they headed down the stairs.
The gloves they wore kept them from feeling the warmth of each other’s skin, but that didn’t lessen the impact of the small gesture on Gen, who walked to his room blushing furiously and in complete silence. Meanwhile, Soshiro seemed perfectly calm, even amused and confident—he looked better than ever.
"I suppose you two won’t be returning to the party, right?" Hasegawa’s voice echoed down the hallway leading to Gen’s room, freezing them both in place.
Regaining his composure, Gen spoke. "Yup, I’m leaving the rest to you, Hasegawa."
The man in question gave him a disapproving look. "As always."
Gen just shrugged. "Vice-Captain Hoshina, I hope dealing with Gen doesn’t become a burden," Hasegawa commented, offering a small, courteous bow.
"I think I’m used to it by now, but thank you for your concern."
"Don’t talk as if I’m not here!" Gen yelled indignantly, earning a laugh from Soshiro while Hasegawa continued to ignore his presence entirely.
"Well, I’ll be on my way. Enjoy the rest of the night."
With a slight bow from Hoshina and a chorus of grumbles and complaints from Gen, the older man left, allowing the two of them to step into Narumi’s room. They discarded their coats as they entered.
"It seems like Hasegawa-san cares about you a lot."
Narumi shrugged. "It’s hard not to fall for my charm, I guess." Soshiro smacked him. "But yeah, actually, if it weren’t for him, I don’t think I would’ve realized… well, you know."
"You wouldn’t have realized that you like me?"
Gen blushed and nodded begrudgingly. "Yeah, yeah, that."
Soshiro chuckled. "Good. I’ll make sure to thank Hasegawa-san properly later."
"Suit yourself," Gen replied nonchalantly.
Hoshina chuckled casually as he walked over to retrieve his new swords. "Wait! Are you leaving already?"
"It’s getting late, and I understand you don’t like people in your space," he replied nonchalantly.
Gen pouted, mustering the courage to finally speak. "I don’t mind if it’s you."
The other man’s eyes widened in surprise before softening into a small smile, brimming with affection.
"If you insist," he said, setting his things back down. "I suppose I could leave a little later."
In reality, Soshiro didn’t go home that day—or the days that followed. With the Christmas holidays, most of the time was meant for rest anyway, so it could be said that both he and Narumi made the most of their lost time together.
They played, ate, and slept cuddled up during the following days, wrapped in a warm bubble neither was willing to leave—at least, not voluntarily.
The only time they were interrupted was by Kikoru and Kafka. (Hasegawa had finally taken a vacation, so he wasn’t around to disturb Narumi’s peace.) The intruders were utterly shocked to find Vice-Captain Hoshina sitting between Captain Narumi’s legs, engrossed in a Nintendo game on the console. So absorbed were they in the moment that they didn’t even notice their uninvited guests. Slowly, the blonde girl and the older man backed out of the room without making a sound, with Kikoru silently grateful that her foolish teacher had listened to her and given Vice-Captain Hoshina a proper Christmas.