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She stares in horror as Black Star comes barreling out of his room in the ugliest Christmas sweater she’s ever seen. Unfortunately, it’s all her fault he has it or that it even exists.
Tsubaki sets the fruit platter down on the coffee table and does her best to remain composed as she high-tails it back to the kitchen. Honestly, the pattern hadn’t looked that bad when she’d picked it out. Knitting hadn’t seemed that hard when she’d watched videos on YouTube. But seeing the finished product on an actual human being makes her want to set it and herself on fire.
Peeking around the corner to look into their living room, she sees Black Star chatting up Soul and Maka, early for their Christmas party as predicted. The boy doesn’t even seem fazed by the fact there are holes in his sweater from what Tsubaki can only determine were a few unintentionally dropped stitches. At first she thinks the sleeves are rolled up slightly, but upon further inspection, the sleeves are actually so short the cuffs end mid-forearm. She presses her palms to her eyes and retreats once more.
It’s got to be part of some joke. Black Star is clearly making fun of her, and she does not appreciate it. Why else would he choose to wear a holey, ugly Christmas sweater on the day all their friends are supposed to be having dinner together?
She takes a deep breath. There’s still time to get him out of the damn sweater. Kid and the Thompson’s will most likely be running a little late. Not everyone has to see the monstrosity. So while her partner, Soul, and Maka are busy cackling about something Maka said, Tsubaki sneaks down the hallway to their room to find him a change of clothes.
Returning to the living room with a clean tanktop of his, she clears her throat to get the room’s attention. “Aren’t you a little warm in that, Black Star? I mean it’s almost seventy degrees out, not really sweater weather,” she coaxes, sitting down next to him.
The boy shrugs. “Gotta stay festive, right? I’ll just think cold thoughts! Snowball fights, snowmen, snowflakes, snow- Uh…?”
Tsubaki ignores the duo side-eyeing her to unfold the top in front of her partner, wiggling it in his face a bit. “It’s just really weird not seeing your star tattoos. Honestly, it’s kinda like you’re not even Black Star.”
“You’ve gotta admit, it’s a little weird,” Maka pipes up, elbowing Soul in the side to get him to nod in agreement.
She’s really out of options. Tsubaki knows she’s beginning to sound desperate, but part of her is past the point of caring. The sweater has to go. Setting the tanktop next to her, she reaches for the hem of his sweater, saying, “I just think you’ll be more comfortable out of this dumb thing, let me just help you-”
Black Star squawks just a tiny bit as he rips the garment from her hands and scoots away from her. “I’m not changing out of it!” he shouts, smoothing the front to just barely cover his stomach. “You made it for me, and I’m wearing it all day! All month if I have to!”
“Stop making fun of me!” she shouts back. “I know it’s probably the worst gift ever, but you don’t have to keep making fun of me for it…” She can feel everyone staring at her as hot tears sting her eyes, threatening to fall over. Suddenly there’s a hand on her own, and she looks up to see Black Star’s face only inches from her own.
“I seriously love it. I don’t care what you think, it’s a Tsubaki gift, so it automatically can’t suck. So I’m gonna wear it for the rest of the month. Gonna feast on the tears of all the losers who don’t have a present from you. And if they don’t like this sweater, they can suck it.”
She finally gives into the tears as she moves in to hug him. She hears Soul mutter “gross” followed by a grunt caused by Maka elbowing him probably, and she honestly doesn’t care. Her partner is truly incredible. She just hopes the Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater doesn’t apply here. She’ll have to be mindful of it for future presents though. Hopefully.