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-24th, December, Tracen Academy.
Symboli Rudolf's voice is heard from the speakers around the school: "Students of Tracen Academy, as tomorrow is Christmas, you are all free to return to your dorms now to prepare for the holy-day."
Though her pun was terrible yes, but everyuma didn't mind it, they were delighted that tomorrow was a day off to spend their time freely.
"Rudolf's puns are always so dull eh? Outta everythin' she coulda said on the speakers..." Tamamo looks out of the dorm window. "Meh, at least it means stayin' inside and not havin' to train in the freezin' cold. " Tamamo walks away from the window, reaching for her jacket on the cloth hanger. "Ogurin, I'm goin' out for some bargain huntin' for some Christmas decors. Yah better start warmin' up for the cold weather, Beast."
And so, Tamamo heads out to buy goods and decorations for their dorm, unnecessary but Tamamo wanted a change for the holiday season.
"Tama is always so caring..." Oguri sat up on her bed, still wrapped inside a blanket."I want to do something for Tama too.."
As Oguri was thinking of what to do for her roommate, she hears Super Creek's gentle humming going by. Wasting no time, Oguri dashes out of her dorm, even forgetting to wear a jacket to catch up with Super Creek.
"Creek!" Oguri catches up with Super Creek, or in this case, almost crashing into her since Super Creek was walking in a slow pace.
"Oh my, Oguri, you might catch a cold without wearing a jacket in this weather.." Creek pets Oguri's head but Oguri lifts Creek's hand off her head.
"Did i have a bedhead this morning, Creek?" Oguri frowned but immediately returns to her determined look. "Creek, I want to do something for Tama...I feel like she's been doing everything for me and I want to show her how much I appreciate her efforts." Oguri's tail wags as she says so. Oguri really wants to do something for Tamamo.
"Oguri wants to do something for Tamtam? Hm." Creek taps her feet lightly. After a few seconds, Creek lightens up. "Since Christmas is just around the corner, why don't you make gingerbreads? They're cute and delicious, I'm sure Tamtam would enjoy them. That's my idea for now, Oguri, I'll have to take my leave now, see you around~!"
Seeing Creek taking her leave, Oguri considers her suggestion.
"Gingerbreads, I know how to make and decorate them..But Christmas is around the corner..? There's a fourth corner to the holiday season..?!"
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7pm, 8pm, every hour feels almost like an eternity for Oguri, who is waiting for Tamamo to come back like a puppy. Curled up and facing the door, Oguri has no problems staying warm and waiting for Tamamo to burst through the door.
8 and a half, Tamamo bursts through the door, slightly exhausted but still a ball of energy.
"Tama!" Oguri sprints towards Tamamo, a speed too deadly if the space was just a centimeter smaller. "You're back Tama!" Oguri hugs Tamamo as if she is going to disappear.
"Geez Ogurin! Yer are makin' it sound like I went missin' on somethin'!" Despite Tamamo's complaint, she sets the bags down and hugs Oguri back.
After a while, Oguri pulls back and takes a look at the bags Tamamo brought back.
"Heh, I hunted some good bargains here. Almost like a steal." Tamamo proudly shows off the ornaments and the small christmas tree to Oguri.
"Tama..." Oguri calls out to Tamamo softly.
"Yes Ogurin? What'cha need from me?" Tamamo stops her money talk to listen to what Oguri has to say.
"You're still wearing shoes Tama..Kiseki would be mad if she finds out.." Oguri reminds Tamamo who after hearing those words quickly kicks off her shoes.
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9pm, snow starts to fall down the sky. Oguri seems to be mesmerized by the soft flakes slowly descending from above.
"Ogurin, I'm back from da showar." Tamamo comes out of the bathroom hair still wet. "And I need ya help on dryin' my hair. My arms are stiff and I don't wanna catch a cold ya know."
Oguri snaps back to reality. "Coming!" Oguri moves quickly to get the hair dryer and a towel.
Carding through the long gray hair while drying it. To Oguri, it was the best thing she had ever done, being able to do a favour for Tamamo, it's like a blessing for Oguri. Being fond of doing Tamamo a good turn, Oguri would have some small impulse acts while doing so.
Tamamo feels something poking at the nack of her neck. "Oi Ogurin, sniffin' my hair back there?" Tamamo teases a little but doesn't move an inch.
Oguri being Oguri and as honest as ever keeps sniffing Tamamo's hair like a puppy. "Sorry Tama, your hair smells so nice and feels so soft.. I couldn't help. It smells like mint today."
"I know ya have keen senses but not dis keen!" Tamamo comments playfully, still letting Oguri sniff her hair for a minute longer before pulling away.
"I'm gettin' a bit tired.. Fwaap.. I'm gonna get some sleep first." Tamamo settles down bemeath the blankets and watches as Oguri goes to turn off the lights.
"In that case, I'll sleep too, Tama." Oguri gives Tamamo a soft smile, illuminated by the small lamp on the table.
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However warm the room is right now, Tamamo can't seem to shake off the feeling of coldness. While her blanket is warm enough, she still wants to feel warmer.
"Ogurin's already sleepin' eh? Truly..yer are such a beast for sleepin' through the cold like that." Tamamo turns to her side, facing the ashen Umamusume. "I admire ya, for bein' able to just sleep thru' almost anythin' and everythin'."
Oguri's ears twitches and her tail starts hitting against her blanket.
"Tama really admires me?" Oguri turns over to face Tamamo, a pleasant smile forming on her face in the dimly lit room.
"EEK!" Tamamo lets out a surprised squeak, she wasn't expecting Oguri to overhear what she said, or confess. "O-Ogurin?! Yar weren't sleepin' forreal?! This is so embarrassin'.." Tamamo pulls the blanket up to cover her reddening face. "Seriously..."
"Is there something wrong, Tama?" That sweet voice from the Ashen beast rings out.
"N-nothin' really!" Tamamo stutters out a response, giving away her mental state.
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-2am, 25th December, Oguri and Tamamo's dorm. (Tracen Academy)
Shuffling under her blanket, Tamamo finds no comfort nor warmth in her bed it's like the cold outside had seeped into the room. Letting out a groan, Tamamo turns over and faces Oguri, who is actually sleeping now.
"Would be real nice if I could sleep with 'er right now..warm and cozy." Tamamo hesitates for a moment but decides to give in to her little impulse, afterall, they have both shared a bed more than once.
Oguri has a tendency to press her back against the wall which creates enough space for Tamamo to settle down. Just like Tamamo expected, sleeping next to Oguri is warm and comfortable.
What Tamamo didn't know was that Oguri slept lightly, partially from the Christmas excitement and Tamamo's quiet confes....
"Tama?" Oguri wraps her arms around Tamamo, trapping her in.
"Goddesses Ogurin...Yer grip is like a vice!" Tamamo shoots back, trying to sound annoyed but her tail keeps patting on Oguri's stomach. "I'm just cold, nothin' else at play, alright?"
"Mhm. I'm just glad Tama is next to me right now." Oguri murmurs before burying her face in Tamamo's hair
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-8am, 25th December, Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross' dorm (Tracen Academy)
Tamamo wakes up without the Ashen Beast next to her, it seems like Oguri went out early, but for what? It's not like the training track is open today with the amount of snow covering the turf.
"Oh so yar are up early huh..Das a first.." Tamamo yawns before getting out of bed and puts on an extra layer of clothes.
Meanwhile with Oguri, she was out buying ingredients to make gingerbread cookies, like Super Creek suggested. However, getting around wasn't easy for Oguri as she kept getting lost.
"The central sure is bigger than Kasamatsu huh.." Oguri walks down the street after being given directions by another Umamusume. "Lots of shops here and there, selling all kinds of shapes it seems. But first, ingredients for the cookies."
...
"Where's that shop again?"
For sure and for certain, Oguri got lost again amongst the food stalls for hours before finally reaching the place she was looking for.
-12:30pm , 25th December, a certain bakery in Tokyo.
Oguri stands outside of the bakery carrying multiple heavy bags. Flour, brown sugar..everything you need to make a gingerbread cookie, and most importantly, a lot of icing.
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-3pm, 25th December, Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross' dorm (Tracen Academy)
By the time Oguri got home, Tamamo already had lunch and sprawled out on the couch to take a nap.
"Tama is catching up with her sleep..I'm glad." Oguri sets the bags down on the counter before walking over to close the curtains. "Now then..Time to get to work."
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-7pm, 25th December, Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross' dorm (Tracen Academy)
"U-ugh..." Tamamo lets out a small groan and sits up on the couch. Turning her head to the left is Oguri Cap making gingerbread cookies and dinner ready to eat. "Ogurin? Yah are back so late!"
"Hehe, sorry Tama, I got lost while shopping." Oguri continues piping the icing onto the plain gingerbread cookies. "Tama must have been worried about me this morning right?"
"Of course I was! Yer are so unpredictable at times...not even a note sayin' what yer were doin'.." Tamamo crosses her arms, giving Oguri a telling off for having made her worry this morning.
After a bit of giggles and sorrys while decorating gingerbread cookies, Oguri finally reached the last one. While other gingerbread shapes were common ones like the Gingerbread man or a Christmas tree, this one in particular, was her roommate, friend and rival, Tamamo Cross.
Oguri carefully piped the icing, every detail and fold of Tamamo's G1 race outfit onto the gingerbread. However, there is only one detail left to add, it was Tamamo's mouth.
However easy it may seem, Oguri had a problem. Not regarding the shape of the mouth but the color. And Oguri wanted the Tama-cookie to be as accurate as possible.
Oguri had bought multiple icings of different colors, and that includes different shades of red and pink. Most of which are even differentiated by taste. Peach, cherry, strawberry and more.. With so many options yet she still looks troubled choosing because all of the color seem to match the racewear.
"All of the colors seem to go well with each other.." Oguri mutters while looking at the icing bags. "Only one way left to find out which one shouls be piped on it seems."
Tamamo notices Oguri's troubled expression and stops rambling about leaving a note before leaving.
"Somethin' wrong? Ogurin?" Tamamo walks over to the dining table.
"Tama..come and sit next to me for a moment..I need to try something." Oguri pats the chair next to her and Tamamo sits down.
"So? Anythin' botherin' ya? 'Cause yer are not the type to look so troubled ya know." Tamamo pokes Oguri's side, making her jerk in surprise a little.
"No, I just wanted to try something." Oguri responds with a smile. A smile that could melt everything down in a fraction of a second.
Before Tamamo could utter a syllable to reply, Oguri had seized the chance to steal a kiss from Tamamo.
"Mhm. Must be cranberry." Oguri excitedly grabs the cranberry icing and starts piping, while Tamamo is sitting there, face all red and hot.
Standing up from her chair, Tamamo suddenly points her finger at Oguri. "OGUURIINN!!! DAT WAS SO...SO..SO...!!!" Tamamo grabs Oguri by the shoulder as she tries to think of words.But nothing came out of her mouth, all her words stuck at her throat.
Hearing the commotion, someone knocks on their dorm's door.
"Come in" Oguri responds to the knock.
"You lovebirds better tone it down for tonight yes?" Fuji Kiseki pretends not to notice the hilarious height gap while Tamamo is grabbing Oguri by the shoulders.
"WE ARE NOT..." Tamamo almost shouts back, her face was a dead giveaway of her emotions right now
"We'll see." Fuji Kiseki winks before closing the door.
"At least, not yet." Tamamo mutters under her breath.
"What was that?" Oguri asked innocently.
"N-Nothin'! Just show me yar work of art on a piece of gingerbread cookie or whatever!" Tamamo gives Oguri's right shoulder a squeeze before letting go.