Work Text:
24th of December, a day called Christmas Eve,
Brought a torrent of snow that Nagumo couldn't believe.
Nagumo's thick scarf, Niikura's peacoat,
And Wako's ushanka gave the cold an antidote
Heavy was the shovel that carried the snow
That was tossed over the shoulder of one poor Nagumo.
With a groan, she exclaimed "Hey, I'm beat!
Can't we just go inside to eat?"
A nearby Niikura, wielding a shovel of her own
Snapped back "I can't shovel this sidewalk alone!"
Nagumo grimaced; she was less than inspired.
Her spirit was weak and her heart was quite tired.
Meanwhile, Wako, cheerful and lighthearted,
Was so distracted that she had yet to get started
In lieu of the shoveling, she daydreamed of sleds,
Presents, reindeer, and snow angels instead.
Niikura kept working, but she felt like a clown.
At this rate, they'd be working when the sun went down.
And then, mere moments later...pshhh!
Niikura heard a noise, then turned to stare.
Nagumo had a large pack of snow in her hair.
Nagumo cried "Hey, you hit me with a snowball!"
Niikura shook her head. "No, I didn't do that at all."
"It was definitely you! Who else could it be?!"
"Well, what about Wako? Can't you see?"
Wako perked up upon hearing herself mentioned.
"Oh, it wasn't me. I wasn't paying attention!"
Nagumo clenched her fist with a sneer.
"Niikura...I'll get you for that, ya hear?!"
Nagumo believed she had found herself a liar,
A liar deserving of counterstrikes and hellfire.
Quick like a hare, she sculpted her own snowball
Then flung it mightily, giving it her all.
Her friends athleticism almost felt unfair
As Niikura was headshot, somersaulting in the air
With wet, snowy hair, Niikura then roared,
"You've done it now! This means WAR!"
Wako squeezed between them, eager to join in.
"This sounds like fun! Let the battle begin!"
Snowballs like missiles, each one that flew.
Their aims proving both tried and true.
With each splash of snow, the cold bit them deep,
Until laughter replaced the tension they'd keep.
With a much needed break, working up a sweat
Nagumo forgot that she was even upset.
Crunch...crunch...crunch...footsteps in the snow. Who could it be?
Hands in her pockets, one Matsuri strolled by
Then stopped upon hearing Nagumo's cry.
"It's over, Niikura! I have the high ground!
As queen of snowballs, I have been crowned!"
Then a single stray snowball, with a force unplanned,
Hit poor Matsuri-splat!-right on her hand!
Who threw this snowball? Only heaven knew.
Though for a grinning Matsuri, it felt like her cue.
A wide-eyed Nagumo turned her head to see,
Then cried "Matsuri, come over!", voice filled with glee.
Wako waved her arms, her eyes twinkling bright.
"Yeah, come on! Come join the fight!"
As Matsuri scooped a snowball, Niikura stepped ahead.
"Hang on, guys! This may never end!"
"If this grows too large," she warily said,
"There'd be a snowball war we cannot mend!"
But their laughter simply rang through the cold.
It was clear: Niikura didn't have them sold.
"It's Christmas Eve" Nagumo said, holding her snow.
"Don't be a Scrooge, let's make this a show!"
As if on cue, like fate had it planned,
Came Tsurubishi Makabe, a bag in his hand.
His distant walk caught the attention of Nagumo;
She knew she couldn't just let him go.
"Nagumo, stop!" were words she didn't hear
As she rocketed a ball, her idea of Christmas cheer.
It was perhaps this attack that lost them control
What would lead to CITY being taken in whole
It wasn't long before the war was aggravated.
Someone hit someone, and a third someone retaliated.
Tatsuta, Riko, a vacationing Ecchan,
Every city block, and every other man.
Matsuri and Ecchan teamed, while Wako went solo.
Of course Niikura and Nagumo could only be foes.
Hours later, Niikura hunkered down in a foxhole.
The air was quiet, and Nagumo was on patrol.
Nagumo was on a spree of at least twenty.
Niikura couldn't take her, she needed a plan B.
She had already taken a million snowballs to the face,
And to take anymore would feel like a disgrace.
But her hesitation to leave helped Nagumo in the long run
As the snowballs her face took became a million...and one.
Meanwhile, Wako loved to set up traps,
Intricate devices to exploit a judgement lapse.
One such trap dumped a pile of snow
Onto a poor Tatewaku, pinned and laid low.
"Please, let me go! I concede, you succeed!"
Wako giggled at his plead. "You will never be freed!"
Tanabe allowed Tatsuta to certify their win
As she cowered behind him, to any opponent's chagrin
"Hey, she's hiding! Come out and play fair!"
But to get in Tatsuta's way? She wouldn't dare!
Umi and Sora built their defensive snow fort,
Defending against everyone, be them tall or short.
A merciless snowball barrage made their strength apparent.
They answered to no one, not even their parents.
But their fortress soon fell from what they hadn't foreseen;
Dr. Adatara, and his new snowball machine.
This proved to be a mighty turning point in the war,
And for many in CITY, they could take no more.
Coats damp and cold, white flags were waved
Even Tsurubishi Makabe eventually caved.
The Mont Blanc Trio signed a treaty of peace:
The snowball war was, for now, to cease.
Later that night, wearing clothes that were drier,
The trio of friends sat right near the fire.
Each drank hot cocoa, frothy and thick,
Though Nagumo must've been freezing, as she drank hers quick.
Niikura's blanket looked all snug and cozy,
While still feeling the chill, Nagumo's cheeks were rosy.
"I'm cold..." Nagumo wheezed, her voice sounding small.
It was as if the hot chocolate hadn't helped at all...
"The cocoa was nice, the mug had a warm touch,
But this cold is just way too much..."
Nagumo scooted closer, Niikura's pushback ignored
And she found the couch much more comfy than before.
On Niikura's shoulder did Nagumo's head lay,
Tired of the cold and tired from today.
Niikura fiercely blushed, she didn't know what to say,
And with a yawn and a murmur, Nagumo drifted away.
Though initially reluctant, Niikura softened her tone
She didn't want Nagumo to freeze all alone
So she shifted a bit, and with some grace,
She lifted the blanket and covered their embrace.
Wako, from her chair, saw them snuggling like kittens
Warm like the fire, warm like red mittens
With a melted heart from a sight to sweet,
She tiptoed off, her footsteps discreet
With her camera in hand, in a corner of low light
She snapped a photo of this tender sight
A quiet moment, so mushy a bright
Two friends together on a silent night
Yule logs, mistletoe, the intensity of today
Christmas morning was a mere few hours away.
Nobody knew who threw the first snowball that morning,
A snowball heard 'round the CITY without a warning.
But Wako believed it to be an early holiday gift,
So she opened the window, her arm movement swift.
She hollered to the streets "Thank you all for the fight!
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a wonderful night!"