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It was christmas eve and Nene was trying to keep her balance on the very top of a step ladder.
“Almost there Nene, just a liiiittle higher!” She told herself. It’s so odd that the second to last step feels completely fine, you feel supported and stable. But the very highest step? Scary! Too high! Normally Nene would say ‘No way Jose!’ And find someone else to do the job, someone taller. Like Kou! But Kou was holding the ladder stable for her, because Nene needed to be the one to do this.
“You got this Nene!” Kou cheered. After tying a few knots and making sure it wasn’t going to come loose, Nene successfully completed the job!
“I did it!” She cheered with a huge, bright, smile on her face. She was proud of a job well done.
Nene and Kou turned away from the bathroom doorway they were just working on, to admire their hard work.
They decorated Hanako’s bathroom in various christmas decor! Some tinsel and ribbon draped over the window and stall doors, little snowmen and snowglobes on the window sill, and paper snowflakes hung throughout the room! They also tied a nice ribbon and bow on Hanako’s stall door, to make it look like a present.
Nene and Kou looked at each other with big grins on their faces before doing a double high-five, proud of their accomplishments.
“Hanako-Kun is going to love it!” Nene said, stars in her eyes.
“Yeah! Yeah!” Kou nodded eagerly, “Hanako is going to be so surprised! He’ll never see this coming!”
“Heyyy Tsuchigomori, you called for me?” Hanako said as he floated over to drape himself on the teachers shoulders.
“Ah yes, hey Number 7.” He replied, unfazed by the other apparitions' lack of personal space. He turned his head to the side, to blow out his smoke, making sure to not get it in the kids face. “I called you here for a game of cards and hot chocolate. Y'know, since it’s christmas.”
Tsuchigomori said, while avoiding eye contact. Hanako froze for a second, taken aback by the sudden, quiet affection. Hanako was quite the recluse ever since he became supernatural, which meant he didn’t really celebrate Christmas. With his voice timid and low, Hanako replied.
“Yeah, we can do that”
The pair played cards together as the milk heated. Hanako kept trying to use diversions and distractions to throw Tsuchigomori off his game, to no avail. The old man was too locked in and used to the kids' antics. After winning a couple rounds, Tsuchigormori went to finish and serve the hot chocolate. Leaving Hanako to sulk with his head on the table in a dramatic fashion.
A mug full of the warm beverage was placed in front of the boy's face. It was dressed in whipped cream, chocolate flakes and two candy canes poking out of it. Hanako gasped as his eyes widened, awed by how pretty and tasty it looked.
Tsuchigomori sat back down in front of Hanako, and took a sip of his down drink. The teacher's drink had far less whipped cream, but he decorated his as well to match and be merry. After stirring the whipped cream to melt and blend in, Tsuchigomori added some spiced rum to his mug. Hanako, with a mess of whipped cream now on his face, eyed the spiced rum. Without asking, he snatched it from beside the teacher.
Tsuchigomori, with fast reflexes, put his hand over Hanako’s mug, blocking it from the alcohol.
“Why you-” He began to scold, before Hanako interrupted.
“I want some too!”
“No. You are way too young.”
“And I’m dead, so what’s the harm?! It’s Christmas, c'mon old man!”
The pair locked eyes, glaring each other down. After a few moments, Tsuchigomori sighed in defeat, and gently took the bottle from Hanako.
“Fine, but only a little bit and I’m pouring.” He grumbled. The boy then cheered and clapped his hands. Hanako enthusiastically took a sip of the drink, and had to hold back from making a poor face. Tsuchigomori chuckled, then began to deal out another round of cards.
After some time passed of bickering, antics, games, and spiked hot chocolate, Hanako’s Hakujodai started pestering him to go back to the bathrooms. As Hanako began to float toward the door, Tsuchigomori cleared his throat.
“Before you go, here. Merry Christmas” He said coolly, handing Hanako a present box. “Go on, open it.”
Inside the box was the dumb Mokke hat that Hanako was nearly scammed into. Tsuchigomori traded some homemade candy with the Mokke for it. Hanako beamed and thanked the teacher before putting it on top of his usual hat.
“Merry Christmas, Tsuchigomori Sensei”
Hanako, with his mind a little fuzzy and warm from his drink, made his way over to the bathrooms, feeling a little nervous and suspicious as to why the hakujoudai were not telling why he needed to return. But, they never steer him wrong. When he entered the room he was bombarded by Kou and Nene yelling “Merry Christmas!” In Unison as they grinned at him and showed off almost all the decorations they put up. The trio sat together, enjoying Kou’s homemade treats, then played games and just enjoyed each other's company. Hours flew by with love, laughter, comfort, and joy. As the sun began to set, the trio made their way outside for a good ol’ snowball fight. The boys of course got way into it, so Nene ended up just watching as they bickered and sparred.
Once the sun had set, Kou took his leave to go see if he could find Mitsuba before returning home. Leaving Nene and Hanako alone. The couple made their way back to the bathroom so they could squeeze in as much time together as they could before it got too late.
Nene proactively walked in front of Hanako, trying to hyper herself for what’s next to come. When they reached the bathroom's doorway, Nene took two steps in, and spun around quickly to face hanako, who floated right into her, accidentally bonking their heads.
“Owie” they both said, mirroring each other with eyes squeezed shut and hands applying pressure on their foreheads.
“You okay Yashiro? What happened, why’d you stop?”
Nene pointed up above them with a timid smile and blush on her face. When Hanako looked up, he saw a mistletoe hanging above them. With his eyes wide and a deep blush on his face, Nene pulled Hanako to her with his jacket, and kissed him on the lips. Feeling warm, safe, and loved, Hanako didn’t hesitate to return it, and pulled Yashiro into his embrace.
They spent the rest of their evening together holding each other, while listening to music and reliving the many memories they shared.
“Merry Christmas Hanako-kun”
“Merry Christmas, Yashiro.”