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Mina, sat directly beneath the tree; shook the tightly wrapped present in her hands, holding the box up close against her ear to catch any slight rattles or bumps within it.
She then brought the box away from her ear to examine the exterior of the it, after one or two glances she pulled a sneer look and clicked her tongue -
"Can I guess who mine is yet?" She snickered, extending her arm out for everyone in the circle to see the wrapped present.
And, well; it was awful, there was no doubt about that. Pieces of cardboard peeked amongst the ripped, red paper and one another- the festive designs decorated on the front almost seemed distorted with how much damage was done, not to the present itself but the wrapping paper that crumbled loudly like stepping into thick snow with every faint touch.
Eyes immediately fell onto Denki.
Fine, it was no Picasso of a present- and it looked completely nothing like Momo's, whose gorgeous gift was painted perfectly with her own sown little bow.
But surely Denki wasn't the only one known for his terrible wrapping skills, he's certain Kirishima was just as awful as him.
But the spiky redhead only laughed alongside the others which left him in internal despair- and yet his face held a stunted scowl.
"Just open it!" He yelled amongst the crowd of laughter, crossing his arms as his eyes watched Mina rip open the present- or at least attempt to, the amount of duct tape used made it difficult.
Eventually someone arrived with scissors and saved the day to which Mina gleefully held the gift tightly in her grip- squealing excitedly like a little child.
Everyone became instantly curious, all leaning in and muttering 'what's' and 'who's' about the gift.
And suddenly Denki's frown became a very chuffed grin- knowing he had done well in getting his best friend for Secret Santa.
Mina finally showed everyone the astonishing denim skirt she had been eyeing up in the store for months- it was straight until the very bottom where the ends flicked up and dazzled with fake diamonds and gemstones, it was decorated with pretty frails and strings, the pockets were a pastel pink and it matched the bubbly girls personality perfectly which estimated the reason for her exaggerated expression of happiness.
After many thank yous and hugs it was finally Denki's turn to take his gift from the pile-
A few had gone around now and some had even left for bed after getting theirs, though, it is Christmas Eve he supposed.
Sato's homemade eggnog was barely enough to get them through the next four hours so those who did stay to watch, watched with baggy eye lids and simpering smiles.
He dragged the bag from the middle into his lap and examined the outside of it.
"Oo I wonder who this could be from.." he sarcastically teased-
He blissfully checked the tag on the bag to see a question mark beneath his name, he smiled, and reached into the bag to grab the first item.
He pulled out something soft, and soon revealed that it was a small cat plush- it was calico with beady black eyes and clearly had sand in its bottom to weigh it down.
Denki looked in awe down at the stuffed creatures, always having an admiration for soft toys despite his age.
"Hmm.." he jokingly pondered, his eyes travelling the room until they landed on Hitoshi Shinsou.
Who sat in the Christmas jumper they had forced him to wear, staring wide eyed at both him and the gift in his hands- evidently in puzzlement of whether it is obvious or not that he bought it.
Denki finds it adorable, knowing this his first Christmas with class 2A and that Shinsou hadn't had any friends in the past to do this with- though he isn't sure why, he personally finds Shinsou's company comforting above all else.
He read the name tag attached to the stuffed cat and read out 'Gizmo' which initially left him stunned, because that was the name of his childhood cat- and he can barley even remember telling Shinsou that.
Of course his cat wasn't calico, so perhaps it was a coincidence.
After clearing his throat he beamed, "Is it Hitoshi?"
They used first names for each other now..
Shinsou visibly sighed with disappointment in being founded out, as if this were a game of murder mystery, before he smiled gently and pleaded for Denki to carry on opening.
Denki reached back into the bag and this time pulled out a box of chocolates.
They were his favourite. Or, they were.
Denki has always been lactose intolerant and recently his favourite brand of chocolate had stopped making a dairy free option due to its lack of buyers.
Shinsou must've overheard him stating that he liked these and mistakingly bought them without knowing of his condition.
Denki smiled sadly, still appreciative of the gesture but slightly guilty he won't be able to enjoy them.
He glanced up at Shinsou with large eyes,
"Aww Toshi.." he winced, "I can't eat these."
He was about to place them to the side.
"Yes you can." Shinsou stated, no, demanded sternly.
Denki paused his actions and appeared stunned by his words, he's never known Shinsou to be so eager- I suppose he's never played secret Santa before but the rules don't state that you force feed your lactose intolerant friend food that he can not eat.
"No I can't..I am-."
"They're dairy free." Shinsou explained calmly.
Denki went wide eyed at him, his head turning mere thoughts into muffled nonsense, ones that would be vital to him at the given moment like how the box of chocolates in his hands may have been imported illegally and that Hitoshi freaking Shinsou remembered he was lactose intolerant after mentioning it- what; once??
Hesitantly, he brought the box back to his view and read the label.
And clear as day it was there, 'doesn't include dairy'
And all of a sudden his face began to burn, his cheeks turned as cherry as the holly hung up on the Christmas tree and the box in his hands quivered alongside his hands.
He looked back up and Shinsou and muttered the words, "you remembered that?"
Shinsou squinted at him, almost in disbelief that he would even ask that-
"Of course I did."
And then warmth consumed his heart as a whole, it became soft. He smiled fondly over at Shinsou- the mistletoe in the corner of the room becoming apparent, and evidently more tempting.
Because the tenderness in someone knowing how you work, inside and out- knowing something as simple of what you can or can't eat, or the first pet you lost and you expressed you would never forget. There was sudden sentiment now surrounding gift giving, and the mild devotion to it; and then the beauty of remembering, to which Denki would cherish over any other in the world.