Secret Santa

Everyone at school has their own Secret Santa, even the scary Sunako Nakahara, but…who is it?

"T'was a month before Christmas and all through the school, not a present was missing—the weirdest being a decorated stool."

Kyouhei had a box of chocolates—that were actually decently made (much to his happiness).

Takenaga could be seen wearing a nit scarf.

Noi had a charm bracelet on her wrist.

Yuki had a teddy bear tucked in his bag.

Ranmaru had a nit hat, scarf, and mitten set.

Sunako was still looking at her gift, deciding what to do with it. It was a necklace with the letters L and S connected with a heart.

"Aren't you going to put it on?" Noi asked her.

"But I got two," Sunako said. "One from my appointed Secret Santa," she held up the skull charm that was clipped to her bag. "And this necklace. I don't know who it's from."

"It's not uncommon—"

"No, Noi. Two different people, two different gifts."

"Hmm…maybe the necklace is from a secret admirer."

"That creeps me out," Sunako muttered. Noi frowned, deep in thought. Then she snapped her fingers and smiled.

"We'll figure out who it is, Sunako-chan. Leave it to me! But first," Noi took the necklace and put it on Sunako. "At least wear it for whoever sent it to you."

~After School~

"Not one person in the school remembers getting a necklace like that!" Ranmaru said, examining it. "It's a bit gaudy in style, but it's made of actual jewels. Maybe it's a rich kid."

Sunako shrugged. She put a note in her locker and she made a show of leaving, but then turned around and hid in a bush.

Ranmaru hid with her. "What are you doing?"

"I put a note in my locker," she whispered. "To whoever sent me the necklace. I'm sure they might come back, so let's wait and see. Noi joined them after a minute and Ranmaru told her Sunako's plan.

An hour passed. Then two…they were about to give up and go home when they noticed a man stride quickly into the school. They went to the front gate of the school when they saw him enter.

He stopped at Sunako's locker and took out the note, read it, then pocketed it. He put another slip of paper inside after writing something on it.

"Not secret admirer," Sunako said.

"Stalker," Noi agreed. They hid in the bushes again when he came towards them.

They watched him leave. When he disappeared around the corner, they entered the school again and Sunako took the note out.

"What's it say?" Ranmaru asked.

"I'm not a stalker—we met before at one of your aunt's parties. As for the note you left, just call me Ryu for now."

"Ryu?" Noi asked.

Sunako folded the letter and slapped her forehead. "So it was Ryu!"

"Who's Ryu?" Ranmaru pressed.

"I met him at Obachan's last party. We were both hiding under the table and shared snacks."

Noi and Ranmaru stared at her.

"You met him under the table?" Ranmaru asked, smiling perversely.

"All we did was eat snacks!" Sunako snapped. "He's a few years older than us, but he's really nice."

"Ah," Ranmaru said, hugging Sunako, "Love!"

"Can it, Ranmaru," Sunako growled, pocketing the note. "We should go home before we get locked in the school.

Leaving the grounds, they walked back to the mansion together.

Not another word was said about Ryu, but Sunako kept the necklace around her neck for the rest of the school year.