The lights and decorations, the act of giving and receiving gifts, and of course the food – Haruka had always enjoyed and looked forward to them whenever Christmas season rolls around.
Bright and festive it would get as the whole world would celebrate Christmas and, at least how it seemed to innocent little Haruka, his birthday too.
Even though he spent most Christmas Eves in the hospital, he'd wake up with Christmas decorations hung here and there in his private ward. The nurses and doctors and his family would be there to greet him a 'Happy Birthday' at the start of the day and a 'Merry Christmas' by evening. He would still be served tons of food for Christmas dinner.
He was happy with that.
Both birthday and Christmas cards would make its way to the Kokonose household, but then eventually stopped as he spent less time in school, thus less opportunities of making friends who'd remember.
Yet he had learned that greetings in person, few as they may be, as long as they're sincere and especially if they come from people you value the most, were actually better.
He was happy with that.
It seemed to him that it's impossible to be sad in the season he'd dare say was his favorite.
As he grew up though, sometimes he wondered what it would be like to get invited to Christmas parties, or join in the crowds of people in malls as they rush to buy their loved ones gifts. To be with someone else besides the hospital staff and patients, to be somewhere else but his seemingly-cheerful hospital ward where the beeping of machines still can't be drowned out by Christmas songs on the radio.
This Christmas, he thought, just might be his opportunity. He hadn't had any recent attacks, and he finally had a new person to spend his special day with.
"Say, Takane, are you free this Christmas Eve?"
The girl dropped her headphones in surprise, stuttered, but in the end, said yes.
It might not be a Christmas party with lots of friends, but he'd at least get to spend it with his bestfriend.
He was happy with that.
And so happy was he that he found himself showing up at her doorstep early.
As he followed Takane's grandmother to the living room, he saw his friend emerge from the kitchen, asking who was at the door.
With a wave and a "Hello," he took note of the flour on her shirt and apron, "Hm? Is Takane baking something?"
She stared wide-eyed at him, her face slowly turning red as the situation dawned on her. "N-no, I was just... helping with cooking dinner!" She quickly tossed her apron aside. "A-and what are you doing here anyway? Aren't we supposed to meet at the park? In like, an hour later?"
Haruka only gave her a sheepish smile, to which she rolled her eyes. She asked for a few minutes to get ready, and then they were off.
They walked along the snow-covered streets, accepting free candy canes and cookies, listening to carolers, window-shopping as if they don't already have gifts for each other only waiting to be unwrapped later.
And under a mistletoe, he kissed her... forehead.
"Now, Takane and I will live happily for a long time!" Haruka smiled.
"You really don't know much about these things, huh," a blushing Takane muttered, looking away.
He blinked at her, tilting his head to the side. "Would you enlighten me, then?"
Her head whipped towards his direction, pigtails comically bouncing. "No way!" Seeing his shocked expression at her outburst, she added, "I mean, go research it yourself!"
"Oh. Okay?" Haruka smiled half-adoringly, half-confused.
"No, on second thought, don't. Please. Ugh, let's just go, okay?" she frowned slightly, avoiding his eyes once more.
Of course he couldn't have known inviting someone out on Christmas Eve and kissing under a mistletoe have romantic meanings. All this time, he'd only read and watched about what people usually do for Christmas, but never actually got to try them. It all just seemed fun, with the smiles it would bring to people with the privilege to be healthy enough for such Christmas activities.
But even after being reminded (though he knew Takane never intended to) that he's close to being considered as 'cut off' from normal society, he was happy.
Because even if she's so embarrassed right now, Haruka could see Takane's happy as well. Smiling at him without a hint of pity, genuinely enjoying all the sights with him. That, he thought, was what's important right now.
Back at the Enomoto household, Haruka ate Christmas dinner, after which Takane disappeared into the kitchen to retrieve their dessert.
The cake she'd denied she was busy baking earlier.
Haruka's birthday cake.
He managed to give her his biggest smile before the world started to spin and blur into darkness.
He woke up the next morning to the all-too-familiar sound of hospital equipment.
Ah, it happened again.
As if she'd sensed he's back to his senses, Takane burst through the door, worry written all over her face.
Haruka wasn't happy with that.
For the first time, he couldn't find a reason to not get upset with what has become of him again on his favorite season.
Takane rushed to his side. No words were spoken as he turned to the window and sighed, while she gingerly took hold of his hand to squeeze reassuringly.
To assure her or him, he's not sure, that he's still alive. Breathing.
But once again too weakened to even normally enjoy a special day with the person he cherished.
"Are you feeling alright?" Takane asked.
"Hey, do you realize this is our first Christmas together?" he replied, brushing the question aside.
Beep, the machine echoed within the few seconds of silence.
Hearing no answer, Haruka turned back to her with a sad smile.
Takane could only manage a stuttered call of his name.
"I'm so sorry for troubling you again, Takane. And on such a happy time too." He looked back out the window. "This Christmas didn't end well, but I'm sure our next ones won't be the same. Who knows, I just might be stronger by then."
The following year wasn't any better. While they did gain two new friends to spend the winter break with, he needed to be hospitalized for a week after an attack, prompting him to cancel the small Christmas party he'd been planning.
But the stronger did he become in the Christmas after that, a Christmas the two of them spent together again at last... but only she remembers that promise now.
From the other side of the screen she now lived in, his white-haired clone gawked at the lights outside the window, with the same wonder and innocence Haruka had in his eyes that Christmas Eve.
Hello! I edited this because the first version just didn't feel right. The writing just wasn't me. So there you go, added more feels and speaking lines :D
(Also because I need to re-immerse myself with Kagepro, and because I'm consolidating all my written works on Tumblr so of course I shouldn't re-endorse stuff I still have regrets posting so hastily...)
As I've said before, this has been the first oneshot of mine that I posted, and also the first time I wrote HaruTaka, but I'm still equally nervous about it as the first time I posted this two years ago. So please tell me how I did through your much-appreciated reviews!