"Merry Christmas, Ara-chan!"
Sorata, dressed in full Santa regalia, bounded up to Arashi with a candy cane thrust towards her, his characteristic grin hidden behind a great, fluffy, and presumably fake white beard.
Arashi glanced at the candy cane, then at Sorata, with a questioning look in her eyes.
"Go ahead, take it! -- I didn't do anything to it, I promise," he added earnestly.
With a doubtful look, she gingerly took it from his outstretched hand. "Thank you..." she said, still eyeing the candy cane with suspicion.
"You're very welcome," he replied, beaming.
She stood and looked at him, holding the candy cane a safe distance away from her body, as though still unsure of its seemingly innocent nature.
Realizing that she was waiting for him to leave, he asked, "Have you been a good girl this year, Ara-chan?"
She didn't answer.
"... Of course you have! Pretty girls like you always go on Santa's 'nice' list."
"... What is it you want, Sorata?" she said in the most patient tone she could manage.
"Want? Me? Nothing at all... I just happened to find this present that was addressed to you..." he said, pulling out a small, festively-wrapped gift from his coat. "It didn't say who it was from, so I guess Santa left it for you," he added with a shrug.
Sensing a danger similar to that of the candy cane, she hesitantly reached for the gift, hand hovering a moment above the small box before finally grasping it.
Sorata watched intently, eyes shining below the fuzzy white lining of his hat, as she slowly undid the ribbon tied around the present and removed the wrapping. She stared a moment at the now plain white box resting in her hand, as if trying to discern what would be inside of it. She looked up at Sorata, doubt glittering in her dark eyes.
"Open it," he said, stomach a-flutter with nervous anticipation.
Reluctantly, she returned her gaze to the box and gently lifted the top.
"... Well?" Sorata asked after a moment's silence.
"... It's beautiful..." she said, still looking at the contents of the box.
"Put it on," he suggested with a hopeful look. She drew the silver chain out of the box, glistening like new-fallen snow. From it dangled a small charm, an onyx bird that flashed blue when the light hit it. Handing the box to Sorata, she reached beneath her shadowy hair and clasped it about her neck. She looked down at it resting against her skin and then looked up at Sorata, not knowing what to say.
"Santa seems to have a pretty good eye for this kind of thing," Sorata said with a thoughtful nod.
"... I... I don't have a present to give you..." Arashi said, a note of remorse in her voice.
"Don't worry about it, babe," Sorata replied with a nonchalant shrug. "Santa's a pretty nice guy though - I wish he'd gotten *me* such a pretty necklace..." he added with a sigh and a mock pout. He could see her fight to keep the corners of her mouth down. She quickly regained her composure and thought for a moment, admiring the charm.
"There is one thing..." she began, pausing to look at Sorata. "Could you give Santa something for me?"
"Sure, babe. What is it?" Sorata inquired, eyebrows raised.
Arashi took a hesitant step forward. "This," she replied, and quickly kissed Sorata on the cheek. As a crimson hue spread across her cheeks, she stared at the ground and added, "Merry Christmas, Sorata." She glanced up at him and quickly turned and walked away.
Sorata watched her go, unable to stop her even if he had wanted to. When she finally evaded his sight, a smile spread across his face and he raised his eyes to the crystalline sky.