Usagi sat beside the kitchen window, cheek resting against the cold glass and her eyes unfocused. Outside, a few of the neighbor kids were playing in the snow, and across the street, Kishimoto-san was putting his lights up. But none of this could distract her from her thoughts.
"Usagi?" Ikuko called to her daughter. "Shingo already wrote his letter to Santa. Have you written yours yet?"
"Hmm?" Usagi murmured, turning. Then her mother's words sank in. "Oh, no, I'm not writing to Santa this year."
Ikuko was beginning to feel worried. "Are you going to play in the snow, at least?"
Usagi shrugged, an elegant motion. "Maybe later," she said vaguely, drifting up the stairs to her room, leaving her bewildered and concerned mother behind her.
Oh, Usagi had tried writing to Santa, had tried playing in the snow. But she was swiftly learning that one couldn't enjoy oneself if one's heart was somewhere else. And Usagi was in possession of her heart.
So until she got a replacement, she'd keep dreaming.
Mako bustled around her apartment, straightening pictures and plumping pillows. From in the kitchen, a timer beeped, and she rushed to silence it. As she took her banana muffins out of the oven, she wondered what this mysterious meeting was about. Ami had called Mina, Rei and Mako, saying that she had something important to discuss with them, and under no circumstances were they to tell Usagi about it.
Usagi practically lived at the arcade, so meeting there was out. They could've met at Rei's grandfather's temple, but Mako made sure to volunteer her apartment as a rendezvous before Rei could say anything. It was more cozy and private this way. Besides, Mako loved hosting friends in her home.
Hearing the doorbell ring, Mako walked over to her door, swinging it open to see Ami standing there. Mako opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Ami beat her to it.
"I'm waiting for the others to come before I explain anything," she said firmly. Mako could see the steely resolve glittering in her eyes, and knew better than to argue. Soft-spoken as she might be, Ami was not one to break her word.
Rei and Mina came up together, and Mako went to put her warm muffins on a platter. Reentering the living room, she set the plate on the coffee table and took a seat on the couch beside Rei and Mina. The three stared at Ami, perched delicately on an armchair, but she appeared unfazed.
Clasping her hands on her lap, Ami began. "As you can see, Usagi's not here today, and must remain unaware of her absence. I know I'm defeating the point of the gift exchange, but I think it's important for you to know that I'm Usagi's Secret Santa. I want your help in giving her the perfect present."
Rei peeled the wrapper off a muffin. "Do you have a gift in mind?" she asked, sniffing the baked good before sinking her teeth into it.
"I do, actually," Ami said, her posture exuding confidence. "We're going to give her Mamoru."
This declaration, given in a tone suitable to saying We're going to give her a month's worth of free chocolate milkshakes, was met with a series of shocked expressions. Rei froze, mid-chew, her teeth clicking together, and Mako's eyes went wide. Mina, of course, was the first to get over her surprise, squealing in approval.
"Yes, yes, yes!" she sing-songed enthusiastically.
"What? Why?" Rei asked, bewildered, voice muffled by the mouthful of banana muffin yet to be swallowed.
Mako found her voice. "I have noticed Usagi's seemed distracted lately. And isn't she spending a lot of time at the arcade?"
"Yes, because Mamoru is there for hours nearly every afternoon," Ami explained patiently.
"How do we know Mamoru wants to be Usagi's Christmas present?" Rei asked suspiciously.
"We don't," Ami admitted, biting her lip. "But I want to talk to Motoki, ask for his opinion. If anyone knows about Mamoru's true feelings, it's him. Besides, I have a hunch . . . I just can't explain it."
"I know exactly what you mean," Mina agreed emphatically. "Sometimes I —"
"Okay, we get it," Rei interrupted. To Mina she said, "So you're obviously going to help." Turning to Mako. "But are you?"
Mako worried her lip, torn. She didn't like playing matchmaker. In fact, she hated it. The knowledge that she was meddling in people's lives made her feel dirty. Guilty. But the ephemeral quality of Usagi's attention, the dreamy tone of her voice, the faraway look in her eyes — Mako had experienced it all before. She knew what it was like to be in love. And if there was even a chance she could help one of her best friends find happiness, she had to take it.
"I'm in," she stated, not a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
Rei sighed, though she was unable to hide the smile that was cautiously creeping across her face. "Me too."
Matching smiles bloomed across Mina and Ami's faces, and Mako felt her own lips curling. The four girls looked at each other, happy in the way one can only be when helping a friend. Even if that friend wasn't aware of her helpers.
Yet.