A/N: So this was the Holiday fic I really wanted to do, but didn't have time to. I still have my studies catching up to me, but I was just able to squeeze in just one more story for you guys! I'm probably going to follow the subject of multiple connected one-shots, because it kind of does both of the possibilities I mentioned previously. I hope you don't mind, and enjoy!

Silky blue hair stayed still as more powder white snow covered the top, the girl retaining the hair never bothering to put up her hood. She turned her head around, making eye contact with her mother, as she waved calmly and drove away.

Leaving the grade-schooler alone staring at the black gateway.

She shivered marveling at the humongous mansion, even though it wasn't her first time visiting her friend's household.

It's just that it was a special day, and Umi had no idea what to expect, having not knowing how this supposed day was so special to her friend.

Shaking, she pressed the familiar button as she awaited for a response, planting her feet on another patch of snow.

"Hello?" The voice came out quite faster than other times Umi had visited, but the child stood straight and replied as if it was any other normal day.

"It's Umi-"

"We've been waiting for you, Sonoda-san! Please come in," startling Umi for the interruption, she heard the speaker cut off and watched the gates slowly open, sliding on the snow.

Exhaling cold air, Umi took pounding steps, walking across the snow covered cobble walkway.

Approaching the grand door, she was about to ring the actual doorbell until it was abruptly opened, revealing a small child around Umi's height, with red hair extended down slightly past her shoulders.

Umi smiled, while Maki had a really excited expression with her eyes lit up.

"Umi! You came!" Maki's exclamation surprised Umi at the fact that the redhead was acting a little more worked-up than usual.

"Well, I didn't have any plans today so…"

Maki quickly grabbed the bluenette's hand and rushed towards the living room, bringing Umi with her. Umi stayed silent, unfazed at the childish factor Maki was showing, though if she hadn't been her only friend that they've spent so much time together with, she'd probably scold that 'shameless' word her mother and father had been using quite frequently.

Umi was dragged into the spacious couch-filled room, and the ocean child gazed at the abnormally large tree decorated with lights and colorful balls. Turning her sight away from the strange plant life was an empty fireplace she had seen already, but shivered in response.

"Maki, the fireplace isn't even on," Umi resonated as she quivered at the small difference in temperatures from outside and in the house.

"Sorry, but we can't burn the chimney for Santa-san," Maki gleamed at the mention of the name, confusing the other.

"Santa...san?" The young child lacked of knowledge on who or what Maki was talking about.

"You know, Santa-san!" Maki exclaimed as if repeating the name would help Umi in any way.

"The man that lives on the North Pole and gives out presents to people on Christmas!" Umi watched as Maki rambled on, describing his physical structure, something about elves and reindeer, on and on.

Christmas? So that's probably why the Nishikino family invited her today despite all the snow. Umi tried to process all the information the younger friend was throwing out, and first grasped the essence of presents.

"So if 'Santa-san' gives out presents, why isn't there any here?" She looked around to confirm her answer, only to see Maki smile even bigger.

"They're under the tree, silly! It's just that the leaves are blocking it," Maki remorsed. Umi turned her vision towards the lit up tree, and by closer inspection, saw a variety of colors under the tree.

"Oh, I didn't notice those before, sorry for saying there weren't any presents," she was about to bow, until Maki just tilted her head to the side and smiled for like the millionth time again.

"Don't be! The tree's a little messed up because Santa-san sat on it accidently," the tomato head giggled from reminding herself of the memory. Umi picked up her chin and looked like she was in deep thought.

"Wait, so how does Santa-san give presents to every child he visits if he spends at least some time in their house?" Umi figured she was asking another stupid question, but the words left her mouth anyway.

"Santa-san said that he only visits the really nice kids for a while, and the others he gifts them in secret," Maki responded, tip toeing to somehow conceal her excitement.

"I see," for some reason, the ocean child didn't really think that a man living on the North Pole with flying reindeer and elves would exist, but decided not to say anything because of how different Maki acted today recently. Also the fact that it would probably hurt her feelings and drive the young redhead off her beliefs.

"We were going to open the presents earlier, but I asked Mama and Papa to wait for you," Maki stayed tall clenching the blunette's hand, but Umi being Umi felt guilty.

"I'm sorry for making you and your parents wait. I didn't today was so special," Umi muttered out, hoping Maki heard it. She just kept on smiling.

"Umi, you're too young to care about others more than yourself. Waiting for you is worth it," the younger casually responded, both of them feeling a heat rise in their cheeks.

"Maki-chan! You forgot to close the door, be more careful next time," Umi recognized the voice, and turned around to see Maki's mother and father enter the living room, both still in pajamas.

"We're glad you could make it, Umi-chan," the older woman said with a hospitable voice, with the man following up with a smile.

"Ah… Thank you, Mrs. and Mr. Nishikino," Umi tried to bow again, but her friend stopped her from moving down and flashed an even brighter smile.

"We should be thanking you, Umi," Maki's father reasoned. "It is your first Christmas, correct? From what I heard about our daughter explaining so much I think it's safe to assume that, no?"

"Yes… I guess my family isn't familiar with this kind of holiday," Umi tried not to sound reluctant, and hoped none of them would notice it.

"Then you get to experience the best part! Besides seeing Santa-san, that is." Maki interrupted, already rushing towards the tree, urging the other three to follow. Maki's parents started moving the furniture to surround the tree, and Maki did some sort of slide on her knees, already digging under the tree.

Umi slowly sat down next to Maki on the floor, "So this is when we open the presents?"

"Yep!" Was all Maki answered with as she already grabbed a red box with a blue ribbon tied to it. Umi peeked at the tag hanging off the box, catching that it read To: Maki From: Santa. Maki opened it at a speedy pace, but without completely tearing it apart. Umi watched as the redhead revealed a moderate sized teddy bear inside the present. Seeing Maki's excitement and the parent's laughter surrounding it made Umi smile, but slowly turned into a frown overtime.

"I didn't bring a present…" Umi murmured clenching her fists, regretting not bothering to even research about why her friend invited her over on a 'special' day.

"You don't bring presents, silly! Santa does!" Maki's casual speak again threw off the older friend, as the tomato held out a slightly smaller present box, with a midnight blue wrapper tied together with a golden bow. It read To: Umi From: Santa.

Umi was reluctant to take it, probably also startled she got a present, "Santa-san got me a present?"

"I guess Santa-san put you on the nice list too!" Maki beamed again, pushing the present further to her nervous friend.

"B-but I didn't even know this holiday existed until today!" Umi waved her arms in a stopping motion, indicating as if she didn't deserve it.

"Maybe that's all Santa-san needs to know, Umi," it seemed as if Maki had scripted this whole event, with quick and casual responses. "Come on, it won't hurt!"

Umi stared at the present for a couple seconds, then took a deep breath as she extending her arms and gripped the present, having Maki release hers on the box. "If you insist…" Umi gave in, carefully taking out the wrapper while Maki's mother and father smiled emitted across the room to follow their daughter's.

Opening the present, Umi revealed another small white box inside the present itself, around the size of a wedding ring container, but larger. Confused, she ripped off the ribbon keeping the small box together and looked up, seeing the same abnormal smile Maki always had around her.

Umi gasped as she marveled at the contents inside the petite box. It was a pair of golden moon-shaped earrings, shining everlast across the living room.

"This is…" Umi paused, not sure how to deal with the situation that was set place.

"Santa-san must have a lot of faith in you," was all Maki had to say, her face also quite surprised as well. Umi was about to ramble about not taking the earrings, until Maki had noticed something attached to the box.

"Hey look! Santa-san left a message!" Maki exclaimed, pointing at a hanging tag off the little box that Umi failed to notice.

"Huh?" Umi looked back at the blinding earrings and saw a small slip of paper. Flipping it over was a small but readable message, as they carefully examined the text.

"I wonder what Santa-san means by that…" Maki was now curious, leaning over Umi's shoulder as Maki's parents smiled even more. Umi reread the message again, and slowly but surely Umi was starting to maintain the same smile Maki had the last hour.

"I guess Santa-san has some words of wisdom of his own," was all the ocean child could muster, getting an acceptable head shake from Maki. Umi slowly took out earrings, and held them by her fingers as she aligned them from the star on top of the tree, causing the earrings to shine even brighter.

"Wow…" they both interjected, as Umi put the earrings back into the box, gaining another surprise from Maki.

Maki asked "You aren't going to wear them? Santa-san gave to you as a present." All Umi did was smile and directed eye contact between amber and amethyst as she held the box in a cup-like fashion.

"I think I'll save it for… special occasions," Umi responded, caressing the box. By then an alluring aroma had surrounded the living room, and the 4 people inside could tell that it was the resemblance of fresh food on the table.

"Well then… It's time to eat! We'll open Santa-san's other presents later," Maki's mother suggested, as she walked out with her husband towards the dining room.

"You haven't ate yet, right?" Maki questioned, already pulling Umi anyways.

"No," Umi confirmed, gripping the box tightly in her remaining arm.

"Then Santa-san's next present to us is a feast!" Maki exaggerated, sprinting to the kitchen with Umi holding on closely behind.

Umi opened her first Christmas present again, gazing at the golden moon earrings again, but more importantly rereading the cursive-formatted slip. Repeating the text in her mind, all she could do was smile even larger than Maki's.

We Are A Single Light

A/N: If you don't know the reference about the present it's the earrings that Umi wears during the Bokutachi Wa Hitotsu No Hikari performance, (hence the We Are A Single Light text attached to the box.) I'm pretty sure I don't need to tell you guys that but I mind as well for people that aren't hopelessly obsessed with Love Live. Also lets just pretend I posted this last month, shhhh.