"So... who's the lucky guy?" Sen moved closer to Chizuru, giving her a sly look.
"H-huh!? what are you talking about, Osen-chan?" Chizuru looked at Sen, confused.
The girls have been sitting in a cafe where Chizuru had her part time job, both sharing a fruit parfait on the wonderful and lively Christmas eve.
"oh come one Chizuru-chan, you know what I'm talking about..." Sen's face in now directly in front of Chizuru's, "you were having a great time when I called you!" she giggled, "let me guess, was it Heisuke?"
Chizuru moved away from Sen's face and replied in shock, "w-what!? well... of course not!" Chizuru said while making a fake laugh. "that was... um... that's not important at all! So let's not talk about it."
Sen hugged Chizuru's arm and spoke sweetly, "oh come on Chizuru-chan, we're best friends right? you can tell me anything! how did it feel? did you use protection? how did you-"
"I... It's someone you don't know. it's..." Chizuru tried her best to make up something that would fool Sen, "it's my childhood friend! he just came back from his school back in America"
"Are you sure you're not lying to me Chizuru!" Sen raised her eyebrow.
"I would never lie to you! we're best friends!" Her heart clenched since Chizuru was fully aware of herself lying to one of her closest friend. "It's getting late so let's get going!"
"wait! but we still have 15 minutes till Christmas! aren't you gonna wait and say merry christmas to me, Chizuru-chan." Sen got up from the seat and looked out the cafe window. "look at that magnificent Christmas tree out there! we could count down to Christmas with everyone else!"
Chizuru laughed at her overly-excited friend, "alright Osen-chan, I'd do anything with you."
The girls got out of the cafe and stood upon the gigantic tree with beautiful ornaments and Christmas lights. They chatted for a while and took pictures with each other, recording Chizuru's first time to celebrate Christmas with her friend.
Chizuru's phone suddenly rang, as she saw Kazama's name on the monitor, she quickly answered the phone to avoid letting Sen see who was calling her. "Hello? what's wrong?"
"Do you miss me?" Kazama spoke in his usual sly tone.
Chizuru's face was turning red, "now's not a really good time to be talking... do you have anything important to tell me?"
"no, I just called because I miss you" Chizuru could hear the familiar smirk of the demon. "I miss you being in my arms while I bury my face into your hair, savouring your sweet scent of strawberries."
Chizuru could feel her face getting hotter, heart beating faster. "t-that's enough!" she tried to remain discreet by whispering at Kazama.
Kazama chuckled, "what are you doing? where are you now?"
"listen i'm not really available now, I'm with Osen-chan and we're having a count down for-" just as Chizuru was about the finish her sentence, people around her including Sen were already counting down for Christmas.
"5... 4... 3... 2.. 1... Merry Christmas everyone!" people on the streets were in delight, they greeted each other with blessings.
"Merry christmas, Chizuru." Chizuru was stunned by the words that had just came out from her phone, she stared blankly at the people, speechless.
"I called to wish you the best Christmas you'll ever have, fortunately i'm right on time, and hopefully the first one to say it to you."
Sen turned to Chizuru and gave her a great big hug. "Merry Christmas Chizuru-chan!" She pulled herself away from the hug and noticed that Chizuru wasn't looking very happy at all. "what's wrong Chizuru?"
"I-I..." she tried to make her words out of her mouth. Chizuru quickly hid her phone behind her back and smiled brightly at Sen. "merry christmas Osen-chan! i wish you all the best! but please wait a moment." Chizuru held her phone back to her ear and replied to Kazama.
"you called... to wish me merry christmas?" Chizuru spoke softly.
"that's what i just told you. and will you wish me a merry one as well?" Kazama's tone was different, it was sweet, soft and kind, just like how he used to talk to Chizuru when they first met.
Chizuru gulped and took a few second to reply. "m-merry christmas... Kazama..."
"thank you." without saying anything else, the call was over. Chizuru brought her phone in front of her face, keeping her eyes on Kazama's contact.
"Chizuru-chan!" Sen exclaimed as she saw Kazama's contact on the phone screen. "why were you calling Kazama?"
"he was the one who called me..." Chizuru said softly. why is he suddenly being so kind to me again?
Sen frowned and observed the redness on Chizuru's cheek, but she talked no more about Kazama. "Chizuru-chan, let's go home and get some rest, okay?"
Chizuru looked blankly at Sen, "you're... not mad at me? Osen-chan?"
"why would i be mad at you during Christmas? besides, i'm really tired so i don't really have the energy to yell at you!" Sen placed her hand around Chizuru's waist. "come on, I'll walk you home."
"It's okay, Osen-chan. I can get home myself." She hugged Sen and smiled at her, "Merry Christmas, Osen-chan. thanks for spending your Christmas eve with me"
"it's nothing Chizuru-chan, i love hanging out with you! Take care alright? call me when you get home!" Sen turned around and waved at Chizuru as she walked away.
Chizuru waved back and soon started walking home as well. The streets were quiet, the stars were shining brightly. Chizuru breathed in the refreshing air of the winter night. She unlocked her phone and tried calling Kazama, to her surprise Kazama had already turned off his phone.
She never got to say thank you to Kazama. She tried recording a message to hime through voicemail, but was interrupted by someone who she bumped into, for she wasn't paying attention to where she was going.
"I-I'm so sorry! are you hurt sir?" It was hard for Chizuru to make out the appearance of the tall man under the dark and starry sky, but something was strangely familiar to Chizuru about him.
"It's fine, Yukimura."
Chizuru was shocked at how the man knew her name, as she was about to ask how the man knew of her name, she suddenly noticed it was Hijikata-sensei standing before her.
"Hijikata-sensei! it's you!" Chizuru said in surprise.
"Hey, what are you doing alone on the streets this late." He gave her his annoyed look, as if she was bothering him.
"I was just getting home."
"it's midnight and you're walking home alone?" He asked.
"I don't see why it's a problem..." Chizuru replied in a naive way.
"You're a girl, Yukimura." He sighed and walked beside Chizuru. "I'll walk you home."
"huh? it-it's alright Hijikata-sensei! I can manage-"
Hijikata-sensei cut off Chizuru's sentence, "I made a promise on behalf of your friends, and that is to protect you, right?"
Chizuru made no words, she just stared at Hijikata-sensei and they both started off to Chizuru's home.
As they were arriving to Chizuru's house, Chizuru broke off the silence and said to Hijikata-sensei. "You're actually really nice, Hijikata-sensei. It's funny how everyone at school are afraid of you, while i don't find the point of being scared even though you do look threatening." She giggled.
"yea right, they should be afraid of me."
"It's christmas, Hijikata-sensei! don't be so stoic." Chizuru smiled at him.
Hijikata-sensei observed her smile and can't help but to be moved by it, "y-yea... I'll work on it... anyways, how are you doing at school? is that bastard still bothering you?"
"bastard?" Chizuru asked, "you mean Kazama?"
"of course, the only bastards at school is either him or me, and I'm obviously not bothering you, right?"
Chizuru laughed at what Hijikata-sensei had said, "no, he does talk to me but he's not really bothering me" Chizuru replied as sherecalled the call she received half an hour ago, "the truth is, I'm really thankful that I came into this school. sure, a lot's been happening ever since I've gotten into this school, but I've made a lot of friends, friends that care for me!" She looked brightly at Hijikata-sensei.
"That's nice to hear about, I'm glad you're feeling better." He said, "everyone had been really worried for you, you know that?"
"I know, and I'm really grateful for that." Chizuru replied.
They arrived at Chizuru's house. "get some rest Yukimura, and don't forget about your holiday assignment."
Chizuru chuckled, "I've already finished them at the start of the holiday, so don't worry Hijikata-sensei!"
He smiled back, Chizuru was amazed.
"what?" Hijikata-sensei asked, seeing Chizuru's face flashed in shock.
"n-nothing... it's my first time seeing you smile, Hijikata-sensei! A real smile coming from your heart." Chizuru said softly.
Hijikata-sensei could feel his cheeks burning up, "w-well as you've said, it's christmas and no one would want to see a face like someone's burned down my house."
"you're right, Merry christmas Hijikata-sensei!" Chizuru went up to him and said, "thank you for walking me home."
"it's nothing special." Hijikata-sensei replied, and walked off to the distance.