The wheelchair caught the edge of the box, causing Mr. Hoshino to swear sharply. Kairi hurried in from the kitchen and pushed aside the empty tote, around the decorated tree in the living area.

"Sorry!" she quickly said, making sure a wide path was clear for him to get through. "I told Shoto to make sure the boxes were pushed aside so you could get through. Guess he didn't gauge how much of a berth you would need."

"Don't... worry about it," Mr. Hoshino groaned, finally pushing his way around towards the table. Kairi flew back to the stove, spinning a large spoon around in a steaming pot. "It's temporary anyway. Come January, they said I should be able to walk mostly normally."

"We really didn't need to put up Christmas decorations this year, Dad," Kairi said, reaching over to lower the temperature of another boiling pot beside her.

"No. I won't let this temporary disability keep us from celebrating our traditions," he quickly refusing, reaching for the teapot that had been previously placed on the table. "I'm just sorry I couldn't help. I was able to hang some of the ornaments, at least."

"See? You helped," Kairi said.

"It's sad that Shoto had to leave so soon. Would have been nice to enjoy a dinner with him." Kairi's chest fluttered at his name. She lowered her red face, purposely focusing on stirring the pot in front of her.

The last couple weeks had not been easy for either of them. Her usual laid back father had gotten rather stubborn and frustrated with his inability to be at work and doing what he felt was productive. In addition, there were many things Kairi had to do around the house for him. They were able to acquire a nurse to pop in from time to time; his friends from work were willing to drop by when needed, and the neighbor was happy to help with what they needed. Kairi had been granted a week off school to stay and home and help her father as well as get some emotional rest from it all. But she was quickly back and without her around to help, she had been forced to call in some others to help him out. Once December rolled around, they had an argument about decorating for Christmas. Kairi argued it would be easier to just do without and she would just make them a nice meal; maybe exchange a couple of gifts. That was the moment he broke; screaming at her that he wanted everything as normal as possible. It wasn't like him to get as angry as he did and with her quirk, everything was compounding. So, she relented and decided to do it all herself, as tiring as it might be. And then, when certain elements required someone quite a bit taller than she, Shoto decided to escape his dorm and hang around her house for a few hours in the morning, reaching the high places that Kairi couldn't.

"Blame me then," Kairi sighed, poking at steamed potato before spooning it onto a plate. "I want to find his Christmas gift and I can't very well do that with him here, can I?"

"What are you getting him?"

"No clue!" She pulled a few pieces of chicken from the pan and then scooped a mound of rice from the cooker. She presented the plate before her father and wiped her hands on her apron front. "That's the point of going to the mall with everyone. I've never bought Christmas gifts for people who weren't you. I don't even know what he would like. I know everything about him and yet I don't know if there's any one thing he really likes. Any time I've been out with him and he bought something, it's always been food or necessities, like a toothbrush or something."

"Buy him a snorkel," he said. Kairi spun, eyes cutting into him dangerously. He guffawed, proud of his small joke.

"It's been months," she groaned.

"I think it's still funny."

"It's mean!" she hissed, balling up a dirty dish rag and chucking it his direction. Still, he laughed heartily, ducking away from the onslaught of dirty cloths.

"I thought he was playing that RPG with you now?" he asked, digging into food she had prepared for him. She brought her plate around and joined him at the table. "Maybe you could get him something for that?"

"Like what exactly?"

"A money card, or something."

"Ugh, that's so impersonal!" He looked up, smiling.

"You sound just like your mother." She stiffened, holding her chopsticks still. Naoko Hoshino grew white, sliding a hand across his embarrassed face. "Ah, no, I didn't... you're like your mother in all the positive and non-problematic ways, Kairi. Despite how bitter I am towards her, she did have some good traits. Otherwise, why would I have ever married her? I just mean in the sense she took gifts very seriously and if she couldn't find the absolute perfect one, it drove her mad. She would never think of just giving someone gift cards or money or a gift set. She had to find that perfect gift."

"How did she do buying gifts for you?"

"I mean, of course I loved everything... except the divorce papers. That was a pretty terrible gift." He chuckled lightly. "But beyond that, just knowing she stressed over it and was determined to find me the right gift, that she cared that much. That was the part that mattered. I didn't like that she stressed over it but... she would say much the same thing. I didn't seem to show much of an interest outside of my family and work, so she was always confused about what to get me. Are you getting anyone anything else?"

"I found a few things, but I'm struggling with others. I found Tsu this plush hat with a cute otter face on it I think she would like. I found Yuga this super shimmery scarf, and it should be arriving this week. And there's a bid online I'm watching for this American McDonald's exclusive toy of All Might and NightEye, back when they first grouped up."

"Don't bid too much on that," he warned, waving his chopstick at her.

"Don't worry, I have a limit. But no one had outbid me in four days and it only has twelve hours left."

"Still... be careful."

"Momo and Shoto are the ones I'm struggling with. Momo is hard because I'm... afraid she's going to, erm..." She prodded her food before wincing. "Think everything I buy is cheap?"

"Oh right. That's Yaoyorozu. The wealthy family."

"Yeah."

"She doesn't sound like someone who cares that much, based on what you said. I think I would just try to find something you think she would really like. Don't worry how much it costs."

"Of course, part of this shopping trip is finding stuff for you... so you, Momo, and Shoto I have yet to get." He eyed her suspiciously. "What?"

"You're not stressing about Todoroki's gift because you're trying to say something with it, are you?" Kairi's expression reflected his, also appearing suspicious.

"Well... in a way, I guess? 'Thanks for being my friend, for helping with everything and getting through this year?' But aren't you always kind of saying that with gifts? I mean maybe mine means a little more..."

"No, I just mean..." He chewed thoughtfully, and then waved it away. "Don't worry about it."

"What?"

"No, ignore my thoughts." She threatened him with her eyes.

"What? You are shielding me from something. See, this is the point where I would read your mind if I had your quirk."

"I don't do that to you!"

"I know for a fact you never had eyes in the back of your head and you used your quirk at least a couple of times when I did something wrong!"

"Shh! Okay, so maybe I let the power get to my head sometimes... but I was grieving the leaving of your mother and admittedly not the best parent then!"

"Spiiiiilllll!" He scoffed and sat forward, dropping his utensils on his mostly empty plate.

"All right, it's... clear to me that Shoto is possibly... more than a friend to you." Her gut clenched. "And maybe you're stressing about the gift because you're looking to express that." She coughed, swiping a glass of water and chugging most of it down. He rolled his eyes at the fake sounds of her coughing. "You were a much better actor during the festival. Too believable, even. Which is even more evidence towards my point."

"I don't know what you're talking about!" He sighed, finishing off his plate.

"Sweetheart. Listen. I can feel your emotions. I know what a crush feels like and I have felt it from you at least the last couple of months, if not longer. I know what it looks like when teenagers like each other. I'm a detective and trained to figure things out. Also, you're my daughter and I know you. Do I need to read your mind to confirm everything I already know?"

"No!" she protested, slamming her hands against the table. Her cheeks flowered with bright pink seeing his teasing smile. She slumped in her chair. "Oh, you're... joking."

"Because I wouldn't do that and I don't need to. You're incredibly obvious."

"I am?"

"Maybe not to him, but to me, you are. And it's fine, Kairi. He seems to be a good kid and if anything were to happen-"

"Trust me, it won't. For all the reasons I have presented over the years."

"Even so, I would be fine with it. I would be a little concerned about the possibility of him repeating the way he saw his father treat his mother and how that might carry to you-"

"Oh my god, Dad!"

"But... I don't see that in him. As far as a gift, I'm sure you'll find a good one."

"That was no help at all, so thanks." Her phone fluttered in her pocket and she hurried to fish it out. A text message came through, announcing the proximity of Momo's limo to the house. Kairi shoveled the rest of her food into her mouth and then launched up to her feet. She scurried to press a kiss to her dad's forehead before she began to pull on her boots. From a bag hanging on the doorknob to the closet, she scooped out three bottles and placed them on the table beside his water glass. "Don't forget your medication. I'll do dishes when I come home. You're going to be okay?"

"How much trouble can I get into in a few hours?"

"You? A lot."

"It's fine, if I have an issue, I have four numbers I can call."

"Good. Let me know if you need me to pick up anything."

"Riri, go!"

"How many times did you fall off the couch before you gave up and called Todoroki?" Yuga asked as he pranced in front of the hurrying crowds at the mall.

"Only five," Kairi answered quietly, growing warm in her face.

"You could have called us, ribbit," Tsu said, lighting shoving her shoulder against her. "We would have helped."

"I know but I needed someone who is tall, and Shoto is among the tallest in class! And that tree my dad bought is seven feet, do you know how much of a bitch it is to get that tree decorated?"

"You couldn't have used a ladder?" Momo suggested.

"Oh but then she wouldn't have had an excuse to call Todoroki over!" Yuga giggled. The storefront for skin care products caught his attention. He floated over to it, gazing adoringly at the aesthetically pleasing setup of the display to pull people in. "Oh, it's a crime to put such beauty in front of me!"

"That stuff is really nice, leaves your skin feeling like the wool of a baby sheep," Momo said. "I have about four containers at home." Yuga looked at her, insulted by his own misery.

"Til we meet again, my friend," he whispered softly to the shop window and followed the rest of the crew towards the stack of escalators.

"Okay, this is where we split, then." Tsu decided. "Food court in one hour?"

"Sounds like a plan to me!" Kairi looped her arm between Yuga's. "Okay, I'm trusting you, all right? If my gifts are terrible, it's going to be your fault."

"Oh, the pressure!" He laughed. They waved off to the rest of the group and ascended to the top floor. Kairi clung close to Yuga. His soft eyes fell to her, serious.

"The crowds aren't too much for you?" She looked around her, seeing the swift throngs of people as they pushed others aside and moved brisker than they normally were at the mall. The traffic pulled her inside a little, but otherwise her insides remained fine and steady.

"No. This is part of why I wanted to get my shopping done in early December. A week before Christmas I never would have agreed to it but it's not terrible right now. And people don't seem to want to linger which seems to help." They stepped off and began down the long alley of stores. Taking a moment to assess if they wanted to enter a store or bypass it completely. "Maybe Momo would be easiest to start with, though eh..." She teetered in front of one of the more elite clothing stores. "Not here. I have quite a bit saved but not... that much."

"Do not worry, mon Cherie," he sang proudly. He bent lowly to kiss the top of her hand. "We shall find that which you seek."

"Yuga, you're too much sometimes. Please don't stop."

"Oh, I never will. That you can trust." Her phone whined again against her leg. Expecting it to be some sort of complaint from her father again about how frustrating it was to get to anything, she chuckled inwardly and pulled it out. However, the notification glinted brightly with Shoto's name, and heat moved her fingers across the screen that much faster.

I know that things may still be a little hectic and you might even have plans, but I thought I would ask anyway. By chance were you doing anything special on Christmas Eve? I wanted to visit my mother but I think I would like you to come along this time. Maybe when we leave we could stop at a restaurant to exchange gifts. – Shoto.

Her spirit spiraled euphorically. Wild was her heart dancing with gladness and pumping jitters through her. The giddiness she radiated gave her away, followed by the endeared grin that found her. Yuga watched her with pride, amused by her reaction to any piece of attention Shoto gave to her.

Of course, I would be honored to accompany you to see your mother. Some food sounds good too. I have no plans, my father and I don't do anything til Christmas morning. Yes, I would love to go! – Kairi.

Perfect. I'll discuss details with you when it gets to be closer. And let me know if there's anything you or your father need help with at the house. I'm more than willing to leave the dorm or skip out on my father. -Shoto.

Thanks, but I think we're all right. However, if you have any ideas for what I could get Momo, please send them my way, I am so lost! -Kairi.

She tucked away her phone and gave Yuga the most sheepish of grins. However, he appeared to hardly be bothered, smirking from where he waited against the wall. Kairi wound her fingers together and dipped her head, watching her feet.

"Sooo... anything you care to share?" Yuga asked, batting his eyelashes with begging.

"Nothing special." She shrugged. "He just wished for me to join him..." Her words caught. A reminding bell rang in her mind, an obnoxious warning that he might not know. "For dinner on Christmas Eve."

"Ohhh! He asked you on a Christmas date!"

"He didn't," she assured.

"What else could dinner be on Christmas Eve! Oh how exciting!" He clapped excitedly. "Ooh, should we also find you a lovely outfit to wear on this date?"

"No!" Kairi hissed, annoyance clenching her. She relaxed her hands, reminding herself he wasn't privy to the information that made this not a Christmas date. "No. Trust me. I know it isn't. I'm just not sure Christmas is the happiest time for him." Yuga frowned.

"I see, of course. Forgive me."

"It's okay, I understand... and by the way. Is there an issue with my clothes that if I were to go on a date, I would need to buy something nice?" Yuga shrugged once more with mystery, before something else caught his attention and he darted off. Kairi scoffed with insult before running off after him. "Come back here! You completely ignored my question!"

We're almost there friends! Next chapter is full of cutesy fluff and after that is the long awaited confession!