Kotoko is staring at what she's pretty sure is supposed to be a Christmas gift from Yuki to his girlfriend, but it's admittedly hard to tell if the pile of ribbons have been glued to the fabric intentionally or it's just a creative way to display the scraps left over from the actual gift. She's turned it upside down, sideways, even placed it face down (She'd had to take a guess on what was the front and back too.) and she still isn't sure exactly what he'd been going for. She's dangling it from her finger in an attempt to see if maybe it's meant to be an ornament when she accidentally rips something loose. She gasps and pulls a face, scrambling to tuck it back where she thinks it was placed originally, but she's not 100% sure of that either. She's even less sure Yuki would be able to tell the difference.

"I hope that's not for me," Naoki comments as he strides through the kitchen door, hands moving from the button at his throat to loosen his striped blue tie. Kotoko hums in acknowledgement without looking up and narrows her eyes at the odd creation as Naoki grabs a glass and heads to the sink for some water. He moves across the room and rests his hip against the chair Kotoko is standing behind, staring with her as he takes a sip.

"Yuki's Christmas gift," she explains. "It's... charming?' Kotoko tries, turning to look at her husband. His expression is passive, but at this point in their relationship she can tell what he's thinking anyway.

"It's terrible."

"Well, we can't tell him that," she mutters, picking it up again to see if she can make sense of it.

"He likes her, right? It'd be worse to stand by and let him give it to her." Naoki pokes at it with a skeptical finger. "You sure it's his?"

Kotoko nods. "I saw him put it on the table this morning before he left for school. I can't even figure out what it's supposed to be."

She tries dangling it again as if her wish for the object to make sense would somehow change the fact that it just doesn't. She leans in closer, looking for some tiny detail she figures she must have missed, when it's snatched off her finger and whoever does the snatching bumps rather roughly against her nose as well. She gasps and reels back, rubbing at her nose with her left hand and slinging her right arm in desperate circles, trying to keep her balance. Naoki anticipates her over-reaction, reaches around and places a hand on her back without a word, tipping her forward enough that she doesn't lose her footing. She looks up at him, left hand still on her nose, right arm still outstretched, and a dopey smile on her face. He takes another sip of water.

"What the hell is that thing?" Naoki questions his brother.

Kotoko snaps back to attention, lowering her arm and giving her nose a final rub. She realizes it was Yuki who'd snatched the thing out of her hand. She really should've known considering the blatant disregard for her physical well-being. She watches as he hurriedly shoves the item into his backpack.

"Something I meant to throw away," He grumbles as he zips his bag up, shaking at it's contents to try and jiggle the ribbons that are still sticking out into a manageable position. He lets out a frustrated groan and gives up, zipping the bag closed and leaving the exposed ribbons to hang haphazardly out the top. He's in the middle of slinging his backpack over his shoulder to head to his room and away from the embarrassment when an idea occurs to him. "Hey, Kotoko? You're good at this arts and crafts crap, right?"

"Why?" She asks, eyeing him knowingly. She crosses her arms and smiles smugly as he weighs his options before caving in with a sigh.

"Can you help me? l wouldn't ask but Konomi was droning on and on about how much handmade gifts mean and I can't give her... that." He jerks a thumb at what's still visible of his "gift."

"I knew it! It's so sweet that you'd make something for her! I knew she was the one for you the first time I met her! You must really love her! Let's get started right now!" Kotoko is swaying back and forward, going over the dozens of ideas in her head as the color drains from Yuki's face. Kotoko considers him. He's desperate. Desperate enough to ask for her help. In the perfect position for her to get something in return. "Wait! If I help you, you can't call me an idiot for..." She taps at her chin with her finger. "Two weeks!"

"If you keep that talk up I'm not gonna last two minutes," Yuki groans. "Two days."

"One week?" Kotoko bargains.

"Three days and if I say it under my breath you have to pretend you didn't hear it," Yuki counters.

"Fine." Kotoko sniffs and sticks out her hand for him to shake in agreement. He does so, very reluctantly.

Naoki, who's been watching the entire exchange silently, huffs out a laugh.

"Good luck with that. I'm not playing mediator." He lets the hand that's been linger on Kotoko's back drop to his side and puts his empty glass in the sink. "And Kotoko? Don't get any ideas."

Kotoko makes a face and sticks her tongue out at his back as he ambles toward their bedroom before turning back to Yuki.

"Tell me what she likes," she says, grabbing the notepad by the fridge that they usually use for grocery lists.

Yuki sighs and settles in for what he's sure will be a long night.