"Hey you two! Want something to eat?" Henry's mother poked her had around the door. Henry and Rika had been working diligently for a long time. They stood and stretched, glad for the break. As they sat eating sweet rolls, they looked around the room.
"It looks festive," said Henry.
"Huh, only you would say something looks 'festive,' Henry," Rika snorted. But inside she agreed. It did look nice, with streamers and paper chains dangling from the ceiling, and a brightly decorated tree. They sat for a moment longer, then went back to work.
"Looks like there's only one thing left," Henry said, pointing to a small ball of greenery and berries.
"Do we have to put that up?" Rika moaned. "Every Christmas party has that, and I can't stand it! That's disgusting, making people kiss, just because they step under it!"
"Oh, come on Rika, be a sport. It's the only way that I can finish my master plan," Henry said, with an evil little chuckle. At Rika's questioning glance, Henry explained, "Takato and Jeri. What better birthday present than to get a kiss from one of the girls that he likes?"
"You know, Henry, that's really sad. Remind me to smack you the next time you get a 'master plan.' Why on…wait a second, what do you mean, one of the girls? Takato only knows two girls, me and Jeri."
Henry gave her a meaningful look.
"I didn't think that you'd want any public displays, but I don't think that Jeri would mind too much."
Rika's eyes widened, and she stuttered, "Th-thanks, Henry."
Henry grinned.
"We could always change the plan, if you'd like to take her place."
Rika went into offensive stance. Henry started laughing and quickly held his hands up in surrender.
◄♦►
"Hold it steady, Henry!"
Rika stood atop a pile of books, which were stacked on a table. Henry stood on the floor, holding the books, ready to catch Rika if she fell.
"Almost, almost, there! Got it!"
Rika sat down on top of the books and looked down at the floor. It was a fair drop. Henry held up his hands to help her down, and surprisingly, she let him. His hands closed around her waist as she jumped from the pile, but the books toppled and full under her feet, tripping her, and neither noticed the door opening. They stood together, surrounded by books in haphazard positions, their arms around each other, with mistletoe swinging overhead.
"Are we interrupting something?" Kazu's amused sneer startled Henry and Rika, who turned to find him, Kenta and Jeri watching them in amazement. They looked over at them, then back at each other. Rika pushed away from Henry fiercely, then smiled rather dangerously at Kazu, warning him off. He backed down.
"No, Henry was just helping my down when the books I was standing on toppled and tripped me up."
"Why were you standing on books?" Jeri asked, a little mystified.
"We had to put up the mistletoe," Henry grinned. He moved closer to Jeri and whispered in her ear, "It's my gift from you to Takato. Well, either from you," his grin widened, "Or from Rika."
Jeri was slightly in shock. Rika, seeing this, placed her arm around the other girl's shoulders and said, "Come on Jeri, let's go decide somewhere else. Henry?"
"Go ahead. My bedroom is open, feel free to use it. We'll find something else to do. Come on, guys, let's go see if you can have the Grand Susie Tour."
"Thanks, Henry," Rika murmured under her breath as he passed. Henry pushed Kazu and Kenta through the door in front of him, turned to wink at the girls, then disappeared. Rika lead Jeri to Henry's room and shut the door.
"You can do it," they both burst out simultaneously. They looked at each other and started laughing. They sat down on Henry's bed to talk.
◄♦►
"And dis is da living woom, an' deaws da kitten…"
"The kitten?" Kazu whispered, confused.
"The kitchen," came Henry's automatic translation. He seemed extremely distracted.
"What's wrong with you Henry?" Kenta asked. He was still trying to understand what Susie was saying.
"Nothing," Henry replied, taking advantage of their distraction to avoid the uncomfortable question. "You'd better hurry up, or you'll lose your tour guide. I'll catch up in a moment."
Kenta and Kazu went down the hallway and Henry flopped on the couch. He couldn't understand why Rika and Jeri would have to talk. She had been so defensive when he had suggested that she give Takato his "gift," yet she had meekly wandered away with Jeri to "discuss it." This was making no sense. He looked down at his watch. Five fifty-nine! Takato would be there any moment!
"Hey guys! Get out here! It's almost six o'clock!"
Doors slammed, footsteps sounded, and in a rush, the other four assembled in the living room.
"Did you decide who's gonna…?" Henry looked at Rika. She smiled and gently nudged Jeri.
"I will," Jeri said softly. Henry's face broke into what Jeri thought looked an awful lot like a relieved grin.
"Do you know what to…?"
"Yes. Rika told me about your 'master plan,'" Jeri giggled. Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
"Quick, everybody hide! Takato's here! Kenta, I said hide, not run away!"
The doorbell rang again, longer this time.
"I'm coming!" Henry called, pushing Kazu further behind the sofa. He hit the lights, and then moved to the door.
"Hi, Takato! You made it, exactly when I had decided that nobody was coming."
"Is that why the lights are out?"
"Yeah, here, let me turn them back on."
"Happy Birthday!" everyone yelled, jumping out as the lights came on. Takato's eyes went wide.
"You remembered!" A big smile lit up Takato's face, even though his eyes were wet. "Thanks, guys."
"Oh, great, here come the waterworks," Kazu called, making Takato brush away his tears.