Disclaimer: Dekaranger is not mine

Notes: Ban X Hoji, spoilers for Episode 44

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Hoji knew exactly what would happen when he showed up at Miwa's door without a gift. She would roll her eyes and tell him to stop being materialistic, the whole point of Christmas was the common memories they shared and would create this year. Then he would spend the rest of the evening helping her get ready for Christmas morning while she scolded him for not coming by to visit more often.

And he'd be feeling guilty the entire time.

Unfortunately, there wasn't much he could do about it. It was too late to hit the stores now-- and even if he still had time, there was no way Hoji could afford anything nice on his salary. All he could do now was go home and greet his little sister on Christmas Eve empty-handed and pretend he didn't feel like an ass because of that.

"Hey! Wait up, partner!"

Hoji was so surprised to see Ban still in uniform it didn't occur to him to yell at him for calling him that again. He had figured him to be the type to run off and play once he had the chance, but here he was, one of the few people left on DekaBase and with a brightly-wrapped package in his hands.

"What's this?" Hoji knew he would most likely regret asking later, but for now his curiosity won out.

"This is for Miwa-chan!" Ban's smile was as bright as a Christmas tree as he gave Hoji the present. "I knew what you got squished by the Alienizer so I thought I should get a replacement for you to give her. I've never gotten a girl anything before, but there was a pink sweater I thought she might like, so I bought that. And..." Ban stopped in mid-prattle. "Partner, are you sniffing the present?"

Take a sniff yourself." Hoji handed the box back to Ban. "Is it supposed to have that strong of a floral scent?"

Suddenly pale, Ban hastily began to unwrap the gift, lifting open the lid... and his face fell. Hoji leaned over to take a peek.

"You should wrap up the perfume separately. That way it won't break like this did."

"And I spent so much time picking out something I thought she'd like, too." Ban said glumly as he leaned against the wall. Hoji felt a twinge of sympathy for his friend; it was obvious he had done a lot for both him and Miwa... and it was about then he realized that he had no idea what Ban had planned for the Holidays. Tetsu had volunteered to stay on duty with Boss and Swan-san; Sen-chan had gone off with the girls earlier to eat out. But as far as he knew, Ban would be spending his Christmas alone.

Except he wasn't going to let that happen.

"Of course she'll like it-- once we pick out the glass shards and give it a good washing." He rested a hand on Ban's shoulder.

"Wait... what are you saying?"

"I'm saying hurry up. Miwa will never forgive us if we're late."

"Right, partner!" Ban replied cheerfully as he followed Hoji outside. Hoji shook his head, but figure he could put off reminding him not to call him that until the morning. For now, they had a holiday to celebrate together.