Day 15: Singing Christmas Carols

Ryuu could not believe she agreed to this. She most certainly did not think that Bell, of all people, would ask her to join his Christmas Caroling group. She also didn't expect him to volunteer for singing.

"It wasn't my idea," replied Bell. "Hestia works at the local homeless shelter, and she was put in charge of the Christmas party. So, she needs to find some kind of entertainment but doesn't have the budget. She prefers to spend the money on the food and stuff, you know?"

Ryuu sighed. How was she supposed to say no to singing for orphans? Even if she hated public events, she wasn't a heartless monster. So, she shrugged on her fluffy green Christmas sweater, laced up her boots, and trudged out into the snow. Apparently, Bell wanted to meet her in front of his apartment. The plan was to start early and sing at some other houses so that everyone could warm up a bit and practice before the main event at the shelter.

"Who else will be joining us?" asked Ryuu.

"Oh, um…Mikoto, Welf, Lili, Haruhime, the Hyrute sisters, Ais, Lefiya, Filvis, Aisha, Ouka, Chigusa, Daphne, and Cassandra," replied Bell.

Ryuu couldn't help the snort that escaped her nose at the list of names presented. The very same one that caused Bell to stop and stare.

"What is it?" asked Ryuu, rubbing at her face. "Did I get some snow in my hair again?"

"No… you're good," replied Bell. But then, whatever kind of enraptured stupor he had disappeared. "Wait, why were you snorting?"

Ryuu rolled her eyes. "Oh, that. Well, it's just going to be hard for Ouka and Welf to carry us as the only tenor voices."

Bell frowned. "I can sing deeply!"

Ryuu laughed. The two of them had been sitting on Bell's couch. The cheesy Hallmark Christmas movie they had put on had long since been forgotten. Ryuu's legs rested in Bell's lap, and both held mugs of hot chocolate. They were made with love and a special powdered mix they had bought in bulk from Costco.

Ryuu reached forward to steal one of his marshmallows. "Listen Bell, I…" Ryuu blushed. She had almost said the big L-word. "I have great affection for you, but you are a mid-alto at best."

Bell pouted and drank from his hot chocolate. At the time, Ryuu ha laughed at his chocolate mustache. She had also tried to suppress the butterflies in her stomach.

In the present, she finally reached Bell's apartment building. In front, Mikoto and Haruhime giggled as they held hands and leaned on each other. Chigusa was hiding her petite body inside Ouka's massive coat, the big man's arms wrapped around her protectively. Even Filvis and Lefiya stood together, arguing about some trivial topic. Ryuu believed it was about who looked prettier in their Christmas sweater. As she approached, Welf detached from his conversation with Lili, Cassandra, and Daphne and strolled on over.

"So, you actually came," said Welf.

Ryuu narrowed her eyes. "Why wouldn't I have come? Bell asked me to, and I have the night off from work."

This was technically true. Ryuu did have the night off from work. It just so happened that she got it by trading shifts with Helun, Syr, and Lunoire. Instead, Ryuu would be working all through New Year's. But she didn't mind, especially since it meant time with Bell.

"Yeah," continued Welf, shaking her from her thoughts. "Just surprised you can stand to be around all the other happy couples. Kind of leaves us alone, doesn't it?"

Ryuu rolled her eyes. "Oh, so you're telling me that Hephaestus won't be at Hestia's Christmas party? That she won't be volunteering to help out with the lights or some other technical problem? Besides, I'm not the only single person here."

Welf shrugged. "Fair enough, just wanted to make sure."

As the two talked, Ais Wallenstein finally found her way to the group. She seemed to just appear from the darkness and nodded hello to everyone. Tiona and Tione, who had already been waiting, rushed to pull her into their conversation. Ryuu felt her eyes pulled in Ais's direction.

"Ahhh, scoping out the competition then, huh?" asked Welf.

Ryuu sighed. "It's no use. She's the one Bell loves anyway."

Ryuu had stopped pretending to hide her feelings a long time ago. Well, from everyone except Bell. The boy didn't reciprocate them. Or at least, if he did, they didn't stand up to his feelings for Ais.

Welf gave her a tiny smile. "Yeah, but those two have already talked it out." Ryuu's ears perked. "Ais is leaving for a research thing. Something about work to find a cure for her mother?" Welf shrugged again. "She's leaving Orario indefinitely. So, she and Bell decided to talk it out. Apparently, if they get together, they will. But neither of them is too hung up about it or gonna force the other to wait." Welf gave Ryuu a shit-eating grin. "And I have it on good authority that my best friend has a thing for toned blondes."

Ryuu's face got a lovely rosy red then, and it wasn't because of the cold. Just as she was about to respond to Welf, Bell finally burst through the doors. He raced down the steps, papers in his hands. He also had a bag slung over his shoulder. He started passing the bag around when he half-landed, half-fell in front of everyone. Inside was a collection of Santa hats, elf ears, and reindeer antlers.

"Everyone takes one!" said Bell. "We have to be dressed for the part!"

Some people frowned, like Aisha, but everyone else put on a Christmas decoration. There was much laughter as people tried to force on different decorations.

"But Daphne! I wanted the Santa hat!" cried Cassandra with her little reindeer antlers.

"Nah, you're cuter this way," responded her girlfriend.

"Filvis! So, help me, you will put these adorable elf ears on your adorable head, and you will be happy about it!" declared Lefiya, practically wrestling with Filvis.

Meanwhile, Haruhime happily put on a pair of reindeer antlers. "Thankfully, this isn't so different from when Mikoto makes me wear the fox ears." She looked at her butt. "And there's no tail for this one either, thank God."

"Haruhime!" shouted Mikoto. "You aren't supposed to talk about that in public!"

Eventually, though, the large party moved on. Bell handed out sheet music for everyone to share, and they sang a couple practice carols. Ryuu did her best to hide her voice in the crowd. She had very little faith in her singing ability. Better to leave the carolling to the others.

The troupe proceeded through the city, hitting up multiple houses. As she listened on from Ryuu's ear, they seemed to get better with every performance. At one point, Bell was walking next to her.

"You know, I don't' think I've actually heard you sing tonight," he said.

"Of course, I have!" replied Ryuu. "You just must not be listening very close."

Bell frowned. "Ryuu, I know what you sound like when you sing. Remember that night I stayed over at your place? I heard you sing while you cleaned. It was quite pretty."

Ryuu just about died then. She mumbled something about singing for the shelter and left it at that. Bell did not leave her side the rest of the evening to her great surprise and joy. The two of them walked side-by-side all the way to Hestia's place of work.

"Ah!" shouted Hestia. "It's about time you got here! C'mon, the people are waiting!"

Bell cast a look at Ryuu as they all bunched together to sing. The blonde sighed and realized there would be no way out of it. She would have to sing. So, she did. She sang Silver Bells and then jumped straight to White Christmas. After doing a rendition of Hannukah, oh Hannukah, she finally stopped. Everyone was staring at her.

"Ryuu, that was amazing!" shouted Mikoto. "You have such a lovely voice!"

The others congratulated her, while Bell just stared on in rapt wonder. Later, when the dinner was over, and everyone was making their way home, he found her.

"I wanted to ask Ryuu…." Bell seemed to fumble over his words. "That is, did you have any plans for Christmas? I know you usually have work at the Hostess, but even Mia has to close for Christmas, right? So, do you want to come over to my place? We can…watch more movies?"

Ryuu felt her heart melt just a little bit.

"Yes! Sounds like a date!" she said.

The End

Hestia looked down at her newest quilted square. She placed the image of a choir standing above a boy and a girl down, nodding along. She looked out.

"Not quite the ending you were expecting, huh?" she said. "Or even the normal couple? Well, it's Christmas, and this time, I guess even a miracle can happen." Hestia smiled. "So, take solace in this small even while you can. Love is love, and given the smallest shift in a path, it could change for anyone to anywhere. I hope you enjoy it!"