"Nariyuki, do you have the batter ready?"

"Yup, all done. Next is the marinade for the chicken, right?"

Fumino nodded, smiling gratefully in reply. "Thank you. We can start frying as soon as we finish with the prep!"

Christmas dinner and homemade cooking was a combination that not many families exhibited in Japanese culture, especially in recent times. In contrast to most holidays in Japan, American cuisine, specifically fried chicken, was a staple choice when it came to the celebratory meal, but the majority of people ordered take out from restaurants to mark the occasion. It was during this time that these said chains were filled with lines and preorders, bustling with activity to meet the sudden increase in demand.

Though for Nariyuki and Fumino, they would have no problems in avoiding such busyness.

"We must be the only ones actually trying to make our own fried chicken," Nariyuki commented with a playful chuckle. "I think everyone I know is getting take-out."

"You're probably right," Fumino giggled lightheartedly. "But it's better this way, isn't it? It's our first time hosting a Christmas party for our friends. I think everyone would be happy to enjoy some homemade food for the holidays."

The girl then averted her gaze and smiled shyly.

"And besides…I really love cooking together with you."

A warm blush creeped onto his cheeks as Nariyuki smiled back wholeheartedly. He couldn't have been in any more agreement. Of the endless things that he cherished about their relationship, cooking was an activity that the two of them especially shared in closeness. They had both started as being unskillful at it, but over the years, many of their dates together had been eagerly spent practicing to improve their culinary expertise.

Improving at something despite being untalented at it…it was a quality that he had always admired so much from Fumino, and being able to experience that endeavour together with her firsthand…it was a feeling that he would always treasure wholeheartedly.

"Me too..."

Their eyes met softly after, and with an equally tender smile, Fumino leaned forward into him, and Nariyuki matched her slowly, intent on fulfilling the intimate gesture between them

And with their lips centimeters apart…

DING DONG

The two of them shot apart at the sudden ring of the doorbell.

"S-sorry…" They said simultaneously, only to blush even deeper at the other's interruption.

Why were they so terribly unlucky when it came to finishing a kiss?

"I-I'll go get the door!" Fumino said abruptly, finally managing to get a hold of herself as she hurried over to the front door. As a resident of her father's mansion, it was her responsibility to welcome their guests into the house at least.

Though she really did wish that they could have received just a few more moments of privacy…to at least finish what they started.

At the thought, her blush returned heavily, and Fumino shook her head to force herself to focus on the task at hand.

She opened the door.

"Merry Christmas!"

The synchronous cheer of three familiar faces reached her ears immediately, and Fumino smiled brightly in recognition.

"Kominami Senpai! Uruka-chan! Ricchan!"

"Fumino-cchi!" Uruka ran up to her first and hugged her tightly in greeting. "You look even more beautiful than the last time we caught up!"

Asumi followed soon after. "Long time no see, Furuhashi. Your place is huge as always…"

Lastly was Rizu, who held out a bowl for her to take, it's contents steaming in the cold winter air. "Would you like some Udon, Fumino?"

Fumino's eyes crinkled affectionately at their greetings. To say she was happy was a heavy understatement. Having the opportunity to reunite with her closest friends again, especially during a festive time such as Christmas…it was truly a blessing that she couldn't be more thankful to have.

What better way was there to celebrate the holidays?

"It's so good to see you all again…" Fumino said with a heartfelt smile before taking the proffered bowl from Rizu's hands. "And Ricchan…I told you that you didn't have to bring anything, didn't I?"

"I said the same thing when I first saw her, but I think at this point we should just accept that it's never going to change," Uruka said with a chuckle.

Rizu didn't seem to take the hint, and instead the girl brought out another bowl to hand to her. "I brought spicy gotetsu flavor as well."

Fumino sighed and shook her head fondly. "Jeez..."

From behind them, the distinct sound of footsteps interrupted their playful banter, and from the walkway of the house approached another guest.

A familiar sensei with striking pink hair.

"M-my apologies…am I late?"

"Kirisu Sensei!" Fumino said in recognition before closing the distance between them with a joyful beam. "Thank you so much for coming!"

The woman averted her gaze, blushing lightly at the warm welcome.

"O-of course I would come…you invited me," Kirisu said in an attempt to conceal her bashfulness. "It wouldn't do for a teacher to deny a student's request."

"There you go acting all cool again." Asumi smirked at the woman from the side. "If that's the case then how come everytime I ask you to come get drinks with me you always turn me down?"

"You know very well as to why I avoid such outings..."

"Ah yes…that's right," Asumi feigned ignorance. "I almost forgot just how much of a terrible lightwei-"

In a flash, the history teacher was behind the girl to put her hands over her mouth. "Y-you don't need to tell everyone else!"

Uruka and Rizu took the opportunity then to join in with vivid curiosity. "Ooh! Tell us, tell us!"

Fumino giggled delightedly, finding too much amusement from the sight of a red-faced Kirisu being besieged for her secrets. She still remembered when the woman had helped her by giving advice on how to deal with her first hangover nearly a year ago. It didn't take much for her to realize now as to why her sensei was so well informed over the matter.

As much as an enigma Kirisu Sensei was, she truly was a kind person at heart.

"Why don't you guys come in first?" Fumino offered with a smile, directing them inside. "We can catch up somewhere that's a lot warmer."

The five of them made their way inside the mansion together, and the warmth of the interior indeed found its way to their bodies pleasantly. Fumino brought them to the living room, where the kitchen lay adjacent, and where a particular someone was also in the middle of cooking.

Nariyuki perked up at their entrance.

"Hey you guys, long time no see!"

"Wow Nariyuki! This looks amazing!" Uruka said brightly, admiring the array of ingredients arranged on the kitchen counter. "Since when did you know how to cook so professionally?"

Rizu, Asumi, and Kirisu were in a similar state of stupor, and Nariyuki rubbed the back of his nape. "Furuhashi and I have been practicing together a lot lately. It's really thanks to her that we've been able to prepare everything so well tonight. It was actually her idea to make all these dishes from scratch for you guys."

The four guests' eyes shifted to her at the revelation, and Fumino looked away shyly.

"I-it's really nothing. We're about done finishing the prep work, so we're going to get started on frying the chicken soon. You guys can take a seat and relax at the kotatsu while Nariyuki and I finish things up, okay?"

"Okay!"

Once after, Fumino and Nariyuki proceeded with where they had left off with their cooking, coating the chicken with batter and preparing vegetables for a few side dishes. Fumino led them with clear instructions, and Nariyuki followed accordingly with eagerness. They exchanged observations with each other, helping each other along diligently as they went further down the steps. So caught up in the pleasantness of it all, Fumino failed to notice that their guests had abandoned their wait in the living room, and had decided to instead observe the two of them up close.

Her eyes looked up from the cutting board, and she finally took in the curious smiles on her observers' faces.

"W-what is it?"

Asumi and Uruka's expressions were particularly cheeky, and they both answered her inquiry with identical responses.

"You two look like such a married couple right now."

Fumino's face lit up with a heavy blush immediately at the remark.

"W-what are you two talking about?! W-we're not…I-I'm not..-"

"Furuhashi!" Nariyuki called out to her from the distant side of the kitchen. "The chicken's done marinating. Could you help me with how to work the fryer, please?"

At the boy's request, Fumino did her best to answer without giving away her mortified state. "O-of course! I-I'll come right away!"

Her eyes met Asumi and Uruka's one last time, and the playfulness held in their gazes hadn't diminished in the slightest.

"Looks like your hubby's calling for you," they said together with a wide smile.

Fumino whipped around to escape the relentless teasing, her face entirely red to a fault.

Please don't tell me the whole night's going to be like this…


"Mm! That was so delicious!" Uruka exclaimed animatedly.

Kirisu nodded in agreement. "Indeed."

"I should implement your fried chicken into a new udon recipe…" Rizu added thoughtfully.

"You guys need to invite us more often if you two are going to always cook this well," Asumi finished the consecutive line of compliments with a rare display of earnesty.

Fumino looked away shyly, and Nariyuki appeared to be in a similar bashful state from the praise.

"Y-you're exaggerating…" Throughout the meal, they had been told numerous times by their guests just how much their cooking had exceeded expectations, going as far as receiving praise for it being significantly better than any fried chicken restaurant they had enjoyed before. It was enough to make Fumino exceedingly embarrassed, but most definitely in a positive way. The rest of the meal had been just as delightful. Everyone seemed to have stories to share since the last time they had all caught up together, and the sociable atmosphere of the evening went well in representing the jolly spirits of the holidays.

Fumino was pulled out of her reflection as she felt a hand touch hers gently.

"I'll go wash the dishes now," Nariyuki said to her kindly. "You can go ahead and keep catching up with everyone."

Fumino shook her head in retort. "It's okay. I'll wash the dishes. It was my idea to cook all of this afterall," she returned just as responsibly.

"Isn't that more of a reason for you to be able to enjoy yourself?" Fumino's eyes widened, taken aback by the boy's argument. "You've definitely done the most work between the two of us. Let me wash the dishes for us tonight."

"T-that's…" She attempted at another retort, but upon witnessing the earnest gaze from Nariyuki, Fumino found herself unable to refuse the boy's offer.

She relented with a smile.

"Thank you, Nariyuki."

Nariyuki smiled back wholeheartedly.

"Of course."

The boy left with the dishes in hand and Fumino watched him leave with a fond smile. Once he left the vicinity, her attention returned back to the table, and it was at that point that she realized that the conversation between her friends had gone silent, and all of their eyes were once again attentively on her.

"D-did I miss something?"

Uruka returned her question with one of her own. "Does that happen often between you two?"

"W-what do you mean..?"

"Offering to do chores for each other," the girl elaborated with a playful smile. "Do you guys just enjoy competing on who can outdo the other's kindness for the other?"

Fumino blinked in confusion. "I'm…not sure I follow."

Uruka feigned a heavy sigh. "Of course you don't. You two are probably the only people in the world who are this genuinely kind for one another. And here I thought you two already looked like enough of a married couple in the kitchen earlier..."

At the reminder, Fumino's blush returned prominently.

"N-not this again…I told you…it's not like that. We haven't even started living together yet…"

"Yet, you say?" Asumi added suddenly. "So you have plans to do so then?"

The cheeky expression from the older girl was enough for Fumino to regret her slip-up. Uruka teasing her was already bad enough, but two of them together was just about ten times worse.

Even so…Fumino couldn't bring herself to lie.

"A-after we graduate. We agreed to look for a place together in Odaiba…"

"Odaiba?!" All four of them said simultaneously, very familiar with the location that they all had visited together many summers ago. "Is it because you guys can go on as many dates as you want on the beach? You sure know what you want, Furuhashi," Asumi said playfully.

"T-that's not why!" Fumino exclaimed with a fluster. "I mean…it's definitely a perk…but…" She fidgeted awkwardly. "The real reason we're living there is because it's right in between our future workplaces…"

"Oh yeah, the NAO headquarters is in Nagato, and the school that Nariyuki wants to work at is in Tokyo, right? I still can't believe that you two are willing to commute that far everyday to live together," Uruka said while resting her chin onto the palm of her hands. "It's probably going to be exhausting for the both of you, you know?"

"Affirmative. Commuting a long distance from work can certainly be taxing on the mind," Kirisu added.

At the two's mutual concern, Fumino smiled gratefully. She found her thoughts naturally drifting back to the day that Nariyuki had first proposed that they live together in Odaiba. Many things had happened that day, but the one thing she would never forget was the hope and emotion on the boy's face when he had first told her about his plan to apply for Kokasu.

"If my goal is to help all the kids in need of guidance…then I feel the best place for me to start is at a place like Kokasu. It'll probably be impossible for me to get accepted there without any prior teaching experience…but…"

"Even so…I'm going to try."

It was the first time…that Nariyuki truly fought past expectations to stand up for his own dream.

And so no matter how physically taxing commuting to Nagato may turn out to be for her, her reasoning for the decision was clear.

She was going to support him.

"I'm sure it will…but…if it means getting to see Nariyuki doing his very best for the dream that he loves…then I'd happily deal with that small inconvenience."

She smiled fondly, and then brought her hands close to her chest with a wholehearted gaze.

"Afterall…we made a promise…to support each other with everything we've got. Being his shoulder to lean on after a long train ride back home…it's something that I want to do for him."

"And I'm sure…that he feels the same way for me."

Once the words left her mouth, Fumino felt the heat return to her cheeks as she realized that she had shared the thoughts in her mind unknowingly. She had mostly been speaking to herself, but so lost in the affection held in her heart, she had forgotten all of the four people who had actually been listening to her.

"That totally sounds like a proposal, if you ask me."

Witnessing the pert smile on Uruka's face, her chagrin amplified even further.

"I-it's really not!" She reasoned desperately. "We…made the promise a long time ago…back when we were still at Ichinose..."

"So what you're saying is that you two were already as close as a married couple since back then, eh?"

"T-that's not what I'm saying at all!"

"Suuuuure…" The girl drawed out teasingly, and not wasting a beat, "Do you think he'll propose to you after graduation?"

"I…" She tripped over her voice, unable to still her pounding heart from the audacious question.

"You're blushing a lot, Fumino," Rizu added observantly.

"I-I really haven't talked to him about it in detail!"

"But would you say yes?"

This time, Fumino found herself clear with an answer despite her flustered state.

It was obvious.

When it came to that question, the joy found in her heart was clearer than anything she could ever look forward to.

"O-of course I would…"

At her answer, Uruka and Asumi gushed openly in adoration. Even Kirisu and Rizu seemed visibly elated by her response.

Which of course, did no justice in relieving her deep-seated blush.

"Dishes are done! What'd I miss?" It was at that time that Nariyuki then decided to rejoin their conversation. The timing of it all was almost too comical for Fumino to truly believe, and when all four of her friends turned to her pointedly, she swore that the heat in her face became as hot as the sun.

"Yeah Fumino-cchi. Why don't you tell Nariyuki what we were talking about?" Uruka said with a playful wink.

She truly could not catch a break.

"I-I need to use the bathroom!"


The rest of the evening had flown by with significantly less of a focus on her prospects of living together with Nariyuki, much to Fumino's relief. Following dinner, the six of them had spent the next hours partaking in an array of card games, enjoying the laughs and exuberance of a friendly competition. It had been a time filled with lighthearted joy, and they were now in the middle of concluding the night with the hopes of surpassing an imposing challenge before them.

Winning a game of Shogi against Kirisu Sensei.

"You should move the bishop!" Asumi said adamantly.

"I think we need to trade the chariots," Rizu commented intelligently.

Fumino averted her gaze in embarrassment. "I'm…just lost…"

Nariyu rubbed the back of his neck with a similar obliviousness. "Me too…"

"Ah! This is too hard!" Uruka ran her hands through her hair in a panic. "I'm just going to move our general!"

The white piece was moved on their side of the board, and in less than a second, Kirisu responded with a move of her own, plenty more decisive.

"Checkmate."

All five of them groaned simultaneously, once again receiving another loss to the scoreboard. Being the master she was, Kirisu demonstrated no visible celebration outside of a hint of amusement found on the corner of her lips.

"It's no use…even when we team up it's just hopeless…" Uruka said, defeated.

"But we lasted a lot longer!" Fumino offered brightly. "At least we didn't get checkmated in four moves like I did when I played her alone."

"I think for your case we should just let you play Sensei blindfolded, Furuhashi." Nariyuki replied playfully.

Her face turned red at the comment.

"Y-you got checkmated in six moves, you dummy! That's hardly a difference!"

The other four in the room erupted into raucous laughter at the exchange, and Nariyuki put his hands up in surrender, though a delighted giggle escaped his lips just the same witnessing Fumino's adorable pout.

They remained that way for a while, collectively teasing Fumino at her expense, and eventually the merriment died down pleasantly. A few moments of comfortable silence passed until Uruka looked to Fumino with a sudden amount of appreciation.

"Thank you Fumino-cchi…for hosting this again," she said earnestly. "This has been the most fun I've had in such a long time. With graduation right around the corner, I really needed this hangout to destress a bit."

"You can say that again," Asumi added as well. "I still have two more years of medical school left, but residency is going to be a huge pain in the a-"

Kirisu raised an eyebrow at the younger girl, and Asumi quickly cleared her throat to correct herself. "Butt. Huge pain in the butt is what I said."

Fumino giggled lightheartedly in reply. "Isn't that exciting though? We're all this close to finishing our respective education. In a few years we'll all be pursuing our careers hands-on.

Uruka chuckled at the encouragement. "It's definitely something to look forward to, but..I have a hard time maintaining the same optimism as you, Fumino-cchi."

Fumino started at that, surprised by the slight sadness in the girl's voice.

She looked to her comfortingly.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Uruka shook her head to reassure her. "It's not a big deal…I just…" She paused, silent to herself for a moment, but eventually she deflated with an exhale.

It turned out the girl did have a need to share about it.

"I've had a great time being in collegiate swimming competitions, but once I graduate…I'm not sure how everything will turn out. I'm hoping to participate in the Australian national league but…it's not decided by me. I have to be invited by the official committee. I've been told that I'll likely get one based on my results so far, but all this time has got me thinking about the possibilities for the future. The gap between being a collegiate competitor versus a full-fledged professional swimmer is a lot more crazy than I thought. I don't really have time to relax. I have to give my entire life for it to even have a shot at being able to compete year round. And even then…trying to be the very best at it…it's a whole nother thing."

Uruka looked to the ground uneasily.

"Lately…I've been wondering if that's really the right choice for me…"

"I guess we're a lot more similar than I initially thought."

Uruka's head shot up at Asumi's voice.

"I know I'm going to be a doctor. I've known for a long time that I want to be just like my dad, but even knowing that, I find myself doubting occasionally. Once residency starts for me, the amount of work is just going to get harder and harder. It's similar to what you said about having to give your entire life to be a swimmer, because that's precisely what doctors have to do too. It's pretty frustrating to think about. All the times where I end up pulling all-nighters to prepare for exams, I can't help but think that I could possibly be doing something else with my time too…"

If it wasn't already surprising enough to hear Asumi open up so vulnerably, the next person to speak was even more shocking.

"I've experienced that feeling too," Rizu added openly. "I've been having a similar attitude towards psychology as of late. I was very curious when I first started and I thought that was enough rationalization to justify my career commitment, but in the past few months, I've heard plenty of negative things from my peers regarding the career path. There aren't many opportunities for jobs, and evidently we don't make very much money. Clinical psychology isn't in very high demand according to research, and many people who graduate with a psychology degree end up going into other fields because of how narrow the field is. I've been wondering about my decision as well…if perhaps depending on just my curiosity is too shortsighted as a reason for a career commitment."

When Rizu finished, Uruka and Asumi's expressions fell together. The tense silence continued, and from the side, Kirisu watched on with a troubled expression, noticeably bothered by the change in atmosphere, but ultimately unsure of what to say to relieve said meekness.

Until…

"That's okay though, isn't it? Is it really life if the road forward is smooth the entire way through?"

Uruka, Asumi, and Rizu's eyes went wide simultaneously, taking in Fumino's words with a tentative heart, and though the attention was now on her intensely…she continued with a sincere gaze. "I think…doubt is perfectly normal. We're only human, afterall. We all have a desire to find our happiness somewhere in our life, and yet the world is so big that sometimes we lose track of how to find it. It's only natural for us to wonder if we're truly heading in the right direction or not."

"But…"

She smiled hopefully.

"Aren't the times that we're most happy…when we're able to overcome that precise doubt?"

All three of them were silent, maintaining their wide-eyed expressions, and Fumino didn't let herself stop the flow of encouragement from leaving her lips.

"Uruka-chan, Ricchan, Kominami Senpai…I know this may not mean much coming from someone in a different field…but the aspirations that you have for your futures…they're all so wonderfully inspiring to me. Competing in national competitions as a full-time swimmer…commiting to understanding psychology despite it being such a niche field…pursuing a life as a doctor, one of the most demanding professions in the world…I think anyone would doubt their abilities if they were tasked with such ambitious goals as yours. I for one know for a fact that I would be stressed beyond belief if I were put in the same shoes."

"But…isn't the reason that we chase our dreams-"

"Because of how crazy they seem?"

Her eyes whipped to Nariyuki, who had unexpectedly finished the familiar statement for her. Their gazes met gently, and Nariyuki was smiling tenderly at her, as if the very exact emotions expressed from her encouragement resonated within him just as fully.

And in that moment…staring into his eyes.

She knew that they very much did.

Fumino's eyes crinkled appreciatively, reaching for his hand and squeezing. She turned back to Uruka, Asumi, and Rizu, and continued her encouragement with a resolute smile.

"That's why…I know you guys will all do wonderfully for whatever careers you choose to do," she said wholeheartedly. "You guys are my closest friends…and it's not just because we happened to be in the same study group…it's because you guys are truly hardworking and passionate people that I love and admire. No matter what lies ahead of us all…I know that we'll be able to look forward with a smile."

"Afterall, without a doubt…we're all more than capable of finding our happiness…" She finished assuredly.

It was silent again. Everyone in the room was staring at her, which she had unconsciously gotten accustomed to in the past few minutes, but it wasn't until she noticed Nariyuki suddenly doing the same that she was finally able to shake herself from her stupor.

"S-sorry!" She apologized in embarrassment. "I kinda got carried away there at the end…I didn't mean to talk for that long…"

The quiet persisted. Tentatively. Until Uruka cracked into a lighthearted giggle. Asumi found herself chuckling along after, and even Rizu, who had exhibited little show of emotion throughout the night, was now smiling openly.

"Well!" Uruka exclaimed chirpily. "For some reason I feel a lot better now, wouldn't you say, Senpai?"

Asumi nodded in agreement. "Definitely. I say we should celebrate with the ceremony that we were walking about earlier, don't you think?"

"Oh yes, great idea!"

"C-ceremony?" Fumino repeated curiously.

Uruka reached into her bag, and from inside, she pulled out a clear fancy bottle of liquid.

A bottle of sake.

"Tada!"

The 'ceremony' that Asumi and Uruka had in mind…Fumino and Kirisu's answer to the proposal was identical.

"A-absolutely not!"


"I still can't believe we didn't have at least one toast together…" Uruka said with a pout.

"I told you before, didn't I? I really don't think you want to see me with alcohol," Fumino replied with a soft smile.

"On the contrary, I believe seeing you inebriated would be quite amusing, Fumino."

"Jeez…not you too, Ricchan."

Uruka bursted into laughter, and Rizu simply tilted her head curiously, being nothing short of her usual level of objectiveness. The three of them were standing outside of the gate of the mansion, saying their last exchanges before Fumino saw them off for the night. The reunion had been everything that she had hoped for, but even with all the joy and fun that had been shared between them all, time unfortunately didn't stop for them to savor it. It was late, and Uruka and Rizu were first in line to bid their farewells.

And it was Uruka who again allowed herself to express her appreciation sincerely.

"Thank you Fumino-cchi…for setting this all up again."

"You've already thanked me earlier, silly…"

"That's because I really mean it," Uruka reasoned before smiling happily. "Catching up with you and everyone else is always such a blast for me. I couldn't have asked for a better way to celebrate the holidays."

"And…

A momentary pause.

"Thank you…for what you said earlier," Uruka added with a softhearted gaze. "Being able to overcome the doubts for the future…I really needed to hear that more than I thought."

Rizu nodded in agreement.

"Me too…"

Fumino blinked, averting her gaze as she found herself caught off guard by the sincere gratitude from the two.

"I-it's nothing…" She replied shyly. "I honestly…don't really think about what I'm saying when I'm like that, so I'm glad I could at least comfort you guys even if it was a little."

"That just means your words are significantly more genuine."

Fumino's eyes went wide at the abrupt comment, and her head turned to Rizu in surprise.

"My professor says that the less you think about what you say, the more it reflects towards how you actually feel for certain matters," Rizu explained. "Ever since I've met you Fumino, you've always been able to say encouraging things like this without fail…regardless who it is you're speaking to. I can't keep track of how many times you've been able to lift the spirits of the people around you.

Rizu smiled affectionately.

"I can only infer it being just how kind and compassionate of a person you are," she finished truthfully.

Uruka giggled in amusement immediately after.

"You could just call her a sweetheart like I do, Rizu-rin."

Fumino blushed profusely at the both of them, unable to accept the praise in a composed manner, and the all too familiar words that she defaulted to in these sorts of situations escaped her lips seamlessly.

"Y-you're exaggerating."

Uruka and Rizu looked at each other with a smile, a knowing glance shared between them, and after a brief silence, Rizu spoke up again with intent.

"Fumino. This may come off as forward…but every time I've been able to see you again, you always seem to be smiling more and more."

"Eh?" Fumino perked up at the observation. "R-really?"

Rizu nodded.

"I know I'm still not the best when it comes to reading emotions, but it's pretty obvious to me just how truly happy you are with where you are with your life right now."

"I one hundred percent agree," Uruka followed up promptly.

Fumino's gaze fixed onto the two closely, and unconsciously, memories of their time in high school together came flooding back to her. The laughs they shared together. The tribulations they endured.

These were two of the closest people to her in the entire world.

The things she wanted for them…the feelings she wished so desperately for them to be able to find too…

She was almost too scared to voice her concern.

"And…what about you guys?"

The silence that followed was deafening to her, and her chest tightened in anticipation.

But slowly but surely…

Uruka and Rizu smiled together.

Wholeheartedly.

"We're happy…" Rizu answered.

Uruka nodded in agreement.

"So don't worry about us, Fumino-cchi. Thanks to you…I think we'll be just fine."

Their eyes settled into her fully.

"So you keep being happy too, okay?"

The worry unwound itself from her heart.

And the elation and joyful tears followed suit.

In a heartbeat…Fumino rushed forward to embrace her two best friends.

The closest.

"I love you, both of you…"


"I still can't believe Furuhashi wouldn't have at least one toast together with me…"

Nariyuki chuckled lightly. "I believe that's for the best, Kominami Senpai. Furuhashi's tolerance is about as fragile as Kirisu Sensei's."

Asumi crossed her arms together. "That would have been a glorious sight to see, no? Both her and Furuhashi drunk. Wouldn't you agree, Sensei?"

"Unfeasible. Christmas it may be, it's terribly improper for a teacher to appear that way in front of her former students."

With Fumino seeing Rizu and Uruka off at the gate, Nariyuki was doing so similarly for Asumi and Kirisu at the front door of the mansion. The sun had long found its way below the horizon, and the chill of the night beckoned the conclusion of numerous Christmas parties throughout the neighborhood. A couple yards away, he could see Fumino hugging Uruka and Rizu closely, likely saying their final farewells before parting.

Nariyuki smiled softly, reflecting on an hour ago when Fumino had offered her words of encouragement to everyone for the future. At the time, Nariyuki had wanted to speak up regarding the matter, but he hadn't known precisely what to offer as advice. When Fumino had decided to open up her heart…when the girl had decided to share her own feelings to their friends…he was reminded of all the times where he had been inspired by the same maturity and kindness.

"But…isn't the reason that we chase our dreams-"

"Because of how crazy they seem?"

He could never comprehend it…

Just how beautiful she was as a person.

"In all seriousness though, I'm really glad I came tonight," Asumi started again with sincerity. "After what Furuhashi said, I actually feel somewhat excited for residency now. Do me a favor and express my thanks to her, Kouhai."

Nariyuki chuckled softly at the request. "You could always tell her how you actually feel, Senpai."

"Eh. But then it wouldn't be the same whenever I tease her after. That'd be a terrible loss given how adorable she is when she's flustered."

Images of Fumino blushing with a pout came to his mind at Asumi's reasoning. In those moments his heart always seemed to pound tenfold whenever he happened to take in that sight of the girl, and right now, recalling said image was doing precisely that to his conscience.

"I…guess I can't argue with that."

Asumi snickered in amusement and Kirisu showed a rare smile as well.

"That reminds me, Yuiga-kun," Kirisu said suddenly. "Furuhashi told me that you were planning on applying to Kokasu after graduating. I suppose that means you turned down the offer from your internship at Ichinose, correct?"

"Ah…yes. I did receive an offer, but it was sort of my plan from the start to aim to work at Kokasu. I'm sorry…I definitely should've told you since you were the one who recommended me…" He apologized guiltily.

Kirisu put a hand up to dismiss his worries.

"Unnecessary. In fact, it's not entirely surprising," she stated matter-of-factly. "I figured that you'd reach for something higher than my expectations…especially with Furuhashi at your side."

"Afterall, I said this before, but…you and Furuhashi…are really alike," the woman admitted truthfully. "You two always seem to be reaching so much further than what I can truly understand."

The words were enough to get Nariyuki's eyes to widen. It wasn't very often that his former teacher offered such genuine praise, though recently it seemed to be much more evident. Even Mizuki had said that Kirisu Sensei seemed to be much more open in her most recent career counseling session.

It didn't take much for him to know...that it was because of Fumino...that this change had come to pass.

And it all started...when Fumino had proven her love for her dream so wonderfully.

"Y-you're exaggerating…" He replied shyly. "I'm nowhere near as amazing as Furuhashi."

Kirisu smiled knowingly, as if his humble words had been expected. "Regardless of how you may think of it," the woman continued. "I'm really proud of the both of you. Especially the way that you two have maintained your relationship."

"H-how do you mean?" He asked curiously.

The woman paused, offering no immediate reply, but eventually she spoke up again with what appeared to be a shy expression.

"Earlier…Furuhashi shared some details in regards to your relationship, specifically about your twos' promise to support each other. I don't have much social experience, much less relationship experience, but when I consider the way that you two care for one another, I can't help but feel…happy. That it's the way that two people in a relationship should aspire to be like."

Her eyes met his, and though she appeared shy, the belief in her voice shone through wholeheartedly.

"So…I really do hope…that you and Furhashi continue to support one another to the fullest."

From the side, Asumi smiled teasingly at Kirsu.

"That's the most I've ever seen you talk about romance, even if it didn't have directly to do with you. Though for once, I guess I can actually say that I fully agree with you."

"How rude." Kirisu said offended, though judging by the curl of her lips, the woman seemed fully tolerable to the comment.

Nariyuki smiled heartfeltly.

"Thank you...both of you," he said with all the sincerity he could muster. "It really means a lot to hear that."

Asumi and Kirisu returned his gratitude with smiles of their own. The sound of footsteps came near and they all turned their heads towards the approaching figure.

"Ah, speaking of which…"

Having finished sending Uruka and Rizu off, Fumino finally returned to join the remaining guests.

"Kominami Senpai, Kirisu Sensei…I guess you two are leaving now as well?"

Asumi nodded in an affirmative. "Looks like it. We were just sharing some last things about you two before we headed out."

"A-about us?" Fumino perked up curiously. "L-Like what?"

The older girl walked up to her side, and leaned up close to her ear so that only she could hear.

"Make sure you don't go too crazy tonight just because it's Christmas," Asumi said with an impish grin.

A dark blush adorned Fumino's features faster than she could keep up with.

"W-we're going to do nothing of the such!" She yelled with a heavy fluster.

Asumi's playful grin only seemed to grow at her retort.

"Oh I know. I just wanted to see your reaction is all. Come on, Sensei. Let's let these two lovebirds have their alone time."

Fumino pouted heavily.

"Jeez…"

At the very least, Kirisu Sensei was far from having the same obsession for teasing her.

"Thank you again, Furuhashi…for preparing this gathering," The woman said to her as a final farewell. "I know I'm not much of a social person but…I…had a lot of fun tonight."

Fumino smiled warmly. "Of course, Sensei. And if you're ever free…let's go on another date together sometime."

Kirisu's eyes widened, silent for a brief moment, but surely enough, the woman smiled brightly at the proposal.

"I would love that."

"We get it…you two are close," Asumi said with an eyeroll. "I'm totally not jealous or anything."

"You could always come with us, Kominami Senpai," Fumino offered with a giggle.

"Nah, I know she would be mad if I tagged along to ruin your twos' precious bonding time. For a teacher, she really loves to show favorites, doesn't she?"

"I-I didn't even say anything!" Kirisu retorted.

Fumino and Nariyuki bursted into laughter simultaneously.


"I still can't tell if they actually like each other or not," Nariyuki said in ponderance as they sat down together at the neighborhood bench. After sending off Kirisu and Asumi, the two of them had decided to take a final walk together in the nearby park to wrap up the events for the night, and throughout it all, neither of them had let go of each other's hand.

"I believe they do," Fumino said with a giggle. "Despite Kominami Senpai's teasing, I'm sure Kirisu Sensei really appreciates the effort that Senpai puts in to talk to her. Being able to make new friends…I think that's something that's really made her happy lately."

She then smiled softly.

"That's what I want to believe."

Nariyuki's gaze softened at the girl's words as he nodded slowly in agreement. A comfortable silence fell over them, and the moonlight of the night encompassed their forms distinctly, as if to signify the closeness between them.

"Hey Furuhashi…"

"Hm?"

"I know it's a bit late uhm…but since it's Christmas and all…I decided to get you a present."

Nariyuki reached into his bag that he had carried with him and pulled out a decently-sized box.

He handed it to her, and she immediately recognized the design of it.

"This is…"

"They're Manju cakes," he answered. "The one from the Kamakura station during our graduation trip, remember?"

Fumino's eyes lit up animatedly. "O-of course I remember! These were my favorite back then! But…how did you get these? I heard that the store at the station closed down two years ago!"

"Well…I did some research, and the owner apparently reopened a new store in Fukuoka. I decided to make a trip there yesterday to pick this up."

"Fukuoka?" She said disbelievingly. "B-but that's almost two hours away!"

Nariyuki rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, unsure of how to entirely respond to the assertion, so instead he looked to the girl shyly.

"D-do you like it?"

She was astonished. At the gift, but especially at the question. The boy had traveled over one hundred miles to obtain a treasured food of hers that she hadn't even known still existed, and he was asking whether she liked it.

Dummy…

"I love it…" She answered wholeheartedly.

Nariyuki smiled back, satisfied by her answer, and it was then that Furuhashi decided to reach into her bag and to pull an item out of her own.

"I got something for you too…"

Nariyuki's eyes widened before softening in the process. "You didn't have to get me anything..."

"Of course I would get you something," she replied immediately. "And how can you say that right after you've given me a gift yourself, silly?"

The boy opened his mouth to speak, but came up entirely empty.

"I…don't have a retort for that."

Fumino giggled brightly at his evident speechlessness. She handed him the gift bag, and taking it into his grasp, Nariyuki removed its contents gently.

He blinked twice at the garment he found inside.

"A scarf?"

Fumino looked away shyly.

"It took a lot of time…but thankfully I was able to finish making it last night."

The explanation only served to further amplify Nariyuki's surprise. "You made this yourself?"

Fumino nodded slowly. "Ever since your mom gave me that scarf that one time I visited, I've been asking her to teach me how to knit here occasionally. I-It's definitely far from being as well made as hers, but I just hope that it's at least warm enough."

Nariyuki managed an expression akin to admiration.

"I had no idea you were into knitting…"

"It's just a recent thing…" she answered quietly. "I just figured that if it's something that your mom is really good at, then it's probably something that I should learn too. Afterall, I want to do my best to learn things from her, since it's also my dream to be a good wife…"

A pause, and the implication of her words quickly caught up to her.

"I MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF COURSE! N-NOT ANYTIME SOON! I JUST…I…"

She stumbled over her own words, eventually going silent, and Nariyuki stared for what felt like the longest time, intensifying her blush to an overwhelming extent.

She could not have been anymore mortified with herself.

But before she had a chance to speak up again, Nariyuki took the scarf in hand, and wrapped it around his neck…

And then in a pleasant surprise…

He wrapped it around her as well, bringing her close.

"I would say it's more than warm enough…" He said assuredly.

It was seamless. Her previous embarrassment lifted, and slowly but surely, Fumino's eyes shone with relief and affection. What came after was natural for her, and Fumino leaned her head onto Nariyuki's shoulder gratefully.

The boy smiled and did the same, but not before taking a hold of her hand tightly to continue speaking.

"You know, Furuhashi…" He started thoughtfully. "What you said earlier inside…to everyone…about being able to find our happiness. I realized…that I'm a really lucky person."

She blinked at the sudden reflection, turning her head curiously to him.

"L-Lucky?"

He nodded.

"Because I know I'll always be able to find mine effortlessly…"

He looked to her knowingly...and his eyes filled with belief and firmness.

"Right here with you."

It was quiet after he finished, but in that silence, Fumino felt the emotions swirl wonderfully in her chest as she found herself smiling joyfully. In that moment they were close. Close enough to kiss.

And they did.

Fumino instigated it, and through the haze of overwhelming ardor in her heart, she could feel Nariyuki's lips press back, gentle but firm, his cheeks under her hands, soft but full.

As long as I have you by my side…

I know…that I'll always be happy.

And in the frosty Christmas air, with the scarf wrapped around them promisingly…

It was warmer than any kotatsu could have to offer.


A/N: Thanks for reading! A pleasure as always to write for y'all. For the future, chapters will be released within 2 weeks or 3 weeks depending on my busyness or how lazy I am.

If you enjoyed this chapter, feel free to leave a review, fav, or follow. Your feedback is always appreciated!

Until Next Time!