Day 5 - Five golden rings
Kawamura Takashi was always invited to Fuji family holidays. At least, that's what Shusuke's mother, Fuji Yoshiko, had told him. But he was more than a little nervous about going to his first Christmas with his boyfriend's family.
He'd bought them each a small gift, but he wasn't sure if they'd like them. It had seemed like a better idea before he started walking to the Fuji house. Now, as he shuffled along the sidewalk in the cold, he was less and less sure of his presents. Little flakes of snow were falling, and he let them distract him from his worries.
After a short walk in the falling snow Taka reached Shusuke's front door. He stood out in the cold a moment longer before working up the courage to knock. Yumiko, Shusuke's older sister, answered it.
"Hello, Taka-kun. Come in." He stepped in, sliding his shoes off and setting them neatly in the entryway, toes pointing towards the door. Yumiko waited for him before going back to the living room.
"Shusuke, Taka-kun is here." Shusuke got up from his chair and gave Taka a hug, pulling him gently by the hand towards the couch while murmuring reassuring things. Taka felt a little better, but his worries hadn't disappeared completely.
Games were played, stories told, and food eaten. After dinner they moved back to the living room and sat in the same spots they had earlier. It was time for presents. Taka pulled five small boxes from various pockets in his coat and waited.
Gifts were sorted through by Yumiko and given to the person whose name was written on the tag. To his surprise, Taka even had a few. Yuuta had gotten him some overgrip in a brand he liked. Yumiko had gotten him and Shusuke matching cell phone straps, because "they're cute" or something like that. Yoshiko and and Shusuke's father had gotten him a little Christmas ornament in the shape of a happy piece of sushi, with a cute little face on it. Now it was his turn.
Taka passed the little boxes around through Yumiko, who was Queen of the Presents, and waited for everyone to open them. Inside each box was a ring, a simple golden band. He took a deep breath.
"Um...I wanted to get you all something, because you're all important to me. T-there are engravings in the rings." He had put a lot of thought into the messages engraved on the inside of each ring. Shusuke's parents' had a few words thanking them for being his second family. Yumiko's had a short message about how grateful he was for her support and help in problem-solving. Yuuta's thanked him for hanging out with Taka and playing video games with him. Shusuke's had been the easiest to write down for the engraver. Just a few words: Forever and always.
The Fuji family admired their rings, thanking Taka for "such a thoughtful present" and trying them on. Everyone was pleased with the gifts, and Taka finally let out a small sigh of relief.
They all gravitated towards the kitchen for hot chocolate with tiny marshmallows and Christmas cookies. By the time they finished eating and someone looked out the window, they realized the snow had started piling up outside. Yoshiko wouldn't even hear of Taka leaving.
"Taka, sweetie, you can't walk home in that. Why don't you call your parents and ask if you can spend the night here?" He did, and his dad told him it was alright.
So after watching a few Christmas movies, they all went to their bedrooms. Taka borrowed some of Shusuke's father's clothes to sleep in, since Shusuke's would have been too small. After someone had found him a spare toothbrush to use and he had brushed his teeth, he went back to Shusuke's room and sat on the end of the bed. He and Shusuke talked for a little while, until Yoshiko walked past the open door to the room on her way to bed. She stopped in the doorway.
"Good night, boys." She fixed Shusuke with a no-nonsense Look of Motherhood. "And dear? Taka's staying in the guest room. The rest of us want to get some sleep tonight."