My most favorite chapter yet, it's time for the fifth day of Christmas! Sorry about the huge delay in getting this up. My internet decided to be a massive fail and die for a few hours. However I was able to revive it, and now I bring you this- Twelve Days, Day Five!

"Odd, I know that I told you the phone thing was ridiculous, but this? Is plain stupid."

"Come on Ulrich," Odd said, pouting at his friend. "This one is brilliant!"

"Brilliant might be too strong a word."

"Nonsense! But this gift won't work out if you don't help me with it."

Ulrich sighed. He really didn't want to get involved in Odd's silly little gift project with Aelita. It wasn't any of his business, and since it was only a matter of time before Odd was caught sneaking into Aelita's dorm, Ulrich wanted to do nothing that might tie him to the blonde.

Of course, saying no meant that he was stuck with a roommate who would probably hold a grudge. And as Ulrich knew all too well, Odd had connections that tended to bode ill for anyone the blonde was unhappy with (such as the school wide newspaper, for example).

"Alright, fine," Ulrich said, sighing in defeat. "What do you want me to do?"

Odd grinned. It was not a sight that reassured Ulrich. Without him realizing it Ulrich's thoughts showed up on his face, causing Odd to sigh.

"It's nothing big," Odd said, waving his hand. "All I need you to do is distract Aelita, okay?"

"Why?" Ulrich asked suspiciously. "So you can get into her room?"

"Nope," Odd said. "I want you to keep her here outside for a minute while I go ahead into the cafeteria."

"…Why?" Ulrich asked again.

"I need to get her gift ready, and I can't have her in the cafeteria while I do."

"Odd, I'm sure I don't really want to know, but I have to ask. What gift could you possibly be getting for Aelita that you need time alone in the cafeteria for?"

Odd grinned again.

"You'll see!"

Before Ulrich could questions his friend further, Odd darted off into the cafeteria, leaving Ulrich standing alone at the group's usually bench hang out, convinced that agreeing to help Odd out was entierly not worth it. He wasn't given much time to brood however before a shout from behind caught his attention. Spinning around, Ulrich saw Aelita, Yumi, and Jeremy heading his way. Smiling, he waved them over.

"Wow, you got here fast," Yumi said as she approached.

"He should have, considering how fast he and Odd left math class today," Jeremy said. "The two of you ran out of there like the room was on fire."

"Hey, it was all Odd's idea," Ulrich said defensively. "I was just dragged along for the ride."

"Speaking of Odd," Aelita said, looking around, "Where is he?"

"Uh…" Ulrich groaned mentally. Couldn't Odd at least have given him something to say before running off? "He needed to, umm, talk to a teacher."

"Really?" Aelita asked. "About what?"

"Umm, a grade issue," Ulrich supplied, struggling to invent a story.

"I didn't know Odd talked to his teachers about his grades," Aelita said in surprise. "What teacher did he go talk to?"

"Er," Ulrich fumbled, looking to Yumi and Jeremy for support. He could tell from their looks that unlike their more naive friend, they were well aware that Odd wasn't talking to a teacher nor doing anything remotely grade related. He could also tell from their looks that they were taking great pleasure in watching him stutter and were not about to jump in and help out anytime soon. Thankfully, the ringing of his cell phone chose that moment to interject. Holding up his finger, Ulrich rummaged about his pockets for his phone.

"Hello?" he said, answering and holding it to his ear.

"Okay Ulrich, she can come in now."

"Alright," Ulrich said, then hung up. "Odd's in the cafeteria."

"I thought he was talking to a teacher," Aelita said in confusion.

"He was," Ulrich said, once more scrambling for an excuse. "But he, uh, he finished talking to the teacher and went to the cafeteria. We missed him because we were talking." Ulrich nodded with his words, feeling rather proud of his story. The sounds of Yumi and Jeremy stifling giggles ruined the moment.

"Alright then," Aelita said, ever trusting of her friends. "I guess we should go in now."

"Sounds good to me," Yumi said, "I'm starving." Nodding in agreement, the group made their way into the cafeteria, joining into the line of fellow students picking up today's lunch, something with fish and a funny looking yellow vegetable that no one seemed able to identify.

"Hello," Aelita greeted Rosa cheerily as she reached the lunch woman, pushing her tray forward to receive her portion of the day's meal. The lunch lady smiled, ladling some food onto the tray.

"Hello dear," she said, smiling at the pink haired girl. "Don't leave just yet, I have something extra for you today. I secret admirer left it for you!"

Excitement swelled in Aelita's chest as Rosa pulled a white Styrofoam box from under the counter and set it on the edge of her tray.

"Enjoy!" she said, and then turned to dish out food to the next student.

"Oooh," Yumi cooed, looking over at the box, across the top of which was written "Day five- open me!"

"Are you going to open it?" Ulrich asked from Aelita's other side. The girl nodded, grinning as she gripped the lid of the box and popped it open. The grin fell at what she found inside.

"What are they?" she asked curiously, staring at her latest gift. Beside her Ulrich resisted the urge to smack his forehead.

"Onion rings," he said with a sigh. "Five golden onion rings."