A/N: This chapter is 9000x more sappy than the others in view of the recent episode so I apologise in advance (no those are not tears streaming down my face what are you talking about ha ha ha)

"Have a good day," Midori bowed to a visitor who left the shrine. "And Merry Christmas!"

She placed her hands in her kimono jacket pockets, curling around heat pads she left there. It was Christmas, and that meant that more people would be coming to the shrine with their families, offering respect to the ones above and praying for their loved ones. Of course, that also meant that she had to stand out in the cold more, and still wear her shrine maiden outfit as per normal.

The thought of the approaching lunch time comforted her.

'Maybe I can cook curry rice,' she mused to herself. 'And have the leftover rice with miso soup for dinner tonight.'

She was so caught up in her fantasises of what to have for her upcoming meals that she nearly missed greeting the family that came into the shrine.

She quickly bowed once she heard their approaching footsteps. "Welcome-"

Once she lifted her head, she stopped. There in front of her was Hayabusa-senpai, with a black haired boy up on his shoulders. Beside him was an elderly man with black hair and kind brown eyes, each of his hands holding on to the little hands of two blond twins.

"Senpai!" she said.

"… hn."

She quickly bowed again to the man beside him. "Nice to meet you, Hayabusa-san."

"Ah, you're Shou-kun's schoolmate?" he smiled. "I didn't know shrine maidens were so young nowadays!"

The boy riding on Hayabusa-senpai's tugged at his hair. "Ne, ne, Onii-chan, is she the secret girlfriend Otou-san was talking about?"

"Oi!" he sent a glare at the boy. "That's it, I'm really cutting your playtime!"

"Onii-chan is mean!" he cried.

The twins and Hayabusa's father laughed.

An hour before, Hayabusa's father looked at Hayabusa and smiled.

"Shou, it's Christmas. Let's go pay respects to your mother."

Hayabusa agreed, helping his father make sure that his brothers were all dressed warmly for the outside air, and they set off. His youngest brother insisted on riding on his shoulders, and he was listening to him chatter about school and his latest television cartoon, allowing his father to lead the way.

"Look," his father said along the way, gesturing towards an approaching building. "That's your brother's school!"

The twins looked at it in awe. Hayabusa looked, suddenly aware of their surroundings.

"Aren't we going to pay respects to Okaa-san…?"

His father laughed. "We are! The cemetery is closed for Christmas; don't you remember? We're going to the shrine behind your school!"

"…!" He looked at his father and his twins and thought about the shrine maiden at the shrine. "Can we go to another shrine, Oyaji?"

"Eh? We're already here! Why don't you want us to go to the green shrine? Don't tell me you hid the bodies of those you fought here."

His father laughed.

Hayabusa rolled his eyes. "It's called the Midori Jinja, Oyaji. And don't be a moron."

His father gave him a knowing smile. "Don't tell me you have a secret girlfriend hidden there, Shou!"

"Girlfriend!" the three boys chorused.

"Tch! I'm cutting your playtime!" he started walking towards the shrine. "I have nothing to hide! Let's go!"

His father laughed again.

After they paid their respects, Hayabusa was busy helping his siblings hang up their wooden plagues.

"Hayabusa-san," Midori said to his father. "Would you like to come inside the shrine? I have prepared some hot green tea."

"It would be great, if it's not a trouble."

"Not at all! I could use the company, Hayabusa-san."

His father smiled. "Just call me uncle, Midori-chan."

Once they went inside and sipped at their cups of tea, Midori brought out three Omamori charms, passing one to each children. Each of them squealed in delight, and began comparing their charms.

Hayabusa's father made a move to take out his wallet.

Midori quickly protested. "Please! Treat is as a token of my appreciation – senpai is always helping me out in school."

Hayabusa-senpai sighed. "You're impossible, Midori Miho."

"I can say the same for you, senpai."

Hayabusa's father looked around the room, then at the window where he had a view of the entire shrine. "Do you look after this shrine yourself, Midori-chan?"

She nodded. "My mother was the Midori Miho before I turned fourteen. She and my father are now working overseas, so here I am, trying my best to fulfil my duties as shrine maiden."

"Are your parents coming home for Christmas?"

"No." she casted her gaze downwards. "They said the snow is really heavy at… whatever country they're in right now, so they won't be spending Christmas with me." Then she smiled again. "But it's okay! The shrine gets busy during festive seasons! It's good that I don't need to worry about dinner preparations, haha!"

The three children were busy exploring the room. Hayabusa called after them, telling them to be mindful and not break anything in someone else's house. Midori giggled to herself and thought to herself about what a good brother Hayabusa-senpai is.

Hayabusa's father placed his cup down determinedly. "That won't do! You should always spend Christmas with people! Come to our house for dinner tonight!"

Hayabusa turned to look at his father in shock. "Oyaji-"

At the same time, Midori protested. "Uncle, I can't impose-"

"Come on, Shou-kun. Look; a little girl, having dinner by herself on Christmas?"

He rubbed the back of his neck and mumbled, "… if she doesn't find our house too messy and small and noisy… I suppose…"

His father turned to give Midori a warm smile. "I always make too much for dinner! I'm sure the children would like some other people to play with other than Shou and I. What do you say?"

"Yeah," Hayabusa said gruffly. "Don't reject an old man like him."

And thus, Midori accepted, thanking them profusely. From the corner of her eye, she spotted more visitors – Sakamoto and Kubota – and so she rose to her feet. Hayabusa's father followed suit while Hayabusa started calling for his brothers.

"Hello, Sakamoto, Kubota," Midori said as she went out to the shrine again.

"Ah, Sakamoto-kun!" Hayabusa's father said. "I haven't seen you since the other night! Allow me to properly thank you!"

"The other night?" Midori asked Hayabusa.

He sighed and then gave a half smile. "Long story. My old man and I can tell you about it tonight – Hey Ryuu, put on your jacket properly - . I'll text you the address in a bit."

He looked at her from head to toe. "Aren't you cold?"

She smiled, patting her pockets. "Heat packs! I'm used to it, and I'm wearing more under too."

He glanced at his father, engrossed in conversation with Sakamoto, at his brothers, chatting animatedly amongst themselves, and unwound the scarf around his neck. Then he wrapped it around Midori's neck.

She looked at him in surprise.

"… just so you don't get sick and cancel dinner with us. You can return it to me later."

"Actually, Sakamoto-kun, why don't you join us for dinner later! Midori-chan will be going too, you all know each other, don't you?"

That statement made Hayabusa and Midori both turn their attention to Hayabusa's father and Sakamoto. Sakamoto looked at them, frozen in motion, with Hayabusa's hands in the middle of adjusting his scarf around Midori's neck, and the light flush on her cheeks that was definitely not due to the cold.

Sakamoto adjusted his glasses. "Thank you for the offer, Hayabusa-san, but I already have plans tonight."

Hayabusa's father nodded understandably.

(Midori made a note to allow Sakamoto to feed all the birds that go to her shrine all he wished, whenever he wants.)

"We'll be taking our leave now," Hayabusa's father smiled, taking the hand of each twin. "See you later, Midori-chan!"

Hayabusa's youngest sibling squealed as he was lifted on his brother's shoulders. "Bye, Onee-chan!"

She waved goodbye to them. The moment they left, she turned to Sakamoto for help.

"Sakamoto-kun… what do you bring for a Christmas dinner?"

"Welcome, Midori-chan," Hayabusa's father greeted as he ushered her into their house.

"Sorry for intruding," she said, taking off her boots and then hanging her coat at the rack he gestured towards. She was dressed in a white sweater, red checkered skirt, and warm leggings. (She was not going to admit it, but she spent a full fifteen minutes deciding on what to wear). In her one hand she held onto a bag containing Hayabusa-senpai's scarf, and another she held a bag containing some food she brought.

"This is for you," she said, holding the bag with the food out shyly. "Thank you for having me."

"Oh, you shouldn't have!"

Hayabusa's youngest brother peeked into the bag. "Fruit tarts! Minced pies! Onigri!"

She ducked her head. "I never been to a Christmas dinner before, so forgive me if these snacks aren't acceptable."

Hayabusa's father waved off her concerns, reassuring her they were more than acceptable. On her way to the living room, she saw a photo frame displayed on top of a cabinet. It was a portrait of a beautiful, elegant woman with long blonde hair coiled in a style that suits her high cheekbones, and sharp, enchanting blue eyes.

Hayabusa-senpai was the splitting image of her.

"That's my late wife," Hayabusa's father said.

"My condolences," Midori said.

He smiled. "The children are good, so that is one less worry for me. Shou is a good boy – he helps out with his brothers so much. He's such a bright boy – if only he would stop getting into bouts…"

He laughed.

The twins ran to Midori, clamouring for her attention, taking hold of one of her hand each. They cried for her to follow them, for her to see their train collection.

The door opened. "Ryuu, Sora, be nice to our guest."

"Onii-chan!"

"Hayabusa-senpai," she smiled at him.

He nodded, shrugging his coat off and walking towards them. He handed a bag to his father. "Got the strawberry cake, Oyaji."

"Ah, that's nice! This will go well with the snacks Midori-chan brought."

He looked at her. "… you shouldn't have."

She laughed, tucking stray hair behind her ear. "It's only right! It's the least I can do, after intruding on your family dinner and all-"

"Onii-chan!" the twins cried, tugging at Midori's hands and pouting at their brother. "Stop hogging Onee-chan for yourself! Come and play with us!"

"You little rascals…"

- X -

The rest of the night went off without a hitch.

Midori spent the time playing with the Hayabusa siblings and Hayabusa-senpai himself. During dinner, all of them ate heartily, with Hayabusa's father chatting animatedly about tales of Hayabusa's childhood and of their recent dinner with Sakamoto.

"… and when Sakamoto-kun pulled their stunt off with Shou here, I was so shocked!" Hayabusa's father said, cheeks flushed. "But of course, I was brave enough to wait till those hooligans and that extortionist ran off!"

"Yes," Hayabusa said dryly. "Very brave. So brave that he passed out."

"I didn't pass out!" he protested. "I was tired from all the food!"

"You're having too much champagne, Oyaji," Hayabusa said exasperatedly, a small fond smile playing on his lips.

"'Tis fine," his father said, a slight slur in his words. "Back in my days, I used to drink a lot more with your Okaa-san!"

"Can we drink like you, Otou-san?" the youngest Hayabusa boy asked, looking up from his fruit tart.

"When you're twenty-one," Hayabusa cut in.

He pouted. "That's like, when I'm an adult!"

Hayabusa ruffled his brother's hair.

One of the twins – Ryuu – smiled between mouthfuls of Onigri. "I love the snacks Onee-chan brought! Can Onee-chan come for dinner more?"

"Oi," Hayabusa started.

"Yes yes!" their father interjected. "Come by more, Midori-chan! It's not often we meet one of Shou's friends." He poured more champagne into his glass, smiling at Midori. "You know, Midori-chan… every morning before school, Shou here helps me with the dishes after making sure his brothers ate their breakfast."

She smiled back, warmly. "That's very nice of senpai."

His father raised his eyebrows at her, grinning. "That's the marking of a good husband!"

Hayabusa started choking on air. "Oi, Oyaji!"

"Onii-chan is getting married?" one of the brothers asked.

"Are we getting another Okaa-san?"

"Don't be stupid!" one twin shouted. "If Onii-chan marries we will get an Onee-chan!"

"Oh!" Sora exclaimed, looking at Midori with bright eyes. "Can Onee-chan be our real Onee-chan?"

"Sora!" Hayabusa barked. "Oyaji too! Look at what you started!"

His father waved his champagne glass at his eldest son. "Lighten up, Shou, it's Christmas!"

Midori looked at the lively household and found herself laughing along with them.

- X -

After another hour or so, the three younger children have quietened down and went to the living room to watch a Christmas movie, huddling close together. Hayabusa's father, despite his insistence that he was not drunk, was having a lie-in beside the children.

"Come on," Hayabusa said, walking up and towards the coat rack. "I'll walk you home."

It was lightly snowing as they made their way down the streets and towards the shrine. Hayabusa was wearing the scarf Midori returned around his neck. She blew at her hands, regretting forgetting her gloves before she left the house.

Hayabusa didn't say anything, just took her hand and placed it in his pocket.

"Senpai…"

"Just so you don't freeze," he said. "I don't want to be held responsible."

She giggled. "I'll remind my lawyer that, then."

They chatted idly on their way ("I'm sorry about my old man and brothers." "Oh no, I liked them a lot; they're really lively and nice." "Only you would think that."), before they came to a stop at the front of the shrine.

Midori glanced up. They were standing under the shrine gate and the mistletoe she put up for decoration was there. Hayabusa turned to the direction of her gaze and his eyes too landed on the mistletoe.

She steeled herself, forcing herself to not run because of her nerves, before she leaned in and lightly kissed his cheek.

"Merry Christmas… Shou-kun," she said softly.

He startled for a split second before he gave her a small, warm smile. "Merry Christmas, Midori."

She smiled, making her way inside the shrine. "See you in school on Monday, Hayabusa-senpai!"

He rolled his eyes, smirking. "You're impossible, you know that, Midori Miho?"

She laughed, turning back to look at him one last time before disappearing inside. "As are you, senpai!"

It was a good Christmas for the both of them.