A/N: We now switch sides to the Index half. Let me know if I should include more characters on this side.

3: December 15th 2:55 P.M. Classroom of Komoe Tsukuyomi.

"Okay everyone, now as most of you know this will be the last time well be together this year before the long break begins. The Holiday season can be considered by some to be one of the most wonderful times of the year and at other times depressing. You should not however consider yourselves unlucky if you don't have anyone to share in this wonderful time of the year…"

Just a little bit more of her and the long break will begin. Somehow at least I'll miss her stature and smile. Although the odor or booze and nicotine makes it a bit harder to stomach. As I look at the clock waiting for that very last bell for 3 weeks my thoughts turn to my roommate at home. Index may be the type who knows what Christmas can truly represent, and if my appreciation of the nativity can help make her happy then I'm all willing to do so. The good mood that put me in made me want to pass out and just as I'm about to she notices.

"Kamijo!"

The yell nearly knocks me out of my seat and just as she turns to demand an explanation there comes that magical last bell.

"Okay that's it everyone Merry Christmas to all of you I won't see around in the city. Be safe and make the best of it."

With that the room slowly empties, as I struggle to get to my feet Ms. Komoe wanders over to my side.

"Kamijo before you go can I have a word?"

As she offered her help to steady the chair as I got to my feet I did notice the small scent of something other than her usual odor.

"Treating yourself to the candy canes?"

"How did you know?"

"It's Christmas that smell is everywhere."

"Speaking of Christmas Kamijo, I'm wanting to know what your plans were for the Holiday."

"My parents were coming into the city after Christmas so I'll be alone with Ms. Index."

The look on her face mixed with a small tear of sadness and wonder. "No one should be alone on Christmas even if you're with someone you've barley met earlier in the year."

My face suddenly grimaced into an uncut mix of confusion and dread.

"Ms. Komoe I'm flattered but..."

"I'm not asking you to come with me to my place, besides you've seen how unkempt I am. You know who Ms. Tessou and Ms. Yomikawa are right."

"They're from Anti-Skill right?"

"They're having a party at Tessou's place and invited me along. I want you and Ms, Index to join us."

Before I could politely refuse she handed me a note.

"These are directions to her apartment, we promise to keep it under control since you two are minors."

With that she helped me get to my feet and I walked out. It was a long walk back and given the cold not one I could get used to. If winter taught me one thing it's that you can get a lot of people mad just by using Image Breaker to turn of the building heat. While walking by an electronics depot there was an item in the window that caught my attention.

"128 GB Gekota Shaped Tablet."

Gekota, an annoying frog mascot that children in this city find as popular as Bart Simpson in America and Pikachu in Tokyo. Children and one other person that I know.

"Misaka…"

My encounters with the ego driven Mikoto Misaka, one of the two most powerful non magicians I've dealt with have either ended badly for her or me. Thanks to that good hand of mine canceling out her Railgun there was many times I've fled from her range Accelerator however changed my perspective of her. Now next to Index I would call her the best asset in my life. The question though would be if I would get a gift for her, would she accept it from me. All I knew was that if it was to be that, it better still be there by Christmas.

"Those better not go quickly."

The rest of the walk got me pondering what I would do that night. By the time I arrived home Index answered that question.

"Toma, where were you?"

Index and that cat she picked up were slumped on the couch nearly in dire straits as the slowly stretched in unison.

"You two haven't moved at all, all day?"

"Well after you left I looked online for Christmas specials and spent the bulk of the afternoon watching them."

Sphinx, what Index named that cat, nuzzled at my feet.

"You fed the cat didn't you?"

"No, we wanted you to get us both food when you got home."

If the guys didn't aggravate me sometimes, I'd get more grumpy at Index when she does stuff like this any other time of the day. The cat food was easy enough to get and within seconds Sphinx went to town on the food. 15 Minutes later the two of us sat down and ate. While I gobbled down some orange juice, I thought about the offer that she gave me earlier today. If they weren't coming into the city until after the 25th than I would need something to do with and for Index that night. Mere minutes passed until she cleared off her plate and was going over to the sink to wash it, that when I knew it was time to bring it up.

"Index, were you wanting to do anything for Christmas?"

There was a look of pure concentration in her eyes like I never saw before on her.

"My teacher had invited us to a party with two of her friends, you remember Ms. Komoe right."

"The only non-esper you know."

"If I remember correctly she helped you heal up on the night that we met so I do believe you owe her."

"Toma, I'm a nun you know I got to go to Christmas Eve Mass that night."

Oh boy, forgot she was part of that Church of England stuff. My face did go sour at that but Index sensed my mood and perked up.

"I can go to that party, if you're willing to go with me to mass that night."

"I could but does Academy City even has a Christmas Eve mass."

Of course that would set off her robotic mode. From what I could tell that night when Ms. Komoe helped heal her she would go into a trance whenever she needed to connect with the spiritual side. Mere 5 minutes was all it took before she came back to life.

"I found us a church."

"Where exactly?"

"Four blocks behind the Garden of Learning"

With my dumb luck, both normal and Image Breaker induced the buses won't be running that night anyway. But of that's what it took to make her happy then I'd gladly swallow my pride.

"Well I'm in Index."

"Toma this isn't something you can get in to, the Christmas Eve mass gives people in the church the right to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas."

"Which is…"

Before I realized it Index pulled up a clip from a show called Peanuts on the TV. A kid in a green hat and orange jacket was on a stage with a single spotlight shone.

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night…"

My jaw was dropped open for a mere 10 minutes. Index came up behind me and whispered something audibly.

"Now do you get it Toma?"

"A little bit."

Between Misaka and Index, my shopping list just grew a lot more confusing.