"Snowflake, Kiss, Hymn, Choir" - Christmas Prompts

Pairing: Umimaki

The hymn ended with a hair raising minor chord, with the soldier game trio holding the last note. She couldn't help the goosebumps that crept its way up her arms; Maki's husky voice has that effect on her.

She could feel Maki's gaze lingering on her for a moment too long as the last note faded away, the audience's applause was not enough to drown the loud beating of her heart. She could feel it thumping even louder as she returned the gaze when Maki wasn't looking, the little snowflakes coating the flaming red hair where the white beret couldn't cover.

Kotori definitely had outdone herself on this outfit, Umi thought. The little angel wings on the back completed the outfit, and together with the hymn it had felt truly religious. Maybe angels do exist?

They left the stage as the next choir made their way to the wooden stairs, the light falling of the snow painting the brown white. It was an unconscious thing, but Umi made her way to Maki's side, smelling the faint scent of peppermint and cherries, a little jealous of the score book that Maki was holding.

The score was out of Maki's hands in the next moment, the falling snow made the floor a little too slippery, and Maki soon found herself sent on her way to the ground with that misstep. Her flight to the ground was stopped however, warm arms was holding her by her waist, and she found Umi's concerned amber eyes staring back at her own.

"Are you alright Maki?" Umi's breath came out in a cloudy mist, this season was too cold.

"Y-Yes, I am. Let me go now." Warm arms left her side slowly, and Maki soon found herself missing its touch. She could feel Umi's arm flexing a little as she was let go, before watching Umi bend down to pick up her beret.

"There you go," Umi said, placing her beret on her head. "Hold my arm, it can get a little slippery here,"

Maki hesitantly clutched Umi's extended left arm, as they made their way down the stairs, where she almost slipped again. The steady arm was there in a moment, catching her mid-fall again, before Umi decided that it was enough. Her feet was lifted off her ground once more, but this time she felt safe, because she was being carried by Umi as they walked down the wooden stairs.

She was sure that her face matched her hair color right now, because she could hear Eli's little gasp behind them. Umi almost let go right there and then, at the sudden realization that she just did something outrageously daring, but she held on anyway.

"I won't tell anyone!" Eli immediately exclaimed after they made their exit.

Umi's face was a brilliant shade of red, as she spluttered excuses left and right. "I-I… that was nothing! There is nothing going on between us! Absolutely nothing!"

"Right… You do know you can trust me right Umi?" The senior gave them a knowing smile, before turning her backs on the duo. "I have some shopping to do, so I'll be going on ahead."

And Eli left, her world was once again just the two of them, with Maki twirling her hair a little too fervently, her violent eyes were shining with unseen emotions.

"M-Maki?"

Her junior leaned in a little too quickly, a pair of soft lips were upon her own and Maki stuttered. "T-This is just thanks for earlier!"

The snow that was falling down was too warm, Umi thought, because it couldn't cool her burning cheeks.

And this might be her best Christmas ever.