"We're going to be late!" Tsubaki shouted from the living room by the front door, hands on her hips as she frowned and tapped her foot.

"Late for a very important date?!" A sing-songy voice teased from deeper inside the house. Rika Seto's cheerful face popped out of the kitchen a second later. "Oh, honestly, Tsubaki, you worry too much!" Orange eyes sparkled as steely gray ones flashed. "We still got like… 15 minutes before we have to head out! I mean, I know it's good to be early and all, but being early to being early?"

Tsubaki's pout deepened, but she removed her hands from her hips to cross her arms, a clear sign of insecurity and uncertainty.

I mean… I hate to admit it, but… Rika's got a point… Why DID I set my phone alarm so early? RONDO's vocalist couldn't help but berate herself now, for failing to label the alarm. Yes, they had a Christmas party soon (that was why Rika was in the kitchen, collecting the last of the food they were going to bring), but the drive wasn't that far, even accounting for the desire to arrive early, and potential concerns about road conditions.

Before Tsubaki could muse on it further, Rinku's head appeared over the banister. "Oh! Is it party time?! HAPPY ARO—!"

"Rinku! You aren't even fully dressed yet!" Tsubaki's hands flew back to her hips and a scowl returned to her face. Rinku was swimming—or drowning, more like—in a crazy, eccentric, over-the-top, overdone Christmas costume. Although she was almost lost in a sea of fabric, cloth, and other material—all shiny, glittery, and sparkly—it was evident from the way she waddled and held up parts of the outfit that it was only half on.

Oh, honestly! Tsubaki rolled her eyes and sighed as Rinku darted away again, giggling. RONDO's vocalist hadn't even seen or heard from the other girl in Rinku's room. But I don't need to, knowing Muni… Some of Tsubaki's long-suffering exasperation changed into dry amusement. No doubt, Hapiara's VJ was also half-dressed, though unlike Rinku, it wasn't because she was overdressing in a wild costume. She was overdressing because she was a perfectionist, wishing for her every feature to be properly accentuated and highlighted. Was THIS why I set my alarm early?

Regardless of the answer, eventually, everyone was gathered by the door. Finally! Tsubaki sighed as she threw a scarf around her neck.

"Oh, wait, I think I forgot something back up in my room!" Rinku chirped cheerfully. Tsubaki's (and Muni's) face went deadpan.

"Oh, come on, Rinku, you just took forever already!" Muni complained, hat pulled halfway onto her head, voicing the thoughts Tsubaki was going to keep to herself. Again, despite herself, RONDO's vocalist smiled dryly. But then, it was Rika to the rescue, surprising them all.

"Were you looking for… your Christmas crown?" M4's vocalist twirled a shining circlet around her finger, smiling mischievously. Rinku gasped, eyes and mouth wide and adoring. She nodded and squealed, lunging at Rika. Tsubaki and Muni flinched, but Rika only laughed and caught Rinku easily, arms open and ready. Rinku laughed in delight, finally getting to finish her favorite battle cry.

"HAPPY AROUND!" The Christmas crown lit up, flashing red and green as she placed it on her head. Costume complete!

While Muni's eye twitched in disbelief, her shoulders slumping forward, Tsubaki rested her hands on her hips for a third time, closing her eyes and shaking her head. For once, though, she was smiling sincerely.

It's almost like… we're parents… The thought alone made her blush—which she hoped was only internal—but little did she know that Rika was thinking the same thing as she laughed and spun around with Rinku in her arms, as if Hapiara's vocalist was just a little child.

It may be winter, so indoor volleyball may be all I got, but I'm gonna stay as strong as possible! It was a goal she had even before winter rolled in, and exactly for moments like this. She was like the Cool Dad while Tsubaki was the Worried, Caring Mom.

Even as the quartet finally made its way outside to the car, Rika carried Rinku, who carried the food. Only after Rika set Rinku down so they could set the food in the back of the car beside the gifts did Tsubaki finally pull M4's vocalist to the side to mutter darkly in her ear.

"Keys. I'M driving."

"Tsubaki…" Rika raised an eyebrow, smile half amused and half tired, exasperated. From one vocalist to another, Rika knew exactly what was troubling her. Since they were in a bit of a rush now (a little behind schedule rather than ahead or even on time), Tsubaki feared that Rika would drive like the gay maniac (gayniac?) that she was. But of course she wouldn't! Not with her friends in the car! Especially the "young'uns".

And yes, Tsubaki knew that. Once again, she crossed her arms and looked away, conflicted. Mmm… Do I let Rika drive to prove that I trust her? Because I do! Or do I still insist that I drive because… I'd still feel more comfortable if I was the one behind the wheel?

"Or, one of us can drive one way while the other drives back?" Rika suggested sweetly, tilting her head, spinning the car keys around her finger.

Tsubaki's eyes widened. That… actually wasn't a bad idea… And—Tsubaki's stomach fluttered again—it was a very sweet, very Rika idea… Then Tsubaki actually gave it a moment of thought. "Hmm, I think I'll drive down, and you can drive back."

I'm going to be dead tired after this party, I already know it. But Rika…? Knowing her, she'd be even more hyped than when she started!

In fact, although the gang managed to reach the party on time, Rika decided to pretend as if they had to get in within the minute.

"Go! Go! Go! GO!" she laughed, sending Rinku in with the food, and Muni the gifts. Rinku, of course, got way too into Rika's act and almost bit off more than she could chew, stumbling to the door with arms overflowing. Tsubaki bit her lip. Luckily, there wasn't much ice on the ground. Muni followed Rinku, sighing in embarrassment and exasperation, smartly carrying far fewer boxes and bags. That left Rika and Tsubaki to get the rest.

They locked up the car, but the moment Rika's foot crossed the threshold of the house—POP! CRACK! BANG!

Streamers, confetti, glitter, and even a fake firecracker (Rika would later learn there was no real fire, to her disappointment) rained down on Tsubaki and Rika. The former shrieked, jumped, and nearly dropped everything she was holding, while the latter's eyes and mouth went wide in excitement.

"OMG! What was that?!" Her head whipped around as if she was a curious puppy. Those behind the joke were laughing from deeper inside the house, pointing up. There was still something hanging over Rika and Tsubaki's heads, and not just the answer to Rika's question, but Tsubaki's.

Why DID I set my phone alarm so early? What both vocalists forgot, back when the Christmas party was still being planned, there was talk of a trick being played on the last person to arrive. Of course, because it was a surprise, Tsubaki had no idea what it entailed, but she was determined not to be the unlucky partygoer! Well, when one forgot to label their Christmas party alarm… Tsubaki's eye twitched, and she went pale. Oh no…

Tsubaki caught sight of Muni pointing and laughing from the living room. Kyoko and Rinku were with her, also smiling, but a little more sincerely, like Rika's smile, not that it made Tsubaki feel any better. There were so many people staring now! Rika, though, of course, was over the moon, thrilled at the excuse to kiss Tsubaki in front of everyone, and show off her good, ol' Rika Rizz! (The ol' Razzle Dazzle!)

"Oh, come on, Tsubaki! Do it in the spirit of Christmas! And hey, if you aren't ready now, we'll just get some adult eggnog in ya and that'll do the trick in a little while!" Rika laughed, and everyone else except Tsubaki laughed with her. Even Hiiro and Nagisa stuck their heads out of the kitchen upon mention of the adult eggnog and Christmas feast, of which Hiiro was preparing and Nagisa was already snacking on and chugging.

Eventually, though, Rika turned to Tsubaki, and when she noticed that the other vocalist still looked uncertain, uncomfortable, and embarrassed, her face and voice softened. As wildly funny as Rika found it all, she was more sensitive to Tsubaki's feelings than it may have sometimes seemed. Do you want to…? I would like to, but… I won't force you into it, of course.

When Tsubaki saw that moment of truth and clarity in Rika's orange eyes, some of the worries roiling inside her stilled. In that moment, Tsubaki also remembered why Rika was the one she chose. Good or bad, for better or worse, through funny times or annoying, Rika was the one Tsubaki truly loved and felt safe and comfortable around.

Maybe in the past, when they were Rinku and Muni's age, it didn't work out, but fate had a funny way of pulling them back together in the end, for a beautiful reprise. They were bound by that red thread. And just like with Rinku and Muni, all it took was a DJ. While Rinku met Maho, Rika met Saori, and Tsubaki met Aoi. For a time, it seemed as if each vocalist had met her dream girl, her ideal DJ counterpart.

In every storyline, though, something changed. For Rinku, it was somehow also catching the eye of a rival vocalist, Peaky P-key's Kyoko Yamate. That spurred a minor rift in Rinku's relationship with Maho, and even after it was fully repaired, that was when Muni finally took a stand, showed a bit of guts, and stepped in on her own behalf. In the end, Rinku and Maho realized that they were better as friends, and the old flame Rinku carried for Muni was still alive and well, even though it hadn't been as obvious or ardent as Muni's (at least in the beginning).

The story wasn't over for Maho, though, for she was also thrown a curveball and eventually found herself standing beside fellow DJ Saki Izumo of Photon Maiden. Kyoko, meanwhile, finally had the chance to properly clear the air with her DJ, her childhood best friend, whom she'd had a crush on since. Maybe Shinobu feared she was growing out of it, but as with Hapiara's vocalist, Peaky's still loved her first love. Such was the case for M4 and RONDO's vocalists. For a time, Rika was with her DJ, Saori Hidaka, while Tsubaki felt madly in love with hers, Aoi Miyake.

But they could always tell Rika never fully moved on from Tsubaki. And for Tsubaki, well, Aoi's eyes were no longer the ones she looked into with such emotion. Oh, Aoi was still a beloved friend, unit-mate, and DJ of course! But the crush, rush, and early stages of their relationship and honeymoon phase were over. Even though Tsubaki still loved Aoi, it was the way she loved Hiiro and Nagisa. Rumor had it that Aoi and Saori were now dating, just as Rika and Tsubaki, but no one knew where the rumor started, so it was hard to tell if it was true or dramatized.

What wasn't hard to tell, though, was how Tsubaki was feeling now. Despite her most desperate wishes, the blush was indeed finally creeping across her face. She was sure she was as red as Rika's Christmas sweater, as hot as the fire crackling in the hearth behind them. And to complement red, Tsubaki was feeling green, sick with nerves. Then she looked at Rika once more. As much of a notorious party animal as Rika was, in that moment, Tsubaki saw nothing but serenity on her face, a perfect balance of joy and calmness.

There's no need to rush to decide. If Tsubaki wanted to decline, or wait for later, Rika could easily think up an excuse. And just like that, Tsubaki felt as if she had all the time in the world, and with that reassurance came confidence and courage.

Yen coins clinked from hand to hand, though the sound was drowned out by cheering, clapping, and airhorns. Tsubaki, who finally stood on tiptoe to lean forward and kiss Rika, was startled by the airhorns and reared back, then scowled in anger and embarrassment.

"Hey! Who did—?!" But none of the five DJs would rat each other out. Maho looked around innocently, Shinobu didn't even try to meet Tsubaki's gaze and instead looked down boredly, Saki shrugged and smiled sweetly, Saori touched the tips of her pointer fingers together and looked away with an embarrassed chuckle. Only Aoi met her gaze directly, smooth and still, calm and clear.

Don't keep Rika waiting too long, Tsubaki's DJ teased her silently, golden-brown eyes flickering in amusement.

Oh! Tsubaki was embarrassed at needing the reminder, but she was quick to turn around and face Rika again, hoping she didn't look too surprised, awkward, or flustered. Lucky her, Rika was grinning like an idiot. Oh. Of course. Shouldn't have expected anything else.

"Love, bite me?" Rika teased. Tsubaki's face went deadpan for half a second, then despite herself, she scoffed. She shook her head and crossed her arms, but she was smiling and laughing softly, then she leaned in again for another kiss, resting a hand on the red turtleneck of Rika's sweater. This time, the airhorns did not bother her. Well, they did, but she didn't let them startle her this time, annoying though they were.

All those DJs are SO dead later…! On the Naughty List, every single last one of them! Tsubaki thought, then she allowed her mind to drift back into her kiss with Rika, relishing every single second of it.

See? M4's vocalist thought proudly at the same time. This is why it's ok to be a little late for a very important date! Had anything happened too early, whether this party or in our entire lives, it might not have turned out like this, so perhaps, it was perfectly timed after all!

AN: Merry Xmas, Martinchan! As you can see, I was your Secret Santa! I'm glad I got your TsubaRika prompt because I've been wanting to write a fic like this for a while, so your prompt gave an excuse to finally do it.

To clarify for everyone, what I mean is, I there are a LOT of parallels between Rinku-Muni and Rika-Tsubaki. Going from there, you can add Maho, Saori, and Aoi to the mix. And through Maho, you can add Saki, and then Kyoko and Shinobu (since Maho had a little "jealousy arc" with Kyoko over Rinku in First Mix). So basically, this fic is meant to put all those ships and parallels together with Rinku-Muni and Rika-Tsubaki at the heart.

Oh and add Shinobu-Michiru-Lumina as another example of someone choosing their childhood bestie, and the other person with a crush moving on to get with someone else.