"Geh. Why do we have to put that up every year?" Boruto turned and stared with annoyance in the direction of his foyer. "I hate trying to avoid that thing every time I walk into the kitchen, ya know."

"Why not?" Hinata smiled. "It's fun. Besides, if I don't hang it up, you won't let me hug you."

"Leave the hugs for dad." He yawned. "I'm going to play video games."

"Ah! Don't forget, everyone's coming over for a Christmas party tomorrow. Make sure to clean your room!"

"Yeah yeah, I know."

Boruto yawned and walked up the stairs. His room was already pretty tidy due to the fact that his mom scolded him the second it wasn't. But he picked up a few stray objects here and there before sitting down his chair and turning on his computer.

"Hmm..." The blue light illuminated his face in the dark. "I don't have any new e-mails... Hm? What's this? A new concept for Christmas... Mistle... foe?"

Squinting to see the tiny letters, he clicked the email and began to read.

Tired of your parents hanging up that dreaded leafy green plant as an excuse to show their affection? This Christmas, try something new! Mistlefoe! Turn your friends into enemies! Your lovers into rivals! Enjoy your holiday season with vigorous fights to the death! Rock paper scissors, arm wrestling, staring contests and more!

"I don't think rock paper scissors counts as a vigorous fight to the death... But this is loads better than trying to make sure I avoid that stupid thing! Hehe..."

Boruto shut the computer down and reclined back into his bed. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Maybe tomorrow wouldn't be such a drag after all.

. . .

As usual, Sarada was the first to show up. Sakura held up a bottle of wine to Hinata with a wink, and they both disappeared into the kitchen to start setting up. But as Sarada took off her shoes, Boruto was calmly waiting, his arms folded, standing against the wall under the dreaded green plant.

She looked up. And if it wasn't his imagination, her face grew slightly redder. "W-What are you doing there like an idiot? Hurry up and move so I can pass through."

"Hehe..." He smirked. "This year, the meaning of this stupid plant changed."

"Huh?" She walked closer, but not close enough to be under it with him. "The meaning?"

"Instead of mistletoe, this is... Mistlefoe!" He grabbed her arm and pulled her under.

"Wai- Boruto!"

"The first challenger appeared!" Himawari was suddenly commentating from her spot, hidden on the other side of the wall. "What will it be? Rock paper scissors? An arm wrestle? Maybe a staring contest?!"

"Huh? What is this?" Sarada raised her eyes to the plant and then back to a grinning Boruto. "Is this some sort of prank?"

"Pick one! You don't get to pass through unless you win. Ah! But if we arm wrestle, you can't use jutsu! That'll be totally unfair!"

She rolled her eyes. "I'm not participating in your stupid little..." And then she looked at Himawari's expectant face. "...Alright, fine, let's just get this over with. Rock paper scissors it is."

His grin widened as he readied his fist on his palm. "Come on!"

Sarada sighed. "Rock!"

"Paper!"

"Scissors!"

"Shoot!"

"Hehe!" Boruto's fist raised into the air. "I knew you were gonna pick scissors! You always start with scissors."

"So?" She put her hand on her hip and ignored his victory pose. "Can I pass through now?"

"Nope. You gotta win to pass through. That's the rule."

"What are you now, a bridge troll? Ugh. Fine. Let's go again." Sarada held out her fist.

But Boruto swapped places with Himawari. "The next challenger approaches! If Sarada can't win this, she doesn't gain entry to the kitchen! The pressure is on... Now, what will it be, Hima?"

"I want... Simon says!"

"Oh! Good choice!" Boruto raised his fist in the imitation of a pretend mic. "For this contest, I'm your host, Simon! Now... Let's see who gets out first! Simon says... stand on one leg!"

Sarada's eyebrow twitched. But nevertheless, she raised her left leg slightly off the ground.

"Simon says... Raise your right hand!"

Two right hands went up in accordance with his order.

"Put your foot down!"

No feet went down.

"Oh... Pretty good, aren't you? How about this! Simon says..." An evil smirk crossed his face. "Call me 'onii-chan'!"

Himawari was quick to respond. Sarada on the other hand... Disobeyed every order immediately and shoved her hands in clenched fists down at her sides. "As if I could do that! You're just targeting me on purpose! If you didn't want me here that badly, just say so and I'll go home! Jeez."

She spun around and stalked two steps away before Boruto's hand loosely gripped her arm. "Wait, Sarada-"

And with the speed of launching a Chidori, she was in the kitchen. "Ha! I passed through."

"Ah! That's dirty! Get back here! You're supposed to play by the rules!"

"If no one is under the... plant, to challenge me, I can pass through, right?"

"T-That's not fair! You're gonna hurt Hima's feelings, ya know!"

"Hm." Sarada pushed her glasses up onto her face. "Looks like she's fine to me."

Boruto looked over to confirm that his little sister was, in fact, laughing and wiping crocodile tears from her eyes. "Onii-chan is a little bit harsh, don't you think?"

"Himawari- Not you too!"

"Merry Christmas," came a voice from the door that distracted Boruto enough to stop fighting with Sarada.

"Shikadai!" He reclaimed his rightful place under the mistlefoe. Folded his arms. And only stepped to the side to let Temari pass by.

"So?" Shikadai looked up and then back to Boruto. "What's with this? Some grand plan to get Sarada to kiss you?"

"Wha- No!" His entire face lit up in a matter of seconds, quickly looking back to make sure Sarada took it as a joke before restraining himself from pummeling Shikadai.

"It's mistlefoe," Himawari finished for him, her smile taking away the awkward. "In order to pass through, you have to beat Onii-chan in a contest!"

"Hmm... So that's what it was." He sighed and slunk back against the other side of the wall, refusing to step into the doorway.

"Don't get any weird ideas! Shesh!" Boruto turned with a sigh that seemed to rid his face of most of the embarrassment. "So? What'll it be? No jutsu allowed!"

"What a pain... Ah, but I did bring my game console. How bout a round of Ninja Fighter II?"

"Oh! Good thinking. Hima, can you go get my game? It's on my bed."

"Eh? Why don't you just go get it?"

"Cuz! If I go, Shikadai might pass through while I'm gone!"

Himawari's cheeks puffed up. "Jeez, you really are excited about this..." She passed through without a problem and came back with his game.

A few seconds later, he was sitting on the floor with Shikadai playing.

"Gah!"

"Hehe..." Shikadai stood to his feet and walked through. "Looks like you still can't beat my water shuriken technique."

"That's cuz all you do is sit in the corner throwing them!"

"A win is a win," he said, heading towards the counter. "Ah, are these your mom's cookies?"

Sarada responded for him. "Mm. I've already had two."

Himawari beamed. "I helped decorate them!"

"Oh?" Sarada ruffled her hair with a smile. "Good job Hima-chan! ...Ah!"

"Hm?" Shikadai held up a reindeer shaped cookie and bit off the head. "Is something wrong?"

"Well... That's..."

Boruto walked out of the doorframe and leaned over her shoulder. "Don't tell me you avoided eating that one because you couldn't bear the thought of biting off the head of a cute animal cookie?"

"Haa..." Sarada shied away, her hand coming up to rub her exposed arm skin. "As if I would do something like that, idiot."

Shikadai paused chewing. "What a pain..."

"Merry Christmas!"

Ino was next to walk through the door, Inojin close behind. "Ah, Boruto. Hm? Why are you standing in the doorway with that? Don't tell me... You're waiting for Sa-"

"Ahh!" He cut him off before he could go any further. "It's a new game! You have to challenge me to a contest and win in order to pass through."

Himawari chimed in. "Mistlefoe!"

"Hmm... Ah! Isn't that Ninja Fighter II? Shikadai, lend me your console! I want a rematch from last time."

"Heh! You're on."

Three rounds later, Boruto was on a winning streak.

"This isn't fair!" Inojin whined. "He's probably got some sort of cheats downloaded!"

"Then why would it be the same when you swapped consoles," chuckled Shikadai.

"If you can't beat me, you can always challenge Himawari," said Boruto with a confident smirk. "I am unbeatable after all."

"Ugh! Fine. But I didn't think Himawari played video games?"

"Not that," she said, stepping under. "I want a staring contest!"

"Hm? A staring contest?" Inojin blinked up. "I guess it can't be helped then."

Both contestants closed their eyes. Boruto started the countdown. "Three! Two! One!"

Inojin stared at Himawari. Himawari stared at Inojin. They were both focused. Concentrated. It was so quiet, they could hear the voices of the adults on the other side of the room.

Suddenly, Himawari's eyes started to water. Her eyelid twitched. Inojin's nose crinkled. He stuck out his tongue.

And Himawari burst out laughing. "I can't take it anymore," she breathed, holding her stomach.

"Inojin wins! Good for you," he said with a smirk, pulling him into the kitchen. "Now all that's left is Cho-Cho... Hey, Sarada! Why don't you challenge her when she gets here?"

"Hm? Why me? I don't feel like participating in your stupid games any more than I have to."

"Because, you're best friends, aren't you?" He leaned against the wall next to her. "She'd probably walk through the door regardless of what I said. But if it's you, she'll challenge you."

Sarada raised an eyebrow. "Why are you so insistent that everyone challenges each other?"

A faint blush dusted his cheeks. "Because it's fun..."

And then Sarada came to the realization. "You... You just wanted to erase the awkward of that thing hanging there, didn't you?"

He squirmed uncomfortably for a moment before walking away to the counter lined with snacks and sweets. "Anyways, make sure to challenge Cho-Cho."

"Hm... And you're probably worried that Cho-Cho will take the meaning of that plant seriously and call you gross... Talk about pride," she muttered under her breath with a sigh, following him to get her own cookie. "I guess it can't be helped then. Just make sure you take care of Mitsuki."

And in that moment. "You called?"

Boruto and Sarada both jumped. "Sheesh! When did you get here! At least say something when you walk in the door!"

"Hm? I did say pardon the intrusion, but it seemed like you two were having a rather intimate conversation. Did I miss something?"

"Inti- Gah! Whatever. There's snacks here if you want them. Oh, and if you're standing underneath the doorway with someone else, you have to challenge them to a fight!"

"I see. Interesting." Mitsuki smiled and suddenly his hand pulled back with a snack in it. "What type of fight?"

"You know, like a staring contest, or a thumb war, or... Just something like that. No jutsu in the house allowed. Mom gets scary if you even knead a tiny bit of chakra."

Sarada sweat dropped and laughed awkwardly. Boruto just picked up another cookie.

"Ah, I almost forgot. I have presents for both of you." And at the moment that Mitsuki passed under the door, Cho-Cho passed under as well.

"Ah! Mitsuki!"

"Looks like I have to challenge you to a contest," said Mitsuki with a charismatic smile.

"Hm? A contest?" She looked up and crinkled her nose. "You're like, totally not my type though."

"Your condition is advancing further I see. Boruto, what is this thumb wrestle you speak of?"

"Hm? If it's a thumb wrestle, I won't lose!" Cho-Cho was suddenly much more interested in this contest. "Mitsuki, hold out your hand!"

Mitsuki did as he was told.

"You go like this." She linked their fingers and then started moving her thumb. "One, two three four! I declare a thumb war!"

Not knowing the rules, Mitsuki lost almost instantly. Cho-Cho held up a victory peace sign. "Piece of cake! Speaking of cake... I heard your mom makes really good cake! Where is it? Can I have some?!"

Inojin grabbed two more cookies. "Better stock up while you can. The glutton is here to take all the snacks."

Cho-Cho put her hands on her hips. "I am not a glutton! Now show me to the cake!"

Shikadai sighed. "What a pain..."

. . .

The party went on for a little while, the boys taking turns fighting Boruto and Shikadai in Ninja Fighter II, unwrapping game cards from Mitsuki, Cho-Cho and Himawari having fun and doing nails. But when it wasn't his turn, Boruto noticed Sarada loitering around the snack counter alone.

"Geh! I lost again." Inojin grumbled. "Boruto! It's your turn!"

"...You can play a round without me. I'll be right back."

"Hm? Where are you going?"

"Cookie."

He got up and walked to the counter, casually taking a cookie and munching down. "You bored already?"

"Hm? Is that what you came over here for? Thanks, but I don't need your consideration..." She sighed and stared at the last remaining reindeer cookie. "These kind of parties just aren't really my thing."

Boruto rolled his eyes. "Come with me real quick."

"Hm?"

Sarada followed him, making sure to walk through the kitchen door behind him, but challenging her to another game wasn't his intention.

He led the way to his room and searched through a drawer. "Ah. Found it."

Her eyes widened when she saw the cover of the book in his hands. "This is... The new volume of 'The Curse of The Missing Swordsman!' It hasn't even hit shelves yet! How did you..."

He blushed and turned, casually closing the drawer. "I happened to do the author a bit of a favor a few days ago. She gave it to me and asked me to read it and tell her what I thought. Make sure you write a detailed review. It might make it on the back cover, ya know."

Sarada flipped open the book to see the author's signature. "This..."

"It oughta keep you occupied for at least a couple hours," he said, putting his arms behind his head. "I'm heading back downstairs."

Just before he could exit his room, he heard her squeak out. "Wait."

Boruto turned around.

"I... Here." She held out a game cartridge, making Boruto's eyes sparkle.

"This is... Super Ninja Battle III?! I tried to get one for Christmas but they were all sold out! Even Old man Katasuke didn't have one!"

At the mention of Katasuke's name, Sarada's head buried too far into her new book to be able to make out the letters.

Boruto's eyes widened. Then he smiled. "Thanks!"

"Mm. You too. Thanks."

With that, he was back down the stairs.

"Ah! Boruto!" Inojin gripped at the console in frustration as he hit the rematch button. "Listen to this, Mitsuki just beat me! And it's only his third time playing!"

"Seems like you need more practice, Inojin."

"So? Where'd you sneak off to?" Shikadai asked as Boruto took a seat next to him. "Don't tell me you chickened out on giving it to her after all that trouble we went through..."

"M-More importantly," Boruto said, dodging the question. "I'm back... With something I think you'll all want to see."

The boys put down the consoles for a moment to gape in awe at the game in Boruto's hand.

"How did you get a copy of that?! They were sold out within the first hour they went on sale in every store in Konoha! I thought you said Katasuke didn't even have one!"

"Hehe," Boruto smiled pridefully. "It was a Christmas present."

"Enough about where he got it from, let's play!"

Boruto took his console and popped in the game, everyone crowding around him excitedly.

. . .

"Hey, Boruto?" Cho-Cho walked up to him. "Where's Sarada? She like, disappeared."

"Hm? Maybe she went home already."

It'd been at least an hour since they exchanged gifts. She probably snuck out his window and went back home to read the book.

"Eh? Without telling me?! How rude, I didn't even get to exchange Christmas presents!"

"You can just do it on New Years. Aren't you guys going to the shrine together?"

"...Suspicious..."

Boruto shrunk back. "...What?"

"How did you know? Did you ask her?"

"I-I-It just came up in conversation on the way back from a mission!" He stuttered in the face of Cho-Cho's smirk. "Ah! You made me lose."

"Hmm... So that's how it was."

But the sound of her voice was drowned out by Inojin's cheering. "All right! My turn!"

"Cho-Cho," called Karui from the living room. "It's about time we head home."

"Kaay."

"Ah, us too," said Ino, her cheeks pink. "Thanks for having us, Hinata!"

"Mm!" Hinata responded, her cheeks also pinkened. "Get home safely!"

Pretty soon everyone filtered out with a few promises to get together and play games again soon, and the only ones left were Hinata and Sakura.

"Hmm... That's odd, did Sarada go home already?" Sakura tilted her rosy head to the side. "I didn't think she was the type to leave early, even if she's not the best at dealing with these types of events."

Boruto looked down at his game console. He paused the game. "I'll be right back."

Himawari stood up. "Where you going?"

"...Bathroom."

He went back to his room. And sure enough, there was Sarada, still reading. She was about halfway through the book.

"S-Sarada."

"Hmm?" She hummed lazily, not looking up.

"Everyone is going home... Heck, turn on the lights, can you even see that?"

She blinked a few times. "Ah, Boruto. When did it get so dark outside?"

"It's been that way for at least thirty minutes," he said, turning on his light. "Jeez, are you trying to make your vision worse?"

She rubbed at one of her eyes.

Boruto averted his and looked around the room for something to tidy, but there was nothing. Blush dusted his cheeks.

To his relief, she closed the book. "I guess I'll finish this at home... Thanks."

"Mm. I'll walk you out."

When they made it down the stairs, Himawari called Boruto into the kitchen. They both walked under the doorway at the same time.

"Ah!" Himawari pointed. "She was still here! Onii-chan, what are you going to challenge her to?"

He looked up. "Oh... Uh..." They'd already played rock paper scissors and he didn't want to play Simon says. Any kind of wrestling contest with Sarada would be utter defeat. "...Staring contest? I guess."

Sarada was in a leftover haze from being sucked into a novel anyways. He could probably win.

"Three! Two! One!"

He opened his eyes. Looked into hers. And fought back the immediate urge to blink. Instead he flicked his eyes to the floor, staring at her socked feet. Why was it so hard to meet her eyes all the sudden? Probably because of that zoned off look... It was so much softer than the normal look she always wore. And probably because this year, their gift exchange contained a little bit more sentiment than past years. And probably because as Shikadai and Inojin so carelessly brought up... No no no, he couldn't think about that right now. If he did, he would definitely blink.

Heck, he had to stare into her eyes to make sure she didn't blink!

Boruto looked back up, only to see a faint blush dusting her cheeks.

...Oi oi oi! What's up with this? I didn't think there was romance in that book!

He swallowed. His gaze wavered. Sarada wasn't in her book haze anymore... She was... Actually looking at him. Studying his eyes like she did from time to time. But looking at her while she did it... Brought blush to his face.

"Ah!" This time the voice belonged to Sakura. "Look at you two, staring so intently into each other's eyes. Come on Boruto! Be a man! Kissher!" slurred Sakura, taking a rather drunken step forward.

"Y-you've got it all wrong!" He blinked, putting his hands up in surrender, realizing how close in proximity he'd suddenly gotten.

Hinata covered her face. "How embarrassing... Maybe on the cheek? Yeah. That would be cute. Boruto, why don't you kiss her goodbye?"

"Geh! Even mom! I'm not-"

"Come on, just once? You're standing under the plant. You gotta!" Sakura put up her arm and slapped one hand over her bicep. "It's Christmas Spirit! Shannaro!"

He sucked in a nervous breath and stole a glance at Sarada. "That doesn't mean..." His gaze trailed to the wooden floorboards. Darn their moms for being tipsy. And then he saw her socked feet take two steps forward.

Eyes widening, he didn't even have time to look up before her hand covered his, her lips gently brushing his cheek.

When she receded back, he blinked up at her waist, then to her chin, then her eyes. And he blushed even more at her genuinely gentle and yet happy expression. "Thanks, for the book," she said in a whisper, letting his hand go.

But before she could let go all the way, he tightened his grip on her hand. Bangs hiding his face, he leaned to the side and gently returned her kiss. "Same... Thanks, for the game."

When he looked through the cracks in his hair, he saw her, eyes wide, staring. "Sarada, I..."

That was when he glanced to the side and saw the watchful and expectant eyes of his mother and Sakura.

"N-Never mind." He let her hand go and shoved his into his pockets. "You're happy now, right mom?"

"Heeeehhh," Sakura pouted and stalked forward. "You can't get that far and not finish what you were going to say!" She threw her arm around her daughter's shoulders. "Ah! Sarada, where'd you get that book?"

Sarada's face turned red. "Come on mama, it's late. We should go home."

"Eh? But Boruto seemed like he had something he wanted to tell you..."

"I-It was nothing," he stammered, "come on, let's go. You don't want to keep Sasuke-san waiting."

"Hm? Sasuke-san? You mean he's home?!"

"Ah..." Sarada sighed. "Here we go again..."

"Did I do something bad?"

"Papa is a bit of a forbidden word when she's drunk," Sarada replied, somehow back to talking normally. And then she put on her shoes. Stood back up. Met Boruto's eyes. And her face took on a red hue as she immediately averted it. "...See ya."

"...Mm."

With that, Sakura who was wining about Sasuke was helped through the door by her daughter. And Boruto eased his own mom back on the couch and started the cleanup process with Himawari.

"Good for you, Onii-chan."

His face started burning so bad he put down the cup that he was holding and curled into a ball against the counter. "...Shut up."