Chapter 44
Usagi didn't need much time to dismiss Makoto. She slipped back under the warm blanket and nestled against Seiya. "What did Makoto want?" he asked curiously. Somewhat embarrassed, Usagi mumbled, "We were supposed to get the last gifts for tomorrow together... or rather, I needed to buy gifts at all. But I gave her a list of things I'd like to give, so that should keep her busy for a few hours." She grinned mischievously and stole a kiss. Seiya's hand gently caressed her cheek, pulling her closer.
"I wish this day would never end," he whispered into her ear. The two enjoyed the precious togetherness, where time seemed to stand still. The embrace was like a cocoon, protecting them from the outside world. Every touch, every kiss was a tender expression of their love, making the world around them fade once again.
Suddenly, Haruka's voice broke the idyll: "Seiya! Serena! Where are you?" A heavy sigh escaped Seiya, and he wondered if a little peace was really too much to ask for. "I'm afraid she won't be as easily dismissed as Makoto," Seiya joked, trying to slowly get up. Usagi helped him, and together they entered the living room.
Haruka grinned broadly at them and asked ironically, "Oh, am I interrupting something?" "Do you really want an answer to that?" Seiya hissed irritably. His gaze fell on the boxes behind Haruka. "What the hell are you up to?" "Chiru was decluttering, and since you guys never have any decorations anyway, I thought Serena could make use of it before Chiru sets everything up at my place. After all, tomorrow is Christmas, and it looks the same as always in here," explained Haruka. Usagi's corners of the mouth twitched upwards, as she actually didn't mind the idea of putting up a bit more decoration.
"You just want to unload all your crap here. No way! Especially not after you left me hanging yesterday!" protested Seiya. Haruka grinned crookedly. "Oh, come on. It couldn't have been that bad." Her gaze shifted to Usagi, who was already rummaging through the boxes. "And it looks like Serena approves of my idea."
Usagi started slowly pulling out Christmas decorations from the first box. A smile spread across her face as she held an old, handmade nativity scene in her hands. "And Michiru really doesn't need all of this anymore? That's wonderful," she murmured enthusiastically.
Haruka opened the door with a grin and dragged an ugly, scruffy plastic Christmas tree into the room. Seiya's loud protest didn't take long. "Ruka, that's a plastic tree! Absolutely out of the question!" Haruka laughed, ignoring Seiya's objections. With just a few moves, she had set up the ugly monstrosity in the living room. Seiya was about to snatch the thing out of Haruka's hands when a sharp pain shot through his side. He tensed, grimaced, and cursed quietly to himself.
Usagi dropped the string of lights she had been inspecting and rushed to his side. "You're supposed to rest!" she scolded him, guiding him to the sofa. The pain pulsated in Seiya's ribs, but the look he received from Usagi alleviated his suffering a bit.
While Seiya reluctantly lay on the couch, Usagi took a deep breath and threw herself with even more anticipation into the decoration. With sparkling eyes, she hung colorful ornaments on the tree, placed fairy lights around the windows, and continued rummaging through the boxes. The love for the small details and the anticipation of the upcoming celebration reflected in every move she made. Meanwhile, Haruka settled down next to Seiya on the couch, attempting to grab the remote control, which Seiya skillfully kept from her. "Forget it," he just whispered to her and continued flipping through the channels.
The bustling activity of Usagi continued for quite a while. It wasn't until the last of the four boxes was unpacked that she finally felt satisfied and proudly admired her accomplishment. The room sparkled with a festive glow.
Then, the apartment door opened, and a visibly exhausted Taiki dragged himself in. However, as he consciously realized what was happening in his apartment, he struggled to maintain his composure. Seiya chuckled and nudged Haruka. "Your idea was brilliant; just look at how thrilled she is."
"What happened here?" Taiki asked after a few seconds, needed to orient himself. Usagi turned to face him. "Haruka brought us decorations from Michiru. Doesn't it look wonderful in here?" she chirped. Taiki's sharp gaze instantly went to the two on the sofa, who fell silent.
"I told her to take her stuff back. But once again, no one listened to me," Seiya said with a grin, crossing his arms behind his head. "You don't like it?" Usagi asked, looking at Taiki with big eyes.
"It's just unusual, and it's only for a few days. If you like it, leave it. I'm mostly away anyway," he conceded. The tension in the air dissipated, and Usagi breathed a sigh of relief. "Great, since the decoration can stay, something different for a change. Yaten is asking if he should bring something to eat," Haruka chimed in. Seiya grinned broadly, "Well, I certainly won't say no to that." Taiki and Usagi also nodded in agreement.
To pass the time, Haruka fetched Seiya's console from downstairs. "How about a round?" "Perfect!" Seiya exclaimed excitedly and tossed a controller to Usagi and Taiki each. "I don't even know how this works," Usagi stammered. Haruka sat next to her. "You accelerate here, steer there. That's all you need to know," Haruka explained briefly.
Although Taiki didn't really like these racing games, he was even willing to join in for a round or two. Eventually, Yaten arrived, loaded with a huge stack of pizzas. The apartment filled with an enticing aroma, and they spent a relaxed evening together.
After eating, they decided to watch a movie. Yaten, Haruka, Seiya, and Usagi continued to occupy the couch, while Taiki stayed in his chair. Seiya's fingers cautiously reached under the blanket for Usagi's hand. The fact that Taiki was sitting so close to them heightened the tension and thrill of doing something forbidden, but they couldn't resist. The gentle touch under the blanket connected their hearts in a special way.
On the morning of Christmas Eve, Seiya was the first to wake up. Usagi was still leaning on his shoulder; they seemed to have fallen asleep while watching movies. A smile played on his lips as he lovingly observed the sleeping Usagi. Waking up next to her was the most beautiful Christmas gift for him. His eyes wandered through the living room, and he noticed that Taiki must have found his way to bed yesterday, as there was no trace of him. Haruka and Yaten were behind him.
Seiya gently wrapped his arm around Usagi and just wanted to savor the moment, knowing that it would soon be over. He closed his eyes and deeply breathed in her sweet fragrance.
A sudden kick to his lower back made him startle. "Ouch, damn it! What was that?" he muttered quietly, not to wake Usagi, and turned around. Yaten and Haruka exchanged a playful glance and looked at him. "Oh, nothing. We just wanted to see if you were awake yet," Haruka said, stretching leisurely.
On the other hand, Yaten swung himself off the couch, tied his hair neatly, and glanced at his phone. "Jackpot!" he exclaimed and reached for his jacket. "Where are you going at this time?" Seiya asked, and Yaten paused. "You'll see tonight. Trust me. This will be a Christmas Eve you'll never forget, and for everything to work out, I have to go now." Before anyone could raise objections or ask questions, Yaten disappeared with a mischievous smile on his face.
Seiya rolled his eyes and sat down with a sigh. "Great, what's he up to now?" "No idea," yawned Haruka, shuffling into the kitchen. "Do you want a coffee too?" "Very much so. Yesterday, it was only tea for me," Seiya said, sitting at the table so as not to wake Usagi. Haruka chuckled briefly. "You? Tea? You don't seem that sick." "She probably can't stand the smell of it or something..." Smirking, Haruka placed the hot cup in front of Seiya and leaned against the kitchen counter. "You need to talk to Taiki. Yaten is right."
"About what does he need to talk to me?" Taiki suddenly asked, stepping out of the hallway. "Ruka, if you're standing there, can you make me a coffee too?" Haruka turned around and pressed the machine again. "Nothing, Taiki. No business talks during the holidays, you remember. It's even a rule you established," Seiya tried to get out of the predicament.
Meanwhile, Yaten hurriedly drove through Tokyo. His first stop led him to a shady dive that should have been closed at this time. Glancing through the dirty windows as he passed, he then made his way to the back door.
He knocked loudly several times on the shabby wooden door, which was nearly off its hinges. "Alright, alright. Keep your shirt on, I'm on my way," a deep voice yelled back at him.
"It's okay if it's quick. It's cold out here!" the silver-haired man called back. With a loud creak, the door opened, revealing an old, gruff-looking man. "Kou. I was expecting you last night. Thought you might have changed your mind," he grumbled and pushed the door a bit further so Yaten could enter.
"Sorry. I couldn't make it earlier. Did you get everything?" Yaten asked, pulling an envelope from his jacket pocket.
The old man opened one of the cabinets to his right and brought out a box barely larger than a shoebox. "Of course, or do you think I'm a beginner? Is the sum right?" Yaten rolled his eyes and handed him the envelope. In return, he received the box and checked its contents. "Count it. Everything as agreed."
"I trust you; it's not the first time I've had something made by you. But now get going. Your fancy car could make others suspicious. If you need more, let me know in advance. It takes some time to produce such quantities."
Yaten nodded and tucked the package under his arm. The first part of his errands was done, and he was looking forward to the expressions on his brothers' faces when he revealed what he had in mind. Carefully, he placed the box in the trunk and drove a few streets further. There, he parked in a lot and pulled out his phone. He dialed the number of one of his informants. "Did everything go smoothly?" he whispered into the receiver when it was answered. "Yes. Everything went according to plan," his informant replied, equally brief. Both were aware that important information shouldn't be shared over the phone. "Good. I'll be at your place in two hours. Prepare everything. I'm short on time; it has to be a quick operation. Have you spoken to him yet?" "Yes, I visited him briefly earlier. The supervision seems to be somewhat relaxed over the holidays." "I figured as much... But we mustn't rush things. See you soon."
He started the engine and began calculating. Two hours to get there, half an hour on-site, two hours back. Time was tight, and he couldn't afford any mistakes. The game he was playing was dangerous, and he knew he was treading on thin ice, but he had little to lose.