Was there a correct way to hold a laundry basket? Kuri's thighs bumped against her plastic hamper, producing a quiet thwack with each step. Holding it directly in front of your legs was probably an unorthodox method if you planned to get anywhere quickly, but it was how she'd always done it. Maybe she should invest in a cloth hamper, like Mina and Ochako. They carried their laundry in stuffed bags at their sides, allowing them greater mobility. Kuri was certainly overthinking the subject of laundry—probably because she was losing it while contemplating another dilemma.

"Kuri, are you alright?" Ochako peered at her, holding the elevator door open. For the last few seconds, Kuri stood zoned-out in front of the elevator with her basket and—caught up in her daze—hadn't caught the cue to get in. Mina tilted her head and chuckled worriedly.

"Is something bothering you?" Mina asked. Kuri hesitantly nodded her head and stepped into the elevator with them. She sighed and placed her laundry basket on the floor as they ascended.

"I don't know what to do about Christmas," she answered.

"Are your parents asking you to come home for the holidays?" Ochako apprehensively asked. Kuri shook her head.

"Oh, no, it's nothing like that. They're content with just a call and a promise that I'll visit this upcoming summer… in seven months," Kuri said. She wouldn't have minded a visit home, but her parents thought it wasn't worth the price of a plane ticket if she could only stay for a week or two. Kuri wasn't sure why the better alternative was a single, hour-long phone call instead. "Anyway, Katsuki is who I'm worried about."

"Trouble in paradise?" Mina gasped, pressing her fingertips to her cheeks melodramatically. Kuri rolled her eyes but smiled. "Just kidding."

The elevator doors opened, and Kuri picked up her hamper again. The three walked toward the left, where their rooms were located.

"I haven't thought of what to give him for Christmas, that's all," Kuri shrugged. Ochako stopped in her tracks.

"But Christmas is in less than a week!"

"Girl, you better start brainstorming!" Mina exclaimed.

"I know, I know," Kuri said, wilting a bit as she wobbled over to her room. "I'll keep thinking about it while I fold my clothes."

Mina patted a hand against her shoulder reassuringly as she passed Kuri to go to her dorm's door.

"Don't sweat it too much," Mina said. "You're mega-smart, so just do what feels right!"

"I think gift-giving might be my weak point, though…" Kuri sighed.

"It's probably not your love language," Ochako said, leaving her laundry at her doorway to join Kuri at her side. "Just try your best. I'm sure Katsuki will appreciate whatever you give him."

Kuri smiled wearily and thanked them both before closing herself into her bedroom. They always did their best to comfort her and give good advice, even if they were a bit mischievous at other times. The entire lead-up to Katsuki's confession during the play certainly came to mind… Still, she appreciated their input because even if they had dubious methods, her friends' support helped everything ultimately work out. So, Kuri would follow their advice and decide on Katsuki's gift through intuition alone.

Kuri dumped her freshly cleaned clothes onto her bed to begin folding them as another thought crept into her mind. But would just anything be good enough? Even if Katsuki had no preference, that didn't mean Kuri should hand him some trash with a bow on top. Mina and Ochako were right in that Kuri only needed to put her heart into whatever she gave him, but that meant the gift couldn't be merely satisfactory. It had to be perfect! So, back to the drawing board.


Katsuki swung open the heavy door to the dorm building and shut it as soon as he was inside to prevent the frigid air of the late-December evening from offsetting the warmth of the common area. As he kicked off his running shoes and tugged his earbuds out, Katsuki caught a few words from a conversation a couple of his classmates were having nearby. Something about holiday gifts.

Katsuki glanced at the pair chatting on one of the green couches as he walked to the elevator. Deku and Eijirou sat there, wondering aloud about potential presents for some of their other classmates and the prospect of throwing a Christmas party again.

Unfortunately, Katsuki didn't walk fast enough to evade their notice, and Eijirou caught him with a sudden greeting.

"Hey, bro! Back from your run?"

Katsuki nodded and slowed to a stop, expecting Deku to rope him into the conversation.

"Hi, Kacchan. We were just talking about what gifts we should give each other on Christmas," Deku said. "It would be expensive to get everyone in class a personal present, but we were wondering if it would be worth showing everyone we care about them."

"After all, we've both already got a few people's presents ready," Eijirou said. "Including yours!"

Katsuki shuffled closer and sat on the other couch next to them, his hands still shoved in his pockets.

"Why'd you buy stuff for me?" Katsuki asked.

"Because we're friends!" Eijirou grinned. Katsuki raised an eyebrow. He hadn't thought about getting his classmates gifts. Oh well.

"I didn't get you guys anything," Katsuki admitted with little shame. Maybe he'd find some shit to give them last minute… If he could be bothered. "Or anyone else, for that matter."

Deku furrowed his brow in concern.

"Not even Kuri?"

Shit.

The other two clearly recognized the telltale "I've fucked up" look on Katsuki's face, judging by their worried grimaces. Eijirou tried to laugh it off.

"Well, it's not too late to figure something out," he said. "Maybe, first, think of some things you associate with Kuri. Then you can decide what she might like for Christmas."

Things he associated with Kuri…

Katsuki hummed quietly as he mulled over a list he'd never considered. Kuri was Kuri. She alone was so remarkable that he didn't usually think to list out what was Kuri-adjacent. Katsuki cleared his throat.

"If there's anything she reminds me of, it's the sky," Katsuki said slowly, considering how to elaborate on this half-formed thought. "She's carefree and independent like a cloud, but when she's upset, she can be pretty feisty. When that happens, she storms, and everyone gets dragged into it, so things can get kind of messy," Katsuki chuckled to himself, thinking of the arguments they used to have. "But in the end, she'll always be back to that calm blue that feels like home, no matter where on Earth you are."

Deku and Eijirou stared at him in silence for a few seconds.

"Um… That's nice and all, but I think he meant for you to think of stuff that Kuri likes," Deku said.

"Yeah, I didn't expect you to say all that," Eijirou laughed.

Katsuki closed his eyes and exhaled sharply through his nose.

Fuck. Humiliated myself again.

"Let's not talk about this anymore," Katsuki muttered, rising from his seat. "I'll go think about it on my own."

As he hurried away, hoping to leave his embarrassment behind, the two wished him luck with finding Kuri the perfect gift. Katsuki found himself alone in the elevator, ascending to the fourth floor, as he contemplated the idea of a "perfect gift."

What did perfect mean? Probably something useful or befitting a person's interests. In other words, a good gift was something the giftee needed or wanted. That didn't really narrow things down… Katsuki decided he should just focus on giving Kuri something aligning with her interests. But… what did she like that she hadn't gotten for herself already?

The issue with trying to give Kuri anything was that if she showed interest in an item, she would buy it for herself before someone else could give it to her. That left him with very few options.

Once the elevator arrived on his floor, he ambled over to his dorm, continuing to brainstorm as he walked and eventually entered his room.

It seemed he couldn't go for the easiest route and buy her some new volumes of manga. He'd have to think about general things she liked, then he could find some obscure gifts.

So, what did Kuri like? Cats, food, video games, hoodies, books, Katsuki… The list went on.

There were a shit ton of things Katsuki could get her. Within the cat category (cat-egory, Kuri would probably say), he could already think of three. He could get her another big stuffed cat to add to the pile on her bed, a cat-shaped tote bag, or even a real cat. Okay, maybe not the last one.

Or he could try to come up with a gift that touched on multiple categories. That would probably be considered the "perfect gift."

Katsuki paused his rapid-fire thoughts for a moment. In that short lull, an idea landed in Katsuki's mind. He grinned in satisfaction, now knowing exactly what he should get.

Looks like he'd need to make a trip home.


By the dawn of Christmas day, Kuri realized that her intuition was leading her nowhere. It seemed that finding the perfect present was easier said than done. Every gift idea she conceived was a bust, so although Kuri had tried to avoid this option, she would have to settle for the ultimate laziest Christmas present: a card.

Well, it actually wasn't that lazy, given the ton of colors, glitter, and stickers Kuri piled onto the once-blank cardstock. Since she had foregone purchasing a present, she needed to produce the most heartfelt card in existence.

After a few hours of hardcore crafting and some painstaking deliberation of how to word the message inside, she finished the card just in time for their class party. Kuri left her card on her desk in her room for safekeeping, then went downstairs to help prepare for the festivities.

After a short period, everything was ready, and the class had an enjoyable time eating, exchanging gifts, and doing other party stuff (mostly sitting around and talking). Someone had started a conversation about mistletoe—specifically, their lack of it anywhere in the dorms, which somehow led to a group decision to play the Pocky game. A few of Kuri's classmates ran off to the kitchen to raid the pantry, but before Kuri could watch how that played out, someone tapped her shoulder.

Kuri leaned her head back, craning her neck to look at whoever was behind her. Katsuki peered down at her with a sweet smile.

"Bunny, come with me," he said. Kuri quickly uprighted herself and left her spot on the couch to join Katsuki. He glanced at her fondly as he took her hand and led her outside. Kuri's heart raced the whole walk to the entryway, wondering what Katsuki had planned. Had he heard the mistletoe talk and decided to make a move? They parked outside the door, allowing some privacy and easy re-entry to the building once the chilly night became too much. Katsuki released her hand, and he held up a medium-sized gift bag that Kuri hadn't noticed he was holding. "There's something I want to give you."

"Oh, really?" Kuri raised her eyebrows, surprised. She had been so focused on selecting a suitable present that she hadn't even thought about the prospect of Katsuki giving her something in return. A grin crept across Kuri's face, glad to have such a thoughtful boyfriend. "Well, I have something for you too. It's in my room, but I can give it to you once the party's over."

"Alright. Here, you can open it now," Katsuki said, offering her the bag decorated with glittering snowflakes. Kuri eagerly took hold of the ribbony straps and sifted underneath the tissue paper to unearth Katsuki's gift for her.

"I hope you like it because I couldn't think of anything else…" Katsuki confided.

"You don't need to worry about disappointing me. Just wait until you see how pitiful my gift to you is," Kuri laughed.

Her fingers met soft fabric, and she took hold of the item and gingerly pulled it from the bag. A neatly folded article of black clothing unfurled itself as Kuri held it up to the light spilling from the window. She let the gift bag drop to rest on the floor by her feet as she examined what seemed to be a hoodie with a large white skull on the front. It looked just a tad oversized and possessed a subdued but undoubtedly familiar scent. Kuri hugged the sweatshirt close to her chest as she gazed up at Katsuki in wonder.

"Is this yours?" she asked. Katsuki nodded.

"Yeah. I haven't worn it in a long time, and you like hoodies, so I thought it'd get more use from you."

Kuri shook out the hoodie and pulled it over her head. She extended her arms through the sleeves, unbunching the sleeves of her thin cardigan as the thick, black cotton encapsulated her. Kuri smiled and looked down at her torso. Katsuki's old sweatshirt was soft and warm and so reminiscent of him. Appreciation swelled in her heart as she savored the feeling of the fabric. This hoodie would definitely become a frequent component of her future outfits.

"Thanks, Katsuki," she beamed. He knew her so well. How lucky she was to have such an attentive boyfriend!

"There's something else at the bottom."

Kuri hummed with intrigue as she picked up the bag and plunged her hand back into its depths. She felt around the bottom until she came in contact with a small, soft object. Kuri plucked it out and held it up in front of her face. It was a plush orange cat keychain sporting a small, grumpy expression. It reminded her of Katsuki so much that Kuri wondered if he had chosen it specifically due to its resemblance to him.

"I got you this, too, in case you didn't want my old jacket," Katsuki said. "Now, the bunny on your backpack will have a friend." He was referring to the plush white bunny keychain dangling from a zipper on her school bag. Its short fur had dirtied with time, but the bunny still retained its tiny smile. Hopefully, it would be even happier to have a buddy because Kuri was surely pleased. She stared at the keychain in her cupped hands, smoothing the soft fur with the pads of her thumbs. He'd given her so much, yet all she had in store was her modest card.

Suddenly, Kuri was overcome with emotion. The level of thought Katsuki had put into his gifts was so sweet Kuri thought she might burst into tears and blubber to Katsuki about how much she adored him. Instead, she stuck the keychain in her pocket and attacked Katsuki with a hug.

"I love you so much," Kuri said, barely hiding the quiver in her voice.

She really meant her words. Katsuki was the person in her life she valued most, and she would never take him or their relationship for granted.

Katsuki wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

"I love you, too," he whispered. Kuri felt him press a hesitant kiss against the top of her head.

She rested her head in the crook of his neck and laughed as a tear of joy slipped from her eye.


It took incredibly long for the party to wind down, and Katsuki spent most of that time wondering what "pitiful" gift Kuri had in store for him. Turns out, what she had just handed him was anything but that.

Finally, several hours after the party had started, everyone retired to their rooms to get ready to wash up and go to bed. Katsuki and Kuri returned to their floor together so she could give him his present. He waited outside her room as she went inside to retrieve it, and Kuri swiftly returned with a large, heavily decorated card. Katsuki gently took it from her grasp, examining the holiday doodles on the front cover as Kuri needlessly apologized.

"Sorry for only having this to give you," she muttered. "I'm not great with presents, but I tried."

Katsuki assured her it was more than enough as he flipped open the card, but Kuri abruptly stopped him.

"Ah! Don't read it in front of me, it's too embarrassing," Kuri said, blushing. Katsuki grinned.

"Then, I'll just talk to you about it tomorrow," he said. Kuri rolled her eyes.

"I can't wait," she said, tucking her hands into the pockets of his hoodie. He'd made the right choice giving it to her. She looked adorable engulfed in his baggy clothing. "Good night, Katsuki."

They smiled at each other, and he wished her good night. But, before he could turn to leave, Kuri's hand darted from her pocket and grabbed his wrist.

"Wait, I need to make us even since you gave me two gifts, and I only gave you one," Kuri said urgently. Katsuki looked at her with a furrowed brow.

"You don't have to, Bunny, it's alright—"

"Here, a good night kiss!" she exclaimed and drew closer to him. Katsuki immediately softened as Kuri stood on her tiptoes to graze his cheek with her lips. The spot on his skin where she kissed him burned red hot. Kuri pulled away before Katsuki could even try to make a move, leaving him to stare at her in a daze. She smiled and shooed him away with a wave of her hand. "Now, go back to your room and read that note."

Kuri slunk into her room, and they both uttered another "good night" as she closed the door.

A few minutes later, Katsuki found himself sitting on the edge of his bed, crying over Kuri's card.

The cover had looked deceptively neutral. With a colored pencil drawing of a winter wonderland and "Merry Christmas" printed smack dab in the middle of the page, it seemed like a card you'd give to any old friend. The back side, which Katsuki had checked before exploring the inner pages, was similarly unromantic, covered almost entirely with stickers—some of which weren't even holiday-themed. One could say it was an extravagant card, but the words that came to Katsuki's mind were "goofy and chaotic."

He grinned as he pored over each element of the front and back covers, but his smile adopted a different nature once he decided it was time to read whatever was inside.

There were fewer decorations on the inner portion of the card, as most of the real estate was occupied by a lengthy message written in sky-blue ink.

Merry Christmas, Katsuki! Sorry that I couldn't think of a better gift (I promise I'll try harder for your birthday). I'm a terrible gift giver, but I'm pretty decent at expressing my love through words! Also, while contemplating what to give you, I remembered how much I appreciated your letter on my birthday, so I thought I should write something in return. Now, let's get to it…

My beloved boyfriend, Katsuki, you are amazing, and I love you so much. All of my days are so happy because of you. You're the only person I've ever truly loved, and I can't believe how lucky I am to be your girlfriend. Every morning, when I see you, I'm reminded that this isn't a dream. Somehow, even after the craziness of the past year (not to mention how we acted as first-years!), we're dating.

When we met, I hadn't expected to ever befriend you—let alone fall in love. But I'm glad it all went this way. Even the parts where I felt sad or hurt because everything led to you and me in this moment. I never imagined I could love someone to such an extent. I am so grateful to have you in my life. Thank you for choosing to love me, even when I'm annoying or weak or painfully dumb. Let's be together until the very end.

Okay, this is getting too sappy, and I'm making myself cry, so it's time to wrap this up. I hope we get to spend many more Christmases together.

Yours forever, Kuri

Below her name, she had doodled a small, smiling bunny and a heart and left a short postscript requesting that he write back.

The love in her words overwhelmed him like a giant wave hitting you as you stood at the shore of a warm beach. Katsuki didn't know if he deserved so much affection. He should've been the one to thank her for loving him.

"Bunny, you lovey-dovey idiot…" Katsuki quietly chuckled. He wiped the back of his hand over his eyes, catching the droplets that had gathered along his lashes. "How am I supposed to respond to this?"