December 1

In the bustling streets of Japan, public workers busy themselves decorating the street lamps with flashy, twinkling lights and bright, sparkling ribbons. Your favorite time of year also presents itself in the form of a large Christmas tree in the park you always pass before you reach the mall.

Frigid winds paint passerby's cheeks a festive red as you step inside the local Aeon with some pep in your step. Your ice quirk means the lower temperatures don't bother you, and you've always loved Christmas. So while others walk inside rubbing their hands and grumbling wishes for January to arrive early, you usher a silent prayer that days full of cheer linger a little longer.

Today's mission involves presents and decorations.

The decorations aren't an issue. You grab some garland, extra lights, tinsel, and enough Christmas trinkets to earn the envy of old St. Nick himself.

Presents are the hard part. But not just buying presents for anyone. No, no. Your kids? Easy. Your friends? Easy. Enji?

Enji Todoroki is quite literally the most impossible man in the world to buy a present for.

Every time you ask him what sort of gift he'd appreciate, he shrugs and assures you he has everything he needs - he has the funds to purchase whatever he needs whenever he needs it, so why should he concern himself with one major holiday?

Well, this year, you're determined to find the perfect gift. If you have to search through every goddamn outlet mall and store in Japan, you're going to find the winning item that takes his breath away.

Thankfully, you don't have to travel quite so far. Strolling through the last store in the mall with your aching feet, you could swear you hear angels singing in the atmosphere as Enji's perfect present seems to glow on the shelf.

You don't feel bad when you snatch up the last one.

. . . . .

"Is this really why you had Tokei watch the kids today?" Enji grumbles when he enters the house. "I didn't think you'd ever get back."

Originally, he was supposed to take the day off to spend it with you, but when the Hero Commission calls for an emergency from the No. 2 hero, what's he gonna say? No?

Endeavor would never.

"Well, I had to do something to pass the time. I didn't think you'd be back this early after they'd called you in for an emergency." You snort, handing him a heavier bag, but keeping the bag with his gift concealed. "Got presents while I was out. Give me a minute."

You slither down the hallway into the bedroom. Enji isn't likely to search for his present, and it's small enough that you can conceal it on the floor under your nightstand. You toss a half finished blanket over the bottom shelf, and the box disappears from view.

It'll do until you can wrap it.

"Do you want to help me put up decorations?" You ask as you start sifting through your goodies. "Look. I even got your latest Endeavor ornament to go on the tree!"

"You do that every year, my flame. One year we won't have enough space on the tree to keep them all."

"Ha! That's quitter talk. I'll just buy another tree and have one dedicated to you, specifically." You lean up on your tiptoes and peck his lips, before offering him a Glaceon ornament.

"Ugh, your Pokemon obsession couldn't skip this Christmas?" He taunts, pulling you closer by the hips and caressing your cheek.

"Listen, I know you don't like the franchise, but Glaceon's one of your favorites!"

"Is that so?"

"Of course. After all, they remind you of me." You crinkle your nose and bury your face in his chest with a contented sigh.

"Hmm, perhaps." He allows, before kissing your forehead

When both of you turn back to the mountain of decorations scattered around the house, you scavenge for the tree first. It takes little time between the two of you before the Christmas tree in all its glory towers above you. Immediately, your spirits rise and you giggle as you trot from box to box, looking for the lights.

"Okay, I'm going to stay on this side and start wrapping it around the tree, Enchan. You thread it through the tree on that side and then pass it around to me. It's easier that way." You instruct.

Within moments, lights join the tree in heralding Christmas's arrival.

Of course, no tree is complete without a topper! You sift through several good choices: an angel, a traditional star, and even a wooden Santa all clamber to the top of the box in the hopes of being the shining symbol of hope for the season.

"Hmm, Enchan? One, two, or three?"

"Three."

"Santa Claus, you're coming to the Todoroki household!" You decide, handing the wooden figure on a pedestal to Enji. "Can you put this on top? I'm too short."

"Well, that's not a problem."

You blink and scream as the ground vanishes beneath your feet; Enji has hooked you around the waist and you're elevated until your ponytail brushes the ceiling.

Enji's deep laugh doesn't go unnoticed.

"That high enough?" You hear him smile.

"Y-Yes." You huff, depositing the wooden Santa at the top of the tree.

As soon as your feet reach solid ground again, you smack Enji's arm before searching for ornaments. Red blossoms in your cheeks and snowflakes poof around your head.

"You could have warned me, ya know."

"Certainly. But then I wouldn't be able to see those delightfully rosy cheeks of yours, now would I?" He tilts your chin up with mischief sparkling in his eyes - the pristine blue could rival the lights on the tree.

"I guess not," You relent, offering him a box of red orbs. "But I'm sure you'd have found another way to make me blush. You always do."

"I have to make sure I can still turn your head, my flame."

The generic ornaments make their way onto the tree without issue, but when you get to the special, heirloom ornaments, you squeal at the sight of a little snowball ornament made from contact paper.

Inside, surrounded by paper bits of snow, is the child face of Enji.

"You were so CUUUUTE!" You hold it up to him. "How old were you in this? Why haven't I seen this one before?!"

"Oh, please. Cute?" He grouses, but his lips betray the ghost of a smile. "I was five here. I actually think I'd just manifested my quirk a few months later. It made this ornament rather ironic."

"It just means you and I were meant to be!" You do a little shimmy before finding it a home on the tree. "Would you like to see kid me? I know you see it every year, but–"

"I look forward to it every year."

His words sink into your heart and heat you down to your toes. You scavenge the box until you find what you're looking for. Only instead of a picture of you covered in paper snow, your child-like face is pasted in the frame of a foam Rudolph.

"Yes, this one. Your vibrant passion for life must have never changed." He pulls you into his side as he nods at your wide smile in frame. "What had you so happy, hm?"

"I don't actually remember. I've just always loved Christmas."

"It suits you."

On and on, you create a sanctum of Christmas spirit – you save the other half of decorating the tree for the kids after laying down the framework, you line the fence outside the house with garland, and the mantelpiece twinkles with tinsel.

As a final touch before Tokei returns with the kids, Enji finishes hanging mistletoe above the entryway into the house.

"Ooo, mistletoe? How about a kiss for your queen?" You giggle, stepping under the entrance and dragging your fingers up his chest.

"Gladly."

As flames of passion dance between your lips, a chorus of groaning children can be heard from outside. Pulling back with a laugh, you lay your head on Enji's shoulder as five Todoroki children step through the threshold into a wintery wonderland.