Trigger Warning:

- mention of agoraphobia

- mention of trauma

- racism

Semester finally completed.

Good marks, better skills, excellent faculty-student relations.

Kamiko thought she could not be any happier, but that changed when Izuku called her to go on a Christmas date with him.

If a doctor checked her serotonin levels right now, the number would be preposterous.

Two months had passed since the initial visit to the psychiatrist. Every week she attended her appointment, every week she returned home feeling a little more confident to face the world. She did not neglect taking her medicines on time, and as a result of the sessions and medicines, her agoraphobia dissipated. Her psychiatrist consistently reminded her that this was only the start of the healing journey. It could take anywhere from months to years for her to fully recover from the trauma, but she should enjoy the small victories in the meantime and let them bolster her determination for the future.

So when she looked into the mirror, worrying about how her figure seemed to have gained a few kilos, she did not let it perturb her. Kamiko had not gained weight from lack of exercise, diet, or medication side effects. This was simply her fox body attuning to the change of the seasons. With the first snow having fallen a few weeks ago, more fur began sprouting from her body. Thicker, too. Fluffier than before.

Combing her hair in front of the vanity and adorning it with daffodils, she hummed a dainty tune that she heard from somewhere but had no recollection of its origin. Who cared, anyway? It reminded her of flowers and sunshine and spring rain and everything sweet and cozy like Izuku. Once satisfied with her curls, she finished the look with a light coating of strawberry-color lipstick. Brushing off imaginary dust and straightening her outfit, she left her room and descended the stairs to find Izuku already waiting for her.

His eyes widened the instant he saw her. "You look amazing."

Kamiko felt the blood rush up her cheeks. Her ears perked up and tail swished from side to side. "Did I keep you waiting for long?"

"No. I've been here for two minutes. The gown is nice, but aren't you going to feel cold?"

She considered the contrast between his apparel and hers. Izuku was fully prepared for the winter chill, with an artificial fur-lined, navy blue coat, wool scarf, thick gloves, and boots. If he looked ready to trek in snow, then Kamiko looked ready to take a walk long after snow melted. With a simple full-length, turquoise cotton dress and slippers, one would understandably think she was underdressed for the weather. "Oh, it's fine. My fur grows longer in the wintertime, so it will keep me insulated."

Izuku sighed in relief, but still offered to provide his jacket in case the cold became too much. "Anyway, we should get going. The earlier we are, the more time we'll have to ourselves."

The first spot of the day was the classical ice rink.

It was December. The city's recreation department had frozen various public pools throughout the city for the people's entertainment. Who was Izuku to pass up a free opportunity of enjoyment? And he got what he wanted.

While he had some practice skating on ice from extracurriculars during primary school, Kamiko had none whatsoever. Izuku suppressed his laughter from watching Kamiko clutch the rink railings for dear life. He quietly reminded himself that everyone started out at that stage.

"Here, let's start with just getting a feel of the ice." Izuku began slowly gliding around the circumference of the rink, matching Kamiko's pace of baby steps. Although she had both hands clasped on the railing for support, her legs were still shaking like gelatin. And then her foot slipped. Her tight grip prevented her from a nasty fall, but she hovered quite a while above the ground before pulling herself back up. "Are you okay?" he asked, immediately. She nodded, but her flattened back ears belayed the truth. "Try loosening up a bit. Drop your hips and balance your knees and ankles. That's the trick to moving safely." He let Kamiko attempt again just as a drifting snowflake got into his eye.

But just as he shut his eyes, all chaos went loose. Kamiko moved too fast. So fast that her fingers left the railing, and she slid across the ice to the other side. A high-pitched squeal left her mouth.

Thank goodness, there was hardly anyone at the rink. Because at the speed she was going, she was bound to crash into six or seven people during peak hours. Izuku quickly drove up to her. Her hands were flying behind her, unintentionally accelerating her body. He caught one from behind and then grabbed her waist. "Hey! It's okay. I'm going to teach you how to stop now." He beckoned her to look at his feet. How one foot angled toward the other, slowly reducing speed and ultimately braking on ice.

"Don't tilt too much, otherwise you'll … spin … around." Words spoken too late. Kamiko had already spun around, facing him. And she was a blushing mess, squeaking frantic apologies and self-deprecations.

After guiding her to the railing, Izuku figured the best way to lift her mood was actually showing her that making mistakes was totally fine. Releasing her, he took a few rounds across the ice. Skating, gliding, braking before his finale. "Watch this!" And he took off so rapidly that his foot slipped. Landing hard on his back, he glided on the surface like water. "Well, that didn't go as expected," he lied.

Izuku's little white lie achieved its intended effect. Between bouts of inquiring about his safety, Kamiko giggled heartily. He pulled himself up and made his way toward her. "Another benefit of coming early: you can be as embarrassing as possible and no one will judge."

Her reddish-brown fur darkened for a whole new reason this time. She put her hand against Izuku's chest, feeling the consistent beating of his heart. "I guess you're right," she murmured. "I'd like to try again."

"That's the spirit!"

It was totally worth getting his back wrecked. And by the time the crowd began to pick up, the couple were already skating smoothly like experienced veterans of the ice, arms around each other, never letting the other go.

Since Izuku had suggested the first place on their whole-day date, it was Kamiko's turn to decide where to go next. And because this was a Christmas date, she figured what better place than a Christmas fair?

The market was set up with stalls selling all sorts of goods. Red lanterns were strung up. Aromas wafted in the air. Giggles of children and bartering of adults echoed. The festive ambiance permeated the atmosphere, seeping down into Kamiko's soul, warming her up from the inside. If the enthusiastic glimmer in her boyfriend's wide eyes were anything to go by, then he was also feeling the vibes.

Truth be told, Kamiko had never been to a fair. Sure, Izuku had taken her to a carnival after her interview all those months ago. Gosh, it seemed so long! However, it had been his idea. The fear of being subjected to taunts and ridicules in a such a public event like this prevented her from even considering the notion, let alone going. But so much had changed this year. She did not think she would get into a post-secondary school. But she did. She did not expect someone to like her romantically. But someone did. She had not anticipated making new acquaintances and stepping out of her comfort zone. But time and time again she did.

This year had been remarkable, and with the New Year approaching soon, Kamiko decided she was not going to hesitate with her wishes anymore. Scared and yet hopeful, a curious Kamiko explored the fair with Izuku.

Sausages, stew, cider. Books, plushies, toys. Gingerbread models of castles, Santa figurines, and snowmen souvenirs. They left no station untouched. And although they did not buy anything, they took photos of everything they liked. Izuku remarked that her ears and tail had not stopped twitching since entering, and she could not stop squeaking at all the marvelous items the fair had to offer.

Internally, she decided that next Christmas, she would devote three days just to thoroughly explore the market. With Izuku, of course, because she would not have it any other way.

Izuku regretted his choice of options.

Everything was going so well earlier. Ice rink in the early morning, Christmas fair by late morning. He ruined it in the afternoon. Izuku had suggested getting lunch, and as luck would have it, there was a restaurant nearby.

Now, he wished he had not been so hasty. He should have checked the reviews online. Researched whether the institution was mutant-friendly or not. Looked for news stories about the place. Because even though the two of them ordered the same meal, his plate was already in front of him while Kamiko's had yet to arrive. Ten minutes passed. Then fifteen. Twenty. Thirty.

Strange, Izuku thought. The basashi they had ordered took about thirty minutes on average to cook, assuming preparation steps were already completed beforehand. Not to mention, there were not too many patrons at this hour. While his meal had arrived on time, Kamiko's was still taking a concerningly long time. He wanted to eat together, so together, they bided the time chatting and conversing. Izuku did not even touch his plate.

Basashi was a cold dish. It grew colder. Eventually, an hour passed before Kamiko's portion arrived.

And when it did, it was botched up. The smell hit her before the sight did. Kamiko's nose scrunched up in distaste as the platter arrived closer.

"What is it?" Izuku asked.

She swallowed and whispered, "Chocolate. There's chocolate on the beef. It's toxic for foxes."

He had been suspicious that the chefs were intentionally delaying their order, but now he had proof. His basashi had been served properly, with soy sauce and ginger. No chef would mistake soy sauce for chocolate.

Izuku was ready to protest with the restaurant owner and a file a complaint if need be, but Kamiko tugged his sleeve, halting his rise from the seat. She shook her head, already ears sagged and tail drooped. "We paid in advance. You should eat; don't worry about me."

But Izuku was going to worry about his girlfriend. In a situation like this, there was absolutely no way he would be the only one to fill his stomach. Even Kacchan would advise against it. So Izuku pushed his plate forward until it lied in the center of the table. Picking up one slice of horse meat with chopsticks, he ushered Kamiko to open her mouth. "Really, it's fine," she denied. Yet her rumbling stomach belayed the truth. Moving the meat in her direction again, he silently told her to accept it. Wary, Kamiko brushed back a lock of her hair before obediently opening her mouth. Izuku put the meat inside and waited for her to swallow it down before readying the next morsel.

Bite after bite. Piece after piece. He shared his meal with her. If he could, he would have her eat all of it and go hungry himself. After half the platter was emptied, though, Kamiko waved off the remaining. "Thank you, Izuku, but I've had enough. May I feed you?"

Who was he to refuse? She lifted her chopsticks and repeated the process, with her as the provider and him as the recipient.

Kamiko's telltale signs of joy slowly returned. By the time the basashi was completely consumed, Izuku's ire had faded enough to consider ordering dessert from the restaurant. Just one more chance. If the chefs took longer than necessary again, he was going to follow through with the complaint.

This time, they ordered a berry parfait. Fifteen minutes tops. Izuku checked his phone every minute, checking whether the staff would continue with the same level of poor customer service like earlier.

Thirteen minutes and forty-nine seconds later, the waiter arrived with their drinks. Nothing looked different between the two parfaits. Even Kamiko did not seem to have a visceral reaction. In fact, they looked delicious. As delicious as the basashi. The waiter set his drink down first. Izuku lifted the spoon to taste the yogurt. It was just about to enter his mouth when he caught the waiter tip the parfait over Kamiko. Intentionally tip. The entire concoction splashed on her dress. Strawberries and blueberries everywhere. Yogurt tinged blue and pink with granola crumbles stained the turquoise fabric.

Fury coursed through his spine. Red lightning bolts manifested like veins as he broke the spoon in half. Tempted to jab the broken ends into the waiter's eyes, Izuku had to clamp his fist with his other hand. Not here. The waiter was a civilian, not a villain. Remember the hero's oath, he reminded himself. Protect the people. Sweet and scum, alike. No matter how much of a douchebag, if there is no criminal record, it is out of his jurisdiction to pummel one to pulp.

Izuku was ready to demand the owner of the restaurant meet him this instant, but when he caught a glimpse of Kamiko fighting back unshed tears, his resolve wavered. Later, he made a note to himself. Complaint later. Instead of confrontation, Izuku silently got up, took Kamiko's arm, guided her out of her seat, and within five seconds they were out the door.

"I'm sorry," Izuku said.

Kamiko turned to look at him. After finding a public restroom to clean off the food, they had been walking aimlessly for a while. Neither one had spoken a word since the basashi-parfait debacle, and Kamiko had not known how to initiate a conversation. Izuku gave her an opening, though. "Why? It wasn't your fault. There was no way you could have known."

"Are you sure about that? I pointed out the place. I took you there. We've spent so much time together as a couple, but I neglected to take precautions. As much as the staff is responsible, I played a role as well."

She shook her head. "You took me there with good intentions. That's what counts. The same way I took you to the fair. For as long as I could remember, I was afraid of going to festivals because of the dread of racism. But being with you gave me enough confidence to try it out. And guess what happened? Everything turned out great.

"Good experiences and bad experiences are a part of life. There is no point in avoiding them. All we can do is learn from it. That's the lesson I learned today, thanks to you."

He stared at her. She wondered if she should have rephrased her words. Kamiko just wanted to console Izuku, but with how long he was silent, doubt began to cloud her mind. Then, "I have an idea." He took her hand and turned in the opposite direction.

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere we can salvage this date."

Kamiko looked up at the sky. If she were to guess, it was late afternoon already. Wherever it was they were going, it was far. They travelled on foot. She did not dare ask why they were not going by cab or bus. In fact, she rather enjoyed this walk. They talked about normal things. Plans for next semester. College. Music school. Aspirations. Kamiko had not realized when they had moved from downtown to an apartment complex.

Finally, Izuku explained where they were. "Kamiko, I would like you to meet my mom."

Upon hearing the word 'mom,' her back straightened instinctively. She smoothed her fur and adjusted her curls. Then her gaze fell upon the ugly stain on her dress. Water had removed the morsels but could not remove the bruise purple color. "Izuku, are you sure now is a good time to meet your mother? I mean, I'm not really presentable at the moment," Kamiko hesitated.

But Izuku was much more confident than she was. "Mom won't care. She's actually been really curious to meet you in person. So much so that she refused to see the pictures we took together, saying she wants a proper introduction."

Kamiko wondered if this was how her boyfriend felt when he had met her parents for the first time. Anxious. A little scared. Self-conscious, too. She had plans of formally introducing them to one another, but things happened, so their first encounter was sort of accidental and awkward. The situation now seemed to parallel the one from back then, Kamiko noticed. A sudden change of plans.

They took the elevator. With each rising number on the digital board, Kamiko felt her anxiety levels increase with the same increments. The bell dinged. They got off. Izuku turned left. She followed, dreading what was to come with each step. Would her boyfriend's mother approve of her? Izuku did not hold anti-mutant sentiments; would his mother also treat her the same? She was so stressed that all the effort she had put into controlling her ear twitches and tail movements went to waste.

They stopped in front of a door. Izuku knocked thrice. A few seconds later, a shuffle of footsteps approached the other side of the door, asking who was there. He replied. The lock was undone. The doorknob jiggled. A bead of sweat trickled down Kamiko's temple. Her breath stilled. The door opened.

And there appeared a woman who looked nothing the way Kamiko expected.

Dark green hair and eyes just like those of her son. Yet somehow tamer. Perhaps it was the straightness of the shoulder-length locks or the acclimated sadness in her gaze. She had tied some of it back into a short ponytail, otherwise her tresses were free. The woman was shorter than her son and plus-sized, yet neither of that made her look unappealing. In fact, it was the opposite. Izuku's mother was a beautiful woman. She carried an aura of kindness and warmth so profound that it infected everything around her, including Kamiko.

Kamiko began to ponder why she was so cautious earlier. Upon opening the door, she grinned at Izuku and when she turned to Kamiko, the grin turned into a beam. Like mother, like son. Both people were so sweet.

"Izuku," the woman said, hugging her son tightly. "Who is this? She's very pretty."

Any remaining reservations Kamiko had dissipated instantly.

"Mom, this is my beloved girlfriend, Furukawa Kamiko," he replied, returning the hug just as fiercely. "Kamiko, this is my mom, Midoriya Inko."

Curiosity glimmered in his mother's eyes. "Wow. She is very tall. Taller than I had imagined."

Kamiko bowed and greeted. But Izuku's mother waved off the formalities, instead embracing her the same way she did to her son. The height difference led to the sweet woman wrapping her arms around Kamiko's thighs rather than her shoulders, but Kamiko was touched nonetheless. She reciprocated the gesture as best as she could.

Izuku's mother released her and stepped to the side to allow both of them to enter the apartment. The door frame compelled Kamiko to crane her head to safely go inside, and once inside, she still hunched her body a bit to move around. His mother immediately noticed. "I'm so sorry! Here, let me take you to the drawing room. You should be more comfortable once you have a seat."

Fortunately, the drawing room was not very far. Two lavender sofas faced opposite each other, with a wood coffee table in the center. Upon her command, Kamiko sat on one cushion, Izuku next to her, and she left to go to the kitchen to prepare refreshments.

Kamiko studied the apartment. It had a cozy atmosphere to it. Like it had been lived in for many years and witnessed many happy moments. Izuku must have spotted her observing because he asked, "So what do you think?"

"It's lovely. I like it. May I ask how long you have been living here?"

Izuku began ticking something off his fingers. Once finished, he replied, "Since I was born. There are good schools nearby and well-paying jobs in the vicinity, so those were the deciding factors for coming here."

She nodded in understanding. Kamiko tried to imagine what it was like to live in one home for so long. When she was in primary school, her parents shifted around from city to city, sometimes prefecture to prefecture. Finding work was not easy as a mutant. By the time she reached intermediate school age, her parents had reluctantly settled down. Izuku was a very lucky boy.

Just then, his mother returned from the kitchen, carrying a tray with three glasses of water and three bowls of katsudon.

The fragrance was amazing. Breaded pork cutlets deep-fried in sunflower oil. The coating of egg on top of the meat to provide an omelet element. Soy sauce - for real, this time - mirin, sugar, onions, scallions. And the dish complete with the mild scent of short grain rice. Kamiko's nose twitched in anticipation. She imagined that the aroma was her equivalent of the doors to heaven. What would happen once she put the delicacy into her mouth? Would the doors wide open?

Her expectations were not let down. Truly, the katsudon was an absolute delight. The way the flavors sizzled on her tongue. Meat perfectly cooked so she did not have to chew so hard. Egg unburnt. Rice prepared in plenty of water. Kamiko was swimming in euphoria that she almost missed the question Izuku's mother asked her.

"So, what are your goals for the future?" she had asked.

Kamiko delved into details about the music school program. Having spent quite some studying there at this point, she had some idea of what she wanted to do after graduation. Then she continued the conversation by discussing the interiors and inquiring about Izuku's youth. Her boyfriend piped in from time to time to provide clarification or his input on the subject. The discussion progressed very smoothly. Kamiko almost forgot that this was her boyfriend's mother to whom she was talking so easily to. Actually, was it not a good thing that they were on such amicable terms?

In fact, when tears began welling up in his mother's eyes, Kamiko was the first one to pull out a handkerchief from her purse. "My baby," the woman murmured, accepting the cloth to brush a stray tear away. "He's growing up so fast."

"Mom," Izuku warned. "Please, we have a guest."

"With how close the two of you are, your girlfriend will become family sooner or later." Kamiko felt her cheeks tinge. Then the sweet lady asked a question that made Kamiko want to rush into the bathroom. With a stare so serious and hands clasped like an interrogator, "When do you plan on having children?"

The piece of pork Kamiko had just swallowed lodged in her throat. She made a fist and hit her sternum, trying to get the meat out her windpipe. From the corner of her eye, she saw Izuku's face had turned a cherry red. "Mom!" he exclaimed. "Basic decorum!"

Kamiko could only imagine what shade of red her russet fur turned into. She pressed her back against the backrest to prevent her tail from flicking like a pendulum.

Izuku recovered first. Taking a deep breath, he explained to his mother how marriage was not something they had even considered yet, let alone kids. They still had their whole schooling ahead of them. Then career. Not to mention, whether the two of them were ready for intimacy. Although he did not say it, Kamiko knew that Izuku would prioritize her mental health before bringing up the topic to her. And she knew that she was nowhere near ready to progress beyond kissing.

After some time, the conversation resumed to lighter, less embarrassing topics. At least, for Kamiko. Maybe it was a mom thing, but Izuku's mother pulled out her son's baby photo album. Kamiko got up to join her on the other sofa.

Perfect, Kamiko thought to herself. A little, sweet revenge for the time Izuku looked through hers.

"This was taken on the day he was born," his mother pointed. There was drool dripping from the corner of his mouth. Together, mother and girlfriend laughed. Said object of the picture weakly complained that it was normal. "Oh, and this one is from when he turned one. Look at him showing off his teeth." Indeed, in the photo was a toddler smiling so wide to reveal all six baby teeth. With each photo, the age progressed. By the time Izuku was two-and-a-half, his All Might obsession began.

Red, blue, yellow. "Those were the only colors he would wear. And look at this one! A list of all the hero names he came up with!" Every single item had the words 'All' or 'Might' in there.

Kamiko looked up from the album at Izuku, who had stubbornly turned the other way, fiddling with a perfectly functional remote. "I like this one," she called out loudly. "All Might Junior."

Izuku dropped the remote to reach over and try to snag the album. Kamiko was faster. She caught the book and lifted it high above her head. "Nope! You saw all my baby pictures that day. It's only fair that I get to do the same, All Might Junior!"

After the whole photo album humiliation, Izuku felt overly self-conscious showing Kamiko his bedroom.

Sure, his walls were not covered ceiling to floor with All Might posters. And his bed was not lined along the edge with All Might plushies. And his glass case was not completely stocked with All Might merchandise. But there was just enough that it became glaringly obvious that his All Might worship had not faded.

Save a few All Might Junior jokes, Kamiko took it in stride. The sun was setting already, and they decided to spend a little more time together before separating. Izuku turned on his laptop and put on a movie.

However, watching it was just an excuse. Having each other's company was far more interesting than whichever romantic comedy was on the screen. Besides, Kamiko's thick fur made her a very comfortable pillow. He leaned against her front, and she began massaging his shoulders. Though she was part vixen, her movements were those of a cat making biscuits.

"Squeezy. So very squeezy," she murmured again and again. The massage, combined with the repetitive words and low volume of the movie, made Izuku's eyelids feel heavy.

Together, they fell asleep.

Izuku's mother had knocked on her son's door to ask about snacks.

But when no one responded, she creaked open the door. The lights were off, save for the dim brightness of the laptop. Within its glow, she watched her baby and her future daughter-in-law doze in bliss. They were lying on the bed perpendicular to each other, yet Izuku's head rested upon Kamiko's stomach, and Kamiko cradled him like she never wanted to let him go.

Quietly, his mother moved closer to them and turned off the laptop. Perhaps foxes retained some heightened levels of awareness even when asleep because as soon as she approached the couple, Kamiko purred. Her hand wrapped itself around Izuku's midriff, tugging him to herself. Her tail settled on his chest, and if Izuku's expression could become any more relaxed, it did.

Never mind waking them up. Izuku's mother decided that she would ask them to stay for dinner once they arose.

On the way to Kamiko's home, Izuku and Kamiko spotted a Christmas tree at a public square.

About twenty-four meters tall, every branch studded with multicolored lights. It glittered brighter than any night sky.

"Let's stop here for a second," Izuku said. "Now's a good time to exchange presents."

When planning for the date, they had mutually agreed to gift each other near the end of the outing. Kamiko agreed and began to open her purse. "I brought mine with me." Izuku searched his coat pockets.

Just then, an unexpected guest arrived. "Oooooh! What's this? Two lovebirds swapping gifts below the gigantic Christmas tree. How cliché!" Kamiko groaned internally. There was only one person in her friend circle who spoke like that.

"Etsudo, for once, can you keep the snark at a minimum?" Kamiko complained. Etsudo passed for what Kamiko thought was a scoff but sounded more like a hoarse bark. Etsudo saundered toward them, completely ignoring Kamiko's request. Instead, she slung her arm around her best friend's neck and looked at Izuku.

"So Kamiko's boyfriend," Etsudo drawled. "What did you get for our lovestruck foxy here?"

Izuku, who was still in shock until now, suddenly jolted out of his stupor and fumbled with his jacket again. "Right! Nice to see you, Etsudo. Actually, I got …" He pulled out a small package from an inner pocket. "Here it is. For you, Kamiko."

Kamiko accepted it. "Would you like me to open it now or wait until I get home?"

"Your choice," he replied. Having made her choice, she carefully unwrapped the brown and gold wrapping paper to find a fiberglass case with a seahorse showpiece. Green head, teal body, yellow stomach. The way the Christmas lights reflected off the seahorse told Kamiko it was made of ceramic. "You like animals, especially sea creatures," Izuku rambled. "I've already given you so many plushies, I thought I should do something different this time. Was searching a vintage shop, thinking about what else you might like, when I spotted this."

Kamiko could not have moved fast enough. One moment she was admiring the craftsmanship of the figurine. The next, she was hugging the life out of her boyfriend. "It's perfect! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

It was her turn to do gift giving now. Having found what she was looking for, she pulled out a very thin package from her purse. Square-shaped, covered with green and brown metallic paper. "A music CD for you. I compiled songs from your favorite artists in it, along with some of their latest pieces." There was no reason for her to feel shy, having already received a touching present herself, but she could not help but cover her face. The crackling of metallic paper being unfolded echoed in her ears. They twitched in anticipation.

Then the unsealing of the envelope. The sliding out of the CD inside.

She waited to hear something from him. Whether he liked it or not. Instead, Kamiko sensed something else. A smell. Musky. Sweet but not too sweet. Slightly spicy and a little warm. Flowery and masculine simultaneously. They say that scent is an immediate trigger for memories. Only once had Kamiko smelled something like this. Many months ago when the three of them went to a clothing store. She had worn that navy blue dress, and Izuku had a visceral reaction. The memory hit her immediately. This was the same scent as then.

Kamiko parted her fingers to peer at him through them. His face was beet red. What could have possibly incited his pheromones? She did not recall anything particularly arousing when preparing the gift. Curiosity overpowered coyness. She reached over and took the CD.

But it was no CD. It was a picture. Of Kamiko. Wearing a halter strap Mrs. Claus dress. The hem came down to her thighs, and a belt was cinched around her waist. The outfit was completed with shin-length black leather boots. Kamiko felt her own cheeks burn. A few weeks ago, she had gone shopping with Etsudo to the same clothing store to see their winter collection. When had Etsudo taken this? When had the CD been exchanged with this? She had not even realized.

By the time Kamiko whipped around to chastise Etsudo, the sly Australian shepherd was already running away. "Your vigilance needs some work, Kamiko!" Etsudo called out. "It was so easy to swap your intended gift with my prank when I put my arm around you!"

"You! Come back here!" Kamiko shouted. But by then, Etsudo had disappeared. No matter. Kamiko promised herself not to reprimand her brazen friend the next time they met. Turning to Izuku, whose blush had not lessened in the slightest, Kamiko was reminded again of her bashfulness. "I'm so sorry! Here is your actual gift!" This time, she pulled out the correct item from her purse. How Etsudo had known which wrapping paper Kamiko would use, she would inquire later.

Izuku took both and turned the photo over. "There's a message addressed to both of us."

Indeed, in handwriting bordering on chicken scratch, there was a short paragraph.

Did you know that most babies are born in either September or November? That's because most couples get super hot around the holidays. Both of you give off such bottom energy, I figured someone had to be the top. Have fun soaring in ecstasy, you two.

The note was signed with off with a smirking face emoticon.

However many shades of red there were in the color spectrum, Izuku and Kamiko experienced all of them today.

Etsudo was definitely getting that scolding.

"Do you want it?" Izuku asked, not meeting her eyes.

She looked away unsubtly, too. "Squeak! You can keep it! Squeak!"