HANAKO LIKES THE COLOR BLUE.

Just like Papa who painted their dainty, little apartment with blue and decorated it with azure seashells. Hanako has a penchant for the color blue so that is why she let him in, let him enter her apartment with the flower petals scattered everywhere. There is no red this time at least and everything is coated by moonlight blue just like Papa would have liked, but Papa is dead now. Exactly. And it is because of that girl and to ruin her, you have to ruin this boy who has brought her a present.

( No one has brought Hanako presents since Papa died, but he can't know that, fingers pressed against pale lips sshhh! )

"Fuyumi said you lived by yourself and if you liked, you could join us for Christmas dinner," he said, his tone wary as if Hanako was a monster ready to sprung and maybe he should run far and wide ( that'd be terrible for Hanako so please don't run away please stay stay stay don't be like Mama who didn't want Hanako and Papa who promised to stay forever and ever but ended up dying please don't be like them please! ).

He hands her the present, it's placed in a stylish white paper bag and it's heavy. Hanako would usually scoff and throw harsh words, but she can't now, because she has to lodge herself in Todoroki's heart like a seedling, and then slowly let her roots tangle unto his veins, yes slowly, and then blossom like a flower ( marigolds, dandelions, sunflowers, daisies pick your poison ) on summer days, clog his arteries with pretty petals and let him suffocate until he's ready to be part of her garden where there's no sunshine, only death.

"Thanks," is the only word Hanako says, tiptoeing on the entire matter until she finds the best path to pursue.

"Your reply," he says.

"Oh," Hanako says, weighing the pros and cons of the situation. It would be beneficial in terms of getting close to Todoroki, but Christmas dinners are spent with the entire family and she can't be noticed by Endeavor. It's too risky, Hanako should decline, but there's already a rift in their relationship and it's been months since they conversed and she's standing on a rickety bridge destined to fall unto an abyss. If she declines, she's going back to where she came from and never have the chance to reach him, but crossing the bridge means facing the risky jungle where vipers nestle and lions have carved thrones from the bones of their fallen enemies. "I'm grateful for the offer, but I don't want to impose. It's your time with your family after all."

"Sis is lonely," Todoroki says, how Hanako hates the casual way he's saying things while she's drowning on maybes. "It's just the two of us. You're not imposing on anything and," he glances at the pillows scattered on the floor and the bills pinned on the wall, the flower petals on the bedsheets and the dim lightbulb, "your current location isn't really ideal for celebrating Christmas."

"I'm ignoring the negative undertones in your statement," Hanako says, her voice in the same dulcet she uses for nights at the convenience store.

Todoroki looks at her, wide eyes and guileless visage. As if he didn't say mean words and Hanako admits that she's ill mannered, but watching someone making unwitting mean remarks is somehow refreshing. "I didn't... I didn't mean to offend you or anything err... listen, my sister is really concerned about your wellbeing so please just join us for Christmas dinner?"

Hanako nods.

° ° °

r a n u n c u l u s ;
i am dazzled by your charms.