Preview:

"Okay, if you say so. Shall we go then?" Shirou-kun looked at you.

"Sure." You let Shirou-kun lead the way. "Which room are we in charge of?"

He chuckled. "Not exactly a room. I'm in charge of the backyard."

"Out in the cold, again, huh. Just my luck," you sighed.

"It's not that bad. Come on." And with that, you two head to the back.

_______________________

When the two Hakuren members were sure that they wouldn't be able to hear them, Nae-chan started.

"Hey, what did you do that for!" She puffed out her cheeks.

"Did you even realize that you were about to spill the secret to her?" Atsuya sighs and rub his temple.

"What are you..., ooh. You mean about Hiroto?" She asked to confirm her guess. 

"Yes," Atsuya practically growled. He was nearing his wits' end. "Why didn't you tell us about him?" He sighs.

"Hey, I didn't know that he would throw his hat in the ring, too, okay!?" She crossed her arms. "I had some suspicions when he volunteered to go along with her despite that he was lucky enough to not be tasked with anything when we did the lucky draw. Lending his gloves just confirmed it. I was planning to confirm it first then tell yo-"

"Hold on a sec," Atsuya held his finger up. "'His' gloves?"

"Yes?" She stretched the 'S.' "What, you thought those gloves were? You really think those gloves fit my aesthetic?" She rolled her eyes, to which Atsuya grunts.

"You are so annoying."

"And you, are so brash."

They both decided to just end their conversation there and got back to their work. There is a long day ahead of you...

---

"So, what do we start?" You asked, looking through the assortment of decorations. Streamers, party flags and decorative ribbons, a few balloons, too, and... is that a wreath? Why is a wreath... Oh that's right, now you remembered. Since you all spent your Christmas with family, Nae-chan suggested to celebrate Christmas together, even if just a little. Sure explained why a good chunk of the streamers are red and green. 

"There isn't much to decorate outside really. A few streamers and party flags here and there, maybe a couple of balloons," Shirou-kun grabbed a small box of streamers and hand them over to you. "We should probably start from the ledge of the roof. I'll go grab a ladder, be right back."

While waiting for him to find the ladder, you started twirling the ribbons and blew up some balloons. It didn't take too long before Shirou-kun came back with the ladder, and a person? You only know one young lad with long, silky blonde locks and pretty maroon eyes.

"Afuro-kun?" You questioned, mostly to yourself. 

"Good afternoon," he said while peeking out from behind Shirou-kun and waved. "I saw Fubuki-kun struggling to carry the ladder himself, so I came to help. But," he looked around the yard and the amount of decorations you've prepared so far. He covered his mouth with his hand but you make out a smile behind it. "I'm guessing that's not the only thing you're going to need help with."

"You guess?" You smirked and cocked a brow. "I think, no, I know  we definitely need help." You grabbed a bundle of streamers from the pile and shoved them into his arms. "Now get to work, pretty boy."

"What a slave driver," he joked and you three laughed. "You two can use the ladder first. The tree doesn't look too high, I'll manage."

"Thanks for the help again, Afuro-san," Shirou-kun thanked. Afuro-kun just did a simple nod in return. "Now," Shirou-kun looked towards you. "Let's get started?"

"Let's," you cheered. You two came to an agreement that he will be the one holding the ladder and passing you the decorations to stick up. While cutting a piece of tape to stick the bundle of balloons together, you felt a tug at your gloves and a small snipping sound. "Oh no. Please don't tell me-" You immediately looked and found a small hole on one of the gloves. 

"Something wrong?" Shirou-kun asked you.

"Uh, I might or might not cut a hole on my, well not actually mine, gloves..." You explained a showed him the glove you were still wearing on your hand. And that's when you noticed. "Oh great, the tape got stuck behind it, too."

You climbed down the ladder and took them off. Shirou-kun gestured to have him take a look at the gloves. 

"You said these weren't yours?" He asked as he inspect the damage. "Well, the tear doesn't seem too big, and the tape can be handled easily."

"Which is good, if you didn't count whose gloves these belong to specifically." He raised a brow at you. "Hiroto's. I forgot to give them back earlier," you sighed.

"He lent them?" He looked at the glove in his hand.

"Yea. Mines are still in the laundry so he let me borrow them when we were shopping," you explained. "And knowing him, these are probably high quality or something, which is another problem in... our, hands..?" you trailed off. Shirou-kun became unnervingly quiet as he stared at that glove. "Uhm, something wrong?"

That seem to knock him out of whatever trance he was in. "No, it's nothing. Just thinking about some stuff," he smiled but you could tell that it definitely didn't reach his eyes. "We'll handle them later, let's finish up the decorating first." 

Though it might've been your imagination, you could've swore that his face darkened a little when he turned his back to you to tuck the gloves away in his pocket. With some uncertainty lingering, you replied. "Yeah, you're right."

While you were confused on how to make streamers and party flags work when it's snowing, Shirou-kun seems to know what he's doing, directing you and suggest some ideas to help. When you asked him, he explained that he is used to setting up parties when it's snowing and such back home. Makes sense, he is from Hokkaido. With his help, it really didn't take long for you to finish.

"All done! Whoo!!" You cheered and admire your work. "That took less time than I expected." You slapped your hands together in front of you and looked at him. "I thank you for your guidance, Oh Great Shirou-kun."

He laughed at your antics. "It's no big deal. Besides, you were the one putting them up." You felt a warm pressure rubbing on the top of your head. "Great job up there." 

"Y-yeah... Great job for both of us, huh? Yaaay~" you stumbled a bit. He, the Fubuki Shirou, is patting your head. And, with a charming smile that you thought only existed in fairy tales. Wow. "I, should probably go... and help Afuro-kun with the tree! Right? Right." You tried to escape before he can notice your probably red face. Too bad he did.

"Your face seems to be rather flushed. You sure you don't want to take a break first?" If it weren't for the smile, bordering grin, you would've thought that he was actually worried. Dang it, he knows what's going on and is now teasing you.

"Nope! I don't know what you're talking about! Perfectly fine, yup!!" You gave a really big forced smile, hoping that he'll get off your case. Which he doesn't seem to be considering his growing smile.

"Are you absolutely sure? I won't mind escorting you-"

"NOPE. Perfectly fine." You cut abruptly, accidentally raising your voice higher which cause it to crack a little. Oh my, your shoes seem to look interesting all of a sudden.

Great move, you should've at least let him finish. Then maybe, oh I don't know, don't make yourself so obvious? Yea, you're definitely mentally slapping yourself for that one. This is the day you die of embarrassment. 

You continue to spiral down that tunnel until...

"Ahahaha..!" A laugh caught your attention. You looked up to see him holding his stomach with one hand and the other covered his mouth, he trying to suppress his laugh which totally failed cause when he tried to, you could hear him wheezing. Eventually he gave up suppressing it and the angelic laugh rang through your ears. To top it off, he had such a boyish smile. This is a sight you've never seen from the usually composed Shirou-kun. 

You knew they called him The Prince of the Snowfields, but honestly, they should've named him The Angel of the Snowfields instead. Cause it sure felt like one have descended before you, and while that was going on, you were ascending. Ascending to nirvana. 

"I, sorry..!" He wheezed out, trying to catch his breathe.

"Oh, no, it's fine. No problem, really." He continued to chuckle while smiled whole heartedly. Hmm, on second thought, the embarrassment might be worth it if it meant you get to ascend again. "Take you time. Breathe it out." Which only made him laugh more. Yup, worth it.

"O, okay... Whoo, I'm done.." He panted, a grin still stuck on his face. "Sorry, I couldn't help myself earlier. You were so cute," he wheezed. 

"Like I said no problem. Happy to know I made your day!" You added an extravagant bow, his laugh was contagious as you were laughing now, too. "But seriously, I should probably go and help Afuro-kun now."

"Yes. Here, I'll help carry the ladder." You both made your way to Afuro-kun's spot. "Oh, about the gloves earlier..."

"What about them?"

"Next time, well, if there is a 'next time,' if you need some, you can just ask me. I have a lot of spares, so, I'm more than willing to give you some. If you'd like that is.." With the way he was stumbling on his words, you could tell he was nervous. From prince charming to an absolute precious gem... Gods above, does this lad have any idea what true power he holds..?

You decided it was best to suppress your squealing internally and responded, "Really? Thanks! You are such a gentlemen..! Unlike someone else I know..." You muttered the last part for yourself, directing it to a certain striker.

"It's no problem. Just tell me whenever you want to borrow them," he smiled. "Ah, here we are. Afuro-kun!" He called out.

You looked passed him and see the tree fairly well decorated. Afuro-kun wasn't lying when he said he'll manage. "Looking good~" You admire the tree, fairy lights, streamers and all.

"Thanks. You two have good timing. I was about to get you two if I could use the ladder. I couldn't get to the higher spots." He and Shirou-kun set the ladder down.

"I'll help," you volunteered. "You'll need someone to hold the ladder down, right?"

"Yes, thank you. That'll be a great help." 

"Seems my work here is done," Shirou-kun said under his breathe. "If you need any help, just come and get me. I'll be helping the decorating inside."

"Thanks for your hard work / Great job" You and Afuro-kun said simultaneously. Shirou-kun gave you two a small wave and headed back inside. 

Once he was out of your sight, he leaned against the wall and took out the gloves he stuffed in his pocket earlier. Looking at them once more. "So this is what Shiratoya-san meant by wolf, huh?" He sighed. 

"Rare to see you so dejected." Shirou-kun looked where the voice came from. "Guessing by what you said you just now, those are the ones he lent?" The lad pointed at the gloves in his hands.

"Yes. You knew about them, Atsuya?" His grip on the gloves grew slightly tighter. 

"Nae told something about her gloves being in the laundry this morning. But I thought those gloves were lent by her, didn't expect it would be his instead," Atsuya said with a bit of a bite in the end. "So what are you going to do, Aniki?"

"Simple. I step up my game." Shirou-kun gave his brother a confident smile. "I don't plan to lose.'

"Confident, are we?" Atsuya scoffed. "Well, I don't plan to, either. You know I hate losing." He gave his brother his signature toothy smirk.

"Oh I know. Better than anyone, too." To anyone else, his brother was giving his usual "angelic" smile, as his fans like to call it, but to Atsuya? The one who have been been by his side for all these years? He could make out the challenge in his voice easily.

"Hah, challenge accepted."

__________________________________

Tori: Whoo! Another chapter done! AHA!!

Haizaki: Seems to be that you failed the promise of publishing it on January 1st though.

Tori: Wow, I thought you had my back qwq

Haizaki: I'm here to make sure you keep your word.

Tori: To be faaair, I only passed January 1st by like *looks at clock* 34 MINUTES. HAH.

Haizaki: Still January 2nd.

Tori: *whining* You're a slave driveeeer.

Haizaki: Both in the field and the heart.

Tori: I- *indescripable duck noises* I hate you.

Haizaki: I would be more surprised if he didn't even a little.

Tori: Touche.

Haizaki: Speaking of time, go to bed. Now.

Tori: NEVAH. >:0

Haizaki: Your skin routine says otherwise.

Tori: ajajajajajjajaja. FINE, you win this time *squints eyes at him*

Haizaki: I always win.

Tori: *mumbles* Say that to the episode you lost to Raimon when you were still in Seishou.

Haizaki: wHAT

Tori: NOTHING. *obviously not fake coughing* Anywaaays, thank you everyone for reading this chapter! The next part will be published tomorrow-

Haizaki: *squints eyes at Tori*

Tori: *covers his eyes* Kindly ignore him- AHEM, thank you again for reading and hope you had a great start to 2021! Stay safe ducklings, byee!

Word count: 2216
02.01.2021