Christmas— historically a religious holiday, it gradually evolved into a Western family celebration, a time for relatives to come together. In non-Western regions where Christmas isn't originally native, it turned into an even more commercialized affair, viewed by many as a "winter Valentine's Day."
And so, on this day, Ibuki stood before her dorm-room mirror, meticulously checking her appearance.
"Hm, hair looks good—washed it an hour ago, it's nice and fluffy, all good. Clothes aren't on backwards… pockets aren't sticking out… all good. Pants the right way around… that's fine…"
"No, wait!" After ten whole minutes of mirror-gazing, Ibuki finally realized what she was doing. She pressed both hands to her head, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Why on earth am I being so careful?!"
Reflecting on what she'd done that morning, she realized how unlike her usual self she was acting. She'd woken up on time, gone for her usual morning workout on the track, then rushed back to shower and wash her hair, carefully blow-drying it so it wouldn't get frizzy. Even when her arms got tired, she kept at it, aiming for a smooth, straight finish.
Then she'd spent ages rummaging through her wardrobe: 'that piece was too boyish; this one not quite right'. It took forever to pick something she considered passable. Only after all this did she come to the mirror for a final check.
Didn't all that mean she was way too invested in this Christmas outing? Thinking back to when she agreed—on a whim—to Shiina's proposal for a three-person Christmas date, Ibuki wanted to travel back in time and force her past self to refuse. 'Seriously, how bizarre was that? Couples' Christmas date? Three people tagging along? Ridiculous.'
So why had she said yes? And why get up early to get ready? Ibuki stared at her reflection. The cool, cocky look that used to define her was gone. Her face, faintly red, looked more like a shy girl in love than her standard aloof self.
"Is there really any reason to be so happy…?" she muttered, embarrassed. She turned away from the mirror, unable to keep looking at herself. The more she saw, the more awkward she felt. The answer to why she agreed was likely hidden in that complaint she'd just uttered.
A sudden knock on the door spared her from further introspection. Startled, she swiftly walked to the entrance in a few long-legged strides and opened it.
As expected, it was Yukio—accompanied by Shiina.
One glance at Ibuki and Yukio felt a flash of triumph, 'Nailed it—just as I thought.' He'd suspected Ibuki wouldn't be wearing a pretty dress or anything particularly girly. And sure enough, even on Christmas, she just had on a simple baseball jacket over a casual shirt, plus short denim shorts—showing off her bare, athletic legs gleaming in the winter light. He thought the sight made her legs look especially inviting.
Ibuki paused, taken aback to see them already there. She cast a quick look at Yukio, who wore a crisp white shirt and a black overcoat. On the overcoat's left lapel, he'd pinned a small white-deer brooch. The overall look gave him the polished air of a city gentleman.
Her gaze then drifted to Shiina, and Ibuki nearly forgot to breathe. Shiina was dressed simply yet with a refined sense of layers—a cream-colored, high-neck sweater underneath, topped by a sleeveless V-neck dress. Despite its apparent simplicity, the outfit was elegantly coordinated. The wide V of the dress, offset by the sweater beneath, gave an unexpectedly substantial impression, delivering Ibuki a mental blow. A slender pastel-pink sash cinched Shiina's waist, and she wore black tights peeking below the hemline, the overall effect like a fairytale princess who'd stepped out of a storybook.
"…" Ibuki felt, somehow, completely defeated. 'What am I thinking?' She shook her head, almost like she needed to clear out negative thoughts. She'd come here to test her resolve, not to compete with Shiina in a beauty pageant.
"?" Yukio noted her strange reaction. 'My outfit's not that bad, is it?' he wondered. Why had she just looked at him and then shaken her head? He decided to just ask Shiina later if there was a problem. For now, a few words of praise: "Not bad, Ibuki. That outfit suits you."
Ibuki fought the urge to smile, forcing her face to remain stiff and aloof. "Well, you're not too shabby yourself, Yukio." But the amusement in her eyes was impossible to hide, letting both he and Shiina know she was genuinely pleased.
Shiina seemed to sense what was going on. She beamed. "Ibuki-san, do you have anything else to bring? If not, we can head out."
Renewing her resolve, Ibuki squared her shoulders. "Sure, let's go."
"Hold up," Yukio interjected, halting them just as they were about to set off. "Go change into long pants."
Ibuki was about to slip her shoes on but stopped at his words. Change? What business was it of his whether her pants were long or short? Sure, Shiina's ensemble might have overshadowed her own style, but at least Ibuki's bare legs had some visual impact. Switching to long pants would only hand Shiina an even bigger advantage. Not to mention, he just said the outfit "suited" her, so why the sudden switch?
Noticing the stubborn look on Ibuki's face, Yukio frowned back, though he didn't let up. "It's going to be colder when the snow melts. Wear something warmer."
"I… I'm not cold!" Ibuki snapped, spotting the serious crease forming between his brows. Her tone stayed defiant, but her feet had already turned around to go back in. "I just realized this baseball jacket and shorts combo doesn't look that good, so… I'm not doing it for you."
She left that half-hearted excuse in the air as she disappeared inside, heading for her closet.
While rummaging through her clothes for a pair of jeans, her cheeks felt inexplicably hot. She muttered under her breath, trying to keep her voice low enough not to be overheard in the entryway. "Hmph, if he's worried about me being cold, he should just say so. Why the big frown? Yukio, one of these days that brow's gonna stay creased…"
Little did she know, if there had been a mirror in her closet, she'd have seen a remarkable sight: Ibuki scolding him aloud with one breath, while a broad grin spread across her face because of his concern.
***
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