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Disclamer: Sankaku Mado no Sotogawa wa Yoru © Yamashita Tomoko
Hiyakawa x Mikado Christmas edition
Christmas Date
This winter is much colder than last year. Usually in this season, there’s so many store which sell many Christmas stuffs and make some event out there. In the book store, there’s a similar event like that. They usually give discount and more promotion about books. Mikado is the one of employee that need to do this stuff with others in book store.
’Usually I’m so busy in this season. I already said to Hiyakawa-san that I might come late to his office.’
This time Mikado already prepared some books and arrange it one by one on the bookshelf. It took several hours because he needs to arrange many books this time. He takes a deep sigh after do his job, but this is not the end. He must do other job again.
When Mikado already finished his job, he want to go to Hiyakawa’s office. It’s already past his time to come to his employer office, but he already informed Hiyakawa that he will come late, so it doesn’t matter, right? Mikado hope Hiyakawa won’t mind about this. Maybe his employer can do his own job without him around there.
But Mikado’s thought was wrong. When he arrived at Hiyakawa’s office, he can see in Hiyakawa’s desk there’s so many documents and Hiyakawa just let it be there without an intention to tidy this mess.
“Welcome, Mikado-kun. That’s quite long time.” said Hiyakawa.
“I already said that I will come late, right? And… why your desk is still messed up like this? Why you didn’t clean this up?” ask Mikado.
“That’s your job.”
“What? Okay, fine...I’ll do it.”
Mikado sighed when Hiyakawa said that and begin tidy up those documents. He asked about the schedule and Hiyakawa said they didn’t have any schedule until two weeks later. Mikado was confused, but he knows there’s a time like this. It means they have some spare time until two weeks later.
Hiyakawa remain silent when seeing Mikado tidy up those documents. Why he feels there’s something wrong within him? Hiyakawa glad can see Mikado now, but their time together was cut off so much when Mikado come late to his office. He didn’t like it. He want to spend more time with Mikado.
“Mikado-kun.”
“Yes?”
“Why did you always come late these past days?”
“I already told you that book store have been in busy time, right? And for several days, I’ll come late like this. We need to arrange many books, do some promotion and check our stocks. Moreover, there’s someone who already get their paid leave, so my schedule pretty tight.”
“Then you should do the same thing.”
“It wasn’t that simple, Hiyakawa-san.”
Mikado sighed when hear his employer’s request. He tried his best to come here and do some job, even there’s nothing much he can do here beside tidy and pile up documents. But it seems Hiyakawa still unsatisfied with that. Does Hiyakawa feel betrayed by Mikado’s other job in book store? After that there wasn’t any conversation between them, somehow it feels weird. The usual Hiyakawa will said something unthinkable but now he just remained silent. Mikado can’t tell what is on Hiyakawa’s mind.
“Hiyakawa-san.”
“Yes?”
“I will try to come on time when not busy in book store. So you didn’t need to worry about anything.” Mikado feel he need to said this to Hiyakawa.
When hear those words, Hiyakawa’s expression become more cheerful than before. “Okay. I understand.”
Is that means Hiyakawa didn’t mind with his intention? Mikado hope so, because it’ll cause more problem if Hiyakawa won’t accept this idea. Mikado try to balance his time do job in book store and here. But Mikado didn’t know that Hiyakawa is looking at something on internet.
“Going out on this weekend?” ask Mikado.
“Yes. I saw in internet if we’re busy then it’s good to have some break time and going out on weekend. It seems do something like that can make ease and good for body too.” answered Hiyakawa.
“Well, that’s right… this weekend on this year was…”
Today is 23 December. If Mikado remember, this weekend was on the same day like Christmas. Is that means that Hiyakawa want to ask him going out on Christmas day? It’s unusual things for Hiyakawa, but Mikado himself haven’t any plan on that day. He also tired and want to relax, maybe he can accept that idea. But he wants to know, why Hiyakawa ask him to go out on that day.
“Yes. This weekend on 25 December.”
“Christmas day, huh? Then why you ask me to go out with you on that day? Did you see something on internet about that?”
Hiyakawa nodded. “Yes. I saw many things to spend holiday on weekend. That was fantastic!”
Maybe that was a normal thing to do, but for Hiyakawa that was unique because he never doing something like that; moreover he never going out with someone and spend some holiday together. Mikado seeing his employer become interested in the plan makes him smile.
“So, Mikado-kun, do you want to spend holiday with me?”
“Well, that’s fine. I didn’t have any plan on that day. Where do you want to go?”
“Here.”
Hiyakawa ask Mikado to come closer and check his laptop to see what places that he wants to go. Mikado look at it and surprised when he saw those articles. There’s a big written title that a good place to spend with your partner on Christmas day. Wait! Why Hiyakawa looking up something like this on internet?
“Hiyakawa-san! Don’t search something fishy on internet!”
“Fish, fishy? Is there something wrong with that, Mikado-kun?”
“Yes! Many things! It was a place that couples usually go. Of, of course there’s so many couples out there!”
“Cou… couples? Is that wrong if we go there?”
Mikado have big sigh over there. He thought Hiyakawa didn’t think moreover about this, he can tell that Hiyakawa didn’t know what’s wrong with his own action. If two guys come to a place like that, he bet many people will fuss about it. Did something like that never cross in Hiyakawa’s mind?
“We’re not couple!”
“Is that means that you didn’t want to go there, Mikado-kun?”
“Ugh... I never say that...”
If Hiyakawa pick other normal place, maybe Mikado will agree without hesitate, but the place that Hiyakawa choose are usually visited by couples. Mikado know that place have beautiful illumination, that’s why everyone want to go there. Mikado thought that’s little embarrassing to go alone with Hiyakawa.
“Mikado-kun?”
“Ughh...,” Seeing disappointment face from Hiyakawa makes Mikado feels guilty. He didn’t have other option, huh? “Fine, we’re going there..”
“Okay! Thank you, Mikado-kun.”
How can Hiyakawa making face like a kid when Mikado allow him to go out together on Christmas day? Mikado still can’t understand his employer’s mind, but he feels relieved when seeing Hiyakawa like that. Maybe it didn’t look so bad if they only go there together to see illumination.
‘Maybe I’ll enjoy it too.’ inner Mikado.
The time has come, Hiyakawa and Mikado will go out together to spend their break time today. It’s unusual for Mikado because he didn’t have any shift today. When he asked his manager if he can have time on Christmas and his manager said if he goes with Hiyakawa, he allowed Mikado to take day off. Why it did turn out like this? But Mikado said something like that and his manager allow him to have day off.
Today was really cold, even Mikado wear sweater and scarf, he still feeling cold. Since this morning, temperature is really low. If he remember, the temperature already reach 3 celsius or already reach minus? He even didn’t know. But certainly today was really cold. Mikado said to his mother that he will spend time with his friend outside, maybe he’ll come back at night.
His mother allowed him and said to Mikado to be careful. Mikado nodded and go from his apartment. He and Hiyakawa already make appointment to meet near the meeting place, so he didn’t need to go to the office. Mikado send a text to Hiyakawa that he already leaves from his apartment. He hopes Hiyakawa won’t wait any longer.
Maybe this is the first time they make appointment like this, somehow Mikado feel nervous. But suddenly he realized, why he need to be nervous? He’s only meeting Hiyakawa and spend their time together, not more or less. He didn’t have a date with his boyfriend or something, so he didn’t need to be nervous. Wait? Why he thought Hiyakawa as his boyfriend for a second?
‘Get grip of yourself together, Mikado Kousuke! He’s not your boyfriend!’ inner Mikado who patted his own cheek.
Mikado just go straight and finally see Hiyakawa already waiting for him. He walks faster and smile when Hiyakawa look at him. Mikado didn’t even know why Hiyakawa’s expression change when seeing him.
“Mikado-kun! You’re coming.”
“Yeah, I’m here. Uhh...”
“What’s wrong? Did you hurt anywhere?”
“No, it’s just...”
Mikado see his surrounding and he already knows that many couples are coming here. Well, maybe there’s some family or friends who come here too but suddenly he feel nervous, especially when he sees those couples are holding hands. Hiyakawa turn his face to Mikado and look confused, why Mikado making such face like that?
“Are you... nervous?”
“Do, don’t said something like that, Hiyakawa-san! Let’s go.”
“Yes!”
Mikado wants to angry with himself because he’s really caution when he’s with Hiyakawa today. It’s not like they’re dating or something today. Or is just only him who aware that this place is full of couples? It’s always himself who embarrassed with such little things. Or is it because Hiyakawa didn’t know anything about this?
Hiyakawa look at his surrounding and feel amazed when seeing something that he never see this before, what a great place. When he do research in internet, he can imagine this place will beautiful and Mikado will like it. But who knows that Hiyakawa himself also like this place. If he’s with Mikado, he can experience many new things, it feels like Mikado is the one who allow him to feel emotions.
“Mikado-kun, look at this!”
Hiyakawa point out at one of store that sell many things on Christmas. Mikado smile a bit, it feels like he accompany a kid who likes to visit many stores. It’s not bad thing seeing Hiyakawa like this, or maybe Mikado prefer seeing more of this side of Hiyakawa? No one knows.
“Do you want to check that store? I think that store sell many souvenirs.”
“Souvenirs?”
“If you see it, you’ll know. Hiyakawa-san, come here.”
Mikado ask Hiyakawa to come to that store together. As they can see when entering this store, many beautiful designs in here. They really can feel Christmas’s nuance when entering the store. Whenever they see the employee, they wear Christmas outfit, one of them pretend to be Santa Claus. Of course this is normal sight since today is Christmas day. Mikado look at Hiyakawa, he can see his employer so excited seeing this store.
This is great chance to see Hiyakawa like this, Mikado as usual give his smile and accompany Hiyakawa to look around at this store. Hiyakawa looking at his surrounding and stop when he saw some lamp, maybe that’s a table lamp.
“Hiyakawa-san, do you like that table lamp?” ask Mikado.
“Li...ke? ... I don’t know.” answer Hiyakawa with confused.
“Huh? But you always look at that table lamp?”
“Because this is great thing, Mikado-kun. You can see it has unique design and the lamp is so bright.”
“Well, many store sell that item. Do you want to buy it to make our office become more bright and have some Christmas nuance?”
Hiyakawa shake his head, for him to see this thing is more than enough. “No, this is expensive. I didn’t need it.”
“You want to saving, don’t you?”
“I think I’m happy to use money to spend our time together and eat together than buy this thing.”
Mikado blink his eyes when hear those words. Why Hiyakawa can said something like that? It’s so embarrassing, Mikado try to remain calm and see other things. But actually, he’s so nervous now.
“I think I don’t need to buy that. If I can use money for other things, it’ll be good if I spend it together with you, Mikado-kun.”
“Is that so? I, I want to check other side.”
Mikado try to hide his embarrassed side and go to other side. He can see many cute things here and maybe he can buy it as souvenirs for his mother or friends. ‘This is good. Which one should I choose?’ And Mikado choose some things to buy.
Meanwhile Hiyakawa look at other side too and there’s one thing that catch his eyes, what a beautiful thing. It’s unusual to see Hiyakawa interested in that thing and he want to buy it. When both of them go to cashier, they’re surprised to see both of them buy something. But they didn’t mention what kind of things that they buy here.
After that, they come out from that store and begin to walk around again. Several minutes later, Mikado feel hungry and want to eat something. Hiyakawa agree with that and search some café that maybe still have a seat. In this day, many café already full booked. But Hiyakawa manage to find café that have seat for them.
“Let’s eat here, Mikado-kun.”
“But this place already crammed, right? Is it really okay? Maybe we should look for other place.”
“If there’s a place that was crammed, it means that place have many delicious foods. We need to try it, maybe there’s delicious meat over there.”
Mikado chuckled a bit, do they need to eat meat today? But maybe that’s good idea since meat can make body become warm. Mikado agree with Hiyakawa’s idea and they’re going to that café. Gladly they get their table so they didn’t need to wait any longer.
Mikado just realized something. Their agenda today went so smooth. The place that they visit today is just like what he saw from article that Hiyakawa showed. Did his employer try to do the same thing like in article? He amazed Hiyakawa for trying to take him to the place that maybe Hiyakawa himself never had been to.
They order foods and while waiting the food ready, they begin their talks. If seeing them like this it’s just like friends who hanging out together. Mikado is the one who more talking than Hiyakawa, Hiyakawa prefer to listen Mikado’s story. Hiyakawa didn’t have any story to tell to Mikado, so he didn’t bother to tell anything. But that’s unfair, right? Mikado also want to hear Hiyakawa’s story.
“Now it’s your turn, Hiyakawa-san.”
“Hmm, what is it?”
“I want to hear your story. What do you usually do on Christmas?”
“... Nothing. I... just thought what should I do when I’m go with you today.”
Once again Mikado can’t against Hiyakawa’s answer, his face become red than before. Does his employer likes to make him flustered? Mikado never know the answer. Hiyakawa himself just tilth his head, he thought there’s nothing wrong with his words. He looks at Mikado with confused.
“What’s wrong, Mikado-kun? Your face become red.”
“Nothing, it’s just cold!” Mikado try to hide his flustered face.
When the food is ready, both of them ready to eat. Hiyakawa smile when he seeing Mikado eat without hesitate. Mikado look at Hiyakawa who didn’t take anything and place some his food into Hiyakawa’s plate. He said Hiyakawa need to eat and can try his food. Hiyakawa smile a bit and nodded, he begins to eat while once a while looking at Mikado’s face.
Time has flied so fast and already become night. If night already comes, the lamps on the street around their surrounding begin to spark. The street become more pretty with those lamps that light up the street. Even Mikado and Hiyakawa can see all those lamps begin to switch on the same time, it’s really beautiful. Not only them but everyone who watch that lamps are so excited.
“This is beautiful.” said Mikado.
Hiyakawa take a glance at Mikado and smiled a bit, he’s sure feels something different when he spending time with Mikado. But he still didn’t know what is the meaning of feeling that he felt. Happiness? Something similar but it feels deeper than any happiness, Hiyakawa can’t understand. Those lamps and Mikado’s smile are bright for him, but this is fine. Hiyakawa didn’t hate it.
“Yes, indeed it’s beautiful. Mikado-kun, I saw in internet!”
“What?”
“If you want to become closer than before, when seeing illumination you can kiss your partner.”
“Huh?!”
What kind of article that Hiyakawa read that time? Mikado shocked just hear that. They aren’t couple, of course they can’t kissing! He bet Hiyakawa read article how to pleasure partner on Christmas day. How can he even do this to someone who wasn’t his couple? They’re not couple, right? So Mikado think this is wasn’t mean anything.
“That’s for couples, Hiyakawa-san! And we’re not couple, so we can’t do that!”
“... If we’re couple, can I kiss you, Mikado-kun?”
Oh God, what kind of question is that? Mikado’s face become red and he didn’t want to see Hiyakawa’s eyes. He feels really embarrassed by hearing those words. Hiyakawa still waiting Mikado’s answer.
“That… that still too soon.”
“Too soon?”
“I, I mean... if we’re become a couple it’s not like we can kissing that time, Hiyakawa-san. You need to consider time and place to do so.”
“Ah... I see.”
Hiyakawa nodded, it looks like he understands what is Mikado trying to say. But is that Hiyakawa really understand or not, that’s different case. Somehow Hiyakawa feel upset that he can’t do what he saw on internet, but that’s fine. As long he knows Mikado won’t do it then he never do something that Mikado didn’t like. He wants to understand Mikado’s feeling better than before.
Both of them prefer to see illumination around them, without Hiyakawa know that Mikado is looking into him. His employer words really can make his heart stop beating, but he didn’t know if Hiyakawa serious saying something like that or not. He knows Hiyakawa still can’t understand feeling so maybe it’s ambiguous to take Hiyakawa’s word seriously. But if Hiyakawa really mean what his said, maybe Mikado will…
‘What am I thinking?’ inner Mikado.
Mikado prefer to see illumination again to settle down his heart. He still wants to see beautiful illumination things around here. After several minutes, Mikado said he want to go home and Hiyakawa nodded. Maybe it’s time to go home.
“I will accompany you to our meeting place.” said Hiyakawa.
“You didn’t need to do that, Hiyakawa-san. I can go alone.” Mikado smiled to him.
“No, I want to accompany you. Can I do that?”
“… okay.”
Hiyakawa smiled and accompany Mikado go back to their meeting place at afternoon. But since before, they didn’t say anything. It looks like both of them busy with their mind, Mikado still settle his heart but he didn’t know what is Hiyakawa thinking right now. Several minutes later, they arrived at that place. Mikado look at Hiyakawa and smile a bit.
“Thank you for today, Hiyakawa-san. I’m glad that I can spend time with you.”
“You’re welcome, Mikado-kun. I’m happy… too.”
“Hnn,” Mikado took out something from his pocket and give it to Hiyakawa. “This is for you. Merry Christmas.”
“What? Is it really for me?”
“Of course, you can see I’m giving this present to you, right? Just like I told you before, Hiyakawa-san. Couples can’t do kissing right away, they can start from small things like giving each other a present, holding hands and anything. After you feel this is the right time to kiss your partner, you can do that.”
Hiyakawa blinked his eyes when receive a present from Mikado. He still didn’t understand why couples need to do this before kissing, just like Mikado said. Is there anything else they need to do before that? It’s complicated for Hiyakawa but when he sees Mikado’s face become flustered again, he knows that Mikado’s expression is cute. Hiyakawa come closer and hold Mikado’s hand. Mikado surprised and want to let go Hiyakawa’s hand but he can’t really do that.
“Why?!”
“It’s just like you said, Mikado-kun. You already give me a present so I will hold your hands.”
“Huh?! I don’t understand!”
“Me either, but I’m glad I can spend my time with you. You are really my destiny.”
For someone like Hiyakawa can said embarrassing stuff without feel embarrassed was really something. He’s surprised but that’s what makes Hiyakawa is Hiyakawa. Mikado let Hiyakawa hold his hand and he try to hold Hiyakawa’s hand too and nodded. Mikado want Hiyakawa know that he also thinks the same thing.
“Yeah… we’re destiny.”
Both of them still holding hands tightly, maybe they didn’t realize that they still in the middle of street and anyone can see them holding hands. Some people who saw them didn’t say anything, it’s not their business to do so. Mikado finally realized his surrounding and let go of Hiyakawa’s hand. He try to remain calm even his face not really show that side; Mikado’s face already red now.
“I’m going home!”
“Mikado-kun, wait.”
“What?”
“This is also for you. Thank you for give me a present.”
Mikado surprised when see Hiyakawa also give him a present. His employer doing something this? Does snow will fall today? Well, it really does. Snow already fallen since several minutes ago and Mikado still look at Hiyakawa with confused. But first of all, he received Hiyakawa’s present. Hiyakawa smiled when Mikado receive present from him.
“Thanks. I’ll open it later.”
“Okay, I hope you like it. I try to pick something that you like.”
“Really? Hiyakawa-san, you didn’t need to do this. I’m feel bad make you do this.”
“Why? I just want to make you happy.”
Mikado remains silent. That words make his heart beat faster than before, his face become red but he can’t deny he’s smiling now. For Hiyakawa, Mikado’s smile is really bright. He never seen that beautiful smile before. It looks like Mikado is really happy when he received a present. Hiyakawa feel relived, he’s still unsure about give Mikado a present but now he glad because he can see Mikado’s smile.
“Then, I’m really leaving, Hiyakawa-san.”
“Yes, take care Mikado-kun. See you again.”
“Yes. See you.”
Mikado said goodbye to Hiyakawa and go straight to his home. He didn’t know why he’s really happy when received present from Hiyakawa. Does it mean because somewhere in his heart, he wants something like this? Or is it because Hiyakawa is the one who give him a present? Wherever the reason, Mikado really appreciate what Hiyakawa do today. It seems Hiyakawa try to learn something new when go out with him today.
Meanwhile Hiyakawa still look at present from Mikado and smiled a bit. Maybe something like this is good for once a while. Hiyakawa wouldn’t mind to do anything to make Mikado happy. In order to see that beautiful smile, he willing to do more. Hiyawaka will try his best to make Mikado happy because he wants Mikado beside him.
[End]