❤ ❤ ❤

“Hanbee, can you straighten the star?” asks Keijin. “You’re the only one tall enough.”

Hanbee sighs, but rises from his position on their couch besides Suzuya. He reaches up to adjust the crooked, rainbowed star. “There.”

“Yay!” Suzuya claps his hands. “Is it present time yet?”

“Yes, it’s present time.” Mizurou agrees. 

“I’ll play Santa!” Suzuya swipes Mikage’s fuzzy red and white stocking off his head.

“Hey!” cries Mikage, but he’s laughing to show he doesn’t really mind.

 “This is for Hanbee.” Suzuya hands his best friend a small box. “From me!”

“And to Mikage, from Keijin.” A large, heavy package nearly topples Mikage.

“And Keijin, from Mizurou.” A tall, heavy box.

“To Mizurou, from Mikage.” A small, light wrapping. 

“And to me, from Hanbee!” Suzuya crows, looking at the large box peppered with holes. 

“One – two – three – go!” 

Wrapping paper flies everywhere as the young men tear into their presents. 

Hanbee leaps a mile at the Jack-in-the-box. “Suzuya! You would.”

“An astronomy encyclopedia? This is phenomenal,” gasps Mikage.

Keijin beams at his small falcon statue. “I love it, Mizurou.”

“Good.” Mizurou waves tickets to the next gaming convention. “Mikage, you’re the best.”

“Suzuya?” Keijin leans forward with anticipation.

Suzuya stares down into the box. A squeak emanates from his lips. “Hanbee!”

He bends down to lift out a snowy white kitten with red eyes. 

“It’s a Suzuya cat!” offers Hanbee. “Also albino.”

“I love it!” Suzuya shrieks as the cat buries its face in his shoulder. “I love it! It’s so cute! Oh my goodness!” 

“What will you name it?” asks Mikage.

“Mischief,” says Suzuya, stroking it with tears in his eyes. 

“Does Misaki like candy?” Suzuya looks at his pockets, which he has stuffed with Skittles, M&M’s, and chocolate. 

Hanbee pales on his way to answer their door. “My brother is super-strict on sugar.”

“So the answer is yes,” Mizurou says.

Keijin opens the door. 

“Hiiiiiiiiii!” Misaki races in, giggling. “I memorized all your names! Suzuya! Mikage! Mizurou! Keijin! Uncle Hanbeeeeeeeeeeeeee!” 

Keijin looks ill already as Hanbee’s brother and his wife hand over instructions. 

“No sugar,” they emphasize before leaving.

Suzuya looks horrified, but he doesn’t want to interfere with her upbringing. So he tries to shove his jacket in the hall closet. 

“Is that candy?” Misaki’s eyes focus, like lasers, on his pockets.

“Yes, but -”

Suzuya has to dive out of the way as Misaki barrels towards him. “Please! Please! Uncle Hanbee!” 

Hanbee sighs as Suzuya climbs onto the furniture, away from this four-year-old human monster. “We’re screwed.”

“Give it,” Mikage says.

Suzuya sighs with relief and dumps the candy onto the child’s head. It rains down upon her like amazing rain.

“I love you!” she cheers, mouth full of sugar. “Can I see your quinques?”

“Hell no,” Keijin exclaims.

“You swore.” 

Hanbee whimpers. She’ll tell her parents, won’t she? “Uh, sure.”

“Yessssss!” Misaki claps her hands innocently. 

“Here’s Beef.” Mizurou opens his briefcase. 

“Eek! I want one.”

“No,” Hanbee declares.

“Fine.” She pouts. She’s immediately distracted by the sea of candy surrounding her. “Can we make a piñata with all this candy?”

“Yes!” cheers Mikage.

“Good idea,” Suzuya adds.

Paper-mache. Hanbee winces, but he has to admit, he kinda wants to do this too. 

When Misaki’s parents return two days later, they find the Suzuya Squad’s living room coated in plaster and dyes, and candy wrappings in Misaki’s hair.