ғɪғᴛʜ.

"Shitsureishimasu." Sho said when he went inside Fuyu's apartment. He took his shoes off and carried the paper bags full of gifts she bought earlier at the mall.

"Do you want to have some coffee first? It's only seven." She smiled at him and he nodded. He placed the paper bags at the side and he looked around.

It is not really his first time to get inside her apartment but he noticed that some things changed. The photos displayed are now changed and most of it are her photos with Gia and her family. He saw their photo last Christmas Eve.

That's right. They spent last year's Christmas Eve together. His flight to Okayama was canceled due to a snowstorm and he ended up spending his Christmas Eve with Fuyu's family. If he will be successful tomorrow, he will be able to spend his Christmas Eve with her again.

His gaze shifted on the package and bouquet she received earlier. Even though he didn't ask, he knows from who sent those to her. Perhaps, he is the only rival who can step up from her life. He is the childhood sweetheart after all.

"Take a seat, Sho. Black coffee, desho?" She served the mug of black coffee on the coffee table across the sofa bed.

"Where will you spend your Christmas Eve this time?" He asked as he took his seat. She smiled softly and took her mug of warm lemon tea before sitting besides him.

"I still don't have plans but since we got a new project this time, I might not be able to go home. How about you? You will go home?" She asked but he shook his head.

"I'll be busy with the new project. Also, will they be alright if you will not go home?" She chuckled softly and nodded.

"They will be fine. I already told them that I will not be able to go home but I'm sure I will spend New Year's Eve with them." She took a sip from her mug.

"Then, should we spend Christmas Eve together? Just like last year." He suggested, hoping that she will say yes to it.

"Sure. Where?" She placed the mug on the coffee table and then, she stood up to get the gifts. She can't gift wrap it anymore, so she bought paper bags and small blank cards for it.

"At my house. We can cook and also, can you go to my house this weekend? Let's put the Christmas tree up." Her eyes widened, can't believe that he still doesn't have the Christmas tree up.

"Yamamoto Shogo-san, one more week and it will be Christmas Eve already and yet, your Christmas tree is still not up?" She sat besides him again and placed her palms on his cheeks before squishing it.

"You know I'm busy." He tried to shove her hands away and he ended up falling on his back on the sofa bed.

"But I'm also busy. I even got the chance to put my Christmas tree up." She continued on squishing his cheeks between her palms until she fell on top of him.

"I told you—" He suddenly stopped from speaking when he noticed their current positions. She gripped on his chest gently while staring down at him.

"Fuyu." He called her and she blinked her eyes. She just noticed their positions, so she quickly sat up and cleared her throat.

"You're heavy." He mumbled and she glared at him. He took his coffee and drank some. She puffed her cheeks and then pouted.

"I'm not heavy." She sat on the carpet instead and started putting the gifts in the paper bags. He can feel her sulking, so he finished his coffee first before sitting besides her.

"Mad?" He asked as he rested his chin on her shoulder. She didn't answer and just continued on putting the gifts inside the paper bags.

"Gomen. Don't get mad." He buried his face on her back and wrapped his arms around her waist. Sometimes, he is thinking about what they are.

Are they indirectly dating or only friends? He knows that whenever they are outside the office, they are like a couple. Though Fuyu is the only person who can see him acting like that. All his soft spots are only for her. She is letting him hug her but just only that. He can't bear to lose her if he ever got out of hand.

"I'm not mad. I'm not heavy." She repeated, grumbling softly with her cheeks puffed. He snatched the gifts and paper bags away from her.

"I'll do it." He said and he's the one who finished putting the gifts inside the paper bags. She stood up and ran to her room to get a pen.

"Write the names as well." She said and gave the pen to him. He reached for it as she sat on the sofa bed again and rested her feet on his lap.

"Yes, boss." He laughed softly and then, he started asking for whom the gifts were. He wrote the names on the blank cards and then, he got a stapler to stick it there.