Golden December

Haruto's POV

It was late in the afternoon when my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen, surprised to see Hinata’s name lighting up with a new message.

“Hey, Haruto. Are you free tonight? There’s a Christmas event at school. Wanna go together? Just the two of us?”

I stared at the message for a moment. Just the two of us? It wasn’t like Hinata to ask something like this, but before I could overthink it, my fingers were already typing back.

“Sure! What time?”

“18:00 at the school gate. See you then!”

I put down my phone, a mix of excitement and curiosity bubbling up inside me. A Christmas event... and with just Hinata. This was new.

***

That evening, the school grounds were transformed under a soft blanket of twinkling lights and festive decorations. Strings of fairy lights hung between trees, and the sound of holiday music played softly in the background. The air was crisp, filled with the scent of pine and cinnamon.

I arrived at the gate just as the school clock chimed six. I spotted Hinata standing nearby, bundled up in a thick scarf and a wool coat. She waved when she saw me.

“You made it,” she said, smiling brightly as I walked up to her.

“Of course,” I replied, grinning back. “You don’t invite me to things like this often.”

Hinata’s cheeks flushed slightly, though it was hard to tell if it was from the cold or something else. “Well, I thought it might be fun to spend some time together before the holidays.”

We started walking, our steps in sync as we wandered through the festival. There were booths lined up with holiday games, food stalls selling warm drinks, and groups of students chatting and laughing around us. For a moment, I felt like the rest of the world faded away, leaving just the two of us in the festive glow of the night.

After playing a few games and trying some hot cocoa, we found a bench near the center of the event, taking a break to sit and enjoy the atmosphere. I turned to Hinata, curiosity finally getting the better of me.

“I thought you’d be going to the event with Rei and Haruna,” I said, sipping from my cup.

Hinata chuckled softly. “Rei’s on a vacation with her family, and Haruna... well, she’s out with her boyfriend.”

I almost choked on my drink. “Wait—Haruna has a boyfriend?”

Hinata smiled, a little amused by my reaction. “Yeah, she does. She’s been seeing him for a while now.”

“Who is it?” I asked, still processing the information.

Hinata paused for a moment before giving me a knowing look. “It’s Ren.”

My eyes widened in disbelief. “Ren!? No way!”

Hinata laughed softly at my reaction. “I thought you might be surprised. They’ve kept it pretty quiet.”

“I had no idea...” I shook my head, still trying to wrap my mind around the news. “Ren and Haruna... who would’ve thought?”

We both shared a quiet laugh, the surprise settling into a comfortable silence. Hinata glanced around, her eyes catching something in the distance. “There’s a huge Christmas tree in the center of the event. Want to go check it out?”

I nodded, standing up and offering my hand to her. “Let’s go.”

***

The Christmas tree stood tall in the center of the event, its branches heavy with ornaments and twinkling lights. It was breathtaking, its glow casting a warm, golden light on the people gathered around it. As me and Hinata stood side by side, staring up at the tree, something magical happened.

Soft, white snowflakes began to drift down from the sky, landing gently on the ground around us. I noticed first, holding out my hand to catch a few delicate flakes. “Look,” I said quietly, my voice filled with awe. “It’s snowing.”

Hinata looked up, her eyes wide as the snow started to fall in soft, silent waves. The snowflakes shimmered under the glow of the tree’s lights, creating a scene that felt almost too perfect to be real.

“It’s beautiful,” Hinata whispered, her breath visible in the cold evening air.

I remained silent for a moment, taking in the scene before me. Then, I spoke. “Thank you.”

Hinata blinked, turning to me. “For what?”

I smiled gently, my eyes still on the tree. “For making me smile.”

Hinata’s breath hitched for a second. She hadn’t expected that. “I—uh...” she stammered.

“I know it sounds cheesy,” I added quickly, scratching the back of my neck, “but I’ve been so caught up in school and everything else lately. It’s nice to just... have a night like this.”

Hinata smiled, her heart warming at my words. “I’m glad you came.”

We stood there for a while longer, the snow continuing to fall around us, turning the world into a quiet, winter wonderland. It felt like time had slowed down, leaving just the two of us in the magical glow of the Christmas tree.

***

I walked her home after the event, the night air growing colder as we neared her house. The fresh layer of snow crunched softly under our feet, adding to the quiet stillness of the night. We stopped just in front of her gate, the streetlights casting long shadows across the neighborhood.

“Thank you for tonight,” I said, turning to her with a sincere smile. “I really had fun.”

“Thank you for coming,” Hinata replied, her voice soft. She hesitated for a moment before adding, “Honestly... I didn’t expect you to accept my invitation.”

I looked at her, a bit surprised. “Why wouldn’t I? You’re my friend.”

Hinata smiled, her cheeks flushing slightly again. “Well, I’m glad you did.”

There was a brief silence, the air between us feeling heavy with unspoken words. Finally, Hinata broke the tension, her voice gentle.

“Merry Christmas, Haruto.”

I smiled warmly, my breath visible in the cold air. “Merry Christmas, Hinata.”

We shared one last look before Hinata turned and entered her house, the door closing softly behind her. I stood there for a moment longer, staring at the closed door, a soft smile lingering on my lips.

As I walked back home, the glow of the evening still clung to me, the warmth of the night’s memories settling into my chest. It had been a simple night, a festival, some games, a beautiful tree, but something about it felt special.

Something about it felt like the start of something new.

To be continued…