They went to school even though it's only half a day.
The December chill swept through the school courtyard, but inside the bustling cafeteria, it was nothing but warm chatter and laughter. Holiday decorations were everywhere—tinsel on the walls, twinkling fairy lights hanging from the ceiling, and a massive Christmas tree standing tall by the entrance. Students were buzzing with excitement for the upcoming break, everyone except Till, who was slumped in her chair with her headphones on, fiddling with her guitar pick.
“Till, you could at least try to look festive,” Luka said, flipping her blonde waves dramatically as she slid into the seat beside her. She gestured at the reindeer antlers perched perfectly atop her headband. “You’re ruining the aesthetic.”
The silver-haired girl just stared and pointed at her headphones. "Can't hear you," Till said as her eyes spotted Ivan walking towards the table.
Till sulks in her seat as Ivan cheerily passes out Christmas cards. Hyuna and Hyun-woo are busy tying a red ribbon onto Dewey’s head while Isaac films the entire scene on his phone, narrating dramatically:
“And here we have Dewey, the majestic Christmas deer. Notice the look of utter defeat on his face.”
“I’m going to burn your van,” Dewey grumbles, swatting at Isaac.
“Not before Santa does,” Hyuna chimes in, smirking.
Meanwhile, Mizi is chatting with Sua about the upcoming Christmas party. “You’re coming, right?”He asks, his voice tinged with nervousness.
Sua sips his tea, calm as ever. “Maybe.”
“Bro, just say yes,” Hyun-woo calls out, earning a glare from Sua.
Till’s eyes darted left to right, cranking up her music. "How annoying...”
Ivan hears this and exchanges a knowing look with Luka, who leans over and whispers, “Good luck fixing that.”
Ivan appeared across the table, her dark hair perfectly framed by the green scarf wrapped around her neck. She set down a small stack of Christmas cards she’d been passing out. Ivan gently took off Till’s headphones. “Come on, Till. Don’t you want to celebrate? Christmas is about fun, friends, and cookies!" Her red pupils gleamed with excitement as she pushed a card toward Till.
Till shot her a flat look, her silver hair falling into her eyes, snatching it back. “Hard pass.”
“Wow,” Mizi drawled, leaning back in his chair with a grin. “Someone’s really committed to the whole ‘Grinch’ persona.
Till rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “You all do whatever you want. I could care less.”
Ivan frowned, sliding the card back toward her bag. Her usually bright demeanor dimmed slightly, but only for a second. Determination flashed in her eyes. “Well, you’ll care by the time I’m done,” she muttered under her breath.
★ ･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ୨୧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ★
Later that afternoon, the group gathered at Io’s café, a favorite spot for students after school. The small shop was decked out in full holiday mode: wreaths on the walls, a miniature Christmas village on the counter, and garlands wrapped around every available surface. Io himself stood behind the counter, wearing an apron and a Santa hat that looked slightly crooked. Freddie, Till’s gray cat, is perched on the counter with his red bow tie that adorned his neck, lazily swishing his tail.
“Freddie looks more festive than Till,” Isaac quips, earning a snicker from Dewey and Hyuna.
“Freddie didn’t have a choice,” Till mutters, scooping the cat into her arms. Freddie purrs, nuzzling into her, and the group collectively awws.
Io, busy steaming milk, glances at Till. “You could learn from Freddie, you know. A little Christmas spirit wouldn’t kill you.” He strides towards the table, serving a hot Americano for Hyuna, who gratefully takes it. Io nudges his daughter with his elbow, “Till, are you going to sit there and sulk, or are you going to help your poor dad hang the garlands?”
Till sank into her chair, scowling as she patted Freddie. “I’m busy.”
“Busy doing what? Being miserable?" Io retorted with a teasing grin. Luka snorted into her hot chocolate, earning her a sharp glare from Till.
“You’re so funny, Appa,” Till deadpanned.
“You used to love helping me decorate,” Io said, his tone softer now. “What happened to that?”
Ivan’s gaze flickered between the two, filing that little detail away. She poked Till gently. “Maybe you could help us with the gingerbread houses instead?”
“I don’t—”
“You’re doing it,” Hyun-woo interrupted, dragging Till toward the counter, Freddie hopping off the silver-haired girl and just going back to his original spot on the counter beside Io.
Before Till can respond, Dewey accidentally trips over Hyun-woo’s foot, sending a plate of cookies flying. Hyuna catches it just in time, shouting, “Ten points for Gryffindor!”
“You’re the worst,” Dewey mutters, glaring at her. Hyuna grinned, hovering the saved plate of cookies about his head. "Nah, I'm the best."
Meanwhile, Mizi slides into the booth beside Sua. “Wanna split this hot chocolate?” He asks casually. Sua raises an eyebrow but nods, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Hyuna notices and leans toward Hyun-woo. “Think they’ll kiss under the mistletoe?”
Hyun-woo snorts. “Not unless we shove them together.”
"I'm still on the floor!" Till shouted, earning a shush from Io behind the counter, reminding her to be mindful about the other customers.
★ ･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ୨୧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ★
The chaos escalates when the group starts decorating. Mizi raised his hand to suggest an idea. "Guys, what if we team up as pairs and have a gingerbread house build off!" His liveliness filled the room as his eyes scanned the room, his eyes landing at Luka, who's the odd one out.
Io finishes his work on the counter and joins in to fill in the blank, excusing himself to help with making the gingerbread houses. "Ah! Just in time, Abeonim," Mizi greeted, scratching the back of his neck. "Hope this doesn't seem rude, but could you team up with Luka?"
"I'm not THAT lonely," Luka muttered under her breath.
Io nodded at Mizi, "Of course, and there's nothing rude about what you're saying, Mizi." Dewey pointed at the blonde and Till’s father, "No fair! They're both perfectionists, Mizi!"
"Let the round begin!" Ivan cheered. Sua, who batted an eye, whispered to her, "You're not the host." Ivan flashed an amused smirk. "Ha, you mad your man aint-" She got cut off as Sua just shoved past her. "Rude much."
★ ･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ୨୧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ★
At first, Till stood stiffly by the table, watching the others bicker over sprinkles and frosting colors. Ivan carefully prepared the gingerbread they're going to use, while Hyuna and Hyun-woo waged a frosting war that left Hyuna with a streak of green on her cheek.
“Oh, come on, Till,” Luka called out. “You’re seriously going to let Ivan do all the work?" She asked, totally not flexing her and Io's perfect and clean base.
“Not everything’s a competition,” Till muttered, but Ivan’s playful grin got to her.
“Mhm, two brains are better than one,” Ivan said softly, her tone encouraging.
With a long-suffering sigh, Till grabbed a piece that looked like a roof and some frosting. She focused intently, and when she was done, she pushed it toward Ivan without a word.
Ivan looked down at the perfectly decorated roof with red, white, and green frosting and some candies to top it all off. Her eyes lit up, and she beamed. “Till, this is amazing!”
“Whatever,” Till mumbled, and she turned away, her ears turning red.
Freddie, who was tired of watching, jumps onto the table, swiping at a frosting tube, which Isaac manages to capture on camera.
“Freddie, no!" Dewey shouts, but it’s too late—Freddie knocks a goofy motorcycle-looking cookie onto the floor, prompting Hyun-woo to declare, “Freddie’s officially part of the gang now! "
“You wish,” Till retorts, adjusting Freddie’s bow tie.
“You’re raising a menace,” Hyun-woo jokes, earning a glare from Till, who reluctantly sets Freddie down on the floor.
During the chaos, Mizi leans closer to Sua, holding up two cookies. “Which one looks better?”
Sua glances at the lopsided tree versus the perfectly piped star. “The star.”
Mizi grins. “Thanks! It’s yours.”
Sua blinks in surprise but accepts it, a faint blush dusting his cheeks.
"Mizi, you're supposed to build a gingerbread house, not make cookies for Sua," Ivan snickered behind him, earning a pinch on the cheek from Sua.
Meanwhile, Mizi is showing Sua his another attempt at a 3rd Christmas tree cookie. “What do you think?”
Sua studies the crooked icing. “It’s… abstract.”
Mizi laughs nervously. “Right. Abstract. Here, you try.” He hands Sua the frosting tube, and Sua, ever meticulous, creates a perfectly piped snowflake.
“You’re a natural,” Mizi says, grinning.
Ivan nudges Till. “Who do you think will win?”
“I dunno,” Till replies.
★ ･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ୨୧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ★
The café has been transformed into a festive gingerbread house competition arena, with tables lined up and a curious crowd of customers sipping on hot chocolate and browsing through the holiday menu. A large sign reads, "Gingerbread House Showdown—Vote for Your Favorite! ”
The pairs are lined up, ready to present their hard (and not-so-hard) work.
Mizi and Sua’s Presentation: The Cozy Cottage
Mizi and Sua step forward, their gingerbread house looking clean and simple, yet it has an undeniable charm. The house is neatly put together, with careful frosting along the edges and decorated with colorful gumdrops on the roof.
“Here’s our creation,” Mizi says, a bit nervous but proud. “It’s a simple design, but we focused on making it perfect, using classic decorations.”
Sua gives a small nod, his face stoic. “It’s functional. Solid construction.”
The audience gives a polite round of applause, with a few people nodding appreciatively at the craftsmanship.
Till and Ivan’s Presentation: The Untamed Den
Till and Ivan step up next, their gingerbread house standing proudly on the table. It's similar in structure to Mizi and Sua’s, but with a twist—literally. Ivan, in particular, had wanted to make it unique, and Till, though skeptical, had gone along with it. Icicles of frosting drip from the edges, and there’s a candy cane chimney leaning slightly to the side. The decorations are bold and colorful—too bold, perhaps, with gummy bears perched precariously on the roof. The windows are shaped like stars, and they’ve crafted tiny gingerbread figures of themselves outside the door.
“Our house is… well, different,” Till says with a half-smirk. “We tried to make it unique.”
Ivan chimes in, her voice cheerful, “We didn’t want something too perfect. It’s got character!” She steps forward with a sheepish grin. “We call it The Untamed Den. It’s a little... unconventional, but it’s got heart.”
Till snorts, crossing her arms. “It’s a mess.”
“But it’s our mess,” Ivan quips, nudging Till gently. The silver-haired girl rolls her eyes, but there’s a faint hint of a smile tugging at her lips.
The audience chuckles, some murmuring about the creative design. Luka, standing near the counter, sips her hot chocolate and whispers to Io, “That’s going to collapse any second.”
Io nods in agreement but says nothing, amusement twinkling in his eyes.
Hyuna and Hyun-woo’s Presentation: The Frosting Fiasco
The siblings’ gingerbread house barely qualifies as a house. The walls are lopsided, frosting is smeared haphazardly, and half the decorations look like they’ve been eaten mid-construction.
Hyuna grins, clearly unbothered. “We present to you... The Frosting Fiasco!”
Hyun-woo shrugs. “It’s more abstract art than architecture.”
The audience bursts into laughter, and Dewey claps loudly. “Ten out of ten for comedy.”
Hyuna bows dramatically. “Thank you, thank you.”
Dewey and Isaac’s Presentation: The Futuristic Fantasy
Dewey and Isaac step up, each of them holding their heads high as they present their creation—a large gingerbread house built to resemble a futuristic mansion, complete with neon-colored gumdrops and frosting. To one side of the house, there's a cookie shaped like a motorcycle on a cheap plastic stand, attempting to emulate a Christmas scene but failing spectacularly.
“We decided to make something unique and exotic,” Dewey announces, grinning ear to ear. “Our gingerbread house is more than just a house. It’s an experience.”
Isaac snorts, his arms crossed. “Yes, an experience of confusion. This is the future of Christmas, people.”
The audience exchanges glances, some raising their eyebrows. It’s clear that the house, while definitely an attempt at something different, looks more like a pile of poorly thought-out ideas rather than a cohesive creation. A few chuckles ripple through the crowd, but they still give the pair a half-hearted clap.
Io and Luka’s Presentation: The Architectural Wonder
When Luka and Io step forward, it’s game over. Their gingerbread house is a masterpiece of precision and symmetry. It’s a two-story structure with delicate frosting detailing every corner, gumdrop pathways leading to a perfectly piped door, and even a mini gingerbread Freddie perched on the balcony.
Luka gestures dramatically. “Ladies and gentlemen, behold! The Architectural Wonder.”
“We wanted to make something traditional, with a touch of elegance,” Io says with a warm smile, clearly proud of their work.
Luka smirks, brushing her hands off. “Perfection comes naturally.”
Io adds, “This is a combination of years of practice... and a little perfectionism.”
The crowd “oohs” and “aahs,” and Luka flashes a triumphant smile toward Mizi. “No hard feelings, right?”
Mizi crosses his arms, mock pouting. “I call bias. It’s basically a professional.”
The crowd is immediately impressed. There’s a round of applause, with many customers nodding in approval. Some even take pictures of the house.
As the last pair steps down, the audience gathers around, ready to vote for their favorite creation. Some linger by Io and Luka’s perfect house, while others look over at Mizi and Sua’s thoughtful build, and a few dare to take a second look at the chaos that was Hyuna and Hyun-woo’s "abstract" attempt.
Till and Ivan exchange a glance, a small smile on Till’s face. “Well, at least we tried something different.”
Ivan, still holding the tiny gingerbread figures of themselves, nods enthusiastically. “Yeah! And next time, we’re going all out.”
Hyuna, overhearing, grins mischievously. “Next time, I’m adding a pool and a slide to mine.”
Hyun-woo shakes his head, but his smirk says it all. “Only if you promise not to make it look like a disaster.”
The café’s customers continue to laugh and talk among themselves as they cast their votes, and for one moment, everything feels as cozy and chaotic as the holiday season should be. As the votes are tallied, the group gathers around a table, sipping on hot drinks. Ivan leans close to Till, whispering, “See? You didn’t hate it.”
Till scoffs but doesn’t argue. Instead, she glances at the gingerbread house they built together, a small smile playing on her lips.
Luka and Io won, of course, but before she can deliver her acceptance speech, Io cuts her off. “Let’s remember, this was all in good fun.”
“And to make Till less boring,” Ivan adds, earning a snicker from Hyuna.
As they bid their goodbyes to Io, Luka came to collect her price that was a free pastry from Io himself. "Hah, look at this losers," she said as she hopped in the minivan.
"Stop flexing; my eyes can't take this," Mizi cried out, Sua patting his back for support.
Till, who was squished against Ivan, looked at the very back. "It's a surprise that you guys cleaned the cargo bay," she remarked.
As chatter filled the cold air, it got dead silent once a faint meow was heard. FREDDIE?!
★ ･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ୨୧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ★
At Mizi’s Christmas party, the holiday spirit is in full swing. The group has turned the cozy living room into a mix of cheerful chaos and warm laughter.
Hyuna and Hyun-woo take over the karaoke machine, dragging Dewey and Isaac into an enthusiastic—but slightly off-key—rendition of Jingle Bell Rock.
“Dewey, you’re ruining the song!" Hyuna complains mid-verse, though she’s laughing too hard to sound serious.
“It’s called artistic interpretation,” Dewey counters, draping an arm over Hyun-woo, who looks less than thrilled.
“I didn’t sign up for this,” Hyun-woo mutters, but he’s smiling despite himself.
Sua, sitting on the couch next to Ivan, raises an eyebrow. “Hyuna’s probably just mad because Dewey’s outsinging her,” he says dryly.
“Excuse me?" Hyuna shoots back, pointing the microphone at him. “Care to prove that theory, Mr. Music Club?”
“Pass,” Sua replies with a small smirk, leaning back comfortably. Ivan hides her laughter behind her hand, while Till adds, “Coward.”
On the couch, Ivan and Till are seated with Freddie on their lap. The silver-haired girl fiddled with her phone as she texted her dad.
Text log:
APPA :]
5:41
Io:
Till-ah, I lost Freddie; have you seen him?!
Till:
It's all good, Appa. He just somehow sneaked in the minivan with us.
(A picture of Freddie sniffing the camera)
Io:
Thank goodness.
Stay safe all of you! ♡
Till:
Thanks, Appa. You as well :]
Ivan leaned against Till’s shoulder. "Aww, how sweet of you, Till-ya!" Till’s eyes widened slightly, her eyes darting at Ivan, "Stop it," turning off her phone.
After karaoke, the group decides to head outside for some fresh air and fun.
“We should make a snowman!" Mizi suggests, his eyes lighting up.
“Not just a snowman,” Ivan adds, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Let’s make the biggest snowman this neighborhood has ever seen.”
Everyone agrees, diving into the task with enthusiasm. Hyun-woo and Dewey roll the base, while Isaac helps shape the middle section. Till and Ivan work on sculpting the head, while Luka and Sua focus on gathering accessories to decorate it.
“Hyuna, stop throwing snowballs at me!" Luka groans as Hyuna cackles and lands another hit.
“It's called team-building,” Hyuna says with zero shame.
Freddie leaps around in the snow, meowing at the chaos until Sua picks him up to keep him warm. “You’re not made for snow,” Sua mutters, wrapping his scarf loosely around the cat.
Finally, the snowman comes together—giant and slightly lopsided but full of personality. Luka carefully adds a stylish scarf, Isaac places the carrot nose, and Till insists on putting a pair of sunglasses on it.
“This is art,” Mizi declares proudly.
The group huddles together for a photo with Freddie perched in Till's arms. Ivan takes the picture, her grin wide as she shouts, “Say Merry Christmas!”
Click
Back inside, the group gathers around the fireplace to warm up and roast marshmallows.
Hyun-woo holds his marshmallow dangerously close to the flames, prompting Hyuna to snatch it away.
“You’re going to burn it, idiot,” she says, only to drop her own marshmallow into the fire seconds later.
“You were saying?" Hyun-woo teases, earning a playful shove from his sister.
Meanwhile, Luka enjoys her strawberry shortcake in peace, only to find Freddie eyeing her plate. “I’m not sharing, Freddie,” she says firmly. The cat, undeterred, slinks back to Sua, who scratches his head absentmindedly while chatting with Ivan about the upcoming student council events.
As the night winds down, Mizi pulls out a deck of Uno cards.
“Fair warning,” he says with a mischievous grin. “This game will ruin friendships.”
“You’re not wrong,” Ivan mutters as she picks her hand.
The game quickly devolves into chaos, with Hyuna cackling as she slaps down a +4 card on Sua. “Merry Christmas!”
Sua glares at her but begrudgingly draws four cards, muttering, “This is why I don’t do karaoke.”
★ ･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ୨୧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ★
The Christmas spirit fills Mizi’s cozy home, where cheerful chaos reigns. The tree twinkles in the corner, adorned with mismatched ornaments that reflect each person’s contributions—a glittery star from Hyuna, a DIY garland from Till, and Luka’s insistence on perfectly symmetrical baubles. The air smells of sweet treats, cinnamon, and hot cocoa, with a plate of cookies on the coffee table, half-devoured by Dewey and Hyun-woo. The group huddles in a circle, voices buzzing with excitement.
The rules are simple—everyone drew names last week, so now it’s time to exchange gifts. Mizi sits up straight, clapping his hands together loudly to grab everyone’s attention.
“All right, let’s kick this off! You know the drill—rotation order as usual. And that means Till's up first.”
Till → Mizi
Till grabs a small, neatly wrapped box and clears her throat dramatically before handing it to Mizi. “Merry Christmas, Mizi,” she says, attempting nonchalance, though the glint in her eye betrays her excitement.
Mizi bounces in his seat like an overgrown kid, eagerly ripping the wrapping paper. His eyes widen when he reveals a Toro Inoue keychain set, each piece featuring the goofy white cat in a different quirky pose.
“Till! This is so cute! You know I love this stuff!" Mizi squeals, holding up the set for everyone to admire. He immediately attaches one to his phone, then leans over to give Till a high-five. “I swear, you get me.”
“Of course,” Till replies with a smug grin. Sua gave her a quick side-eye that didn’t go unnoticed by Ivan.
Mizi → Ivan
Next, Mizi picks up a slightly bigger box and hands it to Ivan, grinning from ear to ear. “Okay, Ivan, I wasn’t sure if this was your vibe, but I think it’s perfect.”
Ivan opens the gift carefully, peeling the tape with precision, while Luka dramatically sighs, “Just tear it open already!”
When the wrapping falls away, Ivan’s expression lights up. It’s series 2 of the novel she’s been dying to read but couldn’t find in stores.
“Mizi, you didn’t!" Ivan says, flipping through the pages as if to confirm it’s real. Her smile softens as she looks up. “This is… perfect. Thank you.”
“See? I told you I know everyone’s vibe!" Mizi says, reclining smugly.
“Careful, your head might not fit through the door,” Hyuna teases, throwing a pillow at him.
Ivan → Sua
Ivan picks up a slim box and walks over to Sua with a knowing smirk. “This one’s for you. Don’t act surprised—I always know what you need.”
Sua raises a brow as he opens the box to reveal a sleek leather wallet. Its minimalist design and high-quality finish are exactly his style.
“Not bad,” Sua says, inspecting it. For a moment, his stoic expression softens, and he adds, “I like it. Thanks.”
Ivan gives a dramatic bow. “You’re welcome, Your Majesty.”
Sua → Hyuna
Sua passes a gift to Hyuna, who eagerly tears into it without hesitation. Inside is a skincare set with all her favorite brands.
“Whoa, Sua,” she says, holding up the products like trophies. “This is the good stuff! I was running low, so you just saved me from a crisis.”
“Figured you’d appreciate it,” Sua replies, shrugging.
Hyuna leans over to ruffle his hair. “You’re so practical, it hurts.”
Hyuna→ Hyun-woo
Hyuna grabs a slightly crumpled bag and tosses it to her brother. “Here, don’t say I never did anything for you.”
Hyun-woo opens the bag and pulls out a hoodie in his favorite color, already grinning. He slips it on over his shirt and poses dramatically.
“Perfect fit! Thanks, sis,” he says, giving her a thumbs-up.
“Yeah, yeah,” Hyuna replies, smirking. “Try not to ruin it in a week.”
Hyun-woo → Luka
Hyun-woo hands a gift to Luka, who inspects it as if it’s a contract. “You better not disappoint me, Hyun-woo,” she warns, though her smirk gives away her amusement.
When she opens it, Luka pulls out a beautiful leather bag with subtle edgy details. Her eyes light up for a split second before she puts on her usual sash.
“Well, well. Look at you, stepping up your game,” Luka says, slinging the bag over her shoulder. “This is… acceptable.”
Hyun-woo chuckles. “I’ll take that as a thank-you.”
Luka → Dewey
Luka grabs a small package and tosses it to Dewey with a mischievous grin. “Here, it’s nothing fancy, but you’ll love it.”
Dewey opens it to find a custom baseball cap from his favorite team, with his name embroidered on the side.
“This is ridiculous!" Dewey laughs, immediately putting it on backward. “Ridiculously cool. Thanks, Luka!”
“I’m a gift-giving genius,” Luka replies, flipping her hair dramatically.
Dewey → Isaac
Dewey passes his gift to Isaac, who opens it with uncharacteristic care. Inside is a high-end pen set, sleek and sophisticated.
“Wow,” Isaac says, his expression softening as he inspects the pens. “This is actually… thoughtful. Thanks, Dewey.”
“Don’t get used to it,” Dewey replies, smirking. “I have a reputation to uphold.”
Isaac → Till
Finally, Isaac hands his gift to Till. “Don’t get too emotional,” he says dryly, though the corners of his mouth twitch in a rare smile.
Till opens the box to find a set of high-quality art supplies—exactly what she’s been needing for her sketches and designs.
“Oh, man,” Till breathes, running her fingers over the brushes and pencils. “Isaac, you actually listen to me? I’m impressed.”
“You’re welcome,” Isaac replies with a small nod.
Mizi claps his hands together, grinning. “Okay, everyone, now that we’ve all had our sappy moments, who’s ready for dinner and sweet desserts!?”
The group bursts into cheers, the room filled with warmth, banter, and the undeniable magic of Christmas.
★ ･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ୨୧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ★
Grateful and satisfied with the gifts, the group started dinner. The aroma of freshly cooked food filled Mizi’s cozy living room, complemented by the soft glow of the Christmas tree lights. Mizi, clearly proud of the setup, placed dishes on the table with almost artistic precision. However, his focus was frequently interrupted by Freddie, the gray cat, who sat by the corner, eyeing the feast with unwavering determination.
“Freddie, you’re not getting any of this, okay?" Mizi said sternly, pointing a finger at the cat.
Freddie stretched dramatically in response, as if claiming ownership of the entire meal.
Hyuna chuckled, leaning against the table. “Freddie’s always scheming, isn’t he?”
“Don’t let that face fool you,” Mizi replied, grinning. “If he could talk, he’d probably declare himself king of this entire spread.”
As laughter rippled around the table, the group settled in. Ivan, sitting beside Till, eagerly scooped a generous portion of turkey onto her plate, her eyes lighting up.
“Mizi, this is amazing! Seriously, top-tier dinner,” Ivan said, spooning gravy over her food.
“Beats my usual ramen,” Till added, biting into a warm roll. “Not bad, Mizi.”
Mizi beamed at the praise. “Thanks! I worked really hard on this.”
But Luka, sitting at the other end of the table, arched a brow with a knowing smirk. “Really? I’m impressed, Mizi. I didn’t think you had it in you.”
Mizi’s grin faltered as he glanced nervously at Luka. “Uh, thanks?”
Hyuna, savoring her mashed potatoes, grinned mischievously. “Mizi’s a secret culinary genius. Who knew he had all these hidden skills?”
The conversation paused as everyone glanced between Luka and Mizi, sensing her mischievous intent.
Luka leaned back, her smirk growing. “Well, it all makes sense now. I knew something was up when the turkey didn’t smell like it came straight out of the oven. Come on, Mizi—did you really make this?”
The room fell silent.
Mizi fidgeted before sighing dramatically. “Okay, fine. I might have ordered some of it. But it looks homemade, right? And it tastes great!" He raised his hands in mock surrender. “I just wanted everything to be perfect for everyone.”
The group burst into laughter.
“I knew it!" Dewey said, wiping his mouth. “That turkey looked too good.”
Hyun-woo smirked subtly. “Still pretty impressive, even if it’s store-bought.”
"It's hard to cook for this many people!" Mizi groaned, hiding his face in his hands. “I knew Luka would ruin it.”
Luka winked, snagging a bread roll. “Hey, I just like keeping things interesting. Also, props to your wallet for this feast.”
Freddie, lounging near Mizi’s feet, gave a soft meow, as if to confirm he’d known all along. Mizi sighed, tossing him a small piece of turkey.
“Fine. Next year, I’ll cook everything from scratch,” Mizi declared.
“Maybe,” Luka teased. “But now we know your secret.”
The meal continued with laughter and banter, the teasing lighthearted and warm. The group’s bond felt stronger than ever, and even Freddie seemed content, purring softly beneath the table.
“Alright, I think we all know it’s time for dessert,” Hyuna declares, pushing her empty plate away. “Who’s ready for some serious sugar?”
“Is it just me,” Hyun-woo says, wiping his mouth, “or does the thought of sugar after this feast sound slightly dangerous?”
“Danger is half the fun,” Dewey adds with a grin, clearly ready to dive into the cookies that Mizi had been saving for the occasion.
★ ･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ୨୧ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ★
Later that night, Ivan and Till decided to walk home to avoid the cramped car situation. Till carried Freddie, the red bow on the cat’s collar still intact. Ivan crouched to pet him, laughing softly as Freddie purred in approval.
“He’s not so bad,” Ivan said, looking up at Till with a playful glint in her eyes. “Kind of reminds me of someone.”
“Don’t push it,” Till muttered, but the usual bite in her voice was absent. Ivan slipped a candy cane into Till’s hand, smiling.
“You’re not such a downer after all,” she teased. “Admit it—this wasn’t the worst Christmas.”
“Freddie saved it,” Till replied, though there was a faint hint of amusement in her tone.
As they approached Io’s café, Freddie leapt from Till’s arms and darted inside. Till paused at the doorway, turning to Ivan. She held out a small card. “Merry Christmas, Ivan. And… thanks.”
Curious, Ivan opened the card. Inside was a delicate sketch of the two of them laughing under a Christmas tree. The others were faintly drawn in the background, adding depth and warmth to the scene. Ivan’s chest tightened.
“Till… this is incredible,” she whispered, her voice soft with awe.
“Don’t make it weird,” Till snapped, looking away, but a faint smile tugged at her lips.
Ivan beamed, her crimson eyes sparkling. “Merry Christmas, Till. It was really nice spending time with you.”
Till watched her go, the small smile lingering on her face. Behind her, Freddie meowed, as if to say, “You’re welcome.”
Inside the café, I looked up from cleaning the tables. “Looks like you had a great time,” he teased.
“Not now, Appa,” Till muttered, but there was no real annoyance in her tone as she joined him in tidying up.