The walk back to Sunrise Heights was a silent one, but not the heavy silence of the past. The snow was falling in earnest now, coating the quiet streets in a soft, white blanket that muffled the sound of their footsteps. Every few meters, they would pass a closed storefront or a house with glowing warm lights, reminders that the rest of the world was tucked away for the holiday.
When they reached the third-floor landing, the cold air felt sharp. Rentaro stopped at his door, Unit 301, and Rika stopped at 302. For a second, it felt like any other night—the "shift" was over, and it was time to retreat behind their separate walls.
"Wait," Rentaro said, his voice a bit raspy from the cold. He reached into his backpack and pulled out a small box wrapped in simple, silver paper. "Before you go in. It’s... for the Secret Santa thing. But mostly just because."
Rika blinked, her heart hammering against her ribs. She reached into her own bag and pulled out a box wrapped in red. "I have yours, too."
They stood in the flickering light of the hallway bulb. Rentaro took his gift first. He tore the paper with a clumsy haste, revealing a pristine box containing the Vanguard Knight figure. He stared at it, his thumb tracing the "Limited Edition" seal on the corner.
"Shinozaki... this is the one from the back of the shop," he whispered, looking up at her with a look of genuine shock. "The one with the articulation upgrades. How did you—?"
"I saw the way you looked at it," Rika said, her cheeks turning pink. "You always talk about how the 'New Vanguard' team needs a leader with a wide range of motion for your photography. I wanted you to have something that wasn't just 'functional,' but something that made you happy."
Rentaro went quiet, his grip on the box tightening. Then, he nudged his gift toward her. "Your turn."
Rika carefully unwrapped the silver paper. Inside was a small, velvet-lined box. When she clicked it open, the silver star necklace she had seen in the boutique window caught the dim light of the hallway. It was delicate, beautiful, and looked nothing like the "spare" jewelry her mother had gifted her over the years.
"You said the stars were permanent," Rentaro said, looking at his boots. "I know your family gives you stuff to make you look like a Shinozaki. I wanted to give you something that just made you look like Rika."
Rika felt a lump in her throat. She touched the tiny silver star, feeling the cool metal against her fingertip. It wasn't just a necklace; it was an acknowledgment that she existed outside of her family's shadow.
"It’s perfect, Rentaro," she whispered.
"Here," he said, stepping closer. "Let me."
He took the necklace from the box. Rika turned around, lifting her hair as she felt the cold air hit the back of her neck. Rentaro’s hands were steady, but she could feel the slight tremor in his fingers as he fastened the clasp. His knuckles brushed against her skin, sending a jolt of warmth through her that had nothing to do with the hand-warmers in her pockets.
When she turned back around, the silver star rested just above her collarbone. Rentaro didn't step back. He stayed in her space, his gaze locked on hers.
"Merry Christmas, Rika," he said, his voice dropping to a low, intimate register.
"Merry Christmas, Rentaro," she replied, her breath hitching.
The exchange was over, and the gifts were perfect, but the air between them was still vibrating with everything they hadn't said yet. They were no longer just neighbors, or rivals, or partners. They were something else entirely, standing in the quiet snow, waiting for the final wall to come down.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMrs73KLrZ
and then Add to home screen.