The First Christmas

Christmas in Japan was magical. An enchanting aura ran throughout the entire of Tokyo. From the stores to the lights in the street, everyone had prepared themselves for the exciting day. Children ran across the snow, making snowmen and enjoying themselves. I found myself inside the store of a Chicken-Fried-Kernel establishment, ordering vast amounts of chicken for the large gathering we were going to have at Mister and Missus Takahashi’s home. Hiroshi was with me, but he was too preoccupied with Christmas flirtations with women at the counters to bother me.

“I would love to spend Christmas with you.” Hiroshi said in a fake-manly voice.

The girl behind the counter scoffed, irritated at his advances:

“You asked my mother out for dinner, yesterday.” The girl said, angrily.

“That’s old news! I’m right here with you now!”

The girl then tossed a cup of water on Hiroshi, drenching him. I pretended not to know Hiroshi as he slithered out of the establishment.

“I need to go change clothes, now…” He said, defeated.

“Bye, stranger!” I laughed.

I’d also purchased Misako a gift for Christmas. It was a last-minute gift on the account of my month’s-long depressive episode, but I had purchased something for her nonetheless. I hoped she would like my gift. After I received the massive order from the fast-food restaurant, I walked carefully back to the boarding-house. It was a long-trek, but I did not mind.

“David? What are you doing here?” A voice asked me.

On my left, Miss Ishihara, Misako’s mother, stood before me. She was in front of gift-wrapping stall that I passed-by earlier. She was dressed like a fashionista, one again. Even in the blistering cold, Miss Ishihara knew how to gather the eyes of men to her presence.

“I’m here to pick up the food for the party later.” I said to her.

“With no car?” She asked, “This is a long way from the house.”

“Hiroshi had to…leave…” I said, omitting the reason why he left.

Then, from behind Miss Ishihara, I saw two figures trying to hide themselves.

“Yuki? And…Misako?” I said as they failed to hide.

“Argh, we’ve been spotted, sis.” Yuki commented.

The two of them showed themselves to me: Misako was…alluring, as always. Her heavily-padded jacket and warm pants worked well together. And she wore a cutesy bear-cap to cover her head from the cold. Yuki was…well…Yuki. She wore her Karate uniform and nothing else. She was barefoot in the cold snow.

“What are you all doing here?” I asked them.

“No reason!” Misako blurted.

“Yes! We are definitely not wrapping your Christmas present right now!” Yuki failed to lie.

“Yuki…You and your loudmouth, my girl.” Miss Ishihara commented.

Miss Ishihara offered me a lift back to the house. It was an excruciatingly awkward ride back to the house. Misako and I tried to hide our gifts from one another the entire care ride. I couldn’t help but laugh at how cute she was when she was anxious.

“Don’t laugh…” She said, shyly.

“We both did last minute shopping. Don’t worry.” I confided.

Back at the house, my father sat trying to hold a conversation with Mister and Missus Mitamo. The language barrier was a hard step to get used to. Though, when Miss Ishihara saw my father, her face lit up like a Christmas tree. I saw her, for a split-second, blush at my father. I looked at Misako as I pushed her inside the house. The house was decorated with Christmas ornaments, and in the corner of the room stood a giant Christmas tree littered with presents for the kids.

“Our parents…” I whispered to her.

“I haven’t seen her like that…since my father.” Misako mutually whispered back.

Yuki found Yuta, and the two of them ran off out the house, I assume trying to terrorize a poor-soul somewhere. I handed Mister and Missus Takahashi the food, and she spoke to me:

“We have some time before the meal is ready, go and chat with Misako…somewhere else…” She told me.

I nodded, understanding her motives.

“Misako, let’s go out for a walk.” I said to her.

I pushed Misako’s wheelchair along the path outside the house. We observed the happiness and joy in the festivities from other children and families. We found a sitting area nearby so that we could converse.

“It’s so cold, are you okay?” I asked Misako.

“I am. I stole one of your jackets to wear.” She replied.

I laughed, she was turning into the three troublesome children (that includes Hiroshi, yes). We sat in silence outside, I was too nervous to speak to her, I gripped my present for her in my jacket pocket. My hands shook, with nervousness.

“Misako!”

“David!”

We said in unison. We both held out a small box that was gift wrapped for one another. We noticed our impeccable timing and laughed.

“Open mine first.” I exclaimed to her.

“No! You will open mine!” She retorted.

We decided to open them both at the same time.

“Ready? Go.” I said.

And we opened the boxes. I could not believe it. A final coincidence between us.

“Are you for real?” She asked me.

“This is too much for me.” I replied.

We laughed with tears in our eyes. We’d both purchased rings for one another. We had gone to the exact same jewellery store, and purchased promise rings. Engravings for our initials on each ring.

“You suck.” Misako teased.

“Must be fate telling us something.” I joked.

“A-Are you sure? About this?” She asked me.

“I wouldn’t want to spend the rest of my life with anyone else. The ring is my promise to return one day, and to marry you.” I spoke.

She blushed.

“My ring for you was to promise that I would always love you.” She responded.

I smiled.

And we kissed as we spent our first Christmas together.