Chapter Twenty-Nine: December 25th

A/N: Sorry Makoto is so extra in this. Also, Frosty the Snowman spoilers, so beware, lol.

Makoto wakes up in what could be deemed as either the worst or best way possible: trampled by his younger siblings. They fling themselves on his bed, pinning him to the mattress and aggressively shaking him awake.

"Wake up, Onii-chan!" They shout in unison in a sing-song voice. "It's Christmas!"

Makoto doesn't even need to open his eyes to envision the giant grins on their faces. "Come on, Onii-chan!" He hears Ran whine when he mumbles something incoherently and shoves his face into his pillow. "Mom says we can't open presents until you're awake!"

Albeit exhausted as usual, Makoto eventually complies and allows his siblings to drag him out of bed. He stumbles into his bathroom, brushes his teeth and hair, and splashes cold water on his face, wanting to feel somewhat like a human being before he left his room. When he exits the bathroom, he notices through his open window that snow is falling in flurries outside, collecting on their front porch and covering the lawn and trees in a blanket of white.

He stretches out his sore muscles by raising his arms over his head and yawns lazily before grabbing the blanket on the foot of his bed, wrapping it around his body, and trudges into the living room. Makoto flops down on a spot on the couch, getting a front-seat view of Ran and Ran, who are sitting criss-crossed by the tree, each with a present in their hands and grinning at them excitedly.

"Good morning, Makoto," His mother greets him with a kiss to the forehead, handing him a cup of steaming coffee. Makoto thanks her and takes a sip, the drink burning his tongue but delicious nonetheless.

"Mo-oom, can we start now?" Ren wails impatiently. His mother whips out her iPhone and opens the camera application, telling them they can open their presents.

The twins rip into their packages excitedly, Ren screaming when he sees the Lego set he's always wanted and Ran practically drooling at her new book. There aren't as many presents under the tree this year, but his mother somehow managed to score a good deal on some iPod Touches. Ran and Ren practically fainted at the sight of them, shouting at the ceiling a dramatic thank-you to Santa Claus.

Though Makoto didn't find Christmas as exciting as when he was a child, he loved the aura that came from the holiday. His favorite thing about the Christmas season was the happiness; the joy on his siblings' faces, the joy his mother received in response to that, even the occasional tight-lipped smile from his silent father. The magic of Santa Claus is long gone for Makoto, and Makoto always felt awkward receiving gifts from others, but he was appreciative nonetheless.

There were some presents for Makoto as well. He first opened a box filled with clothes, which he didn't mind in the slightest; he could always do with a new sweater, tees, and some pairs of jeans. He also received a book, an autobiography of a World War II survivor that caught his eye but never got around to reading, as well as a bottle of nice cologne.

Makoto forces himself to look surprised upon opening the presents even though this is his second time living through Christmas this year, thanks to Death. Judging by the jubilant expression on his mother's face, he must have sold the act pretty well.

All in all, the Christmas exchange is successful, save for a small, inevitable detail - his father. Makoto knows he's been avoiding him, but really, you couldn't blame him: after living with a parent that is virtually nonexistent in your life, you aren't going to jump and invite them back in the moment they show up. Makoto feels like it's the first time he's seen his dad in weeks.

His father looks, in a word, tired. His eyes are slightly bloodshot, possibly from staying up late working, his wire-frame glasses sitting crookedly on his nose. Anger flares in his stomach when Makoto remembers his father didn't get his mother a present the first time around, and the second time is no different. The thought puts him in a terrible mood for the rest of the morning, but an easy smile stays plastered on his face as he watches his siblings fiddle with their new gadgets.

Eventually all the discarded shreds of wrapping paper are shoved into garbage bags and the kids take their new toys to their room, the excitement of Christmas unwrapping slowly dwindling. Makoto changes into his new cranberry-colored sweater and dark-wash jeans, instantly feeling cozy in the warmth of the clothing. The rest of the day is spent watching cheesy Christmas movies while his mother starts working on the fancy dinner.

Makoto and his mother dance to bubblegum pop songs and Christmas tunes on his mother's new smart speaker system, a present courtesy of him - she absolutely loves it, and vows to use it every night when she's cooking dinner. As promised, Makoto makes the mashed potatoes, the kitchen filling with the sound of the electric whisk and her shopping up carrots for the stew.

Around four in the afternoon, Makoto hears a knock at the door. Makoto sets down the last of the plates for the dining room table and bolts to the front door, wanting to get to it before his twin siblings did. Thankfully, they are too preoccupied with Frosty the Snowman to care about their visitor, and Makoto throws open the door, revealing Haruka, holding a plate of gingerbread men cookies, flecks of snow dusted on top of his beanie and his coat.

"Hi. Um, I wasn't sure what time to come over," Haruka admits shyly, staring at the cookies. "You never told me when. Hope I'm not too early or anything..."

"It's okay," Makoto waves him off. "You had perfect timing, actually. I'm just setting the table. Oh! Sorry, you must be freezing! Come in!"

Haruka nods, whispering a soft "Sorry for the intrusion," and kicks off his snow boots, putting them neatly next to the door. He hands the plate of cookies to Makoto, who takes them, unconsciously admiring him. Eventually Haruka realizes he's staring, and he raises an eyebrow challengingly. "What?"

"Nothing, it's just..." Makoto trails off. He realizes Haruka is wearing his scarf. "You look really cute today."

The twinge of pink in Haruka's cheeks from the cold resurfaces and he can't help but smile, looking away and rolling his eyes teasingly. "Shut up," He snorts.

"It's true," Makoto insists. To him, Haruka is a walking contradiction. Cold eyes and a warm heart, chapped lips that hide an endearing grin. One thing was certain, however; Haruka Nanase is a goddamn force to be reckoned with.

He leads Haruka into the kitchen while Haruka takes a look around, drinking in every little detail. Makoto awkwardly introduces Haruka - dancing around the word "boyfriend" and deciding to leave it at "friend" for now - but his mother already knows exactly who she is.

"My, Haruka-kun, you're so much taller from when I last saw you!" She gushes. He doesn't smile, but something in his expression softens as he thanks her for the dinner invitation.

"It's no problem, honey, I heard about your parents' airport struggles. How is your mother, anyway? I haven't seen her in years. We should probably go for lunch soon, it would be lovely to catch up."

"She's fine," Haruka says. "Always busy, always working."

"Such an empowering woman, starting her own interior design company," Makoto's mother says with a prideful smile. "Well, we're happy to have you here. Please, make yourself at home."

"Anything I can do to help?"

"I think I've got it covered, honey," She shoos him off. "You too, Makoto, I'll finish the potatoes. Why don't you both go play with the kids?"

Makoto tosses off the apron he is wearing, hanging it over one of the kitchen island's chairs, and leads Haruka into the living room. "Ren! Ran!" He gets their attention. The kids look up from Frosty's melting scene, tears brimming at their eyes, when they see the unknown figure lingering by Makoto's side. "This is Haruka, my friend," He gulps at the awkwardness of the word, and Haruka tenses slightly. "He's joining us for dinner. Do you guys want to go play outside?"

The blanket flies off them and they jump to their feet. "Snowball fight!" They announce in unison, rushing to the foyer to pull on their winter clothes. Hats, gloves, and earmuffs are tugged on, snow boots are laced, and jackets are zipped up. Ren throws open the front door and races into the winter wonderland, Ran hot on his heels. Makoto and Haruka share a look before stepping outside as well, following the trail of bootprints left by Makoto's siblings.

Ren and Haruka team up, with Makoto and Ran as the enemy side. Makoto and Ran dash to the other side of the house to make the back deck their base, deciding that they'd come out swinging with a secret attack when the others would least expect it. Ran and Makoto make a supply of snowballs, waiting two minutes before they step out from under the deck. Makoto puts a finger to his lips, alerting his sister to be quiet, when suddenly a snowball hits him on the top of his head.

"Hey!" Makoto shouts, looking up to find Haruka standing at the top of the deck, a small smile on his face, waving one hand meekly. By his side, Ren is giggling mercilessly, and he tosses his own snowball, which hits Makoto in the shoulder. "Haru! Ren! No fair!"

"All's fair in love and snowball war!" Haruka shouts, thundering down the steps, Ren close behind him. They disappear to the front of the house. "Come on, onii-chan!" Ran tells him, chasing after their opponents. Figuring the plan was ruined, Makoto shrugs and trudges through the snow.

In the front yard, Haruka and Ren have built a small snow fort, tall enough for Haruka to duck behind. They're poised and ready, and the moment they spot Makoto and Ran they begin to chuck snowball after snowball.

In short, Haruka and Ren win the mini snow war by a landslide. Who knew Haruka is secretly a tactical genius. Makoto is just about to wave the white flag when his mother steps onto the front porch, calling them all inside for dinner.

They strip off their wet coats, boots, hats and gloves, the twins rushing to the crackling fire to warm up while Haruka and Makoto enter the kitchen to help with setting the table. He then notices his mother is nowhere to be found. After a moment of looking around, he hears soft, frantic talking from the hallway, hushed whispers from around the corner. He can't make out what they're saying, but his father sounds angry, and his mother desperate.

Seemingly unfazed, Haruka arranges the napkins and silverware while Makoto ignores the whispers and brings the dishes to the table, getting a whiff of the amazing smells. Eventually, his mother returns to the kitchen and takes the ham out of the oven.

"This smells so good, Mom," He gushes, grabbing some potholders and setting the ham in the center of the dining room table. "You've really outdone yourself this year."

"I want Christmas to be special," She says humbly, beaming as she brings over the casserole. "Kids!" She shouts. "Come to the table for dinner!"

Scrambling into the kitchen ensues, and the twins sit in their spots on the side closest to the window. Makoto's father enters after a minute, his hair combed back and smelling like cologne. He sits at the head of the table, tucking his napkin into his lap.

"Dinner looks amazing, Tomiko," He compliments. His mother smiles warmly and thanks him.

A glimmer of hope flickers in Makoto's chest. Maybe, just maybe, everything will go smoothly with both Haruka and his father here. Makoto would soon find to come that this is a half-hearted hope. Dinner was supposed to be perfect, yes. At least, it started out that way, but it definitely didn't end up that way.

Makoto tries to ignore the fact that he saw it from the beginning: his father looks annoyed that Haruka is here, sitting quietly in the empty chair next to Makoto. Makoto can't help but wonder if that's what his parents were whispering about before.

His mother tries to stifle encourage conversation, asking Haruka about his midterms and his mother's company. The twins banter on their own, which fills the silent void a little bit. Makoto stares at his plate of food, deciding that stuffing his face meant he didn't have to talk.

And then, the mood shifts when his dad decides to make small talk. He mentions terrible things, referring to Haruka's dad's company as a "scamming business" and how they've been narrowly avoiding the law for years. Haruka keeps a neutral expression and deflects his accusations politely, nothing less than composed as he takes small bites of the casserole.

Makoto thinks the worst is over until his dad mentions his sister's death. "I imagine everything's been rather quiet since Erika's passing," He comments. Haruka visibly tenses up, and the faintest of smiles appears on his dad's face, knowing he's struck a nerve. "My condolences for your family."

Haruka blinks slowly and swallows before nodding. "Thank you."

"But, if I'm not mistaken, you still do have a family," Makoto's dad sticks his fork into a slice of roasted ham and takes a bite. His demeanor darkens. "So why'd you come here for Christmas dinner?" He demands bluntly, impatiently.

Haruka is sheepish, but still keeping his cool. "Makoto invited me, sir," He explains in a soft voice.

His father smiles, obviously forced. "I thought it was because you had nowhere else to go for Christmas?"

Why would he touch on that so publicly? Makoto screams in his head. What kind of twisted game is he playing at?

"You're right, sir," Haruka agrees with a small nod. "Both of my parents left for Christmas this year. Makoto was nice enough to invite me over. It's been a nice change for sure."

"It's been such a pleasure to have Haruka-kun here," Makoto's mother adds. "Haruka-kun is such a sweet boy. And so good with the kids too."

"Good for the kids?" He doesn't miss a beat. "Or good for Makoto?"

"Please, Ryou," Makoto's mother begs softly, her voice strained. "We're just trying to have a peaceful Christmas dinner here."

Makoto can't seem to figure out why his dad is so disappointed - no, angry - in Haruka's presence. He's been around his dad long enough to know that when he didn't agree with something, it is deemed automatically wrong.

"I've tried to be polite, Tomiko," Makoto's father snaps. "I've done what you've asked, make pointless small talk and put on a fake smile. I've tolerated Makoto's choice of making friends with that estranged family, but enough is enough! I'm just trying to protect his reputation."

"Why are you defending me?" Makoto demands, finally daring to speak out. He looks at Haruka. His mouth is pressed into a tight line and his cheeks are read - he can't seem to decipher what Haruka could be thinking, because there is too much, it's overwhelming.

"Why are you trying to protect me now?" Makoto asks again, louder. "You clearly haven't noticed in the past that I've befriended Haruka, let alone cared."

"Makoto," His mother warns in a soft but firm tone. "Don't add to this. Your father is just trying to-"

"Trying to what, Mom? He hasn't tried in years, Mom! When's the last time he's sat down for a family dinner before tonight, helped clean up around the house, took the twins to school, held a decent conversation with one of us for once?"

"I don't want to hear you tell me how to run my own household, boy," His father tells him. "I help out plenty by being the only breadwinner of this family. Now sit your ass down. Don't ruin your Christmas dinner with your poor attitude."

"Ryou, don't be ridiculous," Makoto's mother defends him." He's made a valid point. Don't shoot down his feelings, he doesn't deserve that."

Makoto's voice cracks when he speaks again. "I don't deserve it?" He repeats. "Of course I don't! I don't deserve for him to be so against my friendship with Haru when he doesn't bother taking a chance to be a part of my life or even justify why he's against it! Haru hasn't even done anything wrong, so why would Dad be defending me?"

"Onii-chan," Ren whispers with a pout, looking scared. "Maybe you should-"

"Oh, shut up, Ren, you don't know anything. You're just a kid, so stay out of it!"

His father gasps angrily. "How dare you speak to him that way!" He booms.

"Of course you'd defend him at the drop of a hat," Makoto hisses venomously. "The twins have always been your favorite, spoiling them with gifts because you can't bother to be a real father to them. But what about me? You don't get to talk to me like a father if you don't ever act like one!"

A violent slam on the table. Silverware rattles in a cacophony of dissonant chords. The twins' heads jolt up and stare at his father in shock, watching him seethe, his hand clenched into a fist on the table. "You shut your mouth, you insolent boy. You will not talk to me like that. I provide the income for this household, I purchase all the food you eat, I pay your mother's hospital bills-"

"Because you're the one who gave her cancer!" Makoto screams at him, his voice hoarse.

His father is on his feet now, hands balled at his sides. "Fine," He says in a dangerously low voice. "All cards on the table then. Tell me what you've been dying to say."

"Did you know I have a job, Dad? I work at a bookstore, a little shop downtown. My homeroom teacher owns it. Did you know I spent all the money I earned on Christmas presents for Ren and Ran and Mom so they'd feel like they could have a real christmas, because you didn't think to buy anything? Did you know I still have my panic disorder? My insomnia's coming back too. Did you notice I barely passed my midterms this year?"

Hot tears brim at Makoto's eyes and he laughs a little, overwhelmed by the wave of emotion that's washing over him. "And you want to know how I really feel? I hate the fact that I feel like I don't have a father to go to when I'm struggling! I hate the fact I can't do anything for mom even though she works so hard to keep our household peaceful, and I don't want to cause her any more stress! I hate that you act like you don't care about us, and I hate that my friendship with Haru has become an such issue for you all of a sudden!"

Ren's voice is shaking with fear. "Onii-chan, please, just stop-"

"Don't bother, Ren," Ran tells him, her voice low.

Ren is crying now. "I know, but I just think that if maybe if Makoto calmed down, then maybe-"

"Now you're defending Papa too?" Ran accuses him.

"And you're not? why wouldn't I, Ren? It's Papa."

"But maybe Makoto's right? He shouldn't have to stop being friends with Haruka-kun or be treated differently just because Haruka's family's a little weird."

Makoto notices out of the corner of his eyes that Haruka's shoulders are sinking lower and lower. "I'm not defending him, I'm just saying he shouldn't be yelled at like this!" Ran says.

"Well, neither should Papa!" Ren insists.

"But Makoto's right! Papa hasn't given Haruka a chance. He's really nice. We just played snowball fight, Papa, I don't know why you dont like him..." Ran looks like she's going to cry now too.

"For reasons you don't need to know, Makoto," his dad finally pipes in. "We're done discussing this."

"No, we are not," Makoto retorts. "Tell me, right now, why I can't be friends with Haru."

"I told you, we aren't-"

"I don't care! I want to kno-"

"Makoto! Makoto, stop!" Haruka shouts suddenly. "I was arrested for drug use," Haruka admits to Makoto, tears pooling in his eyes. Everyone falls silent, five pairs of eyes trained intently on him. "A few years ago, freshman year, I got into some pretty bad stuff, and your dad caught me," Haruka explains, stuttering over his confession. "I went to rehab instead of going to juvie."

Makoto stares at him in shock. "Wha-" he blinks in surprise.

"I'm so sorry I messed everything up," Haruka stands up suddenly, pushing his chair back so fast he nearly tips it over. "I should just go." he says, running out of the house.

"Now look what you did," Makoto hisses at his father with so much malice he's like lethal poison is dripping from his words. "I guess that's just another reason why I'm just a huge disappointment to you right?" He laughs a little, scaring himself. "Great dinner, Mom. Merry Christmas."

And with that, he storms out of the house.