Merry...and Bright...? 🎄

(A/N: "—" signals start and end of a flashback)

"Can't you guys get along for one night?" Chigiri begged, holding gifts in his arms that were wrapped pristinely.

Y/n and Raichi had been at each other's throats for the past hour. Y/n had water spilt on him, Raichi got a sandwich flung in his lap, and it was going to shit for the two of them.

"Hey!" Reo snapped, carrying a tower of presents in his own arms. "Raichi, leave him alone! It's Christmas Eve!!"

Raichi froze, turning away from Y/n and whistling to himself as if he wasn't planning to dump maple syrup into Y/n's hair.

The hosts, Ren and Aoi, were sighing every single time someone shouted at either Y/n or Raichi.

To be clear, they were only doing this because Ego was too lazy to decorate and host the event, and he also didn't want to watch over a bunch of teens.

"This is miserable," Ren mumbled to himself, sighing playfully as he put the last of the ornaments on the tree and finished placing gifts neatly underneath the tall, decorated evergreen...so he thought.

"You're going to love it soon. No doubt," Chigiri said, a small smile on his face. "Here."

Chigiri handed Ren some more boxes, offering kindly to help the brunette place them as more people came through the sliding doors of Blue Lock.

Everyone was acting like a little kid again. It was as if some of their mean and stoic facades faded in the face of a glorious holiday (not that many were serious, anyway).

After being yelled at and scolded for his antics abundantly, Y/n had disappeared into a different, isolated room. To be honest, it seemed as if he had just barely remembered he needed to do something...

It was only three days ago that the two star soccer players had tried to fit a massive tree through the puny sliding doors, which proved very difficult.

They had to ask for the help of the players to actually get it through remotely quick.

After that, everyone quickly dispersed and ran to many different locations to acquire presents. Y/n? He snuck into one of his mentors' wallets and snagged a credit card.

—

"MY BANK ACCOUNT," Ren shouted, showing Aoi how he somehow just made a 530,000 yen purchase (around 3.5k USD). "MY MONEY!"

"Where did you leave your wallet?" Aoi inquired after taking a drink of water.

"In my jacket.." Ren froze immediately, covering his mouth. "Lord give me strength.."

Aoi frowned slightly, brows furrowing. "You make millions, let the kid spend a little."

"Are you implying"—Ren turned stiffly toward Aoi—"THAT YOU HELPED HIM??"

Aoi shrugged and looked away, letting out a low whistle as he smiled slightly.

"YANAGIHARA AOI YOU SON OF A BITCH!"

With snow falling quite heavily on his hair, Y/n looked through the glass of every small shop in sight. He was in awe at all the clothes, paintings, and figures crafted so delicately that stood so beautifully within their display cases. He wanted to get things for Ren and Aoi, something for that fluffy-haired mega fan he saw on that bus, and something for his cousin.

Of course, all while using Ren's card...

He wandered throughout various clothing stores, got an over abundance of plushies, grabbed soccer gear, etcetera. He even thought ahead and bought some boxes (some assembly required) and packing tape. A roll or two of wrapping paper was of course necessary.

"Hm.." Y/n strolled through the small aisles, silently dismissing the gazes lingering on his form. "Woah."

He picked up a small, porcelain bear. He held it gently in his hand, twirling it slowly with his fingers. "Maybe..." His voice faded as he gazed at the bear, entranced by the craftsmanship. "...Gin'll like this..."

He had never experienced the gift of giving.  He always received. Received with a small "thank you" after every present. He didn't hate it. By god, no.

But he thought back to when everything kind of just went downhill. When Christmas wasn't fun anymore. When he celebrated on his own. These big parties...he wasn't invited. Only his mother. Sometimes he lit a small candle and put his chin on his arms. His body was clad with a blanket as he'd watch the candle glow, and eventually the fire would burn out and all that would be left was a charred wick.

He remembered how his eyes would follow the small flame until it disappeared. Before it was gone, he'd crack a small smile at its beauty. Truly, before returning to his stern personality, he'd think of how magnificent and special the small flame was. It was a flame that could grow brighter and bigger, but would ultimately burn out as it reached its end.

Not very Christmas-y, is it? At least once his mother got home, he'd spend time with her. Gagamaru would also always message Y/n to get the present on his bed on Christmas Eve and bring it back home to place under the tree. He remembered always apologizing for not having a gift for his cousin in return.

He cracked a smile as he thought about it. He continued to stare at the bear, relishing in how it reflected the light from above in the store so cleanly.

"It's very pretty," he mumbled. "I really hope Gin likes it."

"Yoohoo," came a voice behind him, "little guy."

Y/n jumped a little, holding the bear close to his chest. Dark skin, blonde hair, pink at the tips. Long, blonde eyelashes, thick eyeliner accompanied by knowing pink eyes. Who was this guy?

"Christmas shopping a little late, aren't you?" The boy said, his taller stature quite evident as he looked down at Y/n. "Anyways, I was sent here to get you."

"How'd you know I was here in particular?" Y/n replied skeptically. "And who even are you?"

"Name's Shidou," the boy—now known as Shidou—replied. He then put a finger to his lips and hushed Y/n. "And we don't disclose that information."

Y/n raised a brow and turned to go check out.

"Sooo..." Shidou cooed, looming over Y/n's shoulder as he followed him. "How'd you manage to spend over 530k yen in a single night?"

"Gifts," Y/n replied hastily.

"You don't look like the type to give gifts."

"Yeah well I do," his voice dropped to a whisper. "At least this year."

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

—

Y/n was wrapping gifts in a separate room. At least...he was trying to... He had tape on his fingers and wrapping paper everywhere. He had never really wrapped gifts before. If he had, it was probably years ago and he'd definitely have forgotten.

He tried to pick a small piece of tape off of one of his fingers, and it only ended up getting stuck on his other hand. He groaned, and resorted to using his teeth to get the tape off.

"Having trouble?" An unfamiliar voice echoed throughout the empty room.

"No, I'm fine," Y/n responded, his back turned to the person as he leaned over the gift on the couch, tongue peeking out from between his lips in concentration.

"You're covered in tape." A hand was placed gently on his shoulder.

He shook off the hand. Ultimately, he did need help. Would he admit that fact? Absolutely not. He was bound and determined to figure this wrapping thing out.

"You know, king," the boy started, "wrapping gifts at seven at night on Christmas Eve isn't the smartest thing to do. Let me help."

Pale hands grabbed the gift in front of Y/n, and the latter looked up. He was met by pink hair and pink eyes, but behind him was shaggy—yet fluffy—black hair. Behind that hair peeked a single teal eye.

"Niko," Chigiri said to the smaller boy behind him, "take this and set it over there."

Chigiri looked back at Y/n. "Let's get these wrapped, yeah?"

🥀🥀🥀

"I just wanna see my baby..."

Ren plugged in lights, successfully illuminating the giant room as well as the oversized tree.

"...standing right outside my door..."

From a giant speaker on a nearby table came an abundance of Christmas songs. Ren looked over at a boy he now knew as Barou, and flashed a smile.

"Oh, I just want you for my own..."

Barou was cleaning like a freak. He placed food down neatly and nicely, finished setting up tables, and even cracked a tiny smile at the decorations he decided to put up last minute.

"...more than you could ever know..."

Odd enough, Rin and Aryu had offered to help clean and place small trinkets. Aryu was focused on making everything as glamorous and fabulous as possible, placing his hair behind his ears every so often.

"Make my wish come true..."

Rin placed and lit long, unscented white candles in a mock gold stand on red tablecloths and placed silverware beside each dish that didn't have one.

"Baby all I want for Christmas..."

Aoi got the beverages out, and even prepared a few cups for the little crew that had been established with very little time left.

"Is you!"

Through the doors came every single Blue Lock player that hadn't been disqualified. Y/n and Raichi fought as they entered, Nagi and Reo at Y/n's side. Gagamaru was trying to separate the small fight with Kunigami's help, and Niko followed close behind.

Anri had unexpectedly entered last, a camera in her hands. She smiled slightly, laughing at everyone's antics.

Once on his own, Y/n admired the effort put into every single decoration placement. He forgot the last time he'd attended a big party like this.

Everyone seemed so united. So...friendly. He was wished a Merry Christmas by nearly everyone in the room. He had never really experienced so much hospitality, and never experienced anything so special and big in a few years.

He nearly cried at the sight of people being so nice to each other. People being so nice to him. Nagi came up and surprised Y/n with a hug and then left for Reo, Gagamaru spoke with him for a bit, and many came over and messed up his hair which he reluctantly allowed.

That was until a rather peculiar mega fan walked up behind him, and contemplated about actually talking to Y/n.

"Hey," Niko said, voice quivering. He had a small box in his hands. "Merry Christmas, Y/n..."

Y/n looked at Niko in bewilderment. "For me?"

Niko nodded. "Don't snitch, 'cause we're not supposed to be giving out gifts yet..."

He looked up at Niko. "I... Thank you.."

Shidou came out of nowhere and set his hands firmly on Y/n's shoulders, humming in delight. "Merry Christmas. You think someone'll wrap you up in ribbon and put you on my bed later?"

Y/n staggered forward and shuddered, wiping imaginary dust off his shoulders. "Weirdo..."

Y/n was then pulled away and forced to sit at the long table centered in the middle of the room with a lot of food set neatly on it. The plates of ham and turkey were attacked almost immediately, as well as many other dishes. Some laughed at the eagerness of their fellow players, and others sat befuddled by how people could be so unkempt.

"Hey," Chigiri said, nudging Y/n, "when everyone's done, we're taking a photo."

Y/n nodded as he just about finished his plate. Afterwords, he left his plate on a counter just as many had done before him.

Everyone started finishing up, and the next thing he knew he was being squished against Raichi and a white shirt had been pulled over the two.

It read "Our Get Along Shirt".

Y/n and Raichi were nearly at each other's throats as everyone around them laughed and clapped.

Anri held up the camera. "Say 'Merry Christmas'!"

"Merry Christmas!!"