𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐤𝐨𝐤𝐮 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬 <3

to give, to get, and to have.

#givechuuyaaproperchristmasasagiri.

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Huddled against a building swathed in nothing but a thin, worn blanket sat eight-year-old Chuuya. Tufts of tangled, greasy orange hair poked out from underneath the faded and dirtied white fabric that was wrapped around his shivering form. Even though he'd only been living in the slums for a year, it'd taken a painfully obvious toll on his body. His ribs strained against the skin of his abdomen, and his snow-white skin had developed a layer of grime from lack of proper hygiene.

Despite his best efforts, Chuuya let out a shuddering breath, his teeth chattering together noisily as his entire body shivered. Winters in Yokohama were the worst, especially for those who remained completely homeless. The cold wind was harsh despite the awkward design of the slums, and the snow painted the bleak grounds with white. It was a miracle Chuuya had evaded frostbite for this long

As he continued to tremble, a man strode up to him, coming to a stop once he loomed over the scrawny redhead.

"C-can I h-h-help y-you?" Chuuya stuttered out, his eyes scanning the stranger up and down. He was dressed in a torn, black waistcoat, mud-stained white slacks, and fingerless black winter gloves. He had messy blonde hair that was scraggly even as the air whipped it this way and that, and his blank brown eyes burned holes in Chuuya's own.

"The blanket, I need it," the man said monotonously, holding out his hand.

"W-what!?" Chuuya stared at him, clutching his sole possession and saving grace tighter around him. "N-no! I need t-this!"

The stranger just glared back at him, then reaching into his pocket and revealing a switchblade. Before Chuuya had time to react, the silver blade was pressed up against his neck, hovering dangerously over his jugular.

"I don't think you understand, Brat. I have a two-year-old daughter, and she needs that blanket. I don't care if I gotta steal it off your frozen corpse, hand it over."

Chuuya's heart was pounding in his chest, his eyes starting to burn with humiliating tears. "B-but I- I'll freeze to d-death!"

"Does that seem like my problem, Kid?" the man sneered, applying more pressure to the switchblade. A final warning. "Look, it's Christmas, yeah? The blanket is my gift to my little girl."

At this, Chuuya hesitated, looking up at the man. "Christ..mas?"

"Yep! The season for giving," the stranger grabbed the blanket with his free hand whilst Chuuya was distracted by the awe of the newly learned holiday. "And getting."

Faster then Chuuya could blink, the blonde man had ripped the blanket off of him and was trudging away, leaving the child to freeze in the snow. He debated chasing after the man, fantasized about attacking him and taking back what was rightfully his, but he knew it would be a foolish decision. Luckily, Chuuya had managed to seek shelter in one of the many abandoned homes in the slums, covering himself with a tarp.

From that day on, Chuuya hated Christmas with a burning passion.

The next time the ginger went to celebrate the holiday, things had turned out a little bit better. Chuuya was fifteen and an honorary member of the Sheep now; he had a home, he had friends, he finally had a sense of belonging. He'd also discovered his ability, and quickly became the trump card and protector for all of the kids.

"Oi! Chuuya-kun~!" a small girl who couldn't have been older than five came running up to him, uneven brown pigtails bouncing as she ran. "What did you ask Santa Claus for~?"

Chuuya blinked at her. "Santa who..?"

"Wha!? Santa Claus, silly! You know, big fat guy, red suit, beard?" the little girl explained, placing her small hands on her hips, pouting at Chuuya's clear lack of understanding. When he showed no sign of recognition, she just sighed. "You're so weird! Well, anyway, he's the guy that delivers all the presents to the good kids! He's coming tonight and-"