The Twelve Disastrous Days Of Christmas

December 19th

Saiki was alone at a lunch table, eating lunch. He'd gotten curry and sat down, incredibly relieved and baffled that there was no one around to be seen. He wouldn't have guessed that so randomly, he would've gotten to sit at a lunch table without Nendou's slurping and Kaidou's fantasies and Kuboyasu's... stories.

Akechi was most likely planning to join him, but- scratch that, he was waving from the lunch line. And Saiki waved back, because what was he supposed to do, ignore it? So anyway, Akechi was going to sit with him, but ordering his lunch usually took a spell, what with his indecisiveness.

He estimated a good ten minutes on his own before Akechi would join him, sit down and start talking.

At least he doesn't talk about the party.

Every single day, Saiki watched and listened as Akechi talked on and on, taking quick, messy bites here and there, and somehow miraculously finishing his food when he looked away. The talking never stopped, and Akechi never failed to leave Saiki both bemused and amused.

Not that he was complaining.

"Hey, Saiki! Whatcha getting?" asked Kaidou, sitting down in front of him.

Annoyed by you, that's what. There goes the momentary peace and quiet.

"Or actually, more importantly, who'd you get?"

...

"It definitely holds a heavy hand in what to get, so you need to be aware of the parameters."

What...?

"I had a bit of a hard time at first, trying to think of a gift, but then it came to me. It floated like a phantom to the front of my mind. It's almost like there was some sort of greater power, or mysterious force beckoning the idea into my mind. It's a good thing, too. I must thank the spirits, because I would've been a goner otherwise.

'I have no idea what you're talking about.'

"The gift exchange! Of course, I was quite amused by this simple human practice, though I definitely see the convenience of this arrangement. When I possessed the scroll that gave me the necessary information, I was shocked to see the name of one of my own comrades on it. I knew that I had to act carefully, and make sure to uphold the brotherhood we share, and seeing how our entire army was at stake, I made sure to choose wisely. In the eyes of another, it might've been seen as easy or even trivial to doubt oneself in such a situation, but I knew that the familiarity of my opponent only made it that much harder..."

...

What is he saying?

'Still don't get it.'

"Oh, that's right. I forget that while you used to be my strongest ally, Aren has recently worked to usurp your position as my right-hand man."

Ouch.

"While your powers hadn't weakened, mind you, his has been harnessed by none other than myself, allowing him to rise to the top and fight beside me," he said, wiping a literal tear from his eye. "I think you should take inspiration from him. Who knows? Maybe one day you can lead your own team."

I basically do already.

"But anyway, who'd you get?"

'I don't know. And I don't care.'

"Come on, you have to know!" Kaidou took a bite. "What'd you get on your paper?"

...

'What paper?'

"Y'know, the paper with the name on it."

...

What paper?!

"Aiura didn't give you one? Everyone got one?"

What's so special about this paper?

Saiki shook his head.

"No? I can ask her about it, but I'm sure you got one. Did you lose it?"

'No, because I didn't have it in the first place.'

This is something about the party, isn't it? Well, you're not going to get me today, Jet Black Wings. The dark forces will rain upon you swiftly and surely. Just you wait and see.

"Well, I guess I'll go ask her about it. You need it for the-"

Don't say party.

"-party."

Saiki mentally groaned.

Kaidou stood up, picking up his lunch tray and walking over to Aiura's table.

...

That didn't work out so badly after all.

For now.