Everyday Life with a Murderer

Chapter 44: Christmas

Christmas preparations were in full swing, and the apartment was filled with festive charm. Decorations from the market hung around, giving the place a warm holiday glow.

On the big day, Seiji and Hideaki spent hours in the kitchen, and their dishes turned out delicious. Seiji surveyed their work, a rare smile of pride on his face.

"We actually pulled it off," he said, holding out a hand for a high-five.

Hideaki hesitated a bit, then responded with a soft smile and tapped Seiji's hand. "Y-yes, hehe."

They settled at the table, sharing light conversation between bites of warm, flavorful dishes. Soon enough, only empty plates remained.

Seiji leaned back, noticing how full he was but also how Hideaki's appetite had left him with a noticeably rounder belly. With a small chuckle, he poked Hideaki's stomach, raising an eyebrow. "Looks like you enjoyed dinner a bit too much."

Hideaki blushed from embarrassment, "Huh!? Tch! Sh-shut up! B-besides... it's y-your cooking. What do you expect?"

Seiji gave a rare, genuine smile. "It wasn't just me, we did it together. But maybe we take it easier next time."

"Y-yeah... I'm stuffed," Hideaki replied, rubbing his stomach sheepishly.

"Well, now that we're done with dinner," Seiji said, "how about we exchange the gifts?"

Hideaki brightened, nearly jumping up to fetch his gift for Seiji. Seiji watched with a mix of amusement and fondness; despite everything, Hideaki's companionship brought a quiet sense of joy.

They returned to the table, each holding their gift. "Merry Christmas," they said in unison, handing each other the presents.

Seiji opened his gift, surprised by the weight of it. Inside, he found a bamboo mat and a hand-crafted knife. He chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Are you trying to make a sushi chef out of me?"

Hideaki flushed. "Tch! N-no, not exactly... I just thought you might like trying something new... in cooking."

Seiji gave a small nod, clearly pleased. "I see. Thanks."

Next, Hideaki opened his gift, his eyes widening at the sight of the fluffy crimson scarf. "Ooh! It's so soft!" he exclaimed, trying to wrap it around himself, though with a bit of struggle.

Seiji sighed lightly, chuckling. "Here, let me do it." He adjusted the scarf so it looked properly snug. "There. That's better."

Hideaki smiled, feeling the warmth of the scarf. "Mmm... so nice..." He reached back into the box, eyes lighting up as he found the limited edition snack set. "Oh! Special snacks!" He immediately started munching.

Seiji shook his head in mild amazement. 'He never fails to surprise me with how much he can eat,' he thought, watching Hideaki finish the entire box despite the feast they'd just had.

"Glad you liked your present," Seiji remarked, unable to hide a hint of amusement.

Hideaki, looking blissfully full and satisfied, "Mhm!" Then with a nervous smile, gazed at him. "T-thank y-you..." He said reluctantly.

Seiji returned the smile, a bit warmer than usual. "You're welcome. I'm glad it made you happy."

They sat back, surrounded by the remains of their Christmas feast. Seiji glanced around at the decorations and twinkling lights, feeling an unexpected sense of peace.

After a moment, he spoke. "You know... I'm actually grateful for times like these. With you here."

Hideaki looked over, his eyes widen from disbelief of what Seiji just said and cheeks flushing "R-really...? I..." he started nervously knead his shirt in his fingers, then he added shyly "me too... hehe."