Christmas With Natsuki

It's Christmas Eve in the Anon household, which means it's time to put the presents under the tree!
Anon's parents notice he's putting a lot of presents under there!
They look at the names on the wrapping!
Anon's dad smirks mischievously!
He asks who "Natsuki" is!
That's a girl's name!
Anon's dad poking fun at him for finally getting a girlfriend!
Of course he's proud as hell, too, and can't hide it no matter how hard he tries!
But wait! Anon is putting her presents under THEIR tree, which seems suspicious!
Anon swallows hard!
Realizes he forgot to tell the parents!
They might say no!
Attempts to explain the situation!
Her home life is not so great!
She's always hungry during class!
Anon leaves out the messy details, but tries his best to convey how much he cares about her!
He just wants her to have a happy, warm, loving Christmas this year!
Thankfully, they agree to let her come over for dinner!
There will simply be fewer leftovers in the fridge, that's all!
Anon is ecstatic!
He thanks them over and over!
Christmas Eve with Natsuki!
Anon excitedly texting Natsuki to tell her the news!
Asking her whether she can walk there, or whether he should ride his bike to her house so they can go together!
She's apprehensive at first!
She wants to wait before leaving the house!
Anon realizes she's probably waiting for her dad to get drunk!
He'll fall asleep and not notice her absence then!
But Anon persists!
He says his parents are already expecting her soon!
He even fibs a little!
Telling Natsuki that they've cooked extra portions just for her!
Finally she agrees to make it work somehow!
She'll meet him outside his house!
She stops responding to texts after that! Anon is a little worried!
But he chooses to trusts Natsuki!
So Anon bundles up and heads outside to wait for her on the front stoop!
He ignores his parents trying to be sneaky as they peek at him through the window!
They're excited to see what Anon's cute girlfriend looks like!
Waiting in the snow for Natsuki!
Finally Anon sees her turning the corner!
She looks chubby, or even fat, underneath all her protective layers!
Natsuki waddling down the street in heavy rubber boots and ski-pants and a fuzzy hat!
Cute!
Anon rushing to her side so she isn't lonely for even a second more!
He guides her to the front door!
Anon's parents rush to greet her as she sheds her heavy clothes at the doorway!
They act like they weren't expecting her for some reason!
Natsuki tries to play along!
She's awkward when meeting new people, especially older authority figures!
She can't act tsun around them like she does with her classmates, so she fumbles with her words!
Especially when they do kind things for her, like offer to take her coat, or to bring her a warm drink!
She doesn't know how to react to kindness from adults!
Cute (but also kind of melancholic)!
She changes the subject by offering Anon's mom some help in the kitchen!
Anon's mom agrees wholeheartedly!
Anon notices his dad looking slyly his way as the women walk into the next room!
Meeting the parents for the first time with Natsuki!
Natsuki has never seen so much food in one room before!
It's on the stovetop!
On the table!
On all the counters!
There's no room left in the oven, with all the trays being kept warm!
All the smells and colors! Natsuki stares in awe!
The small-talk is still awkward, but eventually it comes time to sit down and pray over the meal!
Natsuki meekly apologizing that she didn't bring anything!
She received too short a notice for her invitation, or else she would have!
Shooting Anon a heated stare across the table!
Anon's mom assuring her that it's all right!
Encouraging Natsuki to take as much as she likes!
Christmas dinner with Natsuki!
Natsuki helping Anon's mom with the dishes!
Anon's dad going comatose in the big recliner in front of the TV!
Anon having nothing to do for a while, but not feeling stressed about that!
He's not been this content in a long time!
He watches Natsuki's little hands working in oversized latex gloves!
Cute!
He watches her standing on tiptoes because she doesn't want to use a step-stool in front of Anon's parents!
Double cute!
When they finish, the girls wake Anon's dad!
They've agreed to exchange gifts early!
Natsuki blushes!
Once again she has been caught in unawares!
She has no presents for Anon!
Baka Anon!
Anon ensuring Natsuki, with a hush in his voice, that her smile is all he wants for Christmas!
Anon walking away before Natsuki can respond!
Kneeling near the tree and handing her the first box!
The wrapping is pink and black, and very, very cute!
Obviously not the sort of pattern Anon's parents would keep lying around for a teenaged son!
Anon buying a special wrapping which Natsuki will like, with his own money!
Natsuki almost not wanting to tear it open, realizing how special this wrapping is!
But Natsuki finally yielding to her curiosity, and opening the box!
It's some kind of luxurious spa soap!
She has never seen such pretty packaging before!
Gold ribbons!
The box looks like granite, or marble!
It smells really good, too!
Anon knows she can't always bathe at home!
Sometimes she has to shower at the school's pool facility!
But Anon doesn't think that means Natsuki doesn't deserve to feel clean and sexy!
Natsuki doesn't know what to say!
She wants to kiss Anon!
She wants to tackle Anon to the floor and wrap herself in him!
But Anon's parents are right there!
She hugs him instead!
Her "thanks" is uttered in a timid whisper, right against his ear!
Giving Christmas presents to Natsuki!
More presents!
Anon has gotten her a few "cute" things, in line with her image!
She likes the Parfait Girls pillow set!
But the best gifts of all are the ones which show her that Anon truly cares!
That he has been listening and paying attention all this time!
That he takes her seriously!
High-quality cooking instruments!
Rare ingredients from foreign countries, preserved in jars, bottles, and thick wrappings!
Anon likes the boxes his parents allow him to open early!
Natsuki wishing she could light Anon's face up with presents the way his parents do!

Anon's mom declaring that it's time to put up the stockings!
Reaching into the box and hanging them on the nails in the mantle!
Natsuki staring in shock!
She can't believe what she's seeing!
Anon bought a stocking with her name on it, and hanged it right next to his!
Natsuki realizing this is too much to handle!
Excusing herself to go to the bathroom!
Anon's mom trying to point her out to the right door, but realizing Natsuki is already gone!
Hurting Natsuki?
Anon thinks she has been gone for far too long now!
There's no way mom's cooking made her feel ill!
Anon heading down the hall, toward the bathroom!
Knowing something is wrong!
Hearing sobs through the door!
Anon wondering whether he should knock or not!
But of course he should! She's his girlfriend!
He knocks!
He hears a gasp, and a holding of breath!
She probably doesn't want him to know she was crying!
Anon asking her what's wrong through the door!
She cracks the door open!
Her cheeks are red and damp!
Her face is wrought into a shape which tears Anon's heart in half!
She sniffles and apologizes!
Anon asks her if he's done something wrong!
Maybe one of the gifts reminded her of something painful!
Maybe he said something he shouldn't!
Natsuki shaking her head!
Natsuki telling Anon the food is delicious!
The gifts are great!
His parents are the nicest ever!
In fact, no one has ever been this nice to her before!
Welcoming her into their home!
Making her feel safe!
Wanted!
Welcomed!
Not alone anymore!
She tries to explain, through her sobbing, that this is the best she has been treated in such a long time!
She loves it here!
She belongs here!
She can forget her troubles here, if just for a few hours!
She wishes she never has to leave!
Anon and Natsuki tearfully hugging in the hall!
Convincing Natsuki that everything will be all right!
Helping Natsuki to calm down!
Giving her time to wash her face and piece herself back together!
Walking with Natsuki back into the living room!
Anon's mom and dad are still there!
But there's less room to walk around, for some reason!
Everything feels more cramped!
Anon and Natsuki soon see why!
Anon's dad has pulled a cot down from the attic!
It's got a fresh blanket on it!
And an oversized set of women's pajamas!
And Natsuki's new Parfait Girls pillows!
Anon's parents telling Natsuki that she can stay the night, if she likes!
There's plenty of room!
And plenty of food!
Natsuki almost breaking down again!
Anon squeezing her hand in his, compelling her to be strong!
She seems cheerful and chipper as she eagerly accepts their!
She's so brave!

Having breakfast on Christmas Day with Natsuki!

Natsuki!
She deserves to be happy!
Natsuki!
She's the cutest!

~end~