And since this is Mori's time to shine.

Third Person PoV

" Oh, it seems we both arrived on time." Mori says to Kiyopon.

Indeed, the both of them arrived simultaneously once the clock hit 10:00 in the morning. Kiyopon was just naturally the type of person to arrive early regardless of any event, so this was nothing new to Mori. However, Mori's early arrival actually suprised Kiyopon a bit as he remembers all the times when Mori would actually arrive 10 minutes after the agreed time, so he assumed she was always the late type of person.....fortunately, it seems today was different.

" Early, aren't I?" Mori laughs. " You're probably thinking that it's strange for someone of my track record to be early, eh?"

Kiyopon nods.

" Well, It'd be rude of me to be late for my date, no~?" She said, winking along with a cute smile. " That would definitely lower my girlfriend material level too." She adds.

Kiyopon writes in his notebook and then shows it to her.

it said.

Mori's heart skipped a beat, her smile widened.

" And what about you? How would you feel if I became your girlfriend?" She attacks without hesitation.

"...Huh?" Kiyopon let out a confused noise at that, his blank expression changed into one that expressed his flabbergast at her words.

" Just kidding, " She sticks her tongue out at his amusing expression. " Let's not waste any more time, yeah? Let's head inside already!" She says before quickly taking hold of his hand, snapping him out of his frozen trance.

She proceeds to drag him inside the mall.

" It's crowded..." Mori says as she looks around left to right. " REALLY crowded." She emphasized.

Kiyopon nods. He's never seen the mall so crowded like this, but perhaps the explanation could stem from the concept of christmas spirit? Students will spend their time here with their friends and enjoying the limited christmas events happening in the mall, christmas shopping discounts, or just enjoying the overall christmas interior within the mall that only happens in winter season.

" Hmm....I was thinking of watching a movie with you buuuutt...." She sighs, " It sounds pretty cliche, doesn't it?" She asks.

Kiyopon shakes his head before writing in his notebook.

It said.

" Is that so? You'll really go along with whatever I want?" She says, narrowing her eyes.

Kiyopon felt a bit nervous from the look in her eyes. But he nodded nonetheless since he didn't really know what to do in a date.

" Then just for the day. Be my boyfriend." She grins.

"....."

Before Kiyopon could give a response, a mall employee wearing a christmas costume waved at both Kiyopon and Mori.

" Excuse me, Miss, Sir. Are you two a couple by any chance?" The employee asks.

Again, before Kiyopon could respond-

" Yes we are." Mori says, the joy of this situation visible in her eyes. Kiyopon took notice of it, and quickly decided to keep his words to himself for now. He did agree to go along with whatever Mori has in mind for today....he can't back out now.

" Awesome!" The employee beams before pulling out a pamphlet, " Well it's your lucky day. The mall is holding a ton of events that couples can do to celebrate this wonderful time of the year. I thought you two might be interested in taking part of these events, but you're also free to choose not to."

The employee hands the pamphlet to them. Mori takes it quickly and begins skimming through the listed events, her smile growing wider by the second. Kiyopon wondered what was on the pamphlet but he figured that he could just ask Mori about it later on.

" I'll be heading off now, I hope you two can enjoy the events!" The employee says, waving goodbye before leaving off to find another couple to advertise the events to.

" Mm, yes...we should probably do this...and this....oh! and also this..." Mori mumbles to herself. Kiyopon could barely catch on to what she was saying.

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" All right! I've selected the events we should do for today, Kiyotaka-kun!" She smiles brightly before showing Kiyopon the pamphlet and leading his gaze downwards to the listed events she circled with a red marker.

Kiyopon's mouth watered at the last circled event. Mori giggles at that before putting the pamphlet away and taking his hand, leading him to the department store.

" For the Christmas Shopping spree event. According to the pamphlet, there should be a huge discount for everything in the department store. So let's go check it out before eating lunch, all right?" She winks.

Kiyopon nods, wiping away his saliva with his other sleeve.

Eventually they entered the busy department store, many special clothes were on display. They all shared the theme of christmas spirit and Mori found almost all of them adorable that she can't help but awe at the many choices. Kiyopon notices Mori's awe expression, she was practically frozen solid to the ground to the point where other customers were glancing at them in confusion.

Kiyopon takes the initiative this time, grabbing her hand and leading her to one of the aisles. This action shook Mori out of her unexpected trance, and she blushes slightly from the sudden contact initiated by Kiyopon ( But she very much appreciates it~ ).

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" Oh hey! Check out this sweater!" Mori says, pointing to said sweater.

Kiyopon takes a look...

Kiyopon's expression immediately shifts to one of disgust.

" Pfft! We should buy it for you~" She teases.

Kiyopon immediately shakes his head like there was no tomorrow, clear absolute rejection. Mori couldn't help but break out in laughter at his reaction before waving her hand dismissively.

"Just kidding! I meant the one next to it." She says, pointing to the sweater next to it.

Kiyopon hesitates in taking a look....

" Ever watched Home Alone? This line is iconic!" Mori proudly states.

Kiyopon has seen it, actually. During the break him and the boys had a christmas movie night and fortunately, Home Alone was one of them. Kiyopon was impressed by the main character's wits when setting up those house traps, but perhaps the idiocy of the two robbers also contributed to the overall success of his little plan.

In reality, the robbers would carry a weapon when breaking in a home. If it were a gun, then as soon as they see that boy it'd be lights out.

Kiyopon writes in his notebook...

it said.

Even though the movie was a comedy, the ending did incite something within Kiyopon when the mother finally reached home, when the mother finally reached her son. Kiyopon was reminded of the past back in that mansion with Matsuo, the warmth the old butler radiated was something he could never thank him enough for. After all, back in the White Room....Kiyopon was just an empty husk, a cold vessel.

" I know right." Mori smiles as she begins recapping the ending. " When Kevin's mother came home, I remember breaking in tears. He took her for granted at first, but as soon as she came home he hugged her like there was no tomorrow."

She sighs, chuckling awkwardly. " It sorta reminds me of my own relationship with my mom. So overbearing and I found her annoying at times...maybe I've said hateful things to her once or twice.....but in the end, I'll probably run to her like a baby once I see her again." She admits.

Kiyopon smiles at that. He can tell the deep fondness she holds for her mother, her words were sincere and not a trace of a lie was there.

" Ah--well, that aside..." She hides her blush from Kiyopon's stare, quickly picking up the iconic sweater. " Why don't I buy this for you as a christmas present?"

Kiyopon writes in his notebook...

it said.

Mori snorts at that before punching his arm lightly. " I don't want to hear it." She very much likes hearing it, " We're buying this for you whether you like it or not. You'd better wear it!" She says with finality.

Kiyopon sighs and nods in surrender.

" Oh, and let's buy those santa hats too!"

-------------------------------------------------------

" Hey, do you like pets, Kiyotaka-kun?" Mori asks as they walked together in the mall, carrying a few bags full of things they shopped.

Kiyopon couldn't write in his notebook due to having his hands full currently.....if he had the power of telekinesis then he'd be stubborn enough to write instead of talk.

" I like dogs." He softly says.

" Woof~" Mori imitates, winking while she's at it.

"...."

Kiyopon drops one bag on the ground and proceeds to pat her head-

" Ahahaha-- hey! I'm not a dog y'know!! " She laughs but wasn't opposed to his touch, rather she welcomed it. She had no idea why she imitated a dog's bark but if this was going to be Kiyopon's reaction then she doesn't mind.

" Kawaii." He simply states, ruffling her hair.

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" What is your favorite animal...?" Kiyopon asks next.

" Hm, I like cats." She grins.

" That's nice." Kiyopon nods.

"....."

"....."

"...."

"...Well?"

" Well what?" Kiyopon asks.

" Meow for me."

"....No."

" Oh come on! I barked for you, it's only fair you do the same and meow for me too!" She reasons.

"....No."

" Please?"

"...."

" Pwetty pwease~?"

"...." Kiyopon glances to her and she had her hands in pleading motion. He sighs at the look on her begging face...

" Meow..."

" Annnnnddd sent~"

Kiyopon's head snaps towards her and he quickly tries to reach for her phone but she hides it behind her back, a smug smile adorned on her lips.

" Haruka-chan is gonna have a FIELD DAY with that one!" She says.

Kiyopon's face turned pale at that. He can already imagine Haruka's reaction to an embarassing video like that, she'd smother all over him and treat him as if he were her sweet little boy and the last time it happened in public.......to say the least, it was one of Kiyopon's most embarassing moments in his life. He doesn't want people looking weirdly at him again.

But Kiyopon wouldn't let Mori win over him like this. No. He's lost too many times to her antics, but this time he has something to make it even.

" Mori..." He called her by her last name. He preferred it over her given name, he felt as though this sounded a bit better on the tongue.

" Hm?" She responds.

" Do you remember that time...?"

" What time?"

" That time when you....wrote that literary piece between you and Sebastian Stan..."

" ?!" Mori's face turns pale. " Y-You.....wouldn't....do anything with that information r-right?" She stutters, nervously chuckling. " You promised me that day-"

Kiyopon smiles while Mori is as white as a deceased person. ( Like Matsuo- oh wait, nah, he blacker than charcoa--)

" TRAITOR!" She shakes him by the collar while Kiyopon wore a look of satisfaction. If he was going to suffer, then so will she. That's the beauty of friendship.

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" Oh it's almost time. We only have 15 minutes to get to the main lobby of the mall before the gift challenge event starts." Mori alerts, " Come, we can't miss it!" She begins dragging Kiyopon with haste.

They made their way through the busy mall, their path was straight to the lobby but Mori's eyes suddenly landed on a figure who had just exited the bookstore. Her red gradient eyes, her long black hair, and her pretty face instantly rendered in her mind, causing her to stop much to Kiyopon's confusion.

' Suzu-chan is there....she might see us...' Mori thought. Selfish as this sounds, she can't let the both of them see each other. It's clear as day that Suzune holds feelings for the quiet boy, and it's possible that the boy also holds feelings for her.

Horikita Suzune had just exited the busy store, carrying a gift bag. Mori wondered what it was but she needed to make a quick decision first, it seems Kiyopon has yet to notice Suzune yet so this was her chance!

" How about we go the long way, huh?" Mori suggested , pointing to the direction where it'd take them to their destination through a more roundabout matter.

" Huh? But-" Before Kiyopon could protest, he was quickly ushered to the other direction by Mori.

' Sorry Suzu-chan...but...' Mori had a bit of guilt stored in her heart by doing this, it felt dirty. But she likes Kiyopon too, and the single boy is fair game.

And soon, much to Mori's relief, they successfully avoided Horikita Suzune.

" Hm? Was someone staring at me...?" Suzune murmured in wonder. She looks around the area curiously, she could've sworn that someone had been gazing at her. Eventually, she shrugs it off and walks to the mall exit with the gift bag in hand.

" Aha! We made it." Mori says.

Kiyopon looks at her weirdly, she was acting pretty unusual a while back. For her to suddenly announce that they'd be taking the long way instead of the straight path is quite sussy. But he doesn't ask, he predicts that she'd keep dancing around his question if he were to ask anyways.

" Hello. Are you two here for the gift challenge couples event?" A female staff approaches them.

" Mhm! My boyfriend and I were told of this event, so we didn't wanna miss it." Mori proudly says.

Kiyopon nods along.

" Ah~! Very well then." She smiles, clapping her hands before leading the both of them to the sign-up table. " Write your names on the sheet and wait for a bit. I'll be fetching something real quick." The woman says.