The streets were filled with couples on their Christmas dates and young families entertaining their children. The snow crunched under Shino's boots as she walked across the market, past the large, decorated pine tree, keeping her head low, her face partially obscured by her scarf, a plastic bag in one hand.

Christmas was a happy occasion for sure, but seeing all the happy couples around just left an empty feeling in her chest, more so than usual. Spending the holidays alone was never as festive as she was trying to make it.

That's why she was more than happy to agree to Lisbeth's get-together, aside from trying to make an effort to get to know all her new friends better, not just Kirito.

She checked her phone to make sure she was at the right block and found the building, going up the stairs while looking for the "Shinozaki" name plate, finding it eventually on the second floor. Knocking on the door, she didn't need to wait long for it to swing open, her cheerful host smiling at her and taking her arm to pull her inside.

"Hey, glad you could make it!", Lis cheered as she closed the door again.

Shino was briefly caught off-guard by the girl's attire. Lis had put on a red tube top with a white trim, red stockings, hots pants and a white collar with a bell, topped off by a Santa hat, the bobble hanging over her shoulder.

"And sorry I had you get the sandwiches, I totally forgot!", she said with an excusing expression as she took the plastic bag from Shino so she could take off her coat and boots, before gently pushing her towards the small living room.

"Yeah... no problem.", Shino responded quietly, unsure if she should be impressed by Lis' holiday spirit, or concerned about how much skin she was showing. She herself was dressed very modestly, in a thin sweater, a short skirt and dark leggings, the only festive thing about her attire being her red-and-green hairties and even that was a stretch.

As she entered the living room, she saw Lis' other guest sitting on the carpeted floor at a low table. Suguha, Kirito's cousin, whom she knew as Leafa in Alfheim. The difference between her real world appearance and her avatar was more striking than with the others, since her hair was dark and short in real life, nothing like the long blonde ponytail she sported in the game, but her other features were still easily recognizable. To Shino's relief, Suguha was dressed normally as well, aside from holiday-themed hairpins and a red-and-white sweater.

Shino sat at the table with her and started a light conversation before Lis joined them with the sandwiches and mugs of eggnog.

"Okay, now that we're all here..." She raised her mug. "Let's get started. Merry Christmas!"

The other two chimed in and clinked their mugs before drinking. To Shino's surprise, the alcoholic part was more intense than what she was used to, but the others didn't mention it, so she stayed quiet about it as well, settling in and enjoying the company.



The time passed quickly as the three girls talked, played old games and continued drinking more and more of the spiked eggnog. A few hours later, they were spread around the room, Shino playing one of Lis' games, Suguha next to her watching and Lis herself on the bed, sprawled out and checking her phone. Shino and Suguha had taken off their sweaters, revealing a simple top on Suguha and a buttoned shirt on Shino.

"Asuna~, stop ignoring me...", she mumbled drunkenly, having had more eggnog than the others.

"She's probably out with Kirito and turned her phone off.", Shino suggested, not looking away from the screen. She only got a grumble in response, leading back to the same, relaxed silence, until she heard a short whistle from above her.

She paused and looked up to see Lis leaning over her and Suguha with a grin, holding a mistletoe in her hand. Shino's cheeks flushed.

"Lis, don't--" She was interrupted by a soft giggle next to her before Suguha leaned in and pressed a kiss on her cheek, making her flush even more. Shino backed away, more from the distinct smell of alcohol than the soft lips.

"Come on, show some spirit.", Lis sang, slumping down next to her, holding the mistletoe above herself before pecking Shino's other cheek, leaving a very faint lipstick mark.

Leaving the controller on the ground, Shino covered her face, both to hide her blush and to guard against more assaults, and backed away against the bed, but the others followed her quickly.

"Shino, come out~", Suguha sang quietly, cupping her face after Lis had taken her hands away with gentle force. "Merry Christmas, Shino~"

Her eyes widened as Sugu's lips touched hers for a gentle peck. She forgot all about her hands for a moment, making her even more surprised to see a long red ribbon tied around her wrists and arms a moment later. She looked over at Lis, who was crawling back towards her with more ribbons in her hand, the bell on her choker ringing quietly.

"A, Lis, wait...", she stammered, but she was already on her, pinning her against the side of the bed before wrapping the ribbon around her, tying her arms to her torso.

"You're both my presents tonight~", Lis purred drunkenly.



Asuna went up the stairs of the apartment building, looking down at her phone one more time. During the date with Kirito she had turned it off and when she turned it back on later that night, she found a number off messages from Lis that had suddenly, abruptly stopped.

"Lis?" She knocked on the door but didn't get a response. She was going to meet some of the other girls for a little party, she knew that much, and the absolute silence made her a little worried. She contemplated it for a moment, before she took the spare key taped behind the name plate and unlocked the door.

"Lis? I'm coming in.", she said quietly, heading through to the light in the living room.

The sight before her made her stop in surprise first, but break into a quiet giggle a moment later. Lisbeth, in full Christmas attire, was curled up on the bed. In front of the bed, leaning against the side, sat Shino, her hair slightly more messy than usual, her glasses askew, with ribbons tied around her arms and her chest, a mistletoe hanging from one of them. Sugu was lying on the floor, her head resting on Shino's lap, her arms on her back, with lots of ribbon around them as well. Both of them had a number of kiss marks on their cheek and even one on Shino's neck. All three girls were soundly asleep.

"Looks like someone had a very Merry Christmas.", Asuna whispered in amusement, quietly making her way over to loosen the knots and put blankets over them before quietly leaving through the door again.