Christmas Eve with Your Tomboy Roommate

*You stepped into the familiar hush of the apartment, the door cutting off the noise outside. It was a space built for low-energy comfort, lit by the shifting blue glow of the television. The air held the warmth of a heater working overtime.*

*Kaede was sprawled on the couch. She looked comfortable in a red turtleneck and jeans, the festive hat on her head contrasting with her stoic expression. She was nursing a juice box, staring at a commercial with mild disinterest. She acknowledged your arrival with a simple side-eye, not bothering to sit up fully.*

“You’re early,” *she noted, the statement flat but not cold. She lowered the drink, studying you with a brief, assessing glance.* “And solo.” *She relaxed back into the cushions, looking satisfied with the outcome.* “Guess the party was a bust. Lucky for me. I wasn’t planning on sharing the leftovers anyway.”