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It was December, though to Ichiban it felt far from it. He sat in the air-conditioned main room of Revolve Bar, gulping down a tall glass of ice water after having run around the streets of Honolulu doing this, that, and the other thing. Scrounging up cash was hard work after all, and he was going to need it.
Since it was December, that meant Christmas. And since he was in America that meant something even more:
Big American Christmas.
Tomizawa watched him all the while, face scrunched up like he was holding back something. It was only after Ichiban set his drained glass down with a loud sigh of relief did he finally open his mouth.
“Look, I know you've been excited for trying Christmas here and all, but I really think you're gassing it up a bit too much.”
Ichiban looked at him confused. “What? How? This is America! You guys are all about the bright lights, music playing everywhere, and the piles of food! That's what I see on TV, at least.”
“Didn't anyone tell you not to belie–” Tomi stopped himself from finishing such a clichéd line, waving the thought away. “Okay I guess you're kinda right about us liking things big, I'm just saying Christmas isn't just what you guys do but bigger. I don't even know what you even planned for your little Christmas date anyways.”
Puffing his chest out with pride, Ichiban grinned. “I want to do it all with him.”
The “him” he was referring to was none other than Yu Nanba. The two of them had been going steady for years now, been through practically everything together, and Ichiban knew in his heart of hearts deserved a “go big or go home”-type of holiday. That was what Ichiban wanted most of all for Christmas, and that was why he had the others in their little gang take Nanba out on an impromptu visit to Anaconda Mall while Ichiban was left to plan with Tomizawa: the best AmericanTM friend he knows.
“I want the snow, the ice skating, snow angels and snowmen and the snowball fights. Oh! And the giant tree all lit up. Nanba will think it's so cool. His eyes will light up just as bright, I know it, seeing those big branches and the colorful lights. Then after that we'll go to KFC and order the biggest bucket of fried chicken you'll ever see and finish the night off with some cake and cocoa.”
Ichiban could picture it so clearly, the whole thing would be like the two of them had stepped into a movie. However, when he finished and looked back at Tomizawa for approval, he could see the pain on the man's face was now even more apparent than before.
“What? Something wrong with that?”
“Well…” Tomizawa hesitated, and slowly began to explain.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was all wrong.
The big trees, the snow… Truth wasn't at all like how Ichiban pictured an American Christmas.
Ichiban made a swift retreat to the upstairs patio, sitting in one of the rickety chairs with his head in his hands. His brain was extremely wracked, unsure that he could wrack it even more even if he wanted to. Should he have seen it coming? The only trees he saw around town were palm trees. While tall, they weren't quite like the bushy pines he pictured. And he recalled that one time he had to create fake snow for the old man. Ichiban had hoped it was a summer thing, that by December it would all get flipped around just like how it gets in Japan, but no. He and Nanba were much more likely to make sand-angels rather than snow ones. It made for a funny visual, but in what way did that read “Christmas”?
And the food! That one especially took Ichiban aback. Wasn't KFC from America? Then why isn't a Christmas thing like back home?
“Believe me, it really does feel like something we should have here in the States, but it just… isn't, I guess.” Tomi had explained, scratching his head.
Worse yet: When Ichiban asked for a real American Christmas dinner instead, Tomi clammed up again.
“That's the thing, actually. There really isn't a set Christmas dinner. Pretty much up to the person how they want it to be. Hell, I remember my family treating us to sushi for Christmas a few times, like the real good stuff.”
But that’s not American Christmas!!! How can Ichiban treat Nanba to an American Christmas date if there’s no real American Christmas!?
“What do I even do now?” Ichiban moaned dejectedly, forcing his head up to look forward. All that stared back at him were the beady crustacean eyes of Nancy and Olivia, the two of them chilling in the bowl of water set out for them. “I don’t want to let him down. Please, tell me you guys have anything to help me with…”
Nancy hissed, brandishing her claws emphatically, as Olivia skittered back and forth. Obviously they were trying to share something, but what? Ichiban scrunched his face up in thought, taking his critter friends’ sounds to heart.
“Be adaptable? Easier said than done…” Ichiban started, but was interrupted by an eager chirping behind him. He turned to see his yellow-feathered friend, Joseph, flapping his wings in his nest. Standing up, he was drawn to see what was being called attention to, particularly the multicolored paper sticking out from between the twigs.
“Huh? Your nest looks like it got some new padding. Did your Momma help with that?”
Joseph squawked again, flapping even more and making the paper flutter around him. Something in particular caught Ichiban’s eye. With a careful hand, he reached out, delicately taking it between his fingers. It was crumpled up, looking like it was forgotten and discarded some time ago before being picked up for nest padding.
Ichiban unfolded and smoothed out the paper, getting a better look at its contents, and his eyes went wide.
He knew what he could do now. American Christmas was saved.
“Thank you so much, Joseph! I owe you one!”
Behind him, Nancy hissed.
“Hehe, right.” Ichiban laughed. “I owe you one as well.”
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Nanba wiped the sweat off his brow as he walked back to Revolve. If there was one thing about Japan he had to admit that he missed, it would be the brisk December chill that would nip at his nose and the tips of his ears. It felt so foreign to wear the leafy-green button-up and denim-blue shorts with flip-flops at this time of year. Instead of begging for a hot cup of coffee, Nanba was just about ready to grasp for a nice cold glass of water. Hell, how about a nice cold pint of beer? Now that was something he could get behind: American beer while watching the sun set at a tropical beach.
He reached for the doors of the Bar, but the door swung open first. Surprise surprise, Ichiban stood before him. There was a glint in his eyes, a glint Nanba knew all too well. Ichiban had a scheme up his sleeve, and worse yet: Nanba knew he would go along with whatever that man wanted. If that wasn’t love, then what was?
“Nanba!” Ichiban beamed. “You wanna go out? Wait, first, how was the mall?”
Nanba snorted, “It was fine. I ducked out when the girls started fitting everyone in ugly Christmas sweaters, so whatever you’re planning do it quick before my phone starts blowing up.”
“Great! Come with me.” Ichiban took Nanba by the hand. It was a familiar feeling to Nanba, being pulled along in some random direction for a purpose that only Ichiban truly knew. It was a comfort, in a way. Nanba had faith that wherever they went, they were going to make some memories (for better or worse).
… Though admittedly, Nanba was at a total loss on what his boyfriend could be thinking as they stood at the sidewalk of the main street, backs to the beach and staring up and down the street expectantly. Nanba turned his head, spying the bus stop several meters away.
“Hey, so,” Nanba started, looking up at Ichiban, seeing the man awash in the orange glow of sunset. “What are we waiting for? Did you get some new vacation package or…?”
“You’ll see!” Ichiban reassured vaguely before going back to looking. Nanba sighed, but could feel the corner of his mouth twitch upward in a small smile. This was not the first time Ichiban had some hair-brained scheme in the place of a date, to the point where it was almost a given. They’ve run up and down Ijincho multiple times, following obscure clues to some kind of prize, eating questionable foods from some obscure restaurant event, and of course the numerous street brawls Ichiban tended to attract. Though, it never made the dates themselves boring, Nanba had to admit, so he never felt the urge to complain outside of how exhausted he was after everything was said and done. To him, waiting on the side of the road waiting for something only known by Ichiban was a pretty calm start, all things considered.
“Ah! There he is!”
Nanba perked back up, seeing Ichiban now waving at something further down. He leaned over, and all he could see was a cloud of dust, dirt, and the sound of jingling bells barrelling towards them.
“Ichiban, what the hell–?”
The cloud engulfed both of them, coming to a halt to the sound of tires screeching against the pavement and leaving Nanba sputtering and rubbing his eyes. When the dust settled (literally), he opened his eyes to see a man on a bike: A green-haired man on a bike bedecked in little bells all throughout the frame sporting a yellow shirt and a winning smile like he was out of some kind of shonen manga.
“SPECIAL CHRISTMAS DELIVERY FOR ICHIBAN KASUGA!” The man beamed, removing his backpack and handing it off to Ichiban. Nanba recoiled from the volume, noting that other people were staring at the three of them in confusion– well, staring specifically at the loudly shouting man. Ichiban, however, was unfazed.
“Thanks Charlie! I owe you one!”
“No need! Thank you for using our Crazy Eats Special Christmas Meal Promo CouponTM for 75% off your ENTIRE order!” The deliveryman pumped his fist as he spouted out the jargon with practiced ease. Before anyone could say more, Charlie’s smartwatch bleeped and he snapped to attention.
“No time to wait! I’m off to deliver more meals to the people of Hawaii! ‘Tis the season!”
And just like that, the deliveryman sped off, careening and jingling his way down the street with dust and debris being kicked up in his wake. The cartoon logic of a food deliveryman speeding off into the sunset aside, all seemed well so far to Nanba as he turned his attention back to Ichiban.
“So that’s our date? A Christmas dinner?” Nanba asked. Something about that felt so quaint, like he was 20 years younger and not stressing over work and school over the holidays.
“Yeah!” Ichiban cheered, “What do you think? You and me on a Christmas date in Hawaii! Isn’t it cool?”
“Feels weird having a Christmas date while sweating my ass off at the same time.” Nanba snickered. “But sure, I’d say that sounds pretty cool.”
“Good to hear!” With that, Ichiban snatched Nanba by the hand and dragged him away to the beach.
Nanba recognized that a Christmas dinner in Japan was a little different than one in America, but he didn’t quite think a beach picnic was exactly what an “American Christmas Dinner” looked like either. Nevertheless, he and Ichiban sat underneath a pair of palm trees as the latter took dish after dish out of the Crazy Eats delivery bag. Big, medium, small, round and square, these boxes were in all sorts of shapes and sizes.
“Man, that coupon of yours must’ve been no joke.”
“Just you wait…” Ichiban smiled knowingly. He withdrew one of the larger boxes and opened it up with a puff of fresh steam wafting from the freshly exposed food. Already, Nanba’s mouth began to water. What could be inside? On TV, American Christmas dinners always seemed to have giant turkeys and mashed potatoes and–
Ichiban held out the box, revealing a pile of chili shrimp inside.
“... Huh?” Nanba blinked.
With a laugh, Ichiban opened up all of the other boxes. One by one: Cheese burgers, pizza slices, fried chicken, cans of beer with edamame, yakiniku, sushi, and last but not least a box of freshly steamed bao buns. Ichiban laid out the feast before Nanba, smiling like a king atop his throne, except that throne was a bunch of takeout boxes full of food that was very not Christmas.
“Well? What do you think?”
“What do I think?” Nanba stared in bewilderment. “I think this is all food that we usually get.”
“Exactly!” Ichiban nodded. “We both love eating these foods! Can’t get enough of any of them! And at Christmas time… From what I’ve learned it’s not really what you eat, it’s who you eat it with, and all the good times that surround it.”
Nanba looked between the boxes of food and the man sitting before it, smiling at him with that oh-so-sincere smile that never failed to melt his heart. Damn, did Nanba die and wake up in some kind of sappy Christmas movie? Because that’s what it felt like right now: learning about the meaning of Christmas through the magic of take-out and Hawaii beaches.
Nanba huffed out a laugh and reached out, picking up the box of chili shrimp.
“Eating my favorite food for the holidays. Why didn’t I think of that?” Nanba asked sarcastically. Ichiban laughed, picking up a can to crack one open.
“Tastes even better when you’re with the one you love, from what I heard.”
“Smooth, Ichiban. Real smooth.”
“Hey! Can’t blame a man for trying!”
Nanba laughed, a laugh that came deep from within and made his being feel all warm and fuzzy. This was all so like the man, so like Ichiban. Of all the people Nanba’s been with, Ichiban was by far the sappiest. And yet, that’s what made him so wonderful. It felt so right to see Ichiban bathed in a sunset glow on a tropical beach surrounded by the two men’s favorite foods, just as it would feel right to see him sprinkled with snowflakes in front of a backdrop of Christmas lights back home. Ichiban just felt right.
“Come on, Nanba!” Ichiban coaxed. “Aren’t you gonna eat?”
Oops, Ichiban’s face distracted Nanba again (like it always did). He quickly picked up a pair of chopsticks laying in wait off to the side.
“Well it won’t be as good as Zhao's probably, but…”
Nanba gave thanks to the food and began to dig in. Almost immediately, the flavor burst in his mouth. The springy texture of the shrimp mixed well with the cooked vegetables and the whole dish left a nice burning tingle on his tongue. He bit down on another, and then another, and then another, finding it hard to stop now that he’s started.
“Holy shit, this is pretty good!”
“Wait really? Let me taste!”
Nanba traded boxes with Ichiban, a platter of fried chicken now presented to him. The skin was crispy, the meat was juicy, and as Nanba snacked down to the bone he was left licking the oil off his fingers. Now this was American food he’s heard so much about. He had to have more. He grabbed a pizza slice, molten cheese leaving him panting as he practically slurped it down. When the hell did he get so hungry??? He reached for a bao bun, his teeth tearing into the pillowy texture to get at the spiced meat within, humming with satisfaction.
He checked over at Ichiban, seeing the man also just as deep into the feast. He ate yakiniku skewers two at a time, taking a large swing of beer to cleanse his palette, and then reached for a burger to eat half in one whole bite. The two locked eyes, and their chewing slowed to a stop, replacing it with laughter.
“Man! American food is no joke!” Nanba cackled.
“See!? What did I tell you?” Ichiban nodded in agreement.
“And I think you’re right.” Nanba softened, gently taking up his own can of beer. “It does taste better eating with you.”
Ichiban smiled warmly, “It always does. To Christmas?”
He held out his can in a toast, and Nanba returned in kind– His smile warm and his heart feeling warmer.
“To Christmas. To us.”
Their cans clinked together with a dull ”clunk”, and in that moment the trees came alight. The two men gasped, looking up at the sparkling lights overhead. Spiraling up the palm trees and into the branches were dozens and dozens of little twinkling colors. Looking towards the street, It looked like all of the palm trees were lit up for the holiday time, twinkling and sparkling for those wanting to enjoy the tropical region while still embracing Christmas, with many on the sidewalk now stopping to marvel and take photos. Nanba blinked in surprise, but as he turned to look back at Ichiban he was even more shocked to see the man equally wide-eyed.
“Wait. You didn’t know about this!?”
“No! Tomi told me Hawaii didn’t have Christmas trees!”
“He probably meant the huge pine trees, dumbass!”
“Oh… Good point” Ichiban laughed sheepishly.
Nanba snorted, looking down at the food and drinks before him. The glow of sunset was now fully dimming and was being replaced by the light of the Christmas Palm Trees.
“Kinda like a Christmas miracle…” He smiled, taking another swing of his beer. “All we need is some snow.”
A thought flashed over Ichiban’s face. “Wait! I know how we can do that! Let me call up the Godawara Family and–
“NO WAY IN HELL!”
The two devolved into laughter, going back to drinking and dining on burgers and greasy spicy food under the Christmas Palm Trees by the tropical Hawaii beach. Certainly a different Christmas, but a Christmas nonetheless.
“Ah, wait! I remembered: I forgot to order dessert!” Ichiban exclaimed, his expression shifted to one of fretting. “I forgot the Christmas Cake!”
Nanba hushed him by leaning over and giving him a peck on the cheek. “Trust me. You’re more than enough for dessert.”
Ichiban’s face flushed redder than a Christmas ornament, and Nanba snickered.
Yup. Big American Christmas indeed: One that will last the whole night and perhaps even the day after, and both men were really looking forward to it…