Then everyone started giving Yui their presents.
Some were in small boxes, others were big — even bigger than Yui's face.
Different sizes. Different colors.
Red, white, pink, blue...
One by one, they placed their gifts in front of her with proud smiles.
I stood quietly.
Watching Yui take each one.
Her hands careful, her smile bright.
She unwrapped them gently while the other kids gathered close, laughing and clapping.
Someone gave her a soft pink scarf.
Another gave her a shiny crayon set that looked very expensive.
And the biggest box of all?
A huge Barbie house — with tiny decorations and dolls inside.
It sparkled when the lid came off.
I didn't move.
I didn't clap.
I just stood there, holding Shiba close to my chest...
Because I didn't bring a gift in a box.
Just a video.
Just a song.
Just me.
Mama must've noticed I was quiet,
Because she leaned down beside me, her knees gently touching the floor.
She whispered softly,
"What's wrong, sweetheart?"
I looked up at her, blinking slow.
Then looked back down and mumbled,
"Hideki didn't bring a box gift for Yui, Mama...
Just a video."
Mama didn't say anything right away.
She just smiled that soft, understanding smile.
Her hand reached up to gently rub my back —
from my head, down to my shoulder, and back again.
Again and again, like a calm rhythm.
Then she whispered,
"It's not the wrapping or the paper that matters, sweetheart.
What matters...
is that it's given from the heart.
That's why it's called a 'present.'
Because it happens right now, in this moment.
And the gift you prepared for Yui —
It's different from the others.
Because Yui is special to you.
And Hideki is special to Yui.
That's what makes it a special gift."
I didn't know exactly what Mama meant...
But I felt it.
In the way she held me.
In the way her words wrapped around me like a second scarf.
So I leaned into her shoulder — quiet, warm.
And whispered,
"Thank you, Mama...
Hideki loves Mama so much."
She kissed the top of my head, and said,
"Anything for you, sweetheart.
Anything for you."
When Yui finished opening the last of her gifts,
she looked around — like she was still waiting for something.
Her fingers tapped gently on her skirt, her eyes searching.
Then... her gaze stopped.
Right on me.
She tilted her head, her ponytail swaying softly,
and reached out her hand.
"Hideki?" she said.
Behind me, Mama gently placed her hand on my back and gave me a little nudge.
She was smiling — that warm kind of smile that says "It's okay, you've got this."
Then she handed me her phone.
I looked at the phone in my hand...
and then at Yui's hand still reaching out to me.
I walked forward slowly.
Even though Mama's words still echoed in my heart,
a small part of me still wondered —
Is this enough?
Will she like it?
I reached Yui, and without a word, placed the phone in her hand.
She blinked, then looked at it curiously.
"What is it, Hideki?" she asked, her voice light like snowflakes.
My fingers fidgeted.
My voice came out quiet.
"Yui... I'm sorry. Hideki only prepared this..."
Then I gently tapped the screen.
And the video began to play.
The room, the noise, the other kids...
they all faded for her.
Because on that screen, it was just me.
Just Hideki.
Smiling shyly.
Waving to the camera.
"Hiiii Yuiii~ This is my present to you, from Hideki..."
Yui stared.
Her hands held the phone tight.
Her lips parted a little — no sound came out, but her eyes grew wide.
Behind her, the other children noticed too.
One by one, they stopped talking and gathered behind Yui, peeking over her shoulder.
In the video, I climbed the piano bench.
Struggled a little.
Then played.
Sang.
Yui's mouth curled into the softest smile.
Her bunny plush rested against her chest as her eyes never left the screen.
No one else said a word.
Because in that moment, they weren't watching a video.
They were watching my heart —
Hideki's heart —
playing the piano, singing with all the feelings a little boy could carry.
And Yui?
Yui stood there... frozen like magic.
Still. Silent. Smiling.
And I stood right in front of her...
finally daring to lift my eyes
and see her reaction.
Slowly, with my eyes stuck to the floor, I took a step forward.
First, I saw Yui's feet.
Then... her white dress.
When it came time to lift my eyes and look at her face — I couldn't.
My head dropped again.
I was scared.
Scared that she'd look sad when she saw my gift.
Because my present wasn't like the others.
No shiny wrapping.
No big box.
No ribbon.
Just a video.
Just... a song.
Just me.
And then — something happened.
From the corner of my lowered eyes, I saw her.
Yui was leaning down, tilting her head.
Peeking up at me from below.
And then—our eyes met.
She smiled.
Not just any smile.
The biggest smile I had ever seen.
And before I could even move—
She threw her arms around me.
Tight.
Like a hug that wanted to keep me safe forever.
I froze.
I didn't move my hands.
Didn't lift my arms.
Didn't even breathe.
Was this... real?
Then, my voice came out.
Small and shaky.
"Yui... do you like Hideki's present?"
I was trembling.
Because I wasn't afraid of monsters or darkness or thunderstorms.
I was afraid...
That I wasn't enough.
That maybe I wasn't good enough to be Yui's best friend.
That I had let her down.
Yui pressed her face into my shoulder.
"Mmm..." she sniffled softly.
Then she whispered—
"Yui... hontōni suki desu."
"I really love it."
She sniffled again. A quiet, little breath.
But her words...
They wrapped around me like the warmest coat.
And right then, I couldn't hold back anymore.
Tears welled up and slipped down my cheeks.
Because I realized—
I wasn't crying because I was sad.
I was crying... because she saw me.
Because she knew me.
And because...
She loved the gift that came straight from my heart.