thought that it would be safer to just get ready-made packaging than attempt to wrap lumps of yarn by himself.

strolling along the shopping district, head ducked low and huddled in against himself. It's freezing, but not yet snowing.

felt stupid for going out during evening, but he was running out of time.

hurried into the bookstore and got a dozen paper bags, fumbled at the cashier for his payment with fingers getting stiff from the cold.

about to step back out again and head back home when something at the gift wrapping section caught his eye.

saw ribbons. Rolls and rolls of them. There was more than usual, with many more varieties, because of the holiday season.

only looking at this one roll of plain red ribbon, though.

couldn't help remembering what Mukuro told him the other day.

shook his head when he found himself holding the roll of ribbon in his hands, *actually* contemplating--

put it back down in the box along with the other ribbons on sale. On sale. It was being sold at a discounted price.

stared at the ribbon some more and brooded. He was well aware that he hadn't gotten anything special for Mukuro. The other boy -

- had told him that he was perfectly happy getting a hand-made scarf, but Tsuna still felt uneasy going with just that.

stood in front of the gift wrapping section stupidly for a few minutes, just trying to decide if he should buy the ribbon or not.

eventually pushed into moving when an irritated shopper poked him in the arm and told him to get out of the way.

hurriedly apologized and just grabbed the roll on an impulse, and scuttled for the counter and paid for it.

, What the heck. It wasn't as if he was really going to use it. He could just keep it at home. Maybe his mother would like it.