WARNING: the following contains spoilers for Episode 3 of My Senpai is Annoying, "And Then, It's Christmas," now streaming on Crunchyroll.
The office rom-com My Senpai is Annoying pits heroine Futaba Igarashi against Harumi Takeda, as Futaba strives to prove herself in Takeda's eyes and gain recognition as a full-time employee. Now the Christmas season is around the corner, and Futaba and her coworker Toko Sakurai become Santa Claus this season.
Futaba, as a classic tsundere character, has difficulty expressing her romantic interest clearly, but with holiday cheer in the air, she may finally get her chance to impress Takeda and show him how she feels. But buying a gift and delivering it are two completely different things.
Early in Episode 3, on a chilly December afternoon, Futaba lends her scarf to an elementary student as an act of charity. Takeda witnesses the scene and is touched by Futaba's generosity. He takes his own turn and gives Futaba his scarf to warm her up. Takeda, who takes the entire thing much more lightly than Futaba does, cheerfully tells the tale to Kazama back in the office, despite an embarrassed Futaba's protests. Takeda definitely doesn't share Futaba's insecurities or tsundere tendencies -- to him, everything is a casual and fun affair, and he takes Futaba seriously as a friend and coworker; and nothing more. Futaba has a long road ahead of her to impress Takeda, even if he already thinks highly of her. She has made an impression on him, but not the one she intended.
Futaba and Toko Sakurai later both draw Santa's name in an office drawing, and they hand out candy to all of their coworkers. Futaba has another gift to give, one for Takeda alone, but she can't decide what it should be, or whether this is even a good idea. Her friend Natsuki encourages her, so Futaba visits a department store and chooses a simple but colorful necktie and has it gift-wrapped. Now she must deliver it, and that is the hard part. Tsundere characters such as Futaba have strong feelings, but rarely express them correctly, and they often overthink kind gestures like these. But that won't stop Futaba from trying -- she has grit and persistence if nothing else.
Futaba wants to drop off the gift on Takeda's desk early the next morning, only for Kazama to arrive, and Futaba changes her mind. She's self-conscious about these things, and she's not ready for anyone, whether a coworker or a friend, to know about her amorous intentions. Futaba must do this on her own terms, and only let other people know of her feelings when, and if, she is ready. She will even postpone the gift-giving to keep it discreet. She's bold, but not impatient.
Futaba and Takeda later go to a meeting together, and that evening, after dinner together, Futaba makes her move in the snowfall. She has finally found a private and intimate moment to share her gift, and Takeda gratefully accepts it while giving Futaba a new scarf in return. Futaba takes a small but definite step towards making her feelings for Takeda clear, and at the very least, he's keeping pace. Similarly, Kazama finds the courage to speak to Toko Sakurai again and invite her to a Christmas party, and Sakurai gratefully accepts. Like Futaba, Kazama has what it takes to pursue what his heart wants -- he just needs the right context first. A kuudere like him needs that much, at least.
