In late December, the morning cold wind felt like a razor slicing the skin, carrying a piercing chill that made breathing painful.
Since morning, the sky had been shrouded in thick gray clouds. The phone showed -3°C, Snow. Yet, though crystal ice had spread on roofs and iron fences, this year's first snow hadn't fallen, hadn't yet painted the entire city in silver beauty.
But for someone, snow would definitely fall today—the weather forecast was never wrong; the difference was only when it would become reality.
Falling at 11:59 PM still meant falling today. So, in a sense, this ability only reminded him to bring an extra umbrella just in case of snow; its usefulness wasn't great.
"Hosh, hosh..."
After finishing morning exercise, Yuu ran into the house exhaling white breath. His appearance radiating heat and strong energy, like a summer flower blooming in winter, starkly contrasted the shrinking silent street scene.
Door closed. He didn't stop, heading straight to his sister's second-floor room.
"Sora, wake up! Didn't you say you want to go to school after winter break? Get used to waking early starting now!"
"Nngh... Noisy, I know... So hurry return the blanket! So cold!"
"I just spoke a bit—you call me noisy! I just hope your sleep schedule is regular and normal. I see you staying up late..."
"Stop, stop, stop. No mom mode in the morning, okay... I'll come down before breakfast finishes—give me five more minutes..."
"Fine. If I don't see you after breakfast—I'll turn off the heater, pull your blanket, and open the window—understand?"
"Yuu is a devil..."
Ignoring his sister struggling half-dead in bed, wrapping herself like a bagworm in the blanket, Yuu hurried down. He used Total Renewal to sterilize himself first, then stepped into the kitchen, donned an apron, and started making breakfast.
He wasn't rushed. After placing the last plate on the table, his slim fair-skinned sister just climbed onto the chair rubbing her eyes, mumbling unclearly.
"Geez—wouldn't it be better to get used to it near the end of break... Why rush sleep schedule? After break starts we'll slack off anyway..."
"You sound very confident?" Yuu patted her head annoyedly. "Good I'm not asking you to join morning exercise. Complain again—your post-school sleep schedule will match mine. Let you know what healthy student life is!"
"Hmph—you think I'm scared?"
Sora sneered disgustedly, as if not taking her brother seriously. She reached chopsticks and took the fried egg from the plate.
"At most I won't complain. If you want me up early—I'll cry in front of you!"
She said the most cowardly words with the firmest attitude.
"What a lazy sister..."
Yuu shook his head, sighing helplessly. Too lazy to argue further, he started eating today's breakfast.
After the Cultural Festival ended, many complicated memorable things happened.
First, that night, after Sora returned, she suddenly requested to go back to school, saying she wanted to enter Sobu High first year.
She didn't care starting in the third semester. After all, she could easily pass the transfer exam. As long as she could attend with him after winter break—that was enough.
For Yuu, this was of course a bolt from the blue. His shock far exceeded joy.
After calming a bit, he held back indescribable emotion and relief. To not cry before his sister, he smiled and promised to handle all procedures, asking her to prepare to become a student again.
Perhaps three or four years.
The glass-fragile girl who refused to step out of the house—since when had become strong enough to face past pain and step toward the sunlight-filled world.
This also meant all Yuu's efforts from childhood until now had finally borne the best fruit.
This was the first time he realized his tear glands were so fragile. Just from this little satisfaction, he silently cried soundlessly for five minutes in the toilet. When he came out, he was back to his usual steel-hearted self.
Then, in the quiet night, Yuu brought a small stool and sat alone on the cold windy bedroom balcony.
Sipping ginger ale, he told the moon about his sister's changes since their parents died, and one wish he always hoped for but suddenly realized today...
He might never forget that emotion for life.
As for why ginger ale...
In both past and this life, Yuu never had bad habits, and drank alcohol only for business. So, when wanting to vent sadness without numbing it with alcohol, after long thought, ginger ale felt most fitting.
Now Yuu looked forward to every day—when Sora passed Sobu High transfer exam, wore high school uniform, twirling before the mirror. For that, he even bought a new SLR camera, specially to photograph his sister.
Besides, perhaps Yuuki Asuna's transfer to Class 2-J, and Kasumigaoka Utaha's week-long leave?
Asuna's transfer reason unknown, Utaha's leave reason unknown. Asuna showed no intent to build good relations. Every question cleverly evaded. Utaha's whereabouts unknown—even not staying home, no way to contact.
Maybe just his feeling, but Yuu felt both actions secretly aimed at the same goal—distancing from him.
But thinking again, seemed unlikely.
Setting Utaha aside for now—something hidden behind Asuna's actions. Though seeming to have regained memories, she maintained cold attitude toward them.
But before Yuu took further action, Yukino suggested not rushing to confront Asuna—since she wouldn't say anything, better observe a bit, until having a handle or weakness, then strike for victory. Besides efficient, it cut all opponent's escapes.
Like a cat crouching before a mouse hole, not attacking unless 100% success chance. This truly surprised Yuu a bit, changing his view of Yukino as he listened.
Not because he couldn't think of such strategy, nor underestimating Yukino's intelligence...
Just that, after seriously helping think evil ideas, she then rubbed her temples correcting herself. She was truly cuter than a sad kitten crouching in the corner after mistake. Made him pity and want to hug for comfort.
Anyway, for the two's issues, Yuu fully followed his girlfriend's advice. Since then, never spoke a word to Asuna. Though same school—like strangers, actually making him more relaxed.
...Though he'd decided no longer running from ex-girlfriends' problems.
Speaking of ex-girlfriends—since Cultural Festival, Yuu hadn't seen Haruno again. Felt bad asking Yukino what she was doing now. Could only hold curiosity, occasionally pulling phone, casually checking if Haruno messaged.
As for Masuzu—this chishitsu lady seeming back to normal, smiling widely every day. Seemed no intent to attack again, nor planning boundary-violating actions before Yukino and Yuigahama. Just like a passing background student, unobtrusively active in their small group.
Luckily, her taste loss from psychological pressure seemed healed unconsciously... Though still disliked eating, always brought fruit for nutrition. Lunch also fruit-related—looked healthier than Yukino's food.
The only headache for Yuu—whenever he was there, Masuzu would pull out cherries. Didn't eat directly. Would use her small agile tongue to rerorerorero for half a day, hold in mouth several seconds, then spit the beautifully ribbon-tied cherry stem before his two girlfriends—clearly showing off.
Thus, for a while in the Service Club, girls' post-meal fruit always cherries. Behind calm surface, their cheeks always slightly moving—and when asked what they were doing, always blushed refusing to admit.
He didn't even need to rummage trash. Yuu could see the pile of failed broken props inside—showing their high competitive spirit.
As for his girlfriends' cherry stem practice results—Yuu had personally confirmed with his tongue... Ahem, how to say.
Anyway, they still weren't as skilled as her.
But because Masuzu provoked like that—no wonder her club application form was suppressed by Yukino, not approved.
Masuzu was the best example of self-inflicted suffering.
Above was a general overview of events Yuu experienced from Cultural Festival to today—December 24.
Thinking carefully—though many things unclear, path ahead not fully bright—somehow there was peace like dust settling.
"Yuu—why daydreaming?"
Seeing his chopsticks suddenly stop while eating, Sora furrowed thin brows, calling him—pulling back his distant thoughts.
"Thinking—should I use some method to place you in Class A." Moving his paused arm again, Yuu took rice with natural expression, smiling at her. "If Iroha and Kanade are there—you'll adapt faster, no worry about bullying or such."
Honestly, the two underclassmen's class popularity couldn't be described as good—after all, in all Sobu High, Kanade's staunchest faction was Class A.
If described—like a group of guardian teams loving and respecting Tenshi-sama and her deputy as center.
Not strange. The slightly careless silver-haired girl, always honest and thinking of others, had strong charm making everyone—male or female—want to protect her.
She had only two peers—Sora could be said very lucky—at least bullying chance at school avoided.
"Some method? Adult world's dark side..." Sora mumbled biting chopsticks. Bright eyes slightly lifted staring at him. "Will this trouble you?"
"Small matter!" Yuu patted chest.
"Alright—then leave it to you." Hearing that, Sora no longer hesitated. After nodding firmly, she gave him a sweet bright flower-like smile.
"Yuu—for my school life—use all sorts of dirty tricks on them!"
Lifting lip corners like lost laughter, Yuu cleared empty bowls and chopsticks, turning to kitchen.
"I'll ask Kanade and others for help. You also remember to often invite them over during winter break—have Iroha tell you various school things... You have their their contacts, right?"
"Eh?" Sora stunned, then awkwardly pouted. "What—do I have to actively invite them? And why do you have issue with Kanade—why not ask her..."
"If you ask her—you'll only know which mapo tofu is best in cafeteria!"
His desperate voice came from kitchen, with running water sound: "Relax—as long as you hint they can eat senpai's cooking directly at our house—even without active invite—they'll find chances to come themselves."
"True." Sora finally relieved. She finished remaining food in a flash, took bowl and chopsticks, rushed to kitchen. Deliberately squeezed with him before small sink washing dishes—like acting spoiled.
The siblings started cooperating. Sora washed, Yuu dried and racked. Atmosphere harmonious and slightly warm.
"Oh right, Sora—I have plans tonight. For dinner—want delivery or I cook first?"
"You cook. I don't want any delivery... Wait—what date today?"
"12-24..."
"Christmas Eve?! Legendary six-hour censored love..."
"Pffft! Cough cough... Told you stop visiting weird sites—don't casually say censored words!"
"Who cares. So—you coming home?"
"Uh—seems so?"
"...Wash your own plate. I'm sleeping again."
"Wait, Sora! I'm just going to Yukino's apartment for hot pot party. Yui will be there too! Nothing will happen!"
"Then—I can come too, right?"
"Yukino asked me to convey her apology to you..."
"Tch—I don't need apology from evil woman! Annoying, annoying, annoying! Just do your censored threesome party! I don't care about Yuu anymore!!"
"Hey—told you wait, Sora—careful keep saying censored words—you'll become chishitsu like Masuzu!"
"..."
Noisy sounds spread from kitchen to second floor. Occasionally foot-stomping bang bang bang, and fake pain sounds.
Tenkuji family home today—still filled with peaceful atmosphere.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
In the luxury apartment.
After confirming outing preparations were fine, Yukino adjusted the bow tie at her collar before the full-body mirror. She nodded softly, took her school bag, prepared to leave the room.
But her small feet in long black stockings hadn't stepped far—she hurried back to the bedside. Though no one around, the drawer pull was deliberately very quiet and careful.
Pursing soft lips, Yukino looked at the rectangular package in the drawer. Her face flushed like boiled shrimp, but she pretended serious, muttering only audible to herself:
"This is just a charm... We're only seventeen—we must know self-protection... This is just a charm..."
As for whether the drawer's item could still be called a charm—she had no mind to think anymore.
Taking a deep breath to cool her face, Yukino closed the drawer. Just in case, she even added a lock, then turned off the room light, walking to the living room.
"This is the first time buying something like this online. Later I must delete all history—or Nee-san might find out... Ngh, though I know how to use it—but based on internet, seems need some kind of water test..."
She muttered softly, as if pondering life's important issue. Her shame gradually faded, replaced by seriousness and deep thought.
"Should I ask Yui? No—for get it. If I ask—feels like I have to do it to her... This is just a charm—I have no such intent."
"Right—absolutely no improper intent..."
Her steps halted. Yukino suddenly looked up, gazing out the slightly foggy window.
The city view below high-rises looked quiet and frozen, but also very clear and beautiful.
Winter sky about to snow. Will it clear tomorrow?