Warm air rushed over Kaito and Hina the moment they stepped inside the Kaze estate.
The large wooden doors slid shut behind them with a soft thud, sealing out the biting winter wind. Snowflakes clung to their hair and coats, slowly melting as the warmth of the house surrounded them.
The estate felt peaceful compared to the lively village outside.
Sunlight filtered through the wide paper windows, casting pale winter light across polished wooden floors. Braziers burned softly in the hallways, their faint crackling filling the quiet space.
Kaito kicked the snow off his boots.
Hina did not.
Instead she burst forward like a tiny storm.
"Gift time!"
She ran straight down the hallway toward the rooms.
"Hina!" Kaito called.
"Boots!"
She stopped.
Looked down.
"…Oh."
She shuffled back toward the entrance and clumsily removed them.
Kaito shook his head.
"You run like the house is on fire."
"It is!"
"How?"
"Birthday gift emergency."
Kaito sighed.
Before he could say anything else, Hina had already sprinted down the hallway again.
Kaede entered calmly behind them, brushing snow from her sleeves.
She watched the small blur of energy disappear into the corridor.
"…She has grown louder."
Kaito laughed.
"You should hear her when she's hungry."
Kaede did not doubt that.
A moment later they reached the small room where Hina kept her clothes.
The moment Kaito stepped inside, he regretted it.
Clothes were everywhere.
Hina had already opened a large wooden chest and was throwing outfits across the floor like a tiny fashion storm.
"This one!"
She held up a bright winter robe decorated with silver embroidery.
Kaito blinked.
"…No."
"Why not?"
"We're buying a gift."
He crossed his arms.
"Not attending a royal ceremony."
Hina pouted.
"But I must look important."
"You're three."
"Important three."
Kaito rubbed his forehead.
"You're not meeting the emperor."
Hina gasped dramatically.
"You don't know that."
Kaito stared at her.
"…Fair point."
Before the debate could continue, Kaede walked over silently.
She picked up the fancy robe and placed it back in the chest.
Then she selected a much simpler winter outfit.
Warm.
Comfortable.
Practical.
Hina watched the process suspiciously.
"Kaede…"
"Yes?"
"That outfit is boring."
Kaede calmly tied a scarf around Hina's neck.
"It is warm."
She handed her gloves.
"And practical."
Hina reluctantly accepted them.
Kaito smirked.
"She just outsmarted you."
Hina stuck her tongue out at him.
Then Kaede turned toward Kaito.
"You as well."
She straightened his coat.
Tightened the straps around his sleeves.
Then wrapped a thick scarf around his neck.
Kaito blinked.
"I was already dressed."
"You were poorly dressed."
"…Oh."
Satisfied, Kaede stepped back.
"You may leave."
She opened the front door again.
Cold winter wind swept through the hallway.
Hina immediately saluted.
"Yes!"
Then she grabbed Kaito's hand.
"Let's go!"
And pulled him outside.
The Wind Village looked completely different in winter.
Roofs that once shimmered beneath lantern light were now buried beneath thick layers of snow.
White covered everything.
The streets.
The fences.
The rooftops.
Even the tall wind towers had snow gathered along their edges.
But the village was far from quiet.
Children ran through the streets throwing snowballs at each other.
A group of boys were sliding across a frozen pond while laughing loudly.
Merchants stood beside steaming food stalls, selling hot dumplings and roasted chestnuts.
Villagers shoveled snow from their doors while chatting with neighbors.
The cold wind carried laughter everywhere.
Hina walked beside Kaito with wide eyes.
Everything fascinated her.
"Snow is everywhere!"
"Yes."
"More than yesterday."
"That's how snow works."
She kicked a small pile of it.
Then suddenly—
A snowball flew past her head.
Hina gasped.
"ATTACK!"
She chased the snowball thrower immediately.
Kaito sighed.
"Hina—"
Too late.
She slipped.
Her foot slid across the ice beneath the snow.
She tilted sideways—
And Kaito caught her instantly.
She dangled in his arms for a second.
Then burst into laughter.
"Again!"
"No."
"Again!"
"Absolutely not."
They continued walking.
Hina swung their hands back and forth happily.
Then she looked up.
"Kai Kai."
"Yes?"
"When you become Master…"
She paused thoughtfully.
"…do I get free sweets?"
Kaito blinked.
"That's not how that works."
Hina frowned.
"Then what's the point?"
Kaito thought about it.
"…You know what."
"That's actually a good question."
Soon they reached one of the most colorful streets in the entire village.
Toy Street.
The moment Hina saw it—
Her brain exploded.
Wooden animals.
Spinning wind toys.
Cloth dolls.
Tiny windmills that rotated in the cold breeze.
Wind chimes hanging from wooden beams.
Little mechanical birds that flapped their wings when wound.
Every stall glittered with colors and movement.
Hina ran forward.
"THIS ONE!"
She grabbed a stuffed fox.
Kaito nodded.
"Alright."
Then she saw something else.
"WAIT!"
She dropped the fox and ran to the next stall.
"This one!"
Now she held a spinning wind toy.
Kaito sighed.
Five minutes later she changed her mind again.
Now she wanted a lantern doll.
Kaito rubbed his forehead.
"You said you knew what you wanted."
Hina nodded confidently.
"I do."
"You changed five times."
"Because everything is good."
Kaito sighed again.
This was going to take hours.
While they walked further along the street, Kaito noticed something.
A group of children nearby were building snow animals together.
Laughing.
Throwing snowballs.
But a few steps away from them—
A small girl sat alone.
She was building a tiny snow figure by herself.
Quiet.
Careful.
No one else playing with her.
Kaito nudged Hina.
"You see her?"
Hina looked.
"Yes."
"Why don't you go play with her?"
Hina frowned immediately.
"But I want to play with you."
"You can play with both of us."
She looked back at the girl again.
The girl seemed lonely.
After a long moment—
Hina sighed dramatically.
"…Fine."
Hina walked slowly toward the girl.
The snow crunched softly beneath her small boots as she approached.
The girl didn't notice at first.
She was too focused on fixing the little snow rabbit she had made.
But then—
She looked up.
Her eyes widened.
Recognition flashed across her face.
"H-Hina-sama!"
In a panic she tried to stand up quickly.
But her foot slipped on the snow.
"Ah—!"
She stumbled forward—
And fell flat on the ground.
Snow puffed around her.
Hina blinked.
She stared down at the girl in confusion.
"…What are you doing?"
The girl immediately scrambled back up, brushing snow off her clothes as fast as she could.
"I—I'm sorry!"
She bowed hurriedly.
Kaito, watching from a distance, had to turn his head slightly so the girls wouldn't see him laughing.
Hina stared at the girl.
"…Why are you apologizing?"
The girl looked nervous.
"Because I fell in front of you, Hina-sama."
Hina tilted her head.
"That's not something you apologize for."
The girl looked unsure how to respond.
So Hina decided to change the topic.
She crouched down in front of the snow figure the girl had been building.
It was small.
Crooked.
But carefully made.
She pointed at it.
"Did you make this?"
The girl nodded quickly.
"Yes."
"It's cute."
The girl's eyes lit up slightly.
"Thank you…"
Hina then looked around.
Nearby children were laughing and throwing snowballs.
Building snow animals together.
Running.
Playing.
Hina looked back at the girl.
"Why were you playing alone?"
The girl hesitated.
Her hands clasped together nervously.
"…I don't have anyone to play with."
Hina blinked.
The girl's smile faded slightly.
"…They are already playing together."
Hina tilted her head again.
"So play with them too."
The girl shook her head softly.
"I tried before."
Her voice became quieter.
"But… they already have friends."
The words hung in the cold air.
Hina stared at her for a moment.
"…You don't have friends?"
The girl shook her head slowly.
"No."
Hina looked surprised.
"…None?"
The girl nodded.
"Why?"
The girl looked down at the snow.
"Most children don't want to play with me."
Hina frowned slightly.
"Why not?"
" Maybe because I'm not fun to play with."
To Hina she seemed like a sweet and friendly girl.
Then she asked another question.
"Do you have brothers or sisters?"
The girl shook her head again.
"No."
"I am the only child."
Hina's small heart tightened.
She looked toward Kaito instinctively.
Her big brother stood a short distance away, watching them.
He waved gently when he noticed her looking.
Hina looked back at the girl again.
"…So you don't have friends…"
She paused.
"…and you don't have siblings?"
The girl nodded quietly.
"Yes."
For the first time, Hina looked genuinely sad.
The idea of that felt strange to her.
Lonely.
She loved Kaito more than anything.
He bought her sweets..
Played with her.
Protected her.
Made her laugh.
The thought of someone having no one like that made her chest hurt a little.
Hina's expression softened.
"…That sounds lonely."
The girl nodded quietly.
But she quickly tried to smile.
"I'm okay."
Hina was too smart to believe that.
Hina asked her
"What's your name?"
The girl blinked.
"…Nana."
Hina smiled immediately.
"Nana-chan."
Nana froze.
Her eyes widened.
"…Hina-sama…"
"You should not call me that."
"Why?"
"Because you are my lord."
Hina puffed her cheeks.
"I am not your lord."
"But everyone says—"
"I don't care what everyone says."
She pointed at Nana.
"You are Nana-chan."
Then she pointed at herself proudly.
"And I am Hina-chan."
Nana looked stunned.
"…Hina-chan?"
"Yes."
Nana shook her head nervously.
"I cannot call you that…"
"But you can."
"But it is disrespectful."
Hina folded her arms stubbornly.
"I said you can."
The two girls stared at each other for a moment.
Finally Nana hesitated.
"…Hina…-chan?"
Hina's face lit up instantly.
"See?"
"That wasn't hard."
Nana looked overwhelmed.
Hina suddenly reached out and grabbed her hand.
It was warm despite the cold air.
"Now we are friends."
Nana blinked.
"…Friends?"
Hina nodded confidently.
"Mm."
"If you want someone to play with…"
"…you can play with me."
Then she pointed toward Kaito.
"…or him."
Kaito noticed them looking and raised a hand, waving with a friendly smile.
Nana stared at him.
Then back at Hina.
"…Really?"
"Really."
"If you ever want someone to talk to…"
"Or play with…"
"You can find us."
Hina squeezed her hand.
"Friends help each other."
Nana's lips trembled slightly.
Her eyes suddenly filled with tears.
"…Nana-chan?"
Hina blinked in surprise.
Tears began rolling down Nana's cheeks.
"…No one…"
She sniffed.
"…has ever asked to be my friend before."
Hina's expression softened immediately.
"Oh…"
She gently wiped Nana's tears with her mitten.
"Don't cry."
Nana tried to stop but the tears kept coming.
Hina patted her head awkwardly.
"It's okay."
"We are friends now."
She wiped the last tear away.
Then smiled brightly.
"Friends don't cry all the time."
Nana laughed weakly through the tears.
"O-okay…"
Hina stood up suddenly.
"Now we play."
Nana blinked.
"…Play?"
Hina scooped up a pile of snow.
And threw it directly at her.
Nana gasped.
Snow exploded across her coat.
Then Hina burst into laughter.
"Snow battle!"
Nana stared at the snow on her coat for a moment.
Then slowly smiled.
She grabbed her own snowball.
And threw it back.
The two girls began laughing.
Soon they were building snow animals together.
Then throwing snow.
Then chasing each other across the small clearing.
Their laughter filled the winter street.
From across the road, Kaito leaned against a wooden post and watched.
A quiet smile spread across his face.
Hina had done something simple.
But to Nana…
It meant everything.
And under the quiet winter sky, the two girls continued laughing and playing in the snow.
Hina had just made her first friend.
And Nana had just found hers.
After a long time exploring Toy Street—
Hina finally made a decision.
She held up two small bracelets.
Simple.
Beautiful.
Tiny wind-shaped charms hung from them.
Kaito blinked.
"You're buying two?"
Hina nodded.
"One for me."
She grabbed his wrist.
"And one for you."
She fastened the bracelet around his wrist carefully.
Kaito raised an eyebrow.
"You're using your birthday gift for me?"
Hina shrugged.
"Now you cannot forget me."
Kaito laughed.
"I live with you."
Hina nodded seriously.
"Still."
The sky slowly turned orange.
Sunset was coming.
Snow crunched beneath their boots as they walked home.
Hina talked nonstop.
About her new friend.
About the toys.
About sweets.
Then suddenly—
She stopped walking.
Her hand moved to her chest.
"…Kai?"
Kaito looked down.
"Hina?"
Her face changed.
Confusion.
Pain.
Her breathing became uneven.
"Kai…"
Her fingers grabbed his coat.
Then pain struck harder.
She gasped.
"Hina!"
Kaito grabbed her shoulders.
"What's wrong?!"
She clutched her chest tightly.
Her vision blurred.
The village sounds faded away.
Kaito's heart pounded.
"Hina! Stay with me!"
Her body trembled.
Her eyes slowly closed.
Then—
She collapsed in his arms.
"HINA!"
Villagers turned in shock.
Snow continued falling quietly.
Kaito knelt in the snow holding her.
"Hina!"
She didn't respond.
His voice trembled.
"…Hina?"
The bracelet on his wrist glinted faintly in the fading sunlight.
And the wind moved silently through the winter street.