When it's cold, every breath becomes a cloud—soft and white like the sky above, heavy with thick, unmoving clouds.
Each step left a crisp footprint in the fresh snow.
Haibara Ai, wrapped in a thick scarf and warm gloves, paused and gazed toward the horizon. The sun hung low, tinged with orange, just beginning to dip.
For a girl who had lived most of her life in the sterile confinement of laboratories, this open world felt vibrant—so vivid, so free, even the biting wind slipping into her coat was novel and... strangely welcome.
She instinctively tugged her scarf closer around her neck.
"Brother Yoshiki, do you want to build a snowman?"Ran called out with a wave.
"Sure, let's do it."Hayashi Yoshiki replied warmly.
"Yay!"Sonoko chimed in, practically skipping over to the snow.
The two girls immediately dropped to their knees and began scooping snow, their smiles unguarded and joyful.
Ai watched them for a moment.
It's nice...She thought again.
"When everyone decides to build a snowman, the last thing you should do is stand there doing nothing."
"I've never heard that rule before," she muttered.
"You did today."Yoshiki's soft chuckle lingered in the chilly air.
Haibara Ai—Miyano Shiho, by another name—was the kind of girl whose brilliance and burdens had long made her reluctant to engage in things as trivial as play. But given just a nudge, she often found herself giving in.
Finally, she bent down and scooped some snow.
"You need to squeeze it tight first."
Her small, gloved hands worked to form a snowball.
Nearby, Ran and Sonoko were laughing over their own lumpy creation.
"Then why'd you take your gloves off?"
"The warmth of your palm melts it slightly—makes it easier to shape!"
"Don't get frostbite."
"...That's possible?"
Their chatter filled the space with lightness.
Ai crouched down, rolling her snowball across the white expanse. Her cheeks flushed—perhaps from cold, perhaps not. Yoshiki crouched beside her.
His long, black coat shifted, shielding her from the wind like a curtain. That simple gesture warmed her more than she expected.
The soft sunlight fell in scattered beams over the snow and onto his features. His expression was gentle. The wind tousled his hair slightly, and his dark eyes held a quiet steadiness.
"It doesn't have to be perfectly round. We'll smooth it out later."
"How big should it be?"
"Hmm… maybe the size of that tree over there."
"Do I look like a seven-year-old to you?"
"If you want to deceive others, you have to fool yourself first."He gave her a teasing smile. "And honestly, you do look the part."
She didn't answer but didn't walk away either.
While Ran and Sonoko built theirs, Ai quietly worked on her own snowball—smaller, but perfectly round.
Soon, the two snowballs—one larger, one smaller—were stacked together.
"Wow, Ai! That's so good!"
"It's way rounder than ours," Ran added in admiration.
Haibara looked at both snowmen. She had done better.
"Come on! Kids are cuter when they're honest!"Sonoko teased, hands on her hips.
Hayashi Yoshiki reached out and gently ruffled Ai's hair.
He keeps doing that now...
Yoshiki helped lift Ai's carefully shaped snowball onto the base, forming a perfect gourd-shaped snowman.
"Now we just need leaves and branches."
"Let's go!"Sonoko grabbed Ran, who then extended a hand to Ai.
She hesitated, then glanced at Yoshiki.
He smiled encouragingly.
So she reached out and took Ran's hand.
Maybe it's because my sister is still alive...But I feel more "cheerful" now than I once did.
The girls disappeared into the woods.
Yoshiki took out his second phone.
Vodka: "It's nothing."
Having just been scolded, Vodka could only feign calm. He resumed watching his idol concert recording, brow furrowed and soul trembling.
The girls returned with twigs and dead leaves.
Yoshiki helped shape them into a face and arms. The finished snowman stood proud and cartoonish.
"So cute!!"Ran clapped her hands.
"Brother Jiashu, you're amazing!"
"Wasn't this all your hard work?" he replied modestly.
Then he turned toward Sonoko.
"Did you take your gloves off again?"
"Um… maybe a little…"
"Go soak your hands in warm water before you freeze them."
Sonoko nodded like a chick being scolded. Still, she wore the most satisfied smile on her face.
Yoshiki noticed Ai's scarf had come a bit loose.
He squatted beside her again.
He removed his gloves, gently cupping her cheeks—red from the cold—and pinched her ears lightly.
Her breath caught slightly. Her whole body stiffened.
Nobody had ever done this before.
He adjusted the scarf, careful to keep her bundled.
Her view blurred briefly from her own breath.
So this is... being taken care of.
"Brother Yoshiki, you're so gentle..."Ran said with a soft smile.
"Mhm."Sonoko nodded dreamily. She glanced at Ai with the tiniest hint of envy.
"Alright," Yoshiki finally said."Let's head back inside."