-ARAKAWA RESIDENCE, SMALL KITCHEN-
-6:12 PM, FEBRUARY 8, 2017-
The Arakawa apartment felt quieter than usual.
Snow piled against the balcony railing outside, thick and steady under the evening sky.
Inside the small kitchen—
Ichika stood beside the counter, carefully cutting vegetables.
Her sleeves were slightly rolled up.
She moved slowly, cautiously, as if she didn't want to make a mistake.
Behind her—
Rikuu leaned against the refrigerator, watching.
"…You don't have to do that."
Ichika didn't look up.
"Yes, I do."
"You're going to cut your finger."
"I'm being careful."
"You're holding the knife wrong."
She stopped cutting and turned slightly.
"Then teach me."
Rikuu sighed.
"…Give me that."
He stepped beside her, adjusting the knife in her hand.
"Like this."
His hand guided hers for a moment.
"Slow pressure."
Ichika tried again.
The cut was cleaner this time.
"Oh."
"…See."
She smiled slightly.
"You're a good teacher."
"That's debatable."
From the other room—
Fumiko's voice called out weakly.
"Are you two cooking or flirting?"
Ichika immediately covered her mouth to hide a laugh.
Rikuu rubbed his forehead.
"…Grandma."
-ARAKAWA RESIDENCE, LIVING ROOM-
-6:36 PM-
Dinner was simple.
Soup.
Rice.
Vegetables.
But Fumiko looked pleased.
"This is nice," she said softly.
"You should cook together more often."
Rikuu raised an eyebrow.
"We barely survived cutting carrots."
Ichika smiled.
"I'm learning."
Fumiko looked between them.
Her expression warm.
For a moment—
The apartment felt peaceful.
Almost normal.
Then—
Fumiko's breathing changed.
Subtle at first.
A deeper inhale.
A small cough.
Rikuu noticed immediately.
"…Grandma?"
She tried to wave it off.
"I'm fine."
But another cough followed.
Longer.
Harsher.
Ichika set her chopsticks down.
"Arakawa-san?"
Fumiko's hand gripped the edge of the table slightly.
Her breathing grew uneven.
Rikuu stood instantly.
"Grandma."
"I'm—"
Another cough cut her sentence short.
This time she couldn't finish the breath.
Rikuu moved beside her chair.
"Hey."
His voice was calm.
But tight.
"Look at me."
Her chest rose sharply again.
Struggling.
Ichika grabbed her phone.
"I'll call the hospital."
Rikuu nodded quickly.
"Ambulance."
Fumiko tried to speak.
But the words didn't come.
Her breathing had become shallow.
Unsteady.
The apartment suddenly felt too small.
Too quiet.
Too fragile.
-HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, EMERGENCY ENTRANCE-
-7:14 PM-
The ambulance lights reflected against the falling snow.
Paramedics wheeled Fumiko inside quickly.
Doctors moved fast.
Efficient.
Professional.
Rikuu stood near the entrance doors.
Hands clenched at his sides.
Ichika stood beside him.
Not speaking.
Just present.
After several minutes—
A doctor stepped out of the emergency room.
"She's stabilized," he said.
Rikuu exhaled slowly.
"But this episode shows how fragile her lungs have become."
The doctor's tone was gentle.
"She'll need to stay here for monitoring."
Rikuu nodded.
"…Okay."
Ichika finally spoke softly.
"Can we see her?"
"In a few minutes."
The doctor walked away.
Silence filled the hallway again.
Rikuu leaned against the wall slightly.
For a moment—
He closed his eyes.
Not in defeat.
Just exhaustion.
Ichika reached for his hand.
He held it tightly.
Neither said anything.
Because sometimes—
Words don't help when winter suddenly grows colder.
-AURORA ACADEMY, THEATRE CLUB STAGE-
-3:45 PM, FEBRUARY 9, 2017-
Rehearsal continued the next day.
But Rikuu wasn't there.
Students practiced their scenes quietly.
Takeda adjusted stage marks.
Masayoshi checked his phone again.
"…He's still at the hospital."
Hoshino-sensei nodded.
"Family comes first."
Ichika stood near the edge of the stage.
Holding the script.
But not reading it.
Her thoughts were somewhere else.
Outside—
Snow continued falling over Aurora Academy.
Inside—
A stage waited for its lead actor.
And somewhere in a hospital room—
Winter was tightening its grip.