The wheel of time had turned, and 1.5 months had slipped away like sand through my fingers. Winter had finally arrived in Osaka with a vengeance. The sky was a heavy, suffocating grey, draped in thick clouds that seemed to swallow the peaks of the distant mountains. A silent snowfall had begun, dusting the city in white, while a ghostly mist blurred the world outside my window. The holidays had started, but for me, they were just a longer sentence in this lonely prison.
I was buried deep inside my Kotatsu, the only source of warmth in my freezing apartment. I felt like a turtle—slow, heavy, and hiding in its shell. My voice hadn't been used in so long that it sounded like a rusted robot whenever I tried to speak.
Ding-dong.
The doorbell echoed through the hollow room. Wait... who could it be in this weather? The cold is already killing me, and now this... I grumbled to myself. My body felt like lead as I dragged myself to the door.
When I swung it open, the dull grey of my world was shattered by a burst of vibrant pink. There stood Ai, looking like a winter fairy. She was wearing a pink beanie, a matching pink scarf, and a thick pink jacket.
"Whoa... why are you wearing so much pink today?" I asked, my voice cracking. "Are you planning to cosplay as Barbie or something?"
Ai puffed out her cheeks, a small cloud of steam escaping her lips. "No! I just thought matching everything would look cute. Besides, pink is my favorite!"
"Yeah, girls and their obsession with pink," I muttered, leaning against the doorframe. "Anyway, why are you here? Do you need something?"
Ai's expression turned into a mock scowl. "What kind of greeting is that? I'm standing here shivering in the cold, and you won't even let me in?"
"Fine, fine... come in. But really, what's the occasion?"
"Nothing special," she said, shaking the snow off her jacket as she stepped inside. "I was just bored being alone, so I came to bother my best friend."
"Alright, alright. Sit down. Want some tea?"
"Of course! Tea is the only cure for this freezing weather," she chirped, her energy filling the room.
"Anything else? You want a snack?" I asked, heading toward the kitchen.
"Bring everything you've got! In fact, come here, I might just eat you too!" she teased with a mischievous grin.
I froze for a second, startled. "Are you crazy? Do I look like food to you?"
"Relax, I was joking! Even if you were food, you probably wouldn't be tasty. I only like delicious things," she stuck her tongue out.
(Shin's Inner Monologue):
See? She never changes. And for all of you reading this story right now... I have a confession to make. I think I'm falling for her. I don't know when, how, or why, but she was the only one who stood by me when I was at my lowest, when I felt completely abandoned. She is the warmth I didn't know I needed.
"Hey! Who are you talking to over there? Come sit down before you catch a cold!" Ai shouted from the Kotatsu.
"Coming!" I replied. (And don't worry, readers... I'll tell her how I feel soon. So keep reading.)
As I sat down, Ai looked at me closely. "Shin... your hair has grown so long. You look like a mess. Cut it soon, or I'll call Fujiko-san and tell her that her son wants to become a girl."
"Hey! It's not like that. I just... forgot to take care of it," I said, self-consciously touching my messy locks. "Anyway, drink your tea. We can play some games on the console later."
"Games?! Really?! You actually have games? Let's go! I'm going to destroy you! Yeahhhhhh!" She was suddenly beaming with excitement.
I sat beside her, the scent of her perfume cutting through the smell of my stale apartment. As a lock of hair fell over her eyes, I instinctively reached out and tucked it behind her ear. The room went silent. Ai looked directly into my eyes, her face inches from mine.
"Shin... do you want to kiss me?" she whispered.
My heart nearly leaped out of my chest. I jumped back, flustered. "N-No! Why would I want to kiss you? I have no interest in you, and you're not even charming!"
Ai's face fell instantly. Her bright eyes dimmed. "Oh... I'm not charming?"
"Wait, no! I was just joking! Come on, let's just play the game," I said quickly, trying to fix the mood.
We started playing, but it wasn't even a contest. Ai crushed me. 10-0.
"Oh no... I lost here too," I sighed, leaning back against the wall. "You're a pro, Ai. How long have you been playing?"
"That was actually my first time," she said, looking smug. "I'm not a pro, Shin. You're just pathetic at gaming."
"Yeah... 10-0 makes it hard to argue with that," I laughed weakly.
Ai grew quiet for a moment, tracing the rim of her tea mug. "Shin... tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Should I bake a cake for you?"
I tried to lighten the mood again. "No thanks. I don't want to die from food poisoning. I'll just buy one from the store."
Ai puffed her cheeks again, looking genuinely offended. "Huh! I actually know how to bake! My grandmother taught me, and my family even owns a cake shop! Don't underestimate me. Once you taste my cake, you'll be begging me to make it every day."
(Shin's Inner Monologue):
So that's why she loves cake so much... I realized then that I had never really asked her about her family.
"Ai... won't your parents be home for Christmas?"
Suddenly, the light in her eyes vanished. I had never seen her look so fragile. "They won't be coming because—"
Ring!
The doorbell interrupted her.
"Shin! Ai! We're here!" It was Itsuki and Saki shouting from outside.
"Who invited them?" I asked, looking at Ai.
"I did! I thought we should have a party since they finally have some free time," she replied, her cheerful mask sliding back into place.
I opened the door, and Itsuki immediately tackled me into a hug. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHINNN!"
Ai froze, looking at me in shock. "Birthday?! Shin, why didn't you tell me it was your birthday today?"
Saki stepped in, crossing her arms. "Exactly! You should have told your friends. You told Itsuki but not us?"
"Wait! My birthday was on July 7th! Itsuki is just talking nonsense as usual!" I yelled, trying to push him off.
Itsuki laughed, ignoring my protest. "Forget about the date! Look who we brought with us..."
To be continued... 🌸❄️