White, transparent snow.

It is said that no two snowflakes in this world are the same.

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Each and every snowflake is unique.

Just like people.

The process of a snowflake falling is like a person’s life.

It condenses, grows branches, forms a beautiful shape, then falls to the ground, merges into the pile of snow, and if lucky, it can last until the weather warms up, and if not, it gets trampled, melts, and disappears completely.

...No, no, no, that’s too negative a thought.

Life is beautiful, how can it be compared to something as brief and fragile as a snowflake.

Standing in front of the huge glowing Christmas tree, Kiryu Hina rubbed her gloved hands again, stamped her feet gently, and a hopeful smile quietly appeared on her face, which was a bit reddened by the cold.

Today is Christmas Day.

It’s a white Christmas.

When she saw the snow falling from the sky during dinner, she was already excited.

She had not expected it to still be coming down when she went out.

There was already some snow accumulated on the ground.

She wore her beloved beige coat and carefully made sure not to slip as she walked to the agreed-upon location, an outdoor plaza.

Today being Christmas Day, there were a lot of couples coming and going.

So many, in fact, it was affecting the view.

But Kiryu Hina couldn’t find it in her to complain about this, after all, she too was one of the couples here waiting for her lover.

This little bit of happiness made her secretly thrilled.

Right, she also had a boyfriend.

She didn’t have to listen enviously on Valentine’s Day as her classmates boasted about how expensive the love hotels were, nor did she have to sulk alone under the covers, depressed, watching dramas on Christmas Day.

When it’s cold, there’s a warm embrace waiting for you.

When it’s hot, someone thoughtfully brings you a chilled drink.

When you’re not feeling well, someone suffers with you.

When you’re happy, they share in your joy.

Kiryu Hina could arrogantly say she had the best lover in the world.

After all, there probably isn’t a second person in this world who can make her, who’s usually somber and not given to smiling, smile so naturally just by the thought of his face.

"What are you thinking about?"

A pair of strong hands embraced her from behind, skillfully wrapping around her waist as the warm breath from his words brushed against Kiryu Hina’s ears.

Realizing who was behind her, her body, initially stiff from the surprise, instantly relaxed, and her already cold-reddened cheeks reddened a bit more.

She turned her head to the side, looking up with annoyance, and sure enough, she saw her boyfriend’s face.

He was looking at her with a sunny smile, just like a golden retriever.

"You’re late!"

"You’re the one who came too early."

"You dare talk back?"

"Yes, yes, it’s all my fault, is that okay?"

The two of them maintained their embrace and looked at each other, then suddenly both broke into laughter.

The boyfriend bent down and kissed her cheek, "This is an apology."

Kiryu Hina immediately covered her face and looked around, noticing that no one was paying attention to them, then glared up at him with puffed cheeks, "Kagura Hikaru you jerk, how many times have I told you not to do this in public places!"

"So what you mean is, you don’t want to be kissed?" Kagura Hikaru slyly remarked.

"That, that’s not it..." Kiryu Hina’s voice got quieter as she spoke, then, annoyed, she punched her boyfriend hard in the abdomen, pushing him away and hurriedly walking forward, "It’s all your fault for making me say such embarrassing things, let’s go quickly!"

"Alright, alright."

Kagura Hikaru laughed at the cuteness of his girlfriend, smoothed out the dent in his down jacket, and jogged after her.

Together they looked at the Christmas lights on the streets, bought commemorative couple bracelets, received a pair of red and blue balloons from a Santa Claus they ran into, and fulfilled the achievement of eating ice cream on a snowy day.

This was the happiest and warmest Christmas they’d ever had.

Both of them would say that.

They had been playing until about nine o’clock at night when their phones received a message at the same time.

"It’s from Suse." Kiryu Hina, who was the first to check her phone, said happily.

But she was completely unaware that when she mentioned that name, Kagura Hikaru’s smile became somewhat forced.

They looked down at their phone screens.

[Kohinata Suse:

I am sending a text to Kiryu Hina and Kagura Hikaru right now.

Are you two having fun on Christmas? I’m also out and about. (Yay~.jpg)]

At the end of the message, there was also a photo attached, probably taken on a bridge, a straight river glistening with the moon’s reflection on the water surface.

"True to Suse, even her photos taken with a phone are so beautiful."

Even the usually haughty Kiryu Hina, known in class as the ’gloomy witch,’ became generous with her praise in front of her.

Kohinata Suse.

They were classmates, joined the Drama Club together, and were best friends.

She was recognized by the students of Bunkyo Public Middle School, the school where Kagura Hikaru attended, as ’Ms. Perfect.’

Ms. Perfect, a perfect person, an impeccable existence.

Even her closest friends at school, which included Kagura Hikaru and Kiryu Hina, had to agree with this point of view.

Kohinata Suse was perfect.

Perfect appearance, perfect character, perfect background, perfect talent.

The only weakness, if any, was probably in sports, which she was not particularly good at.

But that only added to her charm.

A beautiful girl who would become pale and gasp gently when running, who could resist?

In her presence, most boys couldn’t even muster the courage to confess.

She was too perfect, no one was worthy of her.

Of course, even if one did muster the bravery to try, it was meaningless.

The unattainable Kohinata Suse remained beyond reach.

But... maybe it wasn’t that no one could reach her.

Perhaps in her heart, she had already made her choice.

"The place Suse took pictures of seems close to here, should we go find her?"

"Today is our time together, why would we include Suse in that, and besides, she might not even want to."

Kiryu Hina smiled happily, hugging Kagura Hikaru’s arm, "You’re right, let’s go then!"

"Yeah."

Ding-dong~

Kagura Hikaru’s phone suddenly rang with another text message notification.

"What is it, who is it?" Kiryu Hina asked curiously, looking over.

He casually tilted the phone so his girlfriend could only see the reflection on the screen, and then with a troubled tone he said, "It’s my dad urging me to come home, he says he bought a cake and is waiting for me to eat it together."

"Is that so, are you going back then?"

"Yeah, sorry..."

"It’s okay, I already had a lot of fun today." Kiryu Hina didn’t sulk, instead comforting him by patting his arm.

"Thanks, then let’s part here, see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, see you tomorrow."

Kiryu Hina waved at Kagura Hikaru’s retreating figure, ready to turn around and head home.

But just as she looked down, she suddenly noticed something silver flashing on the ground.

It was the couple’s bracelet they had bought earlier.

That guy, so careless, didn’t even know his bracelet had fallen off.

Muttering to herself, Kiryu Hina crouched down to pick it up and hesitated for a moment between returning it tomorrow and catching up to him, choosing the latter.

While she could still see him, Kiryu Hina quickly started following him.

If she had known that at the end of this road she would encounter a tragedy that would completely overturn her current happiness, she would have thought more carefully before making this decision.