Chapter 25: A Snowy Day

Common Honorifics:
-san: A polite suffix, but not excessively formal.
-kun: A common suffix among friends and younger people.
-chan: A common suffix among people you’re close with, mostly used for feminine nicknames and girls, since it’s cutesy and childlike.

It snows quite a bit in our area during winter. This year was no different, with the weather forecast showing a line of snowmen all weekend long, an indication of the white rain to come.

Yuki and I watched the forecast together. I pulled out the kotatsu I brought from my parent’s house, put a bask of oranges on the top, and we both tucked our legs inside it to warm up. Being wrapped in the fluffy quilt, as the warmth spreads from the tip of your toes to your whole body, was something to die for.

A dusty smell seeped in from the outside, and it seemed like it could snow at any second. The sky outside was pure white, which makes one think about how quickly the year goes by. I remember this time last year when I spread out my reference books and other things on this kotatsu and concentrated on studying for the entrance exam alone.

It was a good thing that I had done all my shopping at the mall before the snow started to fall. I was ready for my winter retreat, and except for when I went to school, I could stay cozy in my kotatsu.

Then, I shifted my gaze to Yuki, who was sitting in front of me eating an orange. Her cheeks were flushed warm against the cold as she looked out the window. Just the view was enough to make me glad we could spend both of our days together in the same kotatsu, eating some oranges, and relaxing together.

“What really makes me feel like winter is seeing the kotatsu be pulled out,” I remarked.

“Right? It was so hot a few days ago it just seems like a lie.”

“Mhm. It just feels like Fall was a bit longer when I was little. Come to think of it, when we were in elementary school, we used to go see the Fall leaves together,” I recalled.

“Your mother took us there, yeah? It was so beautiful with the bright red leaves all over the place.”

“For sure. Let’s go see them next year.”

“That’s a promise, Haru-kun.”

I smiled as I watched Yuki holding out her pinky finger with a tender smile. I did the same and our pinkies intertwined. Since our reunion at the entrance ceremony, Yuki and I have gone to many places together, though there are still many places that I want to go. I wish to see her smile more in the coming year, so that’s the plan.

“New Year’s is just around the corner, which means winter break is too. What are you doing in the holidays?” I asked.

“Rikka said she wanted to have a Christmas party. She wanted to invite everyone and do all sorts of things.”

“Pretty nice idea. If she’s going to have a party, it’ll be like the second part of that barbecue we did a while ago.”

“I’m sure we’ll iron out the details later, though I think she already has everything in mind. I’ll let you know when I hear more about it.”

“Looking forward to it.”

So, what am I going to do for Christmas? I plan on visiting the temple first thing in the year, and after that, I wish to spend three-ish days just with her. Being able to do this sort of thing so leisurely with her makes me nostalgic. It’s just like when we were kids, a time of pure happiness.

“Hey, Haru-kun…”

“Hm? Is something up?” I asked.

“It’s freezing today, so I wanna make something warm. Any requests?”

“Oh yeah. Hmm, I guess a hot pot would be nice. It just warms you up this time of year, doesn’t it?”

“I’ll take a look at the ingredients in the fridge in a bit. Let’s see what kind of hot pot it’ll be,” she smiled.

I had already bought a variety of ingredients beforehand. Laying down on the kotatsu, I looked forward to seeing what kind of a pot of hot pot we can make with those ingredients.

“Hey, hey, Haru-kun.”

“Hmm?”

“Isn’t the kotatsu acting a bit weird?”

“Really? I think it’s working fine.”

“Is that so? I’d still like you to confirm it though.”

“Okay, I’ll take a look.”

It was an old kotatsu that I had brought from my parent’s house, so it might not be in very good shape. I did as Yuki suggested and flipped up the comforter to take a peek inside. Just under the table, it was brightly lit by an orange heater and it worked fine, so I didn’t see anything strange.

“Yuki, there’s nothing strange over—”

Then, I looked further back under the quilt. She was sitting right in front of me with her legs spread open, gently lifting the hem of her skirt. My eyes glued themselves to her soft white thighs and the thin peach-colored fabric I could see behind. And as if inviting me to keep looking, she fluttered the hem of her skirt, and her cologne filled the warm space. It smelled like melted honey.

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“Haru-kun, how are things down there?”

When I heard her voice, I shot my head up from under the kotatsu. The look on her face wasn’t that of an angel, which she usually uses, but rather of a little devil trying—and succeeding—to seduce me.

“H, how are things… Yuki, is this all on purpose…?”

“Oh? Are you going to stop watching? Such a waste, even though you can see it all so clearly.”

“Guh…”

I gulped and stared back at her. She giggled and smiled mysteriously, cheeks flushing red as her sweet breaths leaked out. There was no way that I, a mere boy, could withstand her temptations… So I looked into the kotatsu once more, this time aware of what I was doing.

Her skirt, previously held up, was now completely out of the way. Beyond it was her undergarments: peach-colored and decorated with a pretty ribbon. Her white thighs, almost spilling from her clothes, were so seductive I couldn’t resist the urge to touch them.

I felt my heart beat against my chest, and my body temperature rise even more than what the kotatsu could do. Overcome with desire, I reached out my hand. Slowly, it hovered over her thigh and stopped for a brief moment. As if aiming for that moment, my fingertips grazed over her porcelain skin.

Just as if she’d been planning for it, the quilt on her side was lifted, and her face peeked out from the gap. Her mischievous smile on the other side was enough to make me feel embarrassed, so I withdrew my hand and acted as if nothing had happened.

With the happiest smile on her face, she stood up, walked to my side, and sat down right next to me. Then, she leaned in very close.

“You didn’t touch me, did you, Haru-kun~?”

“T, the kotatsu’s fine… No problems there… So I just, uh, stopped looking at it,” I tried mustering every bit of calm I could in that voice so she wouldn’t realize how shaken I’d been, but my words stumbled on each other. Upon seeing my messy reaction, her smile grew even more.

“What’s wrong? Your face is burning.”

“…It’s nothing.”

“Hehe, you thought I looked naughty just now, didn’t you?”

I couldn’t say anything in return because she just hit the nail on the head. All I could do was look down at the table, head against her gaze. It was almost as if my silence itself was the answer, and she noticed it.

“Hehe! I knew it~!”

This time, she hovered her lips over my ear and whispered so. Her tone was more seductive than it had ever been, and I feel as if the breathed words were honey drops trickling into my brain.

“Did it feel good to touch me?”

She kept her body pressed against mine, asking so with a smug look on her face. I still couldn’t answer… I wouldn’t be able to hold back if I played into her games any longer, and with her body so close to mine like this.

“Um, that’s…”

She then held my arms, pressing her soft mounds against me. I could feel her warmth directly against my body, as well as how soft she was.

“You know, I reeeeally like that about you.”

“‘Like’… what?”

“I like how I can feel you’re treasuring me in your every action.”

I was transparent as air, and she noticed everything.

The normal course of action for any other boy my age was to give in to her playful temptations and to their instinct. If she played this game on any other, they would surely break and pin her down…

But I couldn’t.

I just care too much about her, and it’s not because of her alluring appearance or whatnot, but because her very existence is too precious for me. It’s as if I’m dealing with the most fragile object on Earth.

Of course, I wish to touch the person I love, but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy thing to do…

No, this is all an excuse. I just don’t have the courage to take this last step, that’s all.

“I’ll be starting dinner soon. I hope you’re looking forward for dinner tonight.”

“Y, yeah… I am…”

She got up and skipped to the kitchen in high spirits. As I stare at her walk away, I recall the scenes that just happened under the kotatsu, which have stuck themselves like glue to my mind. The cozy light of the heater against the contrast of her pale skin to her peachy garments…

I wouldn’t be able to forget that image even if I wanted to.

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