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The entrance hall was cluttered with similar looking shoes that had been tossed out of the shoe lockers. Before the arrival of the endless Winter, they had all been black loafers, but now they had been replaced with Timberland and Nupste boots. Although there was no formal school dress code for shoes, everyone seemed to adhere to an unspoken standard.
Yukihisa Amagi slipped on a pair of imitation Nupste winter boots. After pushing through the synthetic cotton stuffing around the ankles, his feet hit the solid insoles. At first, he thought the boots' casual look clashed with his school uniform, but he had since grown indifferent to it.
Once he stepped outside, the scenery was dominated a gray, bleak sky. The ground was blanketed in snow, with a path of faint footprints left by early departures from school. The bare black branches stretched upwards a stark constrast to the silver sky.
As Yukihisa followed the path skirting the schoolyard to the gate, a gust of wind sent flurries of snowflakes his way. He retrieved a face mask and gloves from his down jacket pocket and put them on.
On the other side of the schoolyard, the track team, all clad in matching windbreakers, were running, battling the snow. Kei Imazeki, who was walking alongside Yukihisa, watched them with a somber expression.
Kei's soccer team had its national tournament qualifiers canceled due to the snow. Yukihisa felt for his friend, who now didnt have a goal to strive towards. The tournament was supposed to be a platform for second-year students like Kei to become the backbone of the team after the seniors retired, so their expectations must have been high.
I guess we might have online classes tomorrow.
Yukihisa's tone suggested that the idea had just struck him. Kei, who had turned around, seemed to relax somewhat upon hearing this.
They're predicting heavy snowfall tonight. The trains will probably be suspended.
Isn't the Yokosuka Line really unreliable in heavy snow? It's freaking ridiculous.
Kotaro, who had been leading the way, made this comment while walking backward. Yukihisa and Kei exchanged glances and chuckled.
They probably never anticipated a situation like this, so there's not much they can do.
You have a knack for complaining, don't you?
Kei kicked some snow, sending it flying into the air. Kotaro dramatically dodged it.
On the way to the train station, the trio stopped by their usual convenience store.
It would have been strange for three people to enter a store and for only one of them not to buy anything, so Yukihisa bought a coffee even though he didn't particulary want one.
Since there was no room to eat inside, they stepped out. Standing in front of the dew-laden glass window, they noticed the ground under the eaves frozen to a crisp white.
It's so cooold.
Shivering, Kei bit into his deep-fried minced meat cutlet while Yukihisa exhaled, his breath warmed by the coffee. Today's highest temperature was minus five degrees, and their breaths formed delightful white clouds in the air.
Seriously, it's freezing. I feel like I'm turning into an icicle.
Kotaro said this as he dug into his cup of vanilla ice cream, causing Yukihisa and Kei to burst out laughing.
Ice cream? Really?
You must be nuts to eat ice cream in this weather.
Kotaro responded by popping the wooden spoon in his mouth.
Ice cream is perfect for winter!
That's something people say when they're indoors.
Kei crumpled up the bag from his minced meat cutlet.
Yukihisa thought that the meaning of the word winter had become distorted. Winters in Kanagawa were not this cold, and wasn't supposed to snow in November.
Perhaps it was not the word which was distorted, but the world itself that had gone mad. It seemed everyone was accepting this bizarre situation, which Yukihisa found unbearable.
Students from his school, West Yokosuka High School, walked by on the road across the parking lot. He watched them as the coffee in his hand cooled down.
A familiar foursome entered his line of sight. Their boisterous laughter drifted across the parking lot and echoed through the snow-covered residential area, giving a faint sparkle to the place.
The girls' footwear was even less varied than the boys'. All four of them had on short sheepskin boots and were showing off their bare legs under their skirts. Their outerwear was different, with some in coats, others in fleece jackets with fur details, and a few in down jackets.
Although they had been in the same classroom just moments ago, they now seemed to inhabit a distant world. Engrossed in a conversation only they could understand, they were oblivious to their surroundings.
They seemed to view this winter as a great opportunity to accentuate their charm by dressing up in their favorite clothes. Yukihisa watched them, taking a sip from the paper cup. The coffee had lost its heat and some of its sweetness as well.
Suddenly, one of the girls turned her gaze to Yukihisa.
See you later.
Minami Manase pulled her hand out of her duffle coat pocket and gave Yukihisa and the others a quick wave. Her fingers, peeking out from the sleeves, were white and stood out vividly against the surrounding snowy landscape.
The three girls walking with her halted their chatter, looking at their friend, puzzled.
Yukihisa responded by lifting his coffee cup.
Yeah.
See ya.
Kotaro and Kei returned the wave. Minami gave a small nod in acknowledgment and slipped her hand back into her coat pocket.
As they watched the girls make their way along the pedestrian crossing, Kotaro and Kei exchanged glances.
I think that's the first time I've ever spoken to Minami.
Isn't that crazy? It's already November.
No way. She's a bit intimidating, don't you think?
Yeah, I get it. There's a weird intensity about her.
Their spirits were lifted after being addressed by a girl in the popular group of the class. Yukihisa watched the now-empty crosswalk, devoid of any passing cars.
At the station, Yukihisa said goodbye to his friends, who were both heading home by train.
He stood at the bus stop in front of the station, taking in his surroundings. He was the only student from West Yokosuka High School waiting for the bus. The snow had been cleared from the roof of the bus shelter, leaving a large pile of it on the sidewalk. The road was rough and the slush had turned a dirty gray from the passing tires.
Soon, the bus arrived. The chains on its tires churned up the slush as it came to a stop. Yukihisa boarded the bus and took a seat, enjoying the peculiar comfort it provided. The bus shuddered and roared as it strained to get through the snow. The warm air inside made the bus feel Yukihisa was sitting inside a large, gentle beast. Yukihisa affectionately ran his hand over the plush seat beneath him.
As the bus traversed the shopping street, with its sidewalks covered by the roofs, the buildings reflected in the window gradually thinned out. Low, snow-covered mountains peered through the gaps. Kotaro, who lived in Yokohama, would probably scoff at the rural scenery, but to Yukihisa, this view offered a familiar and comforting atmosphere.
Yukihisa disembarked at his usual stop and strolled along the busy national road for a bit before veering off into a side street that was so narrow it could barely accommodate a single car. The road surface, frozen in the shadows of the flanking walls, sloped downward slightly. It was an incline that would be barely noticeable in normal conditions, but the snow exaggerated the gradient. Yukihisa shuffled along, arms spread out for balance and ready to brace himself if he slipped.
A robust metal gate came into sight to the right. It was a sliding vertical grid design, evoking images of a high school's main gate. The road beyond the gate disappeared into the woods, and nothing more could be seen.
Yukihisa opened the heavy, icy gate and stepped inside. Despite the road's width, there were no tire tracks—only a single set of footprints boldly leading the way. He followed them.
Emerging from the woods, he entered an open space housing a dark building with a unique roof. The roof, uneven with peaks and valleys, was akin to an unfinished paper plane, angling down toward the ground. The lower half of the building was buried in snow, which made it appear quite low. The facade was made of glass, which should have offered a sweeping view of the sea from its hilltop location, but the snow-covered glass made such a view impossible.
Yukihisa rang the doorbell at the entrance, his hand shaking the handle of a snow shovel stuck in a snow mound. The pathway leading up to the house was meticulously cleared of snow.
The front door swung open.
You're early.
Minami Manase, still in her school uniform, held the door open.
The bus arrived sooner than I expected.
Yukihisa took over, keeping the door open.
Minami appeared shorter than when he had seen her at the convenience store. Her eyes were light in color, accentuating the blackness of her eyelashes.
As he stepped inside and shut the door behind him, it felt even colder than outside. The entrance hall, stretching up to the second floor, was ominously dark. The stillness echoed beneath the lofty ceiling, striking Yukihisa's ears.
Yukihisa stepped into the slippers that Minami had offered him and ventured deeper into the house. An coat stand resembling a tree was positioned by the doorway, decorated with Minami's duffle coat and a lengthy pink scarf. He took off his down jacket and hung it up, leaning his backpack against the base of the stand.
As he climbed the simple stairs, which were basically just steps sticking out from the wall, he glanced down at the dimly lit living room. Neither the sofa facing the window nor the sleek kitchen counter radiated any sign of warmth or signs of life. Beyond the window panes, snow was piling up, its growing layers clearly visible from inside the house.
The whole house was built like an atrium, reducing the second floor to a narrow space. At the top of the stairs, there was only an open terrace-like space and one room. Upon entering the room, a sensation of weightlessness overcame him as he was engulfed by the intense brightness and comforting warmth.
The room was approximately the size of eight tatami mats, with most of the floor space taken up by a bed, a low kotatsu table, and a TV stand. The decor was similar to the overall style the house: understated yet of high quality. The sole exception was the kotatsu quilt, which featured a colorful patchwork pattern.
I've turned on the kotatsu.
Encouraged by Minami, Yukihisa settled down with his back resting against the bed and tucked his feet beneath the kotatsu. His toes had grown cold without him realizing and throbbed painfully as they soaked up the warmth.
How about some coffee?
Minami picked up the electric kettle from the floor. Yukihisa shook his head.
I had some earlier.
Minami exited the room, seemingly ignoring his statement.
Yukihisa slid his hands under the kotatsu and rubbed his palms together. The room was so quiet that the low humming of the kotatsu heater felt loud. Even though he was of average height, the room felt cramped; maybe because of the high ceiling on the lower level. Suddenly feeling claustrophobic, he grabbed the remote from the tidy setup on the kotatsu and turned on the TV.
A show popped up that was neither news nor a talk show. A university professor was explaining the cause of the endless Winter.
The professor proposed that due to dormant volcanic activity, the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere had decreased, nullifying the greenhouse effect and thus cooling the Earth. Yukihisa had heard and read countless similar theories, but no one could provide a concrete answer as to when this unprecedented Winter would end.
Minami returned carrying a tray. On it was the electric kettle from earlier, a mug, and a small cup of ice cream. She placed the kettle on its base and sat down opposite Yukihisa.
Seeing your friend eating ice cream made me want some too.
She took off the lid and started to dig into the ice cream with her spoon. It was still quite hard, so she could only scrape off a thin layer from the top. She scooped it up and as she brought it to her mouth, her face lit up.
Yukihisa couldn't help but smile at her instant change in demeanor.
How can you eat that in this freezing cold?
Ice cream is perfect for winter.
I feel like I've heard that somewhere before.
While Minami enjoyed her ice cream, a news anchor started to discuss "Three Ways to Save Energy That You Can Try Right Now."
Since Winter began, electricity and crude oil prices had steadily increased due to the higher heating needs.
Minami turned away from the TV to pick up a remote control on the kotatsu and pointed it at the air conditioner. A beep went off and the heat intensified.
I knew you were cold.
Minami didn't answer, continuing to savor her ice cream instead.
Would you like some, Yukihisa?
What flavor is it?
Minami flipped the lid to check.
Rich milk.
That sounds fancy.
It's my favorite.
How is it different from vanilla?
The taste, maybe?
Even I could have guessed that.
Minami stood up and sat down next to Yukihisa. She nudged him aside with her hip and forcefully slid her feet under the kotatsu.
Hmm.
Yukihisa accepted the spoon she handed him.
Hmm . . . It's less fragrant than vanilla. The sweetness hits you harder, though.
Yeah.
Minami scooped up some more ice cream and offered the spoon to Yukihisa again. The spoon's warmth was more noticeable than the ice cream's chill. When he pulled the spoon away, it lightly brushed against his tongue.
Minami offered him some more. As Yukihisa leaned in for a bite, she pulled the spoon back and popped it into her own mouth instead. He leaned in closer, determined not to miss the next one. She deftly slid the spoon back into her mouth, this time lifting it straight from the cup.
Yukihisa sealed their connection with his lips. After the spoon was removed, only a soft sensation lingered. The icy sweetness quickly vanished and was replaced by the roughness tongues meeting. He wasn't sure if she had stolen the fleeting ice cream, or if it had simply melted down his throat. When he attempted to find out, a bitter flavor greeted him.
Their lips broke apart. Her eyes were inches from his. He thought he caught a glimpse of his own reflection, aimless and adrift in the monotony of everyday life, mirrored in her eyes. Yukihisa tenderly caressed her cheek with his fingertips, brushed her hair asid, and gently tugged at her earlobe. He traced her jawline, lifted it slightly, and kissed her again. The earlier bitterness had dissipated, giving way to a newfound sweetness.
The electric kettle clicked off, the sound echoing in the room. Minami rose to pour hot water into her mug. Returning to Yukihisa's side, she stirred the instant coffee powder without adding sugar or milk.
Black coffee?
It balances perfectly when you have it with ice cream.
Yukihisa gave it a try, but the intense contrast of sweetness and bitterness, along with the mix of cold and hot sensations, made Yukihisa question what was so perfect about it.
He glanced at her.
The deep shadows cast by her lush eyelashes accentuated her captivating face. As she took a sip from her cup, her lips formed a delicate pout. Yukihisa was familiar with the tenderness of those lips, and that understanding seemed to unlock the secrets of the universe.
Minami leaned her head on Yukihisa's shoulder while playing with her phone.
I think we'll have online classes tomorrow.
Yeah, it looks like there'll be heavy snowfall tonight.
I guess the trains and buses will stop running then.
Initially, the arrival of this curious Winter brought excitement with school cancellations. The thrill of waking up late and enjoying the snowy view from inside was refreshing. However, as this became routine, the novelty wore off. Now they were mostly worried.
I wonder how long will this go on?
Hey, if we do have online classes tomorrow, you should come here.
Minami was still engrossed in her phone when she proposed the idea.
We can take the classes together.
Yukihisa nodded.
I need to head home now. My shift is about to start.
Sure.
She lifted her head from his shoulder, leaving a lingering warmth and a faint dampness.
As Yukihisa exited the room, he noticed it was even colder and darker than when he first got there. The silent house felt eerier to him than a dense forest or the depths of the Earth. Minami nudged him from behind, prompting him to move forward.
While Yukihisa was getting his winter boots on at the door, Minami slipped into her sandals beside him. She stepped out first, her bare toes feeling the chill. Yukihisa trailed behind her as she kept the door ajar for him.
See you tomorrow.
Yeah, see you.
The sharp breeze through the open door made her shiver.
I'm freezing from the ice cream.
That sounds familiar, too.
After saying goodbye, Yukihisa started his walk home. The road still had remnants of snow that crunched underfoot with each step. The thought of the area being blanketed by snow again by nightfall made him feel empty inside. When he closed the gate, it felt heavier than when he had opened it earlier.
As he walked along the tight pathway, it felt like it was getting even more narrow. Cars could probably only make it as far as Minami's house. Walls loomed on on either side. The hill on his right was always in view, giving him the feeling it was about to engulf the town.
Yukihisa's home had no gate, with the entranceopening straight onto the street.
The inside of the house was bitterly cold. Yukihisa didn't bother to turn on the heater since he was leaving soon anyway.
He ate some bread to satisfy his hunger. Although he considered spreading on some jam, the residual sweetness from the ice cream he had earlier made him think twice.
He changed out of his school uniform into his regular clothes and stepped out of the house. The small street in front of his house gradually merged with the bigger prefectural road.
The main road gracefully curved around the Prefectural Art Museum. Streetlights illuminated the empty sidewalks. Even though it was before five o'clock, it was already dark. The row of houses came to an end, revealing a dark sea beyond the parking lot, where the sound of waves echoed faintly.
Yukihisa used to cycle to his part-time job at the gas station, but the snow had put a stop to that. The roads were nearly empty, and the few cars that did go by passed him cautiously, mindful of the icy surface.
The surf shop was shuttered and had been closed for some time, mirroring the fate of the fishing tackle stores, marinas and restaurants in Izumi Town.
Yukihisa gazed at Morino Beach, now blanketed in snow and appearing even more expansive and serene. The breakwater at the end of the beach, his favorite fishing spot, was lost in the dark waters.
He paused when he noticed an unusual shadow on the shore. The glow from the street lamps reflected off of the snow, creating an outline of four long legs in the dark. Antlers sprouted from the base, branching out with their tips piercing the night sky.
He had seen deer before on a school trip to Nara Park, but this was the biggest he had ever seen. Maybe it looked so massive because of its antlers, which semi-wild ones cared for by humans lacked. He had heard stories of wild boars coming down from the hills looking for food, but seeing a deer was a total surprise.
Yukihisa chose to stray from the path and head toward the shoreline. He soon discovered the snow enveloping him up to his knees. Unlike his clumsy, swaying upper body, the deer remained poised and graceful.
The deer caught sight of him and shifted its gaze toward him. Its dark eyes locked onto him and he could see its breath billowing in white clouds. Its oversized ears fanned out like it was trying to intimidate.
As Yukihisa approached the deer, coming within roughly five meters, he noticed its front legs quivering slightly. Realizing there was no point in moving any closer, he stopped. He pulled out his smartphone from his jacket pocket to snap a photo.
Despite his efforts to turn it on, the smartphone screen remained unresponsive. After multiple failed attempts, he pressed the power button longer, only to see a large dead battery icon. The cold had clearly drained it. Annoyed, Yukihisa clicked his tongue.
Startled by the sound, the deer turned its head and walked toward the road, nimbly lifting its hooves from the snow and plunging them back in. As it moved, Yukihisa could see that its fur was even whiter than the snow around it. The wind swirled snowflakes, almost as if it was trying to cover the animal's tracks.
Yukihisa thought about how much the world had changed. It was hard to believe that this beach, usually filled with sand, could be buried in snow. Spotting a deer here was just as strange. The weird weather this year was frequently labeled as unprecedented. It didn't take long for the theory that Winter had become permanent gained traction, supported by the unusually chilly summer and snow in September.
No one could have anticipated this outcome. If someone had said a year ago that Izumi would see snow, driving away surfers, anglers, and yacht enthusiasts, people would have thought they were crazy. The struggle many shops and facilities were currently facing was not due to a lack of planning.
Even the ant from Aesop's fable "The Ant and the Grasshopper" story could only prepare for a normall winter. In the face of an endless Winter, the only option would be to eat all the food it saved and then risk starvation.
Yukihisa gazed at the sea. where waves caressed the shore in the shallow waters. The retreating snow exposed the sandy beach, which remained unchanged since before Winter.
He briefly wondered whether the deer had come down from the mountains not for food, but to admire the sea. The rhythm of the lapping waves calmed his troubled heart, making him feel as if he could be swallowed up by the deep, dark water. It felt like a chance to escape the drastically changed world, maybe even a world that was over, and step into a new one.
A powerful gust from the ocean snapped Yukihisa back to reality. He realized that if he kept daydreaming, he would be late for his part-time job. Unable to check the time since his phone was dead, he tucked it into his hoodie pocket under his jacket and began walking, feeling the cold seep through his layers and into his heart.
Yukihisa's phone alarm went off, making him bolt upright.
He got out of his futon and pulled back the curtains. Despite the overcast sky, the dazzling brilliance of the snow was almost blinding. The snow piled high on the roof next door looked like it might slide off any second. Snowflakes drifted down silently from the sky.
Yukihisa had developed a daily routine of checking the view outside.
He checked the weather app on his phone. Today's weather looked pretty mild, but it definitely snowed a lot last night. According to the transit app, all train services in the metropolitan area were suspended.
Yukihisa found out from his group chat tha the school had officially announced that classes would be held online. His classmates were pretty chill about it. One of them, who lived just a short walk away from school, even made a joke about it.
I'm heading to school now to earn some extra credit.
Everyone in the chat laughed.
Even though classes were online, Yukihisa couldn't just roll back into bed. Homeroom would start at the usual time, and he had to be in his uniform for it. He let out a sigh and set his phone down on the desk.
After stowing his futon away in the closet, he headed down the stairs. His mom was at the dining table, sipping her coffee. She had just wrapped up a night shift, and her eyes showed signs of fatigue.
Are you going to school today?
Classes are online.
I'm off to bed soon. Your lunch is already packed in your lunchbox.
Glancing at the kitchen, Yukihisa spotted a lunchbox with its lid left ajar to allow the steam to escape. His mother worked at a coastal resort hotel, and her work hours rarely matched up with his schedule.
Yukihisa scooped some rice into a bowl and helped himself to some leftover fried chicken and omelet that didn't make it into his lunchbox.
I'm going to join the online classes at friend's house today.
Upon hearing this, Yukihisa's mom frowned and set her coffee cup aside.
Even with the severe snow warning?
The warning has already been lifted.
But it's still snowing out there.
I'm not going far, it's just around the corner.
Yukihisa took a bit of the omelet, but his mom still looked worried.
Someone from West High?
Yes.
A friend from Izumi Junior High?
Someone who moved here at the start of high school.
Yukihisa finished his meal and took his dishes to the sink. Just as he was about to leave the kitchen, his mother called out to him.
Did you speak to the teacher about the scholarship?
I forgot.
He stopped but didn't turn around.
I'll ask after homeroom.
After washing his face and brushing his teeth in the bathroom, he headed upstairs.
He hadn't bothered to turned the heating on in his room since he thought he would be leaving the house soon. Because of that, it felt as cold as the inside of a freezer. He shivered as he changed out of his pajamas and into his school uniform. In a depature from his usual style, he opted for striped socks, which he usually didn't wear to school.
He called out a goodby to his mom, who was still engrossed in the TV in the living room, and left the house.
Despite diligently shoveling the snow yesterday, the front of the house was still blanketed up to about mid-calf. Yukihisa picked up the snow shovel resting by the entrance and cleared a path out of the property.
The door behind him opened with a creak.
I'm sorry.
His mom appeared in the doorway.
I was so exhausted when I got home that I couldn't bear to do anything about it.
Yukihisa propped the snow shovel back against the wall and readjusted his backpack.
Don't forget to take an umbrella.
Alright.
Accepting the umbrella, he started walking over to Minami's house.
The narrow path was devoid of people. It seemed as though everyone had taken the day off from school or work. Phrases like 'online classes' and 'working remotely', unheard of until the previous year, had now become the norm.
It was probably for the best that the tight path was empty. Even walking alone, Yukihisa's umbrella's tip scraped against the fence, producing a grating sound.
It reminded him of the creaky sound of their front door sliding open. Growing up, he always thought it looked a bit shabby and uninviting. The lantern-like light by the entrance, the faded pool-colored bathroom tiles, and his traditional Japanese room were all things he preferred to keep under wraps. The house, built by his late grandfather, just didn’t have the charm of the renovated old houses in Izumi that had been turned into trendy villas or cozy cafés.
After about a five-minute walk, he reached Minami's house.
Yukihisa noted that the snow in front of the gate had been neatly cleared. All the snow along the path inside the property leading to the house was pushed aside, leaving small piles of it on both sides.
Minami was outside, pushing a snow shovel. Clad from head to toe in snowboarding gear and a knit cap, she like she was born and raised in the cold.
Good morning.
She looked up.
Morning.
Did you clear all this snow, Minami?
There's no one else here, is there?
She responded tersely. Her cheeks were bright red from the cold and looked like the flushed face emoji depicting embarrassment.
There was no one else living in this house, and Yukihisa was the only visitor. Thus, her snow shoveling was partially for his benefit.
He intended to say something.
Thank you.
He felt a bit self-conscious though, and left it unsaid.
She coughed. Leaning over, she used the shovel like a crutch.
Are you okay?
Yukihisa approached her. She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand.
My throat tightens when I breathe in this cold.
I know the feeling.
He followed her into the house.
The house was as cold and dark as ever, accentuated even more by its sprawling layout. It was a luxurious structure, clearly a vacation home rather than an ordinary residence. The layout included a combined living area and kitchen, with just one room on the second floor and likely another on the first. This setup seemed sufficient for a family to enjoy a weekend or summer getaway.
Yukihisa was unaware of the complexities within Minami's family, including why she lived alone in a villa and what her family thought about it. Their relationship had not reached a level where he felt comfortable asking such questions, and he was unsure how to define their connection.
Once upstairs, Yukihisa waited outside while Minami changed. When she finally came out, she had swapped her snowboarding gear for her school uniform, which consisted of a navy blazer, a pleated skirt, and a loosely tied necktie.
They entered the room and took their places on either side of the kotatsu. Yukihisa set up his smartphone on a tripod stand in preparation for homeroom, and Minami opened her laptop.
His face popped up on the online class app and the wall and ceiling behind him showed that he was at someone else's house. He dug into the app's settings and turned on a virtual background. Initially, he considered a tropical sea image but opted for a European town scene instead, deeming it more suitable.
Wow, that's impressive.
Perched on her bed, Minami peeked at his smartphone screen.
This way, no one can tell that I'm here, right?
No, if you look closely, there's a clear space between your body and the background.
Let me see.
She leaned in closer, and Yukihisa could feel her breath tickling his ear.
This picture is kind of spooky. If you take a closer look, there's a creepy woman lurking back there.
I . . . can . . . see . . . you . . .
Truly chilling.
After their playful banter, Minami returned to her desk.
As homeroom started, their teacher, Natsumi Sano, appeared on the display. Typically seen in her standard sportwear as a PE teacher, today she wore a crew neck sweater, which seemed oddly out of character for her.
Alright, let's begin.
Ms. Sano often had her gaze lowered, maybe because she was focused on the screen or something on her desk.
Is everyone here? Wait, Shiozawa is missing.
Ryoma says his phone's dead, so he's gone to borrow his parents' computer.
Haru Eguchi's voice chimed in, prompting laughter from the class.
Kobayashi, what's the issue? Why are you wearing a mask?
Ms. Sano addressed Akari Kobayashi.
I'm not looking my best today.
Everyone in the class burst out laughing at Akari's response, Minami included.
Akari Kobayashi was pretty popular class and friends with Minami. They were walking together when Yukihisa saw them outside the convenience store on his way home yesterday.
My face has been a mess since the day I was born.
Kotaro's comment elicited more laughter from the class. He wasn't teh center of attention, but he always spoke his mind and often made people chuckle. On the other hand, Yukihisa was not comfortable speaking in front of others. He admired Kotaro's ease in expressing himself.
While listening to the teacher outline the day's agenda, Yukihisa felt a tap on his knee. He looked under the kotatsu, but saw nothing. Moments later, he felt something brush against his shin. When he looked up, he saw Minami on the other side of the kotatsu, grinning playfully. He smiled back at her.
In an instant, he swiftly reached out and grabbed her leg. His fingers dug into the soft curve of her foot. Her leg thrashed about like a fish caught on a hook. Finally braking free from Yukihisa's grasp, she retaliated with several kicks. As the kicks intensified, Yukihisa pulled up the kotatsu blanket to investigate.
In the orange light of the kotatsu heater, her navy socks appeared black. Skin reflects the most intense light, even in small spaces. What lay beyond was difficult to see as it merged with the orange glow. Each time Minami kicked his leg, it would pop in and out of view, making it hard to look away.
Amagi . . .
As Yukihisa heard his name called through the smartphone, he raised his head. His face felt hot, probably because of the warmth from the kotatsu.
Ms. Sano moved in closer to the camera on her computer, her face filling the screen.
Are you listening? You suddenly disppeared from the screen.
Uh, well . . . the kotatsu . . .
Kotatsu?
I thought it was turned on, but it wasn't . . .
A faint chuckle echoed in response to Yukihisa's fib, followed by Ms. Sano smiling wryly.
Ah, a kotatsu, huh? That sounds nice. Is anyone else enjoying their kotatsu?
A few students responded positively to her question.
I am too.
Minami raised her hand slightly. As soon as her eyes met Yukihisa's, she purposely looked away.
Homeroom ended.
Yukihisa recalled that his mom wanted him to ask about the scholarship.
Um, Ms. Sano?
As he called out, the sound of typing on the keyboard ceased.
Yes?
There's something I want to ask . . .
He started to speak but noticed Minami looking straight at him. He felt embarrassed about revealing his family situation in front of her.
I have a question, but I'll message you later.
Alright.
Sano disappeared from the screen, and Yukihisa looked over at Minami. She was casually stretching behind her laptop, acting like she didn't even notice him.
The first class of the day was English. Even though the teacher was instructing from home, things for the students didn't really change much. Since the lessons were already planned out, they adjusted pretty easily to learning onine. Plus, the teacher's usual messy chalkboard writing was replaced with clear fonts on the screen, which made it easier to follow compared to traditional classes.
Unlike Mr. Murano, the English teacher, Mr. Yaguchi, who taught world history during the second period, wasn't really into computers or online classes. Instead of teaching live, he used pre-recorded videos for his lectures.
Unseen by the other students, Minami was sprawled out on her bed, resting her chin on her hand as she stared at her computer screen. Yukihisa, who was leaning against the bed, turned to watch her.
Shouldn't you be taking class a little more seriously?
You think this is a breeze for me? It's actually really straining my arms.
She then collapsed onto her back.
Mr. Yaguchi, a seasoned teacher in his fifties, looked stiff in front of the camera,moving and talking like a teaching intern. His video lectures looked like they were recorded in an empty classroom, making his voice echo. Yukihisa found his words reverberating in his head, but it felt like he didn't really grasp anything at all.
Is there any point to this?
He murmured, as the bed quivered behind him.
What's the matter? Finally going through your rebellious phase?
I just can't see how these online classes are going to help me get into college.
Looks like we just have to roll with it. This wasn't even a thing until last year.
Yukihisa gazed down at his own hands.
We're like guinea pigs. They'll probably improve the system for the younger kids based on our experiences. But what about us?
Minami softly placed her hands over Yukihisa's, intertwining her fingers with his as she embraced him from behind, enveloping him in her warmth and softness.
Yukihisa felt as though he was being skillfully distracted from something important. But this warm and cozy feeling was something he had only discovered since the advent of Winter. It was becoming difficult to remember what life was like before Winter, and everything he felt before this cozy warmth seemed like a distant memory.
