The night fully came.
Ritsuka was in his room, as he hears a nock on his door.
Ritsuka blinked as he opened it.
"Mika?"
Mika stood in the doorway for a few seconds.
"Do you wanna sleep together?"
Ritsuka blinked.
Then blinked again.
"Aren't we moving our relationship a little fast?"
Mika tilted her head.
"What?"
"You know..."
Ritsuka gestured vaguely.
"We kissed a few hours ago."
"Yes."
"And we've only known each other for a week."
"Yes."
"And you're asking to sleep together."
"Yes."
Silence.
Mika stared at him.
Then realization hit.
A deep blush immediately spread across her face.
"W-Wait!"
She pointed at him.
"Not like that!"
"Oh."
"You thought—"
"To be fair, your wording was terrible."
"My wording was fine!"
"It was absolutely not fine."
Mika covered her face with her hands.
"I meant sleep in the same room."
Ritsuka raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
Mika looked away.
"..."
"Mika."
"..."
"Mika."
She sighed.
"Bad dreams."
The joking atmosphere vanished instantly.
"Oh."
Mika rubbed the back of her neck.
"Sometimes."
Ritsuka remembered.
The Eden Treaty incident.
Everything Trinity had gone through.
Everything Mika herself had gone through.
Suddenly the request made a lot more sense.
Mika looked embarrassed.
"You can say no."
Ritsuka shook his head.
"Nah."
Mika looked up.
"Really?"
"Really."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
A few minutes later they had dragged an extra blanket into Ritsuka's room.
The arrangement was simple.
No drama.
No awkwardness.
Just two friends who trusted each other.
As they settled in, Mika looked toward the ceiling.
"You know."
"Hm?"
"You didn't ask."
"Ask what?"
"About the dreams."
Ritsuka thought for a moment.
Then shrugged.
"You'll tell me when you're ready."
Mika was quiet.
Then she smiled.
A genuine one.
"Yeah."
The room fell silent after that.
The city lights of Kivotos shone through the window.
For the first time all day, there were no student councils.
No politics.
No streams.
No prophecies.
No plans involving becoming the king of two rival schools.
Just peace.
A few minutes later, Mika's voice broke the silence.
"Ritsuka?"
"Hm?"
"You're a good person."
Ritsuka groaned.
"Don't say that."
"Why?"
"Every time someone says that, something terrible happens afterwards."
Mika laughed softly.
"Good night, idiot."
"Good night, Mika."
And before long, the apartment was quiet. The first truly quiet night either of them had had in a long time.
The next morning arrived quietly.
For once, nobody was texting him.
Nobody was inviting him to secret political meetings.
Nobody was speaking in prophecies.
It was nice.
Ritsuka sat at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee in hand.
Across from him, Mika was finishing breakfast.
The smell alone was enough to wake him up.
He pulled out his phone and checked today's schedule.
Tuesday:
Red Winter Federal Academy
Hyakkiyako Alliance Academy
Shanhaijing Senior Secondary School
Ritsuka stared at the list.
Then took a sip of coffee.
His eyebrows immediately rose.
"...Sweet."
Mika looked up from her own breakfast.
"Hm?"
Ritsuka took another sip.
Then looked at the cup.
Then at Mika.
Then back at the cup.
"Did you add extra sugar?"
Mika shook her head.
"No."
Ritsuka looked confused.
"Then why is it sweet?"
Mika smiled.
"I used honey."
Ritsuka blinked.
"Honey?"
"Trinity imports some really good stuff."
"You put honey in coffee?"
Mika pointed her fork at him.
"Try it before you judge it."
"I already am trying it."
"And?"
Ritsuka took another sip.
"...Okay, that's actually pretty good."
Mika smirked.
"I know."
Ritsuka hated when she was right.
Mostly because she knew it.
Mika sat down across from him.
"So."
"So."
"Three schools today."
Ritsuka looked at the schedule again.
"Three schools."
"Thoughts?"
He pointed at the first one.
"Red Winter."
Mika immediately laughed.
"Oh you're doomed."
"What?"
"You'll understand when you get there."
"That isn't helpful."
"It wasn't meant to be."
Ritsuka narrowed his eyes.
Then pointed at the second school.
"Hyakkiyako?"
Mika shrugged.
"Pretty normal."
"By Kivotos standards?"
"By Kivotos standards."
"That doesn't narrow it down."
Mika nodded.
"It really doesn't."
Then he pointed at the last one.
"Shanhaijing."
Mika paused.
Then looked away.
"..."
"Mika."
"..."
"Mika."
"...Good luck."
"Why does everyone keep saying that?"
Mika burst out laughing.
Because she remembered something.
Something important.
Something Ritsuka didn't know yet.
And watching him find out was going to be hilarious.
Ritsuka immediately became suspicious.
"What do you know?"
"Nothing."
"Mika."
"Almost nothing."
"Mika."
She stood up before he could continue.
"I'm cleaning the dishes."
"Mika."
"No further questions."
Ritsuka watched her retreat to the kitchen.
Then looked at his schedule.
Then at Mika.
Then back at his schedule.
Something told him today was going to be a problem.
Again.
At this point, he was starting to suspect that wasn't a coincidence.
Mika walked back over before Ritsuka could finish his coffee.
Then both of her wings wrapped around him.
Ritsuka had noticed she did that a lot.
At this point he was beginning to suspect it was the angel equivalent of stealing someone's hoodie.
"Now."
Before he could ask what she meant, Mika leaned down and kissed him.
It was brief.
But it was enough to completely derail whatever train of thought he had.
When she pulled away, she looked entirely too pleased with herself.
"I am going to give you a winter coat for Red Winter."
Ritsuka blinked.
Then blinked again.
"Why?"
Mika stared.
"It's summer."
Mika continued staring.
"Ritsuka."
"What?"
"It's Red Winter."
"Yes."
"The place named after winter."
"Yes."
"The school built around winter."
"Yes."
"The school where half the students wear winter uniforms year round."
"Yes."
Mika pointed at him.
"And you're still confused."
Ritsuka frowned.
"It is summer."
Mika took a deep breath.
The kind of breath someone took before explaining something to a small child.
"Red Winter Federal Academy is located in one of the coldest districts in Kivotos."
Ritsuka paused.
"Oh."
"Yes, oh."
"Oh."
Mika nodded.
"Exactly."
Ritsuka looked at his schedule.
Then back at her.
"So while everyone else is sweating..."
"They're probably wearing coats."
"That's insane."
"This is Kivotos."
"Fair."
Mika disappeared into her room.
A minute later she returned carrying a thick winter coat.
Ritsuka stared.
"Mika."
"Yes?"
"This thing weighs more than my luggage."
"You'll thank me later."
"I doubt that."
"You will."
He reluctantly put it on.
A few moments later he admitted something.
"...It's actually comfortable."
Mika looked victorious.
"I know."
"I hate when you're right."
"I know."
Ritsuka narrowed his eyes.
"Stop saying that."
"I know."
"You're doing it on purpose."
"I know."
Ritsuka sighed.
Mika laughed.
Then she adjusted the collar of his coat.
For a brief moment, neither spoke.
Then Mika looked up at him.
"Try not to start any political incidents today."
"No promises."
"Ritsuka."
"I'll try."
"Good."
She stepped back and admired her work.
"Perfect."
Ritsuka looked down at himself.
"I look like I'm about to invade Russia."
Mika immediately started laughing.
The worst part was that after hearing everything about Red Winter...
He wasn't entirely sure that was a joke.
After breakfast was finished, Ritsuka got ready to leave.
Mika handed him the winter coat.
Ritsuka stared at it.
Then at her.
Then back at the coat.
"I really don't think I need this."
Mika smiled.
"Trust me."
Those two words had become terrifying.
Every time someone in Kivotos said trust me, something ridiculous happened afterward.
Still, he took the coat.
A few minutes later he was on his bike heading toward the train station.
The morning air was warm.
The sky was clear.
It was a perfectly normal summer day.
Which only made the coat feel more ridiculous.
Eventually he boarded the train.
The ride started normally.
Outside the window he watched the scenery roll by.
Trinity.
Green fields.
Parks.
Roads.
Everything looked pleasant.
Then the train crossed into Red Winter territory.
And Ritsuka blinked.
"..."
He looked outside again.
"..."
Then a third time.
"...What."
Snow.
Everywhere.
Not a little snow.
Not "it snowed yesterday" snow.
Actual snowfall.
The sky was gray.
Snow covered the roads.
Snow covered the rooftops.
Snow covered the trees.
The temperature visibly dropped the moment the train entered the district.
Ritsuka immediately grabbed his coat.
"WHAT."
Around him, several passengers looked up.
One Red Winter student shrugged.
"First time?"
"It's summer."
"Yes."
"It's snowing."
"Yes."
"It's SUMMER."
The girl looked confused.
"And?"
Ritsuka stared at her.
Outside, he watched what looked suspiciously like a snowmobile drive past.
Not a car.
A snowmobile.
On a public road.
Another followed behind it.
Then another.
Ritsuka pressed his face against the window.
"Why are there snowmobiles?"
"How else would people get around?"
That answer somehow made it worse.
Red Winter Federal Academy was known for its vast snow-covered territory and near-perpetual cold. The climate is so extreme that even slight warmth or snowmelt is considered a cause for celebration among students.
Ritsuka looked back outside.
A group of students were having a snowball fight.
A snowball fight.
In summer.
One student was building a snowman.
Another was ice fishing.
He didn't even want to know where they found a frozen lake.
"How is this physically possible?"
The Red Winter student shrugged.
"No idea."
"You don't know?"
"We stopped asking years ago."
Fair enough.
The train continued deeper into Red Winter.
The snowfall somehow became heavier.
Ritsuka looked at his phone.
The weather app simply displayed:
Red Winter 🌨️ Snow
He tapped it.
The weekly forecast appeared.
Monday: Snow
Tuesday: Snow
Wednesday: Snow
Thursday: Snow
Friday: Snow
Saturday: Snow
Sunday: Snow
Ritsuka laughed.
Not because it was funny.
But because he had reached the point where laughter was the only remaining response.
At that moment his phone buzzed.
A message from Mika.
[Did you bring the coat?]
Ritsuka looked out the window at the literal blizzard.
Then at the message.
Then back at the blizzard.
[I hate that you were right.]
The reply came immediately.
[I know.]
Ritsuka groaned.
Even from another district, she was still winning arguments.
The train finally came to a stop.
The doors opened.
And Ritsuka was immediately hit by a wall of cold air.
"..."
The door closed behind him.
"..."
The door opened again for another passenger.
Ritsuka quickly stepped back inside.
The passenger looked at him.
Ritsuka looked at the blizzard outside.
The passenger looked outside.
Then at him.
"First time?"
"How did you know?"
The passenger walked out without answering.
Ritsuka sighed.
Then finally put on the winter coat Mika had given him.
A minute later he stepped outside again.
This time he survived.
Barely.
Snow crunched beneath his boots.
The wind blew across the station.
And despite the fact it was supposedly summer...
It looked like the middle of January.
Ritsuka took out his phone.
Started his stream.
And immediately the chat exploded.
[Chat]
"WHY IS THERE SNOW?"
"BRO TELEPORTED TO CANADA"
"IT'S JULY"
"WHAT HAPPENED?"
"DID THE STREAM BUG?"
"WHY ARE YOU IN A BLIZZARD?"
Ritsuka pointed the camera around.
The station.
The snow-covered streets.
The students walking around in winter uniforms.
The snowmobiles.
More snow.
Even more snow.
[Chat]
"WHAT THE HELL"
"THAT'S REAL?"
"NO WAY"
"IS THIS A DIFFERENT COUNTRY?"
"HE ENTERED NARNIA"
Ritsuka looked at the camera.
"I've been here for five minutes."
A snowmobile sped past behind him.
[Chat]
"WHAT WAS THAT"
"SNOWMOBILE"
"THAT'S A SNOWMOBILE"
"WHY DO THEY NEED THOSE"
Ritsuka pointed at the literal snowstorm.
"I think I figured that part out."
The chat continued freaking out.
Meanwhile a Red Winter student walked past carrying three bags of groceries.
She wasn't wearing a coat.
Just her normal uniform.
Ritsuka stared.
She stared back.
Then kept walking.
[Chat]
"HOW IS SHE NOT COLD"
"IS SHE IMMUNE TO WINTER"
"IS THAT A BOSS NPC"
Ritsuka wasn't sure either.
He looked around.
Snow.
Snow.
Snow.
A statue covered in snow.
A building covered in snow.
A vending machine covered in snow.
At this point he was beginning to suspect snow was the academy's national animal.
Then his phone buzzed.
A message from Mika.
[Arrived?]
Ritsuka immediately sent a picture of the blizzard.
The response came instantly.
[See?]
[Told you to bring the coat.]
Ritsuka sighed.
[I'm never hearing the end of this.]
[Correct.]
He put his phone away.
Then looked toward the academy in the distance.
Red Winter Federal Academy.
The place looked less like a school and more like someone had built a government building in Siberia.
Ritsuka adjusted his coat.
Took a deep breath.
And started walking.
"Okay."
The wind immediately hit him in the face.
"Okay."
A second gust hit him even harder.
"Okay."
The chat was laughing too hard to be helpful.
And his day had only just started.
Ritsuka was walking through the snow when he heard a voice behind him.
"So you were the new student I was told to guide."
He turned.
The chat immediately exploded.
Because for the first time since arriving in Kivotos...
It wasn't a girl.
It was a guy.
A student around his age stood a few meters away.
Silver-white hair.
Golden eyes.
A thick white winter coat that looked like it belonged in the middle of a Siberian blizzard.
Most importantly.
A halo floated above his head.
Gray.
Three circles layered on top of each other.
A wolf head in the center.
Claw marks crossing through it.
Ritsuka stopped.
The boy stopped.
Both stared at each other.
The chat lost its mind.
[Chat]
"WAIT"
"THAT'S A DUDE"
"THERE ARE OTHER GUYS?"
"HE'S REAL?"
"THEY SAID THE MALE POPULATION WAS 10%"
"BRO FOUND ANOTHER ONE"
The silver-haired student looked at the stream.
Then at Ritsuka.
Then back at the stream.
"...Why are they surprised?"
Ritsuka pointed at him.
"You're the first guy I've met since arriving."
The boy blinked.
"Seriously?"
"Seriously."
The boy looked genuinely concerned.
"That explains a lot."
"What does that mean?"
"Nothing."
It absolutely meant something.
The boy sighed.
Then held out a hand.
"My name is Kadoc Zemlupus."
Ritsuka nodded.
"Oh. You're Russian."
Kadoc shrugged.
"Yes."
"That explains a lot."
"What does that mean?"
Ritsuka gestured broadly at everything around them.
The snow.
The snowmobiles.
The blizzard.
The fact it was somehow snowing in the middle of summer.
Kadoc looked around.
"...This is normal."
"No. No it isn't."
"It is here."
"That's the problem."
Kadoc couldn't even argue with that.
The two continued walking toward the academy.
The chat was still recovering from the revelation that another male student existed.
[Chat]
"HE'S REAL"
"THEY FOUND ANOTHER ONE"
"MALE STUDENT SPOTTED"
"ENDANGERED SPECIES DETECTED"
"THERE'S TWO OF THEM NOW"
Kadoc looked at the phone screen.
"...Why are they acting like I'm a rare animal?"
Ritsuka pointed at him.
"Because statistically, you kind of are."
Kadoc thought about that.
"...Fair."
They walked past a group of students building a snow fort.
One of them was standing on top of it waving a red flag.
Another was trying to knock it down with a shovel.
A third appeared to be leading a revolution against both sides.
Ritsuka stared.
"What's happening?"
Kadoc glanced over.
"Oh."
"What do you mean 'oh'?"
"Probably a coup."
"A coup?"
"Yeah."
"Among the students building a snow fort?"
Kadoc looked again.
"They'll sort it out."
Ritsuka watched one side overthrow the other in less than thirty seconds.
The flag changed ownership.
Nobody seemed surprised.
"...How often does this happen?"
Kadoc thought about it.
"Today?"
"Today?"
"Three or four times."
Ritsuka stopped walking.
Kadoc kept going.
Then realized Ritsuka wasn't following.
"You coming?"
Ritsuka pointed at the snow fort.
"A government just fell."
Kadoc shrugged.
"Welcome to Red Winter."
The chat was dying.
[Chat]
"HE SAID THAT SO CASUALLY"
"WELCOME TO RED WINTER"
"THREE COUPS BEFORE LUNCH"
"AVERAGE TUESDAY"
Ritsuka finally caught up.
"So let me get this straight."
"Okay."
"The academy is permanently frozen."
"Yes."
"The students regularly start revolutions."
"Yes."
"And nobody thinks this is weird."
"Correct."
Ritsuka sighed.
"At least Gehenna was honest about being insane."
Kadoc actually laughed at that.
A genuine laugh.
The first one Ritsuka had heard from him.
"You're going to fit into Kivotos just fine."
Ritsuka wasn't sure whether that was reassuring or deeply concerning.
Probably both.
To be continue
Hope people like this Ch and Give me power stones and enjoy