-AURORA ACADEMY, MAIN GATE-
-7:31 AM, DECEMBER 26, 2016-
Winter break had officially begun.
Which meant the campus was quieter than usual.
Only club members, student council officers, and a few dedicated third-years preparing for exams were present.
Snow blanketed the courtyard untouched.
Ichika stood near the front gate, hands tucked neatly inside her coat sleeves.
She wasn't early.
She was nervous.
A strange kind of nervous.
Not the fearful kind.
The new kind.
The kind that comes after something changes.
Footsteps approached through the snow.
Rikuu.
He slowed slightly when he saw her already waiting.
"…You didn't have to come this early," he said.
"You said theatre club still had prop clean-up today."
"…Yeah."
She nodded.
A small silence lingered between them.
Not distant.
Just aware.
They both knew it.
This was their first morning as something official.
Neither quite knew how to act.
Ichika stepped closer.
"Good morning."
"…Morning."
Another pause.
Then—
She gently reached for his hand.
Not dramatically.
Not shyly.
Just naturally.
His body reacted a second too late — stiffening, then relaxing.
Their fingers laced together.
Out in the open.
On school grounds.
Rikuu glanced around instinctively.
"There's barely anyone here," she said softly.
"That's not the point."
"What is?"
He hesitated.
"…I'm not used to this."
Her thumb brushed lightly against his knuckles.
"I know."
That simple acknowledgment steadied him more than reassurance would have.
They began walking toward the building.
Hand in hand.
Snow crunching beneath synchronized steps.
-THEATRE CLUB ROOM-
-8:02 AM-
The room smelled faintly of dust and old wood.
Stage curtains hung partially drawn. Boxes of props sat stacked along the wall.
Only three other club members were present.
They froze.
Not because Ichika and Rikuu entered.
But because they entered together.
Holding hands.
"…Oh," one of them whispered.
Rikuu immediately let go.
Ichika blinked.
"…You dropped me," she said calmly.
"I didn't drop you," he muttered under his breath. "Timing."
A quiet giggle came from the back of the room.
"So it's real?" someone asked teasingly.
Ichika looked at Rikuu.
Rikuu looked at the floor.
"…Yeah," he answered shortly.
The reaction wasn't dramatic.
Just soft surprise.
Murmured congratulations.
Smiles.
Ichika felt warmth rise in her chest.
It wasn't about being seen.
It was about him not denying it.
Not hiding it.
When the teasing settled, they moved to separate corners of the room to begin organizing props.
But something had changed.
Rikuu's eyes drifted toward her unconsciously.
More than once.
And each time—
She caught him.
And smiled.
He would look away.
Every time.
-SCHOOL COURTYARD-
-12:16 PM-
They stepped outside after cleanup.
The sky was pale blue.
Snow reflected sunlight so brightly it almost hurt.
"…Hungry?" he asked.
"Yes."
They walked toward a small convenience store down the street.
Inside, the heater blasted warm air.
Ichika picked up a simple sandwich and bottled tea.
Rikuu grabbed instant noodles.
When they stepped outside again—
He stopped.
"What?"
He looked down at their hands.
Still holding.
This time, he hadn't let go.
"…You're comfortable," he observed.
"With you?" she asked gently.
"Yes."
She thought about it.
"…I am."
That answer did something to him.
Something quiet.
Something steady.
He squeezed her hand lightly.
"I'll try not to mess this up."
"You will," she said.
He stared at her.
"…Excuse me?"
"You'll mess up sometimes," she clarified calmly. "So will I."
"That's reassuring."
She smiled faintly.
"But we'll choose each other anyway."
That.
That was new.
Rikuu looked at her for a long moment.
Then nodded once.
"…Okay."
They found a bench near the snowy park.
Sat close.
A little less space than before.
While eating, Ichika glanced at him sideways.
"You're thinking too much."
"…I'm not."
"You are."
He sighed quietly.
"…I just don't want you regretting this."
She leaned slightly toward him.
"I won't."
"How can you be sure?"
"Because I chose you knowing everything I've seen so far."
The alley fights.
The apartment.
The medicine bottles.
The tired grandmother.
All of it.
Rikuu looked down at his cup of noodles.
"…You're stubborn."
"So are you."
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
Snowflakes began falling again.
Light.
Soft.
He adjusted his scarf around her neck without thinking.
The gesture surprised both of them.
"…You'll get cold," he muttered.
She blinked.
"You'll get cold too."
"I'm used to it."
She held his wrist gently.
"Then get used to this too."
She tugged him slightly closer.
Sharing warmth.
This time—
He didn't resist.
-SAPPORO STATION ENTRANCE-
-4:48 PM-
The day ended quietly.
No dramatic declarations.
No fireworks.
Just steady closeness.
Before parting, Rikuu hesitated.
"…Komori."
"Yes?"
He leaned down slightly.
Not all the way.
Just enough that his forehead brushed gently against hers.
A soft, careful touch.
No audience.
No noise.
Just warmth.
"…See you tomorrow."
She closed her eyes briefly.
"Yes."
When he pulled back—
Both of them were smiling.
Small.
But real.
Their first day wasn't grand.
It wasn't cinematic.
It was simple.
And that was exactly why it mattered.
Fire wasn't blazing.
It was staying.