The pristine snow was painted with the footprints of two children, and it turned out a bit chaotic.
Rinne lunged, his hands outstretched, his breath misting in the cold air. "Got you—!"
Lilyca shrieked with laughter, dodging at the last moment, and in that last moment, Rinne deliberately let her slip.
"Too slow! You're too slow, Rinne!"
The boy's heart fluttered at the flash of black pigtails in front of his face. He felt like chasing her forever.
He pretended to stumble, catching himself, and spun around to face her. His cheeks were flushed with cold and exertion, his dark hair dusted with snowflakes that melted almost instantly against his skin. "Do all aliens know how to dodge?"
"Yup!" Lilyca's silver eyes sparkled with mischief. "We're the best at dodging!"
"You're just lucky!"
"Of course!"
"Ugh!"
Rinne grinned, his earlier defeat forgotten in the thrill of the argument. "Then let's go again!"
Lilyca laughed, already turning to run—
And then she stopped.
