-SAPPORO STATION, SOUTH EXIT-
-5:12 PM, DECEMBER 28, 2016-
Their first "real" date wasn't extravagant.
No luxury restaurants.
No grand reservations.
Just a small ramen shop Ichika insisted on trying because, in her words, "You always choose instant."
Rikuu stood near the station entrance, hands in his coat pockets.
He checked the time.
5:12 PM.
She was five minutes late.
Which meant she was actually early.
He spotted her crossing the street carefully, scarf wrapped snugly around her neck.
When she reached him, she smiled.
"Did you wait long?"
"…No."
"You checked the time twice."
"…Habit."
She laughed softly.
They began walking toward Susukino, where the ramen shop glowed warmly between taller buildings.
Snow fell lightly, dusting her hair again.
He brushed it off without thinking.
She noticed.
Didn't comment.
Just smiled.
Tonight felt normal.
Comfortable.
No tension.
No dramatic shifts.
Just two people choosing to spend time together.
As they turned into a quieter street—
Rikuu's phone buzzed.
He froze.
Ichika noticed immediately.
"…What is it?"
He didn't answer right away.
His jaw tightened slightly.
The screen displayed a short message:
Need one more. Same place. Urgent.
Ichika saw the change in his expression.
"You have to go," she said gently.
He looked at her.
"…No."
"It's about money."
He didn't confirm.
He didn't deny.
"I can tell," she continued softly.
Snow gathered on the pavement around them.
"This is important," she added.
"…So are you."
The words were firm.
But there was conflict in his eyes.
Ichika stepped closer.
"I'll wait."
His brows furrowed. "It's not safe."
"Then don't let it be long."
He exhaled sharply.
"…Komori."
"I trust you," she said quietly.
That was the problem.
He didn't trust the world around him.
After a tense second—
"…Forty minutes," he muttered. "Stay near the main road. If I'm not back in forty, go home."
"I'll wait."
He hesitated.
Then turned.
And walked quickly into the narrow alley cutting between buildings.
Ichika stood still for a moment.
The ramen shop lights glowed behind her.
Warm.
Inviting.
But she stayed outside.
Waiting.
-BEHIND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, SNOWY ALLEY-
-5:29 PM-
The fight was quick.
But not clean.
Rikuu moved fast, breath visible in sharp bursts.
Three men.
One desperate.
Money exchanged hands in the end.
But not before one of them managed to land a solid punch across his cheek.
Snow darkened where it mixed with drops of red.
He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"…Damn it."
He hated this part.
Not the fighting.
The returning.
He hated walking back to her like this.
-SUSUKINO SIDE STREET-
-5:56 PM-
Ichika stood exactly where he left her.
Snow gathered along her coat sleeves.
She hadn't moved.
When she saw him emerge—
Her breath caught.
There was a faint bruise forming along his cheekbone.
And a thin line of dried blood near his lip.
She didn't gasp.
Didn't panic.
She stepped toward him calmly.
"…It took forty-four minutes," she said softly.
"…Sorry."
Her gloved hand lifted gently toward his face.
He flinched.
Not from pain.
From shame.
"I told you not to wait."
"I know."
She pulled a handkerchief from her coat pocket.
Clean.
White.
She dabbed carefully at the corner of his mouth.
The snow around them felt colder now.
"…Does it hurt?" she asked.
"I've had worse."
"That wasn't my question."
He met her eyes.
"…A little."
She nodded.
Then, unexpectedly—
She stepped closer.
Close enough that her forehead lightly touched his chest.
Not dramatic.
Not fragile.
Just grounding.
"You don't have to look embarrassed," she murmured.
"I brought you here for ramen."
"And you still can."
His eyes widened slightly.
"You're not… upset?"
"I don't like that you get hurt," she admitted. "But I understand why you do it."
He searched her expression for disappointment.
Found none.
"…Most people wouldn't stay."
"I'm not most people."
Snow continued falling around them.
For a moment—
He let himself lean slightly into her presence.
Just for a second.
"…My family doesn't care that I'm dating," he said quietly. "Grandma thinks you're good for me."
Ichika smiled faintly.
"My parents don't mind either."
He blinked.
"They don't?"
"They trust my judgment."
That surprised him more than it should have.
"…So we're not hiding."
"No."
He looked at her.
Really looked.
Standing in the snow.
Waiting for him.
Choosing him.
Even like this.
"…You're stubborn," he murmured again.
"You like that."
He almost smiled.
Almost.
Instead, he reached for her hand.
This time—
His grip was firmer.
More protective.
"Let's eat," he said quietly.
She nodded.
They walked back toward the ramen shop together.
His bruise visible.
Her hand steady in his.
Snow covering faint traces of red behind them.
The world wasn't clean.
But neither was love.
And still—
They chose to walk forward.
Together.