Morning in the mountains arrived softly.
Haru woke to pale light spilling through the curtains, the world outside muted and white, snow still clinging to rooftops and tree branches like it had decided to stay a little longer. For a moment, he didn't move. His body felt heavy in a different way than usual—muscles sore but satisfied, the kind of ache that reminded him he'd done something the day before.
Beside him, Yuri slept on his back, one arm thrown above his head, breathing slow and even. Haru watched him for a second longer than necessary, comforted by the steadiness of it. Everything felt calm. Safe.
Eventually, reality caught up.
Haru shifted, immediately regretting it as his legs protested sharply. He hissed under his breath, hand flying to his thigh.
Yuri stirred. "You okay?"
Haru nodded, smiling weakly. "I forgot skiing uses… all of your muscles."
Yuri chuckled softly, eyes still closed. "You did great yesterday."
That warmed something in Haru's chest more than the blankets ever could.
They got dressed slowly, the morning routine unhurried. Outside, the lodge buzzed with the low hum of students waking up—doors opening, voices muffled, the distant clatter of trays already being set up downstairs.
Breakfast smelled incredible.
The dining hall was bright and warm, sunlight reflecting off the snow outside and filling the room with an almost golden glow. Students piled food onto plates like they were preparing for hibernation. Haru grabbed toast, eggs, and fruit, carefully balancing everything as he slid into a seat with the others.
Yuna yawned dramatically. "I'm never doing sports again."
"You say that every time you move," Riku replied.
Jihoon sipped his coffee thoughtfully. "I actually didn't hate it."
Sophia smiled. "You were better than you thought."
Mika stirred her cereal absently, looking relaxed in a way she hadn't the day before. She looked up when Yuna nudged her.
"You're glowing again," Yuna said knowingly.
Mika groaned. "Please don't start."
Haru laughed softly, taking another bite of toast. The mood was easy, light—everyone tired but content, conversation flowing without effort. Even the instructors looked more relaxed, joking quietly among themselves as they supervised.
After breakfast, they bundled up again for one last session on the slopes.
The cold bit sharper this time, but it felt familiar now, less intimidating. Haru clipped into his skis with more confidence than the day before, movements slower but steadier. He still wobbled when he stood, but he didn't panic.
"Look at you," Yuri said, amused. "Already better."
Haru smiled. "Don't jinx it."
They started on the beginner slope again, instructors watching but letting them take more control. Haru focused on his balance, the sound of skis gliding over snow strangely soothing. He fell once—lightly, laughing as he landed—but got back up without help this time.
Yuri noticed. His smile was immediate, proud without being obvious.
Riku cheered when Jihoon made it down without falling. Yuna slid most of the way on her side, claiming it was intentional. Mika still stuck close to her instructor but moved with less stiffness, fear slowly giving way to determination.
The morning passed quicker than expected.
Before Haru realized it, they were turning in their gear again, cheeks flushed, limbs tired, the last of the snow clinging stubbornly to their clothes. Back inside the lodge, warmth wrapped around them like a blanket, the cold retreating reluctantly.
Lunch was quieter than dinner had been the night before.
Everyone ate with the slow focus of people who'd burned through too much energy too early in the day. Conversations came in bursts—comments about sore legs, jokes about falling, plans for long naps once they got back.
Haru leaned back in his chair, watching snow drift lazily outside the window. He felt a small pang of disappointment that it was already ending, but it was softened by the knowledge that this wasn't something he needed to hold onto desperately.
It would stay with him.
Soon enough, they were boarding the bus again.
Seats were claimed quickly, bags shoved overhead or used as makeshift pillows. Haru slid in beside Yuri, the familiar comfort immediate. As the bus pulled away from the lodge, the mountains slowly faded into the distance, white giving way to darker stretches of road and trees.
The bus hummed steadily, warmth lulling everyone into quiet.
Yuna fell asleep almost instantly, head tipped back awkwardly. Riku and Jihoon whispered for a while before leaning against each other, conversation tapering off into silence. Sophia rested against Sowoon's shoulder, eyes closed, fingers loosely intertwined with his.
Haru rested his head against the window, watching the world pass by.
Yuri's arm wrapped around him naturally, grounding, familiar. Haru closed his eyes, letting the motion of the bus carry him, thoughts drifting lazily. The trip hadn't fixed anything. It hadn't erased fear or exhaustion or the quiet worries that waited back on campus.
But it had reminded him of something important.
Life didn't need to be perfect to be good.
Sometimes, it was enough to keep moving—down the mountain, back toward the ordinary—knowing that when you stumbled, someone would be there to steady you.
The bus rolled on, carrying them home.