The night deepened, and the snowfall outside grew heavier.
It was the kind of scene that quietly amplified the Christmas atmosphere.
The weather forecast had already warned that the snow would continue for several days, which meant traffic throughout the city would inevitably be disrupted. Still, it only added to the festive mood.
Mrs. Yukinoshita gazed out at the swirling flakes, considering whether to let the two young guests stay overnight. The house had more than enough guest rooms, with clothes and toiletries on hand. There wouldn't be any inconvenience.
Eiri, with her childlike heart, looked tempted. But after Minamoto Senya politely declined, she followed his lead and shook her head as well.
That said, she had her own reasons.
If she didn't stick with him, then even if her parents later came to pick her up, she knew Senya might feel awkward about it. She herself would have felt the same way.
So in the end, she chose to stay by his side.
Around nine o'clock, Senya was safely driven home by the Sawamura couple, just as when he came.
His house was as quiet and empty as ever, though he was long used to it.
After washing up, he climbed into bed, propped himself against the headboard, and read for a while.
At exactly ten-thirty, he turned off the light.
Children's bodies couldn't handle late nights—early to bed, early to rise was the best way to grow.
Curling up under the blanket and finding a comfortable position, he slowly closed his eyes.
Outside, the snowstorm thickened, and a sharp wind howled against the house.
He didn't know how much time had passed.
What woke him was the dull sound of footsteps outside his room.
Half-asleep, Senya groggily reached for his phone.
Three a.m.
Normally, his father, Minamoto Sanada, returned from work around six in the morning. But sometimes, there were exceptions.
Senya sat up, his bedhead sticking up in a stubborn cowlick.
He pulled on a jacket, yawned softly, and stepped out of his room to see what his father was doing.
The footsteps had been so heavy and irregular they'd woken him completely.
He opened the living room door—and the last traces of sleep instantly vanished.
On the sofa lay a strikingly beautiful woman, her cheeks flushed red, her breathing soft and uneven. The air reeked faintly of alcohol. Clearly, she was drunk.
His father was crouched nearby, scratching his head, hesitating—before finally stretching out his hands toward her.
"…Dad."
"!"
Startled by the sudden whisper behind him, Sanada nearly jumped out of his skin.
"S-Senya… you're still awake?"
"I was. But your stomping woke me up."
"I'll… I'll be quieter from now on. Go back to bed."
"Quieter?"
Senya's expression shifted slightly.
Realizing the unfortunate implication, Sanada hurried to explain:
"She's just a friend of mine. She drank too much tonight, and since her place is a ways off—and hotels are impossible to book during the holidays—I told her she could stay here."
After all these years, Sanada was used to his son's precociousness. Talking to him like this didn't feel strange anymore.
Senya simply nodded, said nothing, and headed back to his room.
Once under the warm covers again, he scolded himself.
He should never have poked his nose into this.
His dad was still in his prime—it wasn't easy for him. Senya had even once stumbled upon a stash of Tokyo "adult" DVDs hidden in his father's room.
Proof enough that he was just a normal man with normal needs.
Tonight could've been his chance. And Senya had ruined it.
Now? Even if his father had had certain thoughts, he definitely wouldn't dare act on them anymore.
What a disaster…
Seriously, fresh out of sleep, his IQ had been in the negatives.
Still, before he drifted off again, the house remained perfectly quiet. No more strange noises.
The next morning, Senya woke at his usual time.
Sanada was asleep on the living room sofa.
As for the young woman, her shoes and purse were still by the entryway. Clearly, she hadn't left yet.
With only two rooms to sleep in, she must have been resting in the master bedroom.
Senya cooked breakfast for three.
Before leaving for school, he paused, then decided to play wingman for his father.
He poured a glass of milk and tiptoed toward the master bedroom. If she woke up and saw the glass waiting on the nightstand, she'd surely assume Sanada had put it there.
And realizing how thoughtful he'd been, maybe her feelings for him would rise sharply.
Senya thought his plan was flawless. A way to make up for last night.
If he'd ruined the moment once, maybe he could pave the way for another chance.
But just as he reached for the door, a voice drifted out:
"…Hello? Ah… sorry, sorry. Mommy had a bit too much to drink last night. I stayed over at a friend's place and forgot to call…"
"..."
Senya froze. He slowly drew his hand back.
…Mommy?
She had a kid?
Which meant a spouse. Which meant… she was married.
A wife. A mother.
So she really had been just a friend.
Senya instantly lost all interest. He downed the milk himself and quietly returned the way he'd come.
If she wasn't going to become his stepmom, there was no need to curry favor.
Time flowed on.
By the end of third grade, Yukinoshita Yukino once again challenged Senya.
As expected, she lost—her third defeat in a row.
This time, Senya demanded she perform the morning calisthenics routine they'd done back in kindergarten.
Yukino's face stiffened. She didn't outright refuse, but she also didn't move.
Senya knew she couldn't overcome her embarrassment to pull off such cutesy, childish gestures now.
So he gave her an easier demand instead: delete the embarrassing toothless photo she'd secretly snapped of him on Christmas Eve.
Relieved, Yukino agreed instantly.
The next year—
Fourth grade.
Another defeat. Four in a row.
Fifth grade.
Senya made history. Five straight wins.
"Really, though… couldn't you hold back just a little? I thought you'd at least show some gentlemanly restraint. Do you really feel good crushing little Yukino like this until she wants to crawl into a hole?"
During winter break after fifth grade, Yukinoshita Haruno—now in middle school—invited Senya to a family restaurant.
"She's not that fragile," Senya replied, now already 154 cm tall and nearly eye-level with Haruno. "So? What did you want with me?"
"I do have a reason. You must've noticed by now, right? Yukino's been attending English cram school these past years. It's all in preparation for her to study abroad."
Senya recalled the shelves of English materials in Yukino's room. It didn't surprise him. "Mm. Makes sense."
"That's not what I called you here to say."
Haruno stirred her drink, ice clinking against glass, before leaning in slightly.
"Tell me, Senya—do you want to study abroad too?"