The first snow of the year had finally arrived.
Tiny white flakes fluttered past the classroom windows, melting the moment they touched the glass. Students pressed against the panes, shouting excitedly.
"It's snowing! It's snowing!"
Aoi grinned, her eyes bright. "Finally! I've been waiting all week for this!"
Haruto glanced up from his notes. "You make it sound like you personally scheduled the weather."
"Maybe I did," she said, puffing her chest. "I have a secret deal with the clouds."
He snorted. "You're ridiculous."
---
After school, Aoi caught up to him at the shoe lockers.
"Hey, Haruto-kun! Want to go somewhere?"
"Somewhere?"
"Yeah! They just opened the Winter Illumination at Central Park — lights, food stalls, everything!"
Haruto blinked. "That's… a date spot."
Her eyes sparkled mischievously. "Oh? So you're saying it's a date?"
"I— That's not what I—!"
She laughed. "Relax, it's not like that! I just don't want to go alone."
He sighed, giving in as always. "…Fine. But only because you'll get lost without supervision."
"Yay! You're the best, Haruto-kun!"
---
The city park glowed like a dream.
Trees were wrapped in golden lights, snow blanketed the ground in a soft shimmer, and couples walked hand in hand under sparkling arches.
Aoi tugged her scarf tighter and looked around in awe. "Wow… it's so pretty."
"Yeah," Haruto said quietly. "It really is."
She turned to him, smiling. "You were looking at the lights, right?"
He coughed. "O-of course."
---
They walked together, chatting about nothing and everything — warm drinks in hand, laughter rising into the cold air.
When a snowflake landed on Aoi's nose, she scrunched up her face.
"Eh! It's cold!"
Haruto chuckled. "That's how snow works."
She blew at the flake, pouting. "You could at least offer me your scarf, you know."
"…You're already wearing one."
"But yours looks warmer!"
He sighed, then wordlessly unwrapped his and draped it around her shoulders.
The scarf was still warm from his body heat.
Aoi blinked, caught off guard. "You… actually did it?"
"Stop making it weird," he muttered, looking away.
But Aoi smiled softly, clutching the fabric. "Thanks, Haruto-kun."
---
They stopped near the center of the park, where an enormous Christmas tree glittered with a thousand white lights.
A group of children ran past them, laughing. A carol played faintly in the background.
Aoi tilted her head, looking up at the lights. "You know… I used to come here every year with my parents. But this time, I almost forgot."
Haruto glanced at her. "Why?"
"I don't know," she said softly. "Maybe I thought it wouldn't feel the same. But right now…" — she turned to him with a gentle smile — "…it feels even better."
He froze. The lights reflected in her eyes like tiny stars, and his breath caught in his throat.
He wanted to say something — anything. But the words tangled in his chest.
"...Aoi," he began quietly, "you—"
"Haruto-kun!" she interrupted, pointing. "Look! A shooting star!"
They both looked up — a single bright streak cutting across the dark sky.
Aoi clasped her hands together, eyes shut. "Wish time!"
When she opened them again, she smiled. "Okay! Done!"
"What'd you wish for?" he asked.
She winked. "Can't tell you, or it won't come true."
He chuckled. "Figures."
But as she laughed beside him, her breath mingling with his in the cold night air, Haruto couldn't help but think —
He didn't need to wish for anything.
Because this moment, right here, already felt like one.
---
Aoi turned toward him suddenly. "Hey, Haruto-kun?"
"Yeah?"
"If we come here again next year… let's take a photo together, okay?"
He blinked. "Next year?"
"Mm-hmm." She smiled. "It's a promise."
And before he could answer, she held out her pinky.
Haruto hesitated, then linked his with hers — his hand trembling slightly in the cold.
"Promise," he said.
---
That night, as snow fell silently over the city, Haruto lay awake, staring at the faint glow of the streetlights outside his window.
He could still feel the warmth of her scarf.
And her smile — bright, soft, and impossible to forget — replayed in his mind like a dream.
He smiled to himself, whispering into the quiet room.
"…Next year, huh?"