The first snow of December always made the city look softer—like someone had draped a white blanket over all the noise and chaos to give people a moment of peace.
But peace was the last thing on Aiven Hale's mind this morning.
He stood behind the counter of Winter Brew Café, sleeves rolled up, breath fogging in the cold air each time he exhaled. The heater was broken again, and he could already feel his fingers going numb, but customers were starting to line up outside. It was the busiest time of the year—Christmas lights, holiday drinks, tourists—and Aiven was barely surviving.
"Aiven, honey, smile a bit," Miss Liora, the café owner, whispered as she passed by. "You look like you're fighting a snowstorm all alone."
He was fighting a storm—but inside himself.
His rent was late.
His school fees were overdue.
And his younger sister, Suri, kept telling him not to worry even though he knew she needed new textbooks.
Aiven forced a smile.
"Just cold, Miss Liora."
She patted his shoulder and went to help with the pastries.
The bell above the door chimed. More customers.
More work.
Aiven tied his apron tighter and whispered a tiny prayer that today would not break him.
---
Meanwhile, across the city…
The black van skidded slightly on the snow as it stopped in front of the biggest broadcasting studio. Photographers flocked around it instantly, flashlights exploding like fireworks.
Inside the van sat Raze—or rather, Kiyoshi Raiden, the boy behind the idol name.
But Kiyoshi was rarely allowed to be a "boy" anymore.
"Raze, fix your hair," the manager ordered.
"Your fans want soft but cold today. Stoic. Don't smile too much."
Kiyoshi ran a hand through his ash-blond hair and sighed.
He was exhausted.
ECLYPSE was in the final stretch of their winter comeback, and schedules were eating him alive.
His throat ached.
His eyes burned.
His body begged for rest.
But idols didn't rest—not during December.
"They're already waiting for you," the manager said again. "The interview is live. And remember—no personal questions, no scandals, stay professional."
Right.
Professional.
Cold.
Perfect.
Kiyoshi stepped out of the van, the cold wind slicing across his skin. Fans screamed his name, pushing forward, trying to get photos, trying to touch him. Security struggled to keep order.
He hid behind the perfect mask of Raze—expression calm, eyes unreadable.
Only one month left before the New Year.
Only one month before he could breathe.
Or so he hoped.
---
Back at Winter Brew Café…
Aiven was wiping down a table when the door swung open, letting in a gust of icy wind—and a girl who looked like she might explode with excitement.
His sister.
"Suri?" Aiven blinked. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in class?"
Suri rushed over, breathless, cheeks red from the cold.
"Oppa! Oh my God—you won't believe this! ECLYPSE is filming in our city today!"
He stared blankly. "ECLYPSE? The idol group?"
She nodded wildly.
"Raze is here! The Raze! The center! The one I always show you!"
Aiven groaned.
He didn't hate idols… he just didn't care about them.
Fame, lights, drama—it all felt too far away from his own struggles.
"Okay, okay," he sighed. "Calm down. Why are you telling me?"
"Because!" Suri grabbed his arm dramatically. "They're coming to THIS neighborhood for a secret shoot. People saw their staff near the main street!"
Aiven blinked again.
And then—
CRASH!
A cup slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor.
Miss Liora called from behind the counter, "Aiven! Everything alright?"
He bowed his head, embarrassed.
"Yes, sorry. Just slipped…"
Suri giggled. "See? Even the universe is excited. Maybe you'll meet Raze!"
Aiven rolled his eyes.
"Yeah. And maybe I'll wake up tomorrow as a billionaire."
The idea was ridiculous.
He was a nobody.
Just a boy trying to pay rent and survive winter.
Idols belonged on screens, not in his world.
---
But fate had already started moving.
That same evening, after his shift, Aiven grabbed his bag and stepped outside into the cold. Snowflakes drifted lazily from the sky, melting on his cheeks.
He pulled his scarf tighter and walked toward the bus stop at the end of the street.
The winter wind howled—sharp and bitter.
He shoved his hands into his pockets.
"Just a few more days," he whispered to himself. "Then I'll get paid. Then everything will be okay."
But before he could reach the bus stop—
A sharp turn.
A slippery road.
A black van losing control.
Aiven froze as tires screeched.
The van swerved violently—straight toward him.
"Hey!" A voice yelled from inside. "Watch out!"
Aiven stumbled back, slipping on the ice.
The van missed him by inches and crashed into a snowbank.
Aiven's heartbeat hammered in his chest.
He ran toward the van.
The door swung open—
and a figure stepped out.
Silver hair.
Cold eyes.
Breathless.
A face Aiven recognized only from posters his sister plastered everywhere.
Raze.
The idol himself.
Aiven's jaw dropped.
Raze stared back, panting, clutching the doorframe.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Snow fell silently around them—soft, slow, magical.
"Are you okay?" Aiven managed.
Raze blinked.
He looked exhausted, shaken… human.
"I'm fine," he whispered. "But you—are you hurt?"
Aiven shook his head.
"No. I— I should be asking you that."
Their eyes met again.
Something shifted.
A spark.
A beginning neither of them saw coming.
Then Raze whispered, almost to himself—
"What a terrible way to meet someone… and yet…"
His voice softened.
"Something tells me this won't be the last time."
Aiven froze.
He didn't know it yet—
But the boy standing in front of him, shivering under the snow,
was about to steal his entire New Year.
And maybe…
his heart too.