"It's snowing heavily! Should we go outside and have a snowball fight?"
"If you want to freeze to death, be my guest."
At Kalaisha's energetic suggestion, Theresis gave a cynical reply. It was the depths of winter, with snowflakes drifting down from the gray sky. This was their first winter at Netsalem's mansion.
Kalaisha, wrapped in a thick fur coat, loved the snow. The pure white, beautiful flakes were the reason she preferred winter over summer.
"Why don't you learn a thing or two from Yujin or Buldrokk? They went outside a while ago to..."
"Those bastards are half-crazy. Do you think people who stand under a waterfall in the middle of winter just to 'endure the cold' are sane?"
Theresis couldn't understand Yujin and Buldrokk, who claimed standing under a freezing waterfall was training.
"Ahaha..." Kalaisha laughed awkwardly. She didn't get it either. Buldrokk called it tempering the body, but what did a waterfall have to do with that?
"Theresis, why don't you join us?"
From behind them, Yujin appeared, wearing only a light t-shirt and radiating heat. A towel sat atop his head, absorbing the droplets of water still clinging to his hair.
"Get lost."
"Aww, remember when you used to follow me around for training like a lost puppy?"
"That was a long time ago."
It didn't feel that long ago to Yujin, but Theresis had learned a valuable truth: if a crow-tit tries to walk like a stork, it will only break its legs. There was no need to desperately chase after something he wasn't suited for. He would stick to what he was good at.
The calendar read December 25th. Yujin wasn't sure if Christmas existed in this world, but to him, it was a day that felt both special and ordinary.
"I told you to dry your hair before coming out!"
"It's easier when you do it."
Standing on her tiptoes, Kalaisha reached up to ruffle Yujin‘s hair. With a burst of warm wind from her Arts, his hair dried instantly—far more efficient than a towel.
"To think my Arts are being used for this..."
Grumbling, Kalaisha continued to dry his hair with warm gusts. Yujin shivered slightly as the heat washed over him, feeling good.
"Where's Theresa?"
"Cooking. She's obsessed with making food for the kids lately."
Theresis answered indifferently, but it was important to Yujin. Though Netsalem didn't run it directly, there was an orphanage nearby. Yujin and Theresa often went there to help out. Yujin handled the physical labor, while Theresa took care of the children and cooking. Both were popular with the kids.
"I wonder if they'll be okay. This winter is pretty harsh..."
"Is that why you chopped down all the surrounding trees and gave them to the orphanage for firewood?"
Yujin laughed awkwardly at Theresis's remark. He had cut down some trees to prepare for winter and donated the wood. While life in the mansion was comfortable thanks to Netsalem, the orphanage was a different story. Netsalem didn't exactly care for humans outside his circle.
"…All done!"
"Thanks, Kalaisha."
"Be more grateful! I did this despite how annoying it is!"
Theresis sighed as he watched Yujin playfully lift Kalaisha up and spin her around. If that idiot had even half the perception for romance that he had for combat, he would know exactly what was going on.
Theresis personally rooted for his sister, but he couldn't exactly push Kalaisha away. She never showed this side of herself in front of Theresa. So Theresa remained oblivious to the rival standing right in front of her, though she could probably sense the subtle atmosphere.
Yujin set Kalaisha down. She hopped lightly onto the floor.
"Come to think of it, you've grown taller again!"
"Still growing, I guess?"
"Any taller and it'll be creepy."
Yujin was already tall, and his diligent training had packed his frame with steel-like muscle. Just as Kalaisha was complaining that she wished she could steal some of his height, Buldrokk entered the room, ducking to fit through the door.
"Why not ask Buldrokk for some? He's so tall it's inconvenient for daily life."
"Hmm... No. That's Buldrokkas'tee's trademark."
"…No one asked for my opinion."
Yujin nudged Buldrokk as he muttered. The giant stature was indeed a symbol of the Wendigo, so it didn't really matter.
"Sun's already setting. Must be the winter."
Yujin glanced at Buldrokk, then looked outside. The sunset was painting the sky in darkness; night would fall soon. With a sly grin, Yujin pulled something from a corner of the room.
"…Where did you get that?"
"Ursus Vodka! Behold!"
Ursus winters were brutal, so they drank strong liquor like water to warm up. Theresis frowned at the bottle, but Yujin didn't care. Mentally, he was an adult. Drinking alone would be fine.
Netsalem might have something to say, but it's not a crime if you don't get caught.
Yujin immediately put the bottle to his lips and chugged. Kalaisha‘s eyes widened in horror.
"You crazy bastard!"
Thwack!
"Pffft!"
Kalaisha slapped the back of Yujin‘s head, causing him to spray vodka all over Theresis. Theresis‘s face crumpled in disgust as he held out a hand to Buldrokk.
"Knife. Now."
"Understood."
Buldrokk handed over a knife without hesitation, and Theresis lunged at Yujin.
"Kiiiek—!"
Yelling for help, Yujin fled the room with a scream. Buldrokk and Kalaisha were left alone, watching the chaotic scene.
"…Still, it seems better than before."
"I beg to differ."
The mansion used to be quiet. Buldrokk and Netsalem were stoic and spoke little, leaving Kalaisha alone in her room most of the time.
Bonk!
Kalaisha rapped her knuckles on Buldrokk‘s helmet and sat down. Watching Theresis chase Yujin out of the room, Buldrokk turned to her.
"How long are you going to keep acting like that?"
"Like what?"
"You don't need to play the fool in front of me. I'm not as dense as him."
Red light glowed from within Buldrokk‘s deer-skull helm. Kalaisha smiled faintly.
"I made it pretty obvious on purpose. Guess you caught on."
"The only one who hasn't caught on is that moron. And you hide it in front of Theresa."
Just as Theresis suspected, Kalaisha never showed this side of herself to Theresa. She drew a clear line.
"Women with secrets are more attractive, you know."
"…Is hiding it only from Theresa part of the charm?"
"Yeah. I don't want to make things awkward for Yujin by sparking a rivalry this early."
Rivalry. Hearing the word, Buldrokk lowered his head. Kalaisha was being very clear.
"Since when?"
"It‘s been a while. Since we first came to this mansion, maybe?"
He had suspected, but didn't know the catalyst. When Buldrokk asked, she clasped her hands together and recalled the past.
The boy who had held her cheeks, standing with his back to the sun.
Back then, she thought he was a fool. But looking back, Yujin‘s image was lodged in her heart like a wedge, refusing to leave. The boy who seemed destined to become the hero she was too cowardly to be.
"…I don't know. I don't want to get involved in a love triangle."
Buldrokk spoke reluctantly. He had spent a long time with Kalaisha, but he still couldn't understand her.
"Then just stay out of it. Theresa... she looks innocent, but she‘s pitch black on the inside."
Theresa, the girl of eternal purity and beauty like a blank page. Buldrokk recalled her image.
Her? Pitch black inside?
"You don't need to know yet. We don't need a mediator right now. Though... if knives start coming out, maybe we'll need you then?"
"Don't say such terrifying things."
Two women having a knife fight over one man. Buldrokk scowled at the thought.
"Joking, joking."
The problem was that Kalaisha said it without smiling, so it didn't sound like a joke at all. Ultimately, it wasn't something Buldrokk could solve. It was Yujin‘s choice.
Click. The door opened carefully, and soft white and pink colors swayed into view. Theresa appeared.
"Oh, you're both here. Where are Theresis and Yujin?"
"Yujin sprayed alcohol on Theresis. So Theresis is currently hunting him."
"Huh...?"
Theresa couldn't understand Buldrokk's abbreviated explanation. She looked at him with confusion until Kalaisha smacked Buldrokk‘s helmet again.
"If you cut out all the context, she won't understand."
After hearing Kalaisha‘s full explanation, Theresa smiled warmly. Ugh, Kalaisha thought. This is why I can't stand her. She validated everything Yujin did.
"Let's go to the dining room. It's time for dinner."
Since she had cooked, Theresa invited them to eat. Yujin and Theresis would likely join them soon.
It was an ordinary day. Eating together, talking, living like a family.
Except for the fact that Yujin secretly left gifts in front of everyone's door that night. It was his way of honoring a memory from his past.
Yujin sat on the roof, gazing at the sky. The moon shone brightly through the clouds.
It was late. Yujin, dressed lightly, was watching the sky when a breeze blew past. Someone landed lightly beside him.
Black-blue hair fluttered. The white fur coat draped over her shoulders like a cape remained steady despite the wind. A white cloth, tinged with indigo, was tied around her horn—the symbol of a Nachzehrer.
"Kalaisha? Why aren't you sleeping?"
It was late, but Kalaisha countered with a question of her own.
"What about you? You're one to talk. What was with the gifts?"
"I'm Santa."
"Santa?"
Not understanding the word, Kalaisha tilted her head. But the sentiment of gift-giving was what mattered.
Yujin saw a flicker of anxiety in her eyes. He realized why she had come to find him at this hour.
"I'm not going anywhere. Just remembered something from the past and wanted to give gifts."
"…Really?"
"For now."
Hearing him draw the line, Kalaisha knew. For now meant that one day, he might leave. Yujin was the type of person who would leave without hesitation when the time came.
"For now... right. I figured."
She didn't want to understand, but she didn't want to cling to someone who was leaving. And... someday.
"Even if you leave, you'll come back, right?"
"Of course. This is home. Even if I go somewhere else, I'll come back eventually."
"Then that's enough."
One advantage of being a Sarkaz was their long lifespan. To some, it was a curse, but Kalaisha considered it a blessing.
'…I'm used to waiting.'
She kept the thought to herself and tossed the gift box back to Yujin.
"Huh? I gave this to you."
"I already opened it. And... put it on for me."
"…Are you a child? You can't do this yourself?"
"That's right, I can't! Got a problem?!"
Yujin opened the box as Kalaisha shouted. Inside was a deep blue hairpin, meant to pin back her hair. He had bought it for her because she always covered one of her pretty indigo eyes with her hair.
Yujin moved closer, swept her hair back, and secured it with the pin, revealing both of her eyes.
"Pretty. It suits you."
Hearing that, Kalaisha smiled quietly. Using the wind, she brought over two cups of hot tea and handed one to Yujin.
Sitting on the roof together, looking at the sky and talking. Drinking steaming tea with Yujin, Kalaisha looked happy.
It was just an ordinary memory of a midwinter night.
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