"Do you want to go on a date together later?"
This sentence came from the mouth of Kazehara Tetsu.
In this Snowfield, where we have just exchanged our thoughts and the atmosphere has finally become a little warmer, this proposal sounds like a smooth continuation of romance.
However, for Karuizawa Kei, this is simply a sugar-coated bomb.
"Huh?"
Her eyes suddenly widened, looking at Kazehara Tetsu like an alien.
"Are you brain-frozen? Or is your so-called 'time management' giving you some strange hallucinations?"
Karuizawa Kei rolled his eyes at him angrily, folded his hands in front of his chest, and subconsciously took a half step back to distance himself a little.
"Who would go on a three-person date when nothing happens?"
"... Just thinking about that scene gives me goosebumps all over my body. I don't have that... that special hobby."
"Anyway, I don't think it will happen."
Kazehara Tetsu shrugged, looking indifferent.
"As long as the arrangement is properly arranged, everyone can sit down and have a cup of tea calmly, get to know each other, and maybe we can become friends."
"Absolutely-yes-no!"
Karuizawa Kei categorically refused, making a big "X" with both hands in front of his chest.
"I refuse. Completely refuse."
She looked at Kazehara Tetsu. Although her eyes were a little awkward, they revealed a kind of survival wisdom that belonged to her.
"And..."
"If I stay there, I'm afraid it will just be a burden."
"I'm afraid it will affect you. If it messes up your 'good deeds', or makes you unable to get off the stage... then I will be the unlucky one."
"So, I won't disturb your good things. Now that the gift has been delivered, my mission is completed."
"Oh..."
Kazehara Tetsu raised his eyebrows and looked her up and down as if he had discovered a new world.
"This kind of 'for my own sake' statement... can actually come out of that Karuizawa Kei's mouth?"
He moved a little closer, with a teasing smile on his lips.
"Could it be that... Karizawa, you are actually a very kind and considerate girl?"
"Shut up! Stop disgusting me!"
"Who is being kind! I did it purely for Self-Preservation! Self-Preservation, do you understand?"
She got angry and pushed Kazehara Tetsu's chest, although the little force was not painful or itchy for Kazehara Tetsu.
"Get out of here! Don't be an eyesore here!"
As she spoke, she turned around with her back to Kazehara Tetsu, as if to hide the heat that was rising again on her face.
"Otherwise... be careful if I tell you all the bad things you did... such as how you threatened me and how you tried to influence me! Let's see how proud you are of it then!"
This kind of non-deterrent threat sounded more like an awkward act of coquettishness to Kazehara Tetsu's ears.
"Yes yes yes."
Kazehara Tetsu raised his hands in cooperation, as if surrendering.
"There's really nothing I can do about you, Lady Megumi."
"Then I'll get out of here first. Be careful when you go back, don't get frozen."
"Let's go now!"
Karuizawa Kei didn't look back, she just waved her hand with her back to him. The action was full of impatience, but she didn't put down her hand until Kazehara Tetsu's footsteps gradually faded away through the snow.
She didn't slowly lower her hand until she was sure that the back figure had disappeared from the end of her sight.
"... what a bastard."
She cursed in a low voice, but with a smile on her lips, she hugged Down Jacket tightly and walked in the opposite direction with brisk steps.
After bidding farewell to Tsundere's "Parasite", Kazehara Tetsu did not immediately rush to the next location.
He looked at the time.
Ten minutes past two in the afternoon.
There are still twenty minutes left before the appointed time.
He stopped at Vending Machine on the roadside and bought a can of Hot Coffee.
The warm touch of the can spread in the palm of my hand, slightly dispelling some of the chill from standing at Snowfield for a long time.
"Next..."
The third one today.
He is also the most special and elusive one.
Morishita Ai.
"What a troublesome guy..."
Kazehara Tetsu put the empty can into the trash can accurately, making a soft sound.
He straightened his coat and walked towards the school's small park, which is usually inaccessible.
The wind was still blowing and snowflakes were falling sporadically.
When Kazehara Tetsu walked through a snow-covered path and arrived at the agreed place.
His eyes passed through several snow-covered trees and landed on the lonely bench.
Someone.
It was not a figure waiting anxiously or killing time with a mobile phone.
That was a... sleeping figure.
In this open-air environment with several degrees below zero and a howling cold wind.
Morishita Ai was lying on his side on the wooden bench without any cushion.
She was wearing a coat that was not particularly thick, and only standard black stockings on her legs, which looked particularly slender against the snowy light.
"..."
Is this some new type of performance art?
Or some kind of cold training?
A normal person would feel cold sitting outside for five minutes in this weather, but she could actually sleep?
And looking at the thin layer of snow powder accumulated on her body, it was obvious that she had been here for more than ten minutes.
Even saying it "arrived on time" is a bit inaccurate.
This is simply "much ahead of schedule", maybe even taking a nap here.
Kazehara Tetsu walked over lightly.
As the distance got closer, he could clearly see the closed face of Morishita Ai.
Her skin was already very white, and now it was even more pale under the influence of the cold.
If he couldn't still feel the weak breathing rhythm, Kazehara Tetsu would even wonder if he should call an ambulance first instead of continuing the date.
He stood in front of the bench, blocking the cold wind blowing from the side.
He didn't wake her up immediately.
Kazehara Tetsu observed the sleeping girl.
"Hello."
After watching for a minute, Kazehara Tetsu finally spoke.
He stretched out his hand, not to pat her shoulder, but stretched out a finger and gently poked Morishita Ai's cold cheek.
"If you sleep outside in this weather, you will really die, Morishita Ai."
"..."
No response.
"Morishita Ai?"
Kazehara Tetsu added a little more force, this time pinching her cheeks and pulling them outward.
"Or is this some kind of test of pretending to be dead? Then I have to take emergency rescue measures like 'Artificial Respiration'."
This sentence seemed to flip a switch.
The tightly closed eyes did not blink in a daze like ordinary people would when they woke up, but suddenly opened.
"...Artificial Respiration?"
"From a medical perspective, it is not a wise first aid plan to administer Artificial Respiration to an individual who is still breathing on his own, Kazehara Tetsu."
Morishita Ai said these embarrassing words while slowly sitting up from the bench.
As the body sat upright, the thin layer of snow fell off the body.