Chapter 285
Chapter Seventy-Nine: The Monster in the Snowy Night
Haihara's memory isn't very good.
However, there are some things she still remembers quite well.
For example, she didn't treat the Problem Child to a meal when he transformed into Magic girl.
She didn't think the other person was referring to the time before the Problem Child transformed.
So... what's going on with this Magic girl who's a little clumsy, a little cuter, and a little more considerate than usual?
Thinking too much while drinking is just too boring.
For Haihara, the most relaxing and enjoyable times, besides taking time off and meeting up with high school girls, are probably when she's drinking to her heart's content.
Besides, the weather is so cold, we need to drink some alcohol to warm ourselves up.
Even with curtains blocking the cold wind, these small izakayas on the street are still quite cold, making the food feel especially delicious.
Suddenly, Silver Feather asked:
"Miss Haihara, do you cook often?"
Perhaps because she had just overheard Haihara and Teacher Suzuki talking about cooking, Silver Feather asked curiously.
"I guess so, what's wrong?"
Haihara has been living independently since high school, so it's no problem for her to cook regularly. However, it was only in the last few months that she started cooking seriously again after moving out with her daughter.
"I'm just a little curious, like what kind of dishes Haihara is good at."
Silver Feather held a skewer and gently traced it across the plate.
Ms. Suzuki answered first.
"Haihara can cook a lot of dishes, and they're all delicious. Sometimes they're just too sweet, so sweet that they make you want to fall in love."
The tipsy Ms. Suzuki, compared to her earlier drunken antics, had regained some of her usual gentleness and maturity, though it was clear that the alcohol was still making her very happy.
I see.
Teacher Haihara's cooking is very sweet.
However, Teacher Haihara herself doesn't seem to have a strong liking for sweets.
"So, croquettes must be sweet then."
As if remembering something, Silver Feather lowered her head, looking at the glass of juice and her own face reflected in the shallow water.
She sucked on the straw, even though the cup was long empty, only occasionally making a slurping sound.
What exactly does it taste like...?
If I eat it again, I might figure it out.
Although the time spent eating with Teacher Haihara and the others was warm and wonderful, it still had to come to an end. Around 8 p. m., considering that there was Silver Feather, a little kid, they ended their dinner early.
It's worth mentioning that the owner was so happy because Silver Feather had eaten at their restaurant that he gave Haihara and the others a free meal that night.
They said they wanted to express their gratitude to the heroes who protected the city.
At that moment, Silver Feather was quite happy.
Even after she stepped out of the steaming izakaya and strolled through the winter streets with Teacher Haihara, Silver Feather was still thinking about the taste of the food they had just eaten and the fact that the owner had said he would give them a free meal.
After leaving, Silver Feather kept curiously fiddling with the little parrot made of steamed bun in her hand.
This was made by the store manager's youngest daughter.
They look very cute.
How are foods made to be so colorful?
Moreover, the child seemed to like her a lot, and even said that he would continue to support Magical Girl Silver Feather.
She and Kirishima Ai are really popular.
Silver Feather chuckled happily, poking the little parrot with her finger:
"I'm going to keep this safe."
She spoke to Teacher Haihara very seriously.
Meanwhile, Teacher Haihara was still thinking about taking the slightly drunk Teacher Suzuki home, but Teacher Suzuki was actually quite sober now, and her house seemed to be nearby, so they planned to take Teacher Suzuki downstairs.
"If you don't eat it, it will spoil in a day or two."
"Broken?"
Silver Feather looked at the little bird in her hand, puzzled.
It looked so bright, plump, and cute, why did it spoil?
"Yes, it will get infested with bugs and mold, so it's not only inedible, but it also looks terrible."
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Haihara has started talking to Silver Feather like she's coaxing a child.
That's so pitiful.
Silver Feather's tone immediately turned dejected.
She didn't want to eat the little parrot right now.
But if you know it will one day rot, should you wait until it becomes unsightly, or eat it while it's still good?
Haihara didn't discuss this topic much.
Because she felt a little cold.
She tugged at her coat to make sure the collar wasn't showing, otherwise the wind would all blow in. How should I put it? As an adult, I easily catch a cold if I'm exposed to even the slightest change in temperature.
In this respect, she envied Silver Feather.
They don't look cold at all.
Although Silver Feather's attire was quite conservative, it was still hard to imagine her wearing a skirt in the dead of winter without any thermal socks.
Perhaps this is the purity of Magic girl.
"Miss Haihara, are you still cold?"
The little girl standing nearby asked.
This scene felt somewhat familiar to Haihara.
If she remembered correctly, the last time, the Problem Child seemed to have said something like that, and then he even held her hand and shamelessly breathed on it.
"It's a bit cold, but it's okay. But you, won't you catch a cold coming out like this?"
Silver Feather blinked, then glanced at herself.
It is indeed a bit cold.
However, Magic girls certainly wouldn't tremble at the thought.
She said with considerable confidence:
"I've never been cold before, nor have I ever felt particularly cold, so this isn't a big deal for me."
Oh, I see.
Watching the girl's confident figure, Haihara felt inexplicably amused. However, perhaps remembering something, she gazed at Silver Feather's face for a moment and calmly said—
"Perhaps, one day in the future, you will feel cold."
She touched her bare, red, frostbitten hands, where her finger bones were clearly visible, possessing a unique, broken beauty compared to usual.
Silver Feather was puzzled at this moment:
"Why?"
The woman's pupils froze for a moment.
She could hear the sound of cold wind from time to time, like a faint, low howl, a mournful cry, or a call; in short, it was somewhat disheartening.
Haihara gazed at the girl before her, whose smile held a hint of confusion, yet whose eyes seemed to tremble slightly. She paused, then spoke, word by word:
"Because your winter will always come."
The woman's tone remained unchanged from usual.
Therefore, this impending separation felt just like the usual farewell between Silver Feather and Haihara at sunset.
Silver Feather subconsciously felt that saying goodbye like this wasn't a big deal; perhaps they would meet again tomorrow.
They had unknowingly reached a crossroads.
At this moment, Silver Feather realized that the good times were over and she had to part ways with Teacher Haihara and the others, but she hadn't figured out what to do next.
For some reason, she was a little afraid of what was to come.
Haihara gently stroked her slightly dry, frozen cheek, rubbing it very tenderly.
"Teacher Haihara."
Gazing at the woman's figure under the streetlight, Silver Feather regained her composure and happily waved goodbye.
However, she no longer used the title "Miss Haihara".
After spending a wonderful dinner with Teacher Haihara and the others, Silver Feather thought that Kirishima Ai was probably very worried about her and might be looking for her everywhere.
Although the thought of this situation was distressing, she didn't know whether she should go back.
Perhaps she should disappear from Kirishima Ai's sight right now.
Or perhaps she should...
Silver Feather sighed, her heart filled with confusion. She stared at the little bird made of steamed bun in her hand, as if trying to find answers from this cute little dumpling.
She lowered her gaze, looking at the dumpling and the Snowfield.
If she disappeared now, would anyone remember her?
Will Teacher Haihara know who the girl she had dinner with tonight is?
And also people you previously went on dates with, ate out with, went shopping with, and soaked in hot springs with.
Do your classmates at school think that the more cheerful Kirishima Ai is actually quite nice?
In the future, only the Fate Kite will appear on television, and Silver Feather will gradually be forgotten. Everyone will think that this is a very natural thing.
"Never mind."
Don't let frustration consume you.
Silver Feather patted her face.
She encouraged herself and pulled herself together.
In fact, she originally thought she would disappear much earlier, but she has actually lived to this day and has created even more wonderful memories.
From now on, every extra moment of my life will be a gift from life.
Silver Feather felt that she should be quite satisfied.
"Afterwards, I'll apologize to that other version of myself, and then have a proper talk with her..."
Indecisiveness and hesitation will only make things worse.
Silver Feather didn't want to become like that.
In the Snowfield, the silver Magic girl's figure was exceptionally dazzling and beautiful, just like a scene from a fairy tale. The cold wind gently lifted her dress, and the silver gauze shimmered with a faint moon-like silver light.
However, she did not notice a strange figure that had been watching from the corner for a long time. The figure was shrouded in darkness, with only a pair of dark blue eyes shining like lamplight in the night.
As Silver Feather talked to herself in the Snowfield, a faint sadness and frustration could not be concealed from her expression.
[You seem very troubled, and I think it's because a voice deep down is telling you that you don't actually want to disappear, right?]
A chilling voice emerged from the cold wind.
The sound itself was extremely unpleasant to listen to.
As Silver Feather subconsciously looked up, the once peaceful night suddenly began to snow, and the entire sky was filled with a flurry of cold, light snow.