Off to Kyoto
Yukino Yukinoshita felt a strong sense of unease.
None of the students felt that their behavior was different from usual.
They chatted as they walked briskly and quickly out of the school.
Yukino also saw a blond child walk past her without hesitation.
Although he wouldn't ask her to walk home from school together, he would always glance at her a few times and say goodbye.
But today he was just talking to his friends when he quickly walked out of the school.
Yukino lowered her hand, which was raised halfway in the air.
A glint of icy blue light flashed in her eyes.
Yukino stood by the window, watching her classmates, teachers, and principal all leave the school within five minutes.
The school was soon deserted.
When there was an empty space on campus.
A warm and welcoming atmosphere rose from the rooftop.
The moment the aura appeared, Yukino, who was on guard, was robbed of her consciousness, leaving only instinct.
Her eyes were blank as she took a step towards the source of the aura.
She was drawn to it.
Yukino walked to the rooftop door in a daze before she came to her senses.
Looking at the unfamiliar surroundings, she couldn't help but feel a chill run down her spine.
At that moment, she should have been thinking about running away.
But deep down, a voice inside her urged her to push open the door to the rooftop.
She couldn't resist pushing open the door and stepping onto the rooftop.
Then she saw it.
A knife.
An ice-blue knife floated in the center of the rooftop.
"First Snow..."
She couldn't help but utter the name.
As if startled by her words, First Snow spun in mid-air, the tip of her blade aimed at Yukino.
Then.
The katana unleashed a murderous aura and shot towards Yukino's throat.
"Huh?!"
Yukino was unable to move under the lock of murderous intent.
The tip of the knife was only a few meters away from her.
At that moment, an icy blue light appeared in her pupils, surging and churning wildly.
A powerful Power of Will awakens under dire circumstances.
Just as the blade was about to pierce Yukino.
A sudden blizzard arose and enveloped her.
Shuya, slowly walked out, caught First Snow who was bounced up, and sheathed his sword.
He looked at the blizzard and murmured, "Unexpectedly, things are going smoothly."
It's probably because the scent of Ikeda Ichinosuke still lingered on the First Snow, and the remnants of the Snow Woman reacted to it.
More importantly, Yukino's physique and the residual power of the Snow Woman are a good match, and their fusion has reached a high level over the past four years.
Now it explodes at the slightest provocation.
Slowly, the icy storm subsided.
Yukino Yukinoshita's appearance remained unchanged, but behind her, a snow-white figure appeared.
It was the silhouette of a woman.
The woman wore a pure white kimono, her skin was pale and her figure was perfect. Looking at her face, her features were beautiful, but she exuded a coldness.
Her long blue hair was loose.
It was the afterimage of the Snow Woman.
Her body was semi-transparent, and she stood behind Yukino with her hands hanging down, motionless.
However, he emanated a considerable amount of energy.
The Snow Woman's movements were synchronized with Yukino's; they both looked at Shuya.
Their eyes were the same—utterly cold.
"Inoue Shuya, what are you trying to do?"
As Yukino spoke, the Snow Woman also spoke, their voices merging together in an eerie way.
I just wanted to check on your status.
Shuya said directly.
""Boring.""
Yukino's eyes were cold. She extended her finger, and the Snow Woman followed suit, raising her hand as well. Two beams of icy blue light shone forth.
"Accept your punishment, human."
"Punish your mother! You stupid child, you've been corrupted and don't even know it!"
Shuya spoke, he appeared behind Yukino and slapped the phantom of the Snow Woman.
He slapped the Snow Woman on the back of the head, forcefully pushing her back into Yukino's body.
The process is simple; given his abilities, there's no reason for him to struggle, unless he's just trying to pad the word count.
Yukino swayed slightly, her eyes regaining their clarity from their absolute coldness.
"I... I just...?"
"Hey, Yukino- chan, are you alright?"
Shuya smiled.
"..."
Yukino looked at Shuya, clutched her chest, and took a half-step back.
"Were you serious about taking half a step back?"
"Don't come any closer, I'm calling the police."
Yukino pulled out her phone, her face icy cold.
Shuya laughed heartily, "Calm down, I may be an odd person, but I'm not a bad person."
This is not comforting.
Shuya said directly, "Actually, I'm here to help you. Judging from your condition just now, it seems your situation has been getting worse lately."
Yukino remained silent for a long time before saying, "... I'll listen to what you have to say."
"Sit down and let's talk."
Shuya and Yukino sat down on a bench on the rooftop. Yukino deliberately kept her distance, sitting on either side of him.
"Well, I'll get straight to the point. Have you ever heard of Ikeda Ichinosuke?"
He asked.
Yukino out instinctively, "<Art Academy>?"
Yes, it all started then.
Shuya and Yukino started explaining from the beginning.
Yukino suddenly realized. "So you mean, my residual power merged with Snow Woman- onna's?"
Shuya nodded. "Yes. I've finished speaking. Now, what's your situation? Didn't you feel anything when you were merged back then?"
"Back then... just as you guessed, after I went to Hokkaido when I was five years old, I noticed that I had changed."
Yukino said, "Besides my body temperature dropping, the surrounding temperature also drops when my emotions fluctuate... and sometimes things I touch get covered in snowflakes."
"But what happened just now was the first time."
Yukino looked at Shuya, hoping he would answer.
Shuya asked a question, "After you changed, did the Snow Woman ever appear and speak to you?"
"No, nothing appeared."
Yukino answered immediately.
"Yes, is that so?"
A complex expression appeared on Shuya's face.
"What's wrong?"
"No, I only know the ending of the Snow Woman."
Shuya hesitated for a moment, then said to Yukino, "There's only one situation where the residual power will have no trace of spiritual imprint left. Do you know what it is?"
Without giving Yukino a chance to think, he gave the answer, "Suicide."
"Suicide?"
"Yes. I finally understand the relationship between the Snow Woman and Ikeda Ichinosuke."
Shuya looked up at the sky, where white clouds drifted lazily by.
Section 177, Chapter 161: Going to Kyoto
"The Snow Woman loved Ikeda Ichinosuke, didn't she? In real history, the Snow Woman risked her life to help Ikeda Ichinosuke kill the America commander, and after Ikeda Ichinosuke's death, she, severely wounded, ultimately chose to follow him in death."
"Just as Ikeda Ichinosuke left behind a legacy, the Snow Woman also left behind power, waiting for a suitable person to inherit it."
"Then I met you, and we actually met again."
Shuya looked at Yukino: "Don't you think this is romantic, this kind of thing?"
Yukino shook her head. "I don't feel anything."
So you've been corrupted.
Shuya brought up the topic again. "Haven't you noticed that you've become much more emotionally detached lately?"
"Emotion..."
Yukino murmured, her already pale face appearing even paler.
Upon reflection, she wasn't actually that surprised by what was happening.
Her wariness of Shuya was more driven by common sense than by feelings.
"Indeed, I should be panicking now, right? But strangely, I don't feel that way at all."
Yukino asked blankly, "What... happened to me?"
"Although the Snow Woman's residual power lacks a spiritual imprint, its immense strength itself will erode weak humans; this is not intentional, but instinctive."
Shuya said, "If left unchecked, you will completely transform into Snow Woman) and lose your human identity... It's hard to say whether that's a good thing or a bad thing. It all depends on how you think about it."
Will I become Snow Woman?
"Hmm, what's your opinion? Do you want things to change?"
Yukino replied expressionlessly, "I don't know... I have no opinion. Humans and Snow Woman... are both fine, I guess."