Under the gloomy clouds, white snowflakes drifted through the air, gently descending upon the world like angel feathers.
"It's snowing?"
Everyone in the clubroom froze for a moment when they heard that, then excitedly crowded over to Sato.
"It really is snowing!"
The girls squeezed together at the narrow window, gazing at the sky in amazement.
They packed themselves so tightly around the window that Sato felt like he could barely breathe.
What bothered him even more was Yukinoshita and Yuigahama Yui pressing against his back. Their soft bodies were certainly distracting, but they also carried a surprising amount of weight, making him feel heavily burdened...
"Stop pushing! You're going to flatten me!"
"Hehe, just bear with it, Nohara-kun. It'll be over soon!"
Their sparkling eyes looked up at the sky as they stretched out their hands to catch the falling snowflakes. The delicate hexagonal crystals landed in their equally fair palms, only to be melted instantly by their warmth into tiny droplets of icy water.
As feather-like snow filled the sky, the entire city seemed to gain a snowy filter.
At the same time, it meant that winter had truly arrived.
Although it snowed around this time every year, people still smiled with delight whenever the first snowfall came.
Perhaps it was because only when the snow finally fell did people exclaim in wonder, proving that winter had really arrived.
...
After the initial excitement gradually settled down, everyone closed the window, shutting out the howling wind and snow outside.
Yui sat blankly in her chair, her hands tucked into her sleeves. She sneezed and curled herself into a ball.
"It's so cold..."
"Then let's end club activities a little earlier today. If the snow gets heavier and the roads freeze later, it'll be troublesome getting home."
Sato glanced at Yui and smiled lightly while holding a cup of warm tea.
"Okay."
The girls all nodded, agreeing with his suggestion.
Still, simply sitting quietly in the clubroom and watching the snow drift outside the window was a strangely pleasant experience.
And more importantly...
It was warm inside, and nobody really wanted to leave.
"By the way, where's Hikigaya? I feel like I haven't seen him in the clubroom for several days."
Sato suddenly remembered someone who seemed to have disappeared for quite a while.
Not far away, Yukinoshita Yukino reluctantly pulled her gaze away from the book in her hands. Looking up at Sato, she said,
"Hikigaya said his younger sister will be moving up to the next school level soon, so he's been going home early lately to help her study."
"Komachi?"
Sato nodded thoughtfully and remarked,
"Komachi is really cute, but her grades don't seem very good. Hikigaya's humanities scores are actually pretty decent, so..."
Before he could finish speaking, he noticed the strange looks everyone was giving him.
"What?"
he asked, puzzled.
Yukinoshita Yukino let out a soft sigh and looked at him with a complicated expression.
"Komachi is still a child."
Sato: "???"
His face was full of confusion.
Why bring that up all of a sudden? What did it matter whether Komachi was a child or not?
"Ahem!"
Ritsu suddenly coughed twice and decisively changed the subject.
"Speaking of which, winter vacation starts in a few days. Does everyone have any plans?"
The girls who had been staring at Sato immediately began chatting.
"I'll probably stay at home with Ui."
"Same here. It's way too cold outside!"
"I'm going with my father to visit some business partners."
"I'll probably go shopping with Yumiko and the others."
Everyone chimed in one after another. Aside from Yukinoshita and Yuigahama Yui, almost nobody wanted to go outside.
After all, the weather was freezing. Staying home was much more comfortable.
For example, curling up under a warm kotatsu was pure bliss.
In Japan, winter was practically synonymous with the combination of a kotatsu and mandarins.
"What about New Year's? Surely you aren't all planning to stay home then too? That'd be so boring!"
"So..."
Yui looked at Ritsu with shining eyes.
Ritsu glanced at her and gave her a look that clearly said, As expected, you understand me.
"Hehe. So... how about we all go to a temple or shrine on New Year's Eve and celebrate together? Everyone can go!"
Ritsu suggested enthusiastically.
She had always loved lively events like this.
The group exchanged glances. Everyone seemed interested.
Sato had already decided not to return home during winter vacation, so he was somewhat interested as well.
He had never attended a shrine's New Year's celebration before. After all, there wasn't a shrine in Asahigaoka, and they certainly wouldn't travel all the way to Itomori just for that.
Seeing the interest in everyone's eyes, Ritsu eagerly asked,
"Well? Are we doing it?"
"I am!"
Yui raised her arm and cheered.
Her wavelength had always perfectly matched Ritsu's.
"Yeah, let's go together."
Mio nodded as well.
"I want to go!"
Kotobuki Tsumugi's eyes sparkled.
She had immense curiosity about anything she had never experienced before.
"What about you, Sato?"
Ritsu turned toward him expectantly.
Sato smiled and nodded.
"Sure."
Seeing that the Light Music Club side had been settled, Ritsu nodded in satisfaction.
New Year's was supposed to be lively and celebrated together.
Otherwise, how could it be called a reunion?
Thinking that, she turned toward the two members of the Service Club.
"What about Yukinoshita-san and Yuigahama-san?"
Without even answering whether she agreed or not, Yuigahama Yui excitedly asked,
"Do we need to wear kimono?"
Yukinoshita Yukino's expression stiffened slightly as she looked at Yuigahama.
Why did you agree so fast?
The entire clubroom's attention fell upon her.
Even Yukinoshita Yukino felt a tremendous amount of pressure.
But New Year's Eve...
She thought about it for a long time and then looked up at the expectant faces around her.
In the end, she nodded.