Snow

Gel instantly cheered up after tasting Maro's new cookies.

"Did you improve the recipe again?" Gel asked while slowly reaching out for more.

"Yep, I added a few secret ingredients this time and it turned out pretty well!"

Her small head rotated towards Maro as Jecca asked him if she could also have one. Maro immediately grabbed one off the table and gave it to her. 

"Here you go!"

It was as if watching a drama show, Jecca kept on complimenting and glazing Maro. Using way too much hyperbole but he didn't seem bothered by it and just said he's happy that she liked it.

Oreiha gently tapped on her brother's shoulder whilst shyly pointing at the table.

"You want one too?"

She nodded repeatedly and got what she asked for. All of them enjoyed Maro's home-baked cookies feeling like they were being treated like a king by getting these types of luxurious goodies. 

"Oh right, I forgot." 

Maro gently nudged away Jecca before telling them that he had to go out shopping because today was 20% off on meat. 

A daring grin emerged on Maro's face before he put on his jacket and told them that he was gonna go out for a bit.

"I WANNA GO TOO!"

Oreiha stared at Jecca with an intense look. With her arm still in the air calling out Maro's name she turned around feeling the burning gaze of Oreiha on her neck.

"What…?"

"Nothing."

Jecca leapt off the couch and went up to Maro.

"I wanna, I wanna!"

She said jumping up and down like a spoiled brat seeing a brand new doll on the upper shelf. 

"Alright then! Let's go!"

The chilling air filled the air as the door was opened. Jecca's small hands wrapped around Maro's and started to energetically swing her other arm.

Almost invisible and unnoticeable Oreiha appeared behind Maro, tugging onto his jacket.

"You wanna go too?"

Oreiha nodded again and with a comforting pat on the head, Maro guided her outside. 

"Be careful on the steps, it might be slippery."

He slowed Oreiha and Jecca down and told them to take it slowly because there was ice on the steps.

Outside was glistening, like a world full of glitter as the sun reflected off the snowflakes and ice. Oreiha's cheeks blushed red as they felt the cold, she let out a deep breath which later turned into fog.

"Alright, here we come supermarket!"

"HEY, ARE YOU JUST GONNA LEAV…"

Jecca slammed the door behind them and started running off.

"Come on come on! Catch up!"

"Slow down Jecca… you know I have a bad knee!"

On the way to the supermarket, Jecca was leading the way and Oreiha was all cuddled up with her brother. Halfway to the market Jecca saw something and ran away from them.

As they approached the scene they saw two boys throwing snowballs at another boy that was all huddled up. Jecca whilst running scooped up some snow and head-shotted one of them, knocking them to the ground before hastily with deadly accuracy trick-shotting the other boy that was running right in the dome.

He fell with a thud onto the thick snow. 

"That's what bullies get!"

She blurted out while pointing out her tongue.

"Jecca… we do not hurt other people…"

Jecca turned around seeing Maro, guilt grew on her face as she thought she would be scolded by him.

"But I will let this one slide because you did it for a good cause. Good job!"

Maro gave her a thumbs-up and Jecca's guilty face turned bright as her eyes glistened with excitement as she got praised. The boy who was crouching on the ground still covering his head finally looked up.

He saw 3 unknown people and started crying, thinking that he had gotten himself into a deeper hole. 

Waving her hand anxiously around, Jecca tried speaking to the boy but couldn't squeeze out a single word not knowing how to comfort him.

She felt a warm touch on her shoulder as Maro approached the boy and told her that he would handle it.

He crouched down onto the same level as the boy and moved his gentle hand over the boy's head.

"It is alright now, we chased them away. There there… What is your name?"

"Leto…" he said in between crying and tears.

"Leto… that's a really pretty name! What are you doing all alone out here?"

Tears were still falling onto the snow, making small holes in it as Maro put his hand under his arm and delicately lifted up Leto. 

"I was gonna go… groc..ery… shopping."

"What a coincidence! We are too! Wanna go with us?"

Oreiha and Jecca stared at each other just watching Maro's charisma and care for others. Oreiha gave her a smirk basically saying "Heh that's my older brother" and Jecca rolled her eyes probably comparing her brother with Maro.

By the time Oreiha and Jecca finished bickering, Maro had invited Leto with us to the grocery store.