Chapter 8- The Silent Snowman

The camp is quiet. Too quiet.

I see Takumi talking to some weird drone. He's waving his hands around, clearly annoyed. Others are busy setting up tents, and Tanaka-sensei is going through supplies.

Everything looks normal, but it doesn't feel right. There's something strange about this place. The air feels... heavy, like something's watching us.

I lean against a rock, keeping my distance from the group. The cold wind brushes past me, but I don't mind it. My eyes scan the trees and the snowy trail ahead. Nothing moves. Nothing looks out of place.

Then, my head feels weird—just for a second. My vision blurs, and my chest feels tight.

I shake it off. Probably just tired. It's been a long day.

I look at Takumi again. He's still arguing with the drone, looking like he's about to punch it. At least someone's having fun.

His loud voice echoes through the camp as he finishes arguing with the drone. I can't hear what he's saying, but judging by the way he's smiling now, it seems like his cold problem is gone.

That's... good, I guess. He looks more energetic, not shivering like he was before. Honestly, it's impressive he made it this far, considering how much he was struggling earlier.

I glance at him again as he stretches his arms and laughs with Hana. "Figures he'd bounce back so easily," I mutter.

Still, something about this calm air—it doesn't sit right with me.

---

The campfire crackles softly, the warmth it gives barely noticeable against the cold wind that cuts through the camp. The others are setting up their tents, but I'm not in the mood to help. I prefer staying out of things.

The girl from earlier—uh..I forgot her name—approaches. Her loud voice breaks the calm.

"Shō-kun! You've been standing there forever! What's up with you?" she asks.

I glance at her briefly, not really interested in the conversation. "What do you want?"

She steps closer, eyes wide with curiosity. "Just making sure you're not planning on standing in the cold all night. You're gonna freeze if you keep this up, you know."

I don't care about that. The cold doesn't bother me.

"Just watching the camp," I reply.

She is clearly not satisfied. "You're so serious all the time, Shō-kun. You should talk more, y'know? Like, why are you so quiet? Is something bothering you?"

I sigh, glancing at her again. "What was your name again?"

She blinks, surprised by the sudden question. "Huh? You seriously don't remember my name? It's Yui! You know, the one who's always Hana. I'm a big deal, you know?" She laughs, but I'm not really listening.

I nod. "Right, Yui."

She smiles like I just gave her some kind of compliment. "Exactly. You don't have to be all mysterious and brooding all the time. You could try to smile once in a while, right?"

I don't respond.

"You're not even looking at me, Shō-kun! So, I guess this is the part where you pretend to be super cool and distant, huh?"

I just stare at the fire. She's way too loud.

"Whatever," she mutters. "I just wanted to know if you were feeling alright. If you're not cold, then I guess I'm good."

I nod.

"Hey, Hinoyama!" Yui calls over to him, suddenly forgetting me.

I glance at her and then back at the fire.

But then I hear her gasp.

"Shō-kun...!"

I look up at her, and she looks horrified, backing away slowly. "Your face… it's—what the hell?"

I blink, confused. "What?"

"It's... it's turning black! Like an Oscuro! What's going on?!"

I frown, reaching up to touch my cheek. Nothing feels different, but her reaction makes something cold settle in my chest.

"What are you talking about?"

But her wide, terrified eyes don't lie.

I don't care. I've faced worse. But for some reason, something's off about this place. Something about the whole situation.

And I don't like it.

---

The cold air bites at me, but it's nothing I can't ignore. Everyone's setting up camp, getting ready for the night. Takumi walks over, wincing as he sits down next to me, his bandages looking a bit too tight.

"Hey, Hayato," he says, rubbing the back of his neck.

I glance at him, not really expecting anything. "Hmm?"

He looks awkward, shifting a bit. "I'm good now, really. You don't have to keep watching me."

"You're still hurt. Doesn't matter."

He chuckles a little, looking embarrassed. "Yeah, guess you're right. The cold's now gone, though. I feel fine now."

I don't care much, just nodding. "Good. Don't act like it's nothing."

He tries to laugh it off. "Yeah, yeah. I know. But I'll be fine."

I don't say anything.

Takumi watches me for a bit, like he's trying to figure me out. Then he smiles a little. "You're kind of hard to read. You know that?"

"Not my problem."

He sighs, leaning back. "Guess not. But... I never thought you'd actually be helpful. You know, for a guy who barely says anything."

"I'm not here to talk."

"Yeah, well... still, thanks. I don't think I could do this alone."

I don't respond.

He stands up after a moment, stretching out his sore body. "I won't be a burden now I promise. I'll manage."

I watch him walk away, still feeling something weird in the air. But I don't say anything. It's better this way.

But then, a strange sensation hits me. Something feels off. The air feels heavier, but I can't put my finger on it.

I glance at Takumi for a moment, just to check. But then something else catches my attention.

It's my own veins. For just a split second, I feel a sharp, unsettling pulse beneath my skin—my veins flash black. It's like the beat of a heart, and it's gone just as quickly as it appeared.

My veins return to normal, but I don't forget what I just saw.

First that girl saw something wrong with my face, and now this. Is something really happening to me?

I try to shake it off, but the thought lingers, heavy in my mind. Something feels off. Something I can't explain. I can't afford to show any weakness—not now, never. But it's getting hard to ignore.

---

The next day hits. Everyone's buzzing around, talking about skiing, snowmen, and whatever else they're doing. The kind of noise that doesn't interest me.

The other groups finally joins up and

Takumi reunites with his friends—whatever those goofs name was. The other students are chatting a mile a minute. The girls are yapping non-stop. The Principal's giving orders, making sure no one's falling behind.

I'm not one to join in. Not today. I just step away from the crowd, taking in the view. Snow-covered mountains. Cold air. No people. Perfect.

Not like I'm bothered by the noise or whatever, I just don't need it. The stillness of this place is enough for me.

And then, that girl from yesterday walks over. She's still loud, like usual, but there's a hint of hesitation in her steps.

"Hey, uh… sorry about last night," she says, scratching her head. "I didn't mean to get all weird about your face. I thought I was just seeing things, you know? Just a delusion or whatever."

She pauses, looking at me like she's waiting for a response. I don't give her one. Doesn't matter.

"Anyway!" She pushes on. "You're seriously gonna stand here and not join the group? Come on, everyone's having fun, skiing, snowball fights. You could at least try to enjoy it. Hinoyama's out there, you know, doing his usual thing."

She's persistent, her words coming fast, like she's trying to convince herself more than me. "You don't have to do anything crazy, but you gotta join us. Just… come on, we'll have a good time."

I look at her for a second, then back to the mountain. "Not my thing."

She doesn't seem to hear me. She's still going, louder than before. "But you're part of the group! You can't just be the silent guy, you know?" She's getting frustrated now, her voice edging higher.

I don't bother responding. Not worth it.

"Come on, if you don't listen to me, I'll use force." She says, all fired up.

Before I can even reply, she grabs my arm, trying to pull me toward the group.

But as soon as her fingers touch my skin, she suddenly jerks back, like something shocked her. Her face scrunches in confusion.

"What the...?" She stares at her hand like it's been burned.

I just raise an eyebrow. She shakes it off, but I can see the unease on her face.

"I-I don't know what happened... It felt like something... pulling me away."

I don't say anything. I don't care. I just look away, trying to block it out.

She's quiet for a moment, then mumbles, "Maybe it was nothing..." But she doesn't look convinced.

She grabs my arm again, and this time, nothing happens. Her fingers tighten around it like she's not backing down. I try to pull away, using a little force, but she holds on—stronger than I expected.

"What the hell?" I mutter under my breath, but I don't fight it for long.

She gives me a smug grin, all proud of herself. "I told you, I can do it."

With a little more effort, she finally drags me over to her group. Takumi, his two friends, and Hana are standing around, all ready for something. Looks like they're about to have some snowman competition or whatever.

"Whoever makes the best snowman among us six, wins."

Tanaka-sensei, whom I assume to be the judge, stands to the side, holding a clipboard like she's about to give a report.

I'm not in the mood for this nonsense.

I stand back, arms crossed, my usual look. "Sorry, I'll pass."

Takumi looks up, grinning. "Come on, Hayato! You've got to join in. I can already tell, yours is gonna be the best!"

"I don't care. Make your snowman. I'll be fine watching."

The girl nudges me with her elbow, "Don't be such a grump. You're way too serious, Shō-kun!"

I just look at her, uninterested. "I'm not in the mood for this."

She doesn't back down, though. "Come on, don't be like that! You've got to join in. It's not fun if you're just standing there looking like a rock."

"I said no."

She leans in closer, not giving an inch. "If you don't join, I'll again drag you in this myself."

I scoff, turning my gaze back to the others. Takumi's already rolling snowballs, that one idiot's trying to make a perfect snowman base, and the other's laughing like he's got it all figured out. Hana looks like she's about to start shaping her snowman with some kind of deep, thoughtful process. But none of it interests me.

"You're stubborn," I mutter under my breath.

"Oh, I'm stubborn? You're just impossible,"

A pause. Her face tightens with sheer determination in her eyes. "Fine. I'm pulling you in whether you like it or not."

I was about to turn and walk away, but before I know it, her hand grips my wrist again, and she starts dragging me toward the snowman-making chaos. I try to pull away, but of course she's surprisingly strong.

"Hey! Let go!" I try, but it's no use. She's got me in her grip now.

After a few more seconds of struggling, I finally give in. "Fine. But don't think I'm doing this for your fun."

She grins, victorious. "Good! Now we're talking!"

I glance at the group, feeling a strange sense of fire rise in me. I step forward, folding my arms, and declare, "Alright. I'll do this, but mark my words: I'll win this thing. No one is beating me. Not even if it takes my life."

I can feel it in the air—this competition is about to get serious. I'm not backing down, and I'll make sure no one forgets that.

===

The Snowman Competition Begins...

Takumi, with his usual energy, rolls his snowballs quickly, eager to start shaping his snowman. He picks up a large chunk of snow, compressing it with a determined look. Every now and then, he glances over at the others, making sure he's not falling behind. His snowman, though a little crooked at first, is quickly taking form under his hands. He's in his element, clearly enjoying the process.

Ren is more laid-back about it, tossing snow around like he's in a friendly snowball fight rather than a competition. He's not worried about the details, opting for a bigger, bolder approach. His snowman is massive, but it's still in the early stages, needing more shaping and definition. He grins, fully enjoying the process, his laughter carrying over to the others.

Daichi is a bit more methodical, carefully packing the snow into a dense shape before adding another layer. He pauses now and then, inspecting his work with a focused look. His snowman is taking a more precise shape, its edges sharp and clean. Daichi doesn't seem to rush, as if he's got a clear picture in his mind of what the final result should be.

Hana is surprisingly delicate with her snowman. She takes small, careful steps, her hands shaping the snow as if she's crafting a delicate sculpture. Her movements are slow but graceful, adding details to the snowman's body with a thoughtful touch. Every snowball she makes is perfectly round, and she takes her time, as if she's creating a masterpiece.

Yui, on the other hand, is already throwing snow everywhere, having a blast in her own way. She's not worried about perfection, just enjoying herself. She laughs loudly, trying to pack the snowman with as much snow as she can, but it keeps falling apart. She's a bit clumsy, but her energy is infectious, and she's clearly having the most fun of them all.

Meanwhile, Hayato picks up a wooden branch. He uses it with the precision of a swordsman, shaping the snowman with careful, deliberate strokes. His focus is intense, completely ignoring the lighthearted chatter around him. To him, this isn't a game. He's dead serious about winning. Each movement is sharp, as if he's crafting a weapon, not a snowman. The others glance at him, but Hayato doesn't care. He's in his own world, determined to win, no matter how strange the competition is.

===

I squint at my snowman, tilting my head. "No, this doesn't fit right." I pluck the carrot out of its face, tossing it aside. The thing's too big, too sharp.

I reach for another one. Perfect size. "Now, this looks better."

I push it into the snowman's face with a deliberate tap. "Not too much, not too little. It's all about balance."

A few careful tweaks here and there. A bit of extra snow packed onto the base, and... now the body's solid.

I step back again, inspecting my work. It's almost perfect, but it's missing something. A touch of style, a little personality. The snowman needs character.

I look around and spot a scarf near the group's pile of supplies. I snatch it up, wrapping it around the snowman's neck. "There. A little class." It's looking good now.

This snowman better be the best one here.

Wait... Why am I even doing this in the first place? It's ridiculous. I never asked for this, yet here I am, shaping snow like it's my job.

I'm not here for fun. Not here to play. But somehow, I'm... focused. The precision, the control—it's like holding a sword again, except this time the snow's my opponent. It's not about winning. It's about finishing what I started, even if it's a joke.

I can hear the others in the background, laughing, shouting. Takumi's stumbling over his snowman, Daichi's going overboard with his creation, Ren couldn't care less, and Hana's making tiny adjustments like it's a masterpiece. Yui's... Yui's just being loud, as usual.

I shake my head. I'm not like them. I don't need their noise. But something about this, something about making this damn snowman... it doesn't sit right if I don't finish it.

Sheesh... This is stupid.

"It's the time for the winner to be announced!"

I glance at Hana's snowman. Simple. Cute. Whatever.

It wins.

I shrug.

I turn back to mine. It's... fine. Whatever.