Echoes of Laughter in the First Snow
A small festival was being held in anticipation of the coming winter. The streets were lined with small stalls selling roasted sweet potatoes, warm chestnuts, and steaming bowls of oden. The scent of freshly baked taiyaki filled the air, blending with the faint fragrance of pine from the small decorations vendors had begun placing around their shops. Kozakura wasn't usually one to attend events like this, but a certain promise had been made earlier that week.
"Kozakura! Over here!"
He turned toward the sound of his name and saw Hiyori waving at him enthusiastically from a small booth selling handmade scarves and mittens. She was bundled up in a thick coat, her cheeks slightly pink from the cold. As he approached, she grinned up at him.
"You made it! I was beginning to think you'd disappear into a bookstore instead."
He chuckled. "Tempting, but I wouldn't break a promise."
Hiyori beamed. "Good! Because I have a whole plan for today. There's so much I want to show you."
She led him through the festival, stopping at various stalls with an almost childlike excitement. They tried freshly roasted chestnuts, warmed their hands over a small charcoal pit at a street vendor's stand, and played a few traditional festival games. Hiyori insisted on trying the ring toss game, claiming she had an unbeatable strategy. Her strategy, as it turned out, wasn't quite as flawless as she had hoped.
"Alright, this is my last attempt!" she declared, gripping the ring with determination.
Kozakura smirked. "You said that two turns ago."
"This time for real!" she huffed, tossing the ring. It landed just short of the target, rolling off to the side.
She let out a dramatic sigh before glancing at him. "Well? Aren't you going to give it a try?"
He shrugged, stepping up to take his turn. With a flick of his wrist, the ring landed neatly onto the target. Hiyori gasped.
"No way! How did you—?"
"Just lucky, I guess," he said, trying to suppress a smile. The vendor handed him a small prize—an adorable, handmade fox charm. Without hesitation, Kozakura turned and placed it in Hiyori's hand.
"Here."
She blinked, looking up at him in surprise. "For me?"
He nodded. "You wanted to win something, right?"
Hiyori clutched the charm tightly, a soft warmth spreading across her face. "Thank you, Kozakura. I'll treasure it."
As the festival carried on into the evening, something unexpected happened. Tiny white specks began to drift from the sky, swirling in the wind before settling onto rooftops and outstretched hands.
"Snow!" Hiyori gasped, holding out her hands as the delicate flakes melted against her skin. "The first snowfall!"
Kozakura watched as her face lit up with excitement. "You act like you've never seen snow before."
She laughed. "Not like this. In the city, it always felt rushed—like it wasn't something to be enjoyed, just something to deal with. But here… it feels different. More magical."
She spun around, arms outstretched as snowflakes settled in her hair. Kozakura shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"You're going to freeze if you keep standing around like that."
Hiyori stuck her tongue out playfully before reaching into her bag. "Hold out your hands."
He raised an eyebrow but complied. She placed something soft in his palms—knitted gloves, warm and thick.
"I noticed you didn't have any, so I got these for you," she said, glancing away as if suddenly shy. "They're nothing fancy, but they should keep you warm."
Kozakura slipped them on, flexing his fingers. "They fit perfectly. Thank you, Hiyori."
She smiled, pleased. "Good! Now you won't freeze next time we go out."
The snowfall continued, and the festival began winding down as people hurried to finish their shopping before the streets grew too icy. Kozakura and Hiyori walked slowly, neither in a hurry to part ways just yet.
They passed by a small, dimly lit teahouse, and Hiyori stopped. "How about some warm tea before we head home?"
Kozakura nodded, and they stepped inside. The interior was cozy, filled with the scent of freshly brewed tea and faint incense. They took a seat by the window, watching the snow drift past the softly glowing lanterns outside.
Hiyori cupped her tea with both hands, letting out a content sigh. "Days like this make me feel lucky."
Kozakura glanced at her. "Lucky?"
She nodded, smiling gently. "To have come here, to meet people like you. Hanamura is starting to feel like home."
Something about the way she said it made Kozakura feel warm despite the cold outside. He took a slow sip of his tea. "I'm glad you're here."
Her eyes widened slightly before her smile grew. "Me too."
They stayed in the teahouse a little longer, talking about small things, exchanging quiet laughter, and simply enjoying the moment. The snow outside thickened, coating the world in a pristine white blanket. Eventually, when the teahouse grew quieter, they reluctantly stepped back out into the cold, their breath visible in the frosty air.
For a while, they walked in silence, the streets nearly empty now, their footprints the only marks left on the untouched snow. The lamps lining the road cast a soft, golden glow on the icy ground, illuminating their path home.
As they reached the point where their paths diverged, Hiyori turned to him, her voice quieter now. "Thanks for today, Kozakura. I had a really good time."
He nodded. "Me too."
She hesitated for a moment, then reached out, adjusting his scarf slightly. "Stay warm, okay?"
Kozakura barely had time to react before she gave him one last smile and turned away, walking off into the softly falling snow. He stood there for a moment, watching until she disappeared around the corner, the quiet hum of the town settling in around him.
As he finally made his way home, the cold no longer seemed so biting. The warmth of the day, the laughter they had shared, and the first snowfall of the season remained with him, lingering like the quiet promise of many more moments to come.