The Day the Snow Melted Her Walls

The silence in the mountain lodge was thick, almost heavier than the storm from earlier.

After the chaos of the day — the cliffside rescue, the fight, and Erika's injury — the teachers had been informed, and those three senior boys were taken away by school security. The rest of the students had been ordered to return to their rooms to rest.

Back in their shared suite, Yuta sat by the window, bandages on his arms and a distant look in his eyes. The adrenaline had faded, but the weight of almost falling off a cliff still lingered in his chest.

A gentle knock broke his thoughts.

It was Yuki, carrying a small first aid pouch.

"You're still hurt," she said softly. "Let me take care of it."

Without waiting for a reply, she sat beside him and gently unwrapped the already loose gauze.

Yuta blinked. "It's not that bad. You don't have to—"

"Shut up," Yuki interrupted, her voice trembling just slightly. "You risked your life today. For Erika. For all of us."

He didn't reply. Not because he couldn't — but because he felt her hands slightly shaking.

"...Yuki," he said, quietly.

She looked up, eyes meeting his. "Don't ever do something that reckless alone again."

He smiled gently. "I had to. Erika needed help. And I knew you'd catch me if I fell."

Yuki's face flushed. "Idiot," she muttered, tightening the bandage with a bit more force than needed. "Don't say things like that so casually."

Meanwhile, in the next room, Erika lay quietly on her bed. Her leg was wrapped, and her phone — once her window to thousands of online fans — lay face down on the side table.

She clutched the corner of her blanket.

"He came for me," she whispered, eyes blinking away sudden tears. "He didn't even hesitate…"

Downstairs, Izumi and Amane stood outside in the cold mountain air, leaning on the railing.

"She almost got seriously hurt," Amane said, still clenching his fist. "Those guys... if we were even a second late…"

"I've never seen Yuta like that before," Izumi said. "He fought like a beast."

"And yet," Amane added with a grin, "he still came back blushing when Erika pulled him while sleepwalking."

They both laughed softly — a much-needed break from the heavy tension.

As night fell deeper, Mai quietly walked onto the balcony where Yuta now stood alone again.

"Hey, chef-kun," she smiled. "Thanks for saving Erika today."

Yuta turned. "You're not calling me husband material anymore?"

Mai looked away, cheeks red. "Shut up. I was being dramatic back then."

He laughed. "So dramatic that you outran me up Mount Fuji?"

Mai smiled, then her tone softened. "You scared me, you know. When you slipped…"

"I know," he said. "I was scared too."

A pause.

"Yuta," she said suddenly. "Don't ever die."

He blinked.

"I won't," he promised, quietly.

The next morning, the snow-covered landscape of Mount Fuji sparkled beneath the golden sunrise. Excitement buzzed in the air like static as students gathered in their winter gear for the day's skiing adventure.

Everyone was bustling around the resort lobby—fastening boots, checking gloves, fixing scarves. Among them stood Yuta, already in his thick navy ski jacket, helping Izumi zip up his windbreaker.

"Man, I can't wait to fly down that slope!" Izumi grinned.

"Don't break your face before the trip ends," Amane muttered, adjusting his goggles.

Erika, bundled in a puffy pink jacket, walked over to the group with a slight limp. Her leg, although bandaged and healing, still hurt a little—but she masked it with her usual radiant smile.

"I'm ready," she said brightly. "Let's hit the slopes!"

Everyone froze.

Yuta turned to her, face shifting from casual to concerned instantly. "Erika, no."

Her smile faltered. "W-What do you mean 'no'?"

"You're not skiing today," Yuta said firmly. "Your leg isn't fully healed."

Erika's smile cracked slightly. "It's just a little injury! I'm not going to break if I fall on some snow."

Yuki gently added, "Yuta's right. You should take it easy for one more day."

"Izumi too," Amane nodded. "You scared us half to death, remember?"

But Erika puffed her cheeks, folding her arms, clearly sulking. "You guys are just jealous of my happiness!"

Yuta, without missing a beat, stepped forward and looked her in the eye.

"We're not jealous of your happiness," he said, his voice low, firm—almost husband-like. "We're happiest when you're okay. That's all that matters to us."

Silence.

Erika's eyes widened. Her cheeks instantly flushed deep red.

"W-What... what kind of line is that!?"

Yuta blinked, confused. "Did I say something wrong?"

He turned to the others—only to see Yuki, Mai, and even Amane and Izumi blushing like crazy.

Izumi looked like steam might come out of his ears. "Bro, how the hell do you drop lines like that so naturally!?"

"Idiot!" Erika snapped, turning away to hide her red face.

"Dumbass!" Mai added, pulling her scarf up to cover her cheeks.

"Dense as ever…" Yuki whispered under her breath, looking away with a tiny smirk.

Yuta scratched his head. "I just said what I meant…"

Amane sighed, patting him on the back. "You're gonna be the death of all of us."

As everyone began to leave for the slopes, Erika stood by the window, watching them go. Her heart thumped hard in her chest—but not from injury this time.

She smiled softly."Stupid Yuta…"

After Erika was convinced to stay back and rest, the rest of the housemates joined the crowd heading toward the snowy slopes. The moment they reached the open skiing grounds, an incredible view welcomed them—endless snow spread across rolling hills beneath Mount Fuji's shadow, with students already racing down like falling stars.

Among them, Yuta adjusted his goggles, looking far more confident than usual.

"You've skied before?" Mai asked, blinking at him.

Yuta smiled. "Yeah. My grandparents live around here. I came here a lot as a kid."

Izumi added, stretching, "And we tagged along every year. Winter break? Always skiing."

Amane cracked his knuckles. "It's been a while... but I'm ready."

The trio walked toward the top of the main slope. Other students nearby paused as they watched them climb further than others dared.

The moment the trio—Yuta, Amane, and Izumi—stepped onto the ski slopes, heads started to turn. Not just because of their confident strides or the way they held their skis like pros, but because they looked damn good doing it.

With Yuta's clean-cut style and cool aura, Amane's sharp jawline and intense eyes, and Izumi's playful grin and stylish hair, they were drawing attention like snowflakes to a fire.

"Whoa… who are those three?" a second-year girl whispered.

"They look like idols!"

"No, wait—that one in the middle is Kamado Yuta, right?!"

"Then those two must be his friends. They're all… kinda hot."

As the three of them reached the top of the main slope, Yuta looked over to the others with a nostalgic grin."Just like the old days, huh?"

"Yeah," Amane smirked, adjusting his gloves. "Time to show off a little."

Izumi laughed. "Let's remind this school what a trio of legends looks like."

And with that, the three launched off the ridge, slicing through the snowy air like lightning. Their forms were smooth, professional—effortlessly weaving through turns and dips, catching air on little jumps.

Gasps and cheers followed in their wake.

"They're insane!"

"They're not just smart and cool—they ski like champions!"

"Izumi and Amane are soooo underrated. Why is everyone only talking about Yuta!?"

The three reached the bottom in perfect sync, kicking up a gust of snow as they stopped.

The aura around them was undeniable.Not just one boy—but a trio of charismatic, athletic, and talented guys, each with their own vibe, completely dominating the spotlight.

They bumped fists and exchanged grins.

"Back like the old days," Amane said.

"Unstoppable trio," Izumi added.

Up near the gentler slopes, Mai and Yuki were struggling. Mai kept tumbling backward, and Yuki had trouble keeping her balance.

"Ugh, this is impossible!" Mai cried.

"My center of gravity isn't cooperating," Yuki said, trying to stay calm.

Yuta and Izumi laughed, coming over to help. Izumi gently guided Mai's hands onto the poles. "Balance. Trust your feet."

Yuta knelt near Yuki. "Try leaning slightly forward. You're doing great."

Meanwhile, Amane looked back toward the lodge. His expression changed. "I should check on Erika. What if she needs something?"

Yuta raised a brow, smirking. "You sure it's just 'checking on her'?"

Izumi elbowed him playfully. "Yeah, man. We know you've got a soft spot."

Amane rolled his eyes, but his smile gave him away. "Whatever. I'll be back soon."

🛏️ Back at the Resort

Erika lay bundled up on the couch in the warm common room. The fire crackled in the hearth, but her face was pale, glistening with sweat.

Just as she tried to sit up, she collapsed back onto the floor, her legs giving out.

"Erika!" Amane burst through the door, catching her just in time.

He picked her up without hesitation and laid her on the nearby bed. He checked her forehead.

"Damn... you've got a fever."

He rushed to the kitchen, cooked up a light porridge, and gently brought it to her. Erika stirred awake as he helped her sit up and fed her a spoonful.

"Why are you here...?" she whispered.

"You're sick. What else could I do?" Amane said, calmly but firmly.

"You should've gone skiing... I'm fine—really," she mumbled, trying to smile.

Amane met her gaze. "I'm not leaving you alone. Not again."

He handed her the tablets, made sure she drank water, and tucked her in. Just as he turned to leave and clean the dishes, she caught his wrist.

"Where are you going?" she asked, eyes half-lidded.

"I'm just right here. I promise," he said, brushing a hand against her forehead gently. She smiled, eyes fluttering shut as she drifted off to sleep.

⏳ Flashback – Middle School Memories

A softer light filled the screen.

Erika, younger, limping after saving a kitten from a tree. Her ankle was twisted. Other students ignored her, but Amane approached without hesitation.

"You're always jumping into trouble," he had said back then.

He bandaged her ankle carefully and carried her on his back all the way home, saying nothing, just humming a little tune to calm her.

Back in the present, Erika clutched her blanket, a faint smile on her sleeping face.

"I'm glad... it's you," she whispered in her dream.

As the day went on, Yuki and Mai gradually got the hang of skiing. With Yuta's tips and encouragement, they began to enjoy the thrill of gliding over fresh snow.

But suddenly—

"Ahhh!!" Mai screamed, her skis veering out of control.

She had picked up too much speed coming down a slope, her body wobbling left and right, arms flailing as she descended the icy curve. "I-I can't stop! Somebody—!!"

The wind howled past her ears. Her vision blurred from the cold air. Panic filled her chest as she was moments from crashing into a snowbank.

Just then—

A sharp gust of snow cut through the slope.

A figure darted in from the side—swift, clean, and fearless. Izumi, with a fierce, focused look in his eyes, leaned forward and matched her speed. His hands reached out.

In one clean, calculated move, he grabbed Mai by the waist, pulling her safely toward him and shifting their combined weight to slide them to a stop.

Snow sprayed into the air as they skidded to a halt near the edge of the slope.

"W-Whoa…" Mai gasped, trembling in his arms.

"You okay?" Izumi asked with a confident smile, not even breathing hard.

She looked up, red-faced. "T-Thanks... You saved me…"

Before either could say more, Yuta and Yuki came skiing in behind them.

"Mai! Yuki! Are you guys okay?" Yuta called out.

Yuki, catching her breath, nodded. "I'm okay… but Mai…"

Yuta glanced at Mai still being held by Izumi and smirked teasingly."Oh ho~? Hero Izumi to the rescue, huh? I didn't know you were secretly aiming to be a knight in shining ski gear."

Izumi scoffed. "I just didn't want her to crash. It's not a big deal."

"Oh really?" Yuta chuckled. "The way you held her though—Mai, didn't he look cool?"

Mai, still flustered and blushing, looked away. "Y-Yeah… super cool…"

"Whoa, did I just hear a confession of admiration?" Yuta teased further, raising an eyebrow.

"Shut up," Izumi said, throwing a snowball at Yuta's face.

Yuta dodged and grinned. "See? I knew he was blushing too!"

The group burst into laughter, the tension melted by their banter. Izumi's bold save, Yuta's playful teasing, and Mai's heartfelt gratitude added another unforgettable moment to their trip—one filled with warmth amid the icy mountains.

As soft rays of dusk light filtered through the wooden curtains of the cabin, Erika's eyes slowly opened. Her body still felt a little warm, but her fever had started to drop.

The first thing she saw was Amane, sitting on the stool beside her bed, his head resting down, arms folded across the edge of the bed, fast asleep.

His breathing was soft. His hair slightly messy. A faint line of drool marked the side of his mouth.

Erika blinked.

Then softly smiled.

"You… look really cute while sleeping," she whispered teasingly.

Just then, Amane stirred, rubbing his eyes. "Ah… you're awake? Are you feeling okay? Do you need anything?"

"No," Erika said, still watching him. "Just… thanks. For staying beside me. For everything today… and before too."

Amane blinked, slightly flustered.

"I-It's nothing. I mean… it's my duty to save my—"He stopped mid-sentence, eyes wide."Save your what?" Erika leaned in with a sly smile.

"I-I meant— Are you feeling better now?" Amane stammered, turning red.

Erika chuckled softly. "Yes. Thanks to you."

As Amane looked away, pretending to adjust his sleeves, Erika kept watching him silently.Her heart felt strange… different.

"Why do I feel so warm… so safe around Amane?" she wondered."I trust Yuta too… but with Amane, it's not just trust… it's something more…"

Before she could process more, a loud thud echoed as the main cabin door opened. The rest of the group arrived—laughing, drenched in melted snow from skiing.

"Yo! We're back!" Izumi called out.

Mai spotted Amane and narrowed her eyes. "You didn't come back to ski, huh?"

Amane scratched his head, recalling Erika's plea not to let anyone know about her fever."I… had some stuff to do back at the cabin," he said calmly.

"Lame excuse," Mai teased.

Erika quietly smiled from her bed.

As the night rolled in, everyone yawned and stretched.

"Alright, let's sleep. Tomorrow's going to be just as exciting," Yuta said, unzipping his hoodie.

"Yeah, yeah. Goodnight, everyone!" Izumi yawned.

"Sweet dreams," Yuki whispered, adjusting her glasses.

Each returned to their rooms one by one, hearts light, memories made, and feelings quietly brewing.

With romance growing, secrets shared, and bonds strengthening…Who will truly win each other's hearts before this trip ends?

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