Winter has arrived.

Snow paints the grass and cobblestones outside. People bundled up against the cold rush to their destinations, while children laugh as they hurl snowballs at each other in the station square.

Aone listens to music through his Walkman headphones, the soft rhythm muffled against the train's mechanical hum. He stares out the window, breath fogging the glass slightly. His heart tightens in his chest when he notices the pattern repeating—despite the train being crowded with standing passengers, the seat beside him remains stubbornly empty.

Maybe it's because of his somewhat intimidating appearance. At 192cm tall with a serious expression permanently etched on his face, it's hard for anyone to imagine he could be kind and gentle.

He sighs, the sound barely audible even to himself.

Then suddenly, Aone feels someone sit down next to him. Their arm brushes against his, and he quickly glances over. The person is wearing the same Date Tech High uniform as him. They look new—he doesn't remember seeing that face before in the hallways or classrooms.

When the person turns to look at him, he immediately averts his gaze, heat rising slightly in his cheeks. Of course he won't ask their name—that would be far too forward, and probably even weirder coming from someone who looks like him.