"Yes... and today, I know where he is. We're going to kill him," Ayami said casually, as if it were just another task on her to-do list.

Silence filled the room. I hadn't expected today to turn into something this serious. My mind froze at the word kill. The way she said it so naturally sent a chill down my spine.

"I'm sorry, what?" I asked, needing her to clarify.

Ayami leaned back slightly, her expression unreadable. "You heard me. You're here now to help me kill that guy."

Kill a guy who can control ice... in the middle of a snowstorm!? I thought, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach.

"What is it? You seem unconvinced by my words," Ayami narrowed her eyes. "Let me tell you again—we are going to kill—"

"Yes, yes! I heard you!" I quickly cut her off, raising my hands. "But... it's a snowstorm out there. Are you sure about this?"

She tilted her head, unimpressed. "Is that what you're afraid of?"

"Yeah! It's snowing, and he controls ice! Isn't that... bad?"

Ayami let out a long, tired sigh. "Hahhh... is your understanding of fantasy really that shallow?"

"...Huh?"

"Snow and ice are different. Different elements, if I have to use those 'young people fantasy words.' Ice is water that's been supercooled, but snow? Snow is just frozen vapor. It's not the same. So, no, he can't control snow like it's ice... probably. I think."

She doesn't even sound convinced herself... I stared at her, completely confused.

Ayami leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, studying my face closely.

"Look, whether it's snow or ice, Haruto is dangerous either way," she said firmly. "But we can't just sit here and wait for him to come after us. The snowstorm might actually work in our favor."

"In our favor? How does that work?" I raised an eyebrow, skeptical.

A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. "Visibility is low. He won't see us coming. And besides, he's arrogant. People like him think their power makes them invincible. We'll use that against him."

I rubbed the back of my neck, still uneasy. "So... what's the plan exactly? We just walk up to him and... what? Hope he slips on the ice?"

Instead of answering, she slowly raised her hand and pointed—to my chest.

I blinked and looked down, confused. "What are you—"

"You're the key," Ayami interrupted, her tone serious. "Remember yesterday? You managed to poke Yamamoto's eyes through the mirror. Do it again. But this time, we finish the job."

"...Oh. So, we're going to attack from the mirror world?"

Ayami nodded, a confident glint in her eyes. "You are smart."

***

The icy wind bit at my skin as Ayami and I walked side by side through the mirror world. The landscape was a warped reflection of the real one—distorted buildings, frozen streets, and glassy surfaces that shimmered faintly in the cold. I tugged my jacket tighter, shivering against the freezing air.

Meanwhile, Ayami strolled calmly, her light clothing barely offering any protection against the cold. Yet, she didn't seem to mind at all.

I glanced at her, incredulous. "Aren't you cold? It's freezing out here."

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Ayami smirked, her breath barely visible in the frosty air. "Not really. I'm used to this."

Used to this? How? I grumbled internally, pulling my sleeves over my hands.

We finally approached Ayami's car—or rather, the mirror version of it. It looked as solid as the real one. She casually unlocked the door and slid into the driver's seat. I climbed in beside her, rubbing my hands together for warmth.

The engine hummed softly as she started the car, the headlights cutting through the dim, icy haze. For a while, we drove in silence, the only sounds being the soft crunch of icy roads under the tires and the occasional rattle of the wind.

Eventually, the quiet got to me. I cleared my throat. "So... where exactly are we going?"

Ayami kept her eyes on the road, her expression calm but focused. "Yokosuka."

"Yokosuka?" My eyes widened. "That's... pretty far from here. We're in Kamakura!"

"Yeah. And Haruto is hiding in a temple there," she said flatly.

"A temple?"

Ayami gave a small nod. "Yokosuka has plenty of old temples, but the one we're heading to is practically abandoned. Perfect for someone like him to lay low."

I leaned back in my seat, staring out at the warped, snow-covered landscape. The idea of confronting a powerful ice user in a secluded temple during a blizzard was starting to feel more real—and more dangerous.

"You sure this is a good idea?" I muttered.

Ayami's grip on the steering wheel tightened just a bit. "We don't have much of a choice."

The car sped forward into the distorted, frost-covered world, carrying us toward Yokosuka.

The hum of the engine filled the tense silence as Ayami focused on the road, guiding us through the eerie, frostbitten mirror world. The distorted buildings loomed on either side, their jagged reflections warping in the dim light. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, the weight of what we were about to do pressing down on me.

After several minutes of silence, I finally broke it.

"So... how exactly are we supposed to kill Haruto?" I asked cautiously. "I mean, you've got magic or whatever, but I'm just... me."

Ayami didn't answer immediately. Her eyes stayed fixed on the icy road ahead, her expression thoughtful. I could tell she was piecing things together in her mind.

"...Still working on that," she admitted, glancing at me for a second.

"Still working on it?!" I nearly choked. "You dragged me out into a snowstorm to face some ice-wielding psychopath, and you don't even have a plan?"

A smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. "Calm down. I'm thinking we could... borrow something sharp. Like a katana. Or maybe something more effective—steal a gun from a police station."

I didn't hesitate. "I want a gun."

She chuckled softly. "Of course you do. Then we're heading to the police station. Let's just hope they have something loaded and ready to go."

Her tone was casual, but I could tell she was serious.

I leaned back, staring out the frost-covered window. A gun... against someone who controls ice?

At this point, I wasn't sure if that made me feel safer—or more afraid.

The car finally slowed to a stop in front of a seemingly abandoned police station, the building looming dark and silent against the backdrop of the swirling snowstorm. Ayami killed the engine, and the only sound left was the faint whistle of the wind.

"We're here," she said quietly, her eyes scanning the building.

We stepped out of the car and made our way toward the station without a word. The streets were eerily quiet, the wind howling around us, but we moved with purpose. Without hesitation, we reached the door. Ayami pushed it open with ease, and we slipped inside.

The police station was empty, the air thick with dust and the remnants of old paperwork scattered across the floors. It was clear no one had been here for a while, but none of that mattered. We were here for one thing.

Ayami glanced at me, her expression serious, and then motioned for me to follow. We moved through the building, feeling almost like we owned the place. Our steps echoed in the silence as we casually passed abandoned desks and old files, heading straight toward the back of the station where the weapons were likely kept.

We reached a locked door at the back. Ayami didn't hesitate. With a swift motion, she pulled out a small tool, picking the lock in a matter of seconds. The door creaked open, revealing a small, dimly lit room filled with cabinets.

"Here we are," Ayami muttered, stepping inside. The walls were lined with various firearms and equipment, all neatly organized as if waiting to be used.

I couldn't help but feel a mix of awe and discomfort. A police station, just sitting here, abandoned. And now, here we were, walking through it like it was a shopping mall.

Ayami moved with practiced ease, pulling open drawers and examining the weapons inside. She grabbed a handgun, checked its weight and condition, then tossed it to me.

"Here, you're going to need this."

I caught the gun, a Glock by the look of it, and examined it closely. I couldn't help but smile, a little excited. "I'm holding a real gun..."

Ayami smirked, her eyes flicking over to me. "Well, don't get too comfortable."

I noticed a bag sitting near one of the cabinets, its black fabric a stark contrast against the dull, dusty surroundings. Without thinking, I grabbed it, throwing it over my shoulder. As I rifled through the weapons, I started collecting a few more guns, loading them into the bag. A few handguns, a couple of extra magazines. I wasn't sure how many we'd need, but I figured it was better to be prepared.

To Be Continue.