Ayami, meanwhile, was moving with precision. She opened another drawer, pulling out ammunition and carefully checking the load for each weapon. Her focus was intense, but she wasn't as rattled as I felt.

"Make sure you're ready," she said, almost absently as she checked the last of the guns. "You don't want to miss your shot."

I gave her a nod, though I wasn't sure how good I'd be at aiming, let alone using it in a real situation. Still, I stuffed a few extra clips into the bag, just to be safe.

Once I finished, I zipped the bag up and looked over at her. "All set."

Ayami glanced up from her work, satisfied with her own collection of weapons. She slid a few pistols into holsters at her waist and tucked a spare magazine into her coat. "Good. Let's move."

We both turned toward the door, the cold air from the storm creeping in as we made our way back to the car.

I couldn't help but grin as I took the selfie, holding the gun in one hand and flashing a cocky smile. "Oh, come on. Don't ruin my moment. I'm feeling like a bad boy right now."

Ayami glanced at me for a brief second, her expression deadpan as she kept her focus on the road. "That's not a bad boy. That's a criminal."

I laughed, feeling the excitement of the moment. "Well, it's a good thing we're in the mirror world then, huh? No real consequences."

She raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk playing on her lips. "If you say so. But don't forget, we're here for a reason. We're not just playing with toys."

I shrugged, still holding up the gun. "Yeah, yeah. But you gotta admit, this is kind of fun."

She didn't respond right away, concentrating on driving through the snow-covered, distorted streets. But I could see the faintest flicker of amusement in her eyes.

"Now put that down before you accidentally shoot me," she said.

"Okay, okay..." I chuckled, reluctantly lowering the gun. "I just wanted to take a selfie."

***

The wind howled around the abandoned temple, the snow swirling in eerie patterns as Haruto sat beside the Yuki-onna. The atmosphere was heavy with an unsettling calm, broken only by the occasional creak of the old wooden beams.

Yuki-onna, her pale skin glowing like moonlight and her icy presence sending chills through the air, sat in serene elegance. Her eyes, the color of glistening frost, glanced toward Haruto with quiet intensity. Her long, flowing white hair cascaded down her shoulders, and the frosty mist surrounding her seemed to radiate with an ancient power.

Haruto sat beside her, his posture relaxed, but his mind was clearly elsewhere. He had never fully understood why he was the only one who still acknowledged her—the forgotten goddess of ice. For centuries, people had turned their backs on her, no longer believing in her power or her existence. But he, Haruto, had always felt a connection to her, even in his youth.

"You're quiet today," Yuki-onna's voice was soft, almost a whisper, like the breeze that chilled the air around them. "Is something troubling you, Haruto?"

He glanced at her, his eyes narrowed in thought. "I have a bad feeling today, my lady."

"...What about it?" she asked, her gaze unwavering.

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Haruto took a deep breath, his expression serious. "I think I'm gonna take a big shit today."

Yuki-onna blinked, her frosty gaze never wavering. "...You really always say that in front of me? Can't even be shocked anymore." She sighed, her tone a mix of exasperation and amusement. The cold air around them seemed to shudder for a moment as if the very atmosphere had frozen in place.

Haruto smirked, unfazed by her reaction. "Hey, it's just part of life, isn't it? Even ice queens gotta deal with the basics."

Yuki-onna let out a soft laugh, the sound as delicate as the snowflakes falling around them. "I suppose you're right. But you could try being a bit more... dignified."

Haruto just shrugged. "Dignity was overrated."

Yuki-onna sighed again, her gaze distant as she took in the swirling snow around them. "I've heard your close friends die."

Haruto raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "Oh? Yeah, Kaito Yamamoto. He was just too weak, no surprise there."

Yuki-onna's eyes flickered toward him, a faint, knowing smile tugging at her lips. "Oh? Calling your friends weak?"

Haruto leaned back, his posture casual. "Not even my friends. He was my rival. But now he's dead, so that means I win. I'm stronger than him."

She studied him for a long moment, her voice tinged with something like regret. "Hmm... Regardless of your attitude, I would have preferred Yamamoto as my follower rather than you."

Haruto's smirk deepened. "You just love cold men, huh? Well, I'm on the other side. I'm not cold. I'm brave."

Yuki-onna's frosty expression softened slightly, but her gaze remained sharp. "Bravery doesn't make you invincible, Haruto. Coldness comes with its own strength—one you seem to lack."

He chuckled, unfazed by her words. "We'll see about that."

Haruto stood up from his seat, his boots crunching against the snow as he turned to walk out of the temple.

Yuki-onna, watching him with an unreadable expression, raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? Where are you going now?"

Haruto didn't look back, his voice light as he responded, "I want to take a shit."

Yuki-onna's gaze remained steady, though her lips twitched ever so slightly. "Oh, don't use too much water then."

"Yeah, yeah," Haruto muttered, waving her off as he disappeared into the snowy landscape, leaving the temple behind.

Haruto made his way to a smaller building just off to the side of the main temple. The biting cold and howling wind outside didn't bother him; he was focused on something far more pressing. Just as he was about to pull his pants down—

A glint of metal caught his eye.

Suddenly, a hand emerged from thin air, holding a Glock. The muzzle flashed, and the bullet shot towards him.

Phew!

Haruto instinctively ducked and rolled, narrowly avoiding the shot. His heart raced, and his mind struggled to process the sudden attack. He glanced around, realizing he wasn't alone.

"A hand!?" he yelled in confusion before sprinting away from the building, his eyes darting for a way out.

Meanwhile, in the mirror world, I stood there, still shaken from the recoil of the shot. My hand trembled as I tried to steady myself, glancing over at Ayami.

"I shot it..." I muttered.

Ayami sighed beside me, unbothered. "Missed, huh? That's unfortunate. Let's see where he's going." She held up a mirror, carefully watching the reflection of Haruto in the real world.

Ayami stepped out of the bathroom, the mirror in her hand reflecting the real world's movements. She glanced at me, her expression sharp and focused. "Come follow him, Hikaru-kun!"

"Yes!" I responded quickly, grabbing the bag from the floor and slinging it over my shoulder. I followed Ayami closely as she led the way, our steps quick and purposeful. We tracked Haruto's every move in the real world as he ran, completely unaware of the pursuit closing in on him.

"Haahh... haahh!" Haruto panted as he jumped out of the building, his feet landing in the snow. He looked around, confusion written all over his face.

Meanwhile, Ayami and I stood at the doorway of the temple, watching through the mirror. I glanced at her as she held the mirror steady, showing us Haruto's confused expression in the real world.

"Get out of here! I know you're here, you ghost!" Haruto yelled, his voice echoing in the cold air, not fully understanding what was happening.

"Ayami-san, let me try shooting him again..." I said, glancing at her.

She nodded, holding the mirror in front of me, allowing me to extend my hand and gun through it to take the shot. However, I hesitated for a moment. Revealing my hand fully felt too risky, so instead, I aimed and shot directly through the mirror. The bullet passed through the reflective surface and into the real world.

Phew!

Haruto, sensing danger, clapped both his hands together and conjured an ice barrier in front of him.

"Whoa! It's magic!" I yelled, confused by the sudden display of power.

Ayami didn't look at me, her focus entirely on the scene in front of us. "Just shoot him quickly."

"Right! Sorry, let's move to behind him!" I responded, shifting our position, ready for the next move.

To Be Continue.