‹Jean›

December.

There are only a few more days until the year ends. While there are three or four months of winter here in Orio, we have been reaching the peak days of the season, the snowfall, and the volume of people outside.

Truly, the outbreak has been controlled, but not forgotten.

To be honest, I like snowy days a lot, apart from the feeling that it makes my heart ache so much as it makes me remember of Cl*nnad a lot. Is there actually a stone-faced human that wouldn't cry on that? Even Gin who we have known to not show emotions on events that are not serious cried and really bawled in front of us when we were having a rewatch party.

I think that I will forever be reminded of that and the gloom that I now always feel whenever I am walking especially on a cloudy day. But really, it is impossible to switch the contrasting mood and ambiance of winter and summer. I believe that winter ought not to be a very lively time, but a peaceful one.

I have always had that feeling every single time while coming to work at the restaurant ever since the season began. It was a strange feeling. My nose reddens with my fingertips that have been hidden and tucked inside my comfortable gloves. I see my breaths coming from the already adapted lungs for the chills of this weather.

This will always sound corny, coming from an otaku like me, but it is not that I dreamed of coming to Japan; well, I did, but what I dreamed the most of was at least experiencing the four seasons, especially winter even if just once. But Orio has been a tropical country for so long that I feel that that is basically every Orion child's dream a few years back, and I am one of them who probably have them come true.

But whatever the case, even if it is a cloudy or sunny day on a cold and sometimes almost chilling weather, my stance on how I feel about winter would not change.

On the side note, I love to theorize things personally as to why this country, a tropical one, has met winter for the fifth year now. One of the most plausible causes is that an intangible boundary that makes this a tropical land has shifted and merged to the other East Asian countries that have the different kinds of seasons. Perhaps there is a change in the wind or the ocean's current, but I'm not one to understand that.

There are also studies regarding the movement of plates on the mantle as there have been many temblors that have been listed in the past few years. But if that it the case, then the coordinates of this country would have changed, but it did not.

But the most intriguing theory is that there may be another occurrence of what is called a "Maunder minimum" that associates with solar activity. The main argument of that however is that in this five years, no country has followed to the sudden changes of the weather system, or at least that is how it would appear, but there have been reports of changes in temperature on some parts of the world, more likely by a decrease.

There's also a stuff going on where things are just going in full circle meaning that this has happened many, many times way longer than we can imagine.

I can still totally remember when Gin was hung up on the thought of the world changing. Is it really, or is this all part of a cycle? Five years, and no one has gotten a concrete answer yet.

But well, some things did change. He would probably still be pondering on that thought until now if not for the things that has happened to him… and mostly because of Ringo. And now he is living an actual life while all of us now mind our own things.

It is still strange to think that I was a high school student before, and a member of society now. It honestly felt like a huge leap, but that's just how it is since we grew up with that mentality. In the end, it is still perceived that studying higher education or getting a degree is how the society works. We are by no means the first people to prove that it was just very slightly incorrect, not even the Exiles. It has been going on for so long, but it just so happened that the Exiles resurfaced with identities that they made on their own and showed the world what the nameless can do. In a sense, Blue Ink High School is following on that thought as Tenth is now publicly known as an Exile.

What that system has done was not a movement but showing that it is apart from the convention. It is its own uniqueness that others only have decided if they will see to it or follow suit. In the end, they have the freewill to choose.

…

"Jin? Can I come in?"

"Wha-?!"

I immediately shot up from lying down on my bed, spinning a pen until by thumb hurts from the stiffness, and thinking about the abovementioned thoughts when I heard Ai's voice upon a weak set of knock.

"You may," and so she entered. "Sorry I haven't packed yet."

"Want me to help you?"

"Nah, it's fine. Thanks though."

How long has it been… has it really been almost a year since we got to our relationship?

It is definitely like how it was when we were high school students. For Ai, it hasn't even been a year since she graduated, but for someone who opted to work instead of continuing studying like me, time sure flew fast.

But although that's the case, the fact that I have just started dating Ai is still fresh to me. It can't be helped. I am still working as a regular chef in Giotto's as always, while Ai has started college in Cobalt Institute where Nacchi also studies at. Needless to say we were both busy and we have agreed upon the fact that the two of us would definitely not have a lot of time to meet because of our ever busy schedule.

It actually feels strange only in my opinion that the father of the girlfriend was actually the one that suggested to have us meet a few times in a month amidst our schedule and thankfully we were able to. That may be the case, but things aren't really as easy as that. But I suppose it is just normal to have quarrels here and there between us as long as it doesn't serve as a detriment to our relationship. Even I am honestly surprised.

But I suppose, our well-maintained relationship must be the result of the time I courted her, and I sure am glad that I did it.

…

"Just a sec, I'll make some hot chocolate."

"Thank you."

Actually, that was half an excuse. Like I said, we don't really meet most of the time and I would feel so uncool if my trembling lips can't keep itself from arching in front of her in happiness.

And for the reason why I am supposed to pack my things, I actually received the OK from Ai's parents about the two of us going back to Kyoto for a small vacation before the year ends. Ai really wanted to visit the shrine for hatsumode, but she would feel lonely if she is not going to be with his family. Really, that's so wholesome.

"Here you go. You like it sweet, right?"

"Thanks."

"Whew… It's actually rare that you visit here now that I think about it…"

"I just really wanted to hang out and a small part of it was just asking for your feedback."

"Oh, let's see?"

"You know… Cobalt is actually more hands on than I thought, and they give is many opportunities to sell our service to the public."

"Woah, really? You mean… do companies reach out to you guys?"

"Not quite there… but something along those lines. Our instructor made the commission a plate so our evaluation will depend on the satisfaction of our clients."

As she spoke, she took out various high quality prints from her bag that contains a bunch of painted illustrations of models in painterly style on top of a very modern and contemporary layout.

And also before it gets confusing, you may remember that she chose to go to the Visual Arts department of Blue Ink because she got very interested in building interiors. She still likes them, but as always life is like a projectile where it can't propel straight however hard you try. Once again, we were not really the brightest of the students back then. Granted that we have our own places where we can show our intellect but none of us have actually gotten to the dreaded honors title. It just shows that even if Gin's brain can process things faster than a Thre*dripper or some kind of chip it does not amount to an increase in intelligence at least academic-wise. In any case, he has a lot of RAM.

That was half the case for Ai as there were subjects that she would try to avoid, and the other reason is that is takes a lot of cha-chings. It has already been known that Ai and the others are being supported by Kagurazaka Conglomerate financially, but we are not so preposterous to do something like that when the daughter of that businessman is actually studying in a public college.

TLDRs should really be on the beginning, but Ai still took the art course as she majors in advertising. Hence, the plates she mentioned.

"Has Haru-nee seen this already?"

"Well, it was part that it should be evaluated by other people and preferably by practitioners in the field. Still, onee-chan said that it was fine as long as it meets the requirements of the client and that this kind of thing is unique."

"Yup. That's truly unique. But I'm assuming this is for a clothing line?"

"Yes."

"Hmm. That's weird. Was it the company that asked you to do this in this kind of style?"

"That's right…?"

"Well, it's not that I'm saying that it is confusing marketing, but this is a clothing line so you would think that they would want their products to be in real life, right?

Since you are only commissioned, I guess I'd be frank. But don't get me wrong, these are great and the uniqueness adds up to it. If anything, you are the one that would get the most from here. At this point, in the marketing side of things, this is testing the waters at most for them. Whether this works out or not does not involved you anymore. This is still their main idea and you were only tasked to give life to what they envision so if this feat fails they are the ones to blame, not you. But what's important here is that you pass, and I think you can with this."

"Mhm," blushed, she responded, "I'm glad to know. But do you have any modifications to recommend?"

"When's the deadline?"

"There are actually two phases for this. The first phase is for later next month."

"Do you think Haru-nee is going to agree on posing for you?"

"If it's just us then it would probably be fine."

"Since most of the full-body are female, try to make them more dynamic if possible and if you can replicate… uhh, this B01, F06, and E03. I'll try sketching some rough poses right now."

"Thanks!"

But you know what, it is hard to have as much fun as Ai has college… referring to secondary sources as… you already know why. What basically matters for me is that she is happy in general and on what she is doing. It's just another full circle from when I felt a huge responsibility when Alex was not around. And from my position as someone who is working full time and having a lover at the same time, I could not agree more to Gin's words in one of our idle chats.

"You just can't help but think about life stuff, I guess. This is what we get for working early but sometimes it's really good to learn to be wise and mature."

But that being said, a brat is still a brat. I may be turning 20 next month, but that fact does not change. One thing that I am however very glad about is that I chose the harder route instead of just sitting around with too much milk on my lip.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

▪ ▪ ▪

On a less serious note, though, my time of working has given me the chance to save up for plane tickets and anything that we need for our trip. I guess it's nice to ease up my shoulders sometimes and just have honest to goodness great time.

Needless to say, Ai's parents saw us off in the airport and told us to have fun on this short trip while I promise and assured them that I'll do my best so that we are safe and nothing bad happens. Has it been pointed out that I'm a bit too serious as a boyfriend? Wait, no, I've been like this even before that. I guess I'm just too serious on this kind of things. But I do think that it isn't really bad. It's not like I am being overprotective, but I just can't help but be cautious sometimes. Indeed, a storm is predictable but an earthquake is not.

"Have you been practicing our language, Jin?"

"**Well… I really haven't these days since I always have work… but don't you think I'm significantly better than when I was first in Kyoto?"

"**You sure are now."

Come to think of it, this is actually my first time coming to Japan as a tourist. I say that, but we'll most likely do the same things we did more than three years ago. Though I'd also like it if I can go back there with residency on mind. But with the way things are now, it doesn't look like I'll be leaving Orio for a long time, but it is as a good thing.

But the thing that we did for a long time was the clubhouse game on the Sw*tch for the entirety of the flight.

That was a really bad segue and we are also bad at chess yet we still wonder how our game got dragged out really long.

~ ~ ~

And it seems that there was a heavy snowfall in Kyoto recently. I don't really know if it is a rare case here that it snow so much that they are setting aside the pile of snow on the roads, but I'm just thankful that we were able to take our flight.

And well, it is late December so it was expected that the country is quite busy. Nonetheless, we moved on our own pace and while I am in an attempt to remember the directions when I actually have a guide with me which passed my mind.

But first, we had to go to Giotto's, of course. The North and South branches do not really talk about mundane things even on virtual meetings so it would probably be a surprise for them that I am now a regular at the mother branch. What I do know however is that I am going to enjoy Kiriyama-kun's reaction.

Just as thought, the restaurant is packed with customers. Even though the scene looks so much like the time the resto opened on a day of spring, it simply felt so busier when the element of the general holiday is present. As much as I wanted to help out inside the kitchen, I promised that I'll take a break from work especially when Ai herself has dubbed me as a workaholic.

Unsurprisingly, I was able to say hi inside the kitchen while they do their own business, just like anyone under this restaurant's name regardless of the branch. And while we were at it, we got some good lunch.

As for where we are staying… I just realized, it felt like this is the beginning of this story all over again. Ai's relatives around Kyoto weren't able to accommodate us since this month and the new year is very busy for them, so really, we are on our own.

But connections, huzzah. Like I said, it's like the start all over again, and we got the chance to use the private residence close to the resto.

"R-Right… I'm not supposed to talk about Kamichi-san with Ai."

"**Oh, I guess you haven't been here for really long, huh?"

"**This house looks nice when you see it in a different perspective."

"**Yup. Still, I'm kinda glad that we'll get to stay here since there is a hot spring here."

"**Haaaaaahhhhhh… I miss them so much…"

"**I guess you're really born here.

…

**Wait, I just noticed that you don't have the dialect here."

"**I didn't really inherit it since I rarely hear it from my parents anyway."

"**I see. By the way, should I just sleep on the couch?"

"Huh?"

"**Eh? I thought you knew that this only has one room since you've been here."

Nevertheless, her eyebrows frowned in disappointment. But she seems calm all in all.

"**I'll be fine if there's a divider."

"**There is a large one if I can recall…"

Social distancing may be a bit of a meme now but it's still a thing.

~ ~ ~

One thing that stems from me being a workaholic is that I am kind of forgetting how a home feels like since I have always been inside a restaurant kitchen majority of the day. I hope that you'll let me be opinionated for a second, but I'll just be opinionated for even longer anyway, so yeah.

I'm sure I mentioned that we early-workers who appear to be living the life with our own lovers on the surface are thinking a lot about life and seriously at that. But on the living the life part… it's more like my work took a few years off my life. While being a cook on an always packed restaurant feels like an incredibly taxing exercise, I also had to actually exercise so that I can tune my body up and increase my stamina under high temperatures… I beg your pardon for this tangent. I didn't mean to start a rant.

But what I'm getting at about taking life seriously is sometimes we take it too much that we hallucinate the future. Well, I guess Gin and I are too caught up on our illusions, and you're probably getting what "future" I am talking about.

On those illusions, I am actually seeing one right now; and this is where my being as an opinionated, delusional person comes. Just imagine this, Ai and I…

Oh… that sounds strange.

Anyway, Ai and I are currently residing temporarily in this open plan Japanese house where the living room and the kitchen are only separated by the counter, much like one of the lounge areas in Chikami Inn. I can now understand why this type of house format is somehow underrated. This might sound irritating and very annoying for you at this point as this has been so trite, but we kinda look like married when we're in this layout.

And I swear to myself that I will keep that in me for a really long time. But that's just how romcom goes, really. And frankly, when this story goes to the more slice of life side, nothing significant really happens. Yes, the author is being dissed right now.

…

"**What should we do for dinner today?" I asked.

"**Three days' worth of ingredients would do us well already."

"**Oh right… Laxes and Yen do not really translate much here."

I don't know if this is generally true, but for people who live alone and lives on the konbini's food most of the time, buying ingredients from the market is actually a bit pricey. That is, if nantarakantara person is going to cook.

Personally, I don't really see a lot of, for instance, vegetables that are sold individually so I always had to buy them on packs and they are a bit expensive compared to going to an ordinary or wet market in Orio. I say all that, but this country is proud of their agriculture, and I can observe that from the quality of the raw goods here. They really are well-cultivated.

That said, I kind of get why people buys the food from a konbini. They truly are good and actually healthy.

"**But we really can't do a lot of shopping now that it's a little late. Let's just eat outside," Ai suggested.

"**Hmm, anywhere you want to eat on?"

"**You're really going to ask me that, Jin?"

I guess Ai suggesting eating outside was also half an excuse. She was excited all of a sudden, and to the point that she had to literally pull me out of the house. But she really hasn't been here for a few years, so I suppose it is a given for her to be eager to once again see the place where she was born at.

Well, shoot. I really had to forget that one place.

"**It has been a while, Hikari-san…!"

"**It's nice to be back here again, owner!"

Even I question myself for forgetting about this discreet udon shop. But when it finally hit inside my head, it felt like all the sensations I felt when I first ate here came back to me all at once.

The menu has changed a little bit, but the girl is feeling quite adventurous for trying out the spicy one and forcing me to order it too. But I'm also a bit famished so I will probably order a normal one afterwards.

But as expected of a chef of his caliber, the owner of the shop did not disappoint on our spicy bowl. I may be able to analyze the balance of all the flavors on this bowl of udon, but it is not something that my hands that have only been working for three years can achieve. It truly is an artisan's work.

"**Owner, I'd like to have a bowl of tendon."

"**Alright."

"**Another serving of tsukemen, please!" the person a seat apart from us called.

"**Coming up."

"**You know, mister," he called out to me, "**you really should have gotten tsukemen. Never had it?"

"**Not yet."

"**You really should try it sometime, young man! It'll probably change your life.

**You look like you're not from here, huh?"

"**I'm a gaijin."

"**I see, I see. Well, enjoy your stay here."

Honestly, that person was kind of weird, like… it is rubbing me off. Also, we both noticed that he was also using the general dialect, so we didn't really know where he may have come from. The shop was also quite ambient so it was rather dim. He was wearing a cap do we can't really get a look of his place. He didn't seem like he really knows what he was talking about but he probably has a point about tsukemen. I've heard many great things about it so I really want to try it.

Going back to him… I just shrugged it off knowing that there are just too many weird people in the world. Thus, we went home after a plentiful dinner.

The only problem that I encountered was that I had to wait before taking a dip on the hot spring because I was stupid enough to eat a lot. It wasn't hard on my heart to be teased especially since I haven't really gone to a hot spring for a very long time.

Anyway, on top of having a divider between us, we agreed to sleep from edge to edge apart in the room.

▪ ▪ ▪

Yesterday was a tiring one, so I expected myself to sleep for at least a bit longer, but I was woken up early by Ai while I refused to come out from being a spring roll on my blanket. It was cold and comfy.

Ai Hikari was still feeling very adventurous. After fixing myself for this still rather early morning, she invited me to do some stretching as a warm-up. She apparently wants to jog for a bit.

"**You sure we can when it's freezing out there…?" I realized quickly enough.

"**We'll be fine as long as we do it right. This is way faster to explore the town instead of walking."

Well, I gifted her and myself some running shoes at some point which probably made me change my view of running. They were somewhat expensive, but it just hits different when you actually get to wear it. Not even fifty meters of a run back then, and it felt like my legs just wanted to launch on their own without putting much effort.

Given up, I accompanied her on the run. I only ever followed her trails that she left on the snow, but they are probably places that she used to come to when she was still living here. So they may be places that I don't know, but they are probably roads that are memorable to her.

"I'm glad I came with her here."

But then, I suddenly found myself jogging on a rather familiar path as I still followed on Ai's tail. Little by little, it felt like I was able to recover fragments of my memories from when I was first here.

Suddenly, she stopped by a vending machine and grabbed some water to share. But when we have at least rested and still ready for a jog back, she decided to take a pause while looking at something.

(!)

I did not even realize it. She was staring at the empty lot just beside the vending machine, and her eyes were not looking away from it.

"W-Wait… No way…"

"Ai…"

"**I've only seen it in pictures two years ago, but this really is what it is now."

Somehow, even I felt a pain in my chest when I looked at it. Not long after, I finally realized that this was where Ai and her family lived at before coming to Orio permanently. And I even came here a few times…

But now it's gone.

"**Our house was already old to begin with, anyway.

**We were ready for it, but it still hurts to see it go. This was where I spent the whole, first 15 years of my life. Still, it really makes me sad."

That may be the case, but it looks to my eyes that she is very accepting of this sincerely, given that not a tear has been shed, but only a lonely smile. So at this point… what would me emoting can even do now?

"**You've had plenty of memories here indeed."

"**Yes."

It was quiet around us, and no one really was there near where we are. And so, I jumped over the fence as I saw something beyond that. I promptly removed my gloves and took a chunk of stone and wiped away the snow from it.

From what I can remember, some of the house was built with concrete and stones, and Ai's father was telling me stories that some of the older houses here in Kyoto, including theirs, were built with volcanic rocks that came from the last eruption of Mt. Fuji. As to how they got here from Tokyo is something that we don't really know.

And if this piece is actually one of them, then alas, it is such a waste. Anyway, I finally got a priceless souvenir from this trip.

"Hup," but surprisingly, even Ai went through the fence.

"**I'll look for another one. I'll give it as a gift to Mom and Dad."

"**That was my intention, though…"

"**Then you can keep it to yourself, Jin. Doesn't that look nice as a display?"

"**Haha, truly."

But I am delusional. My heart throbbed so much in an imagination that immediately stuck in my head. It almost made me tear up seeing these two stones in one place. As to what I am trying to say, I'll leave it up to you.

Afterwards, our still warm legs once again marched back to the paths we came from and eventually made our way back home. It was immediately obvious that the mood between us have changed drastically, either it was loneliness or sadness. Really, both of us have felt really down ever since that, and would it really help if both of us tried to cheer up each other? Nevertheless, there was no need for that. We both understand what we are feeling right now and it is enough for us to come to a mutual understanding. It may not be the greatest way to start the day, but we decided to just stay home after doing our shopping for food.

I would like to repeat however that I don't really see the winter season as a lively time. I liked how solemn the day is as we seat on the kotatsu that we set-up on our own, and catching up on the things that we missed on the times when we were not able to meet. It really felt like it was the better decision than going out to walk around the town.

Even if we're surrounded by four walls, it will always be a fact that we are in Ai's home.

Ding dong

"**I'll get it," she said while still reluctantly leaving the kotatsu and coming to the front door.

"A… Alex-nii?!"

"Heyyo~ Do you mind me visiting? It's quite cold outside."

"W-W-W-Wh… I didn't know you're also here! You could have told us, nii-san!"

"The truth is… I actually followed you two.

Hi there, Jean. You don't seem very surprised."

"Well, you're my brother whatever country we're in."

"**That sounds like what Gin-senpai would say."

"**Hahh… That's his influence then.

Wait, can you even understand us, Yuka?"

"I can, just fine~"

"**Since you're here, I guess we'll have to start making lunch."

"Make sure to make it light, then. I brought takeout tsukemen with me from a nearby local restaurant."

"**Tsukemen, huh… I guess our lunch sounds better now."

"Oh, you've eaten that already."

"**Not yet. But there's one guy that recommended me to give it a shot. He was speaking highly of it."

"He really won't budge from his Japanese huh…"

~ ~ ~

Later that night.

Just after the snow stopped falling, the sky immediately cleared up on us. Silently, I took my jacket and sneaked out to the engawa of this house and sat to see if the moon will be bright and visible regardless of the cold. But sadly, only a part of it was seen.

"**So this is where I find you…"

Still on my seat, I reached out my hand which Ai immediately grabbed and sat beside me while putting a blanket on our shoulders.

"**Don't let go. It's cold."

"**I don't plan to."

"…

**Compared to last time, being vague doesn't really help, right?"

"**What do you mean?"

"**Instead of saying 'the moon is beautiful,' it's simply better to tell you that I love you."

"**What's gotten into you again?"

"**Nothing…? Or maybe because I'm a little bummed this morning?"

"**I wanted to cry too, but I've already done that already. It's just that I really want to have a proper goodbye there."

"**I see… isn't it an achievement that I haven't made you cry… or have I?"

"**You're doing a great job, Jin. I just can't help but feel a little lonely sometimes especially when we're both busy."

"**In some ways, I guess even our relationship isn't that easy in some ways."

"**That's why we have to do our best."

"**Yeah…

…

**It's getting really cold… should we get inside?"

"**I agree…"

"**Is there something warm we can drink…"

I guess this memory will be recorded on my books as a reason that is going to make me like winter more.