The white expanse spread out before her, pocked with the occasional trees and rocks, but so much more vast than anything in Japan. In the distance, she could see an enormous house, more like a cabin to be precise, and a thin path cleared of snow to its front door. She and Anya would be staying there.
"Minami! Снег! Isn't this wonderful, Minami? I have missed this snow so much, it's different than the snow in Japan."
"It's really something, is-"
She was interrupted by Anya dropping her bag and taking off into the snow.
"Anya wait! We need to take our things inside first!" Her girlfriend wasn't even dressed properly, just a sweater, skirt, and long socks. Minami insisted she bring her winter coat, but she had already shed it during the car trip from the airport. In stark contrast, she elected to bundle up in her puffiest jacket and warmest pants. Minami really considered herself more of a summer person.
"Minami торопиться! Let's climb that rock ov- bmpff!"
"Anya!" She'd gone face-first into the ground.
She saw a ball of silver hair rise out of the snow accompanied by smiling face and tomato-red nose. "I'm okay!"
Minami trudged over to help the younger girl up. As she wiped the snow off her face and out of her hair, she felt the fog from Anya's heavy breathing. If she didn't get away soon, she'd be redder than Anya was.
"It's getting dark soon, we should head inside and we can play afterward or tomorrow even. We have a lot of time here, and I want you to show me where you grew up."
"One more thing," she said excitedly.
"Okay, one more thing."
"Tag!" Then she bolted again. She knew Minami couldn't turn down a competition.
This time she wouldn't get away from her. Anya had the terrain advantage, but Minami could outrun her any day. She chased her through trees, around the house, and up and over rocks until Anya made the mistake of going for a straight sprint. Minami was on the lacrosse team, after all.
They both fell down in the snow next to each other, sweaty and panting. Minami had already ditched her coat during the chase. In that pause, night began to make its presence known.
They each lay there, just breathing until Anya pointed up at the dark sky. "One thing that is different in Russia, is that the stars move in… круги… ah, circles. In Japan, so many more fall beneath the… горизонт, the horizon."
"That seems kind of comforting, the stars always being the same."
Anya turned her head slightly, suddenly serious. "No Minami, constellations actually change with the year as the planet goes around the sun. The stars at night only appear to move fast because of the spinning of the Earth."
"Oh, yeah."
"But it does make using my telescope easier." They both giggled. Anya was as passionate about the stars as she was about being an idol.
Silence overcame both of them. It wasn't an awkward silence, Minami was enjoying her time alone with her partner. Time alone was something hard to come by back home.
It was starting to get colder, but Minami didn't want to go inside just yet. "Anya?" she inquired.
"Yes?"
"Do you like it better in Russia? I know being in Japan can be hard for you sometimes."
Anya was still, Minami knew she was searching for the right words.
"I like Japan. Russia is nice and is my home country, but my friends and family live in Japan. I am an idol with you there too."
More silence.
"What if… I wanted to come to Russia with you, after I graduate. I'll leave the student dorms and we could live together. We're probably not going to be idols forever."
"No, I want to live with you in Japan."
With you. It came out of her mouth so plainly. Minami felt sniffles coming on. She tried to blink away the tears, but they were threatening to spill over at any second. She covered her eyes with an arm, but Anya couldn't miss the whimpering.
"…Minami? Minami, do you want to live in Russia that badly!?" Anya sat up with a start, panicked. She would get like this when she said something wrong or couldn't find the right word. "We can move to Hokkaido, or-or to Canada! Other places have lots of snow! W-We could even get married there!"
And now she was bawling. "Anya!"
"Did I say something bad? I tried to use all Japanese." Minami hated seeing her so insecure. She sat up to meet Anya's eye level, tears streaking her face and almost certainly ruining her makeup.
"No, Anya! I just… I'm happy." She tried to regulate her breathing. Breathe in, then breathe out. In, out. "Do you really want to move in together?"
Anya grabbed both of her hands. "Yes."
They both relaxed, laying back into the snow, hands still held. More silence, but Minami didn't really care. She was focused only on Anya's warmth. Eventually, the right words came.
"I love you."
"я тоже тебя люблю… I love you too."
"Minami, I'm really cold. Can we go inside?"