"Rei-chan!" Usagi wailed in a one long, drawling whine as tears of self-pity brimmed her eyelids, "Why did you drag me all the way out here? It's so cooold..." Usagi sniffled; her boots crunched lightly on the snowy ground as she approached her friend.
"Come on, Usagi, it's barely snowing!" Rei snipped and annoyance flashed across her face, but she held out a neatly wrapped bento box, previously hidden.
Usagi released an excited gasp and snatched the box from her friend's offering hand. It didn't take long for Usagi to devour the meal with enthusiasm as Rei merely stood in silence, her eyes glued to the vast scenery before them. When Usagi was done, she cleaned her teeth and watched her friend, curious. Rei decided to speak first.
She swept her arm outward in a wide gesture, then spoke at last, her voice wistful, "This is my favorite place to be."
Usagi tilted her head to the side, then followed Rei's outstretched arm, as if seeing the landscape for the first time. The row of picnic tables, including theirs, were covered in a fine layer of fresh snow. An endless wooden fence lay several yards away, underlying a very tall, voluminous tree, leaf-barren. Even in the light snowfall, it was undeniably beautiful.
"I wanted to wait and show everyone when summer came, but..." Rei smiled hesitantly and observed Usagi at last, "When I heard how upset you were yesterday, I decided to show you now."
Usagi hesitated, somewhat shocked by the admittance, but saw no amount of mockery on her friend's face. It was a rare moment, that was for sure, and she found herself deeply touched by the seldom-shown concern. Warmth flooded her insides and her rounded face beamed. It suddenly didn't seem very cold at all anymore.
