2. in the snow


"It's been getting real cold…"

Akagi remarks, breathing softly, frost flowing past her lips in visible rising puffs as she brings her palms together in a weak attempt to retain some form of heat.

Footsteps falling in place, fresh snow crunches beneath them crisply.

"Yes, it is," murmurs Kaga from beside her, fingers tugging at the thick woolen blue muffler she has, wrapped snuggly around her.

Inwardly, she wonders— with a blush— if this is cue for her to do something that could pass off as remotely 'romantic'.

As fate would have it, at a sudden blast of frigid cold air, Akagi braces herself wholly, shivering while shoving her hands deep into the pockets of her coat.

Without missing a beat, Kaga rushes in, swiftly swiping her muffler off and encircling it around a particularly slim neck in one smooth motion.

When the deed is done, Akagi beams up at her sweetly, eyes crinkling into crescents, "Thank you." She croons.

With the barest of pink dusting at her cheeks, Kaga flashes a genuine smile.

"Don't mention it," she shrugs.

Because putting herself through this subzero cold, unarmed and defenseless, is every bit worth it for her.

Their footsteps pick up once more. Though, this time Akagi appears to be lagging behind for whatever odd reasons.

"But don't you feel cold, Kaga-san?"

"My body temperature is higher than average. I'm fine, thank you."

A soft indignant huff and Kaga whirls around, just in time to catch a brief glimpse of an adorable pout.

"Well, I'm still cold, so don't mind me."

Stomping up towards Kaga, Akagi then launches herself at the pony-tailed girl at full force, nearly toppling her over into the thick blanket of snow below as said-girl struggles to catch her footing.

"A-Akagi-san…?"

"Kaga-san, you liar." Akagi frowns, unearthing the fingers Kaga has, burrowed in the deepest depths of her own pockets.

She gives her hand a gentle, yet firm squeeze.

"And you said you weren't cold." She admonishes lightly while Kaga hangs her head bashfully like a child who has been caught red-handed stealing from a cookie jar.

Akagi releases a sigh then, looking to Kaga softly, gaze filled with unbridled affection. "Just what am I to do with you," she mumbles, tugging Kaga closer as she unfurls and rewinds the muffler to include her this round.

And suddenly she's just so, so very close.

Close to the point where Kaga could make out every tiny little speck of frost clinging to her lashes as she blinks up at her, grinning lopsidedly in that all so very endearing way of hers.

She's just so beautiful, with her cheeks all flushed and hair lightly dusted in snow. Even more so with the wintry white landscape as a backdrop.

With that, Kaga is spellbound, caught in the magic of the moment as she subconsciously draws in.

But is broken out of it by a chaste peck on the lips.

She blinks, perplexed, and is met with an unusually coy smile and flaming pink cheeks, buried deep under the blue of her muffler.

Warm fingers grasp for her, pulling her onwards as bell-like laughter fills the air.

"Come on, Kaga-san, lets head on home now."

And hence is the magic of winter.

The magic of one Akagi.