I wrapped my coat around me tighter, my fingers cold from the winter air. Today felt exceptionally frosty. Even the breeze cut sharply through my clothes. My breath frosted in front of my face, and I watched it as I breathed in and out. It provided a good distraction from the cold.
"Are you ready to go, Homura?"
I looked behind me to see Madoka exiting the shrine behind me. We had both gone to visit it together in celebration of the new year. We were going to a festival later tonight with the others, but decided we wanted to go by ourselves first.
The snow crunched beneath her cute pink boots as she walked up to me. The air frosted in front of her small mouth as well. However, her face was graced with a smile, despite the cold.
She grabbed my arm gently by the elbow as I nodded to her. "Yeah, I think I said all I wanted to say."
"What did you pray for?"
I held a cold finger to my lips. "It's a secret."
Her little cheeks puffed out in dismay. "We don't keep secrets between us, do we?"
Well, she had a good point. "But if I tell you, it doesn't happen right?"
"That's wishes, not prayers, silly."
"I guess that's fair. Look, it's starting to snow."
"Don't distract from the subject!"
"Alright, alright." I booped her on the nose with the same finger and gave her a smug smile. "I wished for your health and safety."
Her big eyes blinked at me. "R-Really?"
"You seem surprised."
Madoka thought about it for a second, then gave a small giggle that warmed the winter chill from my heart. "I guess I really shouldn't be, you did rearrange the universe for me."
However, that warmth was quickly replaced with cold pain once again. "I suppose I did."
"Do you regret it, Homura?"
I pretended to think about it. "No, I don't. I haven't for a second. I doubt I ever will."