The Grand Bear mountain was a moderate drive away from Mizuno and due to its proximity, the mountain was a go-to recreational hot spot for a great number from Mizuno. On one particular weekend, UFC-owner Nina, Miharu's older sister Maharu, and Kirie's mother Misuzu arranged to take many of the kids to the mountain for some time off.
At the wheel of a spacious rented RV was Nina driving Maharu, Miharu, Seiichirou, and Masashi along with Yukinari, Kirie, Koyomi, Tomoka, and Ebi. Seated on Miharu's lap was Snowflake, her recently-acquired pet snow strider.
"Whaa! Look! So much snow!" Tomoka squeaked, her face pressed up on a window as the RV made its way up to higher and higher elevations. Ebi also rushes up to a window to join Tomoka in gawking at the increasing snow that continued to blanket more and more of the natural environment.
"Ohh! This is going to be so much fun!" Miharu cheered.
"What will you do first Miharu?" Koyomi asks seated next to pink-haired fellow Seirenian.
"I'm making a snowman!" Miharu answers. "Then a big snow castle for Snowflake!"
"Ebi~" Misuzu calls out sweetly, "momma's got your snow gear right here~! You're not too cold I hope~!" she melodies embracing Ebi and wrapping the little girl in a hefty snow coat.
"In a doting mood today mom?" Kirie asked with a teasing smirk.
"Don't tease me!" Misuzu responds through a pout.
"Was your mom like that with you when you were young?" Yukinari asks Kirie seated adjacent.
"She was more of a daddy's girl" Misuzu replies. "Instead of cooking with mom, she wanted to watch baseball with dad!"
"It's not like I'm not cooking with you today!" Kirie protests.
"Too late! I'm devoting myself to Ebi now" Misuzu says holding Ebi affectionately. "Don't get too jealous" she jokes.
"Don't hog her all to yourself" Kirie joked back.
"I have to, Nina's getting her on the drive back" Misuzu reveals.
"That's right" Nina speaks up. "Misuzu's driving on the way back so I get Ebi on the return."
"Look how high up the mountain goes!" Tomoka suddenly exclaims.
"Goodness! Everything looks much bigger closer up" Koyomi remarks going back and forth between the mountain outside and a brochure in her hand. She then withdraws her phone from her person and takes several pictures.
The RV drove on ascending the mountain before arriving to a parking lot. Once stationed, the party exit the RV and set off on foot with Misuzu leading the way.
"I don't think I've ever looked at snow this close up" Yukinari says while many of the younger members of the group marveled at the cold, white blankets covering everything around them. "It's like shaved ice except there's a lot of it!"
"Don't eat it!" Seiichirou immediately warned Miharu.
"I-I wasn't going to!" Miharu protests tossing away some snow in her hand.
Misuzu lead the party through plenty of snow-covered wilderness and towards a gathering of buildings with plenty of people walking to and from. Most walked about empty-handed but some carried either snowboards or ski sets. Others were hauling large snow sleds above their heads eager to ascend the nearest tall hill while some could be seen fitting into ice skates.
The main building, the biggest of them all, had large letters that read 'The Grand Bear'. Passing by this prominent building, Misuzu and the rest found themselves before a great mountain with a gentle incline and plenty of room for snowmobile riding. A ski lift carried many and their snow gear up the great mountain length to the top.
"Right! Who's babysitting?" Nina asked looking Ebi's way.
"Tomo will!" Tomoka spoke up.
"W-we will" Koyomi contributes.
"I'll be snow sculpting so I can help watch them too" Masashi joins in. "I think they'd like to sculpt, definitely."
"Ooh! That sounds like great fun!" Miharu said with Snowflake on her shoulder.
"I'll stick close to watch after Miharu then" Seiichirou speaks up.
"Snow sculpting sounds like fun! I wanna give that a try too!" Yukinari says, Kirie at his side. "Kirie?"
"If you're in, I'm in" was Kirie's passive reply.
"Looks like it's settled then" Nina says looking around at the party. "Maharu, Misuzu, and I will be heading up the slope. Kirie, Yukinari, Seiichirou, Masashi, and Koyomi, I trust you to take care of the young ones."
"Roger that" Kirie agrees.
"Hey! What about Tomo!?" Tomoka speaks up insulted. "Tomo will have you know that she's a big sister! She can babysit too!"
"Of course! Especially you Tomoka!" Nina was quick to add holding back a chuckle.
"Where are you off to?" Seiichirou suddenly asked.
"We're going to try our hand at skiing" Nina explains.
"Skiing? Sounds like fun!" Masashi comments. "Why weren't we invited?"
"Right now the ski trail is open to adults only" Maharu explains. "Skiiers are going way too fast for children."
Maharu, Nina, and Misuzu head off to ride the ski lift leaving behind Yukinari, Kirie, Miharu, Seiichirou, Tomoka, Ebi, Masashi, and Koyomi at a quieter area of the mountain among several other younger visitors and their parents.
Being artistically inclined, Masashi was quick to begin his sculpting. He started simple with an almost perfectly spherical snow ball that he started to carve at with a narrow cake spatula. The side of the ball of snow in his hand had soon bloomed into the carving of a rose.
"Wow!" Tomoka squeaks catching sight of the rose sculpture.
"Nyaah~" Ebi was similarly impressed.
"Like it?" Masashi asks placing the sculpture into Tomoka's eager hands.
"Definitely!" Tomoka responds. "Koyo, look!"
"Oh my! How lovely!" Koyomi praises before taking pictures.
"That is soo~ cute!" Miharu sings, Snowflake sitting on her shoulder seemingly also impressed.
"I can make more if you want" Masashi offers.
"Ooh! Please do!" Miharu exclaims.
"Want one too Seiichirou?"
"Just make one for my sister. That'll be enough for me, thank you" Seiichirou asked simply.
"Suit yourself" Masashi said before sculpting snow roses for Miharu, Tomoka, Ebi, and Koyomi.
"These are so beautiful!" Koyomi compliments taking many more pictures of her own snow rose. "Thank you so much!"
"Yeah! These are so great!" Miharu adds. "Big Brother, look! Isn't this so pretty!~?"
"Not bad Masashi! You've got quite a talent" Seiichirou responds before a challenge. "What else can you do?"
"Ha! Glad you asked!" Masashi exclaims before rolling up his sleeves only for the cold to roll them back down moments later. "Miharu, how would you like a sculpture of Snowflake?" Masashi asked. Snowflake reacts as though he understood Masashi was talking about him.
"Really!?" Miharu gasped.
"Yep! This should be fun! Gonna need your brother's help though" Masashi said.
"Please Big Brother! Please help him sculpt Snowflake!" Miharu begged.
"Help? How can I help?" Seiichirou asks both unable and unwilling to ignore Miharu's pleas.
"Compacted snow. Gonna need quite a bit" Masashi says. "Means snow that has been squeezed tightly to the point that it can't be squeezed much further. It's excellent for sculpting!"
"Squeezed tightly huh?" Seiichirou questions. "Like this?" he asks squeezing a lump of snow in his hands tightly before handing it over.
"Yes, well done!" Masashi lauds assessing the firm lump of snow. "Get me more."
"Hehe! With pleasure!" Seiichirou says cracking his knuckles gladly.
Meanwhile, not far away, Yukinari and Kirie are trying their hand at building an igloo.
"Up we go!" Yukinari said placing a brick of compacted snow atop a developing igloo wall. "So far so good! We keep this up and we'll have an igloo in no time!" Yukinari says with pride.
"Next brick coming up!" Kirie declares pressing snow into a rectangular plastic bin.
"Nyah nyah" Ebi emits suddenly having walked up to Kirie wanting to show off her snow rose.
"Oh wow! Yukinari, look at this!" Kirie says aloud.
"Wow, that's great work!" Yukinari says upon catching sight of the work of art. "Excellent work Masashi!" Yukinari directed Masashi's way which Masashi acknowledges with a nod of the head before resuming his sculpting of Snowflake.
-transition-
Having taken the ski lift up to the highest point of the mountain one could reasonably and safely ascend up to, Nina, Misuzu, and Maharu were certain they could see the others far below but only barely. With rental skis on feet and ski poles in hands, all three were ready to ride down the long slope.
"First to rejoin the others wins. Simple yes?" Misuzu asked.
"Yes, simple enough" was Nina's answer.
"Nina, you've never done this before" Maharu pointed out looking down at the slope.
"And I'm no novice if I do say so myself" Misuzu boasted gently.
"There's a first time for everything" Nina replies, "and I like a challenge!"
"Can't you two just flip a coin to decide things?" Maharu suggested.
"Maharu, that's no fun" Misuzu criticized. "For the chance to babysit Ebi, we 'must' compete! It's more fun that way!"
"Call it my maternal instinct if you must but Ebi is just too adorable!" Nina declared without hesitation. "Adorable enough to compete for! And it looks like you're itching for some skiing yourself."
"I might as well try my hand at this" Maharu said stabbing the snow with her left ski pole. "I'm up here aren't I?"
"Makes sense. Ready when you are!" Misuzu announces, the grip on her ski poles tightening.
"Maharu, count down" Nina requests.
"Ready? Get set! Go!" Maharu exclaims and the three take off.
Misuzu is quick to take the lead, her pose as aerodynamic as the human body will allow, and her ski poles pushing her forward to maintain her lead. Nina, despite her inexperience, maintains a close second. Emulating Misuzu's movements and maneuvers, Nina learns quickly. In a mostly indifferent third place, Maharu skied down the mountain wondering how much more fun it would be to be riding a snowmobile at high speeds.
"You're not bad" Misuzu compliments with Nina close on her tail. Nina says nothing, too focused on the task at hand.
With the path up ahead straight and clear, speed was the only factor in deciding a victor. Speeding down the mountain just a little bit more, it seemed as though Misuzu would be victorious.
Crash! A collision.
At first, it was as if Misuzu had collided with thin air halting her progress and making her fall back.
"Gah! What the hell!?" Misuzu exclaims landing on her butt.
"Misuzu, you okay!?" Nina asks coming to a stop nearby.
"Yeah, I'm fine" Misuzu confirms after a quick recovery, "but what the hell was that!?"
Both look around seeking a culprit but only find Maharu ahead of them both standing and staring at the snow. Both approach to realize Maharu was not staring at snow but at a person lying flat and face down atop said snow clothed in all-white.
"Oops! Real sorry about that! Didn't see you there!" Misuzu was quick to apologize.
"Th-that's quite alright" the person, now revealed to be a man, said getting up from atop the snow.
"Oh! It's you!" Misuzu said. "Kirie's ex boyfriend!"
Wearing all-white winter gear, Fukuyama now stood before the three women.
"Fukuyama, your daughter's ex?" Maharu asked not terribly amused by the newcomer.
"Oh, the perv!" Nina says aloud.
"H-how rude!" Fukuyama objected. "I am the esteemed son of the Fukuyama Family and heir to the Fukuyama Fortune!"
"D-did you say fortune?" Maharu asked intrigued.
"That's right!" Fukuyama confirms, his chin up in the air. Maharu is quick to work her charms.
"And I bet a manly man such as yourself would be able to get some sweet rides" Maharu said latching onto Fukuyama's forearm, her breasts pressing up on his upper arm.
"I totally agree!" Misuzu says joining in on the persuasion. "I know this hunk of a man can show us a good time!"
"Ladies! Ladies! You flatter me!" Fukuyama said charmed by the advances. "Not to worry, I could get us a fleet of rides! You just leave it to Daddy Fuku-"
At that moment, Fukuyama collapses atop the snow once more.
"Fukuyama, what's wrong?" Maharu voiced with quick concern. Just as quickly, Fukuyama stood back up straight once more.
"Nothing my little buttercup. Just a little cold!" he said sweetly. "Nevermind that! Onwards to our sweet rides!" he sang leading a charge back down the snowy slopes.
"Cha-ching!" Misuzu whispers Maharu's way. Maharu winks back before winking Nina's way as well in triumph. Nina rolls her eyes but follows along happy she wouldn't have to employ any "charms".
-transition-
Yukinari and Kirie were putting the finishing touches on their igloo.
"Final one!" Kirie announces happily handing a final snow brick to Yukinari who places it on the last remaining spot.
"What do you think Kirie?" Yukinari asks looking at their igloo with pride.
"Pretty great! Especially for our first time!" Kirie celebrates. "We need to look inside!"
"Ladies first" Yukinari says presenting a hand and welcoming Kirie into the igloo.
"Such a gentleman!" Kirie lauds before entering and having Yukinari follow right after.
Meanwhile, Masashi was putting in the finishing touches on his sculpture of Snowflake.
"Girls, what do you think?" he asked showing off the work.
"Awesome! It looks exactly like Snowflake!" Tomoka praises.
"You're amazing at this" Koyomi says before taking pictures.
"Look Snowflake! It's you!" Miharu said holding Snowflake up to Masashi's sculpture.
Meanwhile, Ebi takes note of the igloo and heads in.
"Look who's here! It's Ebi!" Kirie said pulling Ebi into a hug.
"Hello Ebi! Welcome to our igloo!" Yukinari greeted before caressing Ebi's hair.
Back outside, the sound of engines roaring at the tip of a snow cloud turns several heads. Arriving at the scene were Nina, Misuzu, Maharu, and Fukuyama atop snowmobiles.
"Whoa! Sweet rides!" Tomoka squeaks impressed by the sight.
"You like it?" Misuzu asks.
"Love it!" Tomoka exclaims.
"Where'd you get those rides!?" Masashi asked deeply impressed.
"Gifts from the Great Kazuharu Fukuyam-" Fukuyama had said before a snow ball had struck him in the face.
"Seiichirou!" Nina and Maharu chastise.
"What? He was scaring Koyomi!" Seiichirou excuses.
"N-no, not really" Koyomi manages to say feeling uneasy with Fukuyama's presence but with so many friends about, she could tolerate the rich boy's presence.
"How impudent!" Fukuyama growls pulling out a snow-white handkerchief and wiping away the snow on his face. "Is this the gratitude you show to your benefactor!?"
"I never asked for anything from you and I never will!" Seiichirou said adamantly.
"B-big brother, I want to ride on one of those" Miharu directs at Seiichirou.
A devilish grin crops up on Fukuyama's face.
"D-don't worry Miharu" Seiichirou answers, "we'll go rent one ourselves. Let's go" he says walking away swiftly and taking Miharu and Snowflake with him.
"I wish you luck but these rides were the last ones available" Fukuyama says triumphantly. Seiichirou stops in his tracks and grimaces as though he were jabbed with a grotesque finger. "Not to worry, just get on your hands and knees and beg! Do it well enough and I'll have an additional fleet of snowmobiles airlifted here at once!"
"Shove it!" was Seiichirou's immediate objection. "I'll be Miharu's snowmobile!" he declares grabbing a sled and continuing his walking off with Miharu and Snowflake.
"Good luck" a victorious Fukuyama mocks before turning back to Nina, Maharu, and Misuzu. "So ladies! What say we- Maharu, where's your ride?"
Maharu simply points towards Seiichirou, Miharu, and Snowflake to find them riding atop Maharu's ride.
"Wheee!" Miharu exclaims with excitement.
"Thanks for the ride!" Seiichirou says tossing a devilish grin of his own at Fukuyama before riding off.
"Maharu! Why did you-" Fukuyama begins to demand.
"I had my fill" Maharu says simply causing Fukuyama to grumble.
"Th-that's okay" Fukuyama says eyeing Maharu up and down, "you could always ride with me!" he says drooling at the thought of Maharu's massive chest pressing up against his back.
"No thanks. Gonna try my hand at sculpting here instead" Maharu says joining Masashi, Tomoka, and Koyomi. "Mind if I join?"
"Not at all!" Tomoka says happily.
"We don't mind at all!" Koyomi adds and soon, Maharu was carving up snow alongside Koyomi, Tomoka, and Masashi who was too focused on his art to notice anything else but his art.
With Nina and Misuzu as well as Seiichirou and Miharu speeding about atop snowmobiles; Maharu having joined Masashi, Tomoka, and Koyomi in snow sculpting; and Yukinari and Kirie as well as Ebi sheltered in their igloo, Fukuyama was left alone to fume while the others were having their fun.
"Don't you have private mountains of your own where you could be wasting your time?" Kirie, after exiting the igloo, suddenly voiced from behind the rich pervert.
"Kirie!?" Fukuyama returns looking behind him to see an annoyed brunette. "As a matter of fact, we, the Fukuyama Dynasty, own a great many snowy resorts thank you very much!" Kazuharu boasted.
"So why don't you go hang out over there then!?" Kirie demanded firmly.
"Because I hate this sort of weather!" Fukuyama claimed. "All the women are bundled up in thick coats and pants! I cannot appreciate the lovely curves and contours of the female form! What good is a winter resort if you can't fill it up with buxom, almost-nude beauties!?"
"...So then leave" Kirie said simply with arms folded. Fukuyama stared for a moment as Yukinari joined Kirie's side.
"...Then I shall!" he said turning on the spot to walk away only to collapse atop the snow.
"Whoa! Is Fukuyama okay?" Yukinari asked.
"Fukuyama's immortal, don't worry about him" Kirie dismissed.
"Hey Kirie!" Misuzu suddenly greets driving up on her snowmobile, "check out the sweet ride!"
"That's nice mom. Did Fukuyama get that for ya?" Kirie asked.
"Yes, he did! Wasn't that just nice of him?" Misuzu praised.
Just then, Fukuyama rises up from the spot he had collapsed at and dashes to Misuzu's side.
"That's right! So show me a little more appreciation!" Fukuyama demands.
"I'd appreciate it if you just shoved off before you ruin our fun!" Kirie counters.
"Oh come on Kirie! Don't be like that" Misuzu asks of her daughter. "I'm sure your ex here could be fun."
"Oh yes! I can be plenty fun!" Fukuyama says with a lascivious grin before a snow ball strikes him in the face.
"Okay! I change my mind! That was definitely fun!" Kirie says preparing another snow ball.
"I'm sensing a snow ball fight coming on" Yukinari remarks.
"Someone say fight?" Seiichirou suddenly asked having gotten off of his snowmobile. "Count me in!"
"Snow ball fight, not a regular fight" Yukinari clarifies.
"I'll take it anyways" Seiichirou says preparing a snow ball and hitting Fukuyama with it.
"Hey!" Fukuyama objects.
"Oh! This could be real fun!" Kirie praises.
"This is not the least bit fun!" Fukuyama counters. "I say we organize!"
Following Fukuyama's suggestion, two teams assembled opposite each other: on one side was Nina, Koyomi, Yukinari, and Maharu. On the other was Misuzu, Kirie, Seiichirou, and Fukuyama. Spectating this contest were Tomoka, Snowflake, and Miharu. Masashi remained largely focused on his sculpting of a baseball.
"Didn't think I'd see you here" Yukinari directs at Koyomi.
"I want to try" Koyomi answers. "And it's just snow. Can't be that bad."
"Go Koyo!" Tomoka cheers. Koyomi nods.
"Good for you Koyomi" Yukinari answered.
"Okay, rules are simple" Misuzu announced. "Get hit and you're out."
"That's very simple" Nina agreed. "What're we winning when we win?"
"So sure of yourself, I like that!" Misuzu said. "You know what we both want. Winner gets to babysit!"
"Oh! Good prize!" Nina responds.
"For a week!" Misuzu adds.
"Ooh! Now you're really upping the ante!" Nina says impressed.
"Mom grew up in snowy mountains" Kirie suddenly speaks up. "Hope you're up to the challenge Miss Nina!"
"Who doesn't love a good challenge?" Nina answers cracking her knuckles. "Try to hit me!"
"Haaa!" Misuzu exclaims, her arm launching a snow ball aimed at Nina. Nina ducks out of the way and the fight begins.
Seiichirou tosses a ball of snow at Yukinari but Yukinari evades.
"I challenge you, Sasaki!" Seiichirou announces eagerly.
"Bring it!" Yukinari responds gathering a snow ball of his own and readying a toss.
Meanwhile, Fukuyama eyed Koyomi hungrily. "Oooh Koyoomii~!" he sung sweetly before a snow ball grazed his hair.
To Fukuyama's surprise, the source of the snow ball was Koyomi herself. Not looking too bothered by Fukuyama's advances, Koyomi was gathering a snow ball to try to hit Fukuyama once more.
"Prepare yourself, I'm going to win!" she tells the blonde pervert who has to duck to avoid another snow ball toss.
"Whoo! Go Koyo!" Tomoka shouts.
Maharu and Kirie size each other up.
"You made an excellent fighting partner back when we rescued Miharu from Yukina" Maharu compliments.
"Thanks. You weren't too bad yourself" Kirie answers before sending a snow ball flying which Maharu dodges.
"Let's see how good of a snow ball fighter you are" Maharu challenges.
"I'm wondering the same about you!" she adds crafting another ball.
The snow ball fight was under way, snow balls flying back and forth between the two teams.
"Whoa! This looks like fun! Tomo wants to join in on the next round!" Tomoka said while Snowball's eyes darted about trying their best to keep up with the snow balls flying back and forth.
Seiichirou throws a snow ball aiming for Yukinari's head but Yukinari evades and retaliates with a toss of his own. Seiichirou also dodges as does Fukuyama arching his back to avoid Koyomi's attack.
"Let me know when you wish to quit Sasaki" Seiichirou mocks.
"Guess again" Yukinari returns forming up another snow ball.
"Koyomii~" Fukuyama sings, "let me win and I promise I'll let you be mine~!"
Koyomi responds to the offer with several snow balls which Fukuyama has to contort to dodge successfully.
"I'll take that as a no" the blonde pervert concludes.
"Let's up the ante!" Maharu directs at Kirie. "If I win, you'll allow Yukinari and I to go out on a date."
"You can't be serious!" Kirie objects as the two exchange snow balls.
"Very serious. He's turned himself into quite a hunk!"
"He and I are dating!" Kirie points out.
"So? Us Seiren girls don't mind sharing!" Maharu explains before retaliating.
"The answer is no!" Kirie said firmly.
"Tch! 50% men and yet you Earth girls are so greedy!" Maharu criticizes.
Snow balls continued to fly back and forth fiercely, Nina and Misuzu both so focused on the task at hand that neither exchanged words. All their energies were concentrated on dodging and tossing snow balls.
As it would be with any contest, there would be winners and there would be losers: Yukinari would be the first to fall.
"Gotcha!" Seiichirou cheered, his projectile hitting Yukinari on the ribs condemning him to join Tomoka on the sidelines.
"Tough luck there kid, better luck next time" Tomoka said patting Yukinari's shoulder. Yukinari, after a shrug of his shoulders, was largely indifferent since the contest was purely for fun.
"Kyaah!" Koyomi let out, a snow ball hitting her on the butt as Fukuyama intended.
"Koyo! You gave it your all, that's what counts!" Tomoka assured Koyomi.
"Tomoka's right Koyomi" Yukinari joins in, "you stood up to Fukuyama and took him on. Besides, it's just a silly snow ball fight. It's not like you're losing anything."
"Y-you're right! It was fun while it lasted" Koyomi agrees.
"Gaah!" Kirie exclaims as her thigh suffers a hit.
"Outta here!" Maharu boasts, arms folded authoratively.
"Yeah, yeah" Kirie grumbled joining Yukinari and Koyomi on the sidelines.
Now there remained five: Nina and Maharu on one side, Misuzu, Fukuyama, and Seiichirou on the other. Predictably, while all others still in the game were fully engaged in the battle, Fukuyama was too busy gawking at Maharu's chest.
"Do I entice you, perv?" Maharu challenges.
"Mhmhmhm" Fukuyama chuckles, "very much. You have such a lovely figure and a chest that outsizes even Kirie's!"
"Big Sister, just give me the green light and I'll take care of this bastard!" Seiichirou offers.
"Traitor!" Fukuyama directs at Maharu's younger brother.
"Sorry, I don't side with perverted degen-"
Before Seiichirou could finish his sentence, a snow ball strikes him on the neck.
"Maharu!" Fukuyama voices in surprise.
"Traitor!" Seiichirou almost barks turning to his attacker, his very own sister Maharu.
"What? We're not on the same team!" Maharu pointed out.
Seiichirou could not stop grumbling under his breath after joining the other defeated contestants.
"Relax! It's not like you lost something!" Tomoka told Seiichirou. Seiichirou punches the snow in anger.
Now only four remained: Nina and Maharu versus Misuzu and Fukuyama.
While Nina and Misuzu exchanged fire, Maharu and Fukuyama stared each other down.
"Let's see if there's more to that pretty face than just looks" Maharu directs at Fukuyama. Fukuyama does not respond, too distracted by the girth of Maharu's chest. "...Lights are on but nobody's home" Maharu ridicules reacting to Fukuyama's sloppy and perverse grin.
Maharu throws a snow ball aimed at Fukuyama's head but Fukuyama simply collapses out of the way of the throw.
"Eehh?.. I guess I win? I'll take that as a win" Maharu says out loud at Fukuyama's stillness. "Is he okay?" Maharu asked while Fukuyama's limp, unconscious body is dragged away by Yukinari and Kirie.
"I'm sure he's okay" Kirie said. "Pretty sure..."
"Alright, I concede" Maharu announces.
"What!?" Nina let out.
"Sorry, I just wanna see you two compete one-on-one" Maharu excused joining the other spectators.
"Some friend you are" Nina condemned. "Very well... One-on-one it is" she says facing Misuzu.
"After this, you're gonna start to really hate your friend" Misuzu said while rolling up another projectile.
"No way, I love Maharu! She's an excellent friend!.. Most of the time" Nina joked.
Misuzu launches her snow ball, fast, furious. On her toes, Nina dodges while feeling gusts of wind from the projectiles zipping past her head. Kirie was not kidding when she said her mother grew up with snow.
"Gah!" Nina lets out while she dodges the incoming projectiles, at times needing to hit the snow to evade.
"Hyah!" Misuzu exclaims sending a snow ball traveling through a curved trajectory.
"A curve ball!? Are you kidding me!?" Nina exclaims after having to bend over backwards to dodge the attack.
"I'll employ every trick in the book for Ebi, you better believe it!" Misuzu declares. "Now would be a good time to fight back. Or don't, I don't care."
"You're right, thanks for the reminder" Nina says rolling up a projectile of her own.
"Kirie, your mom is amazing!" Yukinari praises watching on from the sidelines.
"I know! Mom's throwing 'em like a pro pitcher!" Kirie adds.
The snow ball fight resumed with Nina finally retaliating forcing Misuzu to dodge. The two exchanged fire while spectators watched on unsure of who would ultimately come out on top.
"Oh hello little sister Ebi!" Tomoka suddenly greets Ebi who had just arisen out of the igloo.
"Done with your nap Ebi?" Kirie asks while Ebi rubs one of her eyes.
"She was napping?" Tomoka asks.
"Yeah, believe it or not, she was napping in there" Kirie replies.
"...Ebi..." Fukuyama's seemingly unconscious body suddenly emits to Yukinari's notice.
"Ebi!" Misuzu lets out amid the combat, "momma's gonna win this one for ya!"
"Ebi! Momma Nina is the one who's gonna win this, don't listen to her!" was Nina's counter.
"...Ebi..." Fukuyama emits once more.
"Fukuyama?" Yukinari questions nearing an ear to the blonde pervert's body.
Suddenly, almost in the blink of an eye, Fukuyama's previously-lifeless body sprang upright.
"Whoa! I saw that!" Kirie said surprised by Fukuyama's sudden springing to life.
To those observing, Fukuyama's hair was not blonde anymore but rather a bluish-white and his skin seemed similarly pale. Strangest of all, his sclera were now black which contrasted well with his blue eyes.
"Aaaah! What's with your eyes!?" Kirie demands loudly.
"I've no idea what you're talking about Kirie" Fukuyama answers stretching and removing his winter wear.
"And your hair and skin" Tomoka speaks up.
"Are you feeling alright?" Yukinari asked.
"I've never felt better, Punynari!" Fukuyama declares almost triumphantly. "Hahahahaha! Right! I heard there's a competition for Ebi! Figure I'd enter myself!" he says stepping in between the sparring Nina and Misuzu.
"You've already been eliminated! Get lost!" Nina condemns.
"No I wasn't! I wasn't hit once!" Kazuharu Fukuyama defended.
"He's right. He wasn't hit once" Masashi suddenly agrees before returning to his sculpting.
"Kirie, has Kazuharu ever been like this before?" Yukinari asks Kirie who was taking cover behind him.
"No! H-he looks like a ghost for some reason!" was Kirie's loud reply.
"No clue what you're playing at but you're getting in the way of our match!" Nina shouts lobbing a snow ball at Fukuyama. With an almost blindingly-fast movement, Fukuyama dodges. Just as swiftly, he runs up to Nina.
"That wasn't very nice" Fukuyama chastises while he gropes Nina's breasts to the shock of everyone.
"Gaah!" Nina lets out before swinging angrily at Fukuyama who quickly dodges.
"You have such a lovely bust Miss Nina!" Fukuyama compliments.
"Why you little-!" Nina growls.
"Kirie! You never told me Kazuharu could be so daring!" Misuzu says impressed.
"Mom! Stop playing along with his nonsense!" Kirie protests.
"I could be so much more~" he speaks seductively after having run up to Misuzu and kissing the back of her hand.
"Oh, how tempting! But I'm married!" Misuzu giggles flattered. "So go try your luck in hell!" she shouts mimicking her daughter before grabbing Fukuyama's arm and slamming him into the snow.
"Oh yes! You are Kirie's mother alright!" Fukuyama says getting up as quickly as he had been slammed.
"This bastard's pissing me off!" Seiichirou growls approaching aggressively. "I'm pounding him into the ground!" Seiichirou lunges for Fukuyama intending to grab him only for Fukuyama to step out of the way. "You're a fast bastard!" Seiichirou exclaims trying to grab the pervert many more times but being evaded each time.
"You're always so hot under the collar!" Fukuyama mocks. "You need to chill!" he lets out tripping Seiichirou up and sending him crashing into snow.
With little delay, Fukuyama now advances on Miharu.
"I don't think so" Maharu says grabbing hold of Fukuyama's shoulder halting the advance.
"I think so!" Fukuyama says wrapping his arms around Maharu momentarily before tossing her towards Seiichirou who had recovered and was approaching once more. "How's my favorite little pink girl?" Fukuyama greets once reaching Miharu.
"Hello Fukuyama!" Miharu greets innocently while Snowflake hisses at Fukuyama angrily.
"What an adorable little pet!" Fukuyama compliments. He pets Snowflake and withdraws his hand just in time to avoid getting bitten by the snow strider. "Lively little fellow! Gotta go!" Fukuyama says as Seiichirou closes in again.
"Die!" Seiichirou growls with teeth clenched but Fukuyama evades, his movements almost cartoon-like. He then slithers in Koyomi's direction with Koyomi joining Kirie in taking cover behind Yukinari.
"Hello Koyomi! Still as lovely and curvaceous as ever!" Fukuyama praises running his hands up and down Koyomi's body.
"Kyaah!" Koyomi lets out.
"Leave her alone!" Yukinari demands swinging for Fukuyama's face but Fukuyama again evades.
"Get away!" Kirie shouts wielding a shovel and swinging as hard as she could.
SLAM!
Kirie's attack lands a powerful and violent hit directly on Fukuyama's face. The impact leaves many around shocked and surprised, Seiichirou pleased, and Yukinari impressed.
"Kirie, you are so violent, as usual" Fukuyama chastises with a reddened and bloodied face.
"What the hell!?" Kirie lets out after examining the Fukuyama-shaped indentation left on the shovel head.
"And you're so hot! Such a shame Punynari has long ruined you" Fukuyama pitied.
"Shut up!" Kirie barks swinging the shovel once more only to have Fukuyama bounce away.
"It's been fun ladies and gentlemen but I must make my exit!" Fukuyama announces with a respectful bow. He then lifts Ebi up into his arms. "I'll be taking this precious one out of your hands now! Farewell!"
With Ebi in tow, Fukuyama breaks out into a fast run. As he sped down the mountain, he looks behind him to find two snowmobiles rapidly advancing on him with Nina and Misuzu driving.
"Harassment is one thing" Nina shouts.
"But you take our baby away" Misuzu adds.
"And you've signed your death warrant!" Nina and Misuzu conclude loudly in unison, their snowmobiles accelerating.
"Cut him off!" Nina shouts and Misuzu rounds to block Fukuyama's path. Misuzu pounces on the kidnapper and very nearly grabs hold of the perp but with a spin, Fukuyama narrowly escapes.
Fukuyama was feeling invincible, his body seemingly incapable of getting tired, his legs carrying him swiftly as he evaded Nina and Misuzu. In hopes of inhibiting his pursuers, Fukuyama heads straight towards larger throngs of people where the snowmobiles ran the risk of running people over.
"Damn it to hell!" Nina curses as she dismounts her ride and chases on foot. "Kidnapper!" she shouts drawing the attention of many around.
"Kidnapper!?", "That guy's kidnapping that kid!", "You monster!" were some of the condemnations floating around a now-angry crowd. "Stop that kidnapper!"
"Gaaaah!" Fukuyama lets out as many people were now giving chase passing through many of the buildings in Grand Bear. "I'll take one! Thank you!" Fukuyama says tossing money onto a counter inside a snowboard shop as he speeds through right before a portion of his pursuers burst in. With a rental snowboard on hand, Fukuyama begins to flee his pursuers with style. "I don't know how I'm doing this but I'm doing it!" Fukuyama remarks as he sped down the snowy slopes with grace and skill.
"Are you seeing this!?" Nina asked Misuzu while the two rendezvous atop Misuzu's snowmobile.
"Huzzaaah!" Fukuyama lets out, Ebi secured to his person, achieving tall heights, spinning in the air, and landing as smoothly as a champion olympic snowboarder while speeding down the mountain. "HaahaaAAAAAaaaahhhahahahaAAA!" Fukuyama lets out in a mixture of both panic and exhiliration.
"Who knew the punk could snowboard like that!?" Nina asks.
"He's good but he's got our baby!" Misuzu growls. "We're burying the bastard!" she threatens while she and Nina ride the snowmobile down the mountain and join several others in chasing the rich pervert.
As the chase went on, a helicopter nearby hovered up in the sky. Piloting the helicopter was Hayate and Kosame while Lilica Stacy and Lisa occupied the passenger seats.
"Big brother spotted!" Lisa declares looking through binoculars. "And I had no idea he could snowboard!"
"I do believe that may be your doing" Lilica suggested wisely.
"Oh! Right!" Lisa agrees recalling feeding her older brother a magical concoction she had brewed earlier that day. "Looks like big brother's enjoying himself!" Lisa comments while Fukuyama continued his stylish descent down the slopes.
"This is Kazuharu Fukuyama requesting pick up" Fukuyama's rushed voice suddenly radios into the helicopter.
"10-4, pick up on the way" Lilica answers before a long rope ladder descends down from the helicopter not far away, large amounts of snow getting swept up by the rotor blades' powerful gusts of wind.
"Thank you Lilica, you are just lovely" Fukuyama says speeding towards the ladder.
"Bastard's gonna escape!" Misuzu barks pushing the snowmobile as fast as it would go.
Now with the ladder in reach, Fukuyama grabs hold of the bottom rung, Ebi firmly in tow.
"Target retrieved" Lilica announces. "Ascending."
The helicopter begins an ascent while Fukuyama climbs up the ladder, Nina and Misuzu closing in rapidly.
"Take the wheel Nina!" Misuzu instructs.
"On it!" Nina said grabbing hold of the handlebars.
"Go for it Misuzu!" Nina exclaims and Misuzu leaps off the snowmobile with all her might to catch the very last rung of the ascending helicopter ladder.
"Got it!" Misuzu announces hanging off of the bottom of the ladder. "Bastard!" she shouts up towards Fukuyama before climbing up towards the child-abducting pervert.
"An uninvited guest" Fukuyama says looking down at his pursuer. "Let's give her a warm welcome!" he exclaims taking his snowboarding equipment and throwing it down at her.
"Gonna take more than that!" Misuzu says swatting the projectiles away as Fukuyama's eyes, hair, and skin return to normal.
"Looks like master is returning to normal" Lilica observes from above.
"Won't make a difference!" Lisa says as Fukuyama resumes his ascent.
"Nyah nyah!" Ebi lets out dismayed.
"Do not fret my dear little Ebi!" Fukuyama assures. "I'll take care of this persistent pest!" he says planting his foot atop Misuzu's head to keep her from advancing further.
"Grrrrrr!" Misuzu growled angrily, her teeth clenched as she withstood the weight of Fukuyama's foot.
"Get off my ladder!" Fukuyama snarled pressing down on Misuzu. "Persistent little-! You're as persistent and stubborn as that daughter of yours, Kirie!"
"Give me back my baby!" Misuzu demanded with a furious hiss.
"Your baby!?" Fukuyama parrots. "Mwahahahahahahaha! This little angel belongs to me now!" he declares. "I'm babysitting her from here on out! And you! You have a date with a very icy fall!"
Looking down, Misuzu sees a modest distance between herself and the snow below along with Nina atop the snowmobile keeping up with the helicopter.
"Hands off! Release at once!" Fukuyama demands stomping on Misuzu's hands which were holding firmly onto the ladder rungs.
"Grrr! It's gonna take more than that!" Misuzu challenged.
"Have it your way" Fukuyama replies having withdrawn a pocket knife with which he begins to cut at the rope ladder.
"Hahahahahahaha! Only a matter of time!" Fukuyama threatens but amid his cutting, he's interrupted by Ebi's grumbling and growling. He halts his cutting at the sight of Ebi looking at him with puffed up cheeks. He slaps his forehead. "...Oh silly me!.. How could I have forgotten?" he asks with a chuckle. "...SON OF A BIII-!"
"NNNYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" Ebi exclaims, the sound of her scream echoing throughout a great part of the surrounding mountainous area. Accompanying this exclamation was a blindingly-bright light exploding out of her mouth, a light that left Nina and Misuzu both speechless.
"E-Beeeaaaam!" Tomoka exclaims watching from a distance away.
"AAaaaaaaaah!" Fukuyama screamed as Ebi's retaliatory blast freed her from his grasp and sent him flying off and away to crash against the side of the same snow-covered mountain, impact obscured by a great cloud of snow.
After blasting Fukuyama away, a dazed Ebi tried to maintain a grip on the ladder but failed thus she quickly plunges towards the snow below.
"Ebi!" Misuzu and Nina both scream in fright.
Reacting quickly, Misuzu leaps off of the ladder and plunges after the falling Ebi catching her in mid-air. Reacting just as swiftly, Nina kicks the snowmobile into high gear.
"I gotcha!" Nina exclaims riding atop the speeding snowmobile like a snowboard before leaping to Misuzu and Ebi's rescue.
Catching the two in mid-air; Nina, Misuzu, and Ebi hit the snow before rolling to a stop.
"Mom! Miss Nina!" Kirie's voice rings out from the distance as she along with most of the others; Yukinari, Maharu, Miharu, Seiichirou, Koyomi, Tomoka, and Snowflake run to their side.
"Ugh! Less than ideal landing" Nina said sitting up from where she, Misuzu, and Ebi had made impact.
"Weightlessness is a scary sensation" Misuzu remarks also sitting up.
"Nyah~ nyah~" Ebi meows being the last to sit up.
"My baby!" Nina and Misuzu let out lifting Ebi up into a motherly embrace.
"You two looking alright" Maharu assesses casually.
"If my baby is okay, I'm okay" Misuzu answers.
"What she said" Nina agrees.
Up above in the helicopter, Lisa along with Hayate, Kosame, and Lilica were dismayed by what they had just seen.
"I fear we almost killed someone" Lilica says calmly.
"They're looking alright down there, thankfully" Lisa assures.
"We should probably make ourselves scarce now" Hayate concludes watching Seiichirou down below cursing up at them.
"Good idea. Let's retrieve big brother and return home" Lisa orders.
Back down below, Seiichirou is shaking his fist up at the helicopter which was now hovering away.
"Yeah! Piss right off!" Seiichirou shouts up at the retreating helicopter.
"Yeah! Piss right off!" Miharu parrots her older brother.
"Miharu, please don't use that language" Seiichirou is quick to chastise.
"Sorry" Miharu responds.
"Mom, that was seriously scary!" Kirie says feeling relieved as Nina and Misuzu stand up. "You two sure you're okay?"
"I'm feeling fine" Misuzu says flexing various muscles and joints.
"Same here" Nina says punching the air to demonstrate her excellent health.
"Little Sister Ebi is looking okay too!" Tomoka says while hugging Ebi.
"You two fell from so high up! Almost seems miraculous you two are okay!" Koyomi says with astonishment.
"All about rolling into your falls" Nina teaches, "and it helps that snow isn't that hard."
"E-beam?" Misuzu then asked Tomoka.
"Yup!" Tomoka confirms. "With e-beam, Little Sister Ebi can blast her enemies away!"
Misuzu looks at Tomoka and then at Ebi.
"Oh! Only more reason to love my baby!" Misuzu says hugging Ebi once more.
"Well done Ebi!" Nina praises rubbing Ebi's hair.
The group head back to join Masashi who was presumably wholly absorbed by his craft. On their way back, several small crowds began an applause lauding Nina and Misuzu's efforts against Fukuyama. The small, congratulatory crowds dispersed shortly before they got back to Masashi.
"Hey, welcome back!" Masashi said while putting his finishing touches on a mighty snow castle large enough to allow small children as big as Tomoka to enter.
"What the hell is this!?" Nina asked once catching sight of Masashi's architecture.
"What's it look like Miss Nina?" Masashi asked.
"Cool!" Tomoka suddenly squeaks approaching the entrance to the snow castle.
"Nyahh~!" Ebi joins in on the revelry.
"You girls like it?" Masashi asks.
"This is amazing! Mind if we take a look inside?" Tomoka asks.
"Nothing would make me happier than to let people enjoy my works" Masashi says welcoming Tomoka and Ebi in.
"Oh! Seeing my baby so happy: I don't think there's a greater joy!" Misuzu sung holding her face as Miharu's Snowflake also joined Tomoka and Ebi in entering the structure.
"Picture time!" Nina announces pulling out her phone and taking pictures of Ebi poking her head out of one of castle windows. "This one's going up in my office!" she says assessing photos she had just taken.
"Your hot tub office back in your club?" Maharu teases.
"That's right!" Nina boasts.
"Tomoka" Misuzu begins, "I want a pic of you and your little sister Ebi. Could you please?"
"Like this?" Tomoka says pulling Ebi close for a hug.
"Oh!~ Perfect!~" Misuzu praises taking several pictures with Koyomi too taking several of her own. Snowflake then joins Ebi and Tomoka and even more photos are snapped up.
"By the way, we have yet to settle our score" Nina then spoke up.
"You are correct" Misuzu agrees and the two meet eyes like horns locking in combat.
"Why don't you two just flip a coin for it!" Maharu says, eyes rolling.
"That's boring!" Seiichirou condemned. "How's about Yukinari and I fight for it?"
"Me!? What do I have to do with it!?" Yukinari objects.
"Mom and Nina are so competitive" Kirie remarks.
"You can be competitive too Kirie" Yukinari said. "Maybe you got it from your mom?"
"Or dad" Kirie answers. "He's competitive too" she adds. "Hey! How's about a baseball game?" she then suggested.
"Eh, seems like a bit of work to set up" Nina responds, arms folded.
"So what? It'll be worth it!" Kirie returns.
"Kirie, I think I'm more in the mood for golf" Misuzu reveals. "Would be easier to set up I think."
"Tch! You guys are no fun!" Kirie condemns.
"Baseball!" Ebi suddenly said, her hand raised.
Stunned silence.
"Baseball!" Ebi repeats approaching Kirie's side, her big and green eyes looking up at the brunette.
"Tomo thinks Little Sister Ebi wants to play baseball!" Tomoka speaks up.
"Whoa! Do ya Ebi?" Kirie asks getting down to Ebi's eye level.
Ebi nods eagerly.
"Oh man! She's adorable!" Kirie swoons. "Baseball's so fun, you'll see!"
"You think your love for baseball is starting to rub off on her?" Yukinari asks Kirie.
"Hope so!" Kirie answers before looking Nina and Misuzu's way only to find them in shocked envy.
"You heard our lovely little Ebi" Maharu directs at the two still-stunned surrogate mothers. "Batter up!"
-transition-
Armed with pickaxes, Lilica and Hayate were chiseling away at ice that a frozen-solid Fukuyama was currently buried under.
"My potion seems to have had its desired effect" Lisa said before Kosame handed her a notebook.
"Mistress Lisa, you fed Master Kazuharu some of your vitality potion?" Kosame guessed.
"Indeed! How did you know?" Lisa asked.
"Master Kazuharu did not seem like himself earlier today" Kosame recalled. "He seemed terribly lively."
"That's how I know it worked then!" Lisa boasts before launching into a hearty and triumphant laugh.
"Yes, of course Mistress Lisa" Kosame agreed as warm water was poured on the frozen Fukuyama. "May I ask why?"
"Answer should be obvious!" Lisa responds. "One day, I'm going to perfect the formula and gift it to my soulmate! And then he and I will share the most passionate and memorable night of our lives!" the witch sung before more laughter.
"I wish you the best of luck Mistress Lisa" Kosame said having long gotten used to such plotting from the blonde witch.
Author's note: getting close to the finish of this fic. Thanks for reading up to this point!