Fuutarou kept looking to his side, making sure that his arm wasn't making Miku uncomfortable. But something else was making him more anxious.

Fuutarou:"I hope your sisters took the bait."

Miku:"Me too. No doubt they wouldn't listen unless I did something this extreme. As much as I appreciate it…"

Miku leaned on Fuutarou causing a slight jolt.

Miku:"I want it to be just us."

Fuutarou:"Miku…"

Fuutarou took out a note, making sure that she didn't see.

Fuutarou:"Okay, why don't we walk around the park? It should be completely white with snow."

Miku:"Sure. The lake being frozen would make for a good ice rink. We should get ice skates."

Fuutarou:"G-Go on the frozen lake!? That's dangerous! What if it breaks and you get trapped!?"

Miku:"Kidding. We should go to one on another date!"

Fuutarou:"Another date...Yeah."

Miku:"Besides, if it happened, I'd count on you to save me."

Fuutarou:"Of course I would, no matter what."

Miku smiled, but not before noticing his face of concern. With that, they went walking together in the park. In a way, everything being covered in pure white snow made it into its own kind of beauty. During the middle of their walk, Fuutarou took out his phone.

Fuutarou:"Alright, pose for the camera."

Miku did so, showing a peace sign.

Miku:"What about you? We can always take one together."

Fuutarou:"Ah...Can't say I'm too comfortable being on the receiving end."

Miku:"Hmmmmm…"

Miku stared at an increasingly worrying Fuutarou. She then took out her own phone and started taking pictures.

Fuutarou:"H-Hey!"

Miku:"I'm going to frame these on my wall!"

Fuutarou:"Oh yeah!? I'll print yours out and cover the damn city with them!"

The two continued their picture war until they got tired. Once they sat down, Miku looked at hers.

Miku:"Most of these are blurry...You've won this battle."

Fuutarou:"Is that so…?"

Miku:"But I'm taking you down with me!"

She then grabbed his arm and took a selfie with both of them.

Miku:"Now that looks good!"

Fuutarou:"Y-You!"

Miku went close to him and whispered.

Miku:"How are you gonna outdo me now, huh? Will you take one of us kissing? If so, my mouth is more than willing."

Fuutarou:"D-Don't say that in public!"

Miku:"No one will hear us."

Fuutarou:"The park isn't a place to do such things…"

As if on cue, a couple sat down on a nearby bench and immediately began making out. The sudden sight made Fuutarou and Miku blush and walk away. As they were walking away, Miku took a glance at Fuutarou.

Miku:[I heard some very concerning noises. I wonder if he'll do that to me one day.]

Fuutarou:"Miku."

Miku then covered her mouth out of reflex.

Miku:"Y-Yes?"

Fuutarou:"You keep staring at my mouth. You're not planning on trying those things, are you?"

Miku:"E-Eh? You say that like I'm the pervert."

Fuutarou:"Says the one with an entire fantasy planned out."

Miku:"That was just…!"

The flustered quint attempted to explain her way out of it as the two kept walking. One that was over, a big gust of wind went through the whole park, causing them to brace from the impact. Fuutarou put his hands in his pockets in an attempt to protect his hands, something that Miku picked up on. The gust of wind finally passed, letting the two relax. Fuutarou took out his hands, which were clearly affected and tried to warm them up with his breath.

Fuutarou:"That was cold as hell."

Miku:"You forgot your gloves?"

Fuutarou:"Nah, I gave the pair I have to Raiha."

Miku:"Then, want me to buy you another pair?"

Fuutarou:"No, you shouldn't do that for me. Especially when I have enough money."

Miku:"Then why don't you buy another pair?"

Fuutarou:"It'd be a waste of money!"

Miku:"How stubborn."

After some thinking, Miku got an idea. She took off her left glove and handed it to Fuutarou.

Fuutarou:"I'm not taking your gloves either."

Miku:"Don't worry, I'll get something nice in return."

She then grabbed his right hand and locked fingers with it.

Miku:"This will be enough for me."

Fuutarou blushed before succumbing to the request.

Fuutarou:"If you really want to."

Miku:"Hehe."

Fuutarou:[Her hand feels warm.]

The two finished their walk holding hands. Once they made the full trip, they noticed an area with more snow than usual. Some kids were throwing snowballs at each other. Miku found a spot with no one around and took Fuutarou with her. Once they got there, she laid down on the snow.

Fuutarou:"Eh? Is that fine?"

Miku:"Come and join me."

Fuutarou:"Alright…"

Fuutarou got on the snow very reluctantly.

Fuutarou:"This feels really odd."

Miku:"You've never played with snow?"

Fuutarou:"No, as nice as snow looks, I can't say I'm the biggest fan. Especially with how slippery the ice can get."

Miku noticed Fuutarou's face change once again.

Miku:"Fuutarou. Did something happen for you to be wary of ice?"

Fuutarou sat up suddenly.

Fuutarou:"Is it that obvious?"

Miku:"Even if it wasn't, I could tell something was wrong."

Fuutarou:"That's…"

Miku put her arms around him.

Miku:"If you don't want to share, it's fine. But you'll probably feel better."

Fuutarou:"...When I was a kid, Raiha and I almost drowned as our car slid right into a frozen lake. Our mom saved us but it left an impression. But despite that, I vowed to learn to swim in the case that happened." [That came real handy when I fell off the boat that time Itsuki's 'Rena' met me. Now that I think about it, this is that very park that happened in.]

Miku:"Your mom…"

Fuutarou:"I really thought I was going to die. I felt something similar when I stopped being your tutor. I lost all rational thought as I slipped. But then…"

Fuutarou remembered that day vividly.

Fuutarou:"All five of you jumped in without hesitation. That sight, it reminded me of mom. In that moment, the confidence I lost came rushing back. I'm still wary of that situation, but...you girls helped change me that day."

Miku:"So that's what happened."

Fuutarou:"It was just an accident, but you know…"

Miku:"Your only experience is negative. Then…"

Miku got up and made a snowball, which she handed to Fuutarou.

Miku:"Let's make a new memory. One that you can look back at and smile!"

Fuutarou looked at the snowball in his hands. He was hesitant, but he got up as well.

Fuutarou:[Mom didn't save us so we could live in fear. I'll live the life she lived to my fullest.] "Watch out, Miku!"

Fuutarou threw the ball, causing Miku to dodge.

Fuutarou:"You made a mistake leaving your glove on me! Now I can throw without holding ba-"

His speech was interrupted with a snowball to the face.

Miku:"S-Sorry!"

Miku approached Fuutarou, who took advantage of the situation and dragged Miku to the ground.

Fuutarou:"Now you can't escape!"

Miku:"Why you!"

The two continued their snowball fight. The sun slowly passed overhead as the couple laughed. The sun was eventually blocked by approaching clouds. Once again, the couple were out of strength and plopped into the snow.

Fuutarou:"You have way too much stamina now."

Miku:'Not as much as you!"

Fuutarou:"...Thank you, Miku."

Miku:"What's there to thank? We just had fun."

Fuutarou:"Yeah...We did."

Miku got up and stretched. As Fuutarou looked at her, he suddenly remembered something and looked at the time. A few hours had passed, but his note only had the walk in the park for one hours.

Fuutarou:[Crap, I went over the time...But…]

Miku:"What is it?"

Fuutarou:"Nothing. I just thought it'd be nice if we saw a movie."

Miku:"Oh! There's a movie that I'm interested in!"

Fuutarou:"Let's see that one then."

Fuutarou offered his right hand for Miku to hold, which she happily accepted. As they were leaving the park, Fuutarou threw away his note in the trash.

Fuutarou:[It doesn't matter as long as we have fun together.]

End of Chapter 137