Morning.

At least, that's what the faint sunlight breaking through her window curtains was trying to tell her.

Before her alarm clock even went off, Koguma reluctantly sat up from her bed, still holding her blanket tightly around her body. She wanted to go back to sleep, to enjoy the warmth of her mundane bed provided for just a few more minutes. She knew surrendering herself to that level of comfort on a winter morning like this would be a death trap though.

After all, she had school to attend.

Rubbing her eyes and sighing, she knew what she had to do. It wasn't getting any warmer, and each minute wasted delaying the inevitable meant more time wasted.

Might as well get it over with.

The black-haired girl pushed her legs out of the protection of the blanket, placing her socked feet onto the wooden ground below before building enough energy to stand up off her bed.

When the alarm finally went off, Koguma didn't let it go past its second buzz, quickly slamming it to shut up. In doing so, the blanket, the one shield against the cold she had besides her clothes, plopped to the ground. The blanket had to go at some point, but god was it uncomfortable without it.

Without a second thought, the taciturn high schooler darted across her room to grab her school uniform along a chair, which in all honesty, was almost a downgrade from the gray t-shirt and sweatpants she had on. Regardless, she couldn't show up to school in her de-facto pajamas, so that uniform was getting on whether she wanted it or not.

Sigh… It's gonna get worse before it gets better.


After a bitterly cold wardrobe change into her uniform in the bathroom, Koguma was nearly ready to head off for school. She already had her bag packed, her homework done, and her Trangia mess tin filled with rice from last night. There were only two things she needed now: a drink and a jacket to keep her warm throughout the day.

She hated the taste of it, but the cheap instant coffee packets she had mixed in with hot water was the best she was getting in terms of a warm drink. She didn't have enough money to afford even a used coffee maker, and even if she could, she doubted the coffee would be any better.

I should go to Beurre with Reiko after school today.

Dumping a packet of UCC coffee into her bottle, she proceeded to pour hot kettle water and mix the inside with a spoon before closing it shut. The lackluster caffeinated mud water was now done and ready to be consumed.

That left one last thing for Koguma to retrieve before she could set out about her day. Opening her quaint closet, she had three options to work with:

A red, thin bomber jacket with abrasive wool lining, an orange, heavy duty raincoat jacket, or a black, thick hunting jacket. Quite the colorful array of options for sure.

There wasn't any snow or rain on the weekly forecast, so the raincoat could be ruled out. And as much as she personally loved her bomber jacket the most, not even its, let's face it, itchy wool interior was going to provide the warmth necessary for the winter day.

Grabbing the only option left, she put on the bomber jacket as she looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. It was… actually very nice, especially for only ¥5000 at a used surplus store. Koguma not only felt embraced by its warmth, but content with how she looked in it. Her world got the teensiest bit brighter.

It looks kinda cute on me.

Koguma shook her head with a grin, the blush warming her cheeks. No time to think about silly stuff like being cute right now. No time… now… oh, right. School.

The black-haired girl shuffled out of the bathroom once more, grabbing her bag and thermos whilst double checking she had everything she needed. Everything was there, and the keys to her Cub were attached to her pant's belt loop.

Opening the door as the sun showered her in light, Koguma took a moment to give one last look back at her drab apartment. With an earnest smile, the Cub voyager closed and locked the door, ready for what today would bring her.

Ittekimasu.