It was her first New Years after graduating from High School. Satou Sei wasn't sure how she really felt about it. It was true that she was still attending classes within the grounds of Lillian, but the feeling was not quite the same. Something today though had drawn her back towards that familiar statue of Maria-sama, despite the holiday. She ran a hand through her cropped blonde hair and grinned wryly as she nodded her head in acknowledgement of the school's benefactor.

A cold gust of wind blew through the area, causing her to shiver involuntarily. Sei was suddenly reminded of last year. The whole Yamayurikai had gathered at Sachiko's house to celebrate the New Year. It had been fun. A grin crept on Sei's face as she remembered some of the antics of that night. For a brief moment she missed her high school life.

Something cold and wet touched her forehead, followed by another. Blinking, Sei glanced up at the sky to see snow slowly drifting towards her. She was reminded then of another New Years. Two years past. She had also spent that day with Maria-sama, though her thoughts had been bitter.

Absently, Sei touched her chest over where her heart would be. Even after two years, she could still feel the pain. Of course it had dulled over the years. As her Onee-sama had said, all wounds eventually heal. Yet the mark Shiori had left on her had been deep. Closing her eyes, Sei turned her face up to the sky, letting the fresh snow tickle her face as the memories washed over her.

She had spent hours at the statue glaring at the face of Maria-sama. It had been misplaced blame, but at that point, nothing had really mattered.

Her coat and hair were covered in a thin layer of snow. She didn't care. The snowflakes were the tears she would no longer shed for Shiori. Her frozen tears that would be forever locked away inside of her. Let them cover her. Maybe then her heart would freeze as well and she would not have to feel...

"Sei." She turned, surprised at the voice, yet did not say anything in response. The dark-haired girl merely smiled at her and said…

"You'll catch a cold standing here like this." Sei opened her eyes, startled out of her reverie. She spun around, wondering if she had imagined the voice. Yet she had not. Standing a few feet away was the ever calm and collected Mizuno Youko.

"Youko. What are you doing here?" Youko merely gave Sei one of her usual secretive smiles. Unexpectedly, Sei felt a surge of emotion flood her. She hadn't realized how much she had missed the other girl until now. After all, Youko had always been there for her. Even on that day...

"It's been a while, hasn't it? I wasn't expecting to see you here." Youko said, after a pause. Sei nodded her head mutely. "Maybe Maria-sama called us both out here today."

"Maybe." Sei said. The nostalgia was gone then. She flashed a quick grin, before she closed the gap between her and Youko. Slinging an arm around the other girl's shoulder, she headed them both towards the gates of the school. "I feel like coffee."

As the two old friends walked away from the statue that had guided them for years, Sei said a silent prayer in thanks for being able to have met Youko in her life.