The great blue sky was a memory of yesterday as cold clouds rolled in, and with them, they brought a simple yet enchanting miracle of science. Dawn revealed a winter wonderland that decorated the entire metropolis. To some, it is a nuisance. But to others, a memory filled with excitement, joy, happiness, and perhaps love. The chilly atmosphere emphasized the warmth that radiates from us, whether physical or emotional. And when a window opened in a particular sweets shop, a hand reached out; a snowflake fell unto it, then she smiled. She smiled like always. A smile that can potentially melt every glacier floating about around the polar ice cap. "Hah, SNO—"

"Onee-chan, we're going to be late!" But if anything is going to melt the glaciers, it will be her younger sister's wrath...

"Mou, you're always like this. Haven't you learned anything?"

"Sorry, sorry... I kinda got too excited when I saw the amount of snowfall," Honoka apologetically laughed as she rubbed the back of her head.

"We get to see snow every year; what difference does it make?" Yukiho pouted, walking a bit faster as not to be late for class. But Honoka stopped, snowflakes falling bit by bit. One landed on her outstretched hand as she reminisced the day that ultimately led Muse to victory. "That song... We wrote it. Together."

Yukiho stared at her sister then smiled. "A fond memory, huh? I still remember how good it was. The way the audience was listening and watching you all perform, it was magical."

A blanket of nostalgia covered these two recalling the precious days of the now-disbanded Muse. What that group did was - no doubt - unforgettable to the people that admired them. Truly a cherished experience. Despite being a cold day, that song warmed the hearts of many, like how one girl's smile warmed the heart of a particularly-lucky person. Sighing, Honoka looked at the sky. "Shall we go?" Yukiho nodded.

The light snowfall came to a halt as the daylight welcomed its orange hue, the busy streets littered with students going about their post-school business. Some, still venturing into the ever-lively city of Tokyo while others are walking home, either to rest from a tiring day of school or to torture themselves with more studying. But one such student wanted to satisfy their craving, not only for some special Homura-made treat but also the affection of someone who has captured their heart. Each step on the snowy sidewalk, a crunch, the sole of their shoe gets buried in the snow; every second gets them closer to their favorite sweets shop. And as the familiar store came into view, a familiar voice reached their ears. "Ah, Aki-kun!"

Naturally, anyone would turn their head if their name got called. However, if your name got hollered by someone who you're close with, you'd maybe want to prank them a little, no? The young man continued walking, turning to a corner that led away from Homura. Confused, Honoka chased after him, then as she turned the corner, a sudden "boo" was all it took to startle her. "Wah!"

The boy giggled, much to the dismay of his lover, "Good afternoon, Honoka-chan."

"Hmph," was her only answer. Well, that and her annoyed face.

"Oh, c'mon, don't be like that," Aki smiled, lifting a bag in his hand to show it to her. "If it makes you feel better, I brought some strawberry mochi here to share with you."

"Aww, shucks, you should've said so!" Her eyes lit up. "Come, come! Let's go in."

The pair went into the sweets shops - also the Kousaka household - greeting Honoka's parents before they went into her room, a kotatsu stealing his glance. Placing the bag of mochi on it, the two got into the cozy table sitting next to each other. The heat from the lamp underneath warmed their cold bodies as silence filled the room until he spoke. "So, how was your day?"

"Ugh," Honoka slouched, laying her head on the table, looking at him. "Tiring. Umi-chan scolded me again for eating 'too much.'"

Aki giggled, "Can't blame her. Just a moment ago, you were mad at me until I showed you some treats."

Honoka pouted; it seemed like the world was against her diet. "Mou! Not you too!"

"Relax," Aki said as he opened the bag of mochi. "Here."

"Feed me."

"Haah, it can't be helped," The boy picked up the sweet treat and fed his partner, a gentle smile on his face. "You're like a huge baby."

He picked up another one, and as he fed it to her, Honoka bit his finger. "Ouch! What was that for!?"

She let out a snicker and a grin - which made him slightly regret being mad at her. "Apologize."

"No, hihihi."

He raised his eyebrow at her, closing the bag of mochi. "Hmm~ I guess that's enough for now. We wouldn't want Umi-chan to get angry at your unhealthy lifestyle, right~?"

"Wha— no!" The orange-haired girl protested. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"Feed me."

"Huh?"

"I'll forgive you when you feed me some mochi," Aki teased. Honoka obliged, picking up the strawbelicious treat popping it into his mouth when suddenly he grabbed her hand and kissed her fingers. "Thanks~"

The action promptly gave the girl a slight tint of pink on her cheeks, her mind still processing what happened as it relives the sensation of her lover's lips. Then an idea struck her, "C-Can you do that again, but not on my fingers..?"

They both blushed at her bold remark. Honoka, immediately realizing what she carelessly said, quickly tried to convince him to forget about it, but to no avail. Looking at her with a pale red painted across his face, his hand cupped her left cheek. Hearing a quiet gulp, breathing, and the pounding of hearts as they inched closer to each other. She shut her eyes, anticipating the expected until a soft feeling touched her lips. 'Sweet,' she thought.

"Sweet—!?" Honoka opened her eyes to see Aki holding a mochi to where her lips were. Seeing him slightly grin, she gave him a sharp stare as she pouted, turning her head away from him. But before she could, the boy cupped her cheeks once again, and then, their lips met. Their faces turned bright crimson, and her eyes widened to the unexpected but closed shortly after. Both of their minds turned to mush as they prolonged the sweet moment as long as they could. Honoka was first to part, her eyes locked unto his. The two stared at each other affectionately until they kissed again, this time much shorter. A 'celebratory kiss' of sorts. "Is that enough for you to forgive me from that little teasing?"

"No," Honoka smiled, sliding over to her companion, cuddling him as she lay her head on his shoulders. The young man sighed, lips curving upward while wrapping his arms around her.

"Give me mochi," she beamed.