Bonus Chapter!

Chapter 9: Frost-bite.

The crunching of snow fills the air as a girl runs. Her panting heavy, but determined. The cold air rips across her face, feeling like daggers across her cheeks. She stops in front of a run-down looking house, and catches her breath, hunching over a bit and holding her knees. She perks up after, and a big smile spreads on her face. She walks up to the door and knocks a few times.

The door opens, and a tall man looks down at her, his figure looming over her like a giant. Even in the heavy wind, she can smell the alcohol on him. With his shirt messy and stained, and his pants equally ripped up, he looks like an absolute wreck.

"You that Kumiko girl?"

The little girl's face lights up. She nods, her movement being limited by the multiple heavy layers of clothes and coats she has on. Her coat hoodie covers her hair, and her big, wide, whiskey brown eyes look full of excitement.

"Yeah! Is Mayumi home? Can she play!?"

The man sighs and turns his head back into the house.

"Mayumi! Get your ass over here, your friends here!"

Kumiko's expression falters a bit. Mayumi's dad seems… scary. It's a big difference from her dad, who's compassionate and kind. Both of them are firm, but Mayumi's dad is like that in a… different way. Much more mean spirited.

Little footsteps quickly patter through the house as a girl wearing a thrown together outfit of black joggers and a white shirt runs to the door. Her brown hair is long, and goes down her back in an uncombed mop.

"Kumiko?"

Kumiko smiles extremely wide and waves to Mayumi, her hands covered with mittens.

"Hi! Wanna play at the park!?"

Mayumi grins and nods.

"Yeah! Sounds like fun!"

Her dad quietly walks away, back to the living room. He doesn't even acknowledge the fact that Mayumi is leaving. Mayumi seems to not care but it makes Kumiko confused. She doesn't get why her dad's so different. Mayumi quickly grabs Kumiko's arm and pulls her in.

"Don't get all cold, stay in here while I grab my stuff."

Mayumi smiles and quickly turns, there's a rack near the door with coats and hats and such on it, and a pile under it with random clothes thrown about. Kumiko walks over as Mayumi grabs stuff out of the pile and begins to put it on.

"Don't you have to pick this stuff up?"

"Huh? No, not really. My dad doesn't care."

Kumiko's little eyes widen, surprised at all of this. Mayumi had such a different life than her. She watches Mayumi bundle up with a coat, hat, boots, and an extra pair of pants. It's a lot less than her layers of clothes, but she felt maybe her mom went a little overboard with them. Mayumi finishes it off with a big scarf, patterned with black, red, and orange.

"Okay! All done!"

Kumiko's face lights up, and she nods.

"Yay! Okay, let's go! I'll lead the way!"

They both leave and Mayumi closes the door behind her. The cold wind instantly crashes against them but they don't mind it. They begin to trek through the snow, the wind crashing against them as they walk. They both stay close and talk to each other.

"...Um, Mayumi?"

"Yeah?"

"Your dad's scary. He's not like mine…"

Mayumi blinks a few times. She never really thought about anyone else's parents.

"Really? Dad's always just been dad… he's just like that. I don't think he's scary, he's just a lazy bum."

Kumiko's eyes widen as Mayumi insults her dad, but she begins to laugh a little.

"You're funny! I never heard someone make fun of their dad."

Mayumi's face lights up and she gets a big grin. She puts her hands behind her head and looks ahead.

"Just because he's my dad doesn't mean he's spared from me!"

After a little more walking they both get to a small park. It's got a playset for kids, but it's absolutely covered in snow and ice. Behind the park is a small riverbank, with the water completely frozen over with ice. Mayumi grins and runs over to the set, quickly walking up it and not checking for ice. Kumiko runs over and begins talking a bit frantically.

"H-Hey, don't fall, there's probably ice!"

Mayumi waves off her concern and stands at the top, and still has the same grin on her face. She looks down at Kumiko.

"I'm fine! Come on, what's the point of coming here if we're not gonna do anything?"

Kumiko looks up at Mayumi, and feels something in her heart. Mayumi was always so confident in herself, and it was almost contagious to Kumiko when she saw it. She felt like Mayumi was the coolest person in the entire world, and that everything she had heard bad about her from the other kids was all made up.

"I guess you're right… hold on!"

Kumiko smiles and quickly follows, walking up with Mayumi. They both mess around and go down the slides, laughing and picking up snow to throw at each other the entire time. They both eventually find themselves on the swings, swaying back and forth, the wind helping them. Kumiko looks over at Mayumi and sees her long hair flying around wildly as the wind hits it.

"Hey, Mayumi?"

"Yeah?"

Kumiko's cheeks turn a little more red and she plants her feet in the snow to stop the swing. Her gloved hands play with each other a bit.

"Do… Do you like short or long hair?"

"Huh?"

Mayumi puts her boots in the snow to stop swinging and look over at Kumiko. Kumiko's voice sounds a little flustered and she stammers a little with a small smile.

"I-I mean, I've seen those fashion magazines and I was wondering if you like short or long hair…"

"Huh…"

Mayumi crosses her arms and thinks for a second.

"I guess I like long hair. Really stupid and annoying trying to keep it straight though. I like how it looks so it's worth it. What about you?"

"I like short hair. I think it's really pretty."

Kumiko smiles widely when she says this, and Mayumi feels a pang in her chest at the sight of it. She never really felt anything like how she's feeling before, and she tries to shrug it off.

"A-Anyway, let's go to the water! I'm gonna go slide on the ice!"

Mayumi gets off the swing and turns quickly, walking towards the riverbank. Kumiko panics a bit and quickly runs after her.

"Hey, don't do that! What if it breaks!?"

"C'mon, it won't break! I do this all the time!"

In no time at all, both of them are down by the river. They look down at the frozen water, and Mayumi puts her hands on her sides, a cocky grin forming on her lips.

"Watch me! Nothings gonna happen!"

Mayumi suddenly darts onto the ice and Kumiko throws a hand out to try and grab her, but isn't fast enough. Her hand reels back to her chest as she watches Mayumi slide across the ice. Mayumi laughs triumphantly and changes directions, her boots rubbing against the ice to change it.

"See!? Told ya it's fine! It's fun, take my hand!"

Kumiko's eyes widen, it really does look fun. Plus, the added offer of holding her hand seems really nice to her for some reason. A smile spreads across her face and she hesitantly reaches a hand out towards Mayumi, as she slides back over to her. But as she does, a groaning can be heard from the ice below.

Crack.

Crack.

Snap.

The ice suddenly falls apart beneath Mayumi, a gasp fumbling out of her lips. She falls into the below freezing water, and water splashes everywhere. The river isn't deep, so Mayumi is just sitting in it.

"Awww!"

The ice cold water covers Mayumi, and she feels the cold flooding her body. She groans and begins to stand, but suddenly she hears more ice breaking as boots stomp across it, and then two hands pull her up desperately. Kumiko didn't even think, she just ran into the river to try and help Mayumi up, her face panicked. Mayumi's eyes widen in disbelief.

"Wha- What are you doing!? Don't get in here!"

"Be quiet! Come on, get out of the water!"

Before Mayumi can even respond, Kumiko is basically dragging her by her arms out of the water. Her little arms work overtime to drag Mayumi up the slope to the ground again.

"Oh no, you're gonna get frost-bite!"

Kumiko suddenly begins taking off one of her coats. Mayumi puts her hands out and quickly tries to tell her she doesn't need it.

"H-Hey! I'm not gonna get that frost-night thing!"

"Frost-bite, dummy!"

Kumiko very quickly forces the extra coat onto Mayumi, who she can feel is shivering. Mayumi keeps playing it off though.

"I don't need this thing!"

"Yes you do! Come on!"

Kumiko suddenly grabs Mayumi's arm and begins dragging her again. Mayumi stammers a bit.

"Where are you even going!?"

"To my home! We have this big bathhouse, and it'll make you all warm! No more frost-bite."

Mayumi's cheeks flush a little more. She feels a warmth spread in her chest at how much Kumiko seems to care about her. A sneeze flies out of her lips and Kumiko looks even more concerned.

"You're gonna get sick!"

"Stop worrying! I can handle it!"

Kumiko feels both annoyed at how stubborn Mayumi is, but an odd warmth to it as well. She really likes that about her. Mayumi looks at Kumiko's face and notices a little water on it still. Suddenly she uses her free hand to unwrap the scarf around her neck and pull back on Kumiko's hand. They both stop and before Kumiko can ask why, Mayumi is fumbling the scarf around her neck.

"You gave me this big dumb coat, so you take my scarf!"

"What!? You fell in the water-"

"And you jumped in too! I know you're cold, so shut up and just take it!"

Kumiko's little eyes widen, but she smiles at the gesture. Her hand moves back down finding its place on Mayumi's, their mittened hands holding each other. Kumiko's cheeks are completely flushed red, and she doesn't know why. She really likes having Mayumi's scarf on her, and she buries her face down a bit more to cover it.

The wind cries against the snow covered trees as they finally get onto the street Kumiko lives on. Kumiko sees her house and begins to run, pulling Mayumi even more.

"We're here! You need to get in before the frost-bite gets you!"

Mayumi just sighs and runs with her. She looks up and sees the Fujiwara Sentō sign above a building. They run under the cloth that hangs from the top of the entrance and Kumiko's eyes flick over to the counter. Kumiko's mother perks up and before she can speak, Kumiko is talking a mile a minute.

"Mayumi fell in the river! We need to get her in the bath! Is it set up!?"

Her mother's face turns more panicked and she nods.

"Yes, we-"

Kumiko begins dragging Mayumi again, pulling her towards the woman's washroom. Mayumi stumbles and follows her.

"Stop dragging me everywhere, I'm getting sick of it!"

Kumiko pants heavily as she lets go of Mayumi. They're in the washroom now. Kumiko talks and pumps her fists out a bit to try and get some energy back.

"Leave your clothes and stuff by the door and we'll dry them! I'll give you some of my clothes to wear!"

Before Mayumi can stammer out a refusal to that, Kumiko is already closing the door and leaving. Mayumi groans and sighs, looking around.

"It's nicer than the Sentō near my house…"

Kumiko runs next door to her actual house, barging through the front door and running to her room in the back. Her dad hears the commotion and quickly looks into Kumiko's room to see her digging through her drawers.

"What's happening!?"

"Mayumi fell in the river! Her clothes are all wet and she's cold! I'm giving her some of my stuff to wear."

Her dad sighs and shakes his head.

"Did you run in too? Your pants are all wet…"

Kumiko runs past him holding a giant pile of clothes.

"I'm okay! I'm not as cold as she was, I'll warm up at the Sentō in a bit!"

Some time passes. After about a half hour, Mayumi is out and standing in the lobby, wearing Kumiko's clothes she gave her.

Mayumi looks down at what she's wearing. She groans.

"It's so girly! Why did you pick this stuff out, Kumiko!?"

Kumiko's eyes widen and she looks down guiltily.

"I only have clothes like that…"

Mayumi feels a twinge in her chest, and feels bad for being angry about it.

"Er, it's not that bad… they're comfy. Thanks for helping, Kumiko…"

Kumiko looks up and a small smile spreads across her face. Mayumi sees it and quickly looks to the side, embarrassed.

"...And thanks for helping me out of the river. I had fun at the park, sorry I ruined it or whatever…"

"You didn't ruin it! I had fun too!"

Mayumi looks back over at Kumiko's smiling face, and smiles herself. The warmth of the room is just as warm as how they feel being with each other.

"Yeah, well, next time I won't fall in the stupid river! And I'll actually help you slide around it!"

"Okay! I really wanted to, so I'm excited!"

A cocky grin spreads across Mayumi's face, as opposed to the warm one on Kumiko's. They both hear footsteps and both Kumiko's mom and dad walk into the Sentō. Her dad speaks up.

"Hey, nice to meet you Mayumi."

"Oh… uh, hey."

Mayumi tries to bow but she doesn't really know how to be proper, and just kind of nods at them. Kumiko's dad laughs and waves his hand dismissively.

"No need to be proper. Anyone who's friends with Kumiko is like family. Kumiko, take her to your room, we need to open. There's some customers standing out in the cold and I don't want to argue with them."

"O-Oh! Right! Come on, Mayumi! I'll show you my room!"

Mayumi shrugs and puts her hands behind her head, beginning to follow her.

"You're so pushy…"

They both run outside into the cold and dart into Kumiko's house since they don't have coats on or anything.

Mayumi feels a comfortable warmth from being around Kumiko and her family. Everyone's so caring and seems so happy, and Mayumi feels at home even though it's her first time with them. The entire rest of the day is spent messing around in Kumiko's room until it's time to go home.

Mayumi stands by the doorway all bundled up in her coat and is wearing an extra one from the Fujiwara's. She can barely even put her arms down. Kumiko, her mom, and her dad all smile at Mayumi as she opens the door. Her mom speaks gently.

"Thanks for spending time with Kumiko. Don't be a stranger, come by whenever you want to, okay? We'll even let you use the sentō for free."

Mayumi grins at that.

"Alright! That sounds nice since the one by my house sucks. I'll come by soon, see you at school, Kumiko!"

Kumiko waves and laughs happily.

"Yeah! See you later!"

Mayumi walks out and waves a little as she closes the door. She sighs and looks up to the cloudy, darkening sky. She begins to run back home as the cold cuts daggers across her face, excited to spend more time with Kumiko again soon.

Authors notes:

Thought Kumiko and Mayumi should get a chapter about them... so here we are. I took the whole small flashback where Yusuke fell into the river and got sick, and spun it around into making it a whole chapter. Thought it was fun to write! Next chapter won't be a bonus one, so back to the main plot.