Pure as Snow

Ichiro was uncertain about how things would unfold.

Several days had passed since he last heard from Izumi, and he wasn't sure if he still held a favorable position in her eyes, given her recent curt behavior towards him.

The most recent substantial message he had received was a picture of Izumi's family gathered around a table laden with a feast of fried chicken on Christmas Eve. In the photo, everyone wore smiles, and laughter echoed through the scene. Even Mizuki, captured in a selfie taken by Izumi over her shoulder, seemed to be in high spirits.

Despite this, her well-wishing for a Merry Christmas was followed by tersely brief and delayed responses to his subsequent messages.

Shaking off the seemingly ended conversation with a wry smile, Ichiro tightened the blanket around himself and shifted his focus back to the random movie he had stumbled upon on TV—a means to distract himself.

His parents had chosen to spend a romantic evening together and had even booked a high-rise hotel suite for the occasion. As a result, Ichiro found himself alone on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, in the dimly lit and chilly house, with nothing but silence enveloping him. The clock had barely struck 9:30 in the evening, and the thought of retiring for the night crossed his mind, although he had no particular destination or activity awaiting him.

But that was a few days ago. At this moment, he stood outside the train station, engrossed in his phone, while he awaited Izumi's arrival. He slid his free hand deeper into his pocket, seeking warmth from the snowflakes drifting down around him. Impatience tugged at him, and he checked his phone again, confirming that it was still early on the morning of January 1st. With a huff, he exhaled, his breath visible in the chilled air. The sky above remained a deep black, indicating that morning was still a considerable time away. Then, finally, he heard it—a sound he had been eagerly anticipating.

“Hey! Ishii! Over here!”

His attention shifted towards the source of the familiar voice. Amidst the bustling crowd on the street, he spotted Izumi, being gently guided by Mizuki just behind her. The sight left him utterly awestruck.

“Sorry, it took us longer to get ready than we thought,” Izumi sighed as she came to a stop right in front of Ichiro. “But hey, we found the kimonos.” As she spoke, she raised her arms, allowing the sleeves of her flowing kimono to dance in the air. The garment displayed shades of purple with intricate floral patterns, transitioning into a delicate pink at its edges. Her hair had been meticulously arranged into an elaborate bun, secured by a long hairpin adorned with a cluster of plum blossoms.

“Yeah, and walking in such restrictive clothing didn't exactly speed up the process,” Mizuki muttered, positioning herself beside her sister. She adjusted her sash as she moved, attempting to find some relief from the constrained outfit. Her kimono predominantly embraced a soft white hue, embellished with flowers and accented with hints of pink. Both women donned traditional clogs and socks, and fur collars draped around their necks to ward off the cold.

Mizuki shifted her attention from her clothing to the young man before her. Her gaze turned cold and disgusted. “Is there a problem?” she quipped, her eyes reflecting her disdain.

Ichiro sat there, his jaw hanging open in sheer astonishment as he absorbed the sight of the two striking women before him, particularly the one who now wore a concerned expression, attempting to conceal herself further in her wheelchair. “Are you OK?” She stammered.

Shaking his head, he chuckled nervously, attempting to alleviate the awkwardness. “Uh, sorry, I was just thinking about how beautiful you look,” he addressed Izumi, his gaze then swiftly shifting to Mizuki to avoid sounding peculiar. “I mean, both of you.”

“Right…” Mizuki retorted, her disgusted gaze making her feelings about his presence abundantly clear.

“R-Really?” Izumi questioned, her cheeks adopting the same rosy hue as her sash. She tugged the fur collar closer to her face, concealing her evident embarrassment.

“Uh, yeah.” He nervously rubbed the back of his head and darted his eyes to his feet. An eternity could have passed between them as they nervously waited for the other to make a move, but neither uttered a word after that.

“Are we going or not?” Mizuki broke through the awkward silence. The two other teens glanced around and noticed that the flow of foot traffic was gradually increasing by the second.

“Y-Yes,” Izumi flustered, unlocking her wheelchair and maneuvering herself into the moving crowd of people. “Let's get going before it's too late.” After watching her disappear into the crowd, Ichiro looked back at Mizuki, who merely shrugged and began to follow her sister.

Shaking his head and gazing up at the sky, he observed the large snowflakes gently descending to the surrounding ground. “Hopefully, the snow stops soon.”

“So what's with this shrine you were talking about?” Mizuki inquired as Ichiro finally caught up with the two sisters.

“It's a very special one, visited by very few people. It's essentially hidden within the city itself,” Izumi spoke with excitement shining in her wide eyes as she continued to propel herself through the crowd. “But supposedly, it offers an absolutely stunning view of the city from the shrine grounds.”

“Sounds intriguing,” Ichiro mused, pondering why he hadn't come across this shrine before.

“I wonder why it's so overlooked if it's that special,” Mizuki murmured quietly. Apparently they shared the same thought.

“It's a bit off the beaten path, requiring a specific route to access it,” Izumi explained. Finishing her explanation, she sharply turned into an alleyway, veering away from the direction most of the New Year's celebrants were headed, and proceeded along its length.

“Are you certain you know the way?” Ichiro inquired, a hint of uncertainty creeping into his thoughts about where this path might lead.

“Yes, it's just through there!” she pointed to an opening at the end of the alleyway. As soon as they passed through, they were struck by the breathtaking sight before them.

It was just as she had described: a pristine shrine surrounded on all sides by towering buildings. However, the shrine's rustic atmosphere contrasted starkly with the imposing concrete structures, creating a compelling juxtaposition.

“I had no idea this was here.” Mizuki gasped as she looked around. The area was bustling with activity, with a mix of visitors and shrine workers. Several makeshift shops lined the edges of the open courtyard, offering a variety of trinkets and treats.

“It's exciting, isn't it?” Izumi bubbled with enthusiasm, her head swiveling to take in the sights all around her.

“Alright, but where's the shrine itself?” Ichiro questioned, scanning the surroundings as he ventured further into the courtyard.

“Huh? You're right.” Mizuki also found herself puzzled in the search for the main building.

“They said it was a bit challenging to reach, but I thought they meant navigating through the back alleys would be tricky,” Izumi mused, pulling out her phone in an attempt to clarify.

However, Ichiro wasn't content to wait for a phone response. He approached an elderly shrine maiden who was futilely sweeping accumulating snow off the main walkway with a traditional broom. “Excuse me, where's the shrine?” he asked the woman straightforwardly.

The shrine maiden bowed in response to his query, inviting them in before answering, “At the far end, you'll find the entrance. I hope you're prepared.” With a bony finger, she indicated the direction and let out a chuckle as she resumed her task.

“Thanks?” Ichiro turned away, a touch of nervousness in his demeanor, pondering the cryptic nature of her words before rejoining the two girls.

After conveying the directions, he led them to the spot she had pointed out. Once there, the true challenge became evident. A series of stone steps lay before them, extending upwards into the sky. There were possibly hundreds of steps—it was difficult to gauge whether he could see the top or if the misty clouds had descended to obscure his view. Lining the path upward, several torii gates whose arches blended together into one long roof to the end up top.

“I think this is what they meant by a challenging shrine,” Izumi succinctly summed up the situation.

“Oh no!” Izumi hurriedly extracted her phone again, swiping frantically. “How could I have missed this? I'm so sorry.” She slouched back and expressed her remorse with a tinge of sadness in her voice. “I didn't come across this information in my research. I suppose we'll have to try another shrine.”

“At this hour, the other shrines are likely to be packed. Are you sure you don't want to just head back home?" Mizuki checked her watch, attempting to reason with her sister.

“I dragged both of you here. It would be a shame not to visit at least one shrine.”

As the two sisters debated their next course of action, Ichiro gazed upward at the seemingly endless flight of steps. He balled his fists, summoning his determination with a long exhale, before making his move.

“Umm, Ishii?” Izumi questioned, casting him an odd look. “Are you alright?”

“Jump on,” he instructed, his body lowered and balanced on one knee, arms extended behind him as if awaiting something to be placed there.

“What do you mean?” Izumi asked, completely baffled by his peculiar behavior.

“You have your heart set on seeing this shrine, don't you?” he asked, his attention still fixed on the steps ahead of him.

“Well, yes, but we could always go to another one,” she responded hesitantly.

“Alright then, it's settled,” Ichiro affirmed, flexing his fingers as if beckoning. “I'll carry you up there myself.”

“What on earth are you talking about?” Izumi stammered, her expression morphing into one of mild horror as she watched him.

“Don't you remember?” He turned to look at her, meeting her gaze. “If there's anywhere you want to go, I promise to be your legs and take you there myself.”

Izumi sat there, stunned and motionless, her eyes widening. “I…” she began but struggled to find the right words for a while. “I thought you were just saying that to keep me company.”

“Maybe I was back then. But I'm being serious now,” he stated, shuffling backward to get closer to Izumi. “Now come on, it's cold, and my knee is getting soaked.”

Uncertainly, Izumi looked around, unsure of what to do next. Mizuki wasn't much help, responding with a disgusted look and a shrug of her shoulders.

Taking a deep breath, Izumi hesitantly reached forward, gripping his shoulders and pulling herself onto his back. In a fluid motion, he secured his arms under her legs and straightened up. The sudden movement caught Izumi off guard, causing her to wrap her arms tightly around his neck. “Hold on tight," he said, looking over his shoulder before returning his gaze to the path ahead.

Just as they reached the first step, he had to readjust his hold on her, causing her to press in closer against his neck. The journey had barely begun, yet she could already sense the warmth emanating from his body. Oddly, despite the freezing air around them, the proximity to him felt reassuring.

“I'm not too heavy, am I?” she mumbled into his neck.

“Not at all, I've got this.”

However, she could discern the struggle he was facing. Despite the frigid winter air, he was perspiring with every slow and deliberate step. Progress was cautiously slow, and the slippery snow-covered stairs only hindered him further.

“Just put me down for a moment and rest. You don't have to do this,” she pleaded, sensing his breath growing more labored.

“No… I promise… you,” he panted, adjusting his grip on her once more. “I'm… alright.” And onward, he continued his ascent.

Their journey continued for several agonizing minutes. He would occasionally pause for a brief moment to catch his breath, but he never set her down, despite her continued protests. She clung to his back, her fingers gripping his shoulders, while his scent began to embed itself in her mind. She could feel herself begin to burn just as much as he was. But she just wished it was contained to just her cheeks, though this one started deep in her chest and took control of her whole body.

As they ascended, the snowfall ceased, making his progress slightly less treacherous. After a few more minutes of relentless effort, the end of the staircase finally came into view. Upon reaching the top step, Ichiro leaned forward, his chest heaving, sweat glistening on his face. Before him stood the shrine, a simple traditional structure, adorned with stone statues lining a short pathway leading to the offering box and red and white ropes to summon the gods.

Honestly it was quite boring and plain to Ichiro, who winced in disbelief at how simple it all was.

Despite the modest appearance of the shrine, Izumi gasped in awe, her arms still tightly wrapped around his shoulders. “It's so breathtaking up here.”

“I suppose,” Ichiro sighed, a hint of disbelief in his voice. He had undertaken this journey for her, and he had no intention of dampening her enthusiasm.

“Not the shrine!” She shook him slightly, urging him to turn around. Carefully adjusting his footing, he pivoted to face the other direction. And at that moment, it became apparent to him why she was so overwhelmed.

They were situated high above most of the buildings, with the ground dropping away into a distant valley. At the farthest reaches of their vision, the horizon was ablaze with the crimson light of the rising sun, piercing through the remnants of the milky clouds. Ichiro's jaw dropped at the sheer magnificence of the panorama before him.

“It's beautiful, isn't it?” Izumi whispered into his ear.

Even though her warm breath brushing his skin made his ear feel like it was aflame, he could only find the strength to nod in agreement.

Suddenly, Izumi shifted, and he felt a soft warmth press against his cheek. His heart raced as he realized what she had just done. A surge of warmth spread through his entire body. “I-I just wanted to thank you for this,” she whispered again, nuzzling into his shoulder.

This was her only chance. If she was going to make her own decisions and let nothing hold her back, now was the only time she had. But she struggled to get the words out. So instead, she buried her forehead against his spine and spoke into the back of his chest. “I love you.”

Ichiro heard her speak that final sentence, but due to how heavy his heart was pounding, he wasn’t sure if he heard it right. His face was completely on fire as he felt his heart about to break his rib cage how elated he was if it was true. With his breath seemingly caught in his chest, words escaped him. Instead, he continued to gaze towards the rising sun from their vantage point.

There was one thing that was shared between them both at this moment. A feeling that neither of them wanted it to end.