♥ 13. [ RL with Souji ]

[satellite_idol]

[ Rise ran to check her makeup in the bathroom mirror one last time before taking up her place in the front of the shop, watching out the window for Souji's arrival. The fog was gone, the virus was over, and she was going to spend time with Souji just the two of them in a way that might possibly become a date if you looked at it the right way. Yep

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[follow_the_fool]

[ Souji was bundled up a little more heavily than usual; a scarf, hat, and gloves were all sported in addition to his normal winter apparel. He approached the tofu shop from the lower route, ice skates slung over his shoulder. ]

[satellite_idol]

[ she saw him approaching and came outside, carrying a skating bag. It was probably lucky that her grandma had found a pair in the attic. ] Sempai! You're right on time!

[follow_the_fool]

[ Souji greets her with a smile and a little wave. It's definitely chilly out, but his body is shivering more with excitement than cold. He may not be the world's greatest skater, but it's always been something he's enjoyed. ]

I try my best.

[satellite_idol]

So where are we going? I figured you'd know someplace, so I didn't look anything up!

[follow_the_fool]

I asked my Uncle right after we talked... Apparently, if you keep following the road parallel to the river, you'll run across a couple of decent-sized ponds. They completely freeze over in the winter.

[satellite_idol]

Oh, I know where that is! I took some walks over there in the summer. Let's get going! [ and she starts off down the road, half-trotting in excitement ]

[follow_the_fool]

[ Souji smiles as he watches her take off, trademark pigtails bouncing with every step. After readjusting his grip on his skates, he jogs the short distance to catch up. ]

I like when it's cold enough to see your own breath.

[satellite_idol]

[ blows out a cloud of her own breath, then giggles ] I always thought winter was just a cold slushy pain in the city, but it's so pretty with all the snow here!

[follow_the_fool]

Yeah...

[ Souji trails off as he takes a moment to truly appreciate the sentiment behind what she's saying. All around them, the way the sun filters through the snow and ice crystals... Absolutely breathtaking. ]

It's a bit like being a kid again, isn't it? Seeing snow for the first time.

[satellite_idol]

Gosh, I don't even remember what that was like! All I know is that I didn't get to play outside as much as I wanted back then, so this is wa~ay better.

[follow_the_fool]

[ They reached the edge of the inner-town and turned onto the road that ran alongside the river bank. Souji squinted ahead, spotting a few other figures milling around in the distance. ]

I wonder if we'll have the place to ourselves or not... There are a lot of kids who live around this area.

[satellite_idol]

Hmm... I'd like to have it to ourselves, of course, but if kids were there skating too, that would be pretty cute!

[follow_the_fool]

[ Souji nods his head in agreement. ] Yeah... It would be. I might have to come back with Nanako some time.

[ He glances over at her.] Are you nervous?

[satellite_idol]

I'm just excited! [ grins up at him ] It always looks like so much fun when I see it on TV!

[follow_the_fool]

I know what you mean... I've never actually skated outside like this... Just indoors, at a rink.

[satellite_idol]

I never learned as a kid, and then I was kinda too famous to just go to a skating rink-- Oh! Is that it? [ pointing eagerly ahead to a small, frozen-over pond ]