Yuki No Furu Machi (The City Where Snow Falls)

Back home, on a quiet night, Naomi was lying on her bed, her face hidden between the sheets. Dejected by what had happened with Kotaro, she held her phone in her hand, seeking comfort in a conversation with a friend via chat.

Naomi: I'm good for nothing... everything goes wrong for me ☹.

Friend: Don't say that, Naomi. You are a person with great abilities 😉.

Naomi: I really wish I was Like you.... You always know what to do, and you were able to help me so many times.... I never know how to help others.

Friend: Thank you, but I was just looking out for you because you are special to me. Give things time and make an effort. Remember, you're a great person, and everything will work out in the end.

Friend: As for him... it's not good for you to get too obsessed. Give him time. You don't know him completely yet.

Naomi: I know, but... I feel he needs help, just like I did. And he's helped me before. I want to do something for him.

Friend: That's what you think, but maybe he doesn't want or need your help. And if you don't know exactly what's wrong with him, you can't force him.

Naomi: Maybe you're right.... Thank you for talking to me. I think I should try to sleep.

Friend: Rest, little Nao. Don't be discouraged, okay?

Naomi: Thank you... I wish I could see you again.

Naomi put the phone aside, turned off the light in her room, and wrapped herself in the covers, though she couldn't help but toss and turn, her mind filled with memories of the day. Kotaro's harsh words echoed in her head, hurting her deeply.

""You don't know what it feels like...""

Those words hit her hard, as if breaking something inside her. And suddenly, her mind took her back to ancient memories, of children yelling viciously at her.

""You're useless! Four eyes! You're a fool, always pretending to be smart just because of those glasses!""

The laughter and taunts echoed in her head. Those painful memories returned to the surface, filling her with insecurity, until, at last, fatigue won the battle and she fell asleep.

The next day at school, during recess, Naomi decided to stay in the classroom for lunch. She was exhausted, both physically and mentally, and preferred not to socialize with anyone. Kotaro had avoided looking at her all morning, and although Naomi wanted to talk to him, a part of her knew better than to push him. As she ate alone, out of the corner of her eye she watched Kotaro, who remained distant, immersed in his own thoughts. Despite noticing her loneliness, he did nothing to approach.

Suddenly, a loud voice interrupted the silence in the classroom.

- Naomi, are you here! -

It was Saori, who burst into the classroom with her usual energy. Naomi, startled by the shout, almost choked on the food she was chewing.

- Saori! I thought you were training for the race? - Naomi said, still trying to recover from the shock.

- I was going to, but I got really hungry! - Saori replied, laughing as she walked over to Naomi and jumped onto the desk in front of her.

Some of the classmates looked at Saori curiously, whispering among themselves.

- What's wrong with her, is she crazy or what? -

- What?! Who dares to call me crazy? Does anyone want to say that out loud? -she spat in a defiant tone.

- The way you come in here shouting and threatening, you really give the impression of being crazy. Even more so being a stranger in this class. -Akane replied without looking up from her book.

- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make such a fuss. -Saori apologized, laughing a little. Then she turned to Naomi again with an animated expression. And tell me, Nao, do you have any friends here yet?

- F-friends? Not yet...

- Ah, then you haven't replaced me yet. -Saori replied with a broad smile as she wrapped an arm around Naomi's shoulders.

- She would never do that.

- I was joking. But you should start talking to more people... What about the boy you told me about, is he here too? -Naomi blushed deeply, shooting a quick glance towards Kotaro before shaking her head uncomfortably.

- Oh, I see! It's him, isn't it? -Saori said, pointing directly at Kotaro. Before Naomi could stop her, Saori stood up and walked towards him. Hi! My name is Saori and I'm Naomi's best friend.

Kotaro, without even looking at her, replied dryly:

- I don't care who you are.

- Wow, you really have a reputation for being bitter! -Saori said, shrugging her shoulders as Kotaro stood up and walked out of the classroom, without turning to anyone.

- Why did you do that? -Naomi asked quietly, blushing with embarrassment.

- I just wanted to see how he reacted and to know who he really was. -Saori looked at her with determination. But it's not going to stay like this.

- Saori, wait! -Naomi stopped what she was doing and ran after her friend, catching her by the arm in the hallway.

- What are you trying to do? -Naomi asked, still breathing heavily.

- I just want to talk to him," Saori replied with a calm expression, but her voice had a firm tone. There are some things I want to make clear to him.

- But why? -Naomi asked, anxious.

Saori, noticing the anxiety in her friend's eyes, sighed and put a hand on her shoulder.

- Naomi, you are my best friend, and I've known you forever. I've noticed that these last few days you've been more distant and distracted, and I know that has to do with him. -She looked at her friend with compassionate eyes. I know I care about you, and I don't want to see you sad... especially after what happened... with him.

The mention of that event saddened Naomi, and Saori avoided saying more, changing her tone.

- Listen, I know I can't stop you from getting close to him if that's what you really want. But I can't just sit idly by either. -Said that, she turned around and advanced determinedly towards the corridor where she saw Kotaro.

Saori caught up with him and caught his attention.

- What are you doing here? -Kotaro asked coldly, without pausing.

- I want to talk to you.

- I have nothing to say to you.

- Don't play hard to get. If Naomi pays attention to you, it must be because you have something good to offer, even if she doesn't see it right now.

- I never asked her to help me.

- Shut up! -Saori exclaimed, her voice full of strength and determination. I don't care if you want his help or not. I'm just warning that if you hurt him, I won't forgive you.

Kotaro turned his head, surprised by the harshness in Saori's words. She continued:

- Naomi has already been through a lot... much more than you can imagine. I'm not going to stand idly by while someone makes her suffer again. I don't care how much you think you've suffered, Kotaro. She doesn't need any more pain.

Kotaro stared at her, his jaw tense.

- You know nothing of what I've been through. -He finally replied, his voice laden with deep sadness. I may have said hurtful things to her, but it was to protect her. I... I don't want to hurt her.

Saori, seeing Kotaro's expression, took a sigh to calm the atmosphere and speak more calmly.

- Naomi... has been through more than you can imagine. Since she was a little girl, she has had to endure many things. She lost her parents when she was very young, and at school she was teased and rejected just for being different and shy.

Kotaro, puzzled, looked up, while Saori averted her gaze to the window, looking outside the school.

- She... was always very strong, despite everything. She's had to deal with things you can't imagine, and I just want to make sure she's okay, that no one hurts her again. I know I can't control everything, but I can try to make sure that those who are close to her, like you, treat her with respect.

Kotaro, touched by Saori's words, kept his gaze down.

- I'm sorry... -he replied quietly, showing regret.

- It's okay," Saori replied, her tone of voice softening, "but the one you really need to apologize to is her. -And, by the way, a piece of advice: try to be more gentle with girls.

- If I understand... Unbelievable... -said Kotaro, in a low voice.

- What do you think is unbelievable? -asked Saori, looking at him curiously.

- To see that Naomi has a friend like you... I find that unbelievable.

Saori blushed slightly at the comment, and watched his expression again. In Kotaro's eyes, she noticed that mixture of sadness and kindness that Naomi mentioned. It was a look that tried to convey peace, though it carried a deep undertone of sorrow.

- "I see, so that's it, Nao," Saori thought, understanding what her friend saw in Kotaro.

After the talk between Kotaro and Saori, classes went on until it was time for dismissal. Naomi, who had been in charge of the day's report, was the last to leave the classroom and headed towards the lockers to meet Saori. When she arrived, she found Kotaro waiting in front of them. Noticing his presence, she stopped in surprise.

- Ha... see you tomorrow," Naomi said shyly, not expecting anything else.

- Wait! -Kotaro's voice stopped her. I was waiting for you.

- For me?

- Yes, I want to tell you something; I want to apologize for my words yesterday. I'm sorry if they hurt you, I had no right to say those things to you. I don't know anything about you to talk like that. I just got carried away with things that have nothing to do with you.

- Hey! No .... no, don't worry. It's okay, it's okay, it's okay, it's okay - Naomi answered quickly, trying to play it down - And I... I'm also sorry about yesterday, for insisting on something you didn't want to do.

- About that... I've decided that I will participate in the race.

- Really?! Thank you, thank you... I'm glad to hear that.

At that moment Saori approached, and Kotaro, noticing her presence, preferred to retreat.

- Well, that's all. I'll see you around.

- Yes, thank you. See you tomorrow.

- Hi, Nao! -Saori said, with a teasing tone, giving her a mischievous smile. Oh, talking to your prince alone? Have things improved between you two?

- Hello, yes, better already, thank you," Naomi answered with a blush, "and I told you he's not my prince.

- Yes, yes, as you say.

- That's right! -insisted Naomi, still embarrassed.

- We'd better go home, I'm really hungry.

As they both walked through the park on their way home, Saori came closer to whisper something in her ear.

- Ha-ru...

- Huh? What did you say?

- I said Haru. That's the reason, isn't it? Kotaro reminds you of him. I noticed it while talking to him... Do you feel like you should help him? Like you can save him from something? Do you think he can be like Haru?

Naomi looked down, hesitant.

- I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but yes... I feel he needs help, and I think I can do something for him.

- Nao, keep something in mind: they are not the same person, and you don't know if he really wants your help.

- Yes, I know that," Naomi replied, with a touch of discouragement.

- But don't be discouraged, maybe you are the one to help him... after all, it's your prince," said Saori, smiling and running away.

- Hey, I told you he's not my prince! Stop saying that, Saori!

- Admit it, he's your prince!