- EARTH - YOUSEI HIGH SCHOOL (YEAR XX00, JUNE - SUMMER) -

Thoth opened his eyes from remembering a nightmare in the past and hurriedly stood up from sitting down. He looked outside and got blinded by the sun rays passing through the window.

He just decided to stand up and went out of the storage room where he was staying. He looked around the place trying not to catch attention. He sneaked there last night when Shirayuki left him as she couldn't process everything that happened.

Speaking of, Shirayuki was inside their classroom and looking far away outside the window like in deep thoughts.

“Earth to Shirayuki. Hey!” Mina called her and she got startled.

“Yes! I didn't do it. I don't know anything about it. Please believe me.” She bowed down repeatedly while apologizing.

“What are you saying? I'm just asking if you want to grab a drink. Did something happen to you?” she asked.

“Yes, Shirayuki-chan. You seemed out since earlier,” Kurei commented.

“Ahhh... no! Nothing happened. Nothing really,” she strongly denied.

“Really? Hmmm... well, you said it yourself.”

“By the way, Mina-chan. You heard about the weird weather yesterday. When snow suddenly fell near the river bank. Also, there are rumors that the river turned into ice in an instant,” Kurei shared with them.

“Ehh? That really happened and not my dream. Are you for real? I hope they don't name me or no one sees me.”

“Ahhh... I heard about it. Shirayuki, you always pass the riverbank so you probably saw that.” Mina glanced at her.

“Ehhh... I'm not sure, when I passed there. There's nothing weird,” she lied while looking somewhere else.

She was terrible at lying.

“Hmmm... okay, if you said that.” Mina just nodded.

“She was lying. Too pure that I can't do a proper lie.”

“Shirayuki-chan is not good at lying but still you are my friend.”

“It feels like I'm getting bad feedback based on their looks.”

They were talking when Shirayuki noticed someone walking outside who also noticed and waved at her.

“Are you serious? That man?!!!”

“Hmmm... what's wrong, Shirayuki? Are you looking at someone?” Mina tried to look outside but she stopped.

“No. No!" she insantly blocked their view. “By the way, let's grab a drink at the canteen. How about soda?”

“Huh? I thought you were not thirsty?”

“I've got thirsty after talking. Let's go.” She successfully dragged them to avoid seeing Thoth.

After school, Shirayuki was too tired as she walked while frequently heaving a sigh. She stopped again near the riverbank before sighing.

“Your happiness will escape if you continue doing that,” Thoth commented who was following her.

“And who's the reason for it?” she angrily asked.

“Woah! Calm down, Shirayuki-sama. I'm not going to do something to you. I am just here because I will protect you at any possible danger,” Thoth reminded her.

“Hmp! I can protect myself.”

“You still can't control your power. It can run out of control anytime,” he told her making her petrified for a second.

“R-Really? Does it mean...”

“Yes, you can turn into a block of ice if you don't control it. So you need training whether you like it or not.”