Let us rewind to the past semester, before Akari and Akira came to campus.

If you were to ask Honors students why they were not Protectees of the Northern Peak Blizzards, here is what you would have heard.

“I can defend myself. If push comes to shove, I can easily defeat most of these people. And even if I lose, it won’t kill me.”

“My knife is enough to drive aggressors away. I’m not such a pushover that they can steal it from me, either.”

“Associating myself with a group of fighters feels wrong, even if they have good intentions.”

“I don’t need protection from a bunch of delinquents.”

“I respect what they do, but I’m just too scared to approach them.”

“I’m too busy to commit myself to them. Rather than fret about my safety, I’d rather live in the moment and pursue my interests.”

“If anyone fucks with me, my club friends will show them hell. I’m not worried in the slightest.”

And if you were to ask Honors students why they were Protectees…

“They may be intimidating, but they’re very nice people. They will do everything in their power to protect you, as long as you meet them halfway.”

“This campus needs to change. Even if I cannot fight, the least I can do is show my support to those who do.”

“I’m a closed-off person. I can’t make friends who will protect me. I’m too scared to carry a knife, too. The Blizzards are my only chance to endure all the violence.”

“I have to admire their commitment through all the unforgiving work. Their weekly meetings give me some solace; even on this campus, there are principled people.”

“My assailants stole the knife from me. I managed to run away that time, but they later found me again, with even more guys. I’ve been wheelchair-bound ever since. That incident made me realize that I cannot survive here, not without a supportive community. The Blizzards took me in, and brought my assailants to justice. I will always be in their debt.”

The Northern Peak Blizzards were polarizing then, and are polarizing now.

How will Akari Hirose, Emilija Mazur, and Akira  Aoki address this stigma? Can they truly improve the Blizzards’ image?

—

The Peng house dwells on one of the streets bordering campus, amongst other houses that host fraternities, sororities, and sports teams. For the Blizzards to have a foothold there is quite anomalous.

They don’t wish to hide either. Blowing on their lawn is a large flag—light blue with a snowflake in the middle. White strips of wind stretch across the fabric.

Inside, it’s actually well-maintained, though it smells like smoke. Besides the few banners on the walls showing off the Blizzard flag design, the interior is rather bare. Well, it’s unsurprising for a temporary home with tenants too busy to personalize it, and it’s cozy enough anyway.

Jie, blowing out smoke from a cigarette, sits on a couch with her brother. Across, with a table between them, dwells another couch, where Akari, Akira, and Emilija sit.

Jie snaps her fingers. “Welcome!”

“Yo!” Chao adds.

Jie’s fingers split, pointing at Akari towards the right and Emilija towards the left. “You two are here to become Protectors,” then she points her middle finger (not vertically) at Akira, “and the tiny guy in the middle aspires to be a Protectee.”

Akira nods, though he’s struggling to focus with a certain someone right next to him.

“Well, Akira, we can’t make you official until mid-October,” Jie explains. “Sure, we’re overlooking that requirement for Akari and Emilija, but we need all the help we can get, so the school can suck it. Though, for Protectees, it’s more of a matter of fairness.”

“I hope Griffiths overlooks Akari and Emilija,” Chao murmurs.

“Meh, this is one of those rules the admin doesn’t care much about,” Jie responds. “Tons of clubs do early scouting. Anyhow, you understand, Akira? We need to induct all the Protectees at once.”

“Yes, I do,” he answers.

“Good. In any case, aspiring Protectees can hang out with us, attend my Office Hours, and apply early to gain official status in October. Seems you’ll be one of the few aspiring Protectees to actually take advantage of these opportunities. Well, you’re just honorary now, but still… Welcome to the Blizzards!”

Akira smiles. “Thank you!”

Chao gives a little clap.

Akari smiles too, but trembles. Akira takes notice, but can only give a worried gaze…

…for Jie keeps yapping. “Now for the Protectors. As we’ve said before, Akari will fight me. Emilija will fight Chao. It’s not necessary that you win, per se, but rather that you impress us enough. To be perfectly clear, by becoming Protectors, you agree to be an eboard member for the club, plus do patrols several times a week.”

Akari nods nervously.

“Sounds good,” remarks a confident Emilija.

“But there’s one more thing to address before we have a bout,” Chao adds.

“Yeah, but before we get to that,” Jie says, “what’s bothering you, Akari?”

Akari freezes up.

“Tell me,” Jie urges, more impatient than empathetic.

Akari bites her lip. “I… I think it’d be out of line to say,” she murmurs.

Chao chuckles. “Please, we’re all equals here.”

“Don’t be annoying,” Jie commands Akari. “What is it?”

“Y-Your cigarette,” Akari mutters. “I’m breathing the same air as your smoke.”

Jie sighs, and puts out the cigarette on a nearby ashtray.

“I’m sorry,” Akari murmurs.

“Don’t be,” Jie replies. “I’ll keep that in mind when I’m around you. Though, not everybody is as nice as me. Remember that.”

Akari sighs. I can’t really talk. I smoked a lot during high school. Though I never did it around others, barring Emilija. But especially now, with him…

“In any case,” Jie begins, “let’s start with you, then, Akari. Tell us your story.”

Akari grips her arm. “My… story?”

Akira glances at her with both concern and curiosity.

“Yes,” Jie says. “Let us understand you, in and out. Tell us why the hell you are here, basically.”

Akari gulps. “I see.”

“Should,” Akira asks meekly, “I leave?”

“No, you can stay,” Akari replies. “I was going to tell you all of this at some point, anyhow.”

“Oh…”

Of course, Akira wants to know her story. But the last thing he expected was for her to reveal it now, under Jie’s command.

Is she okay with this?

Is it truly fine that he’s here to listen?

But Akari said so…

Then, she is already this comfortable with him…?

Unsure as he is, Akira decides to stay.

And he listens closely… as Akari begins her story.