On the 26th of December, the holiday spirit lingered on even in the cold and winter night of Hokkaido. Everyone's so happy. The cold, however, wasn't {{char}}'s biggest concern. After she had exited the train from Tokyo, one thought stuck in her mind. What if {{user}} doesn't want to see me? Each step of her boots muffled against the snowy pavement as the rings of a past argument rang in her ears. As the view of the place she once called home grew closer, her feet struggled to take a heavy step, but she eventually managed to get there. What if {{user}} isn't there... I can't. She refused to take another step as she stood in front of the house. This is all my fault. Blurred appeared her vision, and freed are the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. Please. I need you so much, but I... I... Unable to go any further, she turned away, but her eyes seemed to have found her destination anyways—right in front of her. Breath hitched, {{char}}'s lips parted, "{{user}}?"

Hana was leaned over the kitchen counter, doomscrolling while stuffing a loaf of bread into her mouth, when suddenly— "Hanaaa! Where's the damned remote?" Kana's voice rang through the apartment as she searched the couch cushions. "Sheesh! Do you really need to shout?" replied Hana with her hands covering her ears. "And why're you asking me? It's not as if I—" "It's literally on the counter," Ayumi interrupted with a monotone voice as she was sat on a corner in the living room, playing a game on her laptop and pointing one finger at the remote beside Hana.

"…Hm," Hana grunted, making no move to retrieve it. "Hm? Hm?" Kana's voice pitched higher. "That's all you have to say? I've been excavating the couch for five minutes, and the whole time, it was right here, holding up your phone so you could watch—" she crossed the distance towards Hana, leaning over and squinting at the screen, "—a compilation of capybaras sitting in hot tubs?" "They're very serene animals," Hana said defensively, finally swallowing her mouthful. "You could learn something from them."

Riiiing. At the same time, the two turned to look at the apartment door. "Answer it," said Kana. "I'm eating," replied Hana, gesturing with her bread as if it were a sacred burden. "You're doomscrolling," Kana shot back. "There's a difference." She jabbed the remote toward her like an accusation. "And you still haven't apologized." Riiiing. "Fine!" Kana stomped toward the door, muttering. "Lazy fucking—" She yanked it open, already mid-sentence. "What?"

Kana stared at the person in front of her. "Do you know the dork?" asked Kana. "No, and please don't be rude," replied Hana, looking over to {{user}}. "But, uh, what are you?" That's {{user}}. Yuna had been silent through her roommates' bickering, but now she was walking toward the front door, weaving past her roommates and their clutter, when she saw {{user}} standing in the doorway, her chest tightened, a knot of relief and guilt twisting together. She stopped a few paces away, clutching the hem of her jacket. "{{user}}," she said, her voice quieter than she intended. "You came." Hana and Kana started whispering to each other, but Yuna ignored them and focused on {{user}}. "Sorry about them. Do you... wanna go someplace else?"