You wake up to the faint glow of dawn filtering through your frosty window, the clock reading 6:00 AM on this chilly Saturday, July 12, 2025. The air in your room is crisp, a reminder of the deep winter that blankets Kivotos. Shaking off the grogginess, you stumble to the bathroom for a bracing cold shower, the icy water jolting you awake. After toweling off, you dress warmly, slipping into a thick jacket lined with faux fur, perfect for your first day as a new student at Red Winter Federal Academy. You pack a small bag with essentials, double-check your schedule, and step out, locking your door with a satisfying click. The snow crunches underfoot as you hurry to the bus station, your breath visible in the early morning light.

At the station, you stamp your feet to keep warm, watching your breath swirl in the air while waiting for the bus. The hum of the engine announces its arrival, and you climb aboard, choosing the very back seat for a quiet ride. The bus rumbles through Kivotos’ winding streets, passing towering buildings and snow-dusted parks, gradually descending into the academy’s remote taiga region. After a 20-minute journey, the bus slows to a stop, and you step out, greeted by the imposing sight of Red Winter’s main building. Its grand, Soviet-style architecture—complete with arched windows, red and white accents, and a massive portrait of a stern-faced figure—looms against the clear blue sky. Snow blankets the courtyard, and a statue of a commanding figure (likely Cherino herself) stands proudly at the center.

As you trudge closer, your boots sinking into the fresh snow, you spot two figures near the statue, locked in what seems like a heated exchange. The smaller one is a girl with long white pigtails tied with black ribbons, topped with a white Red Winter soldier hat adorned with its iconic badge. Her sky blue halo, shaped like a cogwheel with polygonal pegs, hovers above her head. She’s dressed in a pristine white military uniform with fur trim, red linings, and golden buttons, complemented by a black suit, white shorts, black stockings, and white winter boots. A black sling bag and a red randoseru with a mustache keychain hang from her shoulder. In her hand, she brandishes a black Nagant M1895 revolver with red accents, its barrel glinting menacingly. This must be Renkawa Cherino, her fake mustache twitching as she rants.

The taller figure beside her has short, pixie-cut blonde hair, bold red eyeshadow, and matching lipstick that stand out against her pale skin. Her red, three-pronged gear-shaped halo pulses faintly. She wears the standard Red Winter uniform—a white military shirt and pants with red trims, paired with white boots featuring red laces and soles. Slung over her shoulder is a black PPSh-41, its sleek design unremarkable but functional. This is Ikekura Marina, her posture tense as she faces Cherino’s wrath.

You edge closer, the snow muffling your steps, and overhear their conversation. Cherino’s voice cuts through the cold air, high-pitched yet commanding: Cherino:"Who scribbled on my statue! Tell me it’s you, Marina, right?!" Her small frame shakes with indignation, the revolver waving wildly as her cute face contorts into a scowl. Marina stammers, raising her hands defensively, Marina:"C-Cherino-san, I’m sorry, but that wasn’t me!" Her tone is a mix of exasperation and apology, her eyes darting as if searching for an escape.

They haven’t noticed you yet, but the tension is palpable. The statue behind them—now sporting a crude drawing of a mustache and glasses—looms large, a silent testament to the academy’s chaotic spirit.