8mi Chapter 289: Winter Arrives As Promised
Chapter 289: Winter Arrives As Promised
Chapter 289 - 289: Winter Arrives As Promised [Riding your motorcycle through the snow, watching the scenery shift from city, to farmland, to mountains... The endless white swallows everything, including the anxious conflict in her heart.]
[The warmth she felt against your back was something she had never experienced before. Something she had never even dared to dream of.]
[She was saved by the warmth you gave her.]
[After an intimate night together, you gazed at the girl sleeping beside you—her peaceful, delicate profile softened by sleep. At that moment, you silently promised yourself: That you would protect her, no matter what.]
[Gathering her tousled pink hair, you closed your eyes and drifted into sleep as well, preparing for the journey home.]
—
[The next morning, the weather was clear. The sun had melted the ice from the roads.]
[You and Satou shared a simple breakfast at the inn before setting off.]
[Sunlight poured down, and the snow on the ground had begun melting away in large patches.]
[She mustered her courage and removed her helmet. Without its heavy weight, her heart felt just as light—just as free—as her wind-blown pink hair.]
[She laughed. A clear, ringing sound though even she didn't know why.]
[She hugged your waist tightly, murmuring something softly under her breath.]
[The wind and the helmet made it impossible for you to hear.]
[But the wind could hear her.]
["Meeting you on that rainy day... was the best thing that ever happened to me."]
[Even though it was still cold, her heart had never felt lighter. As if her body itself was radiating warmth.]
[At your firm insistence, she reluctantly put her helmet back on.]
[You noticed—she was more expressive now, livelier. More... human.]
[By the time you arrived back in Tokyo, it was around 2 PM, and the snow had begun to fall again.]
[This time, she made a promise to you—That she would never do something so reckless again.]
[She told you to focus on your entrance exams.]
[Her words were so sincere, so firm, that you couldn't bring yourself to doubt her.]
[You believed her. After giving her a gentle hug, you rode off for home.]
[The cold was unbearable, so despite not being the type to take baths, you ended up soaking in hot water for over ten minutes before finally getting out.]
—
Minami stared at the last line and exhaled deeply.
"Yeah... it really was freezing."
Looking at the text in the simulation, Minami Shouji stretched lazily, feeling completely at ease.
Good thing he was smart enough to exit when he did. Instead of enduring the two-hour cold ride back, he left his simulated self to handle taking Satou home.
—
[Just as you promised Satou, you devoted all your energy to preparing for your entrance exams.]
[The days passed as you studied diligently.]
[The University of Tokyo's entrance exam date soon arrived.]
[Carrying the expectations of your mother and two older sisters, you stepped into the exam hall and achieved remarkable results.]
[On the day the results were posted, your exam number stood proudly on the list.]
[At the same time, with your tutoring, your peers—Yamada Ryo and Ijichi Nijika—both successfully got into excellent universities.]
[Futaba Rio was recognized by the university's physics re
"I swore I would get into Tokyo University."
Her voice trembled.
"I don't want another school. I just want to be with Minami-senpai—at Tokyo University."
—
[Frustration and regret twisted across her pale face.]
[More painful than failing the exam itself was the crushing disappointment—knowing that, despite your guidance, despite your constant help, she had still fallen short.]
[In your relationship, she had always been the one taking, while you had always been the one giving.]
[She had wanted to succeed—not just for herself, but to prove that your efforts weren't wasted.]
[And now, because of her failure, she felt like she had lost everything.]
[But instead of comforting her, you simply looked at her tear-stained face and, in a calm voice, asked if she wanted to try again next year.]
—
[It was an incredibly difficult choice.]
[The pressure of exam preparation was overwhelming. If given the choice, no student would ever want to go through it twice.]
[But Satou didn't hesitate.]
[Hearing your question, she slowly steadied herself.]
[She told you she wanted to retake the exam, but this time—
She would do it without your help.]
[Her meaning was clear.]
[She didn't want you to spend any more time or effort on her. She wanted to do this on her own.]
[You respected her decision.]
[After all, constantly staying by her side would only add to the mental burden she already carried.]
[Still, before she fully dedicated herself to studying again, you took her on one final trip.]
—
[This journey was unlike any before.]
[You showed her the tides retreating beneath the torii gates of Miyajima Shrine.]
[You took her to the golden brilliance of Kinkaku-ji.]
[And in the early spring, perfectly timed, you brought her to Himeji Castle, where the cherry blossoms danced in the wind.]
[After witnessing so many breathtaking sights together, the restless turmoil in her heart gradually calmed.]
[By the time the journey ended, she had already immersed herself in her studies.]
[During this time, her friends from Kessoku Band, LycoReco, as well as Shinjo Akane and Futaba Rio, all visited her.]
[Seeing that she was emotionally stable, they felt at ease and focused on their own lives.]
[As for you, you kept busy with your own work, only stopping by to check on her occasionally.]
[In the blink of an eye, another year passed.]
—
[Winter arrived once more.]
[Icicles clung to rooftops, their crystal-clear tips glistening in the cold.]
[And under your watchful eyes, she entered her second exam season.]