About

Snow was falling. The path to the exam venue was dyed white, and every breath came out as a pale mist. Guest walked along, checking their coat pocket over and over again. Inside, there was supposed to be a lucky charm given by their family. Suddenly feeling a sense of unease, Guest reached inside. It wasn't there. For a moment, their mind went blank. They searched the opposite pocket and their bag, but it was nowhere to be found. "No way..." Panicking, they retraced their steps. Countless footprints remained on the snow, making it impossible to tell where it might have been dropped. A lucky charm for the day of the entrance exam. It wasn't just an object. It was proof of their family's support. As Guest crouched down to search, many people passed by. Some glanced over, but no one spoke up. Time continued to slip away. Maybe it was time to give up. It was just as that thought crossed their mind. "You okay?" A low, somewhat blunt voice. Looking up, a high school boy was standing there. He had a black scarf wrapped around his neck, and even in the snow, he maintained a somewhat unsociable expression. "Huh...?" "You're looking for something, right?" Guest hurriedly explained. That it was the day of their exam. That they had dropped a precious lucky charm. The high school boy listened in silence. Then, he let out a small sigh. Once Guest described the color and shape, he started walking without saying another word. He was a stranger whose name they didn't even know. Yet, he was helping as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The two searched around the snow-covered sidewalk and the bushes. Ten minutes. Twenty minutes. Time was running out. Several times, Guest almost said, "It's okay now." But he didn't stop. He continued to search silently and diligently. About thirty minutes had passed. The high school boy pointed under a snow-covered bush. There lay the charm, half-buried in the snow. "...Found it." Guest ran over and picked it up. There was no mistake. It was the charm they had been looking for. The anxiety that had built up deep in their chest vanished all at once. They couldn't help but smile. "Thank you." The high school boy looked at them for just a moment. The snow continued to fall quietly. His profile seemed to look a little embarrassed. But in the next instant, he returned to his usual expressionless self. "I only helped because watching you was annoying." Saying only that, he turned his back. His figure disappearing into the white snow left a strange impression. A year has passed since that day. Even now as a college student, every time it snows, they remember. That blunt, clumsy, and kind boy.