Once she shot a warning, Yurik surrendered. He put on one glove and handed the other back to her. If they didn’t share, he looked like he was going to take off the gloves he had struggled to put on.

“Your hands are frozen, and you’re refusing the gloves. You’re really stupid.”

Reluctantly, she put her hand into the left glove.

“Then can we stay close instead?”

“Stay close?”

“Yes? Lise.”

As Yurik acted cute, she sat down tightly next to him. Then she grabbed his bare hand and put it in her coat pocket. Yurik, not expecting her to even hold hands, opened his eyes wide, then smiled again.

“Have you been waiting for me all this time?”

“……I haven’t been waiting long.”

So you were really waiting. It’s not surprising now.

“Why is that?”

“We made a promise to meet, but didn’t set a time. I came out early so we wouldn’t miss each other.”

“You’re like a kid.”

“We are kids, Lise.”

It was slightly annoying that Yurik insisted he was a child without saying much.

“I came out wanting to see you. And you keep teasing me.”

When she slightly pushed her lips forward, Yurik buried his face in her shoulder and chuckled. His hair tickled her cheek.

“Why are you laughing?”

Looking down at Yurik, he tilted his head to look at her intently. His blue eyes sparkled like gems.

“Because you look happy.”

“Me?”

“Yes, Lise Marsen.”

Yurik didn’t take his eyes off her. She felt heat rise to her face as she turned her head to face forward.

“I feel as usual.”

“Yes.”

“You look happier though.”

“Yes, I’m happy.”

Did his grandfather give him another harsh scolding? Today, Yurik was especially clinging to her.

Sweat started to form on the hands they were holding in the pocket. Worried that Yurik would feel uncomfortable, she began to loosen her grip, but he tightened his hold on her finger joints.

It felt strange, but not bad. Rather, her heart felt light and fluttering.

“It’s snowing.”

Yurik looked up at the sky, perhaps a snowflake landed on his cheek. As he said, snow began to fall little by little.

“Is it the first snow?”

“It’s the first snow.”

At Yurik’s answer, she looked at the small snowflake that landed on her hand.

“It’s amazing. The first snow.”
“First snow in the winter garden.”

Yurik muttered softly.

“Winter garden?”

“These flowers only bloom in winter.”

I see.

“Beautiful…”

He had always remembered the days when the first snow fell. Most often, it was during unfavorable circumstances.

‘This time, it’s different…’

It had also snowed then. The day elementary school ended early due to parentteacher conferences.

I was left alone in the emptied school. It was because the teacher called me to the staff room before other parents came for their consultations.

So far, my parents had never visited the school. I had aroused the teacher’s suspicion by being unable to fill in anything about my parents’ occupations in a survey. I received questions that were close to interrogation.

After vaguely dodging the questions, I stepped into the corridor. Snow was falling outside the window.

“……Boha?”

Facing forward, I saw the afterschool Go teacher still there. I was so startled that my legs froze.

It was awkward seeing the teacher. Hadn’t my father said something strange to him over the phone just a few days ago?

“Hello, hello.”

“Can we talk for a moment?”

I couldn’t refuse the teacher’s request.

He led me to an empty classroom and gave me two bags of warm cocoa and snacks. As I sipped the cocoa cautiously, I was afraid of what the teacher would say next.

I wanted to quickly finish this cocoa and avoid the situation.

“Boha.”

“……I’m sorry.”

I struggled to utter the words. Instead of replying, the teacher stared at me intently.

“I don’t think Go suits me. It’s difficult, and frankly, not that interesting. And I want something other than becoming a professional Go player.”

“……You mean a doctor?”

His sharp question made me bow my head without realizing it.

“You want to be a doctor?”

“……If I were rich, I’d want to be. I want to be wealthy.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Because I like money.”

My answer came out straightforwardly. I was unsure about being a doctor, but wanting to be rich was true. I had always wished I had a lot of money. I wanted to do whatever I wanted and live without worries.

“What about other than money?”

The teacher asked again.

“……What?”

“Is there really nothing else you want other than money?”

“I don’t want to become a professional Go player.”

“Boha, I’m not forcing you to become one now. You don’t have to play Go. I’m just curious if there’s something else you want other than money. Do you really want money the most?”

I wondered if the teacher could see through me. As I slowly lifted my head to look at him, my suspicion turned into certainty. The look in his eyes already knew what I wanted.

I wanted money, but there was exactly one thing I wanted more than money.

Just one.

“There is one thing……”

“Would you like to share?”

“……I just wish my mom and dad were always smiling.”

Afraid the teacher wouldn’t understand, I immediately added,

“Then I think I could smile every day too.”

A happy family.

That’s what I wanted the most.