The world was a melancholic, desolate place.

Winter was just as a glacial; a freezing and nearly subzero sensation that chilled the girl from head to toe. Perhaps she hated the season for its icy nip, and bitter winds weaving helpless melodies without a care in the world.

How nice would it have been, to just stop caring?

If nature's force was so omnipotent...

If time really was as incessant as others claimed...

If routine and order ultimately persisted, even in the depths of perpetual chaos...

Then maybe she didn't want to be human, if it meant succumbing to a distorted destiny from the very start. Maybe everything was a lie, and she had nothing to live for, after all. If Mother Nature outlasted all of mankind's advancements, then the teenage lass was truly at a loss of what to think, and who to believe.

In reality, she simply hated philosophy, and the gnawing irritation it brought whenever she questioned humanity.

A flurry of snow accumulated atop of her raven locks as the minutes elapsed, as the bleak midwinter solstice relentlessly embraced the vicinity with open arms. Hisakawa Miyuki sat perfectly still on a wooden park bench, with a letter otherwise peacefully resting upon her lap if it weren't for her lithe hands orchestrating a wrinkly mess.

The time read 22:01. A single lamplight towered beside her, its radiance faint and dwindling. The park was shrouded by a light mist amidst the silence of the night, the snow failing to abate. Dressed in a black suit and tie, with shades obscuring the inky blue oceans in her eyes as she sat perfectly still, Miyuki was a statue; practically negligible in the darkness—if it weren't for how dubious her attire was.

She had the Brotherhood of a Thousand Nights to thank for that. More than anything else, the uniform of an assassin felt far from inconspicuous during the day, but perhaps the black blended well into the abyss once nightfall struck. Miyuki reckoned that she may as well pass off as a lavish businesswoman.

22:05. She's late, she thought, as her gaze lazily darted around the scenery blanketed with a thick layer of white snow. While the landscape was collectively exquisite, she couldn't help but see the snow itself as a bland sight, reminiscent of a blank piece of paper.

Shivers ran down her spine the longer she waited outdoors, but she refused to twitch on her own volition. Occasional water droplets dribbled down her tresses from the melting heap of snow she left resting on the top of her head, but even then, a blank expression was drawn on her visage. If she had known any better, she would've considered bringing a scarf to ward off the whispers of the wind.

Footsteps resonated in the air for a change, and after an eternity of tranquility, it brought a sentiment of brimming hope to well up inside her chest. Her vision perked, as the girl she wanted to see so desperately emerged from the shadows and into the illumination of the lamplight in similar apparel. Short and messy maroon hair, piercing mercury eyes, and four prominent black earrings on her left ear; a tomboy, she was.

Hioki Kaho, a freshman of First Shibuya High and fellow associate of the Thousand Nights, but most importantly, her best friend.

"It seems that you're late, Kaho," she murmured under her breath. It was 22:14, almost a quarter-hour past their intended rendezvous.

"Ah..." She quickly glanced at her wristwatch, softly laughing at her tardiness. "Sorry, Miyuki, I lost track of time. Nobody sane would voluntarily visit a park past 10 PM!" she retorted.

"Yet you're here."

Kaho feverishly shook her head. "Only at the request of my best friend."

It felt like ages since Kaho and Miyuki last met, due to their hectic schedules in preparation for their forged alliance with the Order of the Imperial Demons from attending First Shibuya.

To put it simply, they were spies working against the Imperial Demons, and subsequently the prominent Hiragi Clan.

'They', because both Kaho and Miyuki were fortunately deemed to fit the school's high standards from their abilities, and were welcomed into the institution, as according to plan. She unfolded the piece of paper previously on her lap, creased and slightly damp from the weather and her own tampering. The sheet of paper was all high and mighty, as she dangled the acceptance letter in front of the redhead, softly puffing her chest out from the satisfaction of her achievement.

If she had been rejected, Miyuki couldn't bear to imagine the vile experimentation that would have followed from the depraved magical syndicate. Living life as a failure, in that sense, was a fate worse than death.

Upon taking a closer look, the exuberant girl verified the authenticity of the document. Words were unnecessary within the silence, as she knew well that Miyuki's efforts hadn't been wasted. While Miyuki's face met with hers, she brushed off the collection of snow on her hair, giving her head a tender rub as a sign of affection.

Her hand is so warm. It was a refreshing change after idling in the cold. The feeling was laced with solace, how comfortable she felt with her company.

"You'll catch a cold at this rate, for God's sake! I want to head inside!"

Miyuki pondered the suggestion with pensive features, "Mm, I guess so. Let's celebrate our reunion with some hot chocolate, then. Shall we head for the cafe?"

Kaho tapped her chin in thought, eyes drifting towards the snowy trail leading up to the local cafe. She quickly shook her head after contemplating the matter, "W-Wait! You didn't let me finish. As much as I hate the cold, it would be better to drink it out here. There's still... news I have to share with you, and it'll take a while."

Matters of the Thousand Nights were strictly confidential, and Miyuki knew better than to openly discuss such topics with public eyes and ears looming around. She nodded in affirmation, "My treat, then. I'll be back, won't be long."

"Wait—can't I come?! Or are you going to leave me here?! Out in the damn cold?!" Kaho exclaimed, gaping as her eyes widened at the thought of abandonment. "You're going to leave your best friend here to die?!"

The other girl heaved a sigh, rolling her eyes at the joke. "Be quiet, you'll attract unwanted attention at this rate. And of course you can't come. You're already out here; you can endure the frigid air for a little longer, can't you? Besides, it's a fair penalty for being late, is it not?"

"Gosh, you're so cruel, Miyuki...!"

"So I've been told. You'd better not follow me, Kaho."

"Agh! Fine..." The redhead pouted, crossing her arms, which earned a soft chuckle from her raven-haired friend.

Miyuki strode towards the nearest cafe to purchase two cups of hot chocolate with marshmallows and whipped cream, while Kaho unfortunately waited at the park. It was the best way she knew to combat the vexatious conditions of winter, after all. In return, Miyuki would head home immediately after their small, but memorable festivities ended.

"Here. Thanks for waiting." For the second time that night, her lips threatened to curl into a smile, though she suppressed the urge and calmly handed Kaho her beverage instead.

She bobbed her head, graciously accepting the drink with her icy hands. "About time! Ah, this drink feels so nice—as if it's melting away all of my worries!"

They were adrift in their muses, chatting the night away while reminiscing about their old days, lost together in the savors of warm Christmas refreshments. The duo stayed out for much longer than Kaho expected, to which Miyuki responded with "it's worth it."

Under the right circumstances, even memories of winter could be snug, it seemed. The snow and mist eventually let up, leaving them with chilly breezes and clear skies.

"Oh, right. Before I take my leave, I have some compelling news for you, Miyuki," Kaho began, slipping her a messily scrawled note on scratch paper.

She understood that there were things that had to be left unsaid as an extra security measure and decided to skim over the message under the dim light next to them.

A new recruit has joined, a renegade from the Hiragi Clan. TBA by Kijima Makoto—or rather, his new alias, Saito.

Their environment warped into pitch black as soon as she finished scanning the note, to the point where she considered the timing unsettling, for the weak lamplight couldn't sustain its glow any longer.

Such was the story of the survival of the fittest. It served as a reminder that regardless of who they were affiliated with, only the elite were permitted to live.

And here Miyuki was, preparing to start her first year at First Shibuya High next spring, chasing the footprints of a Hiragi child she had never even heard of.

The world was a demanding place.

Multimedia :: Hisakawa Miyuki Fan Art by Shikiorin