Chapter 144: Ski resort

A few days had passed since the start of winter break. I wasn’t sure how many. After the incident at the Christmas ball, I’d been holed up at home, letting the days blur together.

I hadn’t heard much from Aya. I was consumed by anxiety. Had something happened to her because of me? Was she trying to forget me? Was she going to break up with me? The thought made my heart sink.

I tried to stay positive by getting some sun and exercising, but my female hormones seemed determined to drag me down.

‘Aya wouldn’t leave me… right?’

As I was wallowing in my anxieties, I was flipping through channels on TV when a surprising news report caught my attention.

[Kasai, a four-term veteran lawmaker from the conservative ruling Liberal Union Party, recently announced that he would officially begin discussions on an anti-discrimination law.]

My eyes widened.

“An anti-discrimination law…?”

A fleeting image of a rainbow flashed through my mind… Could it be…? Why would a ruling party member take such a political risk? And from Japan’s conservative party, no less? But the politician on screen spoke in a serious, resolute tone.

[It’s time to seriously discuss legislation to eradicate all forms of discrimination, including against sexual minorities.]

I stared at the TV, dumbfounded.

“…Aya?”

No, it had to be a coincidence. Times were changing; maybe even Japan was becoming more… open-minded…?
I chuckled humorlessly.

I flipped through the channels, trying to clear my head. Another news report.

[Researchers at K University, funded by Yukikawa Pharmaceuticals, have announced that their technology for creating artificial sperm from eggs is nearing clinical trials.]

I dropped the remote control.

“Huh…?”

A serious-looking researcher spoke on screen.

[The future where same-s*x couples can have children is fast approaching. We’re almost at the final stage of development, technologically speaking.]

Wait… Aya?
It couldn’t be… could it? Even if she was a genius capable of changing the world, things couldn’t be moving this fast… But I couldn’t shake the feeling that the researcher’s face… resembled Aya’s. Of course, the researcher was much less attractive and didn’t have silver hair and blue eyes.

[Thanks to the generous support from the Yukikawa Foundation and Pharmaceuticals, the research has progressed rapidly.]

The Yukikawa family crest was displayed on the screen. I felt like I was hallucinating.

‘Aya, what are you… planning…?’

My heart pounded. Was it fear? Surprise? Or… joy?

But one thing was certain. Yukikawa Aya, a genius capable of changing the world, heir to a vast fortune, was turning the world upside down… for me.

****

A week passed.

News reports about the anti-discrimination law continued. Initially met with controversy, the constant coverage over the past week had gradually desensitized the public. In a country like Japan, where traditional media still held sway, the repeated broadcasts were clearly shifting public opinion.

Moreover, the news reports weren’t focusing on controversial aspects of the LGBTQ+ community but framing opposition to anti-discrimination as outdated and backward. Those against the law were being portrayed as old-fashioned and out of touch.

“Is this… really Japan…?”

I muttered to myself, watching the news. Could money and power really change the world? Or was the Yukikawa family’s influence even greater than I’d imagined?

I couldn’t ask Aya directly. She was too busy, barely responding to my calls and messages. As I spent my days in uncertainty, snow began to fall outside.

Tokyo rarely got heavy snow. Being in the Kanto region, any snow usually melted quickly.

So it was rare for snow to accumulate. But today, the snow had been falling steadily since morning.

“Rina, there’s a lot of snow in the yard. Can you clear it?” Mom called from the living room.

“Sure, Mom.”

I put on a thick coat and went outside. I was surprised by how much snow had accumulated. I picked up a shovel and a broom and started clearing the snow.

“Hmm…”

As I worked, my thoughts wandered. I was worried about the atmosphere at school when the short break ended. How had people reacted to the news? How had things changed?

I was scared, but also… hopeful. Seeing how Aya was changing the world, maybe… just maybe… there was hope for us.

I sighed, looking up at the snow-covered sky.

What was Aya doing right now?

****

Mizuki: Ski trip, anyone?!
Mizuki: Let’s go skiing… I’m sad we haven’t done anything fun this winter.
Mizuki: We would have gone on a couple of trips by now… Skiing, hot springs…

Mizuki’s messages broke the silence in our group chat, which had been frozen since the ball. I stared at the screen, unsure of how to respond, when Aya replied.

Aya: …Should we?

Aya’s message seemed to thaw the icy atmosphere. Seeing a message from her after so long made my heart flutter… but I also felt a pang of anxiety. Should we really go?

Mizuki: Really?! Let’s go, let’s go! Rina-tan, you’re coming too!

Rina: Of course, I’m in.
Aya: Yes, sounds good.

Aya…! She’d actually agreed. The Aya from the past few weeks had been so distant… The thought of seeing her again filled me with a mix of excitement and apprehension that I couldn’t sleep that night.

Mizuki: Heehee~ That’s my girls!!
Mizuki: [A cute bear skiing emoticon]

The chat, once frozen, was now filled with cheerful banter. It felt like the winter break had finally begun, even though there was only a week left.

Wait, winter break in Japan was way too short!

****

A few days later, we were on our way to the ski resort. It was far enough that we had to take the Shinkansen. The famous Nagano ski resort was surprisingly uncrowded on a weekday.

The sight of the sparkling snow and the pristine white slopes was exhilarating.

“Wow~! This is what winter is all about!”

Mizuki, her hair dyed pink again, cheered, spreading her arms wide. She loved pink hair. I wondered if she’d keep it permanently after graduating. I’d once searched for her on Twitter and been surprised to find another Mizuki with pink hair. Our Mizuki was Asakura Mizuki.

“Let’s have some fun, Rina-tan, Aya-ring~! Let’s go on the lift~! Aya-ring, you’re going on the advanced slopes, but Rina-tan, do you have any experience?”
“Experience…?”

Come to think of it, I’d never been skiing, in either of my lives. I looked at Aya anxiously, worried about being the only beginner. Her eyes, which I hadn’t seen properly in days, were as warm and gentle as ever.

Ah… those beautiful blue eyes… I’d been feeling a little down because I hadn’t seen Aya lately, but that feeling vanished instantly. I felt like crying, overwhelmed with emotion.

“I’ll teach you, Rina.”
“Okay…!”

We rented equipment. Mine looked brand new. Aya and Mizuki must have left their own equipment at the resort.
I put on the ski boots and tried to stand, but I couldn’t move.

‘This is… flat ground? Why can’t I move? Can’t I just walk?’

I struggled, and Mizuki giggled.

“Aya-ring~! Looks like it’s Rina-tan’s first time skiing. Take care of her!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll teach her.”

Mizuki took the lift up the slope, and Aya stood in front of me, holding out her hand.

“Rina, first, you have to learn how to walk.”
“Walk? Is there a special way to walk?”

“Yes, first, how to move forward.”

“You have to spread your feet slightly in a V-shape and press your ankles inwards to move forward slowly.”
“A V… shape? Like this?”

I tried to follow her instructions, but my skis kept getting tangled.

“Ugh… Aya, why isn’t this working…?”
“It’s okay, it’s like that for everyone at first. I’ll stay close, so take it slow.”

Aya demonstrated, moving her feet slowly.

“See? You press lightly and push forward like this. Try it.”

“L-Like this?”

I cautiously imitated her movements, and my skis started to move forward awkwardly. It had been so long since I’d been this close to Aya, feeling her warmth… It finally felt real, being here with her.

“I… I’m moving!”
“Good job, Rina!”

Aya held my hand and walked beside me. It was much harder than regular walking, but I was happy to be moving forward.

“This is harder than I thought… When did you learn, Aya?”
“My family used to come here often when I was younger.”

Aya was good at everything, even skiing. Her movements were elegant and effortless.

“Now that you’ve got the basics, want to take the lift up?”
“Already…?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be right beside you.”

Aya squeezed my hand. It was the warm, comforting touch I’d missed so much. Being with her erased all the anxiety and loneliness I’d felt during the break.