â--cold weather, warm heart [open]
Winter; the metaphorical sleep of nature, the hibernation of the flowers, and the absence of greenery. The season of hot cocoa and scarves. Noses turn red in the icy air, and everyone bundles themselves in their winter garments.Â
To some, winter is viewed as a burden, a cold time when everything calms, and lulls into quietness. There isn't as much to do without the warmth of the summer time. But, to Kobato, the always optimistic Kobato, winter time is just as lovely as summer time, and nothing can put a damper on her bubbly outlook.
It seemed like it had only been yesterday that Kobato had set foot on the grounds of Tancho Academy, and only yesterday had it been warm and sunny. Everyone was going to the beach, eating ice cream, and running around half-dressed.Â
These days though, in the wake of the winter time, many of the students preferred to stay inside at all times possible, away from the cold. The only times they dared venture out was when they needed to rush from one building to the other, in between classes and clubs and so-on.Â
Kobato often found herself watching them from her place below one of the many courtyard's trees while she ate her lunch, thinking about how wonderful it would be to make friends with them as they passed her by. If only she knew how, without being too forward.
This was one of those days, a calm and dreary one. Many people passed her, just as they always did, almost habitually even. Some of the faces were familiar, faces Kobato had seen every day. She had no names to place with those familiar faces. And still, even today, all she could do was watch.Â