Revue Starlight Oneshots

The Snow (Rinmeikan)

(Published December 2, 2021)

No One's POV

You know it's winter when it's getting more colder. The days have gone shorter and the night welcomes your day a little bit more earlier.

When you're preoccupied with something, you sometimes don't notice the darkening surroundings of the outside. And when you do, you become surprised at how it was already this dark at this certain time.

For these creatures, it doesn't really matter. They have their fur on them, but a little more pieces of cloth just to get more warm is not unwelcome.

Even more welcome are cuddles.

It is what this cat and dog are doing at the moment. A fox just a meter away in front of them with a soft smile on her face.

"Fumi-chan, Ichie-chan, aren't you planning on going home yet?" The fox sits on the back on her legs and not on the cold floor of the roof.

"We could ask you the same, Tamao." Fumi retorts as she snuggles her face on the nape of Ichie.

"Not really. I've been enjoying the cold." Tamao calmly replies back.

"It could only get colder from here on out. It's that late in the afternoon." Fumi adds, noting the darkening skies. Still she insists on pulling Ichie closer to her.

At this, Tamao looks to the dog stuck in the hold of the cat. She unknowingly made a sorry smile to the dog. Ichie seems to be enjoying the display of affection though, even holding onto the arm with a delighted expression on her face. Her ears being a huge give away to her feelings.

Tamao couldn't help but feel her heart become warm at how close these two are being, despite their differences. The current display makes the fox question some things since Ichie is the one who is always forward with the skinship. Changes like these are a good change of pace, so she doesn't really mind.

What Tamao does mind is that these two are being too lovey-dovey in front of her. Of course she knows, she is not that dense. She noticed a long while ago. Both Ichie and Fumi doesn't even try to hide it, you can already get it just by looking at the atmosphere around them and the unconscious body language.

"What did you even call us up for Tamao?" Ichie finally lets out a sound and it was just the right thing to call the fox back into the real world.

"Right. There was that. You two are so distracting that it flew out of my head." Tamao pats her thighs and stands back up into a more comfortable position. Her ears standing at full attention and her face now a more serious one.

"That's on you, Tamao. You called the BOTH of us here." Fumi just says with a smug on her face, definitely trying to push the wrong buttons on Tamao. She gets a light slap from Ichie for that.

"Well, it's nothing much really. I just need as much hands as I can get. It was said in the forecast that there would be strong snowfall during the late evening and the early hours of the morning. So I've been going around in the day asking people to help in shoveling snow."

"Why do you sound so excited about it?"

"There would be so much snow tomorrow!"

"Yes?"

"I appreciate you're help for tomorrow. Have a good night!" Tamao bows before running back into the building of their school. She leaves Ichie and Fumi with baffled expressions, not having to get a say in all of this. The cat and dog looks at each other and laughs at what just happened.

"It can't be helped can it?" Ichie shrugs her shoulders after getting free from Fumi's hold.

"Can't be helped really." Fumi also smiles and reaches out for Ichie's hand, gripping it lightly and full of care. "Let's go home."

"Rui and Yuyuko are sure to be helping out tomorrow too." Ichie looks at the intertwining hands and follows Fumi's lead.

"For sure."



Tamao stands before the school gates in awe.

She was waiting to see this since last night.

The amount of snow is mesmerizing. She could just lose herself and play in the snow. She looks around to check for people, and sadly there were already some students coming in. She retracts herself with a breath and becomes her collected self, though inside she absolutely wanted to play with snow.

"Good morning Tamao-san!" A familiar mouse comes into view and the called girl steels herself to become the usual her.

"Morning Tamao-san..." The cat beside the mouse says with a yawn, her red hoodie slowly falls back on her back.

"Good morning, Rui-chan and Yuyuko-chan." Tamao replies back with a smile. "You're here early."

"Of course! Tamao-san specifically asked us for help, how could we be late for that?" Rui passionately replies with her fists near her chest.

"...What she said." Yuyuko waves her tail and comes into step with Rui.

The three of them made some small talk to wait for the others. At one point, Rui separated herself from the group to prepare the shovels. So it was only Yuyuko and Tamao in an awkward air when the couple arrives.

Ichie who is as energetic as ever, jumps in between them with her hands on Yuyuko's right shoulder and Tamao's left. "Good morning you two!"

"Can't you greet them normally?" Fumi walks from behind Ichie and nods at Tamao with an apologetic smile.

"I had to, Fumi!" Ichie looks at the cat with a pout. She receives a hand on her head and a ruffle.

"I know." Fumi coolly responds. "Where did Rui go?"

"She went to get the shovels for us." Tamao and Yuyuko says at the same time. Yuyuko gets startled at that she hurriedly puts back on her hoodie and hides her face.

"If she's gone for awhile now, she might just be coming back any second now." Ichie immediately moves to break the silence.

"Hello, the shovels are here." Rui suddenly speaks up, startling the other four.

"Let's all start with the shoveling!" Ichie excitedly says with her hands up in the air. Her hand goes right back down as Fumi hands her a shovel.

Tamao proceeds to go to the inner part of the entrance, not noticing the other four exchanging some glances and nods.

About an hour in and the snow still covers the ground. Tamao couldn't withstand not being able to play in the snow, so some small snowman have been made on the side now. It is the five of them looking up at Tamao shoveling up more snow to the side.

A pair of feet comes into a stop right in front of Tamao's sight as she had her body bend a little forward.

"Tamao-san, we are almost done in the other parts. Ichie-san and Fumi-san, as well as Rui, were curious to know if what we did was alright." It was only then that Tamao had looked up to see Yuyuko, still having the hood over her head. She smiles.

"Sure thing, Yuyuko-chan." Tamao couldn't resist to put a hand over this adorable cat and pet it. The cat grows even more embarrassed, but still doesn't make any action to get the hand away. That fact only made Yuyuko more adorable in the eyes of Tamao.

"It's over here. Follow me." If it is only in Tamao's imagination, Yuyuko seems to be walking at a fast pace. That would probably the effect of the earlier happening.

"You took so long getting here."

"We were getting worried that what we mad would collapse or something."

"Glad that you were free at the moment Tamao-san."

"It's right here." Yuyuko gestures to the snow on the ground and what Tamao saw made tears to come welling up.

"You guys knew..." Tamao has a warm feeling in her chest that she doesn't want to part with yet anytime soon.

"Of course!" The rest of them says in unison with a wide smile on their faces.

What was intricately carved on the snow were the words 'Happy birthday' in big letters, a few messages on the side and a doodle of Tamao on the right side.