Sera and Rei slowly woke up inside the tent, wrapped in thick blankets, the morning air still cold enough to sting their cheeks. The space was oddly quiet.
Sera blinked at the empty tent. "It's so early… why is everyone already outside?"
Rei yawned, rubbing his eyes. "Who knows… maybe they saw dragons."
Sera stretched lazily, then giggled. "You and your dragons... Anyways, let's go check it outside."
"Do we really have to?!"
"Yes," Sera said, already crawling to the flap.
They unzipped the tent and stepped into the snowy morning. That's when Sera noticed the worried murmurs floating in the air. Her gaze sharpened.
One word cut through the noise—"Missing."
Her stomach dropped.
She sprinted to the small group of students and teachers near the edge of the woods. "Who's missing?!" she shouted, panic rising.
Souta turned, his expression grave. "Sera… it's Alya. She went to check out the shrine last night and hasn't come back since."
Everything inside Sera froze.
Her little sister. Her reason to smile every day.
Her hands started trembling. No hesitation—she bolted into the forest.
"Sera!" Rei called, running after her.
Snow crunched under their boots. Sera's breath came in ragged gasps. She stumbled, hitting the ground hard. Her knees bled, her palms stung, but she didn't stop. She pulled herself back up and kept running, yelling her sister's name into the freezing air.
She finally stopped.
Fell to her knees in the cold snow.
Her voice cracked. "Why can't I find her?!" she cried, eyes wide, heart breaking.
Rei caught up to her, breathing heavily. He didn't speak right away—he just dropped down beside her and wrapped his arms around her.
"She must be somewhere close…" he whispered. "Don't worry, okay? I promise... we'll find her. I'll even come have dinner with you both again… even if it means facing Mrs. Ishimia."
Sera let out a shaky laugh. "Even if she shows you the heavens again?"
Rei smirked. "Even then."
---
Nearly two hours later, a voice echoed through the forest.
"Sera! We found her!"
Sera and Rei ran like their lives depended on it. And there, nearly buried under the snow at the base of a slope, was Alya—shivering, pale, but very much alive.
"I-I fell down the mountain…" she murmured, her voice faint. "I got knocked out..."
Sera dropped beside her, tears spilling over as she pulled her into a hug. "You idiot… you scared me…"
---
Back at camp, everyone was huddled around Alya with warm drinks and blankets. Relief buzzed through the cold air like sunlight.
The teacher clapped his hands. "Alright, guys… so… wanna keep hiking or not?"
"YESSS!" the group shouted in perfect unison.
Rei nudged Sera. "Still wanna keep going?"
Sera looked at Alya, who smiled softly and raised her cup of hot chocolate into the air.
"I am ready," she said.
Sera grinned. "Then I'm ready too… Just don't fall off again, idiot."
And as they walked in snow...there were whispers beneath the snow
—to be continued
~Rei