Plum Blossoms & Snowflakes [Prologue 1]

[anakidd]

Mayoi: Hggfn…. I’m sorry, I’m sorry…

I’m sorry for being alive, Chief—

WAAAH!?

Aaah…. my feet got stuck in the snow and I ended up falling down…

(Uuuuuugh…. I have no strength to get up now)

(I’m sorry, Chief. I didn’t consider your feelings and made a wrong choice)

(It’s just obvious to hate someone like me. I’m a worthless bug that doesn’t deserve to live…!)

(Ah, so cold. If I end up sleeping buried in the snow like this, maybe my ugliness would be purified at least a little bit?)

(Sobsobsobsob……)

(???): — Ah…. are you alright?

Mayoi: What…? Am I hallucinating, I wonder? I can hear a lovely voice.

Fufufu… perhaps an angel came to take me away.

(???): Angel…? No, it’s me—

[ Reminiscence - back to few days ago]

[ After classes, at the Garden Terrace of Yumenosaki Academy]

Hajime: ♪ ♪ ♪ 

Ritsu: You’re in a good mood, Haa-kun ~

Hajime: Ehe. That’s because it' s been a while since the last Tea Club meeting. I got really excited and baked cookies for us ♪

Ritsu: It’s an ordinary day, but we’re going fancy. May I get one?

Hajime: Of course, as many as you want ~ ♪

 

An ordinary day, you say… speaking of which, last year we played make-believe of Alice in Wonderland here.

Ritsu: Yeah… If I’m not mistaken, Ecchan asked us to tag along with his improv game.

I was assigned the Chesire cat that time, but the Dormouse suits me more for sure.

Just spending time eating and sleeping is the best… zzz… zzz…. ♪

Hajime: Fufu. Then I’ll be the March Hare.

The Mad Hatter is not here, but let’s have fun in this Mad Tea Party.

Arashi: …. ara? That’s Ritsu-chan and Hajime-chan, right? Are you in the middle of a club meeting, by any chance?

Ritsu: Nacchan and Mayomayo, what are you doing?

Arashi: Just strolling, talking about nothing in particular and enjoying this ordinary day.

After graduation, we won’t be able to waste time like this. So, now it 's the time to enjoy everything without regrets and make many memories. Right, Mayoi-chan? ♪

Mayoi: Ah, yes. I’m bad at communicating, so I end up taking the role of listener…

But thanks to Narukami-san being able to match my pace, it’s fun.

Ritsu: Hmhm… Making memories, huh…

So, can you stay a little bit?

Mayoi: Stay… for the tea?

Ritsu: Yeah, we are enjoying this ordinary day too. What do you say, Haa-kun? 

Hajime: Yes, you have my warmest welcome! Somehow, this is really like Alice in Wonderland.

Please, take a seat. I’ll prepare everything right now for Alice and the White Rabbit ~ ♪

Arashi: Oho, how lovely of you to compare me to Alice  ♪

It’s okay if I am Alice, Mayoi-chan?

She is cute and my name “Arashi” has a similar ring to it ♪ At least once, I’d like to experience being her.

Mayoi: Of course. But…

It’s presumptuous to choose me as White Rabbit. The Caterpillar would be more appropriate to someone like me.

A bug should act like a bug and eat the grass around here…

Hajime: Grass? Ayase-senpai, do you eat grass too?

Mayoi: “Too”? Shino-san, have you eaten something like this?

Hajime: Yes. My family used to be very poor, so I often ate grass as a child.

Mayoi: A-ah, I understand. I’m sorry for making you talk about a sensitive topic…

Hajime: You don’t need to apologize ~ It was me who brought it up.

It’s a good memory for me.

Going out to gather wild plants with my family was exciting like a treasure hunt, and I also had fun learning which ones we could eat.

But today we won’t eat grass, but cookies.

I baked a lot, so please eat without holding back ~ ♪

Mayoi: Thank you very much. Shino-san, you are very kind.

Ritsu: Seducing a senior again… Haa-kun is really naughty, hm? 

Hajime: B-but I’m not seducing anyone? Awaaa…

Narukami-senpai, thanks for waiting. Here is your Nacchan Tea.

Arashi: Thanks, Hajime-chan ~ 

Mayoi: What is “Nacchan Tea”?

Hajime: It's a herbal mix I created according to Narukami-senpai’s wishes. Its characteristics are the floral flavor and the refreshing mint.

 

How about you, Ayase-senpai? Would you like a common black tea?

Mayoi: Ah, no. Since we are here, Nacchan Tea…

Arashi: Good choice, Mayoi-chan.

 

The Nacchan Tea has beauty properties. Let us become beautiful together ~ ♪