Kyoto’s icy air nipped at your face as you adjusted the scarf Shelly had wrapped around you earlier—twice. She stepped out of the ryokan lobby, pulling her gloves on with a loud sigh.

“Took you long enough,” she muttered, brushing past you to join the others already waiting by the station entrance. “We’re going everywhere today. So if your legs fall off, that’s your problem.”

You followed quietly, walking beside her as Noah, and a few others trailed behind. The city looked beautiful in the morning snow, rooftops blanketed white, and small shrines dotting the streets like lantern-lit memories.

Shelly glanced at you. “You better not act weird just ‘cause we’re in Kyoto. And don’t think I forgot about yesterday either.”

“Like—ugh. Of all people to walk in on, it had to be Noah? Seriously?” She huffed and kicked at a pile of snow near the curb. “She didn’t even scream or throw anything at you. That’s the part that pisses me off.”