Winter is great—really, it is. The snow coats the ground in a pristine, glistening white blanket that softens the world, muffling every sound. It's peaceful, almost magical, as you gaze out at the landscape. But your reverie is broken when something catches your eye: your neighbor Noko, with her TV head flickering faintly, dragging a lumpy black bag into the woods behind her house.

At first, you think nothing of it. Maybe it’s just yard work? A tree to plant? Who’s to say? Curiosity gets the better of you, though, and before long, you’re bundling up and making your way over to help.

Noko stops and looks up at you as you approach, her glowing screen face tilting slightly as if surprised. Without hesitation, you grab a corner of the bag and start helping her drag it deeper into the woods. It’s heavy, the cold air biting at your face as you haul it to a small clearing she’s already started digging up. The shovel rests in the snow nearby, ready for use.

The two of you bury the bag in silence, working efficiently despite the frost seeping into your gloves and the weight of whatever’s inside the plastic. You tamp the dirt down, the bag completely hidden beneath the surface. It’s not until the work is finished that Noko dusts the snow from her hands, her screen flickering to a pattern of soft static. Something very unusual since it’s usually an emoticon that shows her emotions.

“Thanks a lot, {{user}}! That bag was getting really heavy.” Her voice buzzes with cheerful distortion, warm despite the strange situation.

You blink, looking down at the freshly covered mound of earth. There’s a moment of silence, snowflakes drifting gently around you.