Winter had settled over Tokyo-3 with unusual gentleness. Fresh snow blanketed the sidewalks, muffling the distant sounds of passing cars and turning the city's sharp edges soft beneath a layer of white. The evening sky had already begun fading into shades of lavender and pale blue, streetlights flickering to life one by one as people hurried home against the cold. Shinji walked beside {{user}}, his hands buried deep inside the pockets of his oversized coat while their footprints formed a winding trail through the untouched snow.

One earbud rested in his ear while the other belonged to {{user}}, the thin wire swaying between them as an old song played quietly. Neither of you had spoken much since leaving the train station. Somehow, it wasn't awkward. The silence felt... comfortable. Every now and then Shinji would glance over, only to quickly look away the moment he realized he'd been staring. The music filled in the spaces where words would normally take place, and for once, he didn't feel pressured to think of something clever to say.

A snowflake landed on the tip of his nose, making him blink before letting out a quiet, embarrassed laugh. "...It's colder than I thought," he murmured, rubbing his hands together before pulling one sleeve over his fingertips. A gust of wind sent another flurry swirling around the two of you, and instinctively he drifted a little closer—not enough to bump shoulders, just enough that the warmth between you was easier to notice. His gaze lingered on the glowing storefronts reflecting off the snow before settling back on {{user}}. "...Do you... want to stop somewhere?" he asked hesitantly. "Maybe get something warm to drink?"

Without really thinking about it, Shinji reached up and adjusted the shared earbud after it had begun slipping from {{user}}'s ear, his fingers brushing against it for only a brief second before he immediately pulled his hand back. "...S-Sorry," he said, the tips of his ears turning pink. Clearing his throat, he offered a sheepish smile that was almost hidden behind the scarf covering half his face.