"You really are a fool, Yuki," said Tokito.

Yuki replied, "No, I am not, you fool." Both stared at each other and started laughing.

"I am Tokito Shinra. I am currently 25 years old, and this is my friend, Yuki Nagato. She is a year younger than me, and we both are actors. We are friends from when we were in college learning to become actors. She is not my girlfriend or anything, but I soon want to propose to her. I bought this sea blue ring for her as a present. I don't know whether she will accept or reject, but I think I have a pretty good chance since she is so friendly and kind with knowing my past. It will soon be Christmas, and on that day, I am going to confess on Christmas Eve. Isn't this incredible? I am having chills just thinking about it," Tokito exclaimed.

"Toki, Toki, are you listening to Yuki?" asked with a loud voice. "You never listen to me; you are always in your own thoughts," said Yuki and pouted in frustration.

"Sorry, I was just in my own thoughts. So what is it?" Tokito asked.

"I was saying that I got an offer to perform a dance on the Christmas Eve grand award. Isn't it amazing?" said Yuki with a dazzling smile on her face.

"Yuki, are you free before the Christmas Eve grand award? Would you like to go on a date with me on that day?" Tokito asked while lining down his hand on table and with a straight face smile.

Yuki replied while blushing, "Yes, why not"

On Christmas Eve, I was waiting near Kyoto station building with the sea blue ring in the lower pocket of his jacket. I did all the preparations for this date to go well. Now the only thing left was to perform well. "Let's do it," he thought.

I saw Yuki coming towards him, waving her hand. She was looking pretty in a scarlet-colored dress with a white cap and silver star-shaped earrings, with a whistle pendant around her neck.

""Yuki, you appear absolutely stunning. It's as if the snow itself has bestowed its radiance upon you," I complimented with admiration.

Yuki replied with a laugh, "What, are you Shakespeare or something? And what's with that look? I hate to admit it, but you look kind of handsome with that combination of black jacket and white turtleneck sweatshirt. I never would have thought you did have a fashion sense."

"I do understand color combinations; it's just that I don't like dressing myself up, and it's not like there is someone for me to keep myself tied up," Tokito replied.

Yuki smiled and replied with a low voice, "From now on, you'd better dress properly because I will always have my eye on you. I don't know why the words of hers give a sense of relief. I think it's just natural for her to attract people."

"We both started walking around. Yuki was excited and pointed at every shop she liked, and I was behind her, watching her go around every shop, smiling. I think the relief of my stressful life is her dazzling smile, which can never be bought with money or anything. I first thought it was just my body wanting her to relieve my stress of work because she was pretty and had a nice womanly body, and it's something normal in the entertainment industry for us actors. But I was wrong. The thing I always long for is the moon that shines on the earth at night with the twinkling stars, and I want to become that star, which will make my moon even more beautiful.

As we tread the snowy path together, the streets brimmed with families and couples, each scene painting a picture of joy and laughter. Lost in my thoughts, I hear Yuki's voice snap me back to reality. "Toki, are you daydreaming again?" I chide, my tone laced with irritation. "Huh? What's up?" Yuki asks, startled. "You weren't listening, were you? I was just thinking how wonderful it must be to have a family of your own," I admit wistfully, my gaze tinged with envy. Catching sight of my longing expression, Yuki responds, "Indeed, having your own little world is a beauty in itself. But for now, let's focus on the task at hand—getting to that Starbucks." "Why not? Let's go!" I exclaim with excitement.

Stepping into the warmth of the café, I inquires, "What will you have, Yuki?" She replied confidently, "My usual." I raises an eyebrow, asking, "Are you sure?" Her glare meets my question, and I quickly backs down, saying, "No, ma'am." She nodded in satisfaction, commanding, "Good. Now, go fetch it quickly." With a smile, I add, "This is your chocolate cappuccino with vanilla cream," Yuki confirms, marveling at the sight. "Wow, nothing beats this," we both exclaim simultaneously. "Don't you think your combination is somewhat deadly?"

As we savor our indulgent drinks, a comfortable silence settles between us, broken only by the soft hum of conversation around us. Yuki takes a sip of her cappuccino, closing her eyes briefly as if relishing the moment. "You know, Toki," she begins, breaking the silence, "moments like these make me appreciate the simple pleasures in life." I nod in agreement, understanding the sentiment completely. "Indeed," I reply, "it's the little things that often bring the most joy."

Leaning back in my chair, I gaze out of the window, watching as the snow continues to fall gently outside. The cozy atmosphere of the cafe combined with the warmth of our drinks creates a sense of contentment that washes over me. "Yuki," I say, turning back to her, "do you ever wonder what the future holds for us?" She looks at me thoughtfully, her eyes reflecting the soft glow of the cafe lights. "Sometimes," she admits, "but for now, I'm just grateful for moments like these, spent with you."

I smile at her words, feeling a sense of warmth and companionship that transcends words. "Me too, Yuki," I say softly, "me too." And in that moment, as we sit together in the warmth of the café, I know that no matter what the future may hold, as long as we have each other, everything will be okay.

As we step outside, the chilly air nips at our cheeks, a stark contrast to the warmth we left behind in the café. Despite the cold, there's an unspoken tension lingering within me . Yuki, however, remains her usual self, smiling and darting through the street. Lost in my thoughts, I notice Yuki has reached another corner of the pathway. I called out her name, "Yuki!" And in that moment, something significant hangs in the air, waiting to be acknowledged.

Suddenly, I reached into my jacket's pocket, retrieving a small blue moon ring. With a trembling hand, I hold it out to Yuki, my heart pounding in my chest. "Yuki," I begin, my voice barely above a whisper, "will you be my family?"

Yuki's eyes widen in surprise, her lips parting slightly as if she's about to speak. But before she can respond, I continued, my words pouring out in a rush. "But I understand if you don't feel the same way," I said quickly, my voice filled with resignation.

For a moment, there's silence between them, the weight of Tokito's confession hanging heavy in the air. Then, with a sigh, Yuki speaks, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry, Toki," she says softly, her eyes filled with sadness. "But I already have a child and a family."

My world shatters at her words, the pain of rejection washing over me like a tidal wave. I struggled to process what she said, my mind reeling with disbelief. "When... when did you have a child?" I asked ,my voice trembling with emotion.

Yuki looks away, her gaze fixed on the ground as if unable to meet his eyes. "I had it when I was 19," she admits, her voice barely audible. "But Toki, that's not the reason why_ I suddenly burst out in emotions

"Why do you hang out with me? Why are you so kind towards me? Why do you enjoy these small moments with me?" I interrupted, my voice rising with desperation. "Why... why?"

Yuki turns back towards him, her eyes filled with uncertainty. "I don't know," she admits quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I think I have no right to say this, but please come to my show tomorrow. I want to tell you something."

With those words, Yuki turns and walks away into the falling snow, leaving me standing there, my heart in pieces. I reached out my hand towards her, but she was already out of my reach. Collapsing onto a nearby bench, I looked up at the sky, the snowflakes swirling around me like a cruel reminder of my shattered dreams. "The snow is cold tonight," I murmured to myself, my voice barely audible above the sound of my own heart beats.