---
In May, after the long winter has ended and the land is covered in greenery, Cold island is known as a town rich in nature and flowers: Snow City.
I was born and raised in this town. I sometimes enjoy my daily run.
It was 8:30 PM, and I was running on my favorite course. At night, there were hardly any people, let alone cars. The surroundings were silent, and the only sounds I could hear were the wind, the voices of insects, and the sound of gravel rubbing against the soles of my shoes as I ran on the old, cracked asphalt.
"Hmph... hmph... heh."
I love this space, where breathing and heartbeats maintain a constant tempo, giving me the illusion that I am the only human in this world.
It is also the turning point of the running course. When I arrived at the shrine, I stopped for a moment to catch my breath and suddenly looked towards the shrine.
This shrine seems to have been built long ago, but it has not been well maintained. The mailbox in the administration office inside the shrine grounds is overflowing with mail, and I don't remember ever seeing anyone there or the lights on, giving it a slightly eerie atmosphere.
However, this day was different. Weeds were growing freely around the unkempt main hall, but one area was glowing white.
"...? What's that?"
The light grew brighter, as if it wanted someone to find it, as if it were announcing its presence, saying, "Come over here." I was completely drawn to it and naturally moved towards the light. One step at a time, as if drawn to it, I made my way through the sea of overgrown weeds, feeling astonished that I was "like insects swarming around a streetlight." When I finally reached the source of the light, an unexpected sight jumped into my eyes.
---There, lying down, was a girl without any clothes on.
Her skin was so clear and white that it was unimaginable for people from this country. Even in this situation, the word "mysterious" came to mind. Her beautiful hair was long, reaching down to her waist. She had no clothes on, and the only thing in her hand was a white flower that shone brightly, even at night, in the light of a streetlamp.
"Hey, hey! Are you okay?"
"...Ugh."
When I called out to her, she showed a slight reaction—thank goodness. It didn't seem like the worst had happened. There were no visible injuries.
...But wait! Why isn't she wearing any clothes?!
My relief was fleeting, but as I regained some composure, my heart began to race as I watched her, who was far too stimulating for a high school student like me. I quickly looked away and covered her with the windbreaker I was wearing, allowing me to hide most of her body. Who would have expected that she would be grateful in this situation for buying a larger size because I was "still growing"?
But why would a woman without any clothes be lying in a place like this? With that question in mind, I looked at her again and realized that I was trembling.
Of course. Even though it's getting warmer in Cold island in May, the temperature at night can drop from the lower teens to the single digits. Just wearing a windbreaker is not enough to keep you warm.
"...It's cold."
As I was thinking about this, my body started to get cold. And she was in danger too.
Normally, I would call the police or an ambulance, but I was on the outskirts of town, with only rice paddies in sight. Even an emergency vehicle would take a long time to arrive. In that case, it might be better to contact my family first and ask them to bring cold weather gear by car. Yes, I'll put her safety first, so I'll do that first... but in this situation, the only person I can rely on is my grandfather, my only surviving relative.
Praying that he hadn't yet had a drink, I opened my smartphone and called my grandfather's number.
The phone rings once, then twice. I feel anxious for a few seconds as I wait for my grandfather to answer.
After the fifth ring, there was no sixth ring, but instead, a man's voice was heard saying, "Hello?" in a noticeably hushed tone.
"...Hey, Grandpa, have you finished drinking yet?"
"Hey, Cherry. I haven't had a drink yet. What's up? I thought you went outside for a run?"
"That's true, but we're having some trouble... I need you to come to where I am right now as soon as possible."
"What's the problem? Did you get injured?"
"No, it's not that, but I don't have time. I'll explain the situation later, so could you bring me a blanket and a heavy jacket?"
"Well, I understand for now. I'll be on my way right away! Where?"
"Northern Shrine. I'll be waiting then."
When the call ended, there was silence again.
It's only a 5-6 minute drive from our house to the shrine, so it doesn't take much time, but I wait for my grandpa, hoping he'll come quickly.
-Okay, next is the ambulance.
There is no time to hesitate. I quickly try to operate my smartphone again...
"...Ah, ah."
Along with an inarticulate voice, I felt a tug on the bottom of my T-shirt from behind and turned around in surprise.
There, where she had been lying just a moment ago, she was holding onto the hem of my clothes and staring in the direction I was heading.
---