<b>The News reported in a small break that the university students were safely evacuated after the snowstorm suddenly vanished.</b>
<b>From what I heard, some of the students were found with mild frostbite and hypothermia. They were later admitted to the hospital for further examinations and treatment.</b>
<b>There is often a blame and responsibility placed on those who get themselves into this mess. However because the weather forecast predicted it was going to be sunny, they got a pass. </b>
<b>“Well, I’m just glad everything turned out alright. Safety first.”</b>
<b>My father gave his impression after seeing the news.</b>
<b>“So apparently they found them when they heard a voice saying “Here, over here”. And when they followed the voice they found them.”</b>
<b>My father was supposed to join the volunteers, however he soon returned after finding out the missing college students had been found. </b>
<b>“Well thank you for trying.”</b>
<b>After that the volunteering squad was quickly disbanded. And thanks to that we can quickly open the store.</b>
<b>“And also you, Yukiya.”</b>
<b>My mother gave my father a rough synopsis about what happened.</b>
<b>However he didn’t ask any more questions.</b>
<b>By the way, my mother said she had to do an errand in the morning, and will be back in the afternoon.</b>
<b>“You definitely are your mother and my child. You have that special blood in you.”</b>
<b>Does my father know something about this that I don’t?</b>
<b>“Is my mother special for a Yuki Onna?”</b>
<b>“Your mother is a Yuki Onna that has compassion and kindness for humans. That is a rare trait for snow women whose hearts are usually as cold as ice. . .So we wanted to make sure you would be a child who was kind and considerate. That was her request to me before she left you with me and went back alone to the mountain.”</b>
<b>“. . .Is that so?”</b>
<b>So I was actually born to a strange couple. . .</b>
<b>Does that make me a strange person? Is it a bad or good thing to be like your parents? I guess it’s a good thing in this situation.</b>
<b>“Now that you are fourteen, I can finally talk to you about this stuff.”</b>
<b>It was then the door to the store suddenly opened.</b>
<b>Wind rushed in as there was a little blizzard outside.</b>
<b>In addition to snow, a guest appeared.</b>
<b>We looked over to the person who slowly walked in.</b>
<b>“If it ain’t the rumored person. . .”</b>
<b>My father whispered to me.</b>
<b>“It’s the college student.”</b>
<b>“It really is. . .”</b>
<b>It was Uemura-san, the spectacled college student.</b>
<b>I immediately got up to greet them.</b>
<b>“Welcome, please take a seat.”</b>
<b>I prompted them and gave them my service smile.</b>
<b>“A, Ah. . .thank you.”</b>
<b>There are no other customers here beside him. As the store has barely opened.</b>
<b>“Thank you.”</b>
<b>It’s very cold today, so the heater is working over time, and yet it still feels a bit chilly inside. So I decided to serve him some free hot tea.</b>
<b>“What would you like to order?”</b>
<b>I placed the cup on the table and then handed him a menu.</b>
<b>“Hmm, I’m not that hungry. . .”</b>
<b>He muttered as he glanced through the options.</b>
<b>“Hmm. Do you perhaps have any recommendations?”</b>
<b>It doesn’t look like they came for food.</b>
<b>Then what are they doing here?</b>
<b>“That’s right. . .”</b>
<b>We have some selection for customers who are not satisfied with a drink, but don’t want a meal.</b>
<b>I thought hard before I replied.</b>
<b>“If you don’t want a heavy meal, perhaps try our Zensai? We recommend it, as it uses local red beans in it’s paste.”</b>
<b>“Well, then let’s give that a go.”</b>
<b>“Thank you very much.”</b>
<b>After I left to tell my father the order, I returned to Uemura-san.</b>
<b>“I saw what happened on the news. It’s good you guys came back okay.”</b>
<b>“Ahh. . .I’m very sorry that we caused your town so much trouble. This wouldn’t have happened if I planned it out more.”</b>
<b>He looked regretfully into his tea. </b>
<b>“Don’t worry about it. Our village is a tourist hub for visitors to get a taste of nature. So these types of unfortunate events will inevitably happen.”</b>
<b>“If you say so. . .We are just lucky to be alive.”</b>
<b>“So how was the aftermath?”</b>
<b>“Today I was able to greet and thank our rescuers.”</b>
<b>Ah those involved. The firefighters, police, and all that played a part in their rescues. He actually recovered fast compared to the others. They are all still in the hospital, but he got up to apologize as their representative.</b>
<b>It’s rather mature of him to clean up and face all the consequences.</b>
<b>“Sounds tough. . .”</b>
<b>I murmured.</b>
<b>Uemura-san turned his head and coughed into his arm.</b>
<b>“Also. . .”</b>
<b>“?”</b>
<b>“Thank you. . .For helping us. . .”</b>
<b>He softly said. I couldn’t really understand what he said.</b>
<b>“Um? What?”</b>
<b>“No, it was nothing. Oh yeah.”</b>
<b>He then stood up and moved over to the souvenir corner.</b>
<b>“Can I buy these? Is it possible to pay for it along with my meal?”</b>
<b>“Sure!”</b>
<b>He picked up 15 pieces of chocolate cookies, a classic Hyousei village souvenir. Along with 10 hot spring steamed buns.</b>
<b>“Thank you very much!”</b>
<b>I cheerfully replied. I switched to my business talk and got a bag for him to put them in.</b>
<b>After he finished his meal he met me at the cash register so I could process his bill.</b>
<b>“Um, is it okay for me to ask your name?”</b>
<b>In the silence of me typing, he asked. As I was still looking down at the cash register, I politely responded. </b>
<b>“Eh? Um, it’s Yukiya.”</b>
<b>“Yuki-chan, I’ll be back again!”</b>
<b>“Alright, I’ll be waiting.”</b>
<b>With that he left our store. The snow signaled his departure.</b>
<b>And then we got a new customer.</b>
<b>It was lunchtime so customers began to stream into the store. One after another.</b>
<b>Alright, after pumping out two chapters of my other novel I’m translating, I quickly made sure to translate this. People have been waiting long enough. And now we got some closure for the students. </b>
<b>But I do really really hope Uemura isn’t a love interest. . .The age difference is too much. A 14 year old and a second year university student? Yeah, not for me. I don’t think he would be. Maybe more of a friend/big brother if he does come back. There is also a good chance he will become a background character.</b>
<b>Anyways new chapter in 2-3 days.</b>
<b>If you’d like to give me a coffee, here is a link: https://ko-fi.com/G2G6EFF3#</b>