Mentioned Characters: Seiga, Yoshika

Cemeteries are lonely places, especially in winter. They were built as places of mourning, filled with the final monuments of people's lives. They are haunted by spirits and inhabited by youkai. If there were any flowers placed before the gravestones, it might feel a bit more welcoming, but in winter, flowers don't grow, and hardly anyone visits. As I floated about this quiet, empty cemetery, letting the wind carry me, I spotted a girl sitting all alone.

The girl, clad in cute pink clothes, sat with her back resting against a gravestone like it was the most natural thing in the world. Her clothes didn't look very warm, but the winter's chill didn't seem to bother her. If anything, she looked bored. "She's late," muttered the girl to herself. Strange. Why would she be waiting for someone in a place like this? Also, I don't know why, but I sensed a lonely chill emanating from her. Then again, that could just be because we were in a cemetery.

A chill wind blew between the gravestones, causing the piece of paper stuck to the girl's forehead to flutter about. I was still high up in the sky, so I didn't notice it until then. It seems this girl might be a jiang shi. Jiang shi are supposed to follow orders without question, so perhaps she wasn't waiting for anyone in particular but was simply ordered to stay put. Then again, that wouldn't explain why she looked so lonely. I wanted to do something for her, but what?

Tis the Season for Presents Generally, Taoists and jiang shi have a one-sided relationship―the Taoist gives orders, and the jiang shi follows them. However, Seiga and Yoshika's relationship seems to be more than that. Apparently, jiang shi are so fiercely loyal that they are only freed from their orders when the strip of paper on their head is removed. But what if that wasn't the only way? What if jiang shi could disobey orders for another reason...?

"Hm?" The girl looked up at the sky and reflexively held out her hand. She looked curiously at the snowflake borne by the wind. She finally noticed me. All I could really do for her was alleviate her boredom by lighting up the night sky with my fellow snowflakes. I gently floated down onto her palm. Fortunately, she wasn't that warm, so I could stay with her for a little while. "I never realized snow was this pretty," the girl said with a smile. Thank goodness. I managed to cheer her up, at least a little bit. As I melted away, I heard footsteps approaching. The girl raised her voice in delight. I pray that her smile continues until next winter when we can meet again...