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Yumehara glanced out her window, still a bit tired from Teruhashi's party the day before, but was instantly awake once she saw outside. At some point, it had started to snow! Yumehara ran to her closet and got out her coat and winter accessories. Her favorite was a hat that matched her headband one of her friends had given her on her birthday.
Only a few minutes later, she was bundled from head to toe, excited to go and play in the fluffy snow. The last thing she grabbed was her phone, slipping it into a zippered pocket of her coat.
"Mom, I'm going to the park!" Yumehara called out to her mom as she stepped outside her house's door. Once the door closed, she ran excitedly to the park across the street. 'This has to be the best start of the year ever!' Yumehara thought to herself as she reached the park.
Only a thin layer of snow was on the ground, but it was piling up quickly. The thin concrete path that wound through the park were wet with melted snow and the trees looked like they had been dusted with powdered sugar.
Yumehara pulled her coat tighter around herself and started walking through the park. It appeared like no one else had been in the park that day. It made sense, she knew all her neighbors were out of town for the winter holiday.
Soon, she had walked into the gazebo at the center of the park and decided to sit at the table. Yumehara gazed across the landscape and felt a pang on loneliness. She fumbled with her mittens and went to grab her phone. She started scrolling through her contacts, contemplating who to call.
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"Oh, Chiyo, what's up?" Mera held her flip phone to her ear, trying to make her and her siblings' beds.
'Well, it started snowing and I went to the park across from my house. But, I'm actually pretty lonely. I was wondering if you wanted to hang out. You aren't at a job today right?'
"Nope, nothing today. Plus, my dad finally got a job so I don't have to work as much! It's amazing!" Mera had a bright smile on her face, so glad her family was finally back together. "Anyways, I can hang out today! Could you text me your address again?"
A text came through soon after and Mera thanked Yumehara, before hanging up. She slipped her phone into the pocket of the new pants she got for Christmas. Mera finished up making the beds, then headed to the front of the house where her mom was working on mending some clothes.
"Hey mom, Chiyo Yumehara called and asked if I could go to the park across from her house to hang out. I'll write down her name, address, and phone number just in case." Mera took a pencil and scrap of paper from the table and wrote down all the above mentioned information.
"Okay, bye mom! I'll be back before nightfall and call you when I'm on my way." Mera left her house and took another look at the address Yumehara sent her, going quickly on her way.
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Yumehara spent her time waiting for Mera preparing snowballs. She also went back to her house to grab an extra pair of mittens and a hat just in case Mera didn't have some. About ten minutes later, Mera arrived at the park, without a hat, just like Yumehara suspected.
"Hey, Chisato, I have an extra hat for you!" Yumehara held the hat out to Mera, who gratefully took it and placed it on her head. "So, Chiyo, what do you want to do?" Yumehara took Mera's hand and led her to her snowball pile. "Snowball fight!"
Mera grabbed up some of the snowballs and moved away from where Yumehara stood. The two readied their snowballs, looked at each other, and waited for the other to go.
Yumehara got impatient and launched a snowball at Mera, but missed by a few feet. Mera took the opportunity and threw her snowball at Yumehara, landing straight in the center of her face. Yumehara sputtered a bit and wiped the snow off herself, before throwing two snowballs in quick succession at Mera.
The fight continued as such, Yumehara mostly missing the other girls and Mera having deadly accurate aim. Yumehara chalked it up to the other girl needing a wide variety of expertise for her part time jobs.
Sooner than they thought, all the snowballs ran out. The girls were a bit tired from the fight, but weren't ready to go home. The snowfall had lightened up a bit, but was still falling steadily. Yumehara was suddenly aware of the stinging of the flakes falling on her face.
Yumehara noticed Mera doing something, so she turned to her friend. Mera was attempting catch snowflakes on her tongue. Yumehara decided to join in on her escapades. Both of the girls carried on, until they heard some geese above head.
"Wow, I forgot there were geese around this time!" They kept looking up at the birds, amazed at how many were up in the sky. They looked like they just kept coming. Eventually though, the flock flew off and Mera noticed the sun starting to set.
"Oh, I have to go. Goodbye Chiyo, I had fun!" Mera tried to give her borrowed hat back, but Yumehara pushed it back to her. "Consider it a belated Christmas gift." Mera gave her friend a hug, then started her way back home, calling her mom on her way.
Yumehara walked back to her house, content with how the day turned out.