The Gate of Cold

(Author’s POV)

The school gates buzzed with noise and life that morning — laughter, greetings, the shuffle of new shoes against pavement. But right at the center of that ordinary crowd stood a scene that didn’t fit in with the sunshine and smiles.

Kin Arakawa stood still. Her hand gripped the strap of her bag tightly, her chest rising and falling in quiet frustration. Beside her was her girlfriend — expression of boredom, the kind that could kill a conversation before it even started.

Kin stared at her, searching for something — warmth,

“Why didn’t you reply last night?” Kin asked quietly. Her voice wasn’t angry, just small. Tired. “I called. I texted. You saw it.”

Her girlfriend, Rina, didn’t even look up from her phone. “I was busy.”

“Busy?” Kin’s tone cracked slightly. “Doing what? You posted a story at midnight.”

That made Rina pause. Slowly, she lowered her phone and met Kin’s eyes with that same detached calm that could freeze oceans. “So? That’s not your business every time.”

Kin blinked, caught between disbelief and hurt. “Your my girlfriend....”

Rina shrugged. “And? You’re too clingy sometimes. Not everything I do needs an explanation.”

The words hit harder than a slap.

Kin’s throat tightened. Around them, students walked past — chatting, laughing — while the two of them stood frozen in their own silent battlefield. The morning sun felt too bright, too warm for something this cold.

Rina shifted her bag over her shoulder, eyes already darting toward the school building. “Anyway, I’m heading in. Don’t make a scene, okay?”

Kin almost laughed at that — a bitter, shaky sound that didn’t quite make it out of her throat. “A scene? You think asking for a reply is making a scene?”

................Students hurried through, some laughing, some yawning, some dragging their bags like they hadn’t slept at all. Among them was Chelle Hanazaki — the type of girl whose presence made everything around her feel a little louder, a little more alive.her bright face as she walked with her friends, chatting non-stop about summer crushes and cute uniforms.

“Chelle, you think we’ll get lucky this year?” one of her friends teased, nudging her playfully. “Maybe we’ll end up with cute classmates!”

Chelle grinned. “If they’re cute, I’m claiming one. First come, first serve!”

Her friends laughed loudly, the kind of laughter that drew attention — but Chelle didn’t care. That’s what she was like: confident, flirty, a little chaotic, but always warm.

As they neared the school gate, her laughter suddenly faded.

Because just a few steps ahead, she saw something — or rather, someone.

It was Kin Arakawa.She don't know her it was the first she saw Kin

Chelle slowed her pace, her heart skipping once. She didn’t know why. There was just… something about Kin’s quiet posture — the way her eyes looked tired but gentle, how she stood so still while her girlfriend spoke sharply to her.

The scene wasn’t loud, but Chelle could feel the tension from where she stood. Kin’s girlfriend, Rina, , looking annoyed.

Chelle’s friends kept walking, still talking about random things. But Chelle stayed behind, she watched the two from the corner of her eye.

She couldn’t hear the conversation, but she could tell what it was about — that kind of body language didn’t lie.

(Kin X Rina)

Rina didn’t answer. She just sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Look, Kin. You’re sweet, but sometimes you make everything heavy. Can you stop overreacting in small things .”

Then she turned away — just like that.

Kin stood there, staring at her girlfriend’s back as she disappeared into the crowd of uniforms. Her hands trembled slightly, the morning breeze tugging at her hair.

She wanted to shout. To ask why love suddenly felt like begging.

But she didn’t.

Instead, she took a deep breath, forcing herself to move. Her steps were slow, her heart heavy, but her face stayed calm — the kind of calm you wear when you refuse to let the world see you break.

When Rina finally turned and walked away — not even glancing back — Chelle found herself watching Kin longer than she meant to.

Kin stood there for a few seconds, staring down, breathing slow. Then she adjusted her bag and walked toward the building, calm on the outside but clearly carrying something heavy inside.

Chelle’s chest tightened.

“Hey!” one of her friends called. “Chelle! You spacing out again?”

“Huh?” She blinked, snapping back to reality and forcing a smile. “No! I was just—uh—checking who’s got the best hair today.”

Her friends laughed again, pulling her along. But Chelle glanced back one more time.

Kin was already gone, swallowed by the crowd.

And yet, the image stuck — the quiet girl with soft eyes and a sadness she didn’t show.

Chelle tried to shake it off, swinging her bag over her shoulder as they walked past the hallway bulletin board. Her friends crowded around the list of sections, squealing.

...----------------...

The harsh neon glow of the street barely pierced the shadowed alley just outside the gate. Kian Tanaka, a whirlwind of furious energy . Her knuckles connected with a sickening thud against the jaw of one unfortunate soul, sending him sprawling against the graffiti-scarred brick wall. Before his companion could react, Kian’s foot swept out, tripping him backward into a pile of overflowing trash bags.

 She straddled the first guy, landing a series of quick, brutal punches to his midsection, each one fueled by a raw, unbridled fury that was as much a part of her as her dark, cropped hair. Fights found her as often as she found them, and today was no exception.

Just then Jessa Kuroda had just arrived, clutching her books close to her chest. She wasn’t the type to get involved in other people’s chaos. Quiet, shy, soft-spoken — Jessa usually avoided scenes like this.

Her wide brown eyes followed the fierce girl with blood on her knuckles. There was something about the way Kian stood — strong, angry, yet strangely calm beneath it all.

Jessa’s heart thudded once, out of fear… or maybe something else she couldn’t name.

 Jessa panicked and looked away, walking faster toward the entrance. Her steps quickened, echoing faintly against the pavement.

She didn’t realize her hands were trembling a little.

Kian didn’t notice her at all — too busy wiping the blood from her lip and muttering under her breath, “Idiots.”

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***