The Unexpected Neighbor

Shirayuki continued walking toward her estate.

The snow around her remained calm, almost untouched, as if the world itself made space for her presence. Her long dark hair moved gently with the cold wind.

Everything was quiet.

Until she reached the gate.

She stopped.

“…?”

Her icy eyes narrowed slightly.

Because just a short distance away from her estate stood another one.

She had never paid much attention to it before.

But now—

Someone was standing there.

A familiar silhouette.

As the wind picked up, the haori fluttered.

Crimson eyes.

Messy white hair.

Sanemi Shinazugawa.

“…!”

For the first time, Shirayuki’s expression didn’t change—but her eyes widened just slightly.

And Sanemi reacted the same way.

Both of them froze.

“….”

“….”

A heavy silence stretched between them.

The wind grew colder, sharper, almost uncomfortable.

Sanemi was the first to break eye contact.

“Tch… don’t tell me…”

His voice dropped slightly.

“…you’re not serious.”

Shirayuki tilted her head a little, still calm.

Her gaze shifted between both estates.

Then she spoke, flat and quiet:

“…Neighbor.”

That single word landed like a shockwave.

Sanemi’s eyes widened instantly.

“WHAT?!”

He stepped forward aggressively.

“You’re telling me I’ve been living next to you this whole time?!”

Shirayuki blinked once.

“…Apparently.”

Silence again.

Sanemi clicked his tongue loudly, turning his head away.

“Tch. Ridiculous…”

But this time, his anger didn’t feel as sharp as before.

More like disbelief… and something else he wasn’t willing to name.

Shirayuki looked at him for a moment longer, then slowly turned her gaze back toward her estate.

“…This explains a lot,” she said quietly.

“Explains what?!” Sanemi snapped immediately.

But she didn’t answer.

Instead, she walked toward her gate as if the situation was already settled in her mind.

Her voice drifted back over her shoulder, calm as falling snow.

“Try not to make too much noise next time, Shinazugawa-san.”

Sanemi stood there, stunned.

Then he shouted after her:

“WHO ARE YOU CALLING NOISY?!”

But Shirayuki had already disappeared inside her estate.

Leaving Sanemi alone outside his gate, staring at the walls between them.

“…Tch.”

He clicked his tongue again.

But this time, he didn’t move right away.

Because for some reason—

Living next to her suddenly felt like a much bigger problem than fighting her.

That night, the snow fell heavier than usual.

Shirayuki sat alone in her estate’s quiet room, the faint glow of a lantern casting soft light across the wooden floor. Outside, the wind moved through the trees like a distant whisper.

She wasn’t disturbed by silence.

She was used to it.

Still—

Her eyes lifted slightly.

“…?”

A sound.

Not inside her estate.

Outside.

A footstep on snow.

Deliberate. Heavy. Unapologetic.

Shirayuki stood up without hesitation and moved toward the veranda. The cold air greeted her immediately as she slid the door open.

And there he was.

Standing at the edge of the boundary between their estates.

Sanemi Shinazugawa.

Arms crossed. Brow furrowed. Looking like he had absolutely no intention of leaving.

Shirayuki stared.

“…What are you doing here?”

Sanemi scoffed.

“Tch. Don’t get the wrong idea.”

He tilted his head slightly toward her estate.

“I was just checking something.”

“…Checking what?”

His eye twitched a little.

“Whether you’re actually going to keep breathing over there or not.”

Silence.

Shirayuki blinked once.

“…That makes no sense.”

“Shut up.”

Another silence fell between them, colder than the snow.

Then Shirayuki spoke again, calmer.

“You’re standing on my property line.”

Sanemi immediately looked down.

Then back up.

“Tch.”

He didn’t move.

Instead, he leaned slightly forward, narrowing his eyes.

“Hey.”

“…?”

“You always this annoying, or is it just for me?”

Shirayuki thought for a moment.

“…I behave normally.”

Sanemi clicked his tongue.

“That’s not an answer.”

For a second, neither of them spoke.

Snowflakes drifted between them like slow falling paper.

Then Shirayuki said quietly:

“You’re still loud.”

Sanemi’s vein visibly twitched.

“…You really wanna start again?”

“I’m not starting anything.”

A pause.

“…You are already loud.”

“—Tch!”

He stepped forward abruptly, but stopped at the boundary line again, like something was holding him back.

Shirayuki noticed.

Her eyes lowered slightly.

“…You’re not crossing.”

Sanemi frowned.

“So what?”

“…You’re respecting the boundary.”

That made him pause.

A beat of silence.

Then he scoffed, turning his head away.

“Tch. Don’t make it sound like I care.”

But he didn’t move forward.

Shirayuki watched him for a moment longer.

Then, unexpectedly—

“…Tea?”

Sanemi froze.

“…Hah?”

She repeated calmly.

“Do you want tea?”

A long silence.

Then—

“What kind of question is that?!”

But even as he shouted, he didn’t leave.

Shirayuki tilted her head slightly.

“…Yes or no.”

Sanemi gritted his teeth.

“Tch… whatever.”

He stepped over the boundary.

Just one step.

But it was enough.

Inside her estate, the wind felt different.

Quieter.

And as Shirayuki turned to lead the way inside, Sanemi followed behind—still irritated, still tense…

But strangely not walking away.

Not this time.

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