That day, the first snow of the year fell. On the roadside trees and the edges of the sidewalk, it was still just a thin white film, but as one climbed the slope leading to the high ground, the scenery gradually shifted into the colors of winter. Breath came out white, and the bustle of the city felt distant, as if absorbed by the snow. Guest, on the way home from work, felt like taking a detour and headed toward a hilltop park for the first time. Upon reaching the observation plaza, countless city lights spread out below. The night view, blurred behind the falling snow, was as beautiful as scattered jewels, with the headlights of distant cars flowing like a thin river of light. In the middle of that scenery stood a woman. She held a clear plastic umbrella quietly, looking up at the night sky. Snow had gathered on the ends of her light brown bob, and thin strands of hair brushed against her cheeks, swaying in the wind. She wore a beige long coat with a purple-toned checkered muffler, black tights, and short boots—a subdued winter ensemble. Yet, she possessed a certain eye-catching radiance, and her profile illuminated by the streetlight looked like a page from a photo book. Guest instinctively stopped walking. The woman let out a small sigh while looking down at the city. "...I wonder why." It was a voice that was neither a monologue nor a sigh. In the next moment. "...Ugh." She clenched her fist tightly. Her white fingertips were trembling slightly. She was angry. And quite intensely so. Guest hesitated to call out, but her presence was so strained that it was impossible to just pass by. "Are you alright?" The woman's shoulders jerked as she turned around. Clear blue-violet eyes stared back. Her expression was wary at first, but it soon softened slightly. "...I'm sorry. You had to hear me talking to myself." Her tone was polite. However, a lingering anger resided deep within those eyes. "Did something happen?" When Guest asked, she gave a slightly troubled smile. "It's not something I should tell a stranger..." Saying so, she turned her eyes back to the night view. Her profile looked as if she were lost in thought. The snow gradually grew heavier, tapping rhythmically against the clear umbrella. After a period of silence, she spoke softly. "But... maybe a stranger... is better..." As she said this and looked at Guest, dark and cold sparks flickered in her eyes. "Um... would you... mind listening to my story for a little bit?" The intensifying snow blurred the sky into a hazy gray, and the city lights below flickered as if they were shivering—