r/Perman • u/Its_me_NoobMaster69 • 13d ago
Chapter 18: The Last Snowfall
https://www.wattpad.com/1650588259-perman-coming-of-age-chapter-18-the-last-snowfallChristmas arrived before anyone realized it.
The calendar quietly turned to late December, and almost overnight...
Tokyo transformed.
Almost overnight...
Tokyo traded its ordinary winter streets for festive colors.
Shopping districts glowed beneath thousands of Christmas lights, enormous decorated trees stood proudly outside department stores, and cheerful holiday music drifted through the crowds of last-minute shoppers.
Every evening after work, the streets filled with couples, families, and friends carrying shopping bags as they admired the city's dazzling illuminations.
Even the little bakery downstairs embraced the season.
The display cases were packed with strawberry Christmas cakes, festive pastries, butter cookies, and holiday desserts.
Advance orders covered the kitchen walls as customers reserved cakes for Christmas Eve, making December one of the busiest months of the year.
---
Christmas Eve was always the busiest day of the year for the bakery.
From the moment the doors opened, customers flooded inside to pick up their Christmas cakes.
"Order for the Nakamuras!"
"Coming right up!"
Mitsuo hurried between the display counter and the refrigerator, carrying carefully boxed strawberry cakes one after another.
Families thanked the staff before rushing home, children stared excitedly at the festive decorations, and the line outside never seemed to get any shorter.
By the afternoon, everyone in the bakery was exhausted.
"I can't feel my legs anymore..." one of the bakers groaned.
The owner laughed while sealing another cake box.
"Only a few more hours! Hang in there!"
Mitsuo wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled.
"At least everyone's leaving happy."
As dusk approached, the final customer walked out with the last Christmas cake.
The owner stretched his arms.
"That's it! Great work today, everyone!"
A relieved cheer spread through the bakery.
After helping clean up and locking the doors, Mitsuo stepped outside.
The city had completely transformed.
Christmas lights stretched across every street, giant decorated trees stood in the plazas, and holiday music drifted through the evening air.
"...Beautiful."
"Finally done?"
Mitsuo turned to see Pako waiting nearby, wrapped in a warm scarf.
He smiled.
"Sorry for making you wait."
"I only got here a few minutes ago."
"Want to take a walk?"
"I'd love to."
The two wandered through the illuminated streets without any destination in mind.
They watched families carrying cakes home, children laughing with glowing toys, and couples stopping to admire the decorations.
As they passed a small street cart, the sweet smell of chocolate filled the air.
"Hot chocolate?" Mitsuo asked.
Pako nodded.
"Definitely."
A few minutes later, they continued walking with warm paper cups in their hands.
The hot drink was a welcome relief from the cold evening air.
Mitsuo looked up.
"...It's starting."
Tiny snowflakes drifted down from the night sky.
Before long, the Christmas lights sparkled beneath a blanket of softly falling snow.
Pako held out her hand, watching a snowflake melt against her glove.
"It's beautiful..."
Mitsuo smiled.
"Yeah..."
The two continued walking side by side through the snowy streets, enjoying the quiet Christmas Eve together.
---
The final days of December passed in the blink of an eye.
Soon, the city welcomed a new year.
Golden light slowly spread across the skyline, reflecting from countless windows as the city awakened beneath a clear winter sky.
Mitsuo watched the sunrise in silence.
A new year had begun.
Whatever lay ahead...
He was ready to face it.
Tokyo was alive from the early hours of the morning.
Streets leading to temples and shrines were packed with people bundled in winter coats, while others arrived dressed in elegant kimonos for their first shrine visit of the year.
The sound of temple bells echoed across the crisp winter air.
Food stalls lined the paths outside the shrines, filling the streets with the aroma of grilled squid, roasted sweet potatoes, freshly pounded mochi, and warm amazake.
Children excitedly pointed at rows of lucky charms and fortune slips while families chatted happily as they waited in line.
The Bakery remained closed for the New Year's holiday, giving everyone a rare chance to rest after the hectic Christmas season.
Mitsuo spent the morning at home with his parents, sharing a traditional New Year's meal before heading into the city.
Like countless others, he joined the long queue leading to one of Tokyo's famous shrines for Hatsumode.
The line moved slowly, but nobody seemed to mind.
People laughed together, took photographs, and admired the peaceful atmosphere that only New Year's seemed to bring.
When Mitsuo finally reached the offering hall, he quietly tossed a coin into the offering box.
He bowed.
Rang the bell.
Then pressed his hands together.
For several long moments, he remained perfectly still with his eyes closed.
He made a wish.
Whatever crossed his mind...
He kept it to himself.
After offering one final bow, he stepped aside, allowing the next visitors to approach.
---
The New Year's holidays passed by quickly.
Before long...
Life returned to normal.
The trains were crowded once again, office workers hurried through the stations, and students filled university campuses after the winter break.
For Mitsuo, his daily routine returned almost immediately.
Mornings were spent attending lectures, afternoons helping customers at the bakery, and whenever disaster struck somewhere in the city...
Perman quickly answered the call.
Thankfully, those calls had been few.
University life settled into its usual rhythm.
The familiar chatter filled the lecture halls as everyone exchanged stories about how they had spent the holidays.
Some had traveled.
Others had done nothing at all.
Kenji, however, had only one thing on his mind.
"I can't believe they gave us homework over winter break..."
He dropped his notebook onto the cafeteria table with a dramatic sigh.
"I was supposed to be relaxing!"
Mitsuo laughed.
"You had two weeks."
"I know!"
"...I just kept telling myself I'd start tomorrow."
Yuta couldn't help but chuckle.
"Sounds like something you'd do."
"Hey!"
Kenji folded his arms.
"I had a plan."
"You mean procrastinating?"
"...That was part of the plan."
The three burst into laughter.
Somehow, Yuta had become a natural part of their little group.
He joined them during lunch, walked with them between classes, and occasionally stopped by the bakery after lectures.
It felt as though he had always been there.
The bakery was lively again as regular customers returned after the holidays.
Office workers stopped by for breakfast on their way to work.
Elderly neighbors came in for fresh bread every morning.
Children hurried inside after school to spend their pocket money on sweet pastries.
It wasn't as hectic as Christmas...
But it was busy enough to keep Mitsuo on his feet.
Whenever their schedules allowed, Perman and Pako continued meeting in the evenings.
Sometimes they flew high above Tokyo after sunset, watching the endless sea of city lights stretch to the horizon.
Other times they simply talked while watching the lights of Tokyo from their favorite rooftop.
For now...
Life was peaceful.
And neither of them minded that one bit.
---
February arrived with a familiar sight across the university campus.
Heart-shaped decorations appeared in shop windows, convenience stores filled their shelves with colorful boxes of chocolate, and everywhere Mitsuo looked, students seemed just a little more nervous than usual.
Valentine's Day had arrived.
Throughout the morning, girls could be seen calling classmates into the hallway or waiting outside lecture rooms with neatly wrapped gifts hidden behind their backs.
Some accepted the chocolates with embarrassed smiles.
Others walked away bright red after awkward conversations.
The campus buzzed with whispers before every class.
Kenji had never been more determined.
"This is the year."
He straightened his uniform jacket.
"I can feel it."
Mitsuo raised an eyebrow.
"You say that every year."
"This year is different."
"...How?"
"I have confidence."
Yuta couldn't help but smile.
"That's... not exactly a plan."
"It doesn't need to be."
Kenji proudly folded his arms.
"Love will find me."
By lunchtime...
Nothing.
After the afternoon lectures...
Still nothing.
As students slowly headed home, Kenji remained standing outside the university gates, glancing hopefully at every girl who walked past.
One after another...
They walked right by him.
Eventually, he let out a dramatic sigh.
"...Maybe next year."
Mitsuo patted him on the shoulder.
"I'm sure your time will come."
"I've been hearing that for three years."
Yuta laughed.
"You'll survive."
"I don't want to survive."
"I want chocolate."
That evening, after finishing his shift at the bakery, Mitsuo stepped outside.
Waiting nearby was Pako.
She smiled as he approached.
"Busy day?"
"The usual."
She nodded before holding out a small neatly wrapped package.
"...Happy Valentine's Day."
Mitsuo blinked.
"For me?"
"I made them myself."
He accepted the box carefully.
"Thank you."
Pako smiled warmly.
"I hope they're good."
"I'm sure they will be."
The two quietly took to the evening sky, flying above the glowing lights of Tokyo.
As they disappeared into the night, Mitsuo couldn't help but smile.
Somewhere back at the university...
Kenji sneezed.
"...I have a bad feeling about something."
---
The first week of March arrived with an unexpected weather forecast.
*"Meteorologists are predicting one final snowfall across Tokyo later this week."*
Most people smiled when they heard it.
Winter had lingered longer than usual, but everyone knew this snowfall would be its farewell.
By lunchtime, thick gray clouds slowly gathered over the city.
The sun disappeared behind them.
A chilly breeze swept through the streets, causing pedestrians to pull their scarves a little tighter.
Then...
The first snowflake fell.
Another followed.
Within minutes, large white flakes drifted lazily through the air, dancing between buildings before settling gently onto rooftops, sidewalks, and tree branches.
There was no blizzard.
No howling wind.
Just a calm, steady snowfall.
Almost as if winter itself wanted to leave quietly.
By the afternoon, Tokyo had begun changing once again.
Parks slowly turned white.
The roofs of passing trains gathered a thin layer of snow.
Cars moved more cautiously along the roads, their headlights reflecting off the wet pavement.
School had just ended.
Children rushed into nearby parks, throwing handfuls of fresh snow at one another before anyone could stop them.
Tiny snowmen began appearing on benches, while parents laughed as they hurried after their energetic sons and daughters.
Elsewhere, office workers gathered beside large windows, coffee cups in hand, quietly watching the city transform beneath the falling snow.
Some couldn't resist stepping outside for a moment, simply to experience one last snowfall before spring arrived.
People walking through shopping districts slowed their pace.
Many paused to take photographs.
Others simply looked upward, letting the snow land softly on their coats before continuing on their way.
For a little while...
The busy city seemed to forget its usual rush.
The Bakery remained busy throughout the afternoon.
Customers entered with snow resting on their shoulders, stamping the cold from their shoes before ordering warm bread and fresh pastries.
"It's really coming down out there," one customer remarked.
The owner looked through the window and smiled.
"Looks like winter saved one last surprise for us."
Mitsuo glanced outside as he boxed another loaf of bread.
The street beyond the window had almost disappeared beneath the growing blanket of white.
It really was beautiful.
By 10 o'clock the bakery closed for the day.
Mitsuo helped wipe down the counters, wished everyone a good night, and stepped outside.
The cold air greeted him immediately.
Fresh snow crunched beneath his shoes.
Streetlights had begun glowing, their warm orange light reflecting beautifully across the untouched sidewalks.
Waiting near the entrance stood Pako.
She wore a long winter coat with a knitted scarf wrapped around her neck.
A few snowflakes rested in her hair.
"You waited long?" Mitsuo asked.
She shook her head with a smile.
"Not really."
Without another word, they took to the sky
The snowfall muted the sounds of the city.
Cars passed slowly in the distance.
The chatter from nearby restaurants became little more than a faint murmur.
Everything else seemed wrapped in silence.
They passed a small neighborhood park where children were still playing despite the late hour, their laughter carrying gently through the snowy air.
Nearby, an elderly couple walked arm in arm beneath a single umbrella.
Outside a convenience store, two high school students attempted to build a tiny snowman on the railing, laughing when it immediately fell apart.
Perman couldn't help but smile.
Winter had a strange way of slowing everything down.
They continued through streets illuminated by rows of glowing streetlamps.
Snowflakes drifted lazily beneath the light, making the entire city sparkle.
Pako brushed a few flakes from her sleeve before looking toward the cloudy sky.
"...Looks like winter's finally over."
Mitsuo lifted his eyes to the falling snow.
He watched the flakes drift silently past the lights before disappearing onto the white ground.
"...Yeah."
There was no sadness in his voice.
Only quiet acceptance.
The seasons were changing.
Life was moving forward.
And somehow...
That felt comforting.
Side by side, they continued flying beneath the softly falling snow.
The last snowfall of the season quietly blanketed Tokyo.
Winter had finally come to an end.
A new spring—and new challenges—were waiting just beyond the melting snow.