December 24th, was Logan's fourth day in Japan, and also Christmas Eve.
Snowflakes drifted gently from the sky, covering rooftops and streets in a pristine white layer. The world, dusted in snow, felt cleaner, purer, as if everything had been wiped anew.
"The weather forecast was spot on." Early in the morning, before the school's group assembled, David pulled open the curtains and gazed at the falling snow with amazement, "This is so nice."
As someone who had never seen much snow, David's voice carried a sense of childlike wonder.
But despite his appreciation for the scene, his energy was clearly lacking, with dark circles clung under his eyes. He turned and shot a cold glare at the person standing behind him.
Logan remained expressionless, completely unfazed by the resentful look directed at him. Instead, he seemed lost in thought, watching the snowflakes dance through the air.
"Yeah… the weather's nice."
At this moment, this Logan was nothing more than a shadow clone.
…
On this day, the students and teachers were scheduled to visit Tomiseki XX University in Chūō City for an exchange event. Once that was over, they would finally have some free time to explore on their own.
With the snow adding to the festive atmosphere, everyone enjoyed a hearty breakfast before boarding a tour bus to explore Tokyo's winter morning. The air was lively, and despite how strangely relaxed this exchange program felt, since whoever in charge had clearly decided to keep things fun, none of the teachers or students were about to complain. If anything, they were happy to fully commit to their 'mission' of sightseeing and cultural exchange.
As the bus climbed onto an elevated expressway, it rose above the sea of buildings, giving the students an expansive view of Tokyo's skyline. Many of them pressed against the windows, chatting excitedly about the scenery.
Out of nowhere, David smacked Logan's arm.
"Hey, see that? That's Tokyo Skytree."
There was a distinct sharpness in his tone, and he didn't hold back on the force of the slap. He was probably still holding a grudge from last night's sleep disturbance.
Logan, however, was more focused on what he said. He followed David's pointing finger, scanning past the gaps between buildings. Through the flashes of white light reflecting off the cityscape, he could make out a distant, thin black silhouette piercing the sky.
"Seriously? You can see it from here?"
"We're not that far from the tower, and it's the tallest structure in Japan. Of course, you can see it from high enough places." David sneered, recalling Logan's embarrassing lack of knowledge from the previous night, "Even if you were standing on Tokyo Tower, you'd be able to see Mount Fuji on a clear day."
"Alright, alright. But honestly, from here, it doesn't look that tall." Logan squinted at the distant dark streak.
"That's because it's far away! Ever heard of perspective? Perspective!"
Of course Logan knew that, so he smiled and exchanged a few playful words with David. In order to show his arrogance as a cultural person, David ignored him and went to talk to Diane.
Seeing this, Logan continued gazing at the horizon. Even though the tower appeared small and distant now, the stark contrast between it and the surrounding skyscrapers was undeniable. The narrow gaps between buildings framed it, emphasizing its immense height.
As the bus descended from the elevated road, the cityscape gradually closed in, and Tokyo Skytree disappeared behind a dense cluster of buildings. Logan finally retracted his gaze.
'I wonder how things are going on the main body's side.'
He stretched out his left hand, where a faint glow flickered across the Divine Bird's mark.
Inspired by David's offhand remark the previous night, Logan had quickly sprung into action to put his idea to the test.
Tokyo Skytree, also known as New Tokyo Tower, was a freestanding broadcasting tower. Logan wasn't particularly interested in its history or function, as what mattered to him was that it was Japan's tallest structure and the second tallest in the world, standing at a towering 634 meters.
That was more than enough to make it the perfect place for his experiment.
Thus, today's events were being handled by his shadow clone while his real body had set off once more for Paulownia Forest.
The snowfall had intensified slightly, and by the afternoon, it was expected to turn into a full-blown snowstorm.
Outside the bus, the city was already alive with Christmas spirit, as young people were out decorating Christmas trees early in the morning, and colorful ribbons and gift boxes adorned storefronts and roadside trees.
The festive atmosphere was in full swing, but none of it concerned Logan. His mind was elsewhere.
…
At Tomiseki XX University, the exchange visit was in full swing. The bustling energy didn't die down, in fact, it seemed to infect everyone present.
The Japanese professors were warm and welcoming, and with the help of translators, even the Fresno High School's teachers joined in on the lively discussions.
During a short break, Logan's shadow clone pulled Olivia aside.
In a quiet hallway, Olivia crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. She wasn't surprised that he had asked her to step aside, she almost seemed to have expected it.
"Tell me, what's the matter?"
"I need to head out later."
"Again? What are you going to do?" Olivia frowned slightly, but then seemed to reconsider, as if already guessing that he wouldn't give her a straight answer, "Where are you going?"
"Tokyo Skytree. I need you to cover for me again."
"Tokyo Skytree?" Olivia mulled over the name, quickly recalling what it was. Instead of questioning him, her eyebrows lifted slightly as she said tentatively: "… Want me to guide you?"
"Sure."
'Taxis were an option, but if Olivia led the way, it would be much smoother.' Logan's shadow clone made a mental note.
"Got it. No problem!"
…
Time passed as snowflakes danced in the air. The teachers wrapped up their round of mutual praise and stepped outside the university.
The streets were bustling with people, and the low eaves of the buildings were dusted with a thin layer of snow. Some girls cupped their hands together in delight as the snowfall thickened.
The snow perfectly matched the festive atmosphere of the day. Though it was a weekday, the streets and alleys were lively. Teachers and students alike eyed the bustling commercial district, tempted by the holiday discounts.
Olivia occasionally glanced at Logan, thoughts drifting toward the towering iron structure in the distance, anticipating the unknown events to come later.
Meanwhile, Logan frequently looked up at the sky. For people in different circumstances, perceptions should naturally differ, but at this moment, many were feeling the passage of time in their own ways as evening swiftly approached.
Neon lights flickered on, and the snow that had fallen during the day now drifted onto the streetlamps of the night.
"Wow, it's so beautiful!"
At the suggestion of the tour guide, the entire student and teacher delegation from Fresno High School arrived at Ginza Plaza for the evening.
Ginza's prosperity needed no explanation. On Christmas night, the constant stream of people made the area feel like a living river of lights. As soon as Diane stepped into the plaza, the dazzling trees adorned with glowing decorations instantly touched her heart.
David and the others were also very excited, but Logan remained quietly at the back. At some point, he slowed his pace and looked toward Olivia.
Olivia immediately noticed and gave a slight nod amidst the crowd.
Couples holding hands and people dressed in adorable mascot costumes passed by. Diane tilted her head back to admire the shimmering brand logos high above, while David thumped his chest, saying something animatedly.
Diane, still looking up, worried about losing her balance and falling behind the group, instinctively reached out, and grabbed Logan's sleeve.
She froze for a moment but didn't let go.
Just like that, they walked forward, one slightly ahead of the other, hand-in- sleeve. Olivia squeezed through the crowd, glanced at Diane's hand gripping the fabric, and whispered: "Ready to go?"
Suddenly, David patted Logan on the shoulder, having spotted something interesting. Logan returned a small smile, then turned to nod.
"Then I'll go let the guide know."
While waiting, Logan grabbed David by the collar of his coat, stopping him mid-photo-taking. Before Diane could complain, Logan pointed at the innocent and unaware literary committee member in front of them.
"Huh? What?" David was utterly confused.
Logan took the smooth, soft hand gripping his sleeve and placed it onto David's sleeve instead, "Take care of your classmate."
Without waiting for a reaction, Logan turned and walked away with Olivia, who had just returned.
"I've got something to do, so I'm heading off with Senior Olivia." Before leaving, he didn't forget to put the blame first.
"Huh?" With the noise all around, David didn't fully hear him.
Logan waved, flashing a reassuring smile, and before long, he was swallowed by the crowd. As he disappeared into the sea of people, he glanced back at his excited companions one last time.
…
After a long time passed, Diane blushed and finally looked down at the sleeve she was holding, only to find that it was David's stalwart body. She instantly let go, feeling horrified. The stark difference between reality and her expectations was unbearable. Her fists clenched, her cheeks puffed up in frustration, while David could only offer an awkward smile in explanation.
Meanwhile, Logan, the mastermind behind it all, was already long gone.