Winter drapes the city of Sapporo in silence—snow on rooftops, frost on windows, and secrets beneath every breath of cold air. It is in this frozen landscape that two lives on opposite ends of the city begin to move toward each other.

Ichika Komori lives a life built on elegance and expectations. Surrounded by luxury and perfection, she is admired like a snow sculpture—beautiful, delicate, and cold to the touch. Her heart, long protected by ice, has forgotten what warmth feels like.

Across the city, Rikuu Arakawa survives a world far less forgiving. Raised by hardship and night fights in back alleys, his emotions burn hot—anger, loyalty, fear, and a past that left its mark. The fire inside him keeps him alive, yet also threatens to consume him.

When their paths cross, something impossible begins:

Rikuu becomes the spark that melts the frost around Ichika’s guarded heart—and Ichika becomes the snow that cools the burning storms inside Rikuu.

Their worlds should never have met. Yet winter has a way of changing everything.

The Winter That Burned is a story of unlikely connection, slow and inevitable as falling snow, where fire learns to soften, and ice discovers how to feel again. In a city of silence and secrets, they will learn that some hearts freeze to survive… and some flames burn not to destroy, but to heal.

Additional Notes:
• No need to worry about errors on this novel (except for plot errors), each chapter is checked thrice by the author and by another person (a friend) before being uploaded.
• Upload time:
Monday–Friday: 11:00PM/23:00 GMT+8

-SIDE STREET NEAR OODORI PARK, SAPPORO, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN-


Evening settled over Sapporo with a quiet calm.


Streetlights flickered on one by one, casting warm halos against the early winter sky. The city moved slower at this hour—less hurried, more reflective.


Ichika Komori stepped out of a small bookstore, a paper bag tucked under her arm.


She hadn't expected to see anyone she knew.


Rikuu Arakawa stood near the crosswalk, hands buried in his pockets, expression unreadable as ever.


"Didn't think you'd be out this late," he remarked.


They fell into step beside each other without discussing where they were going.


The street was narrow, quiet enough that their footsteps echoed faintly.


Snow began to fall—thin, slow flakes catching in Ichika's hair. Rikuu noticed before she did.


"You're getting snow on your hair," he said.


He hesitated, then reached out—stopping just short of touching her.


Then, gently, he brushed a single flake from her hair. His touch was light, quick—as if afraid to linger too long.


"I didn't expect to see you outside school," Ichika admitted.


She glanced at him. "Does that bother you?"


"No," he said. Then, after a beat, "Just surprised."


They stopped at a corner where their paths split.


Rikuu looked at the street ahead, then back at her.


Rikuu walked away, shoulders slightly tense.


Ichika watched him go, heart warmer than the city lights around her.


The street returned to its quiet rhythm.


Chapter 27 - Where the City Softens