S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy.
Snowflakes fluttered down.
Colorful lights hung from the bare branches, and even the usually stern and rigid Agent instructors seemed to have a hint of a smile on their faces.
Annie Leonhart had been at the academy for some time now.
Normally, after spending so much time together day and night, she should have bonded with her classmates and built deep revolutionary friendships.
Well, that was purely wishful thinking.
For someone like Annie, who carried a "do not approach" aura and was always in "power-saving mode," her classmates barely knew her name.
This was only because Annie's scores in every subject except firearms were exceptionally high.
There was one small exception—Camilla Black.
The two lived under the same roof, seeing each other constantly, but as Annie thought back carefully...
The total amount of words they'd spoken in a week probably didn't even exceed ten sentences.
Most of the time, it was—
"Excuse me."
"Oh."
"Good job on the exam..."
"You too."
This stifling frequency of communication once led Annie to believe the other girl was mute.
Of course, Annie wasn't really in a position to say that.
However, over the past few days, this roommate who usually kept to herself had started acting a bit strange.
She was always being mysterious, often stealing glances at Annie while she was reading in the dorm, looking like she had something to say but couldn't.
Whenever Annie noticed the gaze and turned her head, Camilla would shift her eyes away like a startled scorpion and start studying the pattern on the desk—"Ah, this desk sure is a desk..." "What on earth... does this girl want?"
Annie complained silently to herself.
After evening classes ended, fine snowflakes began to fall from the sky.
Annie wrapped her uniform jacket tightly around herself as she walked down the path back to the dormitory.
That feeling of being watched returned.
Annie didn't call it out and simply kept walking.
In the bushes behind her, Camilla clutched a small, beautifully wrapped box, her palms drenched in sweat.
"Phew... stay calm, Camilla. You're the best Agent at the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy."
Camilla took a deep breath and pumped herself up: "Just walk over, give her the gift, and say Merry Christmas."
"What's so hard about that? You're her best friend; it's normal to give a gift!"
Just as Camilla gathered her courage and prepared to jump out from the shadows to give Annie a "surprise"...
Suddenly!
A vibrant figure darted out from the side, blocking her view.
"Hi! Annie!!"
Avril, like a tireless little motor, skipped joyfully in front of Annie.
In the process, she forced Camilla, who was just about to step out, to retreat.
Annie stopped and looked at the smiling brown-haired girl before her, sighing somewhat helplessly.
It was her again.
Avril, the biggest chatterbox in the entire academy, bar none.
This girl was practically a social terrorist; even if Annie kept a cold face and didn't say a word the whole time, she could keep chatting to herself all day.
Once, Annie had been spacing out the entire time, only to realize when she snapped back to reality that Avril had actually made herself cry by telling a story from a soap opera. In the end, she had wiped her tears and held Annie's hand, saying, "Annie, you really are a great friend!"
Annie had been completely bewildered at the time, having no idea what had happened. And... when did she become Avril's friend?
"Here! Merry Christmas!"
Before Annie could react, Avril shoved an exquisite little box into her hands.
"Eh?" Annie blinked, stunned.
"Even though tomorrow is the actual day, we're leaving for the holidays tomorrow, so I have to give it to you early on Christmas Eve!"
Avril urged with a grin, "Hurry and open it. I think it suits you perfectly!"
Only then did Annie realize that it was already Christmas Eve.
It would be 2012 soon.
She hesitated for a moment before untying the ribbon on the gift box.
She opened the lid.
Lying inside was a golden ring shaped like a star.
While the craftsmanship wasn't particularly expensive, it sparkled exquisitely under the streetlights.
Hidden in the bushes behind them, Camilla was completely dumbfounded by the scene.
"A... a ring?!"
Camilla roared inwardly, even unable to stop herself from clawing at a handful of tree bark.
"Who gives something like that for Christmas?! Is this a proposal?! Are you a pervert, Avril?!"
"It's over, it's all over... Now my gift is going to be outshined!"
Camilla gritted her teeth, the resentment in her eyes almost manifesting physically.
Dammit, Avril! You ruin everything for me every single time!
I'm the one who's Annie's roommate! I'm the one who's closest to Annie!
"Come on, let me put it on for you!"
Completely oblivious to the resentment behind her, Avril enthusiastically grabbed Annie's right hand.
Annie instinctively tried to pull her hand back.
Because on her right index finger, she was wearing a silver band.
That was the "Self-Harm Ring" Su Modie had specifically spent 5 simulation values to exchange from the mall.
Although it looked like an ordinary accessory, it had a miniature mechanism built inside.
With a flick of the finger to trigger it, a sharp barb would pop out to pierce the skin, allowing Annie to complete her Titan transformation in an emergency.
Annie discreetly removed the dangerous ring.
Before she could even put it in her pocket, Avril had already grabbed her hand and slipped the golden star ring onto her index finger.
It was a perfect fit.
"See! I told you it would fit!"
Avril clapped her hands in satisfaction.
"This star is made of pure gold! Even if it's just a little bit, the color is exactly like your hair. Both are beautiful!"
"Treasuring it well, Annie!"
After saying that, Avril checked the time, cried out "Oh no, I'm going to miss my bus," waved at Annie, and ran off like a happy little bird.
Leaving Annie standing alone in the snow, staring at the star ring on her finger with a look of utter confusion.
A cold wind blew by.
Annie slowly turned her head toward the large tree behind her to the side, which had almost been stripped of its bark.
The resentment there was so thick it almost obscured the streetlight.
After a moment of awkward silence.
Camilla Black shuffled out from behind the tree.
Their eyes met.
The atmosphere was incredibly awkward.
Camilla looked at the sparkling gold ring on Annie's hand, then down at the humble little box in her own, caught in a dilemma as her face turned beet red.
If she gave it... it would seem too "low."
If she didn't... she'd been holding it in the whole way.
Finally, Camilla took a deep breath, steeled herself, and closed her eyes.
"For you! Goodbye!"
Using almost all her strength, she shoved the box into Annie's arms. Without even daring to say "Merry Christmas," she turned and ran like a startled ostrich, vanishing into the night in the blink of an eye.
"..."
Annie holding the box, Annie was even more bewildered.
These two... what on earth was wrong with them tonight?
She looked down at the box in her arms.
The wrapping paper was a bit crumpled, clearly having been rubbed repeatedly.
Annie gently opened it.
The next second, her pupils constricted slightly.
Lying in the box wasn't some expensive piece of jewelry, but a... scarf.
A dark green scarf.
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