Snow that Never Melts

I won't melt... I can't melt...

Huh?

I absolutely cannot let myself melt!

*sob*

That snowman looks like it's about to melt.

But it looks like it's trying as hard as it can to stop that from happening...

If it's acting that desperate... It must have a good reason for it.

I wonder if that snowman also had something happen that warmed its heart like you did, Yukino.

Ooo... Y-You're embarrassing me. Stop that...

I told you back in the Kunlun Mountains. I'm not like other snowmen.

Oh, that's right.

Me "melting" and other snowmen "melting"... Well, it's not the same thing.

What do you mean?

A snowman is a soul that dwells only for a moment before it is reborn as a lump of snow. They have a limited lifespan... When that time comes, they melt and disappear. Then it's on to the next life...

Ah... I see... The snowman I met before also said something along those lines...

I see...

That being said, they can crumble and still be fixed until their time comes...

That snowman seemed desperate. I think its life as a snowman is coming to an end. If there's a reason it can't melt, I want to ask what it is. How 'bout it, Aldo?

Let's do it.

Hey, there... Something seems to be bothering you... Do you mind telling us what it is?

Oh, you're willing to listen to the words of this old, melting snowman? The truth is that... I remembered something long forgotten.

Remembered something? What was it?

There is something I wanted to tell my one and only partner...

Something you wanted to tell them...

I... I never got the chance to tell my partner how grateful I was for all they'd done... I just happened to remember it while on the verge of melting of all times... Uunhh...

It's so sad. You're getting smaller and smaller... Old man! You've got to hang in there!

Who is this partner of yours that you want to talk to? If we know who it is... We just might be able to bring them here for you.

Yukino!

About that... I can't seem to remember. All I can remember is that they were really important to me...

That's sad...

Oh well. It's common for snowmen not to remember much of anything about their past. I thought it might help to ask... But I guess I was wrong.

But... It's kinda sad if the old man has to give up for that reason.

Oh! Maybe there's a hint contained in the words you want to say to this partner?

I see... What exactly did you want to say to this partner of yours anyway?

...... Your homemade cooking is the best in the world.

And then?

That's it.

Ugh... We'd be hard-pressed to get any hints from that...

Homemade cooking...is the best... So it's somehow related to cooking?

Do you remember what it was that was delicious?

It was... Ugh... No, I can't. That memory is vague as well. Something-man...was the name, and it was cold and sweet.

It's not much to work with, but it's better than before! Anything is okay, so is there anything else you remember?

Otherwise... That's right. Word fragments I can recall. Autumn... Promise... Every day at that place... Uunnh...

Oh no! You're melting again!

It's okay... Don't overdo it. Will do our best to use the words just now to come up with something.

Can I really count on you?

Yes, of course. Leave it to us. This partner of yours... We'll look for them. We'll tell them what you told us.

Thank you... Thank you...

Where do we start? Our best hint is that "something-man" name he gave us, right?

Hmm... When I heard "something-man," beef manju came to mind.

I heard it's a Nagsham specialty. But is it something sweet?

No, not that I recall. And it's not cold, either... It's just all I have to go on... I know someone in Nagsham who knows a lot about beef manju. Maybe they can help us?

All right... Let's check it out.

I'm counting on you...

I see. So that's what brings you here.

Well, Lingli. I was wondering if you know anything about a sweet beef manju.

Sorry, but I've never heard of a beef manju that's sweet before.

Okay...

Never heard of one that's cold, either. Beef manju are always sold piping hot with juicy gravy inside!

That's what I thought... I guess it's not beef manju after all...

We'll have to look elsewhere. The other hints were words... Autumn, promise, and every day.

Autumn and beef manju. They're not related at all.

So it might not be beef manju. Something-man... That's all he could remember.

You came all this way just on those hints alone?

I mean... We just really felt the need to communicate that snowman's message to his partner...

I can return to normal if I melt, but they can't if they do. We have to find that snowman's partner before he melts...

Yukino...

I, too... I don't have any memories, only strong feelings burning in my chest... I know how it feels.

Yukino, too... So did you have strong feelings before becoming a snowman?

I don't know. My life and thoughts began when I was made into a snowman.

But others weren't born the same way... But I had words I needed to say to Tsukiha. So we're similar in that way.

But others weren't born the same way... But I had words I needed to say to the girl who made me. So we're similar in that way.

I see. Then let's do what we can to make this snowman's wish come true. What do we do next? Head back to hear more hints?

But that'll take time...

Autumn. Something-man... Perhaps... Just maybe...

Did something come to mind?!

The sweets shop in Izana. It's a very old shop. Izana's kuzumochi manju is very delicious and famous! It's both cold and sweet.

Kuzumochi manju... I see. It sounds like something-man!

And it matches all of the characteristics that the snowman mentioned. It's both cold and sweet...

And the store's clerk even has a hairpin modeled after autumn leaves in her hair.

An autumn hairpin...!

Let's go, Aldo! To Izana... On the double!

H-Hey! We don't even know the shop's name yet!

Oh, right... Uh, I couldn't restrain myself thinking about the possibility of delivering that snowman's words...

Yukino... You look so happy right now.

Huh? Oh, umm...

Don't look, Aldo... It's embarrassing...

Hahaha, don't be embarrassed. As soon as we get to Izana, we'll be able to deliver the snowman's message.

Yes... Definitely.

The name of the shop is...right... Tsuruya Autumn.

All right... Thanks. Let's search in Izana.

Oh, Aldo... Look.

That person has an autumn hairpin.

Maybe she's the clerk of the sweets shop Lingli mentioned? Let's try asking her.

Welcome! We serve Izana's famous kuzumochi manju! Want to try one?

This is kuzumochi manju? How odd... It's transparent... And really pretty. If you put two of them together... They kind of look like a snowman.

Haha! You're right!

Would you like to try one? They're jiggly, cool, and delicious!

Want to get one?

Sure... We need to figure out if this is what we're really after.

Here you go, then... Please enjoy!

Thanks! Don't mind if I do.

Mmm...

This is so good! It's soft but springy and features a delicate sweetness...

It's good, right? No surprise it's become an Izana specialty.

Thank you very much! If it's autumn kuzumochi manju you're after, you've come to the right place!

I wonder if the partner the snowman was talking about is in the shop somewhere...?

Well now... Are you looking for an employee? Who would you like to talk to?

That we're not sure of... But the message is one of gratitude for making kuzumochi manju for him.

Are there any elderly women among the staff here?

Umm... Why are you asking for an older woman?

The snowman was an older man... So I thought that his partner might be an older woman who was his wife or something.

I see. You might be right.

An older woman... The first that comes to mind is the owner. I'll call for her.

Well then, I heard you had a message for someone on our staff...

That's right. We don't have much to go on... Does anything come to mind about expressing gratitude?

Huh? Gratitude?

"Your homemade cooking is the best." Does that ring a bell? Can you think of anyone close to you who always used to eat your kuzumochi manju?

Hmm? If it was a regular customer, there are several that would fit that description...

Regular customer... No, I don't think it was that kind of relationship...

I'm not sure how to ask this, but is your husband deceased by chance?

Not at all. My husband is thankfully as alive as ever. He tells me every day how delicious my kuzumochi manju are.

I see... Sorry if that sounded strange. You have a good husband. But that leaves us with only one last hint...

Autumn... Promise... Every day...at that place... The words...

Wha, ! Why did you say those words?

Huh?

Promise...under the autumn leaves... Every day...at that place...

I see... I get it now. The person you seek is a member of my family.

Really?!

Yes... Autumn, perhaps, refers to an autumn tree at the Cat Shrine. It's where we promise to meet as a family. There's only one person I can think who visits it on a daily basis...

I see... The Cat Shrine...

We found it, Aldo! We finally found it!

Yeah! It's great that we got so far despite having so little to work with.

I'd love to go there too, given the chance, but right now its overwhelmed by terrible monsters...

Monsters?!

Monsters appear there? Wouldn't it be dangerous for someone to go there all alone?!

Yes, indeed. And that's why...

Oh no... We have to help out, Aldo!

Yeah, we can't turn a blind eye to this! Leave the monster killing to us!

Let's hurry, Aldo!

You two! Please wait! If go there now...

I don't see any monsters. How about on your end, Yukino?

No, nothing over here. But... I don't see anyone to deliver the message to, either.

I wonder if we missed the person. Hopefully, they weren't attacked by monsters...

Huh? What's this?

What is it, Yukino?

The autumn leaves here. There is something like a charm from the shrine among the root of the tree...

A charm? You're right. But the writing on it is too small for me to make out.

What was that voice just now?!

These are the monster the owner was talking about! They really can enter the shrine grounds!

Let's drive them off, Yukino!

And right when we're finally on the verge of delivering the snowman's message... Anything in my way...is about to freeze!

All right! That takes care of that.

All that's left is to find the person meant to receive the old man's message...

Oh, great! I'm glad to see you're safe!

The owner from before! What are you doing here?

You had no reason to be here, so I came after you. I was even more worried when I saw you'd been attacked by monsters.

Don't worry about it. We just took care of them.

But... No reason to be here? We came here to find the recipient of that message...

Unfortunately, the person you seek never comes here.

Huh? But you said...

The partner you two were speaking of... They left this world a long time ago already.

What?!

I was taken aback. I never thought someone would come looking for my grandmother in this day and age...

So the person we've been looking for all this time was your grandmother?!

Yes. She was the founder of my shop. The autumn leaf we use as a sign is related to the place of promise.

Place of promise?

Yeah... The autumn tree that is standing right next to you. There's a small charm in a hole near the roots, right? My grandparents' engagement vows are written in it.

So that means this place of promise is the place the old man remembered...

It's an old tale that my grandmother always used to tell me.

When my grandmother established her shop... Her cooking was said to be the best in town at the time. But truth be told, she used to be a terrible cook.

She was able to open a shop even though she was bad at cooking?

Yes. Here, on the day my grandparents exchanged their vows... My grandfather told her to "make delicious food for him every day."

But my grandmother was a terrible cook. In the end, she was unable to make anything acceptable during his lifetime...

Even after he died, my grandmother continued to practice her cooking.

Yes. Among them, she seems to have practiced making his favorite kuzumochi manju especially hard... Every day, she always woke up early in the morning and went to the bill of this shrine to pray. I still remember it well. The sight of the old woman heading here every day, saying, "I was able to do better than yesterday."

So the secret to its delicious flavor was her love for your grandfather...

Yeah... I'm pretty sure she never imagined she'd be opening a shop until it actually happened.

However... There's one thing I don't understand. Who exactly did you receive this message from? "Your homemade cooking is the best." That was it, right?

Huh? Oh, yeah... About that... Umm...

Well...

Sorry. It appears I asked something that's difficult for you to answer.

It just...came to mind is all.

If... If the messenger was my grandfather... And if he said that...the kuzumochi manju he ate every day under the autumn tree of promise were delicious...

I'm happy to think that my grandmother's feelings got through to him every day.

......

Hehe. It's a nice story that my grandfather, who died before my grandmother, entrusted a message to you who are younger than me.

No!

We can't go into specifics... But it's more than a nice story.

Strong feelings... Wishes... Even if it takes an eternity... They will eventually be delivered.

So that's why I want you to remember those words as those of your grandfather.

Hehe... Thank you for your kind words. My grandmother always listens to the messages near the autumn tree. Yes, I'm sure of it.

Yukino...

The owner may have said that... But the words of that snowman... We were unable to deliver them. Even after we were entrusted with such an important task...

......

Let's head back to Itoise, Aldo. At least want to apologize to the old man.

Huh? The old snowman... I was sure he was right around here...

I don't see him. Maybe he lost patience and moved away from here?

Hey! Are you looking for someone?

Yes... Do you know of an old snowman around here?

Oh, that snowman. Yeah, I know him.

Really? Could you tell us where we can find him?

That snowman... Well, he melted away a long time ago.

Huh?

No way...

He had a pretty satisfied look on his face. He said he entrusted important words to someone, that she'd definitely deliver the message... I had no idea what he was talking about.

Oh...! So the old man... He... He really believed in me...

I'm so sorry... Old man... I'm so sorry I failed to deliver the message!

Yukino... We should be getting back to the inn.

We've been out in the cold this whole time... We wouldn't want to get sick.

I'm fine, Aldo. I'm a snowman after all...

But I'm sorry. You must be cold, Aldo. I didn't even realize it... Go back to the inn. I want to stay here a little longer...

No... If you're not going back, I'm going to stay a little longer, too. The old man's wish... I wanted to see it come true as well...

Thank you.

I was just thinking. I was happy thinking I could convey the words of all the snowmen to their loved ones... But now I'm wondering if it was all just for my own satisfaction.

Yukino...

I don't think it was.

You weren't able to convey the old man's words to the grandmother yourself. But I think the old man was relieved that he was able to entrust the words to you. And the family of the old man and the old woman also thanked you, Yukino. You acted with the desire to convey the words of the snowman in his place... It was a meaningful act to be sure.

Aldo...

Thank you. I... I want to do what I can for that old man and the other snowmen. I don't want to give up just yet.

I'm a snowman like them, just in human form. And there are certain things that only a snowman like me who can't melt can do.

Yeah... I'll think about it, too.

Hehe... I'm happy. But you're gonna freeze, Aldo. I really think we should stop at the inn...

Umm... Are you a snowman by chance?

Yes. I'm in human form... But I'm a snowman, too. What about you? Are you new? I haven't seen you before...

Yes... Maybe I was only recently born as a snowman. That would explain why I don't know you or this place or much of anything at all... I do have something I would like to ask you.

Sure. Ask away.

I... I have a very strong feeling in my heart... A beautiful red color fluttering down from the sky... Do you know of such a view?

Huh?

A beautiful red color fluttering down from the sky...

I feel like I have to go there. There's... There's something important for me to do there...

Oh wow... Could it be...?

Hmm...!

Snowman... I have...something I want to tell you. Will you listen?

Huh? Okay...

"Your homemade cooking is the best in the world."

My homemade cooking...is the best...?

Ah... Hehehe... I have no idea why... But I feel really warm inside. Yes... I don't need to go to that place anymore, all thanks to you...

That snowman...seemed really, really happy.

Yeah. Very happy...

Hey, Aldo...

Yes?

It's a matter of course... They couldn't convey the important words in their hearts... They eventually die. The souls that fall upon Itoise become snowmen... And then their feelings go on to the next life without being expressed.

Yeah, I guess so...

So, after all... I want to convey the feelings of the snowmen from now on. I want to walk with these feet and find their partners. So if they're gone like this time... I want to remember their feeling... And I want to tell them about it when they become a snowman someday.

Yukino...

As the only snowman who can't melt but can take on human form, I have a reason for being... I think I'm finally realizing that for the first time.

Wonderful. I'm sure all of the snowmen will be overjoyed that you're conveying their thoughts for them.

Yeah... Thank you.

No matter how much it snows... I'll continue to pass forward irreplaceable feelings without ever melting...