Not a detective

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It's as if some unseen force is guiding me back here.

Therefore, Riku Asakawa expanded his hunting range and brought back new prey. He even considered going to find hibernating wild bears if that didn't work.

...

After dismembering and storing the deer carcass, Asakawa Riku went out again, split the logs piled up at the door into small pieces, and brought them back inside.

This way, firewood was replenished, and there was no need to worry about food and heating.

Throughout this time, including when he was hunting earlier, he kept an eye on the Snow Woman.

But this time, he never saw that white-haired girl again, that girl in the brightly colored kimono.

Perhaps it has already become one with the swirling snow and wind, inseparable from it.

"I wish we could meet again."

"What?" Yukie brought the cooked meat soup to the table, interrupting Asakawa Riku's thoughts and murmurs.

"nothing."

Asakawa Riku smiled and said, "Thank you, I'll start eating now."

Eating the same food all the time will eventually get boring, and even Yuki's excellent culinary skills can only temporarily delay this process.

At first, people would skewer meat and grill it, or pan-fry it into venison chops, trying out different ways to cook. But in the end, they found that meat broth was the best way to keep warm and replenish the moisture lost from the fire inside. Faced with the pressure of survival, all the fancy methods eventually became the most efficient.

Asakawa Riku noticed the girl across the table, sipping her soup slowly, clearly showing a lack of appetite.

He was a martial artist, and since he was used to exercising his body, he also had knowledge equivalent to that of a nutrition expert: the nutrients that humans need to ingest every day include protein, carbohydrates, fats, minerals, vitamins, etc. Eating only meat can only supplement protein and fat at most, and in the long run, it will cause serious malnutrition.

There's no rice or bread to be found here, and the outside is covered in snow and wind, so there are no edible plants with green leaves. Carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins will be severely lacking.

Just like in ancient times when there was a lack of navigation knowledge, sailors and crew members often suffered from scurvy, which was a result of an unbalanced diet.

Long-term avoidance of carbohydrates can lead to insufficient energy supply, potentially causing fatigue, poor concentration, and other cognitive decline. Mineral deficiencies can cause a range of health problems; for example, calcium deficiency can lead to osteoporosis, and iron deficiency can lead to anemia. Vitamin deficiencies can cause various diseases; for instance, besides scurvy (which is a result of vitamin C deficiency), vitamin D deficiency can lead to rickets.

There was nothing he could do about it; the only prey he could bring back was wild animal meat.

Asakawa Riku's strong physique can naturally withstand it and he won't show symptoms for a while, but how will he deal with the girl in front of him?

Yukie was already thin, but compared to when I saw her a few days ago, the girl seemed even thinner, with heavy dark circles under her eyes, and her tired eyes were hard to hide.

She could barely hold the spoon, as Asakawa Riku could tell.

"Can you teach me how to cook?"

"Huh?" Xuehui was momentarily dazed and didn't hear what he said.

"Can you teach me how to cook?" Asakawa Riku repeated, "Your sister always says my cooking is terrible. I once wanted to thank her for bringing me a meal I made, but she criticized it mercilessly. I think if it's a simple dish like meat soup, even I wouldn't mess it up. When I get back, I'll make her bow her head and apologize."

Yukie covered her mouth and chuckled, seemingly amused by his childish remark, but then said:

"...Forget it, even if you learn from me, you still won't be as good as your older sister."

"why?"

"My sister is a genius. She learns everything very quickly, while I'm very slow and it takes me several times longer to master anything."

Yukie lowered her head: "So, Mr. Asakawa—"

“I think Yukie has her own strengths that Chizuko can’t match.”

Asakawa Riku interrupted her, speaking bluntly.

"Eh? What?"

"Yuki is gentle, and that's enough. That guy is a wolf in sheep's clothing, a poisonous spider disguised as a cute little girl. He's actually very scary."

"Don't talk bad about your sister...!"

Yukie raised her voice, but her face still turned red from Asakawa Riku's praise.

"I'm serious, teach me how to cook?" Asakawa Riku grabbed her hand and said earnestly, "Today is our fifth day here. This blizzard will eventually subside. In order to survive until we are rescued, we have to be prepared for a long battle... Don't give up, let's cheer each other on!"

"I believe that rescue will definitely come."

Summer of the Snow Woman: Chapter Twenty-Seven - Storytelling

Today is the fifteenth day of snowfall, and ten days have passed since the last record.

The snow didn't stop, and no rescue came. In other words, they had been trapped for two weeks, half a month.

Asakawa Riku stared at the three upright characters carved on the wall and fell silent.

He could roughly understand why the snow hadn't stopped; after all, this blizzard in the height of summer was no ordinary weather phenomenon, but a disaster created by the Snow Woman, and it wouldn't stop easily.

But he couldn't guess why no rescue had come.

The disappearance of six people in this mountain may not cause a stir in a day or two, but after a week, there should be some news.

For example, Mr. Matsuyama and Principal Komiya (I always unconsciously mention them together) are both working adults. According to the pre-engagement theory, neither of them is married, so their disappearance might not be easily noticed, since it is summer vacation and the school does not require attendance.

According to this theory, Asakawa Riku should also be included. His family had long since fled overseas, so no one should have been able to discover that he was missing.

...No, he wasn't completely cut off from the outside world. He had at least one part-time job at the Shinonome Detective Agency, working twice a week.

He has been absent from work many times, so they should have noticed. Perhaps that annoying detective will say, "Who cares?", but Miss Hoshino will at least show some concern, right?

Even without mentioning him, Haoji's parents and family should have called the police as well.

Minors can be classified as missing after 24 hours of being unaccounted for. I don't know if Haoji said he was coming to the shrine, but the police will definitely be able to track him down here.

After all, following the "disappearance" incident a year ago, and under media pressure, shouldn't they have learned their lesson?

Moreover, the missing person is not only a minor, which is a sensitive issue, but also involves a high-ranking individual.

Takagi Ichiro.

He is the president of a famous Tokyo clothing brand, owning several large companies and countless employees, and is extremely wealthy.

Even after the setback and blow of his daughter's disappearance, which led to a year of seclusion, he was still a veritable tycoon, though his wealth had waned.

His life or death is related to the rise and fall of the brand, the success or failure of the company, and many other issues such as stock price, securities, estate, and insurance. It can be said that there are almost as many people who want him dead as there are people who don't want him dead. Regardless of what his wife and children think, there will definitely be many people who will do anything to save him.

I remember Takagi Ichiro saying that he was brought here by a driver, so the driver must have tipped him off, and he disappeared in these mountains...

Therefore, rescue efforts should have been organized long ago. Even with a blizzard, there is no reason to do nothing. After all, in such severe weather, the safety of the victims is at great risk. Even if helicopters cannot be deployed, it would be normal to send experienced search teams into the mountains to search.

But in all these days, even wandering around the mountains, Asakawa Riku has not encountered anyone else.

It felt as if the world had abandoned me, leaving me feeling utterly desolate.

Blizzard... In the end, was this strange summer blizzard really just a snowfall that changed the weather, as seen by outsiders?

Or is it that everyone's understanding of this mountain has been altered by the Yuki-onna's yokai power, just like this lost and impassable mountain path?

Thinking about it this way, perhaps the reason why we couldn't get rescue becomes clear.

Could it be that the blizzard in this mountain has isolated the real world, making it impossible for outsiders to see the scenery here or cross over into it, just like Asakawa Riku is unable to leave? It's as if there's an invisible air wall between them, or perhaps the mountain is sealed off by a snowscape sphere, and there's no way to get through unless it's broken.

This isn't a problem on a "real" level, but rather a problem on a "strange" level; otherwise, a blizzard in the summer would probably drive everyone crazy.

Even knowing this, Asakawa Riku still had lingering questions in his mind.

So, where did Chizuko-senpai go?

Chizuko was climbing the mountain with him, so she must have noticed that something was wrong with him when he disappeared. Moreover, after she got to the top of the mountain, she would have discovered that her sister was also missing.

Chizuko could not possibly remain indifferent.

This is a "weird" problem. She's an expert in weird stuff. Even if she can't handle it, isn't this her base? She can always call for reinforcements.

The shrine's head priest, her father, that seemingly powerful man, should also intervene...

...

But that's how it turned out. After waiting for fifteen days, Asakawa Riku received no rescue or help from anyone.

During those fifteen days, the murderer never appeared again, which confirmed his deduction that he already knew who the murderer was.

He was even able to get a good night's sleep every night, but unfortunately the quality of the food did not improve.

Some things, even if you know the truth, cannot be perfectly resolved.

"Mr. Asakawa." A girl's gentle voice came from behind, dispelling his hostility.

"What's wrong?" Asakawa Riku turned around, a genuine smile on his face. "Are you hungry? Do you want to eat, or are you getting ready for bed?"

"I want to hear a story... I'm sorry."

Yuki smiled shyly as she lay on the bed.

The area where a fire is lit is warmer and more comfortable.

However, Yukie's physical condition is nearing its limit.

She wasn't someone like Asakawa Riku; she was just a teenage girl. After a long period of cold and malnutrition, constant exhaustion and fatigue had worn down her body.

Malnutrition weakens the immune system, and cold weather leads to weakness and poor appetite, creating a vicious cycle that only makes things worse. A few days ago, he started to be bedridden.

In this situation, a simple cold could be fatal to her. The blush on her face wasn't just because she was shy, but more so because of the fever.

Although Asakawa Riku is not a doctor, he has a good understanding of the human body and judged that Yukie might not last much longer.

"Okay, what do you want to hear?"

He didn't show it, sitting on the edge of the bed with a calm and gentle smile: "Shall we continue with yesterday's part?"

Asakawa Riku had always been the one taking care of her. When he was bored, he would tell her stories, which were mostly detective novels.

He was forced to read these stories by Chizuko, but they left a deep impression on him, so he was able to retell them. The suspense and captivating nature of the stories made Yukie very interested, and she kept pestering him to tell them.

But today, Yuki shook her head and said, "Um... I want to change it."

"Change the story?"

"No, wait, let's have a different storyteller. I'll tell you the story today, Mr. Asakawa."

Then, the girl lying on the bed paused for a moment and began her long narration.

Summer of the Snow Woman: Chapter Twenty-Eight - Past Events Like a Cold Winter

My name is Yukie.

When I was little, people said it was a beautiful name, and I liked it very much myself. It's said to be because I was born in winter.

That day, a light snow fell, adorning the hospital's exterior walls. Moved by this, the parents named the hospital after it, as if it were a very ceremonial occasion.

My dislike for winter only began much later; back then, I didn't think winter was anything bad.

I was born into a family environment that others envied. My father was a company employee, a middle manager, whose salary was enough to support the family's living expenses. His work was not too busy, and he could often take time to spend with his family. Although my mother was not a full-time housewife, she was highly educated. After graduating with a doctorate, she continued her research work and was a "scientist" in the eyes of children.

When I was little, I admired her. Every time my kindergarten teacher asked me a question, I would say that my wish was to become a mother.

By the way, my original surname was "Yuki," Yuki Yukie. My father was Mr. Yuki, and my mother was Mrs. Yuki. Just remember it like that.

In order to become a scientist when I grow up, I studied hard from elementary school onwards. I often asked my teachers for help after class, and I also asked my father to enroll me in tutoring classes. As a result, my grades were among the best in the class. I remember I would always excitedly show my report card to my mother, and she would always smile and pat my head.

But looking back, she realized that she hadn't said a word each time.

It is often said that if a couple's relationship is not harmonious, it is easy for the children in the family to notice, and even if they want to hide it, they will find out.

But I didn't have that experience. Perhaps it's because I was a bookworm when I was young, slow and clumsy, until they held a serious family meeting—

"Xuehui, your father and I are getting a divorce."

Only after she explained it this way could I slowly begin to understand what it meant.

Is this a discussion? It looks more like a notification.

Just like the court notice stated, I was ultimately awarded custody to my father. The reason given seemed to be that "my father's job is relatively stable, with a higher salary and social status. In contrast, my mother's research is still in its early stages and has not yet yielded enough groundbreaking results. Considering the healthy growth of the child, custody is therefore being transferred to the father."

In court, the mother sneered, "It's because I married such a foolish man that my research has been hampered. From today onwards, things will be different."

They were arguing loudly from a distance of more than ten meters, until the old man's wooden mallet struck me so hard that I covered my ears. Although I couldn't hear their insults, I could see their ugly expressions.

I remember they were very much in love when we were little.

I lived with my father, and after their divorce, my father changed a lot.

Don't be nervous, it's not a terrible turning point like alcoholism or domestic violence. Although things have changed, it's just that he unilaterally canceled my tutoring classes and casually told me things like, "You don't need to study so hard. Dad just hopes you grow up healthy and happy. It doesn't matter whether you go to university or not."

I changed from that day on, becoming more sensitive and perceptive. Although it was a bit late, I belatedly mastered the skill of reading between the lines.