1:30 AM.
I heard there was a special one-shot by Daijiro Morohoshi in the latest issue of Big Comic magazine, so I headed to the convenience store during a work break.

The cold wave stings my skin. Fine snow is dancing in the air. A thin layer of snow dyes the ground pure white, so smooth that I feel a sense of guilt for leaving footprints behind. Behind the cloud-covered mountains, the lights of the ski resort line up in a faint glow. The snow reflects all the light, making the rural roads feel bright despite the few streetlights.

Since moving to Nagano, I’ve grown accustomed to the immense winter cold. The winter air sharpens the outlines of the scenery. Filling my lungs with the piercingly cold air clears my mind. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of sleeping in a bed warmed by a hot water bottle. I’m starting to like winter more than summer.

On the way back, I found animal tracks. I thought it might be a fox, but it wasn’t the straight-line gait typical of a fox, so it might be a cat. It seemed a bit small for a cat, so maybe a raccoon dog (Tanuki). I’m not sure, but it seems something just crossed this path a moment ago.

I love how time is etched into the winter roads at night like that.

I’m reading Daijiro Morohoshi’s one-shot in front of the heater. An absurdist mystery set on a spaceship. Why is his art style so captivating? Apparently, the “Daijiro Morohoshi Short Story Collection (12 volumes total)” will be released soon.

I want it so badly, so I’ll work hard to earn it.