The dark was soon approaching. He had only made a small stop on his way home from school, but everything around Naoki was quickly melting into darkness. The wind had gotten more and more icy as the night had approached. Chills crept from his legs to his heart and he grew stiff with cold. He adjusted the front of his coat and ran towards his apartment building. A warm meal, made by his mother, would be waiting for him when he walked in the door.

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