…It’s cold. It’s really cold.

Alice huddles underneath a frozen tree, shivering, curled up into a small ball. Her jacket is coated in a deep layer of frost. She can’t feel her face anymore.

“Haa… hahahaaaa…!”

The sun is gone. Her phone has thirty missed calls from her mom.

What an idiot. What a stupid fucking idiot.

Alice shoves her face deeper into her knees. Biting her lip, she can’t hold back from crying any longer. With the cold wind howling around her, it feels as if the tears are freezing right on her face.

…

/ 人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼: Hello, Alice!

The girl continues to sob. The white feline pads a bit closer, before putting its paw on her hand. Startled, the girl jerks back and looks up, tears and snot still smeared across her face.

/ 人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼: Hello there, Alice Cenhelm!

The girl blinks, still shaking from the cold. “W-what- who are you?”

The cat tilts its head to the side.

/ 人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼: My name is Kyubey! I have a request for you!

Its red beady eyes seem to stare straight through her own.

/ 人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼: Make a contract with me and become a magical girl!