2

 The air at 10℃ is 10 percent denser than that at 30℃. Therefore, the winter air is stiffer and more massive than the summer air.


 It may not be because I was born in winter, but I have always liked winter air. When I am enveloped by the piercing cold air, my body feels tighter and tighter.


 In search of such air and beautiful snowy scenery, I was on my way to Mt. Iouzen, a dozen-minute drive from my house. It was a Sunday, a few months after I had switched to a new car, Suzuki Jimny, A minimum size SUV. This was the first time I had come to a place where I could use it to its full potential.


 The narrow mountain road, with no villages around, was naturally not plowed. However, there was already a rut on the road in front of me. There may be a weirdo like me who loves to come to such a place surrounded by ice and snow only.


 Finally, I caught up with the rut maker. To my surprise, it was not a kind of SUV nor RV, but a small car named Suzuki Lapin. At that time, it seemed to be stuck. I could easily see that the tires were spinning. Surely it must be a miracle that such a car had reached here with this serious condition.


 A woman in a coat got out of the driver's seat. She looked to be around 20 years old. Even though she did not look very cosmetically attractive, her face was well built.


 As she approached the driver's seat of my car, I rolled down the window and asked her.


"What's the hell is going on?"


"I'm sorry......but my car stopped running. I couldn't call a wrecker because I couldn't get a cell phone signal." She raised her eyebrows.


"Uh, do you really have to go ahead?"


"No. I don't have to."


"Okay. I'll pull over your car. Take your seat and hold the steering wheel." I said.


"I got it. Thank you." She bowed to me.


 ---


 I went back to the place which the road became wider and made a U-turn, then backed up again and park my car one meter behind her car. I looked inside her car and found that she had no passengers.


 I then tied her car and mine together with my soft car rope and returned to the driver's seat.

 I start off in first gear in 4L. With a light shock, Lapin's rescue was complete in one shot.


"Thank you so much!" She bowed deeply to me. "Um, what can I do for you?"


"Oh, don't worry about that. By the way, why did you come here?"


"......."


 She seemed at a loss for words, but eventually said in a mumbled voice.


"I wanted to be alone.......for a while......"


 Her words let me guess that there might be extremely complicated situation behind her. It's better not to get involved.


"I see. Well, keep your chin up. Bye then"


"Oh, wait! Please tell me your name......."


"No thanks! I don't want to be bothered! Bye!"


 I said and started the car. When I looked in the room mirror, I saw her bowing deeply toward me. Her shape in the mirror was getting smaller and smaller.


 ---

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