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Once Sufi woke up and all three of my team mates were around, I explained what had happened so far.

My health had improved enough that I could stay awake without a mask, so I was showing my true face now.

The snow here isn’t ordinary snow; apparently, if you fall asleep, you’ll encounter the dead and become trapped in a dream. From what I heard from Grandpa in my dream, if you can say your goodbyes, you’ll wake up.

They seemed strangely convinced, so I continued my story.

I told them how I desperately protected the three of them, who had collapsed in the snow, using an igloo and temperature control, and with the help of a friend from my past life, I managed to carry us into Apartment 404.

I didn’t count exactly, but it’s probably been about ten days since we jumped into the hole.

I told them up to the point where we teamed up with the adventurer who’d brought the monsters along to defeat the giant ice worm, then let out a sigh.

“That’s about it.”
“Alice, you’re being reckless again!”
“That’s not fair, nya!”
“…So you really lived a past life?”

It was nice that they listened to the very end.

Right after I finished talking, Sufi, with tears in her eyes, hugged me; Noche, who’d missed out on the big battle, sulked; and Filia confessed that she hadn’t believed what I’d told her earlier about my knowledge.

“Why would you do something like that all by yourself!?”
“I thought I had a chance of winning, and I wanted to ensure our safety on the way back.”

After fighting it, I realized that decision was the right one. While the Long-tailed Tit probably wouldn’t lose to an Ice Worm, that doesn’t mean it could take one down in an instant.

On our own, we could barely deal enough damage to drive it away. The two of us didn’t have the firepower to overwhelm it without giving it time to escape.

At the same time, the adventurer team alone wouldn’t have made it either—they simply weren’t strong enough to take on an Ice Worm that could lower the surrounding temperature and had a hard, icy exoskeleton.

Their fire magic was being severely weakened as well, so if we’d gone head-to-head, we would’ve been wiped out in the blink of an eye.

I’m confident that the decision to form an impromptu team was the right one.

“But…!”
“I’m sorry…”

I feel bad for making her worry, but without any proper defenses, Sufi and Noche couldn’t possibly do anything in that situation. The fact that the Ice Worm was lying in wait proved just how relentless it was, and I couldn’t just ignore the possibility of being targeted by something like that.

“……Ugh!”

I gently patted Sufi’s back as she hugged me so tightly it almost hurt.

It might seem strange since she’s scolding me, but for some reason, I felt incredibly reassured.

■■■■■

“Come to think of it, what about your friend?”

After we’d chatted for a while, Sufi tilted her head. Since the long-tailed tit hates the heat and won’t come inside, it’s waiting in the burrow with our luggage.

“Let me introduce you.”

I stood up unsteadily, put on my winter gear, and led everyone through the front door.

…Huh? It’s not here?

“What’s with this mountain of bags, nya?”

Both Filia, who woke up first, and Noche, who woke up next, were feeling unwell because they’d slept for too long. They’d been resting inside the whole time to recover.

It seems they’d briefly peeked outside the front door from the hallway, but they hadn’t really checked thoroughly.

Seeing the pile of leather bags stacked next to the door and the huge backpack plopped down in front of them, Noche let out a gasp of surprise.

“What bags? W-wow, there really are a lot.”
“So many.”

Even when I looked inside the hole, there was no sign of the long-tailed tit. I knew it flew around freely in the blizzard when it had free time, but maybe my timing was a little off.

“Wait, what kind of hole is this, anyway?”
“Huh? Oh, we’re in a hole!”

Perhaps they’d mistaken the surrounding snow walls for a snow cave; following my gaze, everyone looked up. It seemed they’d noticed the blizzard-filled sky visible through the square opening in the ceiling.

That’s right—it’s a hole made by the long-tailed tit. It’s hard for them to escape on their own, you know.

“Mm.”

I heard the sound of flapping wings, and the long-tailed tit, returning from its walk, landed silently in the center of the hole.

“Cheep?”
“Welcome back… Everyone, this is my friend.”

I turned to look at the long-tailed tit, who was tilting its head as if to ask, “What’s going on?”—and saw the three of them staring at it with eyes wide as saucers.

“That bird is huge, nya!”
“A round, fluffy little bird?”
“I-it’s so cute…”

Their reactions were all different. For now, I was relieved there weren’t any negative reactions.

“They are my friends and teammates. The one with black hair is Noche, the leader of our party.”
“H-heya, I’m the leader, nya. If you’re Alice’s friend, well, I’ll welcome you, nya.”
“Jyuri.”

A puff of snow landed on Noche’s face. The culprit, the long-tailed tit, turned its face away in a huff.

…Still hates humans as much as ever, I see.

“What the hell, nya!”
“Cheep cheep.”

As soon as she brushed the snow off, Noche glared at it as it did her, face-to-face.

Somehow, it reminded me of how this one used to fight playfully with the calico cat back when we were held at the facility.

“And the one with cherry-blonde hair is Filia, and the one who looks just like me is Sufi.”
“Um, nice to meet you…?”
“Sufi’s Sufi! Nice to meet you!”
“Cheep.”

It just puffed out its chest and gave a noncommittal “Hm” at them. It did throw a patch of snow at Noche’s face, but that’s practically play-fighting.

I’m glad it looks like we’ll be able to get along somehow.

“So, what’s this guy’s name, nya?”
“Jyuriri.”

Come to think of it, I still don’t know the Long-tailed Tit’s name.

“…Name.”
“Cheep.”

It tilted its head. In my past life, we used numbers, nicknames, or species names—we didn’t have the habit of calling each other by our actual names.

It seems there are things that can have dangerous effects just from carelessly calling a name or even perceiving a formal name, so that rule was strictly enforced.

In my past life, my social circle was small, so I never found it inconvenient…

“What do we do with your name?”
“Cheep.”

That reaction means it wants me to “give it one.” Still, hmm.

We didn’t have the habit of calling each other by name, and I have no talent for naming things.

“Should I give you one? Bwufu!?”
“Jyuriri!”
“What the heck, you!”

The Long-tailed Tit gracefully dodged Noche’s retaliatory cat punch—delivered after she’d been doused with snow—with a stylish sidestep.

“How do you even come up with a name?”
“Dunno.”

That was Sufi’s reply. Well, that makes sense—after all, she’s never named anyone before.

“Um, I guess people might take names from historical figures, or from stones, flowers, or things they have a special connection to?”

As the two of us were pondering this, Filia—the most educated among us—offered some good advice.

A stone… doesn’t quite fit the image.

Flowers aren’t quite right either. Round and white, like snow and winter… Daifuku mochi?

I feel like neither “mochi” nor “daifuku” has quite the right ring to it.

Something that fits the image, holds personal meaning for me, and has a nice ring to it.

“Shiratama…”

Shiratama dango—the name of the first sweet I ever ate in my life. White, round, chewy, and cool to the touch.

“Cheep.”

It was a name I came up with on the spot, but maybe my feelings came through—the bird seemed to like it. It hopped over and rubbed its cheek against me.

“Shiratama… what’s that?”
“A sweet—white and round.”
“Huh.”

It doesn’t exist here, so of course they wouldn’t know. I’ll try making some if I can get my hands on some glutinous rice.

“Is it okay to name it after food, nya…?”

I tune out Noche’s sarcastic remark as she brushes the snow off herself. Well, since the bird itself has accepted it…

After our exchange, I suddenly remembered something I’d forgotten.

I looked at the Long-tailed Tit… at Shiratama anew.

“I’m Alice. Nice to meet you, Shiratama.”
“Cheep!”

After telling her¹ my name, I finally felt like our new friendship had begun.