Phos.
Run.
NO!
You poor thing...
You!
Explain yourself!
I was so scared...
I couldn't even move.
Sorry.
We got careless.
We were too preoccupied trying to set an example for you.
We must have really frightened you.
Hey!
Alexandrite?
I heard you saw some new type of Lunarian!
We did, Alex.
The infirmary is no place to shout, Alex.
Look at you, all worked up over Lunarians again, Alex.
It's Lexi!
How many times do I have to tell you?!
I heard its blades were made from Sapphire! Tell me everything you can!
C'mon, think!
It all happened so fast, and we were so close that we-
Try harder!
But...
Oh hey, what about Phos?
Phos?
Phos should have seen the whole thing-
Huh?
I've gotta be able to run like this whenever I need to.
What would I even say right now?
And... PULL!
Pull it to the right!
Like this?
More to the left.
Like this then?
Further right.
O-okay, now?
A little higher.
Wait, no, lower.
What?!
Hup...
Oh! I'm so sorry!
No sweat.
All we ever do each year is sleep, you know? It's going to get all wrinkled.
That's fine! Fashion is all about one's pride and disposition!
I pulled this all together despite our lack of fabric just for this day!
Yes...
Bring back the ladders!
Phos? Is there enough cloth over there?
Yup. Is there enough cloth over there?
I thought as much.
The ladders again!
I asked Cinnabar to hibernate here with us, but it was no use.
We could at least share this bedding, though, if you don't mind.
Of all things! Anything but that!
Ah! Creepy!
Fine, I'll go myself!
You know...
Do I really have to hibernate?
What?
It's just, I'm not even the slightest bit tired this year.
You, the first to sleep and the last to get up every year?
Do you need a checkup?
Maybe you might've messed up with my leg surgery, you quack.
It's a joke!
The light quality here is poor in the winter. Just staying awake would be exhausting.
Through the whole of winter, there are only around ten sunny days on average.
When the sun does come out, it almost guarantees the Lunarians will show up.
But that makes them easy to predict, so we just leave all of winter up to Sensei and Antarcticite.
Antarcti...
I'm just about as hard, so how come I don't get to do that?
It's not fair.
Antarcticite has a more unique makeup than you do.
Though normally in a completely liquified state,
Antarcticite's body crystallizes when the temperature drops.
So, colder temperatures just make that body...
...stronger.
Now then, Sensei...
Goodnight.
Pleasant dreams.
Good morning.
Antarcticite.
How is your condition?
Flawless as always, of course.
Working alone every year must be lonesome.
My apologies.
N-not at all.
It's not that I'm lonely or anything like that, but...
Our yearly tradition...
May I?
Come.
Wh-wh...!
Why are you still awake, Phosphophyllite?!
You see...
I just couldn't fall asleep, so...
Would it be okay if I... just stay awake?
Very well. This year you will work as a pair.
Sweet!
Sensei!
Pardon my saying so, but I must object!
Not with this useless dolt!
So what was this whole "tradition" you were-
...on about?
Now tell me...
You've always been the one who sleeps the longest every year, so what's with you now?
Always so fickle and aimless.
You're half a level harder than I am; don't you feel ashamed?
I'm sure this was just another idle year for you, right?
Is it a fear of facing that fact that's keeping you awake?
Well actually, see...
So those weird legs of yours... Are they agate?
Did you head out to battle?
I did, yeah...
But right at the most crucial part, I got so scared I couldn't even put them to use.
Did you get in trouble?
No-
You're spoiled!
This is why working in groups is so-
I didn't get in any trouble...
That's what's so frustrating that I can't sleep.
Plus, I hear it's exhausting just trying to stay awake in the winter.
So I thought maybe I could try testing myself through it.
Very well.
Then I'll let you take on one of my tasks.
Really?
It won't be easy.
I don't wanna...
But I will!
The light... it's so faint...
This...
could be... bad...
So faint...
We're only halfway there.
When the light does come out, so do the Lunarians.
Walk until you can't, and then walk some more.
We're here.
A-a Lunarian?
No, it's just an ice floe.
A floe?
When the sea freezes over, any segments with microorganisms from the sea floor wind up like that.
But Sensei once called them "sinners"...
and I've never quite been able to forget that.
Get ready.
What?
Listen to that!
It hasn't started yet.
The ghastly roars these floes unleash as they slide past each other
disturb our slumbering companions.
So I crush them.
Now you try.
You're insane!
So...
I hate to say this after you shared this wonderful work of yours with me, but...
What is it?
I don't think I'm really up for all that yet.
I've only got these legs going for me.
Just these legs.
Well my body is not yet at its peak in temperatures as high as this.
But if you fall into the sea, you'll be ground to dust by those ice floes.
It takes getting used to.
You sure?
You're not just trying to get me out there in the face of danger so you can get more time alone with Sensei?
Want me to break you?
We low hardness gems have nothing if not our courage.
There are things I just can't do.
Because you never try.
I do the things I can as best I can.
And so you never accomplish anything new.
Get set.
Go!
Good.
Almost had it.
I'm beat.
We still have our work day ahead of us.
We don't get a break after busting those things?
How could we take time off with all this snowfall?
We have many tasks to carry out besides breaking ice floes.
Here.
And here, too.
And lastly, here.
You really aren't good at working in a team, huh?
I said I'm sorry!
Don't go getting snide!
The most dangerous place on our patrol of the school is the room where everyone is hibernating.
They're frightening in their sleep.
Especially Bort.
Cover them in a sheet and they'll go right to sleep.
But why?
Beats me.
What was that?!
Oh, that'd be...
...the sound of Sensei sinking sleepily into a wall.
I use a sheet here, too.
Why...?
For good measure.
And we have to do this every day...
I guess they can take care of them all...
Are you all right?
Antarc!
What's the matter?
I can't take this!
Whining again, are we?
The ice floe just spoke to me.
Yeah, they do that.
What?
According to Sensei, these ice floes are minerals just like us,
so we can vaguely make out their voices.
Though the truth is that they make word-like sounds, but we can't understand them.
"This hurts." "This is too much." "I wanna go home."
I understand everything they say!
Well this won't do.
You understand the speech of the ice floes...?
Yes.
My memory is a bit vague, but I recall being able to talk with something from the sea.
As do I.
That's it!
Why don't I just try getting to know these ice floes and ask them to stop shouting all the time?!
Enough.
The ice floes do not speak of their own will.
Instead...
They are naturally disposed to reflect the anxieties of others, and further exacerbate them.
They are but "dregs" of creatures from the beginning of time.
Still your heart while in their presence.
'Kay.
Phos is keeping up with me more than I would have expected.
While I know there is no hope for such,
I can't help but wish Phos had arms to match those legs.
To match my legs...
Woah, woah! What are you doing, you idiot?
Rutile already told you there's none of that shell left...
But you'll grow stronger.
You'll be fine.
I'll bite them right off for you.
Your legs got better in the end.
Somebody will figure out a way.
You won't get any worse.
You must change.
You must find courage.
You'll make it.
But you don't have time.
If you just wait this out till spring...
Cinnabar will...
If you just wait this out till spring...
Cinnabar will...
No, no! No way!
Phos!
What are you doing?!
Phos...
Your arms...