It was about ten minutes after the agreed-upon time when Chie came bursting through the door of the ramen shop, panting as if she'd just run a long way (she had). While she'd let her hair grow out after the case, she'd cut it short again upon entering the police academy; there were light smatterings of snowflakes in her soft brown hair.

"I'm sorry I'm late!" she apologized profusely once she saw her friends inside, stepping into the restaurant and closing the door behind her. "I had to stay after class to speak with the instructor. You didn't wait for me, right?"