Saari was a tiny island blanketed in deep snow, floating in the middle of a lake.

The snow-covered white birch trees looked like sweets dusted with powdered sugar.

The little bear fairy, Nuutti, skipped merrily along a snow-packed path made by human footsteps, exploring the island all by himself.

Every now and then, he tripped because of all the skipping.

Whenever he fell, he simply rolled around in the snow instead.

He was having the time of his life.

Although the sky was overcast, his mood couldn’t have been better.

After getting back to his feet, Nuutti resumed skipping.

Then it happened.

An encounter.

Standing directly in front of him was a small white bear with pure white fur, about thirty centimeters tall—the same size as Nuutti.

The smile vanished from Nuutti’s face.

The white-furred little bear silently stared at the light brown-furred Nuutti.

“It’s been a long time, pon.”

The little white bear spoke with a stern expression.

“I never thought we’d meet again, nuu.”

“Pontus.”

A fearless grin spread across Nuutti’s face as he spoke the little white bear’s name.

Pontus looked slightly surprised.

“I’m impressed you remembered my name, pon.”

“So did you, nuu.”

“I’ve never forgotten what happened three years ago, not even once, nuu.”

Nuutti lowered his stance slightly, remaining on guard.

“If that incident three years ago had never happened, I wouldn’t have any reason to fight you today, pon.”

Pontus reached toward the pile of snow beside the road and began packing it into a snowball with both paws.

Without taking his eyes off Pontus, Nuutti also began making a snowball.

“If you’re looking for a fight, then I’ll take you on, nuu!”

Whether by coincidence or fate, this was the fated reunion of the two little bears.

And with that, the battle between them began.

No…

The first spark of this battle had already been lit three years earlier.

To understand why, we must go back to that day.

Three years earlier, on another winter day…

Nuutti sat atop a pile of snow beside the very same road, happily munching on a cinnamon roll.

A small white bear suddenly appeared in front of him.

It was Pontus.

Seeing another bear walking on two legs like himself, Nuutti blinked in surprise.

“Hey.”

“Are you a bear like me, pon?”

“I’m really hungry.”

“Could you give me a little of that, pon?”

Pontus asked politely.

He looked completely exhausted, as though he hadn’t eaten in quite some time.

Nuutti kept eating without stopping.

“No way, nuu.”

“I’m not giving you any, nuu.”

“I don’t share with someone who doesn’t even tell me their name, nuu.”

He spoke while stuffing his cheeks full.

The little white bear bowed politely.

“Sorry.”

“I’m Pontus.”

“I live in the forest nearby, pon.”

“What about you?”

Hearing that, Nuutti narrowed his eyes.

‘Hmph… So he’s just an ordinary bear from the nearby forest, nuu.’

A feeling of superiority swelled inside him.

After all, Nuutti believed he was no ordinary bear.

He was someone special.

“I’m Nuutti, nuu.”

He introduced himself while looking down at Pontus and continuing to eat.

Just then, Pontus’s stomach growled loudly.

“Nuutti.”

“Please.”

“Just a little bit is enough, pon.”

Pontus asked once again.

“I’ve got nothing for an ordinary bear, nuu.”

“Go look somewhere else, nuu.”

Nuutti turned his face away.

Pontus frowned.

“You’re just an ordinary bear too, pon.”

He simply stated what he saw.

But those words immediately struck a nerve.

“Just an ordinary bear.”

Nuutti stopped eating.

“I’m a great fairy, nuu!”

“I’m on a completely different level from an ordinary bear like you, nuu!”

At that exact moment…

A snowball smacked directly into Nuutti’s face.

“What was that for, nuu?!”

Nuutti brushed the snow off his face with both paws.

Looking up, he saw Pontus already holding a second snowball.

“Even the patient Nuutti has had enough, nuu!”

Nuutti tried to climb onto the snowbank.

Instead, his foot slipped.

He lost his balance and tumbled down the slope.

Naturally, the cinnamon roll flew out of his paw.

It landed on the ground.

Seeing that, Nuutti cried out,

“M-My cinnamon roll fell, nuu!”

Tears welled up as he scrambled back to his feet.

Pontus also stared sadly at the cinnamon roll lying in the snow.

Then a bird swooped down.

It skillfully grabbed the cinnamon roll in its beak.

A moment later, it disappeared into the sky.

“Don’t go!!”

Nuutti and Pontus shouted at exactly the same time.

“This is all your fault, Pontus, nuu!”

Nuutti immediately blamed him.

“It’s because you wouldn’t share, Nuutti, pon!”

Pontus cried back through tears.

The two argued for quite some time.

Eventually, exhausted from fighting, they turned their backs on one another and walked away.

That was the incident from three years ago.

Also known as…

The Cinnamon Roll Showdown.

The frustration and bitterness from that day rose once more inside Nuutti’s chest.

“I’ve never forgotten that grudge, nuu.”

His round eyes sharpened as he glared at Pontus.

“That’s an outrageous way to shift the blame, pon.”

Pontus calmly replied.

Nuutti beckoned with one paw.

“Come on then, nuu.”

“I’ll take you on, nuu!”

Seeing Nuutti’s eagerness for battle, Pontus declared,

“This ends today, pon!”

He hurled a snowball at Nuutti before diving behind a nearby snowbank for cover.

Nuutti dodged the incoming snowball and hid behind the snowbank opposite Pontus.

Both bears hurriedly began making more snowballs.

Pontus struck first.

Nuutti cautiously peeked his head over the snowbank.

A snowball immediately smashed into his head.

It burst apart on impact.

Refusing to lose, Nuutti hurled an especially large snowball toward Pontus.

Unfortunately…

It fell into the middle of the road long before reaching him.

Sadly, Nuutti’s athletic ability was well below average.

To make matters worse, he lived comfortably in the city with his human friend, Aki.

Meals were practically served to him automatically.

Most days, he simply lazed around Aki’s room.

He lived a sheltered life.

Pontus, on the other hand, had survived in the harsh wilderness through constant struggle.

Looking only at their lifestyles, anyone would assume Pontus held the overwhelming advantage.

But reaching that conclusion too quickly would be a mistake.

No matter how he looked, Nuutti was still a fairy.

And that meant…

He could use magic.

The problem was that casting magic required chanting a verse.

With Pontus continuously pelting him with blazing-fast snowballs, Nuutti could barely keep dodging.

He had no opportunity to sing his spell.

As the fierce snowball battle continued…

Everything changed in an instant.

One of Pontus’s snowballs struck a tree branch behind Nuutti.

The heavy mass of snow resting on the branch fell directly onto Nuutti’s head.

“W-What was that, nuu?!”

Nuutti frantically brushed the snow away.

Pontus seized the opportunity.

Bursting from behind the snowbank, he charged straight toward Nuutti.

Realizing too late, Nuutti turned and ran.

Pontus rapidly closed the distance.

Catching up from behind, he grabbed one of Nuutti’s paws.

His free arm hooked around Nuutti’s neck.

Pontus gave a small leap.

They spun through the air.

Then…

He slammed Nuutti into the ground with all his strength.

A complete knockout.

Pontus looked down at his fallen opponent.

But Nuutti wasn’t an ordinary little bear.

That tiny opening was all he needed.

Just enough time to finish his chant.

“Syttykää tulia täällä!”

“Fire, be born upon this land!”

“Verhotkaa vihamiestä!”

“Fire, engulf my enemy!”

An instant later…

Flames erupted from nowhere.

They completely enveloped Pontus.

“Gyaaaaaah!!”

Unable to endure the burning heat, Pontus threw himself headfirst into a snowbank.

The smell of scorched fur filled the air.

Bruised and battered, the two little bears stared at each other.

“You’re pretty good, nuu…”

“You too, pon…”

Both raised their guard once more.

Then…

“This is the end!”

The moment the words left their mouths, both charged forward simultaneously.

In the next instant…

Someone grabbed both of them by the backs of their collars and effortlessly lifted them into the air.

“What are you two doing?”

“I looked away for one second, and you disappeared.”

A young man’s voice came from behind Nuutti.

“Nuu?!”

It was Aki.

Looking completely exasperated, Aki stared at Nuutti before letting out a sigh.

As for Pontus…

“Didn’t I tell you to stay by your big brother’s side?”

Hearing those quietly spoken words filled with restrained anger from his much larger brother, Yoel, Pontus turned pale.

“Sorry.”

“Nuu caused all this trouble.”

Aki apologized to Yoel.

Waving one hand dismissively, Yoel smiled gently.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Pontus caused trouble too.”

Then he turned toward his little brother.

“Hey, Pontus.”

Nuutti, Aki, and Pontus all noticed the sudden change in Yoel’s voice and demeanor.

“I told you not to fight.”

“So why couldn’t you listen?”

Despite his calm tone, the murderous pressure behind his words was unmistakable.

Pontus went deathly pale.

Nuutti shrank back in fear.

Aki silently understood the situation.

Thanks to Yoel’s forced intervention, the long-running Cinnamon Roll Showdown between Nuutti and Pontus finally came to an end.

After giving Aki and Nuutti a polite nod, Yoel picked Pontus up and carried him back toward the forest.

Nuutti hopped onto Aki’s shoulder.

“I’m so glad you’re my friend, Aki, nuu!”

He happily rubbed his cheek against Aki’s.

However…

“Nuu.”

“No snacks for the next two weeks.”

Aki delivered his merciless verdict.

What followed hardly needs to be said.

Nuutti cried, screamed, and apologized over and over again.