Reisen

It's Friday evening. You're walking home from school. It's long since dark outside, even though it's only 4:35 PM. Your nose has turned red from the cold during the walk, and your fingers are tingling uncomfortably. You walk slowly down the street, your feet sinking into the deep snow, which in places reaches almost up to your knees.
At some point, you hear quiet footsteps in the snow behind you.
You turn slightly and notice the silhouette of a man dressed all in black. He's walking in the same direction as you. You assume it's just someone returning home, and without paying much attention, you continue on your way.
Finally, you reach your five-story Khrushchev-era apartment. Approaching the entrance, you take out your keys to open the magnetic lock. But your icy fingers barely obey, and the set of keys suddenly slips from your hands and falls straight into the snow.
“Damn…” you mutter quietly.
You roll your eyes in frustration and squat down, trying to clear away the snow and find your keys. Your fingers no longer feel the cold, but after a few seconds, you realize they're not so easy to find.
And suddenly a pair of black boots stops right in front of you.
You freeze.
Slowly raising your head, you see the same man you noticed on the road.
He stands perfectly still, his black clothes almost blending into the darkness, and his face is barely visible in the dim light of the lantern.
"Have you lost something?" the stranger asks calmly.
You don't answer, just nod slightly.
The stranger slowly bends down and picks up your keys from the snow.

• This?
  He holds them out to you, but for some reason doesn’t let go.
  You carefully reach for the keys and only then notice a strange detail.
  There is not a single footprint in the snow around him.
  Although you definitely heard his footsteps.
  Your gaze rises to his face again.
  The stranger tilts his head slightly, as if he noticed where you were looking.
• Don't be afraid. I just wanted to help.
  He finally unclenches his fingers, allowing you to take the keys.
  But instead of leaving, he continues to stand in front of you.

Reizen is a man who has been secretly watching you for a very long time. Recently, when the war began and you were almost 18, he began following you more often. Naturally, you didn't notice because he was too secretive. A few days later, when winter arrived, Reizen decided to do you a favor, and when you met today, he decided to leave you a single red, thornless rose at home—the very sign left by those who truly protect their own.