"Hm..."
Hearing this, Akira paused what he was doing. He thought about how crowded tourist spots always got during New Year's and remembered his dad's orders. Slowly, he shook his head.
"Like always, let's just stay home."
"Ehh~" Shouko let out a soft protest, then sat up on the bed. "Then tomorrow I'll go out and play with Ayumi-chan and the others. Akira, do you want to come along?"
"Nope." He waved her off immediately. "It's a girls' outing. I'd just get in the way. Just... be careful tomorrow."
"I'll bring something tasty back for you."
Shouko walked over, rubbed his head vigorously with both hands, then dashed out of his room with a cheerful:
"Good night!"
Click.
Akira stared at the closed door for a moment, then returned to his half-finished draft. By now, he'd long forgotten what she'd just said.
In the past, whenever Shouko brought back sweets, most of them disappeared into her stomach, and whatever survived usually got eaten by Mom first...
Blinking at the blinking cursor and the two ellipses on his screen, Akira snapped out of his daze. The time was already 23:23.
Should he keep writing? Or go to bed?
He chose bed without hesitation. He still had to help his dad receive New Year's visitors tomorrow—better not to stay up late.
The black velvet of winter night was gently torn apart by morning light. Indigo faded into pale white.
The first rays of sun outlined the shrine eaves with gold. Dew, gathered from the long night, fell into rippling temple bells. Trains rumbled by, crushing the last specks of starlight.
"Akira, Takagi-chan and I are heading out to play. I'll be careful."
"(Rabbit waving .jpg)"
He looked at Shouko's two LINE messages, sent two hours ago, and replied with: Be careful.
After tidying up, he went downstairs to wash up.
Breakfast sat waiting on the dining table, while he could hear his parents chatting lightly in the living room.
Relieved, Akira realized there weren't any guests yet. No repeat of that social death moment from his past life—where he'd stumble out late in the day to find a bunch of relatives staring at him.
If there had been a shrine maiden his age he didn't know sitting there too, that would've been beyond awkward.
"Ding-dong..."
His phone buzzed with a new message. Shouko again.
"Akira, which one do you want me to buy back for you later?"
[Image] [Image] [Image]
"I recommend this chocolate one—it's really delicious!"
Looking through the photos she sent, and especially after reading her last line, it was obvious what she wanted him to pick.
If he chose anything else, he'd be an idiot.
"...Bring me the chocolate one, thanks."
"(Rabbit nodding .jpg)"
"Ding-dong... Ding-dong..."
"Akira, go open the door! It should be your Auntie from Yaeko!" Mom's voice carried over from the living room.
He sighed, sent off his reply to Shouko, and reluctantly went to answer the door.
Click.
"You two are...?"
Akira blinked. A middle-aged man stood there holding a neatly wrapped gift box. Beside him was a black-haired girl about his age, her eyes widening slightly when they met his.
She quickly straightened her posture, smoothed over her surprise, and bowed politely.
"Happy New Year!"
"Happy New Year." Akira copied her bow.
Before he could say more, the man smiled warmly.
"You must be Miyamura Akira—Akira, right? Daiki showed me your photo."
His tone carried the kind of practiced friendliness of someone very rich, yet trying to appear approachable.
"Inoue? Why'd you suddenly show up without saying anything first?"
Dad's surprised voice came from behind Akira.
Before he could turn, a large gentle hand ruffled his hair.
"It's cold outside. Don't stand here. Come in, come in."
Dad stepped forward, introducing them.
"This is my college buddy, Inoue Nakateru. And this is his daughter, Inoue Nishiki—she's two years younger than you."
"Hello, Uncle Inoue."
But instead of accepting the bow, the man chuckled and held out his hand.
"No need for such formality. Just call me Uncle Nakateru."
Then he reached into his suit pocket, pulled out a small envelope, and handed it over.
"Otoshi-dama. Happy New Year."
"Ah... thank you." Akira accepted it with both hands. He was about to say something polite when Mom's deadpan voice drifted over from behind:
"That's enough, Nakateru. You don't feel the cold? Next you'll expect Daiki to give Nishiki her gift, then the two of you will keep blocking the doorway for thirty minutes."
Akira almost laughed.
Clearly, these three knew each other very well.
The girl—Nishiki—bowed again to Mom before stepping inside. But her quick, sidelong glance at Akira didn't escape him.
The adults soon fell into old university memories, while the two teens sat politely.
Just when Akira started zoning out, Uncle Nakateru smoothly shifted the topic.
"I heard Akira's grades are excellent? Daiki never stops bragging when we meet."
Akira smiled faintly. "It's thanks to my parents' guidance."
Then came the kicker.
"Why don't you exchange contacts with Nishiki? She struggles a bit with her studies. If she has any questions, you could tutor her."
"Ah—!" Nishiki's quiet gasp slipped out before she quickly covered her mouth.
Akira, unfazed, took out his phone, opened LINE, and held it out with an easy smile.
"Sure."
He knew exactly what that little "suggestion" meant.
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