Shizuka Miyamura, having just finished scolding Akira, wiped her hands dry and pulled out her phone to call Daiki Miyamura.
"What is it?"
The line connected, and Daiki's puzzled voice came through first.
"Nothing serious," Shizuka replied. "Just reminding you not to get too caught up fishing. Remember to pick up Mom for dinner."
"Don't worry," he chuckled. "I'll bring back a big one for everyone."
"Alright, alright," she answered casually before hanging up. She set about tidying the house, though there wasn't much to do—quilts and pillows, mostly, since they'd already cleaned thoroughly before the holiday.
Meanwhile, Yaeko Nishimiya and Shouko were busy in the kitchen, leaving her at ease. As for a certain someone... she chose to ignore him.
When Shizuka returned, Akira was no longer in the kitchen. Granny Nishimiya had arrived, and after greeting her, Shizuka joined the others in preparing food.
Akira, meanwhile, had been "chased out" by Shouko. He was now in the living room, playing with Yuzuru Nishimiya and Hachiko.
Dusk spread from the horizon, and by five o'clock the sun had faded into indigo. The faint scent of sandalwood incense lingered in the streets, stone lanterns along shrine paths flickering to life in the winter mist.
Daiki returned home carrying a large fish, Miyamura Yui following right behind him. She greeted Yaeko Nishimiya warmly before pulling three red envelopes from her pocket, handing them to Akira, Shouko, and Yuzuru.
Having grown close with the Nishimiya family over the years, she knew their hardships well—and how much they relied on the Miyamuras' support.
Soon after, Yui rolled up her sleeves and joined the kitchen crew, even shooing Shouko away. "Go play with Akira for a while."
"Cheers!"
After hours of bustling in the kitchen, everyone finally gathered around the table. Cups clinked endlessly as they admired the spread. The drinks were all oolong tea—Daiki disliked alcohol, so no one opened any.
The adults traded stories and neighborhood gossip, while the younger ones listened with interest. Akira found this far more engaging than the endless tales of college days.
When the clock struck midnight, everyone exchanged cheerful New Year's greetings. Akira presented Shouko with the gift he'd prepared in advance, drawing an envious look from Yuzuru. To ease things, he pulled out another small gift for Yuzuru, though clearly not as heavy as Shouko's.
Yuzuru, thrilled, immediately flaunted her prize—until Shouko tapped her lightly on the head, making her settle down.
Shouko, of course, hadn't forgotten either. She slipped back home to fetch her own gifts and returned to hand them out.
The adults looked on quietly, smiling but never interrupting.
By half past twelve, Shizuka and Yaeko began tidying up. Kei Nishimiya and Yui Miyamura had already gone to bed, while the elders had retired even earlier around ten.
"That feels good," Shizuka sighed as she emerged from the bath, hair still warm from the dryer.
"Sleeping already?"
She entered the bedroom to find Daiki already under the covers. Playfully, she gave him a light kick. When he stirred, she grinned.
Sliding under the blanket herself, she found a small gift box on the bed. Surprised, she looked up—only to hear his voice:
"Well? Surprised?"
Shizuka smiled despite herself. "We're already an old married couple. Isn't this a bit mushy?" Her words contradicted the joy on her face.
Seeing her expression, Daiki knew he'd succeeded. They chatted softly for a few minutes before he closed his eyes.
But then he heard the faint click of the door locking, and opened his eyes to see Shizuka's playful smile...
By five in the morning, mist wrapped the streets in a pale shroud. A convenience store's sliding doors opened and shut with mechanical rhythm, echoing against frozen asphalt. An elderly man in a haori shuffled past in geta, pocket watch swaying, startling a stray cat curled under a pole.
"Akira, wake up. Didn't we agree to watch the sunrise?"
"Get up!!"
At last, Shouko ran to the washroom, soaked her hands in cold water, and returned with a mischievous grin. Lifting his blanket, she pressed both icy hands straight against his stomach.
"Ah—!"
Akira bolted upright and, in his daze, bumped right into her forehead. She yelped, clutching her head.
"Didn't we ban that way of waking me?" he groaned, rubbing his eyes. His sleepiness made him grouchy, but he didn't dare argue with her. After all, they had promised to get up early today.
"I just couldn't wake you otherwise," she pouted, rubbing her forehead.
"Does it hurt?" He reached to soothe the spot, but she dodged.
"It does." Then, with a sly smile, she pointed to her cheek. "But if you kiss me, I'll forgive you."
Her words carried a flashback to yesterday, when she and Takagi had gone shopping with Ayumi and passed a fortune-telling stall in the mall...
"Shouko-chan, want to get our fortunes told for next year?" Ayumi had pointed, raising a brow.
The stall was tiny, hardly more than a folding table—nothing like the classroom setup at school last time. Both Shouko and Takagi found themselves wondering why such a thing was even allowed inside a mall.
"It doesn't seem very reliable," Takagi admitted, though she added gently, "Still, if it's cheap, we could try it. Even a little psychological comfort can brighten the whole day."
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