Chapter 193: New Year's Eve (Long Chapter)
After finishing their tea, Akishin went to prepare the New Year's Eve dinner they would share later that night, with Shizuka coming along to help. Inside the small house, bathed in the warm glow of the lamps, their shadows occasionally crossed paths, accompanied by happy smiles.
Before the night truly set in, Akishin rearranged the Buddhist altar. He lit the candles and incense and laid out an abundant spread of food—Shizuka also quietly offered a few words before the altar, acting very much like a daughter-in-law meeting her in-laws for the first time.
Up to this stage, it could be considered that they had performed their Hatsumode.
Shizuka rearranged the Kotatsu table in the activity room, switching on the electric heater to pre-warm it. She set up the television and then went to fetch the dishes Akishin had meticulously prepared.
In Japan, December 31st is known as "Omisoka," the day of New Year's Eve. The night itself is called "Joya." During this time, people pray for blessings from the gods, casting away a year filled with troubles and welcoming a beautiful new year, a process referred to as "Hatsumode."
Just as people in China eat dumplings in the north and rice cakes in the south on New Year's Eve, Japanese people have the tradition of eating "Toshikoshi Soba" on the night of December 31st.
"Toshikoshi" essentially means "crossing over into the new year."
Only after eating the Soba noodles is the New Year's celebration considered official in Japan. As written in the essay "A Bowl of Clear Broth Soba," "Every year on this day, the residents of Hokkaido must go to a noodle shop to eat a bowl of Soba; only then is the festival truly celebrated."
Eating Soba on New Year's Eve is said to carry three meanings. First: Soba noodles are long, symbolizing "longevity" and "permanence." Second: Soba is easy to cut, symbolizing "easily cutting away the hardships of the past year." Third: The Japanese pronunciation of "Soba" is the same as the word for "beside," symbolizing "the whole family staying by each other's side."
Back in the day, poor families who couldn't grind their own Soba flour would go to shops to eat, but this tradition of eating Soba for the New Year has continued to this very day.
Following tradition, Akishin naturally cooked Soba noodles for himself and Shizuka. The dish used a clear broth—thin noodles submerged in a transparent soy sauce base, the surface garnished with a few scallions and a tiny drop of oil.
Aside from the Soba, Akishin let his creativity run wild with the rest of the meal.
He had bought a copper pot and fresh lamb to make a clear broth Hot Pot—in the freezing winter, there was nothing better than huddling over a lamb Hot Pot. If there was, it was having it twice.
In addition, there was Sashimi and Sushi featuring Bluefin Tuna; Tempura, with both vegetable and meat options; and Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish... various dishes were laid out across the table in generous portions, looking incredibly appetizing.
This was Akishin's first New Year since coming to Japan. It was deeply meaningful, and more importantly, he was spending it with the person he loved.
"Quick, quick, I can't wait to start eating." Shizuka was dressed in a New Year's festive outfit—pink with cherry blossom patterns, looking absolutely stunning. Her black hair was tied into a bright ponytail behind her back. She had already made herself comfortable inside the Kotatsu, waving Akishin over.
The charcoal fire in the copper pot was already burning, and the water around it was beginning to hiss and bubble.
Akishin finally brought a few bottles of high-quality Sake sent by his Uncle to the table, asking with a smile, "Want a drink?"
Shizuka replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world, "Of course I'm drinking. Today is a big day, alcohol is a must-have..."
As she spoke, her face flushed slightly with a hint of bashfulness, but amidst the rising steam, Akishin didn't notice—even if he had, he wouldn't have overthought it. Shizuka looked relaxed, but she was actually quite shy and blushed often; it had become a common sight.
"In that case, let's drink."
Akishin also slipped into the Kotatsu, leaning close to Shizuka—perhaps sitting opposite each other would have been more practical, but they preferred to huddle together. He brought out two small white porcelain cups and poured the Sake.
Handing one cup to Shizuka, he picked up a plate of seasoned lamb and slid it all into the copper pot. The boiling pot went quiet for a split second before returning to a vigorous simmer, bubbles rising as the lamb changed color and curled.
The aroma of meat filled the air.
Akishin raised his cup, looking at Shizuka with a smile. "Shizuka, Happy New Year."
This year, he had come to this world. In this world, he was free from the system, gaining a third life, and in this world, he had met the most important person in his life, Shizuka.
Akishin felt happy, lucky, incredibly content, and truly joyful.
Shizuka raised her cup, clinking it against his with a perfect smile.
"Happy New Year."
There was no need for many words; their understanding had been refined over time. No amount of talking could compare to just being together—or rather, being with Shizuka was the most profound confession of love he could offer.
The Sake was fragrant and slightly sweet, carrying a hint of spice without being harsh. The taste was different from Baijiu, leaning closer to the flavor of a fruit wine. In three words: very easy to drink.
Pressing their hands together and uttering a quiet "Itadakimasu," Akishin and Shizuka simultaneously pinched pieces of lamb with their chopsticks, dipped them into the sauce in their bowls, and popped them into their mouths.
"Ugh~ so good~"
The lingering taste of the Sake and the lamb seemed to create a chemical reaction, forming an experience that was both special and delicious. It wasn't just their taste buds that were satisfied; their spirits felt at peace too.
Both of them shuddered in unison, exhaling together with expressions that looked exactly like ~(￣▽￣~)~.
Sharing a smile, Shizuka leaned even closer to Akishin, reaching out with her chopsticks to try the other dishes. Everything was wonderful...
"Delicious, delicious! This one is great, this one too, and this one! Akishin, you should eat too. It feels like your cooking skills have leveled up again..."
Shizuka's chopsticks were a blur over the various plates, eating until her small face was slightly flushed and her large eyes curved into bright crescents.
Today, Akishin had put 120% of his effort into the cooking, using top-tier ingredients. Even without extra seasonings, the taste would have been extraordinary.
As a chef, the guest's expression is the best compliment—even more so when that person is your lover.
Akishin enjoyed the delicacies while occasionally placing choice pieces of fish into Shizuka's bowl. In the distance, the sound of fireworks echoed. The starry sky was beautiful, occasionally lit up by white flashes, though they weren't really in the mood to watch—a New Year without fireworks and firecrackers always felt like it was missing a piece of the atmosphere, but with Shizuka by his side, none of that mattered.
Checking the time, Akishin turned on the television right on schedule to watch the Kohaku Uta Gassen. Watching it for the first time felt quite refreshing.
"Kohaku Uta Gassen" is a music program broadcast once a year by the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) since 1951, aired live on NHK's TV and radio channels across Japan and the world.
The name "Kohaku" comes from the concept of red-and-white competition in Japanese Kendo. In the show, female singers (Red team) and male singers (White team) are divided to compete in a song battle.
Perhaps this showed that Japan was always in a state of competition.
—Even though the Red team seemed to get beaten by the White team every single year.
The program lasted over four hours, divided into two parts: the first from 7:15 PM to 8:55 PM, and the second from 9:00 PM to 11:45 PM. A five-minute news break was sandwiched in between.
This program was essentially the equivalent of the Spring Festival Gala in China—the kind of show you leave on even if you aren't strictly watching it. It only truly felt like the New Year if this show was playing; its influence was massive.
Statistically, the average viewership for "Kohaku Uta Gassen" consistently topped the annual ratings in Japan, maintaining a record peak average of 81.4%.
Public interest was also incredibly high. From the end of the year through the New Year, newspapers, magazines, and even commercial TV stations would be buzzing with topics related to Kohaku...
After watching for a while, Akishin turned his head. Shizuka was sitting upright and formal beside him, her brow and eyes lowered with a hint of seriousness that barely masked a suppressed laugh. He asked with a smile, "Did something happen?"
Was the food not good? Was she feeling unwell? Or was the show just boring?
Shizuka shook her head without answering. She picked up the cup, filled it to the brim, and handed it to him. Finally, she smiled and said, "Akishin, this is my sentiment. Please drink it all."
Akishin was stunned for a moment before sitting up straight. According to tradition, this cup of sake is given to the person who worked the hardest in the household over the year—generally the head of the family. If they were back at the Hiratsuka residence today, this cup would be given to Hiratsuka Yuren.
Akishin accepted the drink, looking at the liquid in the cup and smiling. He and Shizuka weren't married yet, so this cup shouldn't technically exist, but the fact that Shizuka gave it to him showed her stance.
It carried the same weight as a ring given during a wedding. Akishin drained the cup, his gaze lingering on Shizuka's red lips, before leaning in to kiss her.
"Shizuka, from now on, I'm in your hands..."
...
The following day, Akishin and Shizuka woke up early together to witness the first sunrise. For breakfast, they had red bean mochi soup. Like Soba, this was a mandatory dish for the first day of the New Year. The ingredients used the "Kagami Mochi" that had been offered two days prior.
Japanese people call January 1st "Ganjitsu," and the period from January 1st to the 3rd is called "Sannichi." On these days, the younger generation must first visit their parents to give New Year's greetings, check on their health, and then visit other relatives.
Following custom, they had to eat the mochi soup, which the Japanese call "Ozoni," as a gesture of gratitude for the previous year's harvest and a prayer for health and abundance in the coming year.
After finishing the soup, they sent some rice cakes to their neighbors. Akishin and Shizuka then set off for "Chiba Shrine" to offer their New Year's prayers.
—Chiba Shrine is the headquarters of Myoken-gu. The primary deity worshipped there is Hokushin Myoken Sonsei-o (Myoken Bosatsu), whose prototype is Ame-no-Minakanushi-no-Okami...
On the way, they ran into Hachiman and Yui, who had come together. Yui was wearing a cherry-blossom-colored Kimono, clinging to Hachiman's arm with a face full of innocent smiles, looking incredibly happy.
Hachiman also wore a thin smile; even his characteristic dead-fish eyes didn't look as prominent as usual.
The young couple seemed to be having a wonderful time.
Since they met on the road, they naturally went to the shrine together. It was exceptionally crowded; the area around Chiba Shrine could only be described as a sea of people. Crowds of worshippers were everywhere. You could also see groups of mothers and young children mixed in.
The sky was clear and pristine, allowing the warm sunlight to shine down unimpeded. Pure white snow blanketed the ground, reflecting the light without a hitch. As a result, the entire world looked like it had been touched by a high-exposure filter...
"Sensei, Hiratsuka-sensei, Happy New Year."
"Hachiman, Yui, Happy New Year."
They didn't talk much. Once the prayers were over, Akishin and Shizuka got into the car and headed toward the Hiratsuka family home...
...
The two-week winter break passed in the blink of an eye. Everyone returned to school. Time seemed to accelerate once again. Going to school, heading home, going to work, finishing work, sleeping... the cycle repeated, and time flowed on, yet every day felt distinct. Through the repetition, small differences lived in the details; through the repetition, a truly different day finally arrived...
It felt like only a moment had passed before Sobu High welcomed its graduation ceremony. The third-year students were about to depart.
...
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