December 30th.
With just a day left in the year, I was completely relaxed.
Koko and I weren’t particularly lazy by nature. Excluding cases where we got caught up in major incidents, despite the school being quite far away, we had never been late even once.
Honestly, this was somewhat expected.
It was kind of a rule that students who were conscious of the long travel time tended to be late more often than those living closer.
Even when I was in college, it was the students living in dorms or nearby who were more likely to be late or “self-cancel” classes rather than those commuting from far away.
I wonder if it’s something like psychological relaxation.
When the pressure of having to get up early, get ready, and walk to the train station was lightened, my body would naturally become more relaxed.
“……”
After sleeping for a while, I woke up and saw it was already eleven in the morning.
Today was Thursday, so it was a day I had a part-time job, but my shift was in the afternoon.
Being on vacation didn’t change that, so I still had quite a bit of time.
Grrr…
“What’s that?”
Surprised by the sound from my stomach, Koko suddenly sat up straight in bed.
Her eyes were still half-closed.
“Meow.”
I had somehow gotten into the blanket and pulled Kuro, who was on my stomach, out.
…Isn’t it getting a bit suffocating in here? Well, I guess it doesn’t matter since I’ve never died or fainted until now.
Besides, Kuro is not just an ordinary cat.
I got up, brushed aside the blanket, and set Kuro down, but Kuro just burrowed back into the blanket. It seemed like she was trying to find my remaining warmth.
I shivered a little.
If I had at least an air conditioner in the house, I could have turned on the warm air mode, but unfortunately, this place didn’t have such a wonderful appliance.
It wasn’t so cold that a thick winter blanket couldn’t handle it, but still, I didn’t like the chill that hit me when I got out of the blanket in the morning.
I’ve heard there are quite a few electric mats in Japan. I thought I should get one while heading to the kitchen.
Breakfast was nothing special.
It had definitely improved a lot compared to when I first arrived here, but making something extravagant for breakfast was too much of a hassle.
Moreover, since we had gotten up at eleven, this was both breakfast and lunch.
I took out some instant curry and heated it. It felt a bit lacking, so I grilled some sausages I bought during a mart sale as a side dish.
It was far from a proper Japanese meal, but Koko ate it deliciously.
Watching Koko shovel a big spoonful of curry into her mouth and chew, I slowly moved my own lips.
Whenever I was home, I was almost always the one preparing meals.
It wasn’t that I disliked it.
“Koko.”
“Yeah?”
“When you’re home alone, how do you eat?”
“Hmm?”
Maybe my question came out a bit suddenly because Koko tilted her head.
“Following Koto Ne.”
“Following me?”
“Yeah.”
I see.
Well, I had taught her how to use the kitchen.
Though it wasn’t exactly something to be proud of, I often left Koko home alone for quite a long time.
With Kuro around and Koko not being a child, I didn’t worry too much, but I had never actually seen Koko cook, so it was hard to completely dismiss my concerns.
So… is it possible that someday Koko might end up living here all alone?
“…Why?”
“Hmm?”
“Can Koko cook?”
“No, that’s not it.”
Maybe Koko thought my question was me blaming her, so she asked timidly, and I shook my head.
“Because I usually take care of it at home. Just…”
“Just?”
“…Never mind, I was just asking.”
I mumbled and brushed it off.
I didn’t want to make Koko worry at all.
“Today, I’ll be back late, but tomorrow I’ll take a rest.”
“Okay!”
As I quickly changed the subject, Koko’s face brightened.
Tomorrow was the last day of the year.
When I lived alone, there wasn’t really anything to celebrate or to be celebrated for, so it was just another ordinary holiday, but this year was different.
I had made plans with Yuka. On the last day of the year, we would go to Yuka’s house and celebrate New Year’s together.
There was no need to tell my boss again that I would be taking time off.
The boss, who had regained his younger sister, wanted to spend the last moments of the year with family. He had informed us that the store would be closed on the last day of this year and the first day of the next.
“Family” here likely didn’t mean the whole family. I didn’t know the exact details and had no intention of asking, but since the boss never met his family during holidays, it was possible that he had a different viewpoint about his sister, Miki.
“What time are we going tomorrow?”
Koko asked, her eyes sparkling.
“Hmm…”
I thought for a moment and said, “Yuka said we could come a bit earlier, so let’s do that.”
I answered.
A huge crowd would likely gather to welcome the New Year. Even at the local shrine, the same would apply. Rather than traveling far, many people would probably prefer to welcome the New Year at a nearby shrine, just like during summer festivals.
On the other hand, many would travel far away as well.
If a train from Tokyo to Saitama wasn’t crammed, then of course, the trains from Saitama to Tokyo would be packed. I didn’t want to get lost among the people when I wasn’t even going to school.
“Okay!”
Koko nodded vigorously with a broad smile.
She really loved to have fun.
…….
Well, I felt the same way.
We hadn’t made it that difficult to meet each other, and we had already spent the night at the same place many times, but I was always excited when we made plans like this.
What should I say?
I could say that I really felt like I had become a teenager.
“……”
Throughout the meal, the corners of my mouth kept wanting to rise, and I struggled to hold them back.
*
“Thanks for your hard work this year.”
As I finished work and was heading out, I heard such a voice from behind.
Turning around, I saw my boss looking at us.
Despite his usual hands-off attitude, not meddling in the lives of part-timers unless it was a huge nuisance, the boss had a slightly different aura these days.
He seemed a bit more relaxed, and perhaps it was because of Miki being next to him now.
The boss would also be celebrating the New Year with his younger sister tomorrow.
Shii and I exchanged brief glances before bowing together at our boss.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Yeah. Take care on your way home. See you next year.”
“See you next year!”
In response to my greeting, the boss and Miki took turns to say goodbye.
We left the store and headed to our usual ramen shop with Shii.
There were just two seats available.
While I had often seen Japanese manga, I hadn’t known much about daily culture, so I recently discovered that people ate noodles on December 31st.
They also said that noodles weren’t the only kind of noodles people would eat. Since I had been living in this culture for less than a year, I still didn’t have a solid grasp of what “normal” was.
Thinking of that, I realized that time wasn’t moving as quickly as I thought it would.
That’s right. Even though it felt like I had gone through so much and spent a long time, it hadn’t even been a year in terms of actual time.
I wondered how I became so close with my friends during this time. I guess that’s what being a teenager was about. If it was a workplace, you wouldn’t get that close just because you sat next to someone.
The fact that I couldn’t completely dismiss that idea didn’t resolve my doubts entirely.
Because, after all, Shii next to me was also a relationship that had started as a business connection.
Even if there was a backstory to it, the longest relationship I had was not with a senior or junior at work.
Alright.
Let’s call it a deal to have New Year’s noodles with Shii.
When I looked up at the menu, Shii tilted her head, but she didn’t ask anything, so I didn’t bother to explain either.
I probably just looked like someone with an ordinary good mood. Maybe that was the case.
Feeling like I was unnecessarily hungrier, I ordered the large size.
The hot ramen came out quicker than I expected.
“Phew…”
We both took a spoonful of broth and simultaneously let out a long breath.
While we enjoyed our meal slowly, we engaged in trivial conversation. Though I called it trivial, it wasn’t unpleasant. We chatted about what we saw on TV and mentioned a movie that was coming out soon that caught our interest.
Most of the conversation had been initiated by Shii.
“How’s Sasaki? Are you getting along well?”
“Hmm? Ah, yeah.”
At my question, Shii blushed slightly. It seemed she remembered the time she had thrown a tantrum with her “older brother” in front of us.
“For New Year, he promised to spend it with me.”
…Or maybe it’s for a reason a bit different from that. What does it matter?
By the way, I was curious about how a brother who could tell his younger sister he’d spend the New Year together could be so nice and considerate that his sister wouldn’t get angry and choke him.
If I had said something like that to my younger sister, I would have received a punch to the gut.
I didn’t voice that thought, and instead, I blew on the noodles to cool them down before putting them in my mouth.
They were delicious.
I’ve often seen people talking about living as if life is short but intense.
My thoughts were a bit different. Even if I lived thin and long, there was no need for the whole world to know my name; there are enough signs that I lived in this world.
Even if my fate is already decided, just like the noodles I’m eating now, I pray that the remaining time stretches out a bit longer.
*
Today, I woke up late again.
Koko, too, just like yesterday, sat dully for a while, unable to get her head straight.
After staring blankly for about ten minutes, we got up and finished a simple breakfast.
We did the dishes in advance, tidied up the room, and washed ourselves.
While we were at it, I bathed Kuro as well. Kuro clearly hated it, but with Koko determinedly pursuing her, there was no way she could escape.
After thoroughly drying Koko and me, and even Kuro’s fur, I placed Kuro in her dedicated blanket along with the cage and stood up, carrying a bag with our overnight stuff.
“Shall we go?”
“Yep!”
At my question, Koko nodded vigorously in response.
Once outside, the cold air pierced deep into my lungs.
It was refreshing air so clean that I felt it would be transparent even with my eyes closed.
To spend the last day of the year, I stepped out of the house with Koko.
*
“Welcome!”
The person who greeted us with a broad smile was none other than Yuka.
And she was wearing a shrine maiden outfit, just like the ones you often see in subculture.
So, she was a genuine shrine maiden, 100% pure. The type you’d see in a light novel.
As I felt a bit moved by that internally, Yuka noticed the cage in my hand and said, “It’s cold outside, so should we take Kuro home first? I still have some things to do.”
“Is it okay?”
“Kuro has never caused any trouble at our place.”
“Thank you.”
“While you’re at it, put your stuff down too.”
After nodding in agreement, I went with Koko to the opposite side of the shrine and entered the house.
There was no one inside.
That was to be expected. By now, there were quite a few people, and both my grandfather and father probably were working outside.
“Here.”
I placed the cage near the entrance and opened the door, but Kuro seemed unwilling to come out.
Was she sulking because I bathed her on the last day of the year? When I peered inside, it seemed she found the cage comfy like a box.
Cats love boxes that fit their bodies perfectly.
And with a blanket inside, it must have been cozy.
Well, if that’s how it is.
I shrugged and made my way up to Yuka’s room to drop off my bag.
This was a room to spend the last day of the year in.
The feeling that a “memorable event” is offered really felt different.
For me, I hadn’t even spent a whole year in this world, and the time I spent in my previous world was different as well.
In that world, the “year” probably had already passed long ago.
Still, I constantly felt the weight of the last day of this year.
I wondered if it was because I was used to my age in Korea.
Whether you’re born on January 1st or December 31st, in Korea, you would be two years older by January 1st.
Even with changes in laws, people seemed to continue living with that age.
So… if you calculate it this way, that means I am turning one year older in this world.
“Hmm?”
As I was lost in my thoughts, Koko tilted her head curiously.
“Let’s ask Yuka if she needs help.”
“Okay!”
It seemed that I wasn’t the only one feeling excited.
Well, Yuka also appeared to be in a very good mood just a little while ago.
It’s truly delightful when someone can greet me with a warm smile.
After I arrived in this world, I realized it again through Yuka.
*
“So, do you want to try on the shrine maiden outfit?”
When I asked if there was anything to help with, Yuka asked as if she had been waiting for this moment.
“A shrine maiden outfit?”
I looked at Yuka.
She surely could pull off pretty much any outfit. She’s a cute girl after all.
Even though she wasn’t trying to make herself look good, just wearing that outfit for work made me think she looked great.
If I wore it… well, I guess it would look okay on me; I mean, I am also a somewhat impressive-looking person.
But, I didn’t think I’d look as good as Yuka.
Thinking this, when I turned my gaze away, I caught sight of Koko sparkling her eyes.
“……I’ll try it on.”
Seeing as I generally wear a maid outfit during worktime, it felt right.
It could be considered a traditional Japanese outfit, right?
*
“Wow, it really looks great!”
Yuka, who was taking a picture of the two of us side by side, looked as lively as any high school girl.
In the light novels I have read, she often had a rather aloof side. Her relationships with other girls revolved around competing for one male lead.
That story didn’t feature Kaoru, Izumi, and of course, Mako and her gang. In other words, all the female characters that appeared in that novel were competing against Yuka.
In front of those girls, she wouldn’t have had the chance to show a feminine side like this.
Well, perhaps she showed a feminine side in a different way, but still, I preferred this version of Yuka.
Click!
Yuka took a picture of us standing side by side.
…We were smiling.
No, it wasn’t just Koko; I was smiling as well. Koko’s smile was brighter, but I was undeniably smiling too.
I was unwittingly raising my hand to touch the areas around my mouth.
I was definitely wearing a faint smile.
It wasn’t a forced smile; rather, it felt closer to being unable to hide my true emotions.
This is going to ruin my character.
I hadn’t really planned to maintain any persona anyway.
Suddenly realizing that Yuka was looking at me intensely, I quickly dropped my hand.
“Alright. Then I’ll tell you both what you need to do.”
Fortunately, Yuka didn’t point out that fact, merely smiling as she said that.
“Okay, step this way.”
The lunchtime hour had passed, and while there were still quite a few people, the crowd had gotten bigger since the last time we checked.
Though it hadn’t taken us much time to unpack and change clothes, here we were now.
“Just stand around here. If your legs hurt, you can go somewhere it’s not visible and rest, and if it becomes too much, you can just head home and wait.”
Since I had initially asked Yuka if she needed help, I wasn’t really planning on leaving.
It was chilly, but we wore warm clothes underneath the shrine maiden outfit. The material was thicker than I expected, so it wasn’t unbearably cold.
If it got too cold, I could just warm up in a heated area.
“I’ll be over there, so if you have any questions, come ask me. Oh, right.”
Yuka clapped her hands and said.
“And I’ll make sure you get paid properly. My grandfather and dad have already agreed.”
Of course.
Yuka wouldn’t treat us as free labor.
“If people ask for directions, direct them our way, and if anything happens, just let us know. We’ll handle it.”
Well, they couldn’t trust any important tasks to a part-timer.
“Okay, I’ll talk to you again later if I have time!”
Waving her hand, Yuka walked away from us.
Koko eagerly waved next to me as well.
“……Thank you so much.”
As I quietly watched Yuka walk away, I suddenly heard a familiar voice beside me.
It was Yuka’s grandfather.
“That girl… I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen her smile like that. She always was busy with family matters.”
“……”
He gave me a smile and slightly bowed his head before moving towards where Yuka had gone.
It’s not just Yuka who’s smiling.
If anything, I was the one who should be grateful. After all, I had received so much help.
I wasn’t just talking about material assistance.
“……”
And after that thought, I suddenly recalled the prophecy.
When I become like that… can Yuka smile again?
I only prayed that my very existence wouldn’t become a lasting wound for her.
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