Some people claim that the sense of ‘belonging’ is a completely useless feeling.
For example, experiencing a sense of belonging at a company only brings disadvantages.
It’s important to get along well with coworkers and maintain an appropriate distance from supervisors, but being loyal to the company out of a sense of belonging won’t magically increase my salary.
In fact, I’ve heard that the harder you work, the more they squeeze you in a vicious cycle.
The place I worked in my previous life wasn’t like that, and it wasn’t a place where you could negotiate for a raise either. Sometimes, it was a place where you had to literally risk your life for each other, so in that sense, my experience was a bit different. But I can understand what those people who talk about it mean.
A convenience store part-timer wouldn’t get much by being loyal to the convenience store anyway.
However, it’s impossible to completely detach from ‘belonging’ in every case.
People who criticize cheering for their country in international soccer competitions are just being overly dramatic, and it’s only natural to cheer for the team representing the area where you were born or live in local competitions.
Schools are the same.
Cutting off students based on connections while hiring, or forcing people who can’t find jobs to join is problematic.
But it’s tough to not develop feelings for the places you went to every day for three years with your close friends during childhood. Of course, there may be exceptions depending on the situation, but at least for me, it would be hard to detach from the feelings I have for Hanagawa High School, which I attend.
I have experienced rough times too. There were people who bullied me, and I almost got killed by a yōkai at school. But more than that, it was a place where many people I liked gathered.
Going to and from school with the same classmates every day, participating in club activities, and studying together while racking our brains was something I couldn’t simply hate about that place.
“…Looks like the seniors won’t be coming out anymore.”
About a month after the cultural festival.
In a few days, it would be Christmas, which is also the last day of the semester.
In Japan, the entrance exams… I mean, the ‘University Entrance Selection Exam Center Test,’ is in January. Naturally, it would be tough for Izumi and Kaoru to come out to the club anymore.
Throughout the past year, they did seem to study hard in their own way, but it wouldn’t make sense to engage in club activities just before the exams.
In fact, even before the cultural festival, the two had noticeably reduced their club activities, and after the cultural festival, they didn’t come to the club at all.
We all understood. We cheered for each other during the festival, after all.
The video we filmed back then is still uploaded on my YouTube account. Surprisingly, it has gained some views, and now it’s in triple digits. I think most of them are just people from our class watching it.
No one answered Mako’s words.
Everyone was lost in their thoughts.
To be fair, saying that Izumi and Kaoru’s activities have completely ended is a bit ambiguous.
After the exams in mid-January, regardless of the results, they would still come to school. Japanese high schools have a three-semester system, and the graduation ceremony is at the end of March. So, for almost four months, the two of them would still be students at our school.
…After that, they probably wouldn’t be seen at school again. Even if they were to visit, it might only be at sports events or cultural festivals.
Their affiliations would change.
For us, who didn’t have any third-year seniors we knew, it was still a bit hard to fully accept that.
There were still quite a few members in the literature club, but everyone knew how important those two were to the club.
“Alright, alright.”
Harumi clapped her hands and brightened the atmosphere a bit.
“By the way, we still have an important topic left to discuss. Unfortunately, the two of them will not be participating since we can’t disturb the seniors.”
At the mention of that, the others perked up again, except for Tsuneda, who wasn’t fully aware of our plans.
“It’s about the Christmas party.”
I whispered to Tsuneda.
“A Christmas party?”
Tsuneda’s eyes sparkled.
To be honest, I don’t really understand the Japanese sense of ‘normal.’ So, I’m not sure if it’s common for friends to gather for a Christmas party or not.
I doubt it’s that common. Christmas isn’t even a national holiday in Japan. Having a party on a non-holiday seems a bit tricky, doesn’t it?
Unless you’re a student on vacation, it might be tough. Unless you have a partner, it feels a bit weird to take a holiday on Christmas. This isn’t the early 2000s. The story is quite different from the 2020s. Just like how the stories of the 80s differ greatly.
Anyway, Tsuneda, who seems to really enjoy manga and anime, was very fond of events like this that feel like they come from everyday life.
Although we went out somewhere to eat and hang out with friends on Christmas, it doesn’t seem like she’s ever had a whole day to just play around, so it felt weirdly satisfying.
“So, Yuuchan, is that okay?”
As Harumi clapped her hands together, she turned to Yuuki and asked, and Yuuki let out a sigh, as if he was showcasing it.
For some reason, his gaze turned toward me.
Oh… Ah, right, I’m still the club president.
Ever since the cultural festival, nothing major had happened, and I had been thinking about passing the club presidency to Tsuneda next year anyway, so I momentarily forgot.
Moreover, the fact that I’m Yuuki’s cousin probably plays a role in this. Does he want me to… say something?
But I’m not sure what he wants me to say. Does he want me to stop him from going?
While I was contemplating the meaning of that, Yuuki took a deep breath and opened his mouth.
“… Is your mother coming too?”
“Ah.”
This time, all the kids’ eyes were on me.
They didn’t seem to dislike it or anything, but… I don’t know how to put it.
Still, having an adult there while kids are partying seems a bit awkward, doesn’t it?
After some thought, I eventually stated it.
“Probably… she will come along.”
Yuuki stared at me intensely.
“…I’ll try to convince the adults to spend their time together somewhere else. After all, we’re all relatives… sort of.”
That’s true.
Kosuzu and Yamashita-san are divorced, and since Kosuzu herself has dramatically passed away, they really have no relation now, but that doesn’t mean the two families have completely torn apart.
Kagami still has ties with Yamashita, and they have maintained regular exchanges.
Yuuki and I are cousins through our maternal family.
Neither of us is particularly diligent about attending family events, but still, can’t we at least visit each other during Christmas or New Year to spend some time together?
Moreover, there’s already a hostess named Mori at the Yamashita house. They haven’t had a wedding yet, but once Yuuki graduates, they’ll probably start setting a date.
I could leave Kagami with them, and later go separately to receive presents with Koko or something.
I recalled the previous year.
It has already been a year since I went to Kagami’s bar to give presents on my way home. Back then, I never imagined that I would be related to Kagami in this way.
It’s true that you never know how things will turn out.
“…”
Yuuki took a moment to think about my words, then slowly nodded.
Kagami insists she can turn the cult into a normal ‘religion’ but thinking of Yamashita completely quitting yakuza work still seems nearly impossible at this point. No matter how ‘light novel-style’ it is, it’s still illegal.
If that’s the case, isn’t it not so bad for Kagami and the head of the Yamashita family, who still has a lot of cultists within the organization, to get along?
“Alright, then let’s go to Yuuki’s place!”
Harumi said with a wide smile.
“Can we use that room from before?”
“Sure.”
Yuuki nodded.
To be honest, he looked a bit resigned.
…I feel a little sorry about that.
Next year… it might be a little awkward, and after that, should we look for a hotel or pension?
Or I could… maybe utilize Kurosawa’s place.
I’m sure the spirits won’t show up in a crowded place, right? wink
*
And so, after a few more days passed, the promised day arrived.
Koko and I ended up going to the Yamashita household with Kagami, who followed us. By the way, we were the only ones whose parents came along—
“Oh, Kagami-san.”
—Actually, that wasn’t true.
As we walked side by side, we bumped right into Harumi’s father, who had been waiting in front of the gate.
“Oh, Fukuda-san.”
Kagami looked genuinely surprised as she called out his name.
We had met during the sports day, but during that time, Fukuda-san didn’t have the chance to speak to Kagami because he was too busy cheering for Harumi.
With Kagami’s reaction, Fukuda-san cleared his throat and waved his hand at Koto Ne and Koko.
“Hello, Koto Ne-chan, Koko-chan. Long time no see.”
Was he trying to act friendly in front of Kagami?
I felt a sense of complicated emotions in various ways as I watched Harumi, standing a few steps away from her father.
Harumi looked a bit apologetic as she clasped her hands together towards me.
…
Well, it’s fine.
After all, it’s not like anything is going to happen before we become sisters… right?
I thought while looking up at Kagami, who appeared to be simply surprised, with no signs of any romantic feelings whatsoever.
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