January 1st marks the Japanese New Year.
Katō Megumi arrived at Sensō-ji for Hatsumōde early that morning with her mother.
"Megumi, I'm going to the restroom. Play around this area for a bit, but don't wander off," Mrs. Katō instructed her daughter, holding her stomach with a distressed expression.
"Okay," Katō Megumi obediently nodded. She was always compliant, but when her mother would return to find her was always uncertain.
Katō Megumi stood alone near the ema rack, silently watching tourists hang up one New Year's wish after another. Thinking it over, she realized she didn't have any specific wish that absolutely needed to be fulfilled.
"Shōko, Yuzuru, I have a plan."
A familiar female voice near the ema rack caught Katō Megumi's attention. She stood nearby, quietly observing the three girls. She had seen all three of these girls during elementary school. One was Hiratsuka-kun's childhood friend, another was his classmate. And that younger girl with black hair often came to the elementary school asking about Hiratsuka-kun for a period. She had personally witnessed that, too.
They're all girls who have a deep connection with Hiratsuka-kun. He really is dazzling, Hiratsuka-kun.
At this moment, Katō Megumi was like any other ordinary passerby visiting Sensō-ji for Hatsumōde. Nibutani Shinka and her companions did not notice the girl whose presence was so sparse standing next to them. They were chatting openly, oblivious to their surroundings.
"The plan is called: The Ema Peeking Operation."
"Ryosuke is still inside writing his ema, so we don't have much time. He's very alert, so we'll wait for him by the main gate first."
"First, we have to lower his guard. We must pretend to be completely uninterested in what he wrote."
"Then, we'll find an excuse to return to the ema rack, locate Ryosuke's plaque, and see what his New Year's wish is. If possible, we'll all work together to help him fulfill that wish."
"This is his first New Year's in Tokyo. It's a rare opportunity."
Nibutani Shinka, like a strategist plotting a campaign, encouraged the two girls beside her. The saying goes that the law doesn't punish the masses. Ryosuke had never scolded Shōko, yet he frequently lectured Shinka. If Shōko joined the plan, even if Ryosuke discovered them, he shouldn't get angry, right?
"Um, Shinka, isn't this a little wrong?" Nishimiya Shōko asked timidly.
"Our intention is to help Ryosuke achieve his wish! Don't worry, he won't get angry," Nibutani Shinka said confidently, chest puffed out.
Then she narrowed her eyes, changing her tone, and countered, "Are you... genuinely not curious about Ryosuke's New Year's wish?"
Nishimiya Shōko fell silent. Shinka was right. It had always been Ryosuke helping her, and she felt like she hadn't helped him at all. His kindness toward her was too great, more than she could ever repay. If she knew Ryosuke's New Year's wish, maybe she could help him realize it. She took a deep breath, as if making a major decision, and finally nodded firmly.
Seeing this, Shinka smiled brightly. She had finally brought Nishimiya Shōko on board. She stepped forward, took hold of Shōko's and Yuzuru's hands, and said with a grin, "Let's go. We'll wait for him at the entrance first."
Katō Megumi stood nearby and watched the three girls walk away hand-in-hand. She turned to look at the ema stall. Is Hiratsuka-kun inside now?My mom will need an ema when she gets back anyway. I'll go inside and take a look.
So, she began walking toward the stall.
As Katō Megumi lifted the entrance curtain, she saw the familiar boy sitting at the desk, deep in thought. Should I go over and say hello?He looks so serious; maybe it's better not to disturb him.
In the end, Katō Megumi bought two blank ema and sat down at the other end of the desk, beginning to write her own wish.
"Long time no see, Katō. Are you here for Hatsumōde too?"
The voice of the boy opposite her made her look up.
Katō Megumi was momentarily stunned, then smiled faintly. Hiratsuka-kun noticed her again while she was outside. He really is special.
Because of the three girls' discussion earlier, after she responded to Ryosuke, she subconsciously glanced at his ema.
「Nibutani Shinka, you jerk... you're peeking at my ema, right?!」
Huh?Aren't ema supposed to be for writing New Year's wishes? Hiratsuka-kun is actually writing something like this on it.
She gave Ryosuke a friendly hint, then handed him one of the blank ema. My mother hasn't come back yet. It should be fine if I buy another one later.
Ryosuke began writing on the ema with his left hand. The strange movement added a flicker of curiosity to Katō Megumi's usually placid eyes. When Ryosuke finished, she clearly saw the contents, and her face quickly returned to calmness.
"By the way, Katō, Happy New Year."
That's certainly a new experience. Someone outside is wishing me a Happy New Year.
Katō Megumi responded softly, then watched Ryosuke's receding figure, before looking at the kimono she was wearing.
She thought to herself: We were in elementary school for six years, but even though we weren't in the same class, he never noticed me.The dazzling Hiratsuka-kun should naturally be with someone equally brilliant, like Nibutani Shinka or Yamada Elf.
Later, the number of girls around Hiratsuka-kun grew, and more people paid attention to him. Katō Megumi began to recall some of the things Ryosuke had said to her.
"I'm so sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going. Are you okay?"
"Katō, don't just put strange labels on yourself. Everyone is a unique existence. At least among the people I know, you are quite special."
"To my friend Katō Megumi, wishing you good health and happiness every day — Hiratsuka Ryosuke."
It's strange. Why do I feel like the number of times I've run into Hiratsuka-kun recently—no, the number of times Hiratsuka-kun has noticed me—is increasing?
Even though she was accustomed to it, being constantly overlooked still made her feel sad.
With this thought, Katō Megumi's eyes softened, and she faintly smiled, silently acknowledging, Hiratsuka-kun is truly amazing.
So, she took the ema she had written and walked to the ema rack.
Because she was constantly overlooked, she was passively turned into an "observer." These experiences had developed her ability to observe things keenly.
Unlike the girls from earlier, Katō Megumi immediately found Ryosuke's ema among the densely packed plaques.
For some reason, the idea of hanging her ema in the exact same spot as Hiratsuka-kun suddenly popped into her mind.
Hmm, it's a bit high, I can't reach.
"Megumi, you didn't wander off this time! That's good," Mrs. Katō said, the first thing she did upon returning was praise her obedient daughter, who was standing beneath the ema rack.
Katō Megumi pointed to a spot higher up, "Mom, can you help me hang it up?"
Mrs. Katō took her daughter's ema, first reading the content, then a wry smile appeared on her face. Finally, following her daughter's guidance, she easily hung the ema in the location that Megumi had pointed to.
"Mom, aren't you going to write an ema?"
"My wish is the same every year. As long as you grow up healthy and happy, that is Mom's wish," Mrs. Katō said with a gentle smile to her daughter, affectionately stroking her head, before taking Megumi's hand and leaving Sensō-ji together.
In front of the ema rack, tourists continued to come and go.
A cold wind blew through, and the wooden ema swayed gently on the rack.
One of the swaying ema had elegant, graceful calligraphy.
「It makes me happy to be noticed. I hope I can be noticed more often in the future.」