Although it was New Year's Day, for Kamiyā Yuu, it was basically no different from an ordinary holiday. At most, he would go through the motions of cleaning the house or buying celebratory foods like ehōmaki to try.
Ehōmaki referred to sushi rolls filled with seven ingredients such as dried gourd strips, cucumber, mushrooms, egg, eel, and fish floss, symbolizing blessings and good fortune. There were many explanations for its origins, but the most mainstream one claimed it began during Japan's Edo period, when merchants ate ehōmaki to pray for prosperous business. Over time, it gradually evolved into a common custom.
That morning, after finishing a steaming hot ehōmaki, Kamiyā Yuu went into the kitchen.
"They've soaked overnight, so they should be ready now."
After washing his hands, he placed them into a basin filled with water and red beans. He pinched one lightly and only nodded in satisfaction after feeling the beans had softened.
Kamiyā Yuu had always been curious about mochi red bean soup, the kind that frequently appeared in anime. Since it was New Year's, he decided to try making it himself and sample all of Japan's festive foods.
"Sora, how many mochi do you want?" He stepped back a few paces and poked his head toward the living room, asking Kamiyā Sora, who was sitting beneath the kotatsu.
"One. Less sweet."
Kamiyā Sora answered softly while carefully peeling a mandarin orange. Not only did she remove the peel, but she meticulously cleaned away all the white fibers as well.
She wore a thin white gothic dress, sitting with her legs spread slightly and partially tucked into the kotatsu. This sitting posture actually had a technical name—"duck sitting." It was supposedly a posture unique to women. If men forcibly attempted it due to differences in body structure, it could easily result in muscle strain or even fractures.
After peeling the orange, Kamiyā Sora didn't eat it. Instead, she placed the cleaned fruit on top of the discarded peel.
"Yuu, this is the third one now."
"Hm?"
Kamiyā Sora shook the orange in her hand and smiled mischievously.
"The limit is ten."
"So what exactly does that mean?" Kamiyā Yuu asked in confusion.
Kamiyā Sora's delicate face reddened slightly. She snorted softly and said, "By the time I finish peeling the tenth orange at the latest, you have to come back. Using the kotatsu alone isn't warm at all."
Kamiyā Yuu couldn't help laughing.
"It'll take at least an hour to make mochi red bean soup."
"Then I don't want any."
"No. It's New Year, isn't it?" Kamiyā Yuu shook his head helplessly.
...
During the noon break, Kamiyā Yuu carried a red envelope into the living room. As expected, Kamiyā Sora was there watching a replay of Japan's New Year television special—the 'Kōhaku Uta Gassen.'
"Sora, this is your New Year's money. Is there anything you want to buy?" Kamiyā Yuu smiled as he handed over the prepared red envelope.
Inside were five "Mr. Yukichis"—five 10,000 yen bills.
Kamiyā Sora wasn't lacking money now. Earlier, when she helped Kamiyā Yuu with work, he had already given her a salary equivalent to Morishita Aoi and the others.
Curled beneath the kotatsu, Kamiyā Sora accepted the envelope without hesitation and said calmly, "Nothing. Happy New Year, Yuu."
"That's all?" Kamiyā Yuu asked speechlessly.
Kamiyā Sora glanced at him and said with extreme reluctance, "I wish Yuu good health and a successful career this year."
"Right, right. And it's about time you came out from under the kotatsu, too. We're going to the shrine later to pray."
Kamiyā Yuu smiled warmly.
The Japanese New Year shrine visit was also called Hatsumōde. It was generally carried out during the first three days of the New Year. Considering Japan's population density, one could easily imagine how lively such a traditional event became, comparable to China's annual Spring Festival travel rush.
"...A shrine? Is it far?" Kamiyā Sora frowned slightly and asked hesitantly. She couldn't recall any shrines nearby.
"About half an hour by subway, probably."
Kamiyā Yuu thought for a moment before answering.
As a highly developed international metropolis, Tokyo rarely retains smaller traditional shrine buildings aside from a few large historical sites. Instead, Japan's rural towns preserved such traditions and architecture far more completely.
Kamiyā Sora turned her head away and said unwillingly, "I'm not going."
"No."
Kamiyā Yuu gently reprimanded her. Then, amid Kamiyā Sora's soft cry of surprise, he bent down and picked up her petite body.
"Anyway, go change clothes first. Didn't we buy that black Western-style kimono before? Wear that one."
A Western-style kimono refers to a kimono designed together with Western-style dress elements. It lacked the strict, formal elegance of traditional kimonos and instead added a girlish charm and cuteness, making it extremely popular among young Japanese girls at the time.
Kamiyā Sora muttered softly, "Yuu, you're childish."
"You're not one to say that."
...
As the city lights illuminated the evening, Japan's festive atmosphere became even more intense.
Dense crowds flowed through the streets, and women dressed in traditional yukata could be seen everywhere, most with cheerful smiles on their faces.
Compared to the Christmas decorations from not long ago, the atmosphere was completely different. Even standing in the same place at two different times would make one suspect they'd arrived somewhere entirely different.
Following the crowded stream of people, Kamiyā Yuu and Kamiyā Sora soon arrived at a long corridor.
At the entrance stood a traditional shrine gate constructed from red-painted wood. Lanterns lit by fire hung along both sides of the stairway, extending endlessly down the corridor into depths unseen. The dense crowd continued flowing inward.
"Yuu."
Pressing tightly against Kamiyā Yuu's body, Kamiyā Sora called out weakly, her face pale.
The noisy atmosphere and dense crowd made her feel as if she were suffocating.
Kamiyā Yuu reached back and held her hand tightly, interlocking their fingers as he comforted her gently.
"Let's go. Once we're done praying, we'll head home."
Kamiyā Sora rested her head against his arm and replied softly, "Mm."
In truth, the number of people visiting the shrine far exceeded Kamiyā Yuu's expectations.
From six in the evening until nine at night, it was finally their turn to formally enter. Seeing how exhausted Kamiyā Sora looked, he hurriedly completed the prayers, drew a fortune slip, hung up a New Year blessing plaque, and quickly left.
The two arrived at a relatively quiet park.
Kamiyā Yuu bought some steaming hot oden and handed it to Kamiyā Sora.
"How is it? Feeling a little better?"
Kamiyā Sora accepted the oden with both hands and took several small sips of the sweet broth. Once she felt a little warmer, she handed it back to Kamiyā Yuu weakly.
"I don't have much appetite. Yuu can eat the rest."
A wave of heartache struck Kamiyā Yuu.
After setting the oden aside, he reached out to stroke her head apologetically.
"Sorry. I forced you to come out."
Kamiyā Sora shook her head. Holding Kamiyā Yuu's hand, she pressed it against her cheek and rubbed against it softly.
"No. I'm very happy because Yuu is with me."
For some reason, Kamiyā Yuu felt a dull ache in his chest.
He had already tried his best to make the New Year atmosphere feel more festive. The real issue was that the Kamiyā household lacked the true conditions for celebrating the New Year.
They lacked the most important things—liveliness and family warmth.
Compared to the bustling atmosphere around them, they were more like two clumps of snow huddled together. The more vibrant the surroundings became, the more pitiful their situation seemed by contrast.
"Me too."
After resting for a while on a park bench, Kamiyā Yuu gently said while tightly holding Kamiyā Sora's small hand:
"Let's go home. Tomorrow we'll just rest properly and go nowhere."
"Mm."