Ch.145Chapter 22. The Beginning of the Year (2)

Work, when thought of as something you do for just one day, can unexpectedly feel fun and rewarding.

That’s why children at the cultural festival enjoyed selling things and providing services so much. If it’s just for one day, it’s enough time to feel like an experience.

Moreover, if the money isn’t desperately needed for survival, there’s no reason to keep seeking out such work regularly. With less pressure, there’s less burden, and naturally, less stress.

Perhaps because it was the last day of the year, many people came, and although some were quite excited, almost no one behaved rudely toward us.

Though there were those who exclaimed how cute we were.

Click.

Yes, in terms of workload, I didn’t have many complaints. To be honest, moving around a crowded shop while wearing a maid outfit was more tiring. The coffee mugs were also heavier than I expected.

However, if there was one issue—it was that Koko’s and my appearance was, in a sense, no different from “cosplay.”

Click.

Someone else took a photo. Most people were using phones, but occasionally someone had a digital camera or disposable camera. Well, it was still an era when film was used.

Even in this era, there were internet blogs, and YouTube would probably launch next year, but we were still in the transition phase to that “smart” era. Not everyone carried a device that could access high-speed wireless internet.

So even in the 21st century, older people still carried film cameras.

Click.

And, in my opinion, the concept of portrait rights wasn’t widely spread during this time. In the 2020s, they would blur the faces of people on the street for broadcasts, but back then, images and videos of women in bikinis at summer beaches would appear on TV without their faces being obscured.

Like showing footage of women’s buttocks or thighs in short skirts while warning about “being careful about safety.” Well, they probably hired models for that kind of thing.

Click.

“……”

I looked in the direction of the camera sound.

When a middle-aged man made eye contact with me, he awkwardly averted his gaze and took a picture of the shrine building instead.

At least he seemed aware that taking photos without permission was somewhat like voyeurism.

“Kotone?”

When I stared intently in one direction, Koko tilted her head and asked.

For a brief moment, I considered asking Koko to break that camera, but I decided it wouldn’t be fair and chose to ignore it.

After all, many more people had taken our photos, so destroying just that man’s camera because he looked a bit perverted didn’t seem right.

Besides, he might have been photographing something else near us.

“It’s nothing.”

The shrine maiden outfit doesn’t really expose skin, so I’ll just stay quiet.

“Woo?”

As Koko tilted her head, a group of nearby women made small “kya~” sounds.

Since I’ve never been to Japan, I don’t know if that’s an everyday exclamation, a manga-like expression, or just a sound they made unconsciously because they were in such a good mood on this special day.

I thought about Fukuda, Mako, and Yamashita—but all three were too uniquely individual to be much of a reference.

Yuka probably wouldn’t make such sounds either.

“Wow!”

“…?”

When Koko, who had been watching me, suddenly exclaimed, I tilted my head in confusion, and she looked at my face with a bright smile and said:

“Kotone, you’re smiling.”

“……”

“You have been for a while now.”

Is that so?

I raised my hand to touch around my mouth.

Indeed, I was smiling.

Hmm…

Perhaps the reason I hadn’t stopped anyone from taking photos was because I was simply in a good mood, even while lost in thought.

Maybe because we’d made it safely to today?

Finding it awkward to respond to Koko’s comment, I raised my hand and vigorously patted her head.

“Woo…?”

Koko questioned my sudden attack.

And then smiled brightly for some reason.

*

“Kotone, Koko, let’s have dinner.”

“Wow!”

As we spent time like this, it became time for dinner.

There wasn’t much opportunity to talk with Yuka. But during those few moments, Yuka’s face was always smiling.

I don’t know what Yuka was like last year. Maybe she wasn’t even here. She might have had to go catch yokai, unfortunately.

“We don’t ring bells at our shrine, so around midnight, we’ll all eat toshikoshi soba together as a family. So don’t eat too much for dinner.”

But even as Yuka said this, she didn’t seem to have any intention of stopping us.

To Yuka, Koko and I probably appear very thin and seem like we don’t eat properly.

When I stay quiet, she keeps giving me something to eat, and even the Christmas present Yuka prepared was a large box filled with various types of snacks.

…Come to think of it, I am rather frugal when it comes to buying snacks. To the point where Yuka brings lots of snacks whenever she stays at our house.

Now that money won’t be a problem for our living expenses, I shouldn’t worry too much.

I should buy bread and snacks for us occasionally.

“Tonight’s dinner is sukiyaki!”

“Wow!”

That was the first meal I ate when I first came here.

At that time, my means of protein supplementation were very limited, so I rushed here as soon as I heard about it.

Now…

Well, nothing much has changed now.

My craving for protein has decreased a bit, but it’s an invitation from my friend Yuka.

If back then I was drawn by the meat, now I’m drawn by both the meat and my friend.

Thinking about that, I smiled.

*

The shrine maiden outfit is white. Especially the ones we wore—whether they were newly purchased or just well-maintained, they were so white that they could easily get stained.

So we changed clothes before dinner.

“Is it delicious?”

“It’s delicious!”

Yuka’s grandfather and father were still at the shrine. People were still coming in at this hour, so they couldn’t leave their posts.

Yuka told us not to worry and to eat slowly, but well, Koko was always a fast eater regardless.

“……”

Watching Koko, I moved my hands slowly.

I’m not such a great gourmet that I can tell how premium the meat here is. But perhaps because I was in a good mood, the meat was simply delicious.

As I slowly picked up the meat, put it in my mouth, enjoyed the texture, and chewed thoroughly, I suddenly realized that Yuka had gone quiet.

She had an expression as if something had suddenly occurred to her.

And it was clear from her expression that whatever had occurred to her wasn’t entirely pleasant.

…Should I ask about the reason?

While I was briefly contemplating this, Yuka spoke first.

“Um… I’m sorry.”

“…Huh?”

“Woo?”

Seeing Yuka apologize despite serving us a beef dish, Koko and I simultaneously tilted our heads.

What’s the sudden apology for?

“Well,”

Yuka spoke while glancing at me a bit.

“I said we should go to Comiket together.”

“…Ah.”

That’s right.

I had completely forgotten.

During the exam period, while studying, I had made a promise with Yuka. To go together.

Why had I forgotten—well, the reason isn’t much.

I was looking forward to hanging out with friends more than Comiket itself.

The Christmas party was scheduled before that promise, so all my attention was focused there. I had to buy Christmas presents and figure out how to deliver a gift to Koko.

Although Koko didn’t seem to mind whatever gift she received, I was seriously contemplating what kind of present she would like.

So the event scheduled a few days later completely evaporated from my mind.

…Come to think of it, it was yesterday.

“I’m really sorry. I only remembered again yesterday evening…”

I wonder how Yuka, who always handles everything so reliably, forgot about this.

Well, there’s probably no special reason.

It’s just that our appointment was rescheduled for after Christmas.

Isn’t that right? Comiket was on the 29th and 30th, the last day of the year is the next day, the 31st, and New Year’s Day is January 1st.

Above all, we never made a definite promise about Comiket. We only talked about “let’s go!”

Plus, it’s the end of the year. Yuka’s family probably had a lot to prepare. If they were too busy to even catch their breath, it’s not strange that vague memories would simply evaporate from their minds, especially without a firm promise.

“It’s okay.”

I answered sincerely.

“I prefer this.”

Yes. If we had gone there and been squeezed among people, I might have changed my mind. Similar events are held periodically in Seoul, and I went a few times when I was younger.

The reason I didn’t go when I got older was because I didn’t have any works I was passionately interested in buying, and I knew that going would just mean being squeezed among people, wandering around, buying a few items, and then returning home.

The reason I wanted to go to Comiket was simply because I wanted to know how the atmosphere differed. Also, when Yuka asked me what I wanted at that time, nothing else came to mind.

But Yuka seemed to think that what I said wasn’t sincere, but rather meant to reassure her.

“…Next time, let’s definitely go. I absolutely won’t forget then. I’ve already marked it on the calendar!”

“……”

No, there’s no need for that.

Because, maybe next time—

…

No, no. There’s no need to think like that yet.

Maybe I’ll be able to go. Perhaps I’m thinking of the timeframe too narrowly.

And, if I don’t have enough time left to go by then.

Shouldn’t I tell Yuka and Koko about it in advance?

The reason I haven’t said anything yet is simply because I lack courage.

Because I can’t grasp how Yuka and Koko would react when I tell them.

Quite shamefully, I haven’t been able to tell the most important story at all until now.

…Since there’s more time, it should be fine for now.

“Kotone?”

Koko stopped eating and tilted her head.

Only after meeting her gaze did I come to my senses and look at Yuka.

Yuka had a very anxious expression. It was an expression unlike Yuka.

“…Yes. Let’s definitely go together next year.”

When I smiled and said that, Yuka finally sighed with relief, placing her hand on her chest and exhaling deeply.

“By the way, do you have any manga you like?”

Yuka asked as we continued eating.

I thought for a moment and then shook my head.

I actually knew quite a lot about the manga from this era, but I hadn’t watched any since coming here. I had confirmed their existence and occasionally watched an episode or two late at night, but I was already too accustomed to the convenience of 2020s OTT services to watch them regularly at scheduled times.

“Well… there’s still plenty of time. How about finding one to watch in the meantime?”

“…Yes.”

Yes, there’s still plenty of time.

I tried to think that way while nodding.

Whether I managed to smile as successfully as I did earlier, I honestly don’t know.

*

It must have been when my sister was in middle school, before I lived independently.

At the turn of the new year, my mother would gather the whole family, even forcibly if necessary.

I hadn’t yet moved out, but I was a fourth-year undergraduate student who had even completed military service, and my sister hadn’t completely outgrown her adolescence.

Thanks to that, both of us were on the same page at that time, thinking, “This is a bit cringeworthy.”

Well, we didn’t verbally exchange opinions. We just briefly made eye contact.

My mother probably knew this fact, but she still woke up my father, who was half-asleep on the sofa.

And we listened to the New Year’s Eve bell sounds coming from the TV together.

After that, there was nothing special.

Just the repetitive day starting again. Well, both my sister and I were still students, so it was vacation, but it was still just an ordinary day.

…My mother and father weren’t like that, and of course, Koko isn’t like my sister from back then.

But for the first time in a long while, I felt similar to that time.

It was a bit unfamiliar.

“We’re not a Buddhist temple, so we don’t have a large bell.”

Grandfather said with a smile.

“There’s quite a large temple nearby. There are quite a few others too, so if you wait quietly here, you’ll hear the bell sounds.”

Looking at Japan’s religious views gives a somewhat peculiar feeling.

I don’t know about ordinary people living in this world, but it’s a world where holy water and sacred objects from Christian religions actually exist, where real shrine maidens and exorcists exist, and where yokai also exist, so there might actually be onmyoji as well.

In places like India, all those gods and monsters might really exist.

In such a world where everyone has at least one piece of “evidence that their religion’s entities actually exist,” the people of this household, who manage a shrine, are waiting for the sound of Buddhist temple bells.

Well, when I went to Kyoto last time, I saw cases where there were shrines inside temples.

Is it similar to Korea, where Confucianism has transformed from religious doctrine to a life philosophy?

As someone who’s essentially a foreign resident in Japan, it’s refreshing to me.

But there are familiar aspects too.

On the last day of the year, gathering like this… as a family.

…Is it too shameless to say it like that?

“Well then, let’s eat.”

It seems there’s no need to eat exactly at midnight. I wonder if the time varies from household to household?

Quietly picking up the bowl, everyone made slight slurping sounds as they put the noodles into their mouths.

The taste wasn’t particularly special. It was just food with bonito broth seasoned with soy sauce, and finely chopped green onions sprinkled on top.

But it’s a bit fascinating to eat something together like this, almost like performing a ritual.

Just as we all finished our noodles and put down our bowls,

A “dong—” sound echoed from far away.

The bell sounds overlapped from various directions. It doesn’t seem to be due to echoes; it seems like all the nearby temples are ringing their bells.

“Happy New Year.”

Grandfather spoke first.

“Stay healthy this year too.”

Yuka’s father was the same.

“I look forward to your continued support this year.”

Seeing Yuka bow slightly, Koko and I followed suit.

“I look forward to your continued support this year.”

“I look forward to your continued support this year!”

…And so, the new year began here.

*

Yesterday was crowded, but today was even more so.

If yesterday was at the level of being bustling, today was truly packed to bursting.

All morning, I didn’t even notice the time passing as I moved around giving directions. But since this shrine isn’t a famous tourist spot, after all the people from the nearby neighborhood had visited once, the numbers did decrease somewhat.

Though not to the point where it became completely quiet.

And, in the midst of all this, someone we didn’t expect visited.

“…Kagami.”

Ah, no.

Should I call her “mother” now? At least that’s what I called her in front of others.

But Kagami herself didn’t seem to mind much when she heard my voice. Well, she wasn’t that type of person.

Maybe because the weather was cold? The clothes Kagami wore weren’t the kind that would be embarrassing to show in public.

She wore a thick winter coat, and the clothes underneath… considering Kagami’s age, they were somewhat modest. Should I call it a suit? Women’s suits are so varied compared to men’s that I’m not sure exactly how to describe it.

“……”

For a while, Kagami, Koko, and I stood looking at each other without speaking.

Kagami seemed to want to say something, but strangely enough, she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Thinking she might remain frozen like this if left alone, I decided to speak first.

“…Happy New Year.”

Only after hearing my words did Kagami’s eyes blink.

Why.

Isn’t it a bit less creepy than a Christmas present? I don’t think my impression is that stiff.

“…I look forward to your help today as well.”

Kagami answered quietly.

I nodded and looked towards Koko.

Koko was tilting her head. She seemed more interested in me than in Kagami.

What should I do?

While I was wondering whether I should make Koko greet her or not,

“…Aren’t you Kotone’s mother.”

I heard Grandfather’s voice.

Yikes.

The last time these two met, invisible sparks flew. It was probably because Kagami was pretending to abuse me.

Her image was already bad because of religion.

But I can’t defend Kagami. This situation is half fabricated by Kagami.

If I… step in and disrupt the situation, it might cause more problems.

“…Hello.”

But Kagami just said that.

“Have you come for the New Year’s visit?”

Grandfather asked without any particular animosity.

“……”

Kagami hesitated for a moment without saying anything, then glanced at me in my shrine maiden outfit.

Come to think of it, Kagami would have had a similar role.

I wonder if the Kurosawa family doesn’t have a shrine?

“This way, please.”

Grandfather said politely, and Kagami nodded.

And as she brushed past me and moved forward, she looked back at me again.

After looking into my eyes for a while, Kagami eventually turned around again and followed Grandfather.

…

I really can’t understand her emotions.

It would be easier if she just said it in words.

Well, I’m not one to talk.