Chapter 501: New Year's Visit
"Over here! Happy New Year, Hikki, Komachi!"
Turning towards the voice, they saw a cheerful pink-haired girl waving enthusiastically at the siblings.
Since it was winter, this silly girl knew how to dress warmly. She wore a khaki coat over a wool sweater, with a scarf wrapped snugly around her neck. As for her lower half, she had on a pair of navy skinny jeans, and her little hands were tucked into mittens, which she kept waving in the air—looking utterly adorable.
Standing next to her was, of course, Yukinoshita Yukino.
Yukino was dressed in a long white coat today, with a fluffy scarf around her neck. Beneath her checkered mini-skirt, she wore black tights.
When Hachiman approached, Yukino greeted him with a gentle smile.
"Happy New Year."
"Yes, Happy New Year, Yukino," Hachiman replied, smiling warmly.
After greeting Yukino, he naturally couldn't ignore the pink-haired girl beside her. Looking at Yui, Hachiman gave her a similarly warm smile.
"Yui, Happy New Year."
"Yes, Happy New Year, Hikki!"
Seeing Hachiman standing in front of her, Yui's eyes sparkled with delight.
Being able to see the person she cared about on the first day of the new year made Yui very happy. She nodded energetically, causing the bun on her head to bob up and down.
At that moment, Komachi's voice rang out.
"Onii-chan, Yukino-nee, Yui-nee, let's go for the New Year's visit!"
"Yes, let's go."
Hachiman nodded, then led the group up the steps toward the shrine.
When it comes to a New Year's visit, it's practically like a small festival.
And since it's a festival, the roads on either side were naturally lined with stalls selling snacks.
Taiyaki, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, candied hawthorn...
These delicious treats naturally caught the attention of both Komachi and Yui.
As the enticing aroma wafted through the air, Yui couldn't help but twitch her nose. "Smells so good."
"It really does," Komachi nodded in agreement.
"How about we buy something to eat?"
"Yes, yes! I want okonomiyaki!" Yui said excitedly.
"Komachi wants candied hawthorn!"
Just as the two were about to veer off the main path, Hachiman lightly chopped them both on the head.
"Eat later. Let's finish the visit first."
Hearing this, the two reluctantly quieted down.
As they entered the main path leading to the shrine, the crowd thinned out a bit. Since they were now within the shrine's grounds, there were no food stalls, only the shrine directly ahead.
Following the line, it was soon Hachiman's group's turn.
They stood in a row, took out some coins, tossed them into the offering box, rang the bell, bowed twice, clapped their hands twice, then brought their palms together and closed their eyes, beginning their prayers with sincere devotion.
Although Hachiman wasn't sure how powerful these so-called gods were, he still made a modest wish.
"I hope that the people I care about can achieve their dreams."
After making this wish, Hachiman opened his eyes and glanced at the three girls beside him.
At that moment, all three of them had serious expressions, even Yui, who usually loved to play around, was solemn.
Perhaps, in their hearts, making vows before the gods was a deeply serious and solemn matter.
After a short while, the girls finished making their wishes and opened their eyes, their faces showing expressions of relief, as if they had just completed an important task.
With the visit over, Yui quickly returned to her usual lively self, looking around the shrine.
Suddenly, she seemed to notice something and pointed in a direction.
"Let's try drawing a fortune slip!"
Hearing Yui's suggestion, Yukino thought for a moment and then nodded, "Let's go draw one."
She picked up the hexagonal fortune stick box, gave it a gentle shake, and let one of the wooden sticks fall out. After handing the stick to the shrine maiden and paying 100 yen, she received the corresponding fortune slip.
In reality, this is just a fun tradition; whatever result you get doesn't have much impact. Of course, if you draw a "bad luck" slip, it might dampen your mood.
Fortunately, all of them had good luck—they either got "good luck" or "great luck."
Seeing their fortunes, the three girls smiled happily.
Komachi was especially pleased since she's about to face her entrance exams. Drawing a "good luck" slip before the exams is indeed a positive sign.
As for Hachiman, he was less interested in the fortune drawing and more focused on observing the shrine maidens.
It wasn't because the shrine maidens were particularly beautiful, but rather because their attire caught Hachiman's eye.
Their black hair was tied back with a white ribbon, and they wore white long-sleeved robes paired with red hakama. The entire look gave off an air of elegance and grace.
Hmm... It might be nice to have Kotoha and Saeko try wearing this attire someday.
Just as Hachiman made up his mind about this, he suddenly felt a slight pain in his waist.
Looking down, he noticed Yukino standing on his left, her expression calm as she discreetly pinched his waist with her left hand.
Is she... jealous?
The thought amused Hachiman, and he shook his head with a smile. He reached out with his left hand, gently capturing her mischievous hand and naturally holding it in his own.
Feeling his gesture, Yukino didn't resist. She simply shot him a subtle glare before letting him hold her hand.
With her soft hand secretly in his grasp, Hachiman smiled and said, "Alright, we've paid our respects and drawn our fortunes. What should we do next?"
"Let's check out the stalls!" Yui immediately suggested, with Komachi nodding enthusiastically beside her.
"Yes, yes, let's go see the stalls!"
Earlier, both of them had been drawn to the various snacks, and now that the important tasks were done, they were eager to indulge!
This time, Hachiman didn't stop them and simply let the two girls go enjoy themselves.
Retracing their steps, they soon returned to the area where the stalls were clustered.
Not only were there food stalls, but also game booths and merchandise stands.
It really felt like a full-blown festival.
Seeing the many food stalls, Yui and Komachi let out cheers of excitement and then split up to line up for different foods.
Hachiman also released Yukino's soft hand, letting her move around freely.
Taiyaki, takoyaki, candied hawthorn...
All kinds of snacks were available, and there was even sweet sake to warm people up during the winter.
Hachiman approached the sweet sake stand and bought a cup.
Taking a small sip, the warm, slightly sweet liquid flowed down his throat, spreading a comfortable warmth throughout his body.
This sweet sake was made from glutinous rice, though he wasn't sure if it was the same as the famous kuchikamizake. But after drinking it, he did feel a cozy warmth spread through him.
Just then, Yui came running over with a box of takoyaki.
Reaching Hachiman, she picked up a piece with a bamboo skewer and offered it to him.
"Hikki, say ah~~"
Hachiman didn't hesitate and ate it.
Chewing the slightly hot takoyaki, Hachiman handed her the sweet sake he was holding.
"Have a sip to warm up."
"Mmm." Yui took the paper cup, drank a sip of the sweet sake, and smiled happily.
"Ahh, it's so sweet and delicious."
Whether it was because of the cold wind or the effect of the alcohol, Yui's cheeks, exposed to the chilly air, turned a rosy pink, making her look incredibly cute.
Noticing that Hachiman was staring at her, Yui couldn't help but feel a bit shy.
"Hikki, don't stare at me like that."
Hearing her playful complaint, Hachiman chuckled and reached out to pat the bun on her head.
"Alright, alright. We've known each other for so long—how can you still get shy over something like this, silly bun."
Noticing his gesture, Yui pouted unhappily.
"Mean Hikki, don't mess up my hairstyle."
She patted the bun on her head to make sure it was still intact, then breathed a sigh of relief. A moment later, as if something had crossed her mind, she spoke up again.
"By the way, Hikki, when are we going to buy Yukino's birthday gift?"
Oh, right, Yukino's birthday.
Hachiman remembered that Yukino's birthday was on January 3rd, and he had already agreed with Yui to go shopping for a gift together.
"How about tomorrow?"
"Okay, it's a plan—tomorrow it is."
Yui nodded happily, then murmured to herself.
"We have to give Yukinon a big surprise."
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Chapter 502: Hmph, Men
After agreeing on the meeting time for tomorrow, Hachiman and Yui exchanged smiles.
At that moment, Komachi, who had also gone to line up for snacks, came running back.
While munching on a candied hawthorn, the little girl suggested, "Onii-chan, Yui-nee, let's go buy some omamori."
"No problem," Hachiman nodded.
Omamori, commonly known as protective charms, come in various types such as those for financial luck, health, love, academics, and more.
They called Yukino over, and the group headed to a stall selling omamori.
The stall was manned by two miko (shrine maidens). One was responsible for sales, while the other was in charge of attracting customers and offering explanations.
When the miko saw Hachiman and the others approaching, they greeted them with gentle smiles.
The miko in charge of customer relations smiled and asked, "What kind of omamori are you looking for?"
The omamori here were sold by the shrine and came in nearly every type imaginable.
Naturally, Komachi bought an academic success charm, Yui got both academic and love charms, and after some thought, Yukino chose a health charm.
As for Hachiman, he didn't buy any charm.
Whether it was financial luck, health, academics, love, or anything else, there was nothing he particularly worried about.
However, since the others bought something, it seemed out of place if he didn't. Reluctantly, he let Komachi push a love charm into his hands.
After purchasing the charms, the group prepared to leave.
As they were walking down the steps, Yui's phone rang.
"Ah, it's Yumiko," the girl said as she saw the caller ID and answered the call.
"Yahallo, Yumiko! Happy New Year!"
"Yeah, I'm at the shrine, just about to leave."
"Wait a sec."
Yui temporarily put the call on hold and turned to ask the others.
"Yukinon, Hikki, do you guys have any plans next?"
Yukino smiled faintly, "As for me, I'm heading home. I don't really like crowded places."
"But…"
Yui seemed hesitant to let her go, but she also understood that Yukino and Yumiko didn't get along very well, so she wasn't sure how to ask her to stay.
Seeing Yui's uncertainty, Yukino smiled gently.
"It's fine, Yui. Go spend time with Miura. We'll see each other again when school starts."
"Mm, okay, see you at school, Yukinon." Yui nodded in agreement, then turned her gaze to Hachiman.
"Hikki, do you want to come along?"
Hachiman thought for a moment before shaking his head, "I'll pass. You go have fun with Yumiko and the others."
He decided to accompany Yukino instead. After all, Yui had friends like Yumiko and Ebina to hang out with, but Yukino would be all alone once she returned to her apartment.
"Alright then."
Seeing that Hachiman wasn't coming either, Yui looked a bit disappointed, but remembering their plans for tomorrow, she nodded her head.
Just then, Komachi raised her hand.
"I want to go too!"
But before she could finish her sentence, Hachiman cut her off. "No, you need to go home and study. After your exams, you can play as much as you want."
"Ugh… fine."
In the end, Komachi nodded in agreement, understanding that it wasn't the right time to play with exams so close.
Seeing that none of them were coming, Yui was a bit disappointed but didn't push it. She waved at them.
"Alright, I'm off to meet Yumiko. Bye, Hikki, Yukinon, Komachi!"
"Bye, Yui/Yui-nee," they replied.
After saying their goodbyes, the group split up.
Hachiman, Yukino, and Komachi retraced their steps, while Yui, still on the phone, headed in Yumiko's direction.
As expected, after a short walk, Komachi quickly found an excuse to leave.
Hachiman understood that his little sister was creating an opportunity for him, so he didn't stop her. He just gave her a few reminders before letting her go.
Once Komachi ran off, only Hachiman and Yukino were left.
Without anyone else around, Hachiman didn't hold back. He reached out and took Yukino's soft hand.
Her hand felt cold to the touch, so Hachiman quickly cupped both of her hands in his.
Seeing his actions, Yukino's face flushed with a hint of embarrassment.
"W-What are you doing?"
"Of course, I'm warming your hands," Hachiman replied with a smile, his tone carrying a bit of gentle reproach.
"You really should have told me if your hands were this cold."
Though there was a hint of blame in his voice, Yukino felt a warmth spreading in her heart.
But then, something crossed her mind, and she let out a soft huff.
"Why would I trouble you? I wouldn't want to distract you from admiring other girls."
That's right—Yukino was now using a skill all girls seem to master: bringing up something from the past.
Hachiman felt a bit helpless at her words.
"Where is that coming from? Those miko weren't nearly as pretty as you. Why would I look at them when I have someone so beautiful beside me?"
Yukino, of course, wasn't so easily convinced. She pouted slightly, "Who knows? The grass always looks greener on the other side, and men are all the same."
"Hmph, men."
Though it was just two words, Hachiman felt they were almost magical, brimming with sarcasm.
But he quickly found a flaw in her argument and grinned mischievously.
"So, Yukino, you're admitting that you're my 'flower at home'?"
Yukino gave him an exasperated look at his playful remark. "Don't try to change the subject. Now, tell me, what exactly were you staring at earlier?"
Though Yukino usually appeared composed and distant, she was still a girl. Seeing the person she cared about staring at other girls was bound to upset her.
Hachiman felt a little pleased seeing her jealous reaction.
After all, if a girl didn't care about you, why would she go to such lengths?
It seemed that Yukino was almost within reach.
With that in mind, Hachiman decided not to hide anything and spoke the truth.
"Actually, I was looking at the miko outfits at the time."
"Miko outfits?"
"Yeah, I was wondering how you all would look wearing them," Hachiman explained with a smile.
"Us wearing them…"
Hearing this, Yukino couldn't help but imagine herself in a miko outfit. Her face flushed slightly, and she quickly shook her head to dispel the image from her mind.
She playfully hit Hachiman with her bag, speaking with a mix of shyness and annoyance, "You… what kind of nonsense are you imagining?"
"It's perfectly normal." Hachiman shrugged.
"Beautiful girls and beautiful clothes—it's only natural to think of them together."
"My Yukino is so beautiful, of course, I'd want to see you in something pretty."
Yukino felt a bit happy hearing this, but she didn't let herself get too caught up in Hachiman's sweet words.
"Hmph, you talk a good game, but there are plenty of pretty girls around you. Who knows if you were really thinking of me?"
You have to admit, a girl's intuition can be spot-on. In Hachiman's mind, the ones he thought would look best in a miko outfit weren't Yukino, but Saeko and Kotonoha.
But he wasn't foolish enough to admit that. "What's this? Are you saying you're not confident in your own beauty, Yukino?"
"Hmph, I'm very confident in that," Yukino replied with a smug hum.
Seeing her expression, Hachiman chuckled and shook his head.
"Alright, alright, let's not dwell on this. We should get going."
Her hands were warm enough now, so it was time to head back.
However, he didn't completely let go of her hand, still holding onto one of hers.
"Mm, let's go."
Yukino didn't object to Hachiman's suggestion and let him hold her hand as they walked.
Hand in hand, they headed toward the train station. To anyone watching, they looked just like a couple deeply in love.
On the train, the two sat close together.
However, when the train suddenly jolted, Yukino lost her balance and nearly fell. Fortunately, Hachiman was quick to react, pulling her into his arms.
The train's jolt was brief, and as Yukino leaned against Hachiman's chest, she looked up, meeting his gaze as he looked down at her.
Their eyes locked, and in each other's eyes, they saw only one another.
Seeing Yukino's enticing lips so close, Hachiman couldn't resist the urge to lean in for a kiss.
But Yukino, still grounded in reality, quickly placed her hand over his mouth.
This is a train, after all. There's no way she'd let him kiss her so casually.
With that thought in mind, Yukino gave him a sidelong glance, then gently pushed herself out of his embrace, standing back up straight. She softly parted her lips and uttered the words once more:
"Hmph, men!"
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