Kimono Chaos

※ New Year’s Eve, several hours before midnight ※

“Narumi-chan, stop squirming!” Yui's eye twitched as she attempted to wrangle the catgirl into submission. “How did you even manage to—” She paused, staring in disbelief at the catty catastrophe before her. “The koshihimo is supposed to go around your waist, not... whatever this is!”

“Ehehe…” Narumi giggled, thoroughly trussed up like a Christmas turkey gone wrong. The lengthy koshihimo cord had by some mysterious means wound itself around not just her waist, but also her left twin tail...and her right leg…and Emi’s bed post. “Demo nya, you should have seen the start, Yui-chan! I was doing so well!”

[At which point did things become so…wrong?]

Preparation chaos for hatsumode had launched into full swing within Emi's room—her anime-themed otaku haven illuminated in soft evening light, air buzzing with anticipation. New Years at the shrine meant fancy kimonos, delicious festival foods, and if tradition held true, new “precious moments” for the Emi's growing collection.

“Akari-chan, hold still ne,” Emi's voice was gentle as she stood behind the young girl, unsuccessfully wrestling a sunny yellow obi into a butterfly knot. Akari's pastel blue kimono was a work of art, adorned with beautiful koi fish shimmering in iridescent whites, reds, and yellows as they swam among delicate water plants. The yellow obi would complete the ensemble perfectly, like a ribbon on a precious gift—if only Emi could successfully tie it.

Akari scrutinized her reflection before Emi’s frameless dressing mirror, its sleek photonic edges providing soft illumination while she adjusted her delicate bangs. A pair of vibrant crimson ribbons secured her long snow-white hair into elegantly looped twintails, leaving bangs and side locks to frame her face. Tied into little bows, the ribbons complemented her eyes beautifully, their satin material catching the light with every slight movement.

“Ehhhh? Narumi-nee-san?” Akari’s eyes widened in awe as she suddenly caught sight of the catgirl's impossible predicament in the mirror. “How did you do that??”

“Mou! Just hold still!” Yui's deft fingers began methodically undoing the mess. Within minutes, she had the koshihimo secured and a pink obi properly arranged over it, tying a perfect butterfly bow at Narumi's back. “Hai, done!”

“Waai waai! Yui-chan, is so amazing as always!” Narumi twirled around before Emi's standing mirror, admiring the cascade of wisteria flowers glowing pink against the royal blue silk of her kimono, perfectly matching her royal-blue-and-pink odd eyes. Specially styled with bouncy curls and decorated with delicate sakura pins, her silky black twin-tails swirled gracefully through the air—until physics caught up.

POMF.

“—UNYA!”

“And there she goes...” Yui sighed as Narumi face-planted, having forgotten that kimonos weren't made for catgirl acrobatics.

“Ara! Daijoubu, Narumi-chan?” Emi bent down to help the toppled catgirl, her own untied lavender kimono slightly parting with the movement.

“Daijoubunya!” Narumi giggled with characteristic resilience, accepting Emi's hand.

Next, Yui arranged Emi's kimono—her movements precise and measured as she smoothed the lavender silk, making sure everything aligned perfectly. She tied the koshihimo cord around Emi's waist with perhaps a touch more force than strictly necessary, trying (and failing) to ignore how her friend's auspicious fortune melons bulged out further and further with each tug. The silk strained noticeably against Emi's chest, and Yui's eye developed a tiny but noticeable twitch.

With a small huff, she snatched up the sunset-orange obi from where it lay across Emi's bed, wrapping it over the koshihimo before tying an immaculate butterfly bow.

“Ara ara, Yui-chan is so good at this!” Emi beamed, bouncing slightly in appreciation.

Jiggle jiggle jiggle.

BOING.

Yui's other eye developed a twitch.

With careful attention to detail, she began styling Emi's long lavender hair, gathering the silky locks into an elegant updo that emphasized the neuman girl's delicate pointed ears and jade earrings. Yui wove Emi's signature amber ribbon around the bun, letting her delicate bangs fall naturally to frame her face.

As Yui stepped back to check her work, a small gasp escaped her lips—the lavender kimono glowing with orange chrysanthemums, along with her complementary assortment of amber and green accessories, had transformed Emi into the very picture of traditional beauty.

“Ehhh?” Emi's jade green eyes widened behind her round glasses as she gazed at her own reflection, a delicate hand lifting to her cheek in surprise. “Is-Is this really me?”

Yui smiled, satisfied at her handiwork. “Of course,” she said softly, smoothing one last strand of lavender hair into place. “You're so pretty, Emi-chan.”

“Kireeei!! Emi-nee-san looks just like a princess!” Akari clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

“Nyaa! Like one of those fancy ladies from those historical dramas!” Narumi bounced excitedly, her curled twin-tails bobbing along. “Our Emi-chan is all grown up and elegant!”

“Ehhh, hontouni?” Emi giggled bashfully, touching her cheeks as she flushed a delicate pink.

Lucky last to be dressed was Yui. As Emi guided the silk kimono around her petite friend's shoulders, she marvelled at the flowing silk fabric, its teal base shimmering like water under moonlight. Sakura branches bloomed across the fabric, pink blossoms glowing with soft ethereal light, while delicate sparrows perched amidst, their cinnamon-accented plummage glowing with the subtlest illumination.

“Hold still, ne,” Emi murmured as she concentrated on firmly tying the koshihimo with determined (if somewhat clumsy) fingers.

“And now for the obi!” Emi announced as she lifted the pink silk sash from her bed. Her first attempt at the butterfly bow looked more like a wounded moth. The second resembled an abstract art piece. By the third try, Yui's eye was developing a concerning twitch.

“Ehe... fourth time's the charm?” Emi giggled sheepishly.

Finally, with the kimono properly secured, she turned her attention to Yui's hair. With determined (if slightly wobbly) hands, Emi began transforming Yui's practical ponytail into a sophisticated updo. She hummed happily while binding the platinum blonde locks into an elegant bun, making sure that Yui's soft bangs framed her face just so. To secure the updo in place, she slid through the bun a delicate hana kanzashi (flower kanzashi)—handcrafted with layers of pink silk folded and pinched into cherry blossoms, a tiny silver bell nestled at the center of each little flower. The final result emphasized her friend's delicate features so perfectly that Emi had to resist the urge to grab her camera right then and there.

“Yui-chaaan! You look absolutely adooorable!” Emi tilted her head, pressing clasped hands to her cheek as she admired her friend with sparkling eyes.

In the evening light, Yui’s kimono shimmered like moonlit water, luminous sparrows hiding amongst glowing sakura. Her blonde hair, now upswept into the elegant bun, exposed her slender neck, while soft bangs framed her face for a perfect balance of refinement and cuteness. Her turquoise and amber odd-eyes flashed with shy hesitation, complementing the teal and pink colour palette of her ensemble. With each nervous movement, her pink kanzashi's silver bells tinkled softly, a delicate melody accompanying her fidgeting.

And though she may not agree, even her small horns seemed to complete the perfect picture—adding an exotic charm to her appearance that would have made any traditional princess envious.

“UWAAAA! YUI-CHANYAAAA!” Narumi's heterochromatic eyes sparkled like literal disco balls as she launched herself like an overexcited kitten at Yui's back. She pressed her cheek against Yui's, beaming at their reflection in the mirror. “Now you’re even more of a CUTIE-KAWAII-PATOOTIE-PIE NYAA!”

“Mm! Mm!” Hands clasped and eyes shining, Akari nodded so enthusiastically her hair loops started bouncing. “Yui-nee-chan is so kawaii, even more than a tree frog with its legs all tucked in and its cheeks all puffy!!”

“M-Mou, yamete yo…”

“Come, come, minasan!” Emi happily beamed as she ushered the girls out. “Let’s show Ash-kun our kimonos~!”

“Let's gogogo, nyaa!” Narumi excitedly snatched Akari's hand before bustling out the door, practically dragging the smaller girl along as she struggled to keep up in her smaller kimono.

“N-Nee-san! Slow doOOoowaaah!!”

Yui, already bright red from the mass of compliments, took a deep breath to steady herself—her stomach doing backflips at the thought of what came next.

“Yui-chan?” Emi gently called from behind, wondering why her friend hadn’t moved.

Yui started shuffling towards the doorway, excited voices drifting through from the living room.

“Nyahaha! Are you wearing that shirt to the shrine?”

“Don’t see why not—new year, new shirt.”

“Herrokero!”

Yui hesitated once more, her fingers finding the silver bells in her hair. Their soft chiming brought a small moment of distraction. Come on Yui, it's just Ash... You see him every day now for crying out loud!

“Ara ara,” Emi gently placed her hands on her friend’s petite shoulders, finally understanding the source of Yui’s reluctance.

“Let's go together, shall we?” she whispered encouragingly.

She carefully guided Yui through the door… and then slowly down the hallway.

“E-Emi-chan, wait—” Yui's protest died in her throat as they emerged into the living room.