Gates of Light, Shadows of Doubt

※ New Year’s Eve, a couple hours before midnight ※

It was like the very air had caught its breath. Even the soft evening light filtering through the windows seemed to pause. Despite the reassurance of Emi's warm hands gently squeezing her shoulders, Yui's own fingers twisted together nervously in front of her obi, the silver bells of her kanzashi tinkling with each tentative step.

Narumi and Akari's excited chatter abruptly ceased, their faces lighting up with identical grins of pride, while Ash, who had been listening to them quietly, turned. For just a heartbeat, his eyes widened at the sight before him—a brief flash of surprise breaking through his usual stoicism.

“You look… beautiful, Yui-san.”

Yui's brain immediately fried.

There was Ash, smiling that gentle smile of his, wearing the adorable frog shirt Akari had given him for Christmas. The combination of his sincere words and that ridiculously cute shirt was too much for her brain to process.

“Th-th-thank you!” she stammered, voice a full octave higher than intended.

Piyoyo piyo! From Ash's shoulder, Mochi diligently surveyed the situation. (Primary Airfield experiencing critical thermal increase with coinciding anomalies in vocal transmission!)

Earlier, Mochi had been firmly informed that Primary Airfield was temporarily closed for Critical Aesthetic Reconfiguration—something about an “elaborate updo”, an “expensive kanzashi” that had recently appeared, and “not wanting Mochi to ruin things”. Piyo. (Hmph)

Completing his preliminary visual assessment of Primary Airfield, he now officially confirmed that landing conditions have indeed become difficult.

Piyo piyo. Piyo pipiyo pipiyo. Piyoyo piyo! (Current landing conditions: Non-standard configuration detected. Primary Airfield has undergone extensive surface modifications along with installation of a foreign object. Temporary reassignment to Tertiary Airfield extended until further notice. Note: Despite operational restrictions, Primary Airfield's new configuration is rather aesthetically optimal!) [Look guys, he complimented Yui]

“Everyone looks wonderful tonight,” Ash said warmly, earning a bright “Arigatonyaa!” from Narumi as she twirled (carefully this time) in her wisteria-patterned kimono.

“Ara, you're too kind, Ash-kun!” Emi beamed as she stepped out from behind Yui.

Ash's gaze shifted to Akari. “And those twin tails suit you perfectly, Akari-san.” He smiled softly at the young girl, making her beam with pride.

“Arigatou, Ash-nii-san!”

“Hai! Group photo time, minasan!” Emi called out, enthusiastically whipping out her instant camera from her kimono sleeve. “Everyone squeeze in!”

“Eh? Wait, I—” Yui's protest was cut off as Narumi pounced on her from behind.

“Smile, Yui-chanyaaa!”

Kacha!

The photo slowly emerged, showing Emi’s forehead beaming radiantly in the bottom right corner, Mochi photobombing the opposite corner, Akari doing a double peace sign, Narumi making cat ears behind Yui's head, and Yui caught between embarrassment and exasperation. And there was Ash, standing slightly to the side, that same warm smile on his face as he watched their antics.

Not that Yui noticed as she kept glancing at the photo. Not at all.

[She totally did.]

***

The PhotonRail glided silently through the night, its sleek form casting a ghostly cerulean glow on the freshly fallen snow. Inside, the gentle hum of photonic propulsion was barely noticeable over Narumi's excited gasps.

“Uwaanyaaa! Everything looks so pretty from up here!” her eyes sparkled with childlike delight as she drank in the constellation of city lights twinkling beneath them, nose comically flattened against the window.

“Narumi-nee-san, look! The Skytree is all lit up!” Akari pointed out, her own eyes wide with wonder.

“It’s so pretty nya! Let’s go there later!”

"Be careful not to ruin your kimonos," Yui cautioned, though her words held more resignation than real reproach. After all, asking Narumi to sit still was like expecting Mochi to ignore an unoccupied landing zone on her head—a violation of his strict landing protocols.

Ding dong♪

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience,” chimed the PhotonRail's pleasant announcer voice. “This train is now arriving at: Wellness District Station. The doors will open on the right-hand side. Please ensure you have all personal belongings before departing. We wish a Happy New Year to all passengers!”

“That's our stop nya!” Narumi sprang forth in excitement, “Waaa! Nya-nya-nya-nyabe!!” almost toppling over as her kimono promptly detained both legs.

“Narumi-chan!” Yui grabbed her friend's arm to steady her. “Honestly, how have you managed to not completely destroy your kimono yet?”

As the party disembarked at Wellness District station, the full magic of the winter night enveloped them—Hei'an Gardens was beautiful in its tranquillity as they strolled along the meandering trail. Traditional stone lanterns cast soft golden light across fallen snow, while beds of photon-infused night flowers lined the path, petals glowing in gentle shades of purple and blue, rippling like waves of light as the winter breeze stirred them.

Footsteps crunched softly as the friends trekked deeper into the gardens, until they encountered a breathtaking sight—a branching path known as the Hyappon Torii. Hundreds of torii gates stretched into the distance, their forms softly glowing a vermilion red, while the stone path underfoot sparkled with tiny flecks and specks of natural photon crystals, like a river of cerulean-blue stars frozen in midnight-colored stone.

As the group made their pilgrimage through the Hyappon Torii, a steady trickle of likeminded shrine visitors flowed along, excited chatter and cheerful laughter filling the crisp night air. Countless kimonos glimmered and shimmered with their wearer’s movements, a rainbow of illuminating patterns mingling with the vermillion torii and sparkling path, transforming the shrine approach into an ethereal river of light.

“Ahh! This is just too beautiful!” Emi fumbled with her hybrid instant camera, attempting to capture the mystical sight.

Kacha! Kacha!

“Ehh?” She looked at the previews in disappointment. “Why are they all coming out so blurry and pale? The lights look so much prettier in person!”

“Nya, maybe theres a night mode you can switch to?” Narumi tilted her head at the previews Emi was showing her, twin tails swaying with the motion. “Though I'm not very good with technical stuff myself nya...” She giggled, poking at random buttons on Emi's camera until Yui swatted her hand away.

Piyo pipiyo piyo! As the group continued through the Hyappon Torii, Mochi fluttered from gate to gate, focused intently on an important task. (Comprehensive spatial mapping of self-illuminating gateway array in progress... Mapping terrain and three-dimensional coordinates of all structural elements. Multiple navigation hazards detected: high pedestrian density, unpredictable wind currents, ambient darkness compromising visibility between illuminated checkpoints. Calculating optimal flight trajectory based on terrain topography and obstacle positioning...) [Can't you just follow the torii like a normal bird?]

“Mochi-san is working very hard!” Akari noted to Narumi, giggling as they carefully shuffled after the little bird, their kimonos transforming even their excited movements into graceful glides.

Hetchii!

“Ara... it's gotten quite cold, hasn’t it?” Emi sniffled, delicately rubbing her nose.

“Emi-san, here.” Without a second thought, Ash shrugged off his jacket, draping it gently it over her shoulders. “Can’t have you catching a cold.” [Damn, he’s smooth]

“E-Ehhhh? Ash-kun, won't you be cold?” Emi glanced worriedly at him, his only protection against the frigid winter air was now the frog t-shirt.

He gave a reassuring smile. “Don't worry, Kvaris was much worse.”

“Ara, you're always so kind!” Emi replied with a bashful smile, pulling the jacket tighter around herself. “Arigatou, Ash-kun!”

Yui watched the exchange from a few steps behind, an unexpected twinge in her chest. He's so considerate... to everyone. Her steps slowed as the thought took root. Was I reading too much into things? When he caught me at the mall... When he picked that adorable bird apron for me...maybe that's just how he is with everyone...

A bitter gust of wind cut through her thoughts, the cold penetrating her silk kimono to send a shiver down her spine.

“Yui-chanyaaa!”

POMF!

“Kyaa!”

Narumi pounced from seemingly nowhere, wrapping her arms around Yui from behind. “You're shivering, Yui-chan! Don't worry, I'll warm you up nyaa!”

“N-Narumi-chan! Let go!” Yui protested, her face rapidly approaching the same shade as the torii gates. “I…I’m not actually cold anymore…”

Piyo piyo! (Alert! Primary Airfield auxiliary heating system engaged and operating at peak efficiency! Environmental temperature differentials successfully neutralized!)

[The universe's most efficient heating system: Yui's blushing mechanism.]

***

As they approached the colossal final torii marking the entrance to Hikari Taisha, they could see the shrine grounds filled with lively festivities stretching beyond the glowing frame. This radiant torii of vermilion light marked the sacred boundary between the mundane world and the divine realm, illuminating surrounding snowflakes against the dark like an aura made of falling crimson stars.

“Uwaanyaaaa! So pretty!” Narumi's eyes sparkled as she bustled ahead in excitement, her twin tails continuing to swish as she struck an exaggerated pose under the torii for Emi’s picture. […it came out blurry]

As they passed through the massive torii, the temizuya fountain beckoned from their left with its mystical appearance. Dragon-shaped stone spouts watched over the purification font with ancient wisdom, their eyes gleaming golden against the darkness, while the photon-infused water gently emanated a cerulean blue luminescence, flowing and swirling in mesmerizing patterns.

“Herrokero! Minasan, I'll show you the proper way!” Akari assumed a teacher-like pose, her hair loops bouncing as she demonstrated each step. “First, hold the ladle in your right hand and rinse your left hand like this. Then do the opposite… like so. Then cup some water to rinse your mouth—and spit it on the ground, not back in the fountain like Narumi-nee-san did last year!!”

“Ehehe... that was an accident nya!” Narumi's ears flattened sheepishly against her head.

“Mattaku...” Yui sighed but couldn't help smiling at the memory. “Just follow Akari's instructions this time.”

They performed the ritual one by one, the sacred water sparkling with extra brilliance as it purified their hands and mouths.

Kacha! Kacha!

“Ara ara, everyone looks so elegant performing the purification!” Emi beamed, already snapping away with her camera.

“Emi-chan, you haven't even purified your own hands yet!” Yui protested.

“But Yui-chan looks so cute and serious when she's—”

Kacha!

“S-Stop taking pictures of me!”

Ahead of the shrine’s main path, the Haiden's impressive form drew their eyes upward—the worship hall's structural beams and pillars glowing with the same vermilion as the torii gates. Subtle golden luminance traced the fine details of the Haiden’s elegantly gabled roof, its sacred form standing proud against the night sky.

They found a good waiting spot in front of the Haiden, with the Kagura-den's dance stage visible to one side and the massive bell pavilion looming on the other. Festival stalls lined the approaching path, their warm lantern lights and colourful displays adding to the festive atmosphere.

“Nyaa! A sacred shrine kitty!” Narumi's eyes sparkled at the barely visible silhouette of a sleek black cat lounging on the shrine steps.

“Narumi, wait—!”

But Yui's warning came far too late. Narumi had already launched herself forward, completely forgetting about one very important detail—namely, the elaborate kimono currently restricting her normally agile movements.

POMF.

“—unya!”

Face-first into the stone path she went, her twin-tails flying up dramatically as she landed. [A beautiful 10/10 face-plant]

“Ittaiii nyaaa...” Narumi whined, pushing herself up and rubbing her nose. The shrine cat merely watched her with that uniquely feline look of judgment, it’s tail swishing in no particular worry.

But nothing could dampen Narumi's enthusiasm for long.

“Yousha!” In one fluid motion that would have made any kimono instructor faint in horror, she grabbed the hem of her royal blue kimono and hiked it up well past her knees. “Come here, kawaii kitty nyaaa!”

The black cat's eyes widened in dawning horror as it sensed the aura of pure chaos from the rapidly approaching catgirl, her kimono bunched around her thighs—awkwardly sprint-hobbling like some drunken penguin. With a sound somewhere between a squeal and a shriek that clearly meant “OH HELL NO”, it shot off like a furry bullet, deciding that starting the new year by being aggressively cuddled by a catgirl was not in its spiritual plans.

“NARUMI!” Yui shrieked in pure mortification. “Stop! You can't just run around like that at a shrine! And fix your kimono this instant!”

“Demo, demo, the kitty looks lonely nya!” Narumi called back over her shoulder as she bounded after the extremely unimpressed cat. “Maybe it wants to start the new year with some cuddles!”

[You say that, but the cat is running away from you…]

As she watched the overexcited cat girl chase after the completely uninterested cat, Yui wondered if Narumi was possibly 100% cat on the inside. Or maybe her brain runs exclusively on catnip and boba tea? [That would explain SO much]

Nyyaaaaaaaaaaoooooooooo! The shrine cat yowled indignantly at being chased around its own sacred sanctuary.

“Come here nyaaa, don’t you want a cuddleeee?”

Piyo! Piyo! Piyoyooo! Mochi almost had his feathers blown off as Narumi and her furry victim suddenly whooshed past his stone lantern. (Warning! Warning! Erratic feline-based threat detected! Emergency evasive manoeuvres required!)

With a panicked flutter of wings, he took off—touching down as—

GOOOONNNNG!

—the first resonant toll of the shrine bell filled the air.

Piyo piyo! (Tertiary Airfield secured through emergency procedures! Touchdown successful!)

Attention caught by the little bird fluttering past her face, Yui turned to her flighty friend—and immediately froze, her eyes blinking reflexively.

Ash's shoulder was mere inches from her nose, his adorable frog shirt stretched taut against the firm curve of his pectoral muscles, while Mochi settled comfortably on his other shoulder. Yui hastily turned back, face noticeably pinker than before.

GOOOONNNNG!

“…Ni!” (2)

As the solemn rhythm of Joya no Kane endured, Yui fixated on the sacred bell,
Each resonant toll, its luminous golden rim unleashing a sacred spell,
Radiant waves rippling across the shrine grounds, consecrating where shadows fell

GOOOONNNNG!

“…San!” (3)

The crowd stood mesmerised, reverent silence calm and clear,
Each sonorous toll reverberating through their souls sincere,
Waves of golden washing over them, myriad voices counting in cheer,

GOOOONNNNG!

“…Yon!” (4)

With practiced devotion the shrine priest struck with might,
Each melodious toll cleansing worldly desires from sight,
Preparing pristine hearts to embrace the dawning year’s light.

GOOOONNNNG!

“…Go!” (5)