New Year, New Shirt, New Wishes

※ New Year’s Eve, moments before midnight ※

GOOOONNNNG!

“…Hyaku-san!” (103)

More and more inspired, rose to take part,
Each cadenced toll they counted as one heart,
Voices rising in shared fervour, playing their part.

GOOOONNNNG!

“…Hyaku-yon!” (104)

"Kireeei..." Akari seemed to softly murmur,
Reflecting golden waves in eyes wide with wonder,
Beholding the divine luminance blooming before her.

GOOOONNNNG!

“…Hyaku-go!” (105)

To Yui by her side, she directed her sight,
Exchanging with her sister giggles of delight,
A moment of shared joy, unbidden yet bright.

GOOOONNNNG!

“…Hyaku-ROKU!” (106)

Ash glanced left, movement catching his eye;
Emi bouncing excitedly, camera poised high,
Jade eyes glittering for fireworks soon to fly.

GOOOONNNNG!

“…HYAKU-NANA!” (107)

Their smiles met, shining brief but bright,
His gaze drifting on, towards his right,
Finding young Akari, bouncing in delight,
And there was Yui...

GOOOONNNNG!

“…HYAKU-HACHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!” (108)

The night exploded in celebration.

“AKEMASHITE OMEDETOU GOZAIMAAAAAASU!!!”

Cheers erupted from the spirited crowd as the new year officially began. Fireworks burst in brilliant displays of color across the city skyline, their booms echoing off the surrounding buildings.

Yet, in that magical moment, Ash found his attention drawn to not the spectacular display above, but to Yui standing by his side. As the initial explosion of colours highlighted her face, her eyes widened in wonder… before quickly squeezing shut, her hands clasping before her. Brilliant flashes continued painting her face as she made her wish with such earnest concentration that her nose scrunched up adorably. Each new firework only seemed to make her glow brighter, while the stray snowflakes that had settled in her hair sparkled like captured stars. Ash couldn't help but smile at the captivating sight, completely forgetting about the surrounding celebration.

A remarkably large firework burst overhead, bathing everyone in shades of cerulean and gold. Emi excitedly recorded everything on her camera, whilst Akari simply watched the fireworks with pure wonder in her eyes. Meanwhile, Narumi had somehow acquired the shrine cat, who now hung limply in her embrace, its face an expression of total resignation.

As the others cheered and gazed at the spectacular display overhead, Ash made his own quiet wish as he watched Yui. Even though I’ve lost my memories, maybe this year... I can begin making new ones.

PIYOYO PIYO! PIYOYO PIYO! PIYOOOOOOO! From Tertiary Airfield Ash, Mochi flapped frantically in feathery panic at the sudden barrage of explosions assaulting his vicinity. (RED ALERT! RED ALERT! Multiple surface-to-air missiles detected! Massive coordinated attack from multiple vectors! All active units, deploy countermeasures immediately! We need chaff and flares NOW!)

[What flares do you have? Your poop?]

***

As the last echoes of fireworks faded into the winter night, the deep resonant beats of taiko drums joined the festive atmosphere. Festival stalls and stone lanterns lit the shrine’s main path in warm light as the group waded their way through the crowds, pausing briefly to watch the drummers on the elevated kagura-den stage. Each thunderous strike sent ripples of golden light dancing across the platform's photonic sound-reactive floor, the light patterns pulsing beneath the drummers' feet in perfect rhythm.

Narumi trailed behind, still cradling the shrine cat that had seemingly transcended through all five stages of grief to reach a zen-like state of acceptance. It hung limply in the catgirl’s arms as she affectionately nuzzled its fuzzy cheeks from time to time—the once dignified sacred cat now wearing an expression that could only be described as “Nya. This is my life nyow.” [Your feline ancestors hang their heads in shame]

“Ara! Look everyone!” Emi's voice barely carried over the drums as she pointed toward a stall displaying dozens, if not hundreds, of softly glowing ema plaques. “Let's write our New Year's wishes!”

The wooden ema were perfect circles with a simple red cord threaded through a small hole at the top. While the fronts were blank canvases of possibilities, their reverse sides were stylised drawings of cute pairs of sunny and moony bunnies playfully dancing together, their painted outlines glowing cerulean-blue against the dark wood.

Beyond the stall, the emagake wall stood wide and tall—hundreds of ema already hanging from its rows of pegs, swaying softly in the gentle night breeze. Each carefully penned character was a mere point of cerulean-blue light at that distance, like countless stars twinkling amongst the constellation of hopes and dreams.

“Hai! Here you go!” The elderly stall attendant's eyes crinkled with warmth as she handed each of them an ema and a glowing calligraphy pen. “May your wishes shine brightly in the new year!”

“Arigatou, Obaa-chan!” Narumi bounced excitedly, finally releasing her cuddly captive. It instantly shot off like a furry bullet, presumably to find the nearest therapist.

“Kireeei…” Akari eyes sparkled as she gazed at the glass pen in wonder—its synthetic brush tip saturated with luminous ink, a gorgeous cerulean blue flowing down from the internal ink reservoir. The ethereal glow bathed her delicate fingers in ghostly light, casting shadows across her doll-like features as she clutched the beautiful pen.

“Ash-nii-san! Did you know? Did you know? The ink glows because it’s made with ground photon crystals!” she excitedly explained, tugging Ash’s fingers in excitement.

“Is that so?”

Each of them claimed a spot at the small writing tables, with Yui specifically choosing the most strategically isolated corner.

Narumi immediately attacked her ema with the unbridled enthusiasm of a sugar-rushed kitten at a yarn factory. Her handwriting bounced across the surface with characteristic chaos:

“This year, I wish to drink tonnes of boba tea with my friends again! And for lots of new boba flavors! Nyaa~ ♥” [What desire does “Nyaa~ ♥” convey?]

Meanwhile, Emi’s elegant writing flowed across her ema like calligraphy, I’s dotted with tiny hearts and each letter beautifully formed… save for the numerous scribbled out mistakes:

“May I continue to make precios precious memories with everyone...” followed by smaller text “...and find someone se special who won’t mind my pom ponkotsu natuer ♥” [Ca Classs Classic Ei Eimi Emiiii EEEE Eim]

Akari’s careful, rounded characters radiated pure sweetness:

“I wish to become big and dependable, find lots of cute frogs, and for my onee-sans to always be happy! P.S. May all the frogs have a blessed year too!” (Complete with a tiny glowing frog doodle)

Piyo! Pipiyo piyo! From Tertiary Airfield Ash’s shoulder, Mochi studiously reported on Primary Airfield Yui’s statistics. (Diagnostic Alert! Neural processors slightly elevated at 72% load, but within safe operational range!)

Yui was lost in focus, the tip of her tongue poking out ever so slightly as she neatly penned her wish with care:

“May I become strong enough to protect those I care about...”

Her hand trembled as she proceeded to wage an epic internal war within herself.

Piyoyo! Piyo piyoyo! Piyoyo piyo! Mochi frantically flapped, head whipping side to side in alarm as he reported the sudden change in conditions. (CRITICAL WARNING! Primary Airfield experiencing catastrophic neural processor overload! Readings indicate 423% beyond operational parameters! Thermal sensors detecting imminent system meltdown! Recommend immediate mission abort and emergency cooldown protocols!)

After what felt like an eternity (but was actually just a minute of intense internal screaming), Yui quickly added in writing so microscopic it would have made an ant squint:

“...and find the courage to be honest about my feelings...”

Except to Yui’s absolute horror, by the time she had finished, the smaller written wish was already glowing brighter than her initial wish. So much so, that it slightly illuminated the ema itself. As if the universe itself was gleefully highlighting her wish for everyone to see.

Hastily covering the ema with her hands, she glanced around, checking whether anyone else had noticed, as her face flushed brighter than the torii gates. [What is this, a brightness contest?]

After returning the pen to the ema stall, Yui approached the emagake wall where Akari and Emi were carefully placing their ema among the constellation of glowing wishes. Narumi had already finished for some time, and before anyone could stop her, had promptly bounced off to some other place with an excited “Nyaa!”

Ash stood a short distance away, his own ema dangling from his fingers as he watched the proceedings.

He turned, catching her eye with a warm smile that made her heart do a completely unauthorized backflip. “Finished with yours?”

“M-Mm,” Yui managed, clutching her ema slightly tighter.

They stepped forward (together!), their footsteps crunching on the snow-dusted ground. Yui suddenly became extremely aware of every centimeter between them, her heart pounding so loud she was certain even the shrine’s massive bell would be jealous.

As she reached up to hang her plaque, her eyes involuntarily caught glimpse of Ash’s wish as he placed his beside hers:

“To protect the peace that allows precious everyday moments to bloom. To properly repay the kindness of those who have helped me...”

Ah! No no no! Her conscience screamed. Reading other people’s wishes is bad manners! What are you doing?!

Yet the words echoed in her mind even as she hurriedly retreated from the wall. Everyday moments... Those who have helped me... Could he mean...? She shook her head violently, sending her silver bells into a frantic symphony. Don’t be ridiculous, Yui!

“Everything okay?”

Yui nearly jumped out of her skin. Ash was watching her from behind, slightly concerned—probably wondering why her head suddenly started shaking like she was possessed by some weird youkai.

“I-I’m fine! Totally fine! Just... thinking about... shrine things!” She managed to stammer out before speed-walking off.

Piyo! Piyo piyo! From atop the emagake, Mochi observed with great interest. (Alert! Primary Airfield experiencing elevated thermals and erratic oscillations upon processing Tertiary Airfield’s suspicious message!)