Hatsuhinode

※ New Year’s, almost sunrise ※

Early hours and lingering festival fatigue had wrapped the PhotonRail carriage in a blanket of tranquility. Scattered groups of other hatsuhinode hunters occupied the seats, lost amidst the empty rows. Most of these determined few dozed quietly, lulled by the gentle hum of photonic propulsion that was punctuated occasionally by a soft snore here and there. Faithfully hovering beside the sleeping passengers were their MAGs, whose faint operational lights blinked quietly in the dim carriage as they idled diligently, ready to wake their users at their programmed destinations.

Yui sat stiffly, her gaze drifting to anything but the seat across from her occupied by Ash and Narumi. He sat with perfect posture despite the hour, while the catgirl’s tail swished behind her as she gazed fully engrossed at the passing scenery. Mochi had reclaimed Ash’s shoulder, his beady eyes ever attentive, even in the dim carriage light.

To Yui’s left, Emi and Akari had fallen asleep, the younger girl's head resting on the shoulder of her lavender-haired companion while Emi's cheek nestled atop Akari's snow-white hair. They looked like a pair of sleeping dolls in their formal finery—two porcelain figures with matching expressions of blissful dreamland surrender. The serene tableau was disturbed only by the occasional swaying of the carriage—complemented by jiggly jolly jostling from Emi.

Piyo! Piyo! (Alert! Port-side ocular spasms detected on Primary Airfield!)

“Uwaaaa… It’s so pretty nyaa!” Narumi murmured with her face practically melded to the window, the cold glass fogging under her breath. Central City spread out below them like a sea of stars, each district a unique constellation twinkling in the velvet darkness. Narumi drank in every glittering detail, her heterochromatic eyes sparkling with childlike wonder. “Yui-chan, look at—Nya!! Mite mite!”

“Shiii! Don’t speak too loud, you'll wake people up!” Yui whispered urgently, glancing apologetically at a nearby passenger who had stirred at Narumi's outburst.

“Ah! Gomenya!” Narumi whispered back, though her excited bouncing hardly decreased as she pointed eagerly. “But look, look! There's the Skytree again nyaa!” Her black twin-tails swayed with barely-contained enthusiasm. “It’s all glowed up and pretty!”

They watched from the carriage as the Skytree Tower's majestic silhouette grew closer, its entire form adorned with festive holographic designs that shimmered against the night sky. At its midpoint, a massive "Happy New Year!" blazed in brilliant colors, visible throughout Central City. Just below hung an enormous holographic shimekazari—a thick braided rope of golden light forming the traditional loop of sanctity, warding off evil spirits while beckoning Toshigami-sama, the kami of the New Year. Delicate white shide dangled from the loop, their flat zigzag forms dancing alongside luminous bitter oranges, soft pink plum blossoms, and verdant pine needles; each element rhythmically pulsing with light that scattered prismatic reflections across the tower's smooth exterior.

After disembarking at Central Plaza station, the group approached the tower's base where its true scale became apparent. The sleek architecture pierced the night sky, stretching nearly two hundred meters skyward—not as imposing as the distant Central Tower, but still commanding enough to leave Emi clutching her camera with both hands, frantically trying to capture its entire majesty in a single shot.

Flanking the entrance stood a majestic pair of Kadomatsu—traditional New Year decorations that welcomed Toshigami-sama to enter and bring prosperity in the coming year. Each display featured pine sprigs neatly bundled around three diagonally-cut bamboo stems, all bound together with shimenawa rope that emitted a soft, golden glow.

As Yui and the others approached the entrance, they joined a stream of fellow hatsuhinode seekers already trickling inside. The soft murmur of excited conversations floated on the crisp air—families huddled close, friends laughing together, all united in their patient anticipation of the year's first sunrise.

Hush conversations filled the elevator as it swiftly carried its passengers upwards. As the doors whispered open, the boundary between inside and outside seemed to dissolve completely. Stepping out, it was as if they were suspended above the night city itself—the expansive glass observatory curved from floor to ceiling, disappearing into the darkness with barely a reflective glint. The sprawling cityscape below glittered vibrantly, while stars twinkled above, leaving them suspended in the perfect midpoint between heaven and earth.

“Ara ara! Look at these!” Emi's eyes sparkled behind her round glasses as she spotted a row of vending machines beside the doors, their holographic displays promising an array of steaming hot drinks. She and Narumi immediately gravitated toward them, inspecting the glowing menu of options. [That’s what you’re most interested in??]

“I'll have the honey lemon ginger!” Emi decided cheerfully as she tapped the holographic button. The machine hummed briefly as it heated her drink before dispensing it.

“Nyaa! I want the caramel milk tea!” Narumi's tail swished excitedly as she made her selection.

“Herrokero! They have hot green tea with honey!” Akari chimed in, hair loops swaying as she stood on her tiptoes to see the display better. “That's what tree frogs would drink if they drank tea!”

As if they both had an epiphany, Narumi and Emi suddenly exchanged glances, excited gleams in their eyes. “You know...” Emi started, her jade green eyes twinkling behind glasses.

“Nyaa! We should try one of everything!” Narumi finished, already reaching for the display again.

“Ehhh? Nee-san, are you sure?”

“Yesss! Look, they have sakura matcha, and winter spice coffee, and—”

“Nyaa, and canned amazake!!”

“Ara! And this red bean hot chocolate looks amazing!” Emi bounced with enthusiasm, her own two-liter-dispensers-with-no-cup-limit jiggling dangerously with the motion. [Dispenses EMOOOTIONAL DAAAMAGE for Yui]

Before they could complete their vending machine spending spree, Yui dragged them off. “Absolutely not. You've each got your drink, now let's find seats before you spend all your meseta.”

“Demo, Yui-chaaan~!” they protested in unison.

After walking some ways from the door, they eventually found an empty bench with a clear view of the eastern sky. Yui settled onto the polished surface first, its coldness seeping through her teal kimono as she adjusted her position. She watched as Narumi and Emi claimed their spots to her right, still giggling about their thwarted vending machine adventure. Akari drifted over to sit in the remaining spot beside Emi, stifling a yawn behind her hand, while clutching a can of hot tea in the other.

Then Ash took the remaining space beside Yui.

Out of nowhere, beside her.

Yui's heart performed a complicated gymnastics routine as she became acutely aware of every centimeter where their shoulders almost-but-not-quite touched. She glanced his way, only to find him already looking at her. They exchanged a smile that sent fire spreading through her body despite the winter air.

It’s okay, she thought, trying to calm her racing pulse. Just sit still, act natural, and—

“Nyaa! Let's huddle up for warmth!”

Yui's eyes widened in horror as Narumi launched into action with a giggle—sliding into Yui with devastating momentum, pushing her firmly against Ash's side.

“W-wait, we don't have to…” Yui's objection died in her throat as Emi and Akari joined the assault giggling, squeezing everyone together like sardines in a can.

Piyoyo piyoyo piyo! Mochi reported frantically, even as the girls barrelled into his Tertiary Airfield, causing sudden and catastrophic structural instabilities. Yet, that wasn't what his urgent report concerned. (CRITICAL ALERT: Primary Airfield experiencing temperature readings exceeding 99.8% of maximum sensor threshold! Heat signature consistent with pre-fusion nuclear reaction! Recommend IMMEDIATE separation of all airfields to prevent spontaneous thermonuclear fusion!) [Someone call ARKS, Yui's blush is about to achieve nuclear fusion]

“So cozy nyaa!” Narumi declared cheerfully, either oblivious to or deliberately ignoring Yui's predicament.

This is FINE… Yui told herself, trying desperately to focus on anything except how solid Ash felt beside her, or how his quiet chuckle resonated through her. Everything is COMPLETELY FINE. Just don't think about how close he is or how warm he feels or—NO! Think about something else! Anything else!

They settled into a warm tangle of friendship, laughter gradually subsiding into comfortable closeness. Yui gave up all pretense of maintaining personal space—clearly a lost cause—and allowed herself to relax, just a little, into the shared warmth.

As they shifted attention to the stunning view before them, the city below revealed itself in greater detail. The grid of streets formed rivers of light flowing between buildings, while the massive form of Central Tower stood like a mountain of steel in the distance. Holographic advertisements and New Year's decorations created a kaleidoscope of color against the slick dark buildings of Central City, while early morning PhotonRails traced cerulean threads across the urban tapestry.

From her kimono sleeve, Emi extracted the container of leftover mochi they'd brought along, glowing with the cerulean energy they'd infused during pounding. She passed the pieces around as they sipped their steaming drinks. The sweet rice cakes were just as delicious as when they'd made them, each bite carrying memories of their mochitsuki experience—though some memories were slightly more painful.

“Herrokero! Emi-nee-san’s mochitsuki fail whale was so funny” Akari giggled, looped twin tails swaying as she turned to Emi. “She went 'ICHI!' and then—DOKAANN!—right on Narumi-nee-san!”

“Ara ara... I'm still so sorry about that, Narumi-chan!” Emi reached over to gently pat the fully healed spot where she'd bonked the poor catgirl. “I really thought I was aiming for the mochi!”

“Nyaaaa…” Narumi's ears immediately flattened against her head as if trying to protect themselves from the painful memory. “Don't remind me! I saw so many pretty stars, I thought I was looking at the night sky nya!” She dramatically clutched her head where the bump had been. “My poor noggin will never forget that deadly swing!”

The silver bells in Yui's hair chimed softly as she shook her head, unable to suppress her amused smile. “Honestly, what in the world were you three doing over there? I completely missed the chaos at your station.”

“There it is!” A father suddenly called out to his family, pointing toward the horizon. “The sun is rising!”

The first hints of dawn began to paint the sky, deep purple gradually yielding to brushstrokes of pink and orange. They fell silent, watching in shared wonder as the sun slowly emerged from behind distant mountains—golden sunlight catching the edges of clouds, setting them ablaze while the sleeping city below gradually stirred from night into day.

Feeling movement beside her, Yui turned to find Ash already looking her way. They shared a smile, neither needing words to express the simple joy of the moment. For once, she didn't feel the familiar flutter of panic or urge to look away—whether from the dawn's gentle light or their shared exhaustion from the night's festivities, something had made it easier to simply meet his gaze and smile back.

As golden light spilled across the observation deck, Yui found her thoughts drifting back to their glowing ema wishes hanging at the shrine. She wondered if the kami were watching this sunrise too, considering everyone’s hopes and dreams. Her fingers brushed against the love charm and omikuji slip in her sleeve, their presence somehow both nerve-wracking and reassuring.

Beside her, Ash watched as the sun gradually bathed the landscape in morning light, his normally stoic expression seemingly softening into something gentler. Was he thinking about his wish too? About protecting these peaceful everyday moments? Repaying the kindness of people who have helped him? The warmth of their huddled group and the gentle certainty of dawn made those wishes feel closer somehow—less like desperate hopes painted onto wooden plaques and more like seeds just waiting for the right moment to bloom.

It wasn't long after the sun had fully risen that exhaustion began to claim them one by one. Akari was the first to succumb, settling her head in Emi's lap with a smile as she watched the city brighten. With Emi softly stroking her hair, her eyes grew heavy before soon drifting close, her expression peaceful as the morning light caught her snow-white hair.

“Nyaa, Akari-chan has the right idea!” Narumi declared quietly, immediately leaning over to claim Yui's lap as her own pillow.

“Absolutely not,” Yui firmly pushed her away with practiced ease.

“Ehhh? Yui-chan hidoooiii nyaa!” Narumi complained, settling instead for Emi's shoulder with an exaggerated pout that quickly melted into a genuine smile. “Emi-chan makes a soft fluffy pillow nyaaa…” she murmured before drifting off.

Emi held out remarkably well, determined to capture “just one more photo” of Akari's adorable sleeping face—and now Narumi’s. Mid-shot however, her own jade green eyes began to close, and she slumped against Narumi—DOKON her instant camera smacking into Akari’s face.

“—Ah! Nee-san!” Akari jolted awake, rubbing her forehead in confusion. Peering up, she realised her older sister was already fast asleep, the camera now settled into Emi’s lap beside Akari’s head. Closing her eyes again, the young girl soon drifted back to the land of slumber.

Yui fought to stay awake, worried about them all falling asleep on a public bench, but the warmth and peace of the moment proved impossible to resist. Her head gradually tilted until it found a natural rest against Ash's shoulder, all concerns fading into comfortable darkness.

Ash remained awake, looking at the sleeping girls with gentle affection. The rising sun painted them in soft golden light—catching the subtle twitches of Narumi's cat ears as she dreamed, making Emi's glasses sparkle where they'd slipped down her nose, and highlighting Akari's snow-white hair and eye lashes.

His gaze lingered on Yui, her head resting comfortably against his shoulder. The morning sunlight caressed her delicate features, illuminating her long lashes and the soft curve of her cheek. Her expression, usually so guarded and serious, had softened completely in sleep, revealing a vulnerability that made his chest tighten with an unfamiliar warmth.

Peaceful, he thought, a small smile tugging at his lips. Unlike the flustered girl fleeing from shrine maidens and omamori.

His eyelids grew heavier as the warmth of both the morning sun and Yui's presence enveloped him. With one last fond glance at her serene face, Ash surrendered to the gentle pull of sleep, his head tilting back to rest against the bench as his disciplined posture softened at last.

Other early morning visitors passed by, smiling at the heartwarming scene of the group cuddled together on the bench. A young lady in a stunning furisode kimono couldn’t help but audibly swoon at the adorable scene, pausing to take a photo. Meanwhile, an elderly couple watched the sleeping group with knowing smiles before moving on, chuckling together as they recalled their own nostalgic memories.

Piyo… Piyoo… piyooo... Mochi provided increasingly drowsy reports from his perch on Tertiary Airfield. (Nuclear threat successfully managed… All airfields secured and entering charge mode... Initiating standard sleep protocols...)

With a final sleepy chirp, he tucked his head under his wing, joining the others in peaceful slumber as the first morning of the new year brightened around them, promising endless possibilities to come.