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As usual, I reached the Fumidzuki residence without being discovered by my pursuers. Considerable time has passed since I slipped away, so they should have noticed my movements by now. Once they realize that I’m nowhere in that district, it should be easy for them to imagine who I would rely on.

“Let’s have our first shrine visit!”

With that in mind, I increased my caution, and now it’s all ruined by Kotori’s words. Why do the people of the twelve families always act in ways I never expect?

“Kotori. You know my circumstances, right?”
“Speaking of New Year, you can’t forget kimonos!”
“Listen to me.”

Not good, she’s so excited that she’s not listening to my words. Still, I can’t afford to lose against her energy.

“Kimono is a no for me.”
“Why is that?”
“It takes so much time to wear.”

Her disappointed expression stirs the desire to protect, but I stand firm on my decision. It’s nearing evening time and it’ll get dark by the time I dress into a kimono. In that case, I’d rather go and pay homage to the shrine in my current outfit.

“And your real reason is?”
“It feels hard to walk in.”

I’ve had experience wearing a hakama, but I’ve never worn a woman’s kimono before. I’m not confident I can walk well in one and there’s a high chance I’ll trip. Besides, if my pursuers find me, then it’d make escaping difficult. I’m thinking of all the possibilities.

“Perhaps we spent too much time with Minadzuki.”
“I’ll have to punish him later.”
“Stop that. After knowing his situation, I’d feel awful if he gets punished for this.”

He already has a yandere-ish fiancée that got provoked because we stubbornly decided to visit. Then he’d get punished by Kotori without any idea why. Even I feel the urge to stop Kotori.

“I’m currently under pursuit. Because of that, I don’t want to be outside for too long.”
“I’ll execute any suspicious people!”

Yeah, Kotori’s a bit more unhinged than usual today. I guess even she’s not safe from the New Year hype. If I also let loose, it might end with something worse than the after-party. I have to focus.

“She’s pretty excitable today. With this, wouldn’t it be fine even if you get found?”
“It’s the perfect opportunity to be discovered.”
“Today’s luck is terrible.”

I really don’t want to see a brawl the first thing this year. I don’t mind brawling myself, though. And why are the Shimotsuki sisters so eager to see it? Do they want to see Kotori being unstoppable? That’d be so awful for the shrine management.

“I’ll go for the first visit, but no kimonos. That’s the most I can compromise.”
“If you say so, Kotone.”

If I don’t do it, then Kotori will be in a terrible mood. She is the one providing me a place to stay for tonight, so it’s best to keep her happy. As for how far I’d go to keep it that way, I don’t want to think about it. After all, I value my own safety.

“There’s always another opportunity, after all.”
“Oi, what are you planning on making me do?”
“It’s a secret!”

What an awfully nice smile. It only fuels my anxiety. As late as it is by now, I’ve realized that I might have been a bit hasty. Maybe I actually shouldn’t have decided to visit the Fumidzuki family. It’s already too late, though.

“More importantly, we should leave now before it gets dark.”
“I wonder if Nagatsuki would let me stay over?”
“While he might be a safe choice, Kotori will stop it with everything she has.”
“At worst case, there’s risk of possibly traumatizing Mr. Nagatsuki.”

The victims only increase, it doesn’t end. So depending on my actions, even completely unrelated people might get involved. I can’t help but think that it’s fine if it’s only Nagatsuki. Since I think he needs more life experience.

“A nearby shrine should be good enough. We don’t really need nor have the time to go to a prominent place.”
“As long as it’s with Kotone, I’m fine anywhere.”
“We don’t particularly mind. Right, Rin?”
“Yeah.”

If I’m being honest, I have no idea why the Shimotsukis keep tagging along. But right now, I’m genuinely glad they came. I can’t help but feel that it would’ve been dangerous if it was only me and Kotori.

“For the time we couldn’t be together during the field trip, today I’ll savor to my heart’s content!”
“Isn’t that wording a bit weird?”

What exactly are you savoring? Besides that, I’m also curious about what her plans were had we gotten some time together during the field trip. I’m really glad I’m not in the same class as her. Nowadays, I can’t believe Kotori’s class treats her like a mascot.

“This is the first time we’ve ever done something together with this group.”
“We normally don’t have the opportunity to meet like this to begin with.”
“Both our years and classrooms are different, and we have our own private matters as well.”
“I really want to try visiting Kotone’s cafe, though…”

Come to think of it, only Kotori hasn’t been to the cafe yet. Even though both of her parents have. I don’t even remember how many times her mother came back. I regularly see Nagatsuki’s mother and Kotori’s mother meet each other and chat, along with my own mother. What they talk about is bad for children’s education, so I won’t comment on it.

“Just come with your mother. That way, even your father won’t be able to stop you.”
“Dad always gets in the way when I try to go alone, so I’ll try doing that.”

Just what kind of battle unfolds every time she wants to go? I really don’t understand her father’s mental state for getting in her way. I understand that his main motivation is tied to Kotori, but why exactly does he want to keep her from the cafe?

“Where’s your father today?”
“He’s too busy going around greeting people.”
“With how he is, I expected him to selfishly ignore it for his daughter.”
“Mom has him by the collar.”

Don’t you mean leash? That gave me a weird image. I know the Fumidzuki family’s head is no good and the madam is powerful, but I wonder what the power dynamics will look like if Kotori succeeds the house. All I know is that she’ll be even more powerful than she is now. And I can’t imagine a husband capable of suppressing her.

“Live strong, future husband.”
“Kotone. Sorry to interrupt your weird imagination, but have you ever considered this idea?”
“What idea?”
“Indulgent couple.”
“I’d rather not come anywhere near.”

It’s fine if they end up being a normal couple. But as someone who’s already seen a terrible example of a doting father, I can’t help but be pessimistic. Will the child grow to be decent? Someone, show a bit of strictness, please.

“I can’t imagine becoming like my father…”
“You’ll know once you have a child. There are a number of people who change after having a child, you know.”

There shouldn’t be many people whose personality is drastically transformed by the cuteness of their child, but the issue here is the possibility of her coming to my place to brag about the child. While that might be cute, I can’t imagine how overwhelming it can be. It’ll definitely drain me.

“I can’t imagine having a partner to marry.”
“In your case, Kotori, the biggest obstacle is your father. Unless it’s a man that can defeat him, marrying into the Fumidzuki family is impossible.”
“That’s quite the challenge. That father of yours seems to be willing to do anything, after all.”
“That’s beyond overprotective. If I were her daughter, I’d turn rebellious.”

Being too restrictive is another problem, which I’ve also mentioned to Minadzuki’s fiancée. So it’s important to make use of both the carrot and the stick. If you act strict, make sure to give a proper reward. Otherwise, it’ll ruin your relationship.

“You want to go and make a wish? We are pretty close to the shrine now.”

Just as Aya said, as we continued chatting, we got right in front of the shrine box. Still, having my first wish of the year be having something happen to my father is somewhat wrong. I’d turn it down if I were a god. This is something I’ll have to resolve through my own power.

“There aren’t many people.”
“It’s an awkward time, after all. It is still populated.”
“It’s usually deserted.”
“The power of New Year is incredible.”

Rin’s acting kind of weird. I expected her to be the straight man here, but she’s not doing her job. Maybe she’s in the middle of storing her power, but then where will she release it?

“Have you decided on your wishes?”
“I’m done.”
“I’m done too.”
“All good.”

We lined up side by side, and I stepped forward to ring the bell. I chuck the coins I took from my wallet earlier into the offering box. And I state my wish inside my head.

“I wish Kotone will find happiness no matter what happens from here on out.”
“I wish mister will have an enjoyable lifetime.”

Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that. One shouldn’t hear other people’s wishes, after all. Even if that other is yourself.