The 1st of January, the day of the new year shrine visit arrived.
Barely any people could be seen in the city, as if the hustle and bustle from the last few days had just been a lie.
It seemed there had been a lot of people rushing back to their hometown from the evening of the 31st into the night, or people just staying at home even if they stayed in the city, causing the population density to drop down all at once.
Sandai had been busy with his part-time job and stuff at end-of-year, but for the beginning of the year, his workplace would be closed, and the same for the cafe Shino was working at.
Although particular places opening up for business at the start of the year might be crowded, places such as an aquarium or cafe wouldn't have that many customers even if they were to be open. And everyone would head in the direction for new year shrine visit, so something like a shrine fair would get all the people anyway.
It seemed places like a retail chain store would open for business without any worry, but there were no small amounts of other kinds of shops or establishments closed either. Depending on the situation, this period could also be used to call their suppliers for equipment inspection, repairs, and such.
When Sandai arrived at Shino and Miki's home to pick them up, he found them both in a long-sleeved kimono.
Miki didn't seem any different despite the different attire, but… Shino had an indescribable charm different from the usual.
The reason was probably her hairstyle. She was using a flower scrunchie to tie her to the back and wearing an ornamental hairpin. Her nape could be seen, making it somehow sexy.
"Miki, your obi's kinda off. I'll fix it so stand still."
"It's off? You're not just mistaken, Onee-chan?"
"I'm nooot~. It's really off."
"Then quickly fix it."
"That's not the attitude when someone's doing it for you…"
Despite sighing tiringly, Shino began to fix Miki's obi. Shino seemed harsh to Miki, but she really was very caring, basically.
As Sandai was waiting for Miki's kimono to be fixed, Neko peeked out from inside the tofu shop.
"Fujiwara-kun, thank you for looking after Miki, too."
"No, it's really fine… And I also think that Miki-chan probably wants to have fun together with Shino, too."
"Rather than have fun 'together with' Shino, I think Miki wants to have fun 'with' Shino, though… Well, please take care of them. The truth is, I want to have Daigo-san to say his thanks too, but he's out for delivery for a bit and will be back in an hour or two. Once that's done, there won't be any more work for today, though."
While smiling wryly, Neko went back inside since she still had a little bit of stuff to do. And around this time, Miki's kimono was done getting fixed.
With a relaxed atmosphere, they got on the train and headed for a new year shrine visit. The location was the big shrine on the subcenter.
Although near Sandai's home or the commercial area seemed rather deserted, the shrine was crowded with people.
They bowed and went to go through the torii gate. They were paying attention to not walk straight down the center. Once they arrived before the altar, they gave a monetary offering, rang the bell, clapped their hands, and prayed with their hands pressed. Sandai did feel like a bow or two was necessary before clapping hands, but he decided to not mind the minor detail.
And it was then.
Miki tugged Sandai's sleeve and quietly whispered to his ear.
"…Onii-chan. About the underwear Miki picked out."
The lingerie Christmas present that Sandai had given was something he had had Miki pick out.
Although it had been Sandai who had ultimately decided to buy and pay for it, it was also the truth that Miki had been involved there.
"At home she's staring at that underwear and always grinning. You did it, huh."
Shino had shown him wearing the lingerie back on the trip, so he had sensed that she had been fairly pleased with it, but to think that she had liked it enough to grin…
"What's the matter, you two?" Shino asked and tilted her head.
Sandai and Miki waved both of their hands, denying anything happening.
"It's nothing. Right? Onii-chan."
"Right. It's nothing."
"By the way, Onii-chan and Onee-chan, what did you pray for?"
Miki nicely changed the subject. Without any reason to miss out on her quick-wittedness, Sandai immediately jumped on it.
"I prayed that Shino and I could always be together I guess."
"If so, then I also prayed that I could aaaalways be together with you~."
"Haaah… setting aside Miki knowing from the start and enduring this puke-inducing sweetness… Miki wants to draw fortune slip!"
"Fortune slip, huh…"
"Come to think of it, we still haven't drawn one, haven't we."
They still hadn't got a fortune slip. It would be important to have this year's luck foretold, and it would also feel disappointing to not draw one when coming for a new year shrine visit, so they decided to go for it.