Hatsumōde. The traditional New Year’s shrine visit of the year. Though Mitakihara’s shrine is normally packed, this year the crowd is more sparse. For a mercy, it seemed the shrine was too out of the way for even the rioters to touch. The shrine priest and maidens worked hard to make sure hatsumōde, at least, went ahead as planned. The thin crowd gathered at the booth set up to receive fortunes. Perhaps the shrine tenders had removed a few more “misfortunes” from the pool than usual this year. 

Shinju stands at the front of the line of fortune-seekers, having pocketed a fortune for herself. 

Shinju: Sorry, could I draw one more? … For someone who couldn’t make it here today. 

Although disruptive, her request is accepted– everyone could imagine the reasons why someone couldn’t make it to this visit this year. Shinju took both fortunes and returned to the group where the Newspaper Club and their families had assembled. 

Shinju: Hey there, sorry! 

Niko: (she claps her hands, hopping up and down a few times) Come on, then… What did you get?

Shinju: Well, lessee… this one is mine. (She pulls the fortune from her left pocket and unfolds it) Mm! Normal good fortune. And romance… “the right move may make an agreeable romance spark and blossom into something wonderful!” OoooOOOooo! 

Niko: A-Agreeable romance? … Is that my reward for pulling a half-blessing? (she proudly pulls the fortune she drew from the sleeve of her kimono and presents it to the group as if it were a rare collectible) A half-blessing!

Koharu: … A half-blessing is not even that good.

Niko: It is if you’ve been pulling nothing but misfortunes for years on end! Last year I even got a “great misfortune”!

Koharu: … So you’re saying meeting Shinju was a great misfortune?

Niko: E-Eh? No, of course not! (she turns to Shinju) B-But if that was supposed to be a great misfortune, things are only gonna get better… r-right?

Koharu: (she scoffs)

Shinju: Mm-hmm, I bet! Let’s see that. (She puts her arm around Niko, pulling her to her side, holding her fortune up so Niko can see it) 

Niko: … A-Are you sure it says “agreeable”?

Kohaku: (She puts her fortune, also a normal blessing, away in her pocket) … Who did you get the other fortune for?

Shinju: Oh, right, that’s for, um, Aoi-san. She didn’t think she should leave the gym, so… 

Kohaku: She asked you for one? Really?

Shinju: Well, no, more like I told her I’d do it when she said she wasn’t coming… um… hold this for me for a second. (She passes her fortune to Niko and reaches in her other pocket for the other fortune) GREAT blessing?? Wow, I haven’t even seen one of these before. 

Koharu: … How much more good luck does she need?

Midori: (she hugs Koharu from behind) Hey, grumpy. Got your fortune yet?

Koharu: … Don’t you have your own friends?

Midori: Where’s Yosuke? I drew a “great misfortune”, so I’m gonna trade it for whatever he got.

Niko: That’s not how it works! (she shrugs) Nothing to do but to accept your fate.

Midori: Seriously, did he oversleep or something?

Koharu: (she shrugs, trying to wriggle out of Midori’s embrace) Dunno. Don’t care. Leave me alone.

Midori: No can do. You spent weeks without me, we’ve got catching up to do!

Koharu: That was more than a month ago! (she darts off to escape Midori, but Midori gives change, causing Koharu to hide herself behind a girl in an immaculately tied white kimono approaching the group)

Hanako: Wah?! Wh-what’s going on, Koharu?! (Hanako flails a bit, trying to keep said kimono immaculately tied)

Katsumi: (Flanked by her husband, Katsumi chuckles at the scene.) Apologies for the delay. It’s good to see you all.

Hikari: Ah! There you are. (upon noticing Katsumi’s arrival, she joins her daughters, holding what appears to be a gift bag) Was wondering where you’d gone. (as if on cue, Hikari’s youngest two children scurry up to Hanako, hugging her legs) 

Chiaki: Hanako! Hanako!

Kayo: … C-Cure Vanilla…

Hikari: Hey! Stop horsing around, you two! This is a shrine, you know?

Midori: Koharu was horsing around just now, too. (she grins)

Koharu: (she glares at Midori from behind Hanako)

Hikari: … I didn’t raise my daughter to become a snitch, Midori.

Katsumi: Ah, welcome back, Hikari. (she smiles)

Hanako: (Hanako continues to look and act flustered as Koharu’s youngest siblings flutter about her legs)

Koharu: (she gently picks Chiaki up and puts him back down a few feet away from Hanako) Hey now, she put a lot of effort into looking like that, you know?

Kayo: A-Ah! (she immediately lets go of Hanako’s kimono) S-Sorry, Cure Vanilla…

Koharu: Ha-na-ko.

Kayo: … H-Hanako!

Hanako: (Hanako gives Kayo a little smile)

Hikari: (with her hands on her hips, she can’t help but sigh at her children’s antics) Got my work cut out for me, as you can see.

Shinju: Hey, if Kinu was here, there’d be a real scene! 

Niko: I-I guess we’re gonna have to adopt them…!

Katsumi: I somehow don’t think that’s an option, Segawa-san. (She smiles as she glances back at Hikari) You certainly have your hands full, that’s for certain.

Hikari: (she whistles) You tell me. All due respect, but I’m glad Nobunaga offered to take up that interim position. At least he’s got no kids to worry about.

Kohaku: Were you thinking at all about running for the new mayor, Sasaki-san? 

Katsumi: I did, for about five seconds. But realistically, my place is in the courtroom, I think. I haven’t the stomach for politics, I’m afraid.

Hikari: Sucks. You would’ve had my vote. (she sighs) But yeah, I’m sure Nobunaga wants the entire Citizens’ Council to back him up — or at least what’s left of it — but, yeah… no, I’m not one for party politics either. And even if he doesn’t run, both Kuroe and that dickwad Yasuda are dead, so… Whoever ends up in charge of this place, at least we’ll be slightly better off.

Midori: … Really? Come on, mom? We had a great thing going on with that Citizens’ Council! And now you’re just gonna hand the city back to the same opportunistic fossils who ran it into the ground?

Hikari: You want the city to be placed under martial law again, Midori? Cause that’s what unilaterally declaring the revolution will get you.

Midori: Don’t you see? If decent people like Mrs. Sasaki don’t feel at home in the system, isn’t it the system that’s wrong?

Katsumi: It isn’t because of the system, it’s more that—

Hikari: (she sighs) It’s way too early for this… (she hands Midori the gift bag) Here. Go find a boy to share this with and stop bothering me.

Chiaki: What’s in the bag, mommy?

Kayo: Is it a gift for Midori?

Hikari: I got it from a man who wanted to thank me for helping him. Remember when mommy and Midori were not home for a while? There were other mommies and daddies that were gonna too, and we helped them all go back home.

Kayo: … (she gazes at her mother with an expression of utter confusion)

Chiaki: … Is it candy?

Koharu: It’s not candy.

Midori: It’s candy for grown-ups!

Chiaki: So it is candy!

Koharu: It’s not candy!

Hanako: I-It’s definitely not candy!

Hikari: Come here, you… (she picks Chiaki up and carries him into her arms to have him calm down) Shall we go get candied apples, then?

Kayo: Candied apples!

Hikari: Alright then… (she turns to Katsumi) Here’s to another year, huh? Still… I guess Midori does have a point. Maybe we shouldn’t just whine and complain all the time. Maybe there is something we can do, without having to play that horrible game of politics.

Katsumi: There’s no formal rule against an informal collective to keep on top of the happenings in the city. We may not serve on the Citizens’ Council anymore, nor are we on the City Council, but that doesn’t mean we have no influence at all.

Kohaku: In America they have neighborhood watches that work a little like that. Just citizens banding together to make sure their community stays safe. We could do something like that. 

Hikari: I was thinking something more along the lines of a think tank. Promoting great ideas, advising council members, funding initiatives we support, stuff like that.

???: Funding initiatives? I’m afraid you need money for a project like that, don’t you?

Niko: D-Dad?

Mr. Segawa: (the man nods politely) Apologies for interrupting. I just came here because I forgot to mention something about the sake I gave you, and couldn’t help but overhear. (he turns to Midori, who desperately tries to pretend she’s not been drinking from the bottle) It’s supposed to be heated before drinking.

Midori: … A-Ah! Yeah! The taste gave it away immediately!

Hikari: … I swear to God.

Mr. Segawa: Anyways, I did forget to give you my business card. If you decide to go through with this idea, do give me a call, okay?

Hikari: … I’m not exactly planning on being in the pockets of any… (she looks at the business card) … shipping companies, sir.

Kayo: (she tugs on Hikari’s coat) Candied apple!

Mr. Segawa: Oh, don’t worry. If I wanted a lobbyist, I’d know where to look.

Hikari: Well… I’m not saying no. (she looks at Katsumi) But I’m not saying yes either. Talk to you later, then, okay? (she nods at everyone, before heading off toward the candied apple stand with her two youngest kids in tow)

Mr. Segawa: (he turns to Katsumi) Apologies for not having a gift for you either, Mrs. Sasaki. I’ve been told you contributed greatly to our rescue effort.

Katsumi: Oh, don’t think twice about it, Mr. Segawa. I did what I did for the same reason I do what I do now. Put simply, I do what I feel is right. Material rewards never factor into it.

Mr. Segawa: Well, in any case, I do hope you accept my gratitude. (he nods, before clearing his throat) I’m afraid I can’t stay much longer. Niko, are you coming?

Niko: Ugh… (she avoids looking at her father, fidgeting) Sorry, I, eh… I’ll walk home.

Mr. Segawa: Oh? Well, that’s no problem for me. (he sees Niko brushing up closer to Shinju) Have fun with your friend.

Niko: (she mumbles) … girlfriend… actually.

Shinju: Ah! Y-yes. Hello, sir. (She bows) I’m Shinju Hayama. It’s nice to meet you. Your daughter is always taking care of me. She’s always saying good things about you. 

Mr. Segawa: Oh? Is that so? How nice to hear. Well… I’m sure my daughter will be taken good care of, then. Congratulations. (he responds to Shinju’s bow, before, somewhat awkwardly trailing off after saying good-bye to Katsumi as well)

Niko: …

Koharu: … Glib.

Katsumi: (As soon as he has started walking away properly, Katsumi’s expression sours after him.)

Niko: (she groans loudly, in frustration) Ugh! Why is he always like this?

Shinju: I-I’m sure he’s just surprised. He’ll come around!

Kohaku: I was pretty surprised at first as well… 

Niko: He’s not surprised, he just… doesn’t care. Not really. My dad doesn’t have an opinion about anything. Only thing that matters is what people think of him. He’s… basically just like me, before I met you.

Koharu: Superficial?

Niko: (dryly) Yes thank you Shirahara.

Shinju: Koharu! 

Koharu: What? That was the word she was looking for.

Hanako: H-Hey, let’s calm down, everyone…

Shinju: R-right… okay. Have you been to get your fortune yet, Hanako? 

Hanako: Ah, right! I did, but I hadn’t opened it yet. (She fumbles a bit, pulling out her fortune and opening it)

Shinju: Good luck for the new year, I bet! 

Hanako: …Small blessing!

Shinju: Hey! That’s good luck for all of us!

Hanako: Mm! Similar to my fortune last year, in fact.

Katsumi: Well done, Hanako. Make the most of it, now.

Koharu: Didn’t draw one. Don’t need it.

Katsumi: Hm. You do tend to “make” your own luck, in the end. If you change your mind, however, there are still plenty left.

Yosuke: (he approaches the group, waving around two strips of paper) Hey, senpai! Got you a fortune. Something tells me you didn’t wanna wait in line. (he looks at the two fortunes he’s holding, picks one and holds it out to Koharu) “Great blessing”!

Koharu: (she glares at the paper) … Don’t need it.

Yosuke: Huh? (he looks at the other slip) Would you rather have a “half-blessing” then?

Midori: If she doesn’t want the great blessing, I’ll trade you!

Hanako: …If Koharu doesn’t want a fortune, there’s no reason to try and force it, right?

Yosuke: Oh yeah! You make your own fortune, huh, senpai? (he clears his throat) Anyway, it… sure is cold, huh?

Koharu: It’s January.

Yosuke: … It sure is! I assume that’s why you didn’t go for the kimono.

Koharu: …

Yosuke: Well, Hanak—S-Sasaki sure managed to pull it off! (he laughs nervously, before breaking into a cough)

Hanako: Koharu and I are different people, Yosuke…

Midori: D’you have any idea how much one of those costs, dude? Girls nowadays ‘ve got more important things to spend their money on, you know?

Hanako: …

Yosuke: What, you mean like… (he whispers) … tampons?

Koharu: Idiot.

Yosuke: (he suddenly raises his voice, pleasing) Come on, senpai! This isn’t fair! Why do you only deign to talk to me like a human being when I’ve got a scoop for you?

Koharu: I do not.

Yosuke: You do!

Koharu: I never talk to you.

Yosuke: How much—What do you want from me? I thought we were cool, I… I thought you’d forgiven me. I thought… we could pick up where we left off.

Koharu: I was off my meds.

Yosuke: Oh, so it doesn’t count? I… I don’t believe you need your medication to be you, you know! I-I mean… You shouldn’t look at yourself like that.

Koharu: I told you I would never forgive you! What are you even doing here?

Midori: W-Whoa, hey! Chill out, squirt!

Yosuke: I just… wanted to wish you a happy new year, I…  I thought we were good after the whole thing with those hostages, and…

Koharu: I don’t know.

Yosuke: That’s… That’s okay. That’s… No problem. Take your time.

Shinju: Y’know, there were more people there than just Koharu, dude. Then and now. 

Yosuke: I… Sorry, I… You’re right, Hayama. But I guess now’s not the time to reckon with that. I’ll have to make it up to all of you.

Hanako: Right. This isn’t the time. We just… everyone needs time, Yosuke.

Yosuke: I… I understand. I’ll, eh… See you at school then. Maybe. (he nods a few times before leaving)

Hanako: (She’s silent for a long while, as is everyone else before Hanako finally thinks of something to break the silence, and cut the tension.) …I don’t see Yui anywhere. Did she… I mean, I wouldn’t blame her if she stayed home, but… 

Shinju: Oh… yeah, when I was at the gym she said she wasn’t coming either. 

Hanako: …Perhaps I should stop by and visit for myself.