Chapter 223 – New Year’s Eve, Ryou’s Sweetness

If you study fast enough, it only takes about two weeks to get your driver’s license.

Kei was fairly confident he could manage that within two weeks.

But the idea of going on a road trip to Hokkaido right after getting the license… that would have to wait.

February was already booked—there was a competition with EMI, and if he was serious about winning, that would take up nearly a month.

And between the start and end of January…

By the time he finished driving school and got his license, it would already be mid-January.

Then, after mid-January—

After discussing it with Kita, Nijika, and Bocchi-chan, they had voted three-to-two in favor of appearing on a radio show.

So that was another thing lined up for later that month.

In short—

Just as the year was ending, Kei’s schedule had once again become a mess of small but unavoidable obligations.

Still, no matter how busy life got, New Year’s was New Year’s.

December 27th, 28th, and 29th—he spent those days at driving school.

Then came December 30th.

Evening.

New Year’s Eve.

Eating a convenience store bento in his room, Kei stared absently out the window at the soft snow gathering on pine branches.

The short Christmas tree that had been in the corner was gone now, moved out after the holiday.

Some of the Christmas decorations still clung to the walls—half-removed reminders of the festive days just past.

Ryou, who had been staying over for a few days while her parents were away on a business trip, had gone back home earlier that week.

And now—

The new year was almost here.

New Year’s—a time that always carried that feeling of closing one chapter and opening another, no matter what country you were in.

Since being reborn and living in this island nation, this would be Kei’s eighteenth New Year’s.

In his earlier years, he had always spent it at the orphanage.

He remembered it clearly: back when he was little, the director would hold a small celebration every year.

Writing New Year’s cards, taking the kids to the shrine, and watching the Kōhaku Uta Gassen music show together at night.

Later, after entering high school and leaving Tottori for Tokyo, he still went back to the orphanage the previous New Year’s.

No matter what he said, that orphanage was the place that had raised him.

Even if he sometimes complained about it, those words were never from the heart.

The director would occasionally text him to check in, or tell him that some of the kids there had mentioned him recently.

So...

After staring out the window for a while, Kei took a few half-hearted bites of his lukewarm pork cutlet bowl.

Then he made up his mind about tomorrow’s plan.

He’d visit the orphanage. At least once during New Year’s—he should go back.

…

Around nine that evening, after cleaning up his room and getting ready for bed, Kei had just laid down when his phone started ringing.

It was Ryou.

She was a night owl, and Aoki Kei knew her habits well enough by now.

So her calling this late didn’t surprise him too much.

He answered, sounding a little puzzled.

“What’s up, Ryou? I was just about to sleep.”

“Geez, your bedtime’s like an old man’s… Hey, Suki-san, are you free tomorrow?”

Her teasing voice came through the line.

Aoki Kei sighed quietly, then answered honestly after a short pause.

“Probably not. It’s New Year’s—I’m planning to visit the orphanage.”

“Eh?” Her tone dipped for a moment, clearly disappointed.

“Ah... my parents are taking me to the shrine tomorrow for our New Year’s prayer... I was kinda hoping to ‘accidentally’ bump into you there.”

“Guess that won’t happen, then. Visiting the shrine’s important, isn’t it?” Kei replied lightly.

“Yeah...” Her voice softened on the other end.

Kei didn’t say anything more.

He stared up at the ceiling.

The room was dark, the only light coming from the city slipping through a gap in the curtains.

After a stretch of silence, Ryou’s cool, clear voice came again—

“Alright then... guess I’ll have to wait until next time. Suki-san, are you spending the whole New Year over there?”

“Not sure yet,” Kei replied. “I’ll see how things go.”

“Oh... okay.”

With just that the call ended.

Their conversation had been brief—barely three minutes.

He glanced at his phone. 9:19 p.m.

Just as he was about to turn it off, something occurred to him.

He reopened the screen, tapped on his ticketing app, and searched for routes to Tottori Prefecture.

Because of the holiday season, there was only one train option left—a morning departure at 8:30 a.m. with a transfer mid-route.

No other choice, so he bought the ticket right away.

Since he’d have to wake up early to pack anyway, Kei powered off his phone after the purchase, closed his eyes, and tried to sleep.

The night passed quietly.

For some reason, even though he’d gone to bed early, he didn’t sleep well at all.

He tossed and turned, and just when he finally started drifting off—his alarm went off.

So, with a dull ache in his head and a hint of fatigue still clinging to him.

Kei got up, packed his bag, and stopped by the mall to pick up a few supplies the orphanage might need.

By the time he was done, it was already 7:40.

There wasn’t enough time left for the train, so he called a taxi to the station instead.

Five minutes later, he arrived.

The morning air was cold, snowflakes still drifting down from the pale gray sky.

Dragging his luggage through the crowd, Kei passed the ticket gate and stepped onto the platform.

The temperature was biting—even through his thick jacket, he could feel the chill seeping in.

The station was crowded with travelers, most of them in pairs—couples, families, friends—all smiling a little brighter because of the New Year holiday.

Kei didn’t really feel that same cheer.

Standing alone on the platform, stomach empty, his mind wandered for no reason at all—to that day when Ryou had patted his head at the station and told him, “Be happy, okay?”

And the tomato soup he bought afterward... yeah, that had tasted pretty good.

The station buzzed with noise and motion.

Even remembering the taste, he didn’t have the energy to stop by the vending machine to buy another one.

Leaving his suitcase beside him, Kei glanced down at his phone.

The trending news headlines flickered by—things he normally wouldn’t pay attention to.

“Takashi Imai to perform at this year’s Red and White Music Festival”

“Comedians Junpei Honda and Rinsuke Kazuya wish everyone a Happy New Year”

“SooniTech unveils its new product line for the New Year”

“...”

He scrolled absently through them, then yawned—a product of boredom and a bad night’s sleep.

A moment later, a new notification popped up at the top of his screen—
a New Year’s greeting from Niijima Yusuke.

Kei didn’t reply right away.

Just then, an announcement echoed through the station—the train was about to arrive.

He looked up, pocketed his phone.

And then—

Amid the crowd and the snow, a familiar voice called from behind him:

“Suki-san, it’s so heavy—help me out here!”

That voice.

Kei froze for a heartbeat before turning around, eyes wide with disbelief.

There she was—Ryou.

She was dragging a suitcase, wrapped in a pale red scarf, her hair a little messy, a few strands stuck to her forehead with sweat from running.

Her jacket wasn’t nearly thick enough for the weather, but she pushed through the crowd anyway.

It was December 31st.

Kei would remember that date clearly for a long time.

Her scarf covered her mouth, but her eyes were bright—playful, daring.

As if to say, “Well? Surprised to see me, Suki-san?”

She finally stopped beside him, exhaling deeply, a puff of white breath escaping into the cold air.

Then—

That beautiful, charming smile spread across her face, and in that same cool, clear voice that always reminded Kei of falling snow, she said:

“Suki-san—I canceled the shrine visit. Let’s go... together.”