New Year's! The Great Springy Stretchy Mochi Gathering!

thanks bst for reviewing
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-1-

Iroha
Happy New Year!

Tsuruno
And with that...
Welcome to Mikazuki Villa's very own mochi pounding gathering!

Ui
We're going to make lot's of mochi, so-

Akari
Please help yourselves and eat a lot.

Riko
Ehehe, let's do our best...!

Ashley
Japan's mochi pounding sure is lots of fun! You're going to be turning the mochi, right?

Hotaru
Mm~...I'd fall asleep in the middle of iiit... The pounder would end up smashing me...

Ashley
That kind of gurokawa would be a major problem!

Yachiyo
When the mochi is finished being pounded, we'll have everyone divide into four groups.

Felicia
There's all kindsa ingredients 'n ways to eat 'em, so pick whichever group you're likin'!

Sana
Um...so then...
Everyone from Kamihama, and all our visitors from Mitakihara,
Please enjoy yourselves...!

Tsuruno
Let the mochi pounding gathering begiiin!

Everyone
[WaaAAAHH!!]


-2-

Ui
[Our first batch of mochi is done~!]

Akari
[Guys! Please come get your mochi here!]

Madoka
So...I got my mochi, but now I have to decide how to eat it?

Iroha
Right! Madoka-chan, which of the four groups do you prefer for eating?

Madoka
I don't have any particular preference, but... Maybe I'll add soy sauce?

Iroha
Then come over to my group!

Madoka
So Iroha-chan's group is eating them with soy sauce?

Iroha
Yep, we have regular soy sauce, but there's also sweet soy sauce with sugar dissolved in it too.
For toppings we have nori and cheese. There's also grated daikon and perilla.

Madoka
Hmm...they all look so delicious, I can't decide.

Sayaka
I recommend cheese and wrapping it all up in nori!
It's so good!

Kanagi
Hm...I'm more of a daikon girl myself, however cheese doesn't sound bad either.

Nagisa
CHEESE!!

Kanagi
――っ!?

Sayaka
Where'd you come from!?

Nagisa
Nagisa wants to eat cheese too!

Kanagi
It's not cheese, but mochi that is the focus, though.

Nagisa
Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch... Cheese isn't the focus...!?

Konomi
…………
...Um, excuse me, is there a kitchen knife I could use?

Iroha
There's the knife we used to cut the daikon, but...

Konomi
I'll just borrow it for a minute.

Madoka
What is she going to do?

Sayaka
Who knows...?

Konomi
Thanks for waiting, how about this?

Nagisa
Cheese in the shape of a flower...!

Konomi
I was thinking that if we decorated the mochi, the cheese might become the focus too.

Nagisa
That's so awesome! It's all cute and fun!

Emiri
Crazy! I wanna try that too!

Iroha
The queue...
I'm really sorry, but could you help me?

Konomi
Sure, if you want me to!


-3-

Yachiyo
Welcome.
This is the group that eats mochi with red bean soup.

Rena
It has to be said... Rena will only accept fine red bean paste.

Kaede
...Re-Rena-chan!?

Yachiyo
Everyone has their own particular taste, don't they? I'm the same, as I prefer soy sauce over soybean flour.

Homura
Fine and coarse red bean paste... You made sure to have both here, didn't you?

Maria
Fufu, you were ready for everything. I wonder if I'll be able to eat it all.

Yachiyo
Here, fine bean paste for Rena. And what will you be having, Kaede?

Kaede
Let's see...well, maybe I should have the coarse red bean paste.

Rena
Wha-!? You traitor!

Kaede
Fu...fuyu!? You've got it wrooong...

Rena
To think that a coarse paster was skulking amongst my friends...

Kaede
C-coarse paster...?

Homura
Um...Akino-san
wasn't putting that much thought into her selection when she said that, was she...?

Rena
What? Don't tell me YOU'RE a coarse paster too?

Homura
Uu...that's not what I meant...

Maria
Alright now, let's start by settling down.

Rena & Kaede
…………

Maria
Rena-chan loves fine red bean paste and wants to eat it, right?

Rena
That's right.

Maria
In that case, you should accept
what Kaede-chan wants to eat, right?
Since Kaede-chan
didn't tell you "no" to what you want to eat, am I correct?

Rena
That's right, but...but...

Maria
Or perhaps you were wanting her to say she likes the same thing as you?

Rena
Uu-...that's not really...

Kaede
...Rena-chan.
Yachiyo-san, on second thought I'll have the fine red bean paste too!

Rena
The heck, at this point...

Kaede
After all...it's better when we're together!

Homura
...She handled them all on her own.

Yachiyo
As you'd expect from someone who's always working with children.

Homura
What a wonderful outcome, Minami-san.

Rena
Wha-!! It's not like that!


-4-

Mami
Those who like sweet mochi come on over to this group.
We have soybean flour with black honey, sesame seeds, walnuts, and of coarse red bean paste!

Sana
...I-I'm terribly sorry, we invited you here and yet had you help us.

Mami
Fufu, no worries.
I've gotten to eat so many delectable things, and everyone is enjoying themselves.

Moka
Mmm~~! So good...! And I can eat as many as I want...

Aimi
Sweets are every girl's dream after all...

Masara
...Last time, did you not call them the sworn enemy of dieting?

Kokoro
It's... You know, a real delicious dilemma.

Masara
...?

Kokoro
Anyway, what do you think? Have you taken a liking to the red bean paste?

Masara
...The wisdom of the olden days is admirable. I don't know if I like it, though...

Aimi
If that's your answer, you'll have to eat more and more!
There's a chance you might find one you really love.

Kokoro
Alright, shall we try the classic soybean flour next?

Sana
Ah...please be careful with the soybean flour...
I...often inhale it and start choking...

Kokoro
Ah – I kinda get that...

Moka
It's pretty difficult to eat without spilling the sesame seeds or the walnuts too.

Aimi
I know!
When you're wearing something pretty and you spill all over it is just THE WORST...

Mami
And it adds even more work before you start the laundry...

Kokoro
I know that all too well... I've had to do heavy cleaning before...

Masara
…………
Sweets are... Sweet, but not sweet...? ¹


-5-

Tsuruno
Anyone who wants to try mochi on the wilder side
is welcome to this group! It's freestyle over here!

Felicia
We got sauce 'n pollock roe, butter, and Banbanzai chili oil too!
Go nuts and mix 'em all up however ya want!

Sae
...This is just like okonomiyaki.

Kyouko
You're not wastin' food with all these weird combinations, are you?

Tsuruno
The responsibility falls on the maker to eat all of their own food so it's all good!

Himika
If anything, I'll come rescue you!

Kyouko
You will?

Himika
As long as it's not poison I'll eat anything!

Kyouko
Th-that so...

Himika
And with all these different flavors to enjoy I'm getting super excited!

Sae
(I can understand that somewhat... It's like the spirit of the poor on display...)

Himika
For starters I'll go with mayonnaise and... Let's mix it with miso!

Mito
Mayonnaise goes with anything, huh! I'll try that too!

Himika
.....Uu-... This isn't as good as I thought...

Tsuruno
Eh-! And we just copied you too...

Seika
I did as well...

Kyouko
Same here.

Sae
(Maybe the flavor is too weak for the mochi...)

Reira
Hmm...oh-!
If I could borrow your oven range, I might be able to fix this.

Tsuruno
Oh-! It's okay, use it all you want.

Reira
Then I'd also like to add some cheese...

Felicia
I'll get some from Iroha's!

---

Reira
...Finish it with some pollock roe, and I've made mochi gratin!

Mito
Without further ado – thanks for the meal!

Kyouko
This is...so tasty!

Reira
Truth is, this is something I learned from Manaka-sensei's cooking class that I got to put to good use.

Sae
(This is so...! My siblings will love this...)

Himika
Mind if I take this home with me? I'd like to let my family eat this...

Sae
Um... May I as well...?

Himika
Ah-, Sae-san's such an ojou-sama, so this is a pretty rare sight, isn't it?

Sae
Eh, ehh...well...
(Almost had them...!)


-6-

Iroha
[The feast of New Year's mochi gave an air of bliss throughout...]

Tsumugi
So good~!

Ria
I'm not through yet... I-I can keep going...!

Manaka
It's futile, so please stop trying to compete with Tsumugi-san!

Nanaka
I'm glad I came here.

Meiyui
Even for those not in Union, giving greetings is important.
And it gives way to exchanging of information too.

Sasara
The way you're shoving mochi down your throat, I'm starting to worry that
you're going to choke, Asuka...

Asuka
Just what kind of a person do you take me for...?

Iroha
Everyone...!
Um...I'm sorry to interrupt all the excitement, but...
I think it's about time to wrap things up.

Ui
We made tons of mochi, and there's still quite a bit left,
so take some home with you as a gift if you'd like!

Mitama
Ohh! How lovely!

Momoko
Adjuster... Haven't you eaten enough!?

Mitama
It was so yummy, so who wouldn't want to eat more?

---

Yachiyo
Thank you for coming here today.

Meguru
This event truly was worthy of the title of best new year!

Natsuki
The mochi was so delicious! Let's go, fight, win this year too!

Rui
(Don't waver here... Just say the normal greetings...)
...Pardon the intrusion.

Yachiyo
Yeah, I'll look forward to seeing you again this year.

Rui
(...It ended up being a super uninteresting response...)

Kyouko
It's about time we head home ourselves.

Mami
I wanted to stay and help them clean up, though...

Tsuruno
You already got all the glasses and plates. You've done plenty, thanks!

Sayaka
Likewise!
Next time come hang out with us in Mitakihara.

Nagisa
We'll treat you to the best cheese in town!

Homura
Until next time.

Iroha
Here's to another year!

Madoka
Let's do our best to make this a great year!


-7-

Shizuka
Happy New Year!

Mitama
Oh my, HNY♪

Sunao
We're late, but we came to give our greetings.

Chiharu
Here's a big ol' gift for you! There's lots to eat.

Mitama
...I'll have to show my thanks in some way too.
I have some mochi left from the mochi pounding gathering, buuut...

Shizuka
If anything, I should be the one expressing gratitude towards you.

Mitama
Is this regarding the New Year's ceremony? You don't have to worry about that.

Shizuka
But you really did help me, so please let me thank you!

Mitama
Alright, then...

---

Shizuka
Thanks for waiting! Here is Tokime's specialty ozouni!

Mitama
I can't wait!
I was treated to so much at the mochi pounding gathering, buuut...
There wasn't any ozouni there, so...
Since this is so special, why don't we all eat it together?

Chiharu
Actually, we just ate over at Mikazuki Villa a little while ago...

Shizuka
It does taste better when eaten together, and since this is such a wonderful thing,
let us share it with you.

Sunao
Well, just a little then.

Shizuka
I am overjoyed being able to provide you a taste of our home!

Mitama
Well then... Thanks for the meal!

[*Chew chew...*]

Mitama
So good!

Shizuka
I'm pleased you enjoy it so.

Mitama
Fufu, this here is how I want to spend such a great new year -
eating lots of yummy food.


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¹ This should still make sense in english, but if not it's a play on both tasting sweet but not being sweet (kind/easy) to the person eating.