Feeling the Winds of a New Year

thanks Vivi for reviewing
-----
新たな年の風を感じて
Feeling the Winds of a New Year
-----

-1-

Yachiyo
Happy New Year.

Tsuruno & Felicia
HNY!

Sana
Happy New Year...

Tsuruno
Traveling during the year-end holidays - we're living the life of luxury, huh!

Felicia
For real! Yachiyo's bein' unusually generous!

Yachiyo
It can't be helped.
If there's no change in what we see from last year, we'll end up comparing it to then...

Sana
Because "those two" aren't with us like before...

Tsuruno
Just remembering them makes it feel all the more lonely, doesn't it...

Felicia
.....
...But like, that don't mean they've gone and vanished.
Besides, even if we're apart, our hearts are still together, ain't they?

Tsuruno
That's...
Yeah, you're right.
Even if we can't see them, it feels like they're with us.

Sana
...If that's true, then if we all look so down for New Year's...
When they see us, those two may end up getting sad...

Yachiyo
You're right...
The year has just begun, so let's at least keep moving forward.

Felicia
Yeah! We gotta party day 'n night!

Sana
I just remembered...there is a nearby shopping district having its first sale of the year.

Tsuruno
Then why don't we change and head on out!

Yachiyo
(I want to cherish the present. That is how I truly feel, but...)
(I do still want you by my side.)
(One day, for sure...)

---

Felicia
Alriiight! Ready and set! Let's go!

Tsuruno
Wah-! If you run your clothes are gonna come undone!

Sana
...It still feels like everything is the same, doesn't it?

Yachiyo
Yeah. Let's get going too.
Since we're going out of our way for New Year's sales at a tourist attraction,
it would be nice to buy Iroha and Ui-chan souvenirs, don't you think?

Sana
Yes...!


-2-

Juri
Alriiight! New Year's sales! I'm buyin' a lucky bag!

Ao
Think they have any game lucky bags?

Yuna
There is a limit to your spending money, so you should think before you use it all...

Hikaru
S'all good! I got my New Year's gift too!

Yuna
There's a limit to that as well, you know...?

Juri
If you're on about money, you don't gotta worry. No matter what, our target today is...

Man
Inventory clearance sale! Completely random special lucky bags here...!
One bag, 1,000 yen! One per person!

Ao
Did he say 1,000 yen!? Cheap-!

Hikaru
And the stuff inside's worth up to 50,000 yen!

Juri
Nihi, I'm gettin' fired up...! Let's try our luck again this year 'n buy 'em!

Ao
...He said the items are totally random. It's a gamble~...

Yuna
That's right, there is no guarantee to get something you even want...

Ao
Kusu...
But it's so interesting!! I'm gonna go buy one toooo!

Yuna
Are you serious...?

Hikaru
Hikaru's curious now too! Yuna-san, let's buy some too!

Yuna
...If one is all it takes to test my luck... Well, I suppose it's fine...

---

Juri
Alright now, what we got in...here.
...Mm, the hell's this...? PuchiUsa...? This some kinda character?

Ao
Cute, though...pfft, to think Nee-chan would pull that...huhu...

Juri
Shit-! There's still more in here, so I'm pushin' my luck...
Wait - uwaah, this's a book, ain't it... This thing's why the bag felt so damn heavy...

Yuna
A book on the history and folklore of Futatsugi City. Not bad.

Juri
Sure is... To toss in the bonfire, maybe...

Ao
Uu...is mine gonna be a dud too... This sweater's color is weird...hm?
Ah-AAaaAAHH!! The game I was tempted to buy's in here!

Juri
Haah!? And Nee-san and Horse!?

Hikaru
A wearable blanket in mine. The rest's all crap, but I'm satisfied!

Yuna
There was a diary in mine. Huhu, just what I needed...

Juri
Why's Juri-sama the only one screwed out of anythin' useful...
Alright, little sister! Trade the book for your game!

Ao
That's a no~ You picked that yourself, didn't you, Nee-chan?

Yuna
No fighting this early into the new year.
If Tamaki-san heard this, I'm sure she would be straining a laugh...

Juri
Ah? The hell you bringin' her up for?

Yuna
I'm going to keep a diary until the day we meet again
to tell her the things we do to pass every day.
Because it's thanks to her that we get to live now...

Juri & Ao
…………

Juri
...Truce?

Ao
Yeah, when I'm done playing this game I'll lend it to you.

Hikaru
Now that you've made up, onward to the next place?

Yuna
Yeah, let's pay our first visit to the shrine this year...


-3-

Chiharu
Mochi fresh from the mortar is so good~!

Shizuka
Mmm~~... Exceptional, is it not~...

Sunao
Huhu, please eat slower so you don't choke.

Shizuka & Chiharu
Okay!

Chiharu
By the way, what are we doing after this?
Playing outside? Lounging under the kotatsu?

Shizuka
Before that we must go give our greetings.

Chiharu
Greetings...?

Shizuka
...Well, you see, normally we go see Kyuubee-sama,
offering him mochi as New Year's greetings...and as our first shrine visit of the year...
But we are learning of the outside world and trying to change,
so if that tradition was solely Mikoshiba's creation...

Sunao
Yes, there is no need to abide by it.
Now he is not even an object of worship to us.

Chiharu
...True.
I don't think it's a bad idea to quit cold turkey,
but in the end, isn't it about how you want to change?

Shizuka
(How you want to change...)
...Maybe we should give our greetings,
as we are building a different kind of relationship than before.
And it's not like we are rejecting him.

Sunao
Then shall we head to the shrine?

Shizuka
No, he is no god, so there is no need to meet him at the shrine.
Kyuubee-sama, are you here?
Happy New Year to you.
This year I hope we may build a new relationship with one another.

Chiharu
It's nice being equals, huh!

Sunao
Ah, help yourself to some mochi.

Shizuka
...Tamaki-san, we are going to change.
Though I'm sure it will be little by little.

Chiharu
Hatsumode...I don't know if this counts as our first shrine visit of the year, but now that the greetings are out of the way, let's do something.

Sunao
I agree with that... How about getting the hagoita for a game of hanetsuki?

Shizuka
Great idea!
First we will relax our bodies,
and then let's think about our future, shall we?


-4-

Himena
Letting the hane drop is a total nono, alrighty?
Kay, now that the hagoita are passed out, this cutie's starting with her resolution...
A lovey-dovey date with Hiko-kun at the amusement park!

[*Whack*]

San
The fire festival's revival!

[*Whack*]

Miyuri
Legs! ...No actually winning a tournament!

[*Whack*]

Hagumu
U-um...awawa...

[*Clunk...*]

Miyuri
Don't send it back to Miyu - hit it to Miyabi!

[*Whack*]

Himena's Voice
Hagurin, your resolution! You can't just return to sender!

Hagumu
Awawawa... To make costumes!

[*Clunk...*]

Himena's Voice
O and K! Last up's Shigurin!

Shigure
I...umm... To create my...

[*Clank!*]

Shigure
Uhh...my own program!

[*Whack clank whack clunk*]

Miyuri
She's started a rally by herself...

Shigure
What should I do with this at the end?

Himena
Hit it back to this cutie!

Shigure
O-okay...!

[*Whack*]

Himena
And now let's gooo... Send our resolutions up to Irorin!!

[*Smack!!*]

Hagumu
Wow...it went flying...

Shigure
Why Tamaki-san...?

Himena
Just feels like she's watching over us or something, so like why not tell her anywho.

Miyuri
That's fair...

San
You think they'll come true...?

Himena
Who knows?

Hagumu
Ehh...? But Aika-san, you just...

-Flashback-

Himena
Anywho, it'd be cool to hit the hane while saying our New Year's resolutions,
so if the whole crew can say them without dropping it, they'll totes come true, won't they? Kyaha★

-End Flashback-

Hagumu
...said that.

Himena
No, frankly it was just all wishing. This cutie never said they'd come true.

Shigure
You did definitely say "totes come true", though...

San
...Well, it wouldn't be the first unreasonable act from Hime-sama.

Himena
Well like, isn't putting the effort in yourself more meaningful?
Even if she is watching over us,
if all we do is count on her, she might just turn her back on us.

Hagumu
That...could be...?

Shigure
I'm...suddenly exhausted...

Himena
Alrighty, who's up for some lunch? This cutie's running on empty too!

San
Right, let's go eat ozoni like it's New Year's day.


-5-

Alexandra
Huu... Things have finally calmed down.

Urara
That's New Year's for ya...

Asahi
Quite the busy time.

Rabi
Everyone, thank you for helping with the guest house.
With that many customers for the new year, you were all a great help,
though I am incredibly sorry for putting you through the trouble over your own vacation...

Alexandra
No no, we're the ones who offered to help, after all.

Urara
I had nothin' to do back home, so if anything this made it better for me!

Asahi
Besides, we owe a great deal to you and your home.
It was great that we could repay in kind.

Rabi
...I see.
Mother seems like she can handle the rest,
so now that you have all worked day after day, spend the rest of your vacation relaxing.

Alexandra
Uhuhu, this will be our New Year's then.

Rabi
Ah, we have ozoni. Would you like some?

Asahi
The Cradle of the Earth's ozoni
is exquisite from what I hear, so I will more than gladly accept your offer.

---

Everyone
Thanks for the meal!

Alexandra
Mm~, delicious.

Asahi
The dashi is incredible.

Urara
And the mochi's so springy!

Rabi
...I'm glad.
The flavor of ozoni differs from house to house,
so I was worried it wouldn't be to your taste.

Urara
Now that you mention it, it's totally different from eating at my place.
At my parents', we have way more meat than veggies.

Asahi
As for my home, we use the game we catch in ours.
As such, the meat in ours varies every time it is made.

Alexandra
My home isn't much different from Rabi-chan's home,
but sometimes we do flavor it with miso.

Rabi
Miso...?

Alexandra
Mama seemed to have picked it up from someone who moved from the Kansai region.
A soy sauce base is good, but miso is also delicious, you see~

Urara
We really are all over the place!

Alexandra
Hearing how Hime-chan and everyone does theirs could be interesting too.

Urara
For sure! I'll be sure to ask Yuna-san and all them.

Asahi
I will inquire the Tokime Clan as well.

Rabi
Then I, Nayuta-sama and the people of Kamihama City...
And next year I will recreate the flavors.

Urara
Next year...?

Alexandra
Uhuhu, the year has only just begun, and yet -

Asahi
Hasty, aren't we?

Rabi
That may be so.
But Tamaki-san has brought us to this moment,
so I'm hoping to envision many futures.
I'm sure she would be happy to know that.

Asahi
Then once we've finished eating
we should try our first calligraphy of the year.

Rabi
Yeah, first let's write down our resolutions for the year.


-6-

Sudachi
Fumumunfumu, fumumumuu!

Livia
Welcome back, Sudachi.

Yozuru
How was your New Year's visit back home?

Sudachi
~ Ehehe, Otou-san and Okaa-san spoiled me so much! ~

Yozuru
~ I'm glad to hear the time with your parents went well. ~

Sudachi
~ Ah - this is a souvenir! From Otou-san and Okaa-san. ~

Livia
~ Sorry for havin' yer parents go through the trouble... ~
~ Give 'em ma regards. ~

Sudachi
~ Sure! ~

Livia
~ That reminds me, didn't ya have an interview with the teachers at yer elementary school? ~
~ How'd it go? ~

Sudachi
~ Well... It wasn't anything special, I guess? ~
~ If I'm doing well, if I'm eating enough. ~

Livia
~ They sure care about ya. ~
~ They must rightly be relieved knowin' yer doing well. ~

Sudachi
~ Yeah! ~
~ ...Ah, but I also had winter holiday homework. ~
~ Like kakizome. ~

Yozuru
~ Your first calligraphy of the year... That brings back memories. ~

Livia
~ Then why don't y'all give it a try too, Yozuru. I bet she'd get it done faster than workin' alone. ~

Yozuru
~ If Sensei says so, then I will try. ~

---

Sudachi
Fumumu.

Yozuru
I finished writing as well.

Livia
Let's see 'em...

[Even if it's just for one day, go to school.  Sawa Sudachi]

Livia
Ohh, now there's a fine resolution.

Sudachi
Fumu, fumunmumufumumu, fumufumumumufumumun.

Livia
Even if it's jus' a small one, ya wanna take a step forward...?
The first step's the hardest, so do yer best.

Sudachi
Fumu-!

Livia
And Yozuru's...

[Become a nursery school teacher.  Sasame Yozuru]

Livia
Nursery teacher...? That a dream of yers?

Yozuru
No, it is nothing of the sort.
I was simply thinking of how to improve my kindness - where I could show it -
and children had come to mind.
A child is the object of kind, gentle protection.

Livia
I see, ya really thought it out.
Goodness gracious, ya do yer best too, Yozuru.

Yozuru
Yes.

Livia
Well now, one piece of homework's outta the way, so how's about we head out?

Yozuru
Where to?

Sudachi
Fumu?

Livia
It'd be right impolite not greeting the kid who protected our future now.
'Sides, y'all going out and takin' steps towards your own futures -
wouldn't she just be delighted knowin' that?


-7-

Tsuruno
We're heeere!

Felicia
I wondered why we weren't headin' back to Mikazuki Villa...

Yachiyo
Coming back to Kamihama, this should be the first place we return to, don't you think?

Sana
Yes... We have to give proper greetings...

Yachiyo
...Oh?
I didn't expect all of you to come here too...

Yuna
It was a surprise to me as well...

Shizuka
We came to Kamihama City in hopes of giving greetings to all Mahou Shoujo...
But our feet just naturally walked towards this place.

Himena
Us cuties too. It just like came to mind.

Rabi
Everyone seems to have thought the same thing.

Livia
My stars, what a big gathering this is.

Yachiyo
I heard you've been traveling the whole country, but you came back to Kamihama I see.

Livia
We came ta give our greetings too.

Yuna
And after everything... For all of us to come here on the exact same day...

Himena
Maybe you're feeling like us cuties understand each other?

Shizuka
...Well, there is a connection between us.

Rabi
Because we have all overcome the same thing...

Yachiyo
Well, now that we've all gathered here...

Everyone
["Happy New Year."]
["Please take care again this year."]

Shizuka
Huhu, this year will be different from the last.

Yuna
...Yes. It should end up a fine year.

Himena
It's not "should end up", it's "will be", kyaha★

Rabi
Indeed, it's important to willingly go yourself.

Livia
Mm, we each got our own resolutions. A blessin' to be sure.

Yachiyo
.....

Tsuruno
You think it reached Iroha and everyone?

Felicia
They hadda've gotten the message, right?

Sana
Yes, I'm sure they're listening.

Yachiyo
That's not all. I'm sure she has a reply.
Am I right, Iroha?

Iroha
Yeah!
Everyone, have a Happy New Year!