“Phew… it was scrumptious… In spite of everything, Arisa’s cooking is the most effective.”

Yuzuru remarked to Arisa as they sipped their soba noodles.

His New 12 months’s Eve soba this yr was higher than those he normally had at his mother and father’ home yearly.

This was as a result of he was consuming it together with his treasured fiancée…

It was additionally as a result of his fiancée’s cooking was essentially the most scrumptious for Yuzuru.

“This time, you additionally cooked, didn’t you, Yuzuru-san?”

“Sure, properly, I actually helped out.”

Nevertheless, Yuzuru was not allowed to do something however easy work…

And mainly, he was performing like a robotic, following Arisa’s directions.

So it was largely Arisa’s work.

“You have got gotten higher than earlier than, haven’t you?”

“Is that so?”

Yuzuru couldn’t assist however smile at Arisa’s phrases.

It’s been a very long time since he began serving to Arisa… however evidently he has lastly grow to be acknowledged by her.

“Sure, I was apprehensive that I needed to preserve fixed supervision, however lately I’ve been capable of let my eyes wander a bit.”

“…Am I a toddler or one thing?”

“Sure, that’s true. I believe you’ve lastly discovered to face and stroll by myself two ft.”

“So strict…”

Nevertheless, from the extent of Arisa’s cooking, that would definitely be concerning the extent of it.

He couldn’t refute it.

“Let’s watch TV, we could? You’ll be able to select.”

Yuzuru stated as he handed Arisa the distant management.

There was no lack of packages he wished to look at, however he was extra keen on what Arisa would select.

“Let’s see…”

Arisa turned the distant management to the TV and altered the channel a number of occasions.

And the one she lastly selected was a comedy present.

It was a barely shocking alternative.

“… since we don’t watch it a lot at house.”

Apparently, it had proven up on his face.

Arisa stated this with a wry smile as if making an excuse.

“I see…”

Yuzuru’s thoughts was full of the face of Arisa’s adoptive mom.

Definitely, she didn’t appear to love this sort of factor very a lot.

“… do you dislike it?”

“No, no means. I’ve by no means seen it both, so I suppose it’s okay.”

In fact, it was not that he had by no means seen a comedy present in his life.

However he had by no means seen this annual present on the finish of the yr.

“You’ve by no means seen it?”

“Nicely, our household’s channel rights are based mostly on seniority.”

“Oh…”

Arisa chuckled at Yuzuru’s phrases.

Seniority, in different phrases, implies that the one who had the suitable to decide on the packages was his grandfather, Takasegawa Sogen.

Sogen was not at all averse to comedy reveals, however on the finish of the yr, he most well-liked to look at singing reveals.

In fact, if the grandchildren’s era like Yuzuru and Ayumi had been to whine about it, they might yield.

However they by no means pestered him.

And it was not that Yuzuru and Ayumi don’t like singing reveals.

That they had grown up watching them, so it was solely pure.

They relaxed whereas watching TV, speaking each every so often.

When this system was virtually over, Arisa stood up.

“What’s incorrect?”

“I believe I heard the bells ringing for the New 12 months… Sure, they’re ringing.”

Arisa stated as she listened by the window.

Yuzuru was a little bit shocked that it was already that point and picked up the distant management.

“Ought to I flip it off?”

“Nicely, so far as I’m involved, I’d love to listen to it… However that is Yuzuru-san’s home.”

“I’ll flip it off then. I need to hear it too.”

Saying that Yuzuru turned off the TV.

The room immediately turns into quiet.

Then the low, echoing sound of bells could possibly be heard from exterior.

“Oh, I heard it clearly.”

“It’s already… the tip of the yr, isn’t it?”

Arisa stated with a sigh.

Yuzuru, too, listened to the sound of the bell and thought concerning the occasions of the yr.

“Talking of which…, did you get your want fulfilled?”

“…my want?”

“The request for this yr’s Hatsumode.” (TN: Hatsumode– New 12 months’s first shrine go to)

As Yuzuru answered, Arisa laughed.

The one factor Arisa wished for on the shrine a couple of yr in the past was ‘to have the ability to preserve spending this yr with Yuzuru-san‘.

There was no want to substantiate.

They had been nonetheless collectively.

“Sure. How about you, Yuzuru-san?”

“I received mine granted, too.”

Yuzuru additionally answered with a wry smile.

For sure, Yuzuru’s want was the identical as Arisa’s.

“Talking of Hatsumode… Now we have an early begin tomorrow morning. We’ll should get to mattress as quickly because the sound finishes enjoying.”

This yr, they’d promised to go to Hatsumode with their mates.

Since they weren’t planning to see the primary dawn of the yr, there was no have to stand up earlier than the solar rose. Besides, the appointment was at a fairly early time within the morning.

“I suppose so.”

Yuzuru nodded at Arisa’s phrases.

The 2 of them had already bathed, so all they wanted to do was go to mattress.

“Nonetheless… I see. This yr is already over.”

Yuzuru stared at Arisa’s face whereas saying this.　

Arisa tilted her head curiously.

Yuzuru continued to stare at her.

Arisa seemed troubled and smiled bitterly.

When Yuzuru introduced his face even nearer to hers, she turned away, as if she was actually embarrassed.

“W-what is the matter…?”

“I believed I’d take a very good look whereas I nonetheless can because it’s the final time I’ll be seeing Arisa this yr.”

“I’ll not be altering in an hour.” 

“For those who say it like that, there will probably be nothing new within the new yr.”

Yuzuru positioned his hand on Arisa’s shoulder and pulled her towards him.

Arisa, maybe sensing Yuzuru’s intention, reluctantly – however with an expression of contentment – moved her face nearer to Yuzuru’s.

“Might I… have the final one of many yr?”

“…Be happy.”

Yuzuru determined to do as Arisa stated and be free.

He put one hand behind her again to carry her shut and the opposite hand behind her head to help her face.

“Nm…”

Then he introduced their lips collectively.

Because it was the final kiss of the yr, he made it longer and deeper than normal.

Then, slowly, he launched her lips.

On the similar time, the bell tolled.

They each checked out their watches.

It was precisely midnight.

A yr had ended, and one other yr had begun.

“Blissful New 12 months, Arisa!”

“Sure. Blissful New 12 months!”

They each smiled.

Then Yuzuru started to ask Arisa. 

“By the best way, first one of many new yr…”

Earlier than Yuzuru might end, Arisa’s lips had been on Yuzuru’s. 

Yuzuru’s eyes widened as he was taken unexpectedly.

Arisa slowly pulled her lips away.

“I received Yuzuru-san’s first of this yr.”

Arisa smiled mischievously as she put her finger to her lips.