Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16817139554722565664/episodes/16817139555748578082
Today is New Year’s Eve.
After New Year’s over here, I’m supposed to go back to my parents’ house for the rest of the holidays.
So now I’m visiting Chifuyu’s parents’ house.
Chifuyu’s mother and us are getting ready for dinner.
“Mom, when you’re done cooking, you can go ahead and take a bath.”
“Yes, yes. Chifuyu, speaking of which, can you put together the laundry? I’ll turn it in with you when you take a bath.”
“Yes, okay.”
Chifuyu went to the changing room once.
Then, Chifuyu’s mother bows slightly towards me.
“Really, all thanks to Sagara-kun.”
“W-What is it?”
“She’s really brightened up. She always had that death-like look in her eyes, except when she was talking to Madoka-chan, so I was always worried if she was okay.”
While serving the dishes, Chifuyu’s mother looks at her with a faraway look and smiles a little.
“To be honest, I was surprised when I heard she was going out with you, but I knew it probably wouldn’t work out. Ever since what happened with her father, she has stopped talking to me because she’s worried about me, and she’s always been like that, so there’s no way she’ll ever get along with a man.”
“……”
“But Sagara-kun was by her side when she had the incident and for a long time afterwards. Ah, you are the child that even I, as a mother, could not do for her. I’m sorry, but in reality I should have done it.”
“No…… aunt—mother-in-law was properly supportive of Chifuyu.”
“No, I didn’t get along well with my husband and I hurt that girl too. However, I was happy to be able to eat with her again like this, and also with the person she chose.”
She stops for a moment and gently wipes the glistening thing in her eyes with her finger.
Then, looking at me, she said ‘I’m sorry, It’s getting damp.”
“No. Besides, it was still impossible for me to support all of Chifuyu by myself. I was only able to do it because I had people like mother-in-law and Madoka san who understood her. So, please continue to look after me from now on.”
“Yes, it’s my pleasure. Well, it’s almost over. Please take it easy at night”
“Yes.”
Just as we finished talking, Chifuyu came back and said, “I’ve already done the laundry.”
After that, as if sensing that the mood was a bit gloomy, she puffed out her cheeks and said, “Mom, did you do something to Toma-kun?”
“You’re an idiot, really. But I think it’s time for me to think about remarrying.”
That’s what mother-in-law said.
Then Chifuyu said “Well then, it’s a game of who comes first, Madoka or mother?”
We talked and laughed about such things.
◇
“Well, I’m going to go to Hatsumode with some people from work now, so you two should be appropriate.”
After dinner and into the night, Chihuyu’s mother changed her clothes and went outside.
Chifuyu and I got into the kotatsu because it was cold and she was watching TV.
“I see, the year is already over?”
“Yeah, it goes by so fast. But I don’t like winter because it’s cold.”
“I like winter a lot.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s called Chifuyu (Fuyu). Besides, when it’s cold, we stick together a lot.”
“Toma-kun …… No, I stick to you a lot even in summer. So I’d rather be warm than cold.”
“Yeah. But when I’m with Chifuyu, the season doesn’t matter.”
The end-of-year singing show will soon be over.
As I was warming up here thinking that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to spend New Year’s Eve with Chifuyu, Chifuyu got out of the kotatsu and picked up her scarf and coat that were hanging on hangers.
“Hey, would you like to go to the first shrine visit? I want to go pray to the gods with Toma-kun.”
“Isn’t it cold? It’s fine if we do it tomorrow morning before we go home.”
“Noo, I guess it’s better to do something like this sooner rather than later. Hey, let’s go?”
“I guess so. Okay, I’ll get my jacket.”
I turn off the TV, leave the kotatsu and leave the room.
When I went outside, a cold wind hit me.
Chifuyu immediately grabbed my hand and put it in her pocket.
“Isn’t my hand cold?”
“It’s still cold as ever. So I need to warm up.”
“Yeah,…… Toma-kun’s hands are always warm.”
“That’s why it’s just right. I will have what Chifuyu lacks, and Chifuyu will have what I don’t have. That’s fine, that’s what it is.”
“Yeah. But there’s nothing that Toma-kun lacks, is there?”
“Ahaha, that’s true. If I hadn’t met Chifuyu, I’d probably be playing games at the kotatsu at my parents’ house by now, and I wouldn’t even be working part-time. Chifuyu is the one who turned me into an adult. Thanks for everything.”
“Toma-kun …… yes, I’m glad.”
If it wasn’t for Chifuyu, I probably would have been a really boring person.
I was spoilt by my parents, studied and went on to higher education without any purpose.
Even after that, I would have become an adult without knowing what I wanted to do or what I should do.
No, could I have become an adult?
Like Chifuyu, I would have never understood the feelings of people who are constantly facing their inadequacies and suffering from their problems.
Chifuyu taught me everything.
I learnt everything from Chifuyu.
I learnt that people can grow, people can change.
And because of Chifuyu, I was able to know how it feels to love someone so much and to think that they are important.
“Ah, the New Year’s bell.”
“There’s a line of people lined up. I want to ring the bell.”
“Shall we get in line then?”
“Yes.”
Until recently, when she came into a crowd, she would hang her head and tremble, but Chifuyu has now gotten used to that kind of thing.
Perhaps knowing this, Chifuyu smiles and says, ‘It’s great that it’s lively, Toma-kun,’ and I think it’s so cute that she pulls her hand closer to me while still putting it in her pocket.
“…… But, after all, you shouldn’t get separated from the crowd, so stay by my side.”
“Yes. Toma kun, I’ll die if you’re not here.”
“Me, too. I’m going to ask God to let me be with Chifuyu all the time.”
“Yeah. …… we’ll always be together.”
In the middle of the queue, we welcomed the New Year.
After looking at each other and saying “Happy New Year” and laughing, there were no words exchanged until it was our turn to ring the bell.
When we were ringing the bell, when we were holding the cue rope together, and when the bell rang, Chifuyu didn’t say anything.
But I’m sure she was thinking the same thing I was.
We are always together.
That’s all, just a small wish.
But even that depends on our own efforts in the end.
God doesn’t smile on those who don’t work hard.
That’s why I have to do our best not to let go of her hand from tomorrow onwards.
So that we can laugh with the people we love all the time.
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