396 New Years Eve... power outage!? (1/2)

The night of New Year's Eve.

Seiji and Shika and Reo sat together by the kotatsu, watching television.

On the television program was a middle-aged man wearing bright red with strangely shaped golden accessories and ridiculous makeup. He was even dancing in a style more suitable for young women while singing a joyous tune… Although he was comical all over, he wasn't disgusting at all, and was quite amusing.

After this rather unique male singer finished his performance, the hosts gave a useless speech. Next up was a middle-aged woman wearing plain Sakura Island clothing… whoops, it would be politer to refer to her as a female singer. There was a group of handsome men wearing similar clothing accompanying her as dancers.

She was an excellent singer, but there was a mysterious awkwardness to the handsome men dancing behind her, which made people focus too much on that rather than her singing.

After that, there was a duo of two handsome idols singing. At first they sang in quite a reserved manner, but when they both took off and threw away their jackets in the middle, revealing their vests inside, they suddenly changed to a passionate style…

Various types of singers and groups performed as the sound of singing continuously echoed in Seiji's living room.

In between watching TV, Seiji also browsed the internet with his cell phone and chatted with his friends.

He made arrangements with Mika and Chiaki to celebrate the New Year tomorrow morning.

The night gradually got darker.

Shika made some soba noodles and the three of them ate them together by the kotatsu, slurping them up.

A while after they ate, it was almost twelve o'clock—midnight.

The television showed various locations as it indicated the countdown to New Year, showing many groups of people excitedly waiting for its arrival.

Everyone was smiling in preparation to say farewell to this year, hoping that the next year would be even better.

At this moment, Seiji noticed something. He turned around, only to see that his adopted sister was looking in his direction.

”What's the matter?”

”Nothing…” Shika lowered her head slightly. ”I just feel like… as if I'm dreaming.”

”Eh?”

”Meeting Brother Seiji… and being able to stay here like this… It's just like a dream,” she muttered lightly.

After the clock tower rang to indicate the coming of the New Year, would she wake up from this dream?

Would she suddenly open her eyes to discover that she was still in her former apartment by herself?

Could all of this just be her fantasy…?

A large hand appeared in her field of vision.

When she lifted her head and looked, she saw her adopted brother smiling gently at her, reaching out with his hand.

Shika blinked at this.

She lifted her hand and gently placed her palm within his larger hand.

”With an adopted sister like you, I feel like I'm dreaming as well.” Seiji smiled. ”But, this isn't a dream… here's the proof.”

He squeezed her hand with a slight amount of force.

It felt soft, warm, and real.

Shika also held onto his hand.

It felt solid, warm, and real to her as well.

The feeling was so real to her.

The anxiety in her heart disappeared just like that as she smiled.

The two of them smiled at each other… which caused the atmosphere to become somewhat romantic.

*Thud!*

A sudden sound interrupted this atmosphere.

The sound came from Reo-chan.

As she was falling asleep, her head landed on the table, causing a small thud.

”Mew…” She even yawned cutely.

Seiji and Shika both froze up.

The two of them let go of each other and took back their hands.

Seiji awkwardly coughed.

Shika's face was slightly red.

”Reo-chan, how about going to sleep now?” Seiji asked.

”Eh…” The little girl regained her senses when she heard this question.

She slowly lifted her head and rubbed her eyes.

”No… I want to watch it together…”

”Then do your best to stay awake for a little longer.”

”Okay, meow…”