I'm back with a new chapter for HaruTaka Winter 2015! I'm totally enjoying myself right now, I've got loads of time on my hands since it's Christmas break for me and writing this is definitely killing time. I hope you like this chapter!

I did NOT write about hatsumode or anything because that's going to clash with the next chapter of Evening Yesterday. (be sure to check out the next chapter for that once it's up!)

Happy early new year to you all!


Week 2: New Year


Everything started from Haruka's energetic suggestion.

"Let's make a year capsule!" he said excitedly. Takane looked up from her box of Pocky and the TV. They sat on the couch in the living room of their apartment, watching a New Year's Eve countdown program together.

"What's that?" Takane asked. She had never heard of anything like that. Haruka laughed.

"Well, I saw one of these on the web a few days ago, where people would take a box and fill it up with things, just like for a time capsule, but things that symbolize the passing year. I didn't know what they were called, so I just made up that name! We should do something like that, since a new year is coming and I want to remember this year as well!" Takane smiled.

"A lot of things happened this year..." she said. This year was when she and Haruka finally became a couple.

"I found a really nice box!" said Haruka, lifting a box up from the ground. He put it on the table for Takane to see. It was quite nice, being just the right size and it also had a lock and a key. It was quite antique, and it looked just right for storing their precious memories.

"Since I suggested this, I'll put some of my things in first!" Haruka got up from the couch and went into his room. Takane thought about his idea. What could she put in the box, in their year capsule?

Just as she was thinking, Haruka came back to the living room, carrying a bunch of things in his hands. He set them down on the couch and started going through them one by one.

"This is the sketchbook I used throughout this year! When we look back through these things, I'll be able to see how much progress I've made!" he said, the familiar orange-and-black sketchbook in his hands. He set it carefully in the box, and after giving it a few longing pats, he returned to the pile.

"This is the receipt from the dinner of our first date!" said Haruka, putting a piece of paper into the box.

"Idiot! You kept something like that?!" exclaimed Takane. Haruka laughed sheepishly.

"Well, it holds great memories!" he said. Takane sighed.

"Alright then." she said. Haruka smiled, and introduced the next thing.

"This is the picture we all took during our reunion!" he said. Takane glanced at the picture and smiled. The picture showed the ten of them smiling and acting like idiots. The ten of them who used to be a group of teenagers that overcame so many things together in only two days. They all parted to go their own ways, but they had a reunion this year. It was so nice to see all of them again.

In the picture, they were all smiling and laughing and goofing around, even though many of them were now much older. They held up peace signs and made silly faces, and Takane couldn't believe how silly they all looked. But this picture reminded them of the happy times they had together, even when facing so much danger.

"My last item will be a set of photo stickers we took at a photo sticker booth!" said Haruka, putting a strip containing four photo stickers into the box. "Takane, did you think of anything?" Takane nodded slowly, still thinking.

"I'll be right back." she said, and she walked into her room, looking through all her belongings. Finally, she returned with four items in her hands. She sat back down on the couch and went through her memories.

"This is a CD containing my favorite songs of this year." she said, putting a CD into the box. The CD also contained some songs Haruka introduced to her, and she liked them quite a lot.

"This USB contains the first game that I created." Takane said. She was currently learning how to program and produce games, and her first game was created this year. It attracted quite some attention on the internet, and once someone leaked that the legendary "Lightning Dancer Ene" was the one who created the game, the game was now very, very popular.

"Ah, I loved Takane's game!" Haruka exclaimed, his eyes shining brightly of excitement. "You'll make more, right?" Takane smiled.

"Of course!" she said. "There'll be more to come!" She returned to the last two items that were going in their year capsule.

"...My report card." said Takane quietly. Haruka started to laugh.

"S-Shut up! I couldn't think of anything else!" said Takane, embarrassed.

"No, no, I'm not laughing at you, Takane!" said Haruka, a stupid grin on his face. "I just thought... That's so cute of you!" At this, the stupid blush on Takane's face became even redder.

"I can't understand what you think is cute..." said Takane, looking away.

"Hehe... What's the last item?" asked Haruka, still smiling.

"...It's the keychain you gave me when we went to the aquarium." she said, holding out the blue object. After giving it a few longing looks, she put it in the box. Haruka closed the box, locking it as well.

"You can keep the key." said Takane. Haruka nodded.

"Okay!" he said. He joined her on the couch and they watched the countdown. There were only a few seconds left of the current year.

"Actually, there's still one thing that I'd like to put in the box, but I can't." said Takane. Haruka looked at her, confused.

"If it's not with you right now, you can still put it in later-" He was cut off by Takane gripping his hand.

"It's the promise that you'll be with me from now on, no matter what." Haruka's eyes widened, and he smiled. He gripped her hand back, and as the clock struck twelve, they kissed each other.

At that moment, Takane knew the year ahead of them would be great. It was already off to a great start.

For Cinderella, that was when the magic wore off, but for them, that was when the magic started.