Contributed by forgottendiary
***
"Mou, hime, what's with that forlorn face?" Sheryl teased Alto as she tugged at his maroon pashimina scarf. "Don't forget, I turned down my New Year countdown special for this," she whispered close to his ear as they continued to walk arm-on-arm on the snow-covered cobblestones.
The blue-haired pilot briefly moved his head away with a grunt but didn't say anything. Having been through this issue many times, he knew he wouldn't win against the Galactic Fairy when it came to arguments.
Sheryl breathed in the crisp scent of the early evening's frost. It was a quiet and empty road with only bald trees and a few street lamps as their company.
"Isn't this historic? Our first New Year on this planet." Sheryl smiled contently at the thought as she leaned her head on Alto's shoulder.
So much has happened since they arrived in the spring. Slowly but gradually, the people of Frontier seemed to have moved on after being dispersed into different continents.
"Aa," Alto simply replied feeling the familiar presence of her around him.
As they turned on a corner, Sheryl swiftly eased herself out of Alto's hold and took a few hurried steps forwards. Turning on her heel, she held out a hand towards Alto.
"Ne Alto, look, the lights are on."
Behind Sheryl, Alto could clearly see the lights gracing a nearby traditional Japanese home.
Sheryl was smiling at him and he could swear he saw her cheeks turning pink under the dimming sky.
He looked at her still out-stretched hand down to her fingers where a piece of a clear and precious stone briefly shimmered.
"Let's go greet your Father a Happy New Year."
Sighing and closing his eyes in blissful defeat, he took her hand and allowed himself to be led into a place he could now call home.