AD 2011.01.02 8:30:12:13

To be truthful, the Yanagibayashi Shrine doesn't get much visitors all year. The only people who come regularly are the members of the Future Gadget Lab. However, when the calendar resets and New Year's begins, a few people actually choose Yanagibayashi for their hatsumōde, the first shrine visit of the year, which brings forth many people to the shrine.

People flooded the courtyard of the shrine, cheerful and eager. A rebirth of feeling that comes only once a year. Helping the visitors always made me calm. Families, children, couples, singles, everyone looked like they were truly enjoying themselves. Someone once said that happiness is infectious, and I can't deny that. No matter what mood I'm in, a cheerful person will always bring my spirits up. Like the one who helped me through the years.

The more I thought about it, the more I felt a contradiction occur. I tried to tell myself that I was content with how things were, but no matter how many times I told myself it was true, I never convinced myself.


After the courtyard calmed down, I went back into the house. Since it was tradition for New Year's, I prepared a meal for the family. My father always insisted on keeping to the traditions of New Years, including having family visit for lunch. My mother also agreed with him on this. What this meant was that someone I always had mixed feelings about would come here. Already, that familiar presence filled the room.

"Hello, dear sis!"

The call beckoned from a person who had a rugged personality and outfit. One who you'd think was a boy at first glance. But she is a girl. To be more specific, my tomboy sister.

"Y-Tutsuko, please stop calling me that," I pleaded.

"But you look so much like a little sis," Yutsuko further teased.

"Hey, calm down you two; it's New Year's," my mother insisted.

In tow with Yutsuko was her boyfriend, who looked like one of those biker men whom you'd find on the streets. The two have been going out for a while now, but their relationship has always been an enigma to both me and my father.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Yutsuko," my father commented.

"It's nice to see you too, Eisuke," Yutsuko returned.

My father stifled his annoyance.

"Now now, just because you moved out and have a boyfriend doesn't mean you can refer to me by my first name," my father corrected.

"He's right, Yutsuko; its impolite to refer to your father that way," my mother added.

"Aww, no fun!" Yutsuko playfully whined.

Shortly after our greeting, I prepared osechi for the family. Years of practice, albeit forced practice, have made me adept in cooking. Once the food was set, we sat down to feast.

It's been this way for a long time. Though it may seem strange, my mother never learned how to cook. My father insisted that I cook for the family, but my first few attempts left me embarrassed. Because of that, I taught myself culinary arts when I was young, and took classes in high school to improve my skills. Though I've been told that I had a natural talent in cooking, I wouldn't have gotten anywhere without the classes I took or self teaching. I made sure to prepare this meal the best I could, and it yielded results.

"Mmm, very delicious, Ruka!" my mother noted.

"You really are a wondrous cook, Ruka. Not a single grain out of place!" Yutsuko complimented.

"T-thank you all," I reply.

For a while, it was namely silent, so we just sat and ate for a while. Yutsuko's boyfriend decided to remain quiet and in the background, occasionally whispering to Yutsuko. For a while, we sat and chat about trivial things, until Yutsuko brought up a certain topic.

"So~, did you tell Mom about your new job at May Queen Nyan Nyan?" Yutsuko teased.

A cold chill traveled down my spine. I didn't even think about how my mother would react to it.

"I know about it; Eisuke talked to me about his decision to permit Ruka to work there," my mother replied

"Eh? That doesn't seem like something the father of a shrine maiden would approve of," Yutsuko questioned.

"It's not about approval, it's regarding favors," he responded, "Yukitaka Akiha and I first met each other after he donated an old PC to us, and we became acquaintances ever since. When Okabe came over and asked about the PC, he said we could keep it. That helped pay off a lot of expenses."

What? Okabe asked for that old PC? Why would he want to do that?

"However, Akiha died before we could thank him," my father continued, "When I found out that Faris was Yukitaka's daughter, and she asked for my child's help, I felt it was the least I could do."

"S-so that's why you let me have the j-job?" I stuttered.

"Yes," he replied, "Though you know you could have declined at any time if you wanted to, which brings up something I wanted to ask you. Why did you want to work at May Queen?"

"Umm..." I muttered, trying to form an appropriate response.

"It's because he secretly wants to be girl that gets all the boys!" Yutsuko taunted.

"I DO NOT!" I yelped.

The room became haunted by a brief silence.

"Ah, s-sorry; I-I didn't mean to y-yell," I apologized, "B-but that wasn't why I accepted it. It... was for M-Mayuri. She's been feeling down lately."

"So that's the reason! Is that also why you cosplayed as Kirari for Comima?" Yutsuko asked.

"N-not exactly... T-that was her doing m-more than anything else," I responded.

"Well, there's no problem with that. However, I'm going to have to ask you to stay behind for New Years," my dad replied, "There will still be more visitors coming, and a fraction may choose this shrine for their hatsumōde. I would appreciate it if everything were in order."

"U-understood," I reply.


The rest of the meal went on as it normally would, and I went back out into the courtyard. As the broom swept back and forth, the clock ticked, left forgotten. People came and vanished within what seemed like the blink of an eye. After what seemed like a few hours or so, a figure could be spotted coming towards me. That figure was unforgettable, the eccentric man I crushed on: Okabe Rintarou.

"H-hey Oka – I mean, Hello, Kyouma," I corrected.

"Rukako, have you been training with the forbidden sword, Samidare, as instructed?" Okabe demanded.

"Umm, I-I'm sorry, K-Kyouma," I stuttered, "I-I forgot."

He expelled a sigh, seemingly brushing off my violation.

"I haven't been able to direct your training, and I apologize for that, but I've had more important matters to attend to," Okabe explained.

"I-it's okay," I reply.

Something about our conversing seemed rather nostalgic in a way. Almost as if time between us passed faster than the sun's motion. Thinking about Mayuri has made me forget about him, and something tells me that his relationship with Kurisu has done the same thing to him regarding me. It felt so strange, and kind of sad in a way.

"However, I do need to tell you why I came her," Kyouma said, "I came here to tell you that the Future Gadget Lab will be going into town for shogatsu, and you are cordially invited for this event. I expect you to come at around 16:00, Rukako."

With his finishing statement, he turned around and walked away.

As he left the shrine courtyard, I imagined the lab members together, some of which I only heard about from Mayuri or Okabe. It's been a while since I met with the lab members, and happiness permeated my mind at the thought of it. It felt nice that I could get to spend time with the other lab members, and I could imagine Mayuri would be happy for that, too. Whenever I do something out of the norm, she makes sure that I head on, not looking back. Whenever I'm honest to her and come out of my shell, she's always been accepting and kind.

But even then I'm still hiding things from her.

I honestly thought that being around her more would be satisfying, but she became an obsession to me to the point that a day doesn't go by without me thinking about her. It's a lot like my crush on Okabe, and that nearly unraveled me from the furtiveness I put on to hide my love.

How much longer will it be before I unravel?