A/N: Yay, super late! I hope nobody got turned off from reading by how late this update is. I've had a lot of stuff in the work and I needed for inspiration to strike so I could finish this! It's inspiration's fault, not mine! Okay, but srsly, I'm going to try harder. Hold me to that!
I hope you enjoy this one. Prompt is "doing something", so I made the "something" a New Year's festival. Yay! Enjoy.
"3. . . 2. . . 1!"
The sound of fireworks and celebration sounded around their circle as they themselves set off sparklers and other such fireworks. The night sky lit up as many groups, not unlike this one, started celebrating the coming of the new year. The street outside the shrine was drenched in snow, and all the members of the Shadow Operatives and Ex-members of SEES were gathered around, bundled up tightly. Even Tatsumi Port Island wasn't immune to the cold. As soon as they finished the count down, Junpei shouted to the skies.
"Yeah! Happy new year, everybody!" said Junpei, cheeks tinted slightly red. He was either cold, or had a little too much to drink. Makoto was betting on both.
Mitsuru nodded, eyes closed solemnly. "Yes, yet another year has come to pass. Time flies, doesn't it, Akihiko? It feels like just yesterday we were graduating from Gekkoukan."
He clenched his fist and grinned. "Yep. It's another great year for training!" A short burst of laughter spread throughout the circle at his protein craze.
"But still, I think we can really appreciate these things," continued Yukari. "After all, would the new year really even be happening if it wasn't for us?"
Junpei's grin had the magnitude of a thousand exploding suns. "Yeah, we're heroes! So we should get to celebrate a little extra, huh?"
"Of course, Junpei, but don't neglect your responsibilities." Leave it to Mitsuru to bring up responsibilities on the holiday. . .Makoto sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as he thought about the amount of work he had to catch up on. But today wasn't the day to worry about it. He looked at the woman to his right, her attention directed to the sky. He caught the familiar look of "childlike wonder and fun", as he described it, on her face as she stared into the skies. I hope this is a memorable experience for her.
"So this is your first new year's festival, right, Labrys?" said Fuuka, bringing attention to the mechanical maiden.
Labrys barely managed to distract herself from the fireworks and festivities to look toward Fuuka, nodding once. Her eyes brightened with each explosion of color in the night sky. "Yup. I'm really glad I get to spend New Year's with everyone. . ." she said, tightening her grip on the hand of the blue-haired man to her left. They exchanged a loving glance, before returning their attention to the rest of the circle.
"We should go to the shrine tomorrow!" suggested Ken. "Koromaru really wants to go."
"Are you sure it's just him that wants to go?" asked Junpei, wrapping an arm around Ken's shoulder teasingly.
"Stop teasing Ken-kun, Stupei. After all, even he has better luck with girls than you do." Yukari laughed, echoed by most everyone in the circle.
"H-Hey, I resent that!" said Junpei, cheeks growing even redder. As the lively circle continued discussing around them, Makoto looked towards Labrys and savored what he saw. The bursts of happiness every time someone made a joke, or a firework exploded, were jam-packed with pure joy. This was her first real New Year's she got to spend with everyone, so Makoto wanted to make it special for her.
"Want to go to the shrine tomorrow?" he asked in a hushed tone. "Together. " She looked towards him, cheeks dusted with a light blush.
"S-Sure. I think it sounds like fun. . ." She grinned, wrapping her hand around his, even tighter. "I'm really glad we get to spend new years together."
Makoto nodded, giving her a quick peck on the cheek. Labrys's light blush grew a far deeper red as he did so, but the rest of their circle was too distracted to have noticed.
"G-Guys, I really don't think that's necessary!" Junpei raised his hands defensively, and Labrys took a quick look around to see what was going on. Everyone in the circle had prepared a snowball, and was looking rather intently at Junpei. "This is a brand new jacket! C'mon, Makoto! You gotta' help me out!"
The blue haired boy remained silent, curious as to what would happen. "Betrayal! It stings!" said Junpei, melodramatically.
"Fire!" yelled Yukari as every unoccupied hand in the circle threw a snowball at Junpei. They collided with his jacket and even he let out a loud and hearty laugh, planning his revenge.
"Oh, that is it Yuka-tan, I'm gonna' get you!" he slyly grinned as he leaned over to pick up his own ammunition. He flung the first snowball towards Yukari. What had started as a unified front had devolved into a free-for-all.
Fuuka landed one directly in Akihiko's face, laughing playfully. "Alright, Mitsuru, I won't hold back!" he said, starting to gather ammunition.
"Honestly. . . You'd think you're all still in primary school." However, even Mitsuru changed her tune after Akihiko nailed her, joining in the fight.
"C'mon, Koromaru!" The street had turned into a battle ground, even Ken and Koromaru participating.
Makoto looked towards Labrys. It was clear what the two had to do.
Naturally, they joined in.
The following morning, Makoto stood outside the shrine in the same place they'd had their little snowball spat. The war scars were still there. The glory was eternal.
So was Junpei's shame.
He was waiting for Labrys to get there so they could have their New Year's date before everyone else got to the shrine. The anticipation was killing him. While he knew Labrys wasn't always the type for that sort of thing, there was the firm suspicion in the back of his head that Yukari might talk her into it. And if so, his day would be a very good one.
"Heya', Makoto!" said Labrys, shuffling towards him.
His expectations weren't for naught.
As it was a festival day, Labrys was donned in a pink yukata with a white floral pattern. She'd replaced her regular ponytail holder with a ceremonial kanzashi, further accentuating the traditional look. He silently celebrated as he waved hello to her, now totally adamant that she looked good in absolutely everything. Despite the fact that he knew who this was, she emanated a traditional aura that he could only define as heart-warming.
"Hi," he said, thoroughly looking over her in the yukata.
"Hey. . ." She prodded the snow with her sandals, the blush on her cheek growing stronger almost instantly. "Uh, I know I must look kinda' silly in this, but I really wanted to wear it. . . After all, it's a festival, and Yukari said that people really like this stuff, so I wanted to try. . . Besides, I thought maybe you'd like it. . ."
"You look great." He smiled gently as her cheeks burned even brighter.
"O-Oh. . . Thanks!" Despite her embarrassment, it was evident the compliment meant a lot to her. "R-Right. Well, let's go in, shall we?" She held her hand out to him, which he accepted, as they walked into the snow-ridden shrine. "Last night was a ton of fun, huh?" she asked, looking around their battleground. "Everybody got pretty wild. It's nice to see even Mitsuru and Akihiko have a playful side to them."
"Even they can cut loose sometimes," he said, as they approached the main shrine.
"Yeah. It's really nice to see everyone do that. . . We've really got a buncha' great friends, don't we?" She smiled one of those genuine smiles that could melt the biggest glacier in the world.
"Mhm." Makoto looked toward the shrine. What to wish for. . .
"So, what do we do now? We pray for somethin', right? What we want in the new year?" She looked toward the shrine, stroking her chin with curiosity.
"Pretty much." He parted hands with her and gestured ahead. "Shall we?"
"Let's," she said with a smile. Several moments of silence passed as the couples made their wishes for the new year. After what felt like quite a while, Labrys looked up and turned to Makoto. "Alright, all done." She smiled, the blush on her cheeks even more intense than before. "I wished to stay with all my friends this year, and for all of us to happy. . . E-Especially you," she said. "I want us to be happy. . . I-I. . ." She interrupted herself, clearing her throat. Dismissing the thought, she asked, "Did you make a nice wish? What'd you wish for?"
"I want all our friends to be happy and stay together this year."
"Aww, that's so sweet. I hope your wish comes true."
He nodded, smiling at the innocent girl in front of him. "Do you want to draw fortunes?"
"Uh, sure. It's New Years, so we'll probably be pretty lucky, right?" The duo started to walk towards the box. "I'm sure we'll get something good."
Labrys drew hers first. "Great Fortune! See, I told you we'd be lucky. Let's see, the romance section says. . . 'Your destined partner is right in front of you'." She chuckled. "It's not that far off, huh?" She grinned, now in even higher spirits. "C'mon, draw your fortune! I wanna' see what you get."
Makoto inhaled deeply, reaching for the slip of paper. He pulled it out, unfurled it. . .
Curse.
He let out a sigh of disappointment as Labrys raised her eyebrow. "What was it?"
"Great Fortune," he said, putting the fortune into his back pocket. Better at least keep her in a good mood.
"See? We're both gonna' be lucky this year!" She smiled, completely oblivious to his actual fortune. The pair walked towards the center of the shrine, Makoto dispelling the negativity his fortune had brought upon him with a simple glimpse at the girl accompanying him. "I'm really glad we could do this today. . . I know it woulda' been fun with everyone else, too, but I'm really glad I got to spend this moment with you. . ." She took his hands in hers, averting her eyes in embarrassment. "I really hope this year can be as fun as the last. . . S-So you've gotta' live up to that, alright? That's your responsibility!"
He smiled, patting her atop the head as he so often did. "Don't worry. I will."
"A-Alright. . . I'm holdin' you to that," she said, the red glow on her cheeks refusing to die down. "U-Uh. . . I know it's kinda' sudden, but. . . I-I love ya'." She smiled one of those embarrassed, yet genuine smiles only Labrys was capable of producing.
"Love you, too," he said, planting a kiss on her forehead. "Let's spend lots of time together this year."
"O-Of course!" Labrys looked up at him, before hesitantly bringing her lips to his. The couple shared a passionate kiss, dispelling the cold weather from their systems as the warmth from each other spread through their bodies. Eventually, the couple reluctantly broke apart, as Labrys nervously took a few steps back. "Th-thanks for comin' with me today. I had loads of fun."
"No problem. I did, too. But. . ." He looked at the time on his phone, then glanced to the entrance of the shrine. "Where do you think everyone else is? They should be here by now. . ."
"I dunno'," remarked Labrys. "Maybe they got caught up in somethin'?"
"C'mon, you've got to want it!" shouted a familiar voice.
"Akihiko-senpai, I don't want it!" said yet another distinct one.
"C'mon, Stupei, try your best!" That one was clearly Yukari.
Yep. That's them.
The lively group crashed into the shrine, several of them sweating and panting heavily. "Alright, that was a nice training session, guys. We'll do it again on the way back!"
"Akihiko-senpai, how can you be so cruel!?" protested Junpei. "I haven't run that much since Tartarus. . ."
Labrys grinned, joining the discussion within the lively group. Makoto simply stood back, watching all the people he loved gathered into one place. The woman he loved and all his closest friends and allies, all joined up together to make one of the liveliest groups in the world. With Labrys and everyone else around. . .
How could this year not be great?
A/N: Woo, complete! That one was a lot of fun. I kind of like the open ended prompts! They let me be super creative. Aaanyways. I'm sorry if I don't get to update that much (you know how it is, finals weeks, other stuff) But I've been writing a TON of stuff lately and I've got more stories than this to work on! Currently working on making a compilation of one-shots based around Persona Q! So be on the look out for that. Don't worry, I won't neglect this one!
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See you next time!