"Each age has deemed the new born year the fittest time for festive cheer." – Walter Scott

Prologue

There was a happy festive aura in the capital. It was around the start of the new year, the most important time of the year. People are greeting each other, people are cleaning up their resident, places are decorated with kadomatu, shrines and temples are being flocked to, fukubukoa are being purchased, kites are being flown, and some people are playing hanetsuki, including Crown Prince Gonkuro and his newly wedded wife, Yuka. They were having a thrill battling their ball up in the air with their hagoitas or paddles which had their images on them. Besides them Buka was playing the same game with his significant other, Michiko. Gonkuro and Yuka remained as amiable friends with Buka. They remained supportive of each other, with Buka deciding to spend some time with them during New Year's season with them to keep them company, regardless of some objections being raised to the contrary. Past ill feelings were indeed in the past. Gonkuro saw how the cherry that their play ball was flying to the left. He slyly throws it ahead, with Yuka barely hit it away on time. Gonkuro, being in the lighthearted mood he was in, throw it hard as his spouse struggled with how to catch the speedy cherry. In the meantime, Buka unfortunately failed to catch the ball and Chinese ink was marked on Buka's face. Chinese ink was marked on Gonkuro's face as well when Yuka ironically managed to throw the cherry far on the other side of her husband, to her husband's surprise. Regardless, Gonkuro was still fine with having Chinese ink on him. Soon afterwards, the friends were all walking down a street with smiling faces except for Buka who looked disappointed. children noticed and flocked towards their beloved Crown Prince and respectfully bowed towards him. Gonkuro generously gave those children visitors small bags of money, oranges, mochi balls, and even some surprised bags. Yuka smiled at his generosity. Buka seemed okay with it but preferred his own surprise bag that he purchased along the way. Michiko smiled at the Crown Prince's deeds.

Later in the evening, Prince Gonkuro,Yuka,Buka, and Michiko were eating their traditional New Year's Eve dinner, toshikoshi soba, along with the emperor and the empress. Smooth, relaxing koto music was being played by court musicians in the background. Elsewhere in the room was a decorated kagamai mochi, a traditional new year offering to the kami, which the imperial family made earlier that day.

As the dining party silently and politely ate their meal, Michiko remarked to Gonkuro, "What a noble sight I saw of you giving to these children their new year gifts."

The dining group look stunned at her remark.

The woman further said, "Your act of charitable giving seems like a worthy goal to pursue for this year so to effectively clean our inner selves."

Gonkuro courteously replied, "Thank you very much my lady."

Then Michiko next asked, "I wonder if any of your travels had inspired you, including if any of them would make a good inspirational motivational story for this new year."

This surprised everybody, including the musicians and the Crown Prince himself. However, the Crown Prince grasp what she meant and thought a bit as people look on.

Eventually, Gonkuro replied, "Well, I have a story from during my sojourn back in time that probably helped inspired my generosity tonight. I think it will touch all of your hearts in a charitable manner."

There was a moment of silence before Gonkuro turned to his father and asked, "Father, is it alright for me to tell a story as requested by someone?"

His father dignifiedly replied, "Yes. May our hearts be filled with more uplifting generosity for the New Year."

The musicians at this point were silent as Gonkuro went on to tell his tale to his audience's willing attention.