12/15
Yui came up to Chie after class to ask her a very important question.
"Do you have any plans for Christmas Eve?" Yui asked.
"Me? Well, I'm glad you asked." Chie replied.
"Why?"
"My parents intended for me to spend Christmas Eve with them, but I politely told them that I had other plans."
"What did you have in mind?"
Chie smiled from ear to ear before going up to Yui and giving her a warm hug.
"I told them that I wanted to spend it with my girlfriend!" Chie said.
Yui smiled brightly and hugged Chie back.
"I was hoping you'd say that. I was going to ask if you wanted to come over on that day." Yui said happily.
"So it's a plan?"
"Yeah. I've asked all the others, and they said they'll be available for Christmas." Yui told her.
"What about Nanako-chan and Dojima-san?" Chie asked.
"*sigh* They're still recovering, unfortunately. I'm hoping they'll be home for Christmas at least, but I can't count on that. If only…" Yui said regretfully.
"That's too bad. But at least you'll have us. Have me…"
"You're right."
Chie leaned toward Yui, until Yui put her fingers to her lips.
"Hey, careful! We're still in school!" Yui whispered.
"Oh, right! Sumimasen…" Chie whispered with a blush.
"I appreciate your enthusiasm. Don't worry, we'll have plenty of time to get cozy." Yui flirted.
With that, the two of them parted ways, looking forward to the upcoming holiday.
Naoki asked Yui for a bit of an odd request, which was to walk home with him. Yui didn't question it however, and gladly accepted. After walking for a while, Yui noticed that the route Naoki had them take was...unusual.
"Uh, Naoki-kun? Not that I don't enjoy walking you home, but...is this the path you usually take?" Yui asked Naoki.
"No." Naoki said plainly.
"Oh. Then why…"
When the two of them reached an intersection, it became familiar to Yui. This was when she came to the realization.
"This is where they found her…" Naoki stated.
"That's right...I remember this place." Yui replied.
"I could never bring myself to come here. I was afraid of remembering Sis, thinking about how...her body ended up…" Naoki said sadly.
"That's understandable. So...what made you come here now?"
"I wouldn't have come here if you hadn't come along, to be honest. Now that you're here, I feel like I can finally accept the truth. That Sis is gone…"
Yui nodded sympathetically, watching as Naoki stared off into the distance.
"You know how in TV dramas when someone dies, the other people cry for days, or they remember those sad memories and it haunts them? It was never like that for me. And because I didn't cry like the actors on TV, I thought...maybe I didn't actually like Sis." Naoki reflected.
"That's just how it is sometimes. People handle grief differently, after all. I'm guessing you just had no idea how to react at first." Yui stated.
"You're right. Thanks to you, I understand that now." Naoki said with a nod.
Naoki folded his arms in discomfort as his emotions started to leak out.
"All this time, I was trying not to think about her. It was easier for me to think that I was a cold person, than it was to think about Sis and suffer. I just kept running from the pain." Naoki muttered.
Naoki turned back to look at Yui, which only served to break him down further.
"She must have wanted to live more, huh?" Naoki choked out.
Yui sighed in agreement.
"I'm sure she did. We all do. It's sad how we sometimes take our time for granted." Yui said.
"Saki…" Naoki whimpered.
Naoki started to cry, hiding his face from Yui. Yui offered Naoki a hug, to which he slowly, but surely, accepted. As Naoki continued to cry, Yui gently pat Naoki on the back.
"I wanted her to live more. I wanted her to live…" Naoki wept.
"It's OK, Naoki-kun. Just let it all out." Yui whispered.
"OK...I'll try...for once." Naoki responded.
After a couple minutes, Naoki pulled away and dried his eyes.
"Thank you so much, Narukami-san. That was the first time I truly felt sad." Naoki said gratefully.
"You're welcome, Naoki-kun." Yui said with a gentle smile.
"You can go home now. I'm going to go home and...talk to my parents about Sis. About me."
"That's good. Take care."
"You too. Thank you again!"
12/18
Rise called Yui today, asking her to meet her at the Tatsuhime Shrine. When Yui asked her why, Rise seemed extremely hesitant, as though giving the reason over the phone would alert the whole country. Regardless, Yui put on her coat and met Rise at the shrine.
"Hey, Rise-chan." Yui greeted.
"Hi, senpai! Thanks for coming here…" Rise replied.
"Is everything OK? You sounded distressed over the phone. Are you not able to make it on Christmas?"
"No, no! My schedule's completely free! No problem there!" Rise said with a grin.
"Oh. Then...what is it?"
Rise breathed a sigh, shifting her feet anxiously.
"I didn't want to tell anyone else about this. They'd probably think I'm crazy. But...I trust you, senpai." Rise stated.
"I'm not sure why you're not comfortable telling the others, but sure." Yui replied.
"OK...do you remember a couple weeks ago, when we caught Adachi?"
"How could I forget? It was quite an experience, having to defeat a god. What about it?"
"Ever since, something weird has been happening to me. The morning after that day, I woke up...crying." Rise confessed.
"You woke up crying? What?"
"I don't know why. But also, when it happened, my heart was aching. I went to see a doctor about it, and they said nothing was wrong."
"Well, you seem perfectly healthy, so it doesn't seem like a physical problem. But...I don't know. That's just so strange." Yui stated.
"I know! I know I sometimes cry a lot, but I don't think I'm THAT much of a crybaby. And weirder still, it seems to happen every few days. Just today, it happened to me, just waking up with tears in my eyes."
"Were you having nightmares?"
"I would say that, except I don't remember having any."
Yui was stumped, pondering any possible solutions to Rise's problem.
"Could it be that...you're sad because you don't have a date for Christmas?" Yui guessed.
"Eh?! Where did that idea come from, senpai?!" Rise asked in surprise.
"Well...it's just a theory. I'm sure you'd like a boyfriend anyway, regardless of the occasion. Or girlfriend, whichever you like."
"That does sound nice. But...who could I possibly ask out?"
"I have no clue. We'll just have to make it a long term goal. Don't worry, Rise-chan. I'll help you find a partner, hopefully before I have to leave Inaba. Maybe even before Christmas, if we're lucky!"
"You'd do that for me, senpai?"
"Of course I would."
"That's so sweet of you! Thank you, Yui-senpai!"
Rise gave Yui an enthusiastic hug.
"I have to go home now. I'll think about any guys or girls I might like, then tell you about it." Rise told Yui.
"OK. See you later, Rise-chan!"
"You too, senpai!"
12/21
Naoki asked Yui to come with him to Samegawa River, and Yui agreed, knowing the reason. As they stood at the riverbank, Naoki began talking about his sister.
"A long time ago, I played with Sis at this spot. She'd cross the river by jumping from rock to rock. I was too scared to do it, so I stayed on this side. When she got to the other side, she waved at me and then disappeared into that grove over there. I cried, because I thought she left me. But then, she crossed the bridge without me noticing, and snuck up behind me. I pissed my pants…" Naoki told the story.
"Is that something all siblings do to each other? My experience is way different than that." Yui asked.
"Eh, I guess all siblings are different." Naoki shrugged.
"That's a good story, by the way."
"It's all I've been remembering lately. It's one of my fondest memories of Sis now."
Naoki looked back over the river.
"There's a river between us now. Sis is gone, and I'm still here. It's like she hopped across the river into Heaven, leaving me here. No matter how much I cry or piss my pants, I know she's not coming back. All this time, I've tried not to think about it. But now I can finally face reality. And it's all thanks to you, Narukami-san." Naoki stated.
"Me? No...I didn't really do anything." Yui said humbly.
"No! You have! You took time out of your days to talk to me, listen to what I had to say, even when I tried pushing you away at first. I can't express how glad I am that you didn't give up on me. I'm so happy that there was someone out there who would devote their time to me." Naoki said seriously.
Naoki turned back around and walked up to Yui.
"Because of your help, I was able to do this. Look at it!" Naoki said proudly.
Naoki took out a receipt from his pocket and gave it to Yui. When Yui looked closer at it, she realized that it was a Junes purchase.
"You bought something from Junes!" Yui stated.
"That's not just a normal receipt to me. Not just a normal purchase like it would be for someone else. By doing that, I feel like I've moved on. I want you to have that." Naoki told Yui.
"Sure. I'll keep it."
"I'm going to help out more at the liquor store. But I'm still going to keep up with school. Just you watch, I'll make our store so successful, people aren't going to remember Junes!" Naoki said confidently.
"You've improved so much Naoki-kun. I...guess I don't need to check up on you anymore." Yui said.
"I'll be alright. But...I wouldn't mind if you still checked in on me every now and again. You really helped me. Saved me, even."
"I'm happy to have been there for you!"
12/23
Rise invited Yui over to her house, and while Yui was a bit nervous as to what Rise had in mind, she politely agreed to come. When she entered Rise's room, she was surprised by how tidy the room was, with a neat and organized desk and only a couple posters pasted on the walls. The room was properly feminine and colorful for someone like Rise, and it gave off a pleasant atmosphere.
"I'm glad you could make it, senpai! I did a bit of reflecting on the kind of date I'd like." Rise explained.
"Oh, I see. Um...what did you come up with?" Yui asked.
"Well, I lean a bit closer to boys, but if I had to be brutally honest, there aren't really that many boys I like, at least at our school." Rise stated.
"Not even our male friends?"
"Yosuke-senpai's not really my type, and I'm pretty sure Kanji-kun isn't even attracted to me. And Teddie...just no. He's a bit much."
"That's kind of funny, coming from you." Yui giggled.
"He tried to undo my bikini top! I can't handle that level of perversion!" Rise argued.
"OK, any girls then?"
"Well, a lot of the girls at our school are pretty attractive. But I don't think it's a good idea to just go up to them and ask them out at this point. If I did that, word would spread so quickly, and I don't want to have to put up with that right now."
"Right...Risette's not allowed to like girls, I guess. That was a joke, by the way. I think that's stupid."
"I know, senpai."
"That leaves the other girls in our friend group."
"You and Chie-senpai taken, of course. Yukiko-senpai is...pretty, but I don't really like her that way. Naoto-chan isn't my type either."
"Huh, well that pretty much rules out everyone." Yui muttered.
"Oh, but also, there was this fantasy I once had. I dreamt of meeting a girl in secret at the train station! We explored the city, went to a karaoke bar, kissed on the train ride back. *sigh* It was a nice dream." Rise said wistfully.
"That's an...interesting dream. What was the girl like?"
"She was unconventionally beautiful, kind of punkish. Sleeveless shirt, black tie, a red choker and checkered skirt, black and white striped stockings, red and black arm warmers, and some pretty sexy black boots." Rise said, describing the girl in the details she could recall.
Yui sat silent for a few moments before speaking again.
"Um...Rise-chan?"
"Yes, senpai?"
"That description doesn't fit anyone at our school. I don't know anybody that dresses like that."
"Well, I never said they were from our school. It was just some girl from a place I've never been to. It was kind of a fuzzy dream, I don't remember too many details. I don't even know what her face looked like." Rise clarified.
"OK then...what are we supposed to do with this?"
"I don't know. At least we know my type?"
"I suppose that's something."
"*sigh* Sorry for wasting your time, senpai. I guess finding a date before Christmas was too ambitious." Rise apologized.
"Don't be sorry, Rise-chan! I'm glad you talked to me about this. I'll keep that description in mind and let you know if I see anyone that comes close."
"Thanks, senpai!"
"You're still going to be available for Christmas, right?"
"I will!"
12/24 (Christmas Eve)
Yui was busy making last minute preparations when she heard a knock at her door. Knowing exactly who it was, she took a deep breath and quickly answered the door. When she opened the door, Chie was standing at the doorstep with a big smile on her face, dressed in a warm teal jacket, fuzzy stockings, and mittens with dragon print.
"Hey." Chie greeted.
"Hey. You came too early. I was going to bake cookies for you." Yui said.
"I realize that. I just couldn't wait to be here!"
Yui and Chie give each other a kiss before Chie stepped inside and took off her jacket, revealing a cute pink sweater underneath.
"I brought a martial arts anime for us to watch! 'Zangetsu of the Blood Moon'!" Chie told Yui.
"Sounds like fun!" Yui replied.
Yui and Chie were lounging around in her room after watching "Zangetsu of the Blood Moon", content with every moment they were together.
"You know, if someone told me I'd be spending Christmas Eve with a girl I fell in love with within a year, I wouldn't have believed them." Chie stated.
"Which part is the more unbelievable part? Falling in love with a girl, or spending Christmas Eve with them?" Yui asked jokingly.
"Well, obviously the Christmas Eve part! I've known I was a lesbian for a while now." Chie giggled.
"Are you happy?"
"Yes, I am. How about you?"
"Me too. This used to be something that was only in my wildest dreams."
Chie embraced Yui happily, humming in delight.
"I didn't get around to baking cookies. Good thing I bought this cake from the bakery!" Yui said as she pulled out a white box, opening it to reveal a cake topped with strawberries and whipped cream.
"Wow! It's so pretty! Good choice!" Chie said cheerfully.
Chie blushed as she pulled out a present.
"Hey, Yui-chan? I got you this." Chie stated.
"Oh! Can I open it?" Yui asked.
"Yes, please!"
Yui took the present from Chie and quickly unwrapped it. Inside the box was a fluffy blue muffler, which brought a smile to Yui's face.
"It's just the kind of thing I like. Thank you, Chie-chan!" Yui thanked Chie.
"You're welcome! Even though I bought it, I want to challenge myself and make one by hand for you next year." Chie said with determination.
"You should get Kanji-kun to help you. I'm sure he'd be happy to show you."
"Also...I want to celebrate Christmas with you next year."
"There's a lot of things I want to do with you next year, Chie-chan. I want to go to the beach again, travel around the world…"
Yui held Chie's hands, which were warm to the touch.
"I want to marry you next year, but that's just me fantasizing." Yui said with red cheeks.
"*giggle* It's a nice fantasy to have." Chie replied.
"Well then, why don't we have the cake now?"
"Sure! I can't wait to try it!"
After they finish eating the cake, Yui and Chie lie down on Yui's couch, cuddled close together in romantic bliss.
"I told my parents I'd be staying overnight at your place. I hope that's OK with you." Chie told Yui.
"Oh, Chie-chan. That makes me happy to hear. I wasn't quite ready to see you go." Yui confessed.
"Don't worry, I don't feel like leaving just yet." Chie said with a smile.
"I don't have any mistletoe with me…"
"Oh, you don't? I mean, that's not a deal breaker or anything."
Yui revealed a headband with holly tied to each side of it, placing it on her head.
"I always preferred holly, personally. It's much prettier." Yui chuckled.
"It looks good on you. But…"
Chie slowly removed the headband and placed it on the table.
"It's kind of in the way."
Chie ran her fingers through Yui's hair, smoothing it out before wrapping her arms over Yui's shoulders. Yui pulled Chie closer and nuzzled her before kissing her passionately. Every breath they took in between kisses seemed to grow hotter and hotter.
"I love you, Yui-chan." Chie whispered lovingly.
"I love you too, Chie-chan." Yui whispered back.
After a while, the two of them fell asleep in each other's arms, sharing the same snow-filled dream that night.
12/25 (Christmas Day)
When Yui woke up, she found herself lying on her futon, with Chie on top of her, still fast asleep. Yui was startled a bit, enough to stir Chie awake. Chie rubbed her eyes, and upon realizing how the two of them were positioned, she pulled away in a hurry, her face flushed pink.
"Ah! M-morning, Yui-chan!" Chie stammered.
"Morning...uh...when did we move to the futon?" Yui replied.
"I...don't remember us doing that. We didn't…"
"No, I'm pretty sure we didn't. We got a bit handsy but that's it. At least, I think so." Yui stated with an embarrassed look.
"O-OK, good. I'm...not quite ready for that level of intimacy."
"I'm glad you're being honest about it."
"Well...it's less that I'm not ready, and more 'I don't know how to respond if anyone finds out'." Chie admitted.
"Our parents. You're trying to say, 'our parents'." Yui said.
"Yeah...mostly our parents."
"Well, good thing we can't...procreate."
"Ugh, did you have to make it weird?" Chie groaned.
"Sorry."
Yui and Chie stood up and brushed themselves off.
"Hey, sorry for the awkward wake-up. I really enjoyed last night." Chie said sincerely.
"I did too. I guess you have to go back home now, huh?" Yui asked.
"Well...give me a few minutes. I'm gonna call my parents."
Chie walked out of the room to call her parents in private. After a couple minutes of conversation, Chie hung up and walked back into Yui's room.
"OK, I told them where I'm going to be. They gave me permission to stay with you longer!" Chie said with a smile.
"Awesome! That means you can help me set up for the Christmas party!" Yui said excitedly.
"I'd love to help! But we need to tidy up first."
"Right. Of course."
"Can I use your shower?"
"Go right ahead."
"Thanks, Yui-chan!"
"And hey…"
"Yes?"
"Merry Christmas, Chie-chan!"
"Aw, Merry Christmas, Yui-chan!"
Chie kissed Yui before heading into the bathroom. Yui breathed a romantic sigh.
"Christmas with the girl of my dreams. It's perfect!" Yui thought joyfully.
After both of them showered and got dressed, Yui and Chie cooked themselves breakfast and sat in the living room, watching the news. Suddenly, Yui got a phone call. When she saw who it was, her eyes widened in surprise.
"It's Dojima-san!" Yui stated.
"Oh! Could it be?" Chie said.
Yui quickly answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Yui! How are you doing?" Dojima asked cheerfully.
"Hi, Dojima-san! I'm doing good! How about you?"
"I have some good news! Nanako's recovered enough that they're letting her come home for today! As for me, I just need to do some regular check-ups, so I'll be home as well." Dojima announced.
"Really?! That's great!" Yui said happily.
"Sorry you had to put up with all the housework. I'll make it up to you somehow. Anyway, see you later!"
Yui hung up and told Chie the news.
"They're coming home for Christmas!" Yui said to Chie.
"Yes! That's awesome!" Chie cheered.
Yui and Chie hugged happily.
"Hey, Chie-chan?"
"Yes, Yui-chan?"
"Before I forget, there's something for you under the kotatsu."
Chie looked under the kotatsu and pulled out a gift wrapped box. She started to shake it until Yui stopped her.
"Ah, don't shake it, please." Yui warned.
"Oh, sumimasen. I'm guessing it's fragile?" Chie asked.
"It might be. Best to be careful."
Chie opened the present and reached inside to pull out what looked like a figure wrapped in bubble wrap. She removed the bubble wrap, amazed by what she saw.
"Oh! It's Yumiko, your Persona!" Chie exclaimed.
"That's not all." Yui stated.
Chie looked inside the box again and saw another figure wrapped in bubble wrap. When she unwrapped that one, her smile shined brightly.
"Suzuka Gongen! You made these?!" Chie asked.
"Yeah. Painting them was the hardest part, somehow. They're both for you. Hopefully, when I leave in March, you'll see those on your desk and think of me."
Chie placed the figures on the table and happily gave Yui a kiss.
"I love them! Arigato!" Chie said cheerfully.
"You still want to bake that cake?" Yui asked with a grin.
"I sure do! You'll make sure we don't screw it up, right?" Chie replied.
"I will. Let's call up the other girls and get them to help."
Yui and Chie called Yukiko, Rise and Naoto to tell them about their plan for Christmas.
Yui had prepared the ingredients she had at home, while Chie went to get the ingredients Yui didn't have from Junes. When Chie came back with the rest of the ingredients, Yukiko, Rise and Naoto all stood by as Yui organized them into small workstations.
"Alright girls, here's the recipe for a two tiered cake. I have all the stuff we need here, so don't reach for anything else. That means you, Yukiko-chan." Yui explained.
"I'll stick to the recipe, I promise." Yukiko said in embarrassment.
"Rise-chan, you can slice up the fruit. I want you to divide them into four, like in this picture." Yui told Rise, holding up the printed recipe.
"I can do that! I won't let you down, senpai!" Rise said enthusiastically.
"Chie-chan, you're going to make the cake batter. That part's important of course, so make sure you measure everything. Don't eyeball anything at all."
"I'll do my best!" Chie said with a smile.
"Naoto-chan, you can mix the frosting and the candy toppings later. But for now, go ahead and help the others mixing the cake batter."
"Understood, senpai!"
"Alright everyone, let's do this!"
By the time the cake was done baking, Yosuke, Kanji and Teddie had arrived at Yui's house. Yosuke was a bit nervous when he realized the girls were attempting to cook, until Yui reassured him that she had it under control. Dojima and Nanako arrived home soon after, to which Yui greeted them both with warm, heartfelt hugs. Yui was particularly excited to show Nanako her surprise.
"Wow! It's a new kotatsu!" Nanako chimed.
"Sorry we couldn't pick one out together, Nanako-chan. The sale was ending soon, so I had to get it right then." Yui apologized.
"It's OK, onee-chan. It's because I was sick for so long. We can get another one together someday!" Nanako said cheerfully.
"Senpai! We're almost done!" Rise called to Yui from the kitchen.
"I'll go take care of that." Yui excused herself, moving to the kitchen to check on the cake.
"A cake?! Yay!" Nanako said excitedly.
"Oh great, I'm ready for this to be terrible." Yosuke muttered.
The girls carried the cake over to the table, being extremely careful setting it down. It was incredibly impressive, turning out just like the picture in the recipe.
"It turned out good. Good job, everyone!" Yui congratulated the other girls.
"Though this did take us three attempts…" Naoto mumbled quietly.
"Nanako-chan! I made something for you!" Teddie said happily.
Teddie held up a stuffed toy that resembled his bear form, placing it in Nanako's hands.
"Sugoi! It looks just like you!" Nanako cheered.
"It's made from real bear fur!" Teddie said, a bit too proudly.
"Hey everyone, the cake's not going to eat itself!" Chie said happily.
"Are you sure it's alright?" Yosuke asked skeptically.
"Just eat it, Yosuke. If I helped make it, it's fine." Yui responded in mild annoyance.
True to her word, the cake was delicious, and everyone had a great time together.
12/31 (New Year's Eve)
Yui and her friends had agreed to meet up at the Tatsuhime Shrine for the New Year's countdown. However, the girls got held up buying heating packs so they could keep warm, due partly to a sudden shortage. When they finally got to the shrine, the boys were standing around impatiently.
"Sorry, we got held up trying to buy heating packs." Rise apologized.
"It's OK. I almost slept through New Year's. Fell asleep watching the TV special. So I just got here." Kanji explained.
"Hey! Where are your kimonos?" Teddie asked.
"We're not going to be outside long enough to bother." Rise replied.
"Besides, it's just New Year's Eve. A kimono is a bit too formal for that." Yui added.
"I already told you they wouldn't wear them, Teddie!" Yosuke complained.
"What about you? Did you get held up too?" Chie asked.
"We had to emergency refill the lucky draw bags at work, because SOMEONE stuffed a bunch of items in the bags without checking the prices." Yosuke explained, glaring at Teddie.
Teddie feigned innocence by humming a tune.
"Dojima and Nanako-chan can't come tonight. With how cold it is, they'll get sick again." Yui stated.
"You sounded like you were expecting us to wear kimonos, Yosuke-senpai." Rise commented.
"Well, no, but I was sort of hoping…" Yosuke admitted.
"You should know, a girl has to save her best outfits for the right occasion." Rise stated.
"Are you saying a kimono is a girl's best outfit? Or are you implying that we're out of your league?" Yosuke asked.
"She wasn't implying." Yukiko said bluntly.
Yosuke and Teddie's expressions seemed to drop at this statement, while Kanji covered his mouth to stifle a laugh.
"Let's head inside now. The countdown is going to begin soon." Naoto said.
Yui and her friends head towards the shrine, keeping some distance from the other attendants.
"It's nearly time." Yui said, pulling out her phone to look at the clock.
As the clock approached midnight, the group counted down the seconds.
"Go!"
Rise got closer to Yukiko to stay warm.
"Yon!"
Kanji put his arm over Yosuke's shoulder. Yosuke returned the favor.
"San!"
Teddie held Naoto's hand, and Naoto pulled it away due to how cold Teddie's hand was.
"Ni!"
Chie and Yui cuddle together, side by side.
"Ichi!"
The bell tolled as the clock struck midnight, marking the beginning of the new year.
"Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu! (Happy New Year!)" Everyone chimed.
While everyone was wishing everyone else a prosperous new year, snow began to fall again, and plentiful enough that it was clear that it would stay.
"Come on, everyone! Let's go get some amazake!" Rise cheered.
1/1 (New Year's)
Yui said goodbye to Dojima and Nanako, who were staying home to keep warm and be mindful of their recovery. She walked all the way to Tatsuhime Shrine, wearing a beautiful blue and lavender kimono, complete with a floral hair accessory. Yui observed the other girls walking around in their kimonos, keeping an eye out for one girl in particular.
"Sorry I'm late!" Chie called out.
Yui turned to look at Chie approaching her, wearing a stunning blue and white kimono along with a flower hairpin. Yui found her breathtaking, which was clear to see from the puff of mist she exhaled.
"Happy New Year! Oh wait, I already said that to you." Chie said.
"It's worth saying again. Happy New Year, Chie-chan." Yui replied.
"So...how do I look?" Chie asked with flushed cheeks.
"You look incredible. Like a fine young woman." Yui stated.
"Really? Thank you! You don't look too bad yourself. Though, that's a severe understatement."
"Thank you. It was kind of tricky to put on by myself."
"I've never worn a kimono on New Year's before. My family teased me so much about it. It's not like my usual tomboy self."
"But that just makes it that much more of a treat to see. It's great seeing a new side to you."
"My parents are...still asking about you. Wondering if I'll ever 'bring you home'." Chie said in embarrassment.
"Your parents are taking this really well. That's nice."
"Have you told your parents yet? Sent them a text?"
"Uh…" Yui mumbled.
"Yui…"
"I'll tell them when I go back, I promise! It's better that they hear it from me in person…"
"Well, OK then."
Yui and Chie walk up to the offertory box.
"What are you going to wish for?" Chie asked Yui.
"It's a secret. I want this wish to come true, more than any other." Yui answered.
"Oh, I get it! I'll make mine secret too. And I'm going to make a big offering to make sure!" Chie concurred.
"500 yen?"
"Oh yeah!"
Yui and Chie each put 500 yen in the box and prayed. Once they finished, they went to go draw their fortunes. They both picked a romance fortune from the box.
"Wow! 'Great blessing'!" Chie said happily.
"Mine too! OK, I don't really buy into these fortunes, but the fact that we both got it…" Yui replied.
Yui wrapped Chie in a great big hug, and Chie returned it in full.
"This must be fate." Yui said cheerfully.
"Yeah…" Chie replied.
Yui and Chie walked away from the fortune box, contemplating their time spent together.
"Yui-chan?"
"Yes, Chie-chan?"
"Remember how you were upset at how you had to eventually leave us?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"I was like that too, for a while. But it doesn't bother me too much anymore. Because I realized that the distance between us doesn't matter. You could be on the other side of the Earth, I'd love you all the same." Chie said proudly.
"You're right, Chie-chan. I realized that too. I know now that no matter what happens, we won't be apart for long. I love you, from the center of my heart." Yui said with a smile.
Yui and Chie warmly embraced each other and shared a blissful kiss.
"So...about meeting your parents…" Yui spoke up.
"Eh?! Now?!" Chie asked in surprise.
"I mean, only if you want to! No hurry!" Yui clarified.
Chie thought about it for a while before looking at Yui and nodding her head.
"You know what? I think that'd be nice." Chie said.
"Great! I'll go home and get changed, then meet you there!"
"OK! I'll go get some coffee from Junes!"
"See you later, Chie-chan."
"You too, Yui-chan."
Yui and Chie met back together in front of Chie's home. After taking a deep breath and mentally preparing herself, Yui took Chie's hand and walked up to the door. When they got inside, the dog went up to greet them, barking happily at Chie.
"Hey boy, how are you doing? This is Yui! Say hi!" Chie told her dog.
The dog sniffed Yui for a couple seconds before deciding that he liked her, panting in excitement.
"Mom! Dad! I brought someone!" Chie told her parents.
Mr. Satonaka greeted Yui with a heartfelt handshake and an inviting hug, showing a carefree attitude. Mrs. Satonaka tried to put on a more serious appearance, but it was impossible to hide her excitement towards seeing her daughter's love interest, her eyes sparkling with wonder.
"It's an honor to finally meet you both." Yui said with a polite bow.
The four of them sat at the dinner table and had a long conversation about each other, telling each other their interests and hobbies. After a while, Chie asked Yui if she wanted to see her room, to which she happily said yes. As they walked away, Chie's mom warned them not to "do anything dirty". This caused Chie to shriek in embarrassment, which made her mom smirk mischievously and her dad laugh heartily.
Yui looked around Chie's room in awe, admiring how vibrant and decorated it was. All around the room, there were various toys and collectibles, pins of all kinds stuck to a blanket on the wall, stickers placed on anything that befitted them and a corner of the room dedicated to exercise equipment, including a punching bag. Chie's bed was half-made, and her desk was even more untidy, with some of the books sliding down each other. Yui noticed the figures she made for Chie proudly put on display on the desk, which pleased her. The more Yui looked around, the more embarrassed Chie became.
"It's somehow even better than I envisioned it." Yui commented.
"That's a compliment, right?" Chie asked uneasily.
"Of course it is." Yui said with a smile.
"Sorry about my parents. They like teasing me a lot. They're the worst." Chie muttered.
"You're clearly joking, because they're the coolest parents I've ever seen. They only just met me, and they were going on about how pretty I was."
"Yeah, they actually pictured you a lot differently. They thought you were the rebellious type, all punk and stuff."
"You can be a girly girl, and still be rebellious. You know about the kawaii movement, don't you?"
"Of course."
"So...what do you want to do?" Yui asked awkwardly.
"I think I have a slice-of-life anime lying around. We can watch that." Chie replied.
"Sure, that's fine."
Chie went to look for the DVD case near her TV. Yui looked at the posters on the wall, making note of the ones with famous martial artists on them, as well as the ones with female models striking glamorous poses.
"That's a good one you've got. She's pretty hot." Yui commented.
"Stop it. I hate to admit it." Chie chuckled with a blush.
"It's amazing to think that I get to see your room."
"I know. Most of the things in here have a story. I'd like to make some new ones with you."
"That sounds nice."
Yui and Chie spent the evening watching anime on the TV. When it was time for Yui to go back home, she thanked everyone for their hospitality, wishing them a Happy New Year.
1/2
Yui and Nanako were outside the house, making a snowman. As much as Dojima wanted to join them, he was told by his doctor to avoid bending down, so he simply stood around and watched. Yui rolled a very big snowball for the snowman's body, while Nanako rolled a smaller one for the head. Yui helped Nanako pick up the ball and place it on the body. After that, Yui carved a face into the head while Nanako gave the snowman arms using branches and gloves.
"Yay! It's a snow Teddie!" Nanako chimed.
"Ha ha ha, it looks great! Good job, you two!" Dojima said happily.
"Thank you, Nanako-chan. This was a lot of fun!" Yui told Nanako.
"Let's make another one someday!" Nanako replied.
"Sure."
Yui sneezed, persuading her to go back inside the house for warmth. Nanako and Dojima followed right behind her.
1/4
Yui had fallen sick, having gotten a cold yesterday. It was also inconvenient timing, as Nanako and Dojima had returned to the hospital to finish their treatment. Her friends came by when they heard about this, and were all huddled around her. She was fast asleep in the living room, kept warm with a blanket and heated water bottle.
"Looks like I'll have to postpone the ski trip. No point in going without Yui-san." Yosuke muttered.
"She looks like she's in pain. Poor thing…" Chie whined.
Yui strained as she stirred awake, having been alerted by Chie's voice.
"Huh? Oh, hey everyone…" Yui said weakly.
"Yui-chan!" Chie exclaimed.
"Sorry for getting sick…" Yui apologized.
"Don't worry about it, Yui-san! We can still go on that ski trip once you get better! Just take it easy for now." Yosuke assured her.
"I brought some medicine for you, senpai." Naoto stated, giving her a bottle of cold medicine.
Yui took a sip of the medicine, coughing once again.
"Thank you, Naoto-chan…" Yui said gratefully.
"Let's get you to your room, senpai! You'll be more comfortable there." Kanji said.
"Who's going to take care of her?" Rise asked.
"I'll take care of sensei! It's the least I can do!" Teddie volunteered.
"Are you sure you can handle it?" Yukiko asked.
"Ugh, alright. But only until she gets better. After that, you'd better come back home!" Yosuke told Teddie.
Yui had fallen asleep again, prompting Yosuke and Kanji to carry her to her room. After settling her down in her futon, her friends said goodbye, bidding her to get well soon.
In a feverish dream, Yui found herself standing at the entrance of a bamboo forest that was shrouded in fog. With her mind in a haze, she found it difficult to stand sturdy.
"Where am I?" Yui asked herself.
"Hey…"
Yui looked up to see a girl concealed by the fog, unable to make out any details.
"Eh? Who are you?" Yui asked.
"I see you've already forgotten. I guess that's for the best…" The girl muttered.
"What are you talking about?"
"I came here to say goodbye one last time. So...goodbye."
"Goodbye? But why?"
"The fog in your world is gone now. I'm sure you'll have a peaceful future. I only wish I could see it."
The girl seemed to look at her feet, but between the fog and Yui's haze, it was difficult to tell.
"I enjoyed our time together. With you, and your friends. Especially...her…"
"Wait!" Yui said, attempting to reach out.
The girl turned the other way and began to walk into the forest.
"I'll never forget the memories we made together. Thank you for everything. I'd ask you to tell Rise-chan I love her, but she's already forgotten anyway…" The girl said sadly.
"Stop! Don't go!" Yui pleaded.
"This is it then. Goodbye...Yui-chan…" The girl said as she disappeared into the forest.
"Wait! Wait! Come back!" Yui whined.
The ground opened up beneath Yui, and she fell down into the eye of a great god.
Yui jolted awake, still feeling sick. She saw that she was in her room, it being the middle of the night. Teddie had fallen asleep near the foot of the futon, wanting to watch over Yui. Yui buried her face in her hands and realized that tears had filled her eyes.
"Why...why am I crying?" Yui asked herself in confusion.
Author's Note(12-13-23): Whatever you may be going through, I wish you the best for the holidays. If you're getting tired of Yui and Chie moments, how did you make it this far into the fic? I really enjoyed writing this chapter. It felt nice to write this while listening to "Snowflakes".