A/N: Hey look, I wrote another fluffy one-shot! Partly because I drew that New Year's pic! No warnings, just cuteness. Well, maybe one or two jokes at Sio's expense...


"Ch, chotto—Si-o!" At the rate the girl was yanking his arm, Adam was surprised it hadn't been pulled out of its socket yet. One never would have guessed that the military-otaku would be so keen on New Year's traditions…let alone rousing herself up at the crack of dawn to rush to the temples before it got crowded. 'Trust me, I know from experience,' was what she blithely replied when he'd cracked open an eye before the sun had even risen, grumbling about how much colder it was when she wasn't in his arms.

"Never thought I'd see the day where you voluntarily rose before the sun," he muttered as they slowed down a bit at last, feet crunching on the gravel path that led to the small temple a ways in her parent's neighborhood. "If I'd known this back in DOGOO…"

"Haha, very funny Adam." The girl rolled her eyes but didn't let go of his hand, even after they entered the main gates. "I did get up on time then! …For the important stuff…"

"Riight. I guess dressin' all fancy for the new year is one of them?" Although his own clothes weren't shabby by any means (Burberry was not a cheap brand, thank you very much), Adam felt that perhaps he should have taken up her parent's offer to borrow a men's kimono, especially since Sio was decked to the nines—a furisode, the most formal kimono for young women, complete with a fur collar and even a little make-up. "Hmm, makes me feel like I should've changed as well…"

"Aw, don't worry about it Adam–honestly, these days it doesn't really matter. Most guys don't wear kimonos anymore unless it's a really special occasion. You're not Japanese, nobody's going to notice or care. Besides, you look nice," she smiled, took one glance up-and-down, and nodded in approval.

"Thanks…I think." Before he could think more on the subject however, they were already in front of a giant bell, complete with a thick rope handle for them to ring. "Do we, uh, do anything?"

Sio shook her head, the kanzashi pin in her hair flying about with each motion. "Not really, you just make a wish for something you want or hope for in the New Year, and then we ring the bell for good fortune." The couple clasped their hands together, Sio having closed her eyes for an exceptionally long time before she opened them again, and both hands closed around the rope and rang once. The deep tone echoed throughout the crisp dawn air, only the sounds of birds and other early-risers to mingle with it.

"I take it we're not supposed to say what we wished for?"

"Eh, it depends. Friends always like to try and guess each others…though, I never went with anybody so, I wouldn't know…" She seemed a little downtrodden at this memory, so Adam grasped her hand warmly, Sio blushing a little in surprise at the gesture. "Oh…!"

"I don't suppose you'd be willing to tell me what you wished for, love?" He whispered, giving her just the slightest of grins.

"A-Ano, I-I…" Oh Sio. Even now, Adam could never be quite sure what could cause her to turn into a blushing, stuttering mess; it could range from a dirty joke to something as simple as a grin, he could never be sure. But it kept him on his toes, and he supposed, it was nice that he could still catch her off guard from time to time.

"Or is it too private?"

"Ch-chigau! I, I trust you Adam…i-it's just, I…I'm pretty sure you can guess already…what I want…" She mumbled shyly, avoiding his eyes all of a sudden and staring very pointedly at her geta sandals.

Adam raised a white brow. "Guess? That's rather broad…I can think of several things, oh let's see—some more plastic models, a year's subscription to Tank Secrets, an airsoft rifle—"

"—Adam—"

"—making out in your room while your parents are out, making out when they aren't out—"

"—Adam—!"

"—so which is it," he grinned, enjoying her reactions immensely. "Or you know, I'm perfectly fine with all of the above and any combination thereof."

She was pouting so hard that her current resemblance to a squirrel was uncanny, Adam decided, wholeheartedly ignoring her glares and instead getting them two cups of the special sake that the shrine maidens were handing out. Only after he emptied his cup and Sio's (the girl having refused any sort of peace offering), and were now walking back to her parent's house did he start feeling a little guilty.

"…Oy, squirt. Are you…really still mad about that?" Crap; it wouldn't do to have her return with her parents wondering why she was in a poor mood, not when they were about to essentially become his in-laws. Pissing off your future in-laws; yeah, not the best start to a new year.

"…Baka. You can be so dense still, Adam." At least she was talking to him again, insult notwithstanding. "Of course those are all things I'd like…but, a wish like this…it's gotta be something special." At this she finally looked at him with large maroons, only they were watery like she was on the verge of tears. "I-I mean, given all that's happened, not just this past year but everything between us…what do you think, it is that I want? That we both really want?"

The seriousness of her question shook him for a moment, least of all the threat of tears. When did a light-hearted trip to the shrine become so serious… But she had a point, and he understood her feelings. That depth of clarity, and the moment he knew that he wanted to be with her for the rest of their lives…

"…Well, if I know you, and I know myself as well, then I'd say…our wishes are probably the same. The wish to be together…always," he answered at last, gently rubbing the smooth metal of her engagement ring that he'd presented the very day she'd returned to him at last. "That's…that is, correct, isn't it?" He answered a bit uneasily, not wanting to screw this up.

Sio had to admit, seeing Adam a bit worried just on the basis of answering wrong was kind of amusing. Ah, sweet justice. "…Well, actually, I was wishing that we'd be able to get married this year…but yours is close enough. And a bit more poetic I guess," she added as an afterthought, after seeing his face panic a bit at her answer. "Relax Adam, I was just kidding…b-but, it does make me really happy to hear you say all that…even all the trivial ones…you really do know me well."

"Well I should hope so!" He sighed with relief, though a bit annoyed that he'd fallen for her tricks. "A wedding, eh? Well, it's…doable, I suppose. Can't say I fancy thinking about all the logistics…but, if it's what you really want…then I guess we'd better get started, 'ey?"

"R-Really?! You really mean it?!" She nearly stumbled in surprise, not having expected him to agree just like that. "I-I mean, I know they're really expensive and complicated and stuff, s-so if you think we need more time then I'm totally okay with waiting a bit longer—" She stilled as Adam put a single finger to her lips, smiling very broadly at her all the while. "Ah…"

"Hush, love. Of course I'm serious. If that's what you really want…then I'm willing to go for it." Gentle hands slowly thumbed her lips, before drawing them together for a light kiss. "Believe me, I would like to get married soon, as well. And if this is the kick in the arse I need to actually start doing it…then so be it."

"A-Ah, u-uh, um…Adam…" Sio fidgeted and squirmed nervously, suddenly unsure of how to act anymore. So instead, she settled for giving him the biggest, tightest hug she could manage in her clothes, Adam's laughter vibrating pleasantly as he hugged her back.

"Oh Sio, you're so cute." He kissed her again on the top of her hair, just before they parted. "I love you."

"…Aishiteru, Adam." She whispered, cheeks still red as they rounded the corner to her house.

"Oh, by the way, I found this a while back…was goin' t' give it to yeh for Christmas, but I forgot it," Adam dug around in his pockets as they finally entered the warmth of her house. "You, uh, were serious when you said you wished for more plastic models, correct?"

"Oh!" She eagerly accepted the little box, eyes shining and nodding energetically all the while. "Of course! I wouldn't lie about something like that."

"…Is that so? Including all of them?" He was eyeing her with a rather devious stare, which made Sio think she should probably re-think just what exactly he'd said…

'—making out when your parents aren't out—'

She turned beet red at that thought. "Okay, except that one—and you know which one I'm talking about, don't make me say it—" she warned, but Adam just continued smiling like he didn't know a thing. "I mean it Adam, don't get any crazy ideas—we cannot—just no—!"

"What ideas? What are you talking about? Perhaps we should remind ourselves…"

"Adam Muirhead! You get back here right now!"

"Cheers, love~"