They all have hidden attributes!

Her slender waist, bound by a golden belt, accentuated her full, rounded breasts, and her soft, delicate body exuded an aura of nobility and elegance.

"Happy New Year, Shiki." Makoto Takahashi walked over and reached out his arms to hug her.

Happy New Year, Chengjun.

Tachimi Yuki greeted him with a smile, then turned her smiling gaze to Shiraishi Junka: "Happy New Year, did you get your kimono dirty?"

"Happy New Year." Shiraishi Junka gently shook her head.

She was afraid of Uesugi Maya, but not of Tachimi Yuki.

Tatsumi Yuki's attitude towards Shiraishi Junka was not one of indifference or treating her as a subordinate, but rather, like Kashima Reiko, she treated her as a very good friend most of the time.

This is also related to Christmas Eve. In any case, this tolerance and generosity is something that Makoto Takahashi cannot give up.

"It's okay if it gets dirty, I even prepared an extra one for you."

Tachibana Yuki slowly stood up, letting Takahashi Makoto hold her in his arms, and raised her chin to indicate that he should look at the clothes rack:

"I made a few extra kimonos for you; the rest are in my closet. May I wear this one today?"

Takahashi Makoto followed her gaze, his hand slowly sliding down to knead her firm, round buttocks through her kimono: "Looks good."

It was a formal black haori, embroidered with the crest of the Tatsumi family.

"Really, Mother is still waiting for us. Hurry up and change your clothes."

Tachikawa gently slapped away his restless hand, gave Takahashi Makoto a reproachful look, and turned to Shiraishi Junka, saying, "I'll take you to see your mother first."

“Okay.” Shiraishi Junka nodded.

"The New Year's gifts you and Chunke gave to Mother are in that wooden cabinet over there. Just take them over later."

Yuki Tachibana's gaze fell on the gift box in Junka Shiraishi's hand, and she frowned in confusion, asking, "What is this?"

Of course, it was a New Year's gift prepared with the help of Uesugi Maya...

"A New Year's gift from Aya." Takahashi Makoto quickly came up with a solution.

"Hmm—okay, since it's from Xiaoye, I'll accept it."

Tachimi Yuki took the gift box, opened it, and saw the black tea inside. Without suspicion, she and Shiraishi Junka left the Japanese-style room first.

Makoto Takahashi breathed a sigh of relief, changed into his kimono alone, took his New Year's gifts, and headed to the main hall under the guidance of his servants.

The spacious lobby was lit by ever-burning lamps, making it seem somewhat empty.

Wearing a bright red kimono, Tachimi Kotoha sat in the seat of honor, with only Shiraishi Junka and Tachimi Yuki accompanying her and talking to her. Further away, on her left and right sides, cushions were arranged to face her.

Outside the main hall, across the snow, an altar was set up. Behind the altar, a target was drawn on a large white cloth, with the character "鬼" (ghost) in the center.

Makoto Takahashi walked over and sat down in the space left between Yuki Tachimi and Junka Shiraishi. He bowed slightly and presented his New Year's gift: "Wishing you a Happy New Year at the beginning of the new year."

Happy New Year, Xiao Cheng.

Tachimi Kotoha accepted his congratulatory gift, smiled gently, and handed out a red envelope: "This year, I'll be relying on you in many ways."

"Yes." Takahashi Makoto bowed his head solemnly.

After paying respects to the ancestors, the servants served hot tea.

"It's almost time."

After giving a brief instruction, Li Jianqinye chatted with Takahashi Makoto after the servants had left: "When Reiko visited for the New Year, she mentioned Kyoto. Makoto wants to participate in the Kyoto Archery Festival."

The Long Shot Festival was a national convention held at Sanjusangendo Temple.

This is not just a competition, but also a unique coming-of-age ceremony and cultural heritage originating from Japan's Edo period.

Nearly 2000 archery athletes from all over Japan gathered together to compete in archery, making it the biggest celebration of the Lunar New Year.

“Sachi and I became acquainted through archery, so we should take it seriously.” Makoto Takahashi smiled gently.

"Oh dear, young people just love romantic things."

Li Jianqin glanced at her daughter with envy and slowly said, "Winning the championship won't be easy. It's a special rule that's been in use for over four hundred years. Do you have confidence, Xiaocheng?"

The rules of the Long Shot Festival are not only simple, but also brutal.

Unlike the usual 28 meters, this time it was 60 meters, and the diameter of the circular target was only 1 meter.

Each contestant has only two arrows and must hit both to advance to the preliminary round.

The outcome is extremely straightforward: the player with the highest total hits among the pre-selected contestants wins the championship, testing their consistent stability and mentality under pressure.

"I instructed the branch family to contact the organizers and this year we will restore the 120-meter race from the Edo period."

Makoto Takahashi's gaze swept over the quietly entering crowd, revealing a confident smile: "If I'm lucky enough to be sitting in the stands, I'm sure I can break the historical record of 8133 arrows."

"Xing, did you hear that?"

Kotoha Tatsumi gave Tatsumi Yuki a stern look, then smiled faintly and said, "Don't always bury yourself in your work. Makoto-kun is already having some complaints about Mother."

"Then why did you say you wanted to adopt Cheng-jun as your son?"

"If you don't want to go, your mother would like to go to Kyoto for a visit."

"Of course I'm going."

Yukichi Tachibana took a sip of hot tea with a smug look on his face, feeling a warm and joyful feeling in his heart: "You can stay in Tokyo, I'll go with my friends."

One of her friends, Shiraishi Junka, was shy and pretended to be aloof while quietly sipping her tea.

At this moment, the once empty lobby was now full of people, yet it was so quiet that there wasn't a sound.

Men, women, and children were all dressed in kimonos and sat respectfully below, according to their assigned positions.

Many of them were people Makoto Takahashi knew, or people familiar with his style. They not only looked respectful, but also showed a hint of fear.

When Tachibana Kotoyo picked up the hot tea, after a brief silence, Takahashi Makoto understood her intention from Tachibana Yuki's eyes and stood up.

"Everyone here has worked hard over the past year."

He walked slowly down the central aisle, exuding a heavy aura, to the door, and calmly began, "In the new year, I hope you will not disappoint me."

An invisible aura of authority weighed on his shoulders, and the hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Sitting at the head of the table, Tachimi Kotoha witnessed Takahashi Makoto's growth over the past few days and smiled with satisfaction.

The servants waiting outside the main hall presented a bow and arrows with both hands. The priest, invited from the Tokyo Daijingu Shrine, unfurled the scroll in his hands and sang the lyrics in a unique tone.

"Looking back, the so-called divinely blessed bow."

"Strive for the virtues of concentration and wisdom, remove the thieves that obstruct the path, destroy the demons of life and death, and devise the means to dispel all evil..."

Makoto Takahashi picked up the bow and arrows, stood still, took a deep breath, and his mind naturally focused.

He took off the left sleeve of his kimono and tied it around his waist, revealing clearly defined and powerful muscles and an upright figure that inspired awe and submission.

Even married women here can't help but start having inappropriate thoughts.

With breath in harmony, he drew his bow and pulled the arrow, waiting for his body and mind to become one. Takahashi Makoto patiently waited for his strength and spirit to reach their peak.

Snapped--

The string music suddenly rang out, a sound as clean and clear as shattered jade, stirring ripples in the hearts of everyone present.

The arrow cuts straight through the wind and pierces the bullseye.

As soon as Takahashi Makoto put away his bow, Rikka Yuki smiled and said, "Since Makoto personally cleansed everyone's spirits for the New Year, I believe everyone will have good luck in the coming year."

After she said that, the atmosphere in the lobby became more relaxed, and Qin Ye immediately put on a gentle smile: "Alright, we're all family, no need to be so formal."

Chapter 187 Their New Year's Gifts

After the New Year greetings began, the atmosphere at the gathering became much more relaxed.

The guests spoke in hushed tones, but not noisyly, with bursts of cheerful laughter occasionally breaking the silence.

The gradually intensifying sunlight streamed in through the open door, illuminating Tachimi Yuki's golden hair and adding a vibrant touch.

The young lady was all smiles, so Makoto Takahashi, who was sitting next to her, had to remain calm.

Faced with flattery or heartfelt praise and blessings during New Year's greetings, he remained unsmiling, only offering a few words of advice after receiving lucky money.

Simply put, you have to play the bad cop, but not too bad.

"Yuki, don't slack off too much during the New Year period. You did a good job last year," Makoto Takahashi said with a smile in a friendly tone.

"Yes, the matter you instructed me to handle last night has been taken care of. Please rest assured."

“You are reliable and steady, so I have nothing to worry about. I also don’t like those guys in Kyoto who only know how to talk a good game.”

After giving the children New Year's money, Tachikami Yuuki happily withdrew.

Before the next person came to pay their respects, Ritsuki asked curiously, "What's the matter? Do you still have to work on New Year's Eve?"

“It’s a personal matter, related to Aya,” Takahashi Makoto confessed.

"It's inconvenient for you to tell me?"

"I didn't mean to keep it from you, but it seems like Aye didn't receive a single New Year's greeting. I found a suitable person to send it to her."

"You always spoil her, she didn't even wish me a Happy New Year."

Tachibana Yuki poked his side in a huff, and Takahashi Makoto said calmly, "I've said it before, fairness isn't about equality, it's about favoring everyone."

After speaking, he turned his gaze to the couple who were slowly kneeling down in front of him to offer their New Year's greetings.

"Wishing you a Happy New Year, Miss and Master!"

The two knelt and bowed respectfully. Takahashi Makoto bowed slightly in return. Since they had no children, Tachibana Yuki did not give a red envelope.

After the New Year's greetings were finished, the servants brought out sweet wine, rice cakes, and other New Year's dishes.

Kotoha Tatsumi peeked out her snow-white wrist from the wide sleeves of her kimono and picked up a cup to drink sweet sake.

After she wished everyone a "Happy New Year" once again, the atmosphere in the lobby finally relaxed and everyone responded in unison, drinking and chatting happily together.

Kotoyo called Shiraishi Junka to her side and asked her all sorts of questions with concern. It seemed that she really treated Takahashi Makoto as her own son.

Enjoying the joyful atmosphere, Makoto Takahashi's thoughts unconsciously drifted back to his apartment in Toshima Ward.

I wonder if Uesugi Maya received her New Year's greetings.

"Cheng-kun, actually, I've been a little hesitant lately."

Tachikawa reached out and covered the back of his hand, the touch soft and warm: "Sometimes I wonder if I'm too clingy."