This is not the date I wanted.

“…………Ah?! Ahhh——what’s the matter Mengyue?”

After being stunned for a while, Shidao finally came back to his senses, coughed twice, and asked awkwardly.

"…Nothing? I just wanted to ask, is everyone preparing a surprise party for me now?"

"Um... No no! Why are you asking that all of a sudden!?"

Shidou responded instinctively, then immediately reacted and shook his head like a rattle to deny it.

"Well... I just have this feeling vaguely, but there is no actual basis for it." Meng Yue sighed, smiled bitterly with some disappointment, "Rather... I actually expect everyone to do this. If nothing happens after opening the door, I will probably be very disappointed. At that time, Shidao, can I hide in your arms and act like a spoiled child?"

"…Although this proposal is very, very tempting, unfortunately… your expectations should not be in vain."

"Ah~ It's true~"

Seeing Mengyue's triumphant smile, Shidou seemed to understand something and widened his eyes in surprise.

"You plotted against me! Meng Yue?!"

"Hehe, you want to hide it from me? Shidou, you are still a little naive."

After playing a prank on Shidou, Mengyue smiled contentedly and opened the door.

Snap! Snap! Snap!

"Happy birthday! Mengyue/my compatriot/Sister Mengyue/Hani/Sister/Bilijiang!"

"Thank you, everyone. And—"

It felt as familiar as last year. Looking at the fireworks blooming in front of her, Mengyue smiled brightly.

"Merry Christmas, everyone!"

PS: Phew... It's over. Because the update frequency has slowed down, many of the things I wanted to write have not been written in time, so the story rhythm is a bit weird. Sorry.

PS2: Speaking of which, I had agreed on the illustrations for this chapter in early December last year, but I didn’t finish writing the corresponding plot until February…

New Year Essay Short Stories

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[Since I have written before, I didn’t plan to write a short story for the New Year, but a book friend in the group urged me to write one, so I just let myself go and wrote a few short stories. You can just take a look at them. ]

①

On the first day of the new year, accompanied by the sound of the doorbell and the door opening, an uninvited guest broke into Wuhe's house rudely.

Erya: Ah Hou☆~ Happy New Year to Bilijiang! I’m here to eat again!

Mengyue: It’s amazing that you can say this so confidently...

Erya: Of course, it's better to eat and drink with beautiful girls here than to eat frozen food alone in the apartment, right?!

Mengyue: You are still as honest as ever... Never mind, Happy New Year, just sit wherever you want.

Erya: Thank you~ Bilijiang. Ah——the kotatsu is warm, and my frozen limbs feel alive~

Mengyue: Hey, don’t come close to me!

Erya: Ah~ We are all girls, why should we care? Bilijiang is really shy~

Meng Yue: ...By the way, have you finished the manuscript for this week's comic? Do you need me to contact the editor to let him know where you are?

Niya: ——I’m so sorry, I got carried away.

②

Niya: It feels so quiet...

Mengyue: ...If you dare to add something like "There are no magicians on the street" in the next sentence, I will immediately use tape to close your mouth.

Erya: Hey~Bilijiang, generally speaking, we should just go along with the event and show our support, right?

Mengyue: Come on, it’s New Year’s Day, so let me be quiet for a while.

Erya: Hi~ Speaking of which, is Bilijiang the only one at home now? Where are the boy and the others?

Mengyue: Oh, I'm looking after the house today. Shidao and Tohka and the others are going to worship at the shrine today, and they will probably be back in a while.

Erya: Isn’t Bilijiang going with us?

Mengyue: I already went to pay New Year’s greetings once yesterday, so there’s no need to go a second time.

Erya: Tsk~ I also want to see Bilijiang's kimono. It's really disappointing. Doesn't Bilijiang understand what "festival kill" means?

Meng Yue: This is the only thing I don't want to hear from you. Well... I have tried wearing a cheongsam before. But the kimono is too complicated to wear and feels too troublesome.

Erya: Can a cheongsam be worn with a kimono but not NG? Bilijiang's judgment criteria are sometimes quite unique. Anyway, this is a rare opportunity, and I happened to bring a kimono that is just the right size. Why not give it a try, Bilijiang?

Meng Yue: Can I start by complaining about why you carry a kimono with you?

Erya: Hehe - Bilijiang, there is a kind of speculative miracle in this world called "plot needs". And for "plot needs", I also carefully studied how to wear kimono when I was drawing comics!

Erya: So don’t worry, Bilijiang, I am confident that I can help you put on the kimono!

Mengyue: I'm not happy at all to hear this from you!

③

Tohka: Shidou, what are we having for dinner tonight?

Shidao: Tonight, I plan to make dumplings.

Tohka: ...Dumplings?

Shidao: It's a kind of Chinese cuisine. I heard that mushrooms, vegetables, or pork are made into minced meat, wrapped in dough, and then put into the pan. It's delicious whether it's steamed or fried.

Tohka: ——Gurgle. I see, it does sound delicious.

Shidou: Well, I also heard it from Mengyue. Let Mengyue teach you how to do it when the time comes.

Tohka: Umm! I get it! Mengyue, we're back!

Meng Yue: So... no need...

Erya: You’re welcome… Let me see… First here… Then put it in like this…

Meng Yue: Ah... it hurts... idiot... your technique is too bad...

Shidou: That voice just now was... Nia?

Yakuya: It is indeed the voice of the dream painter, and is it an illusion? I always feel that the voice of my compatriot is slightly more delicate than before.

Xixian: Excited. Could it be that Mengyue and Erya are taking advantage of everyone being away from home to have some kind of indescribable intimate contact?

Yoshino: ...No, it's indescribable?!

Yoshina: Phew—is this the rosy forbidden paradise ahead now?

Shidou: Hahaha... How, how is it possible? It must be some kind of misunderstanding... Mengyue, what are you doing?

Opening the door to the living room, Shidou saw Mengyue in her disheveled kimono, and behind her, Niya with her belt tied into a ball of fluff.

Meng Yue: Shidao...

Shidou: Ah... um... sorry...

Erya: Ah, wuwu~ I can’t get married anymore.

Meng Yue: No matter how you think about it, this is not your line!!!

Kotori: Hmm - is this also a conventional plot?

4

Rokuko: Just tie the belt like this...Okay, sister.

Mengyue: I see. Thank you, Rokuko.

Rokuko: That's fine. Rokuko is also satisfied to see the beauty of his sister wearing a kimono.

Miku: Honey's kimono is so beautiful! I can't help it.

Mengyue: Don’t get so attached to me as soon as we meet! Are you a magnet?

Origami: Displaying contrast in unexpected places to catch people's attention...what a cunning method.

Meng Yue: I was just wearing a kimono and you said something like that...

Shixiang: Mengyue, we are going to eat dumplings today, right? Can you teach me how to make them? I want to try it too!

Mengyue: Yes, sure.

Kotori: But Sister Mengyue, it’s not good for you to go into the kitchen wearing this kimono, right?

Meng Yue: Indeed, but I have already put them on. It would be a shame to change them back right away... Then I will put on the apron first, and then lift up my sleeves.

Nanashi: Hmm... I feel like I've suddenly turned into a hotel proprietress who welcomes guests.

Erya: It would be better to say that I became like an old woman in an instant.

--Snapped! !

⑤

Wu Lian: Huh! ? Report to the director! I have something urgent to do! Please allow me to leave early and ask for leave.

Westcott: Oh? Can you tell me why you left early?

Wu Lian: I am now experiencing a strong urge to see the kimono torn into pieces!

Westcott: Very well, I approve.

Allen: ...Ike, please be more serious when confirming your application. Wu Lian too, do you think it's okay to skip work with this excuse?

Wu Lian: But Sister Allen... I have a feeling that if I don’t ask for leave today, I will miss the wonderful time.

Artemisia: (Hmm... I can somewhat understand Ms. Kirei's feelings. It's easy to feel uncomfortable and nervous when traveling to another country on business.)

Artemisia: After get off work, do you want to have a dinner together during the New Year?

Wu Lian: --Tsk. Never mind. I'm not interested.

⑥

Mengyue: That should be about it. Hey, the dumplings are ready!

Tohka: It smells so good! I'll start eating!

Erya: Ah——delicious, I really want to have a beer at this moment!

Meng Yue: Most of the people here are minors, so hold back. Here, Shidao, this is your share.

Shidou: Well, thank you... That kimono suits you very well.

Meng Yue: Haha... Although this line is a bit old-fashioned. But I will take it as a compliment. I also want to thank you, Shidao, for suggesting making dumplings.

Shidao: It's okay, after all, it's New Year's Day. I also want Mengyue to experience the feeling of my hometown.

Mengyue: Really? But if we really follow the customs over there, I’m afraid we’ll have to prepare a lot of things.

Shidou: A lot... For example?

Mengyue: Let me think... For example, pasting Spring Festival couplets, pasting blessing characters, setting off firecrackers, fireworks, jumping over fire, eating glutinous rice balls, etc. There should be other customs divided according to regions...

Shidou: It feels like there are a lot of things I haven't heard of before... I'm definitely still far from prepared.

Mengyue: Well, we still have a lot of time in the future. We can just realize them one by one.

Shidou: That’s true.

Erya: Hey~ boy, Bilijiang! I'm going to prepare to give out New Year's money, if you come too late you won't get any!

Shidou: Got it. Let's go, Mengyue.

Mengyue: Yeah.

Meng Yue stood up and prepared to go back to the living room, but paused, turned around, and said with a cheerful smile.

——Happy New Year. A new year. Thank you for your advice.

00 Assassination

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