Chapter 59. Believe It or Not
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On New Year's Eve (Ōmisoka) in Japan, many people choose to go to a nearby temple to ring the bell. It is said that this practice can help dispel the troubles of the old year.
In Tokyo, there are three places locals often visit for the New Year: Sensō-ji, Meiji Shrine, and Zōjō-ji.
But this time, Tsuda Nao took Kiyoshi Yuuma to Ōji Inari Shrine.
That year, it was said that the Ōji Inari fox would reappear for the first time, visiting the shrine for the New Year.
The event was called the Ōji Fox Dream Procession.
It started back in 1993 during his previous life.
Since then, the Ōji Fox Procession had become a well-known New Year event in Tokyo.
Compared to other locations, young people preferred going to Ōji Inari Shrine.
…
That evening, dressed in traditional attire, Kiyoshi Yuuma and Tsuda Nao held hands as they arrived, only to find the place packed with people.
It is said that every year in Japan, around 30 million people go to temples on New Year's Eve to ring the bells.
One could imagine how grand this scene was.
Kiyoshi Yuuma was somewhat awed.
If he were in China, he'd probably be watching the Spring Festival Gala on TV and then go to bed at midnight.
Stars dotted the sky like countless lanterns hanging above the ground.
The streets were filled with people wearing antique, traditional clothing.
Standing among them, Kiyoshi Yuuma felt a strange illusion—
It was as if he had suddenly time-traveled again, from 1990 into ancient times.
Buying a box of fried squid balls from a small stall, Kiyoshi Yuuma and Tsuda Nao walked along the street with the crowd, faces full of excitement.
"Nao, aren't you cold?"
Kiyoshi Yuuma glanced at her, puzzled.
He didn't understand Japanese women—wearing a kimono in the middle of deep winter, with wide sleeves and a low collar, didn't they feel cold?
"I'm alright," Tsuda Nao smiled. "I've put a warm patch inside."
Ah, so that's how it was.
Kiyoshi Yuuma nodded slightly, understanding.
Still, he reached out and held Tsuda Nao a little tighter.
She paused for a moment, then lifted her head and looked at Kiyoshi Yuuma's sharp, defiant jawline with her almond-shaped eyes, and a faint smile of joy curved her lips.
Without resisting, Tsuda Nao leaned gently against him, resting on his shoulder.
…
Soon, the fox procession, ready to depart, came into view.
At the front were two young women wearing fox masks and kimonos.
From their figures, one could tell they must be very cute.
"Want to join?" Kiyoshi Yuuma asked Tsuda Nao warmly.
"What do you think?" She blinked her beautiful eyes, as if one could see the stars reflected in her amber gaze.
"You decide. I'll follow your lead," Tsuda Nao said.
"Okay. Let's give it a try; we're here, after all."
Kiyoshi Yuuma was quite pleased.
His first New Year's Eve after time-traveling, and he could participate in the fox procession.
"Yes, if you want to join, it only costs 1,000 yen," said one of the masked women. "We'll have someone do your makeup and give you a fox mask."
…
After the makeup was done, the two exchanged a glance and smiled at each other.
Tsuda Nao, with blush-colored eyeshadow and elongated eye tails, still exquisite and pure-faced, now looked even more enchanting and charming.
"You're looking more like a fox now," Kiyoshi Yuuma remarked.
"What?" Tsuda Nao pouted and glared at him.
"I'm complimenting you—just like Tamamo-no-Mae, beautiful and elegant."
"Who compliments people like that?" Tsuda Nao muttered, shyly pressing her lips into a smile.
…
Dang!
At midnight, a huge bell tolled, and the crowd cheered.
It marked the end of 1990 and the arrival of 1991.
Dang! Dang!
The bell was deafening. The sound left his mind empty, free from all worries.
Kiyoshi Yuuma couldn't help but marvel at why Japanese people ring bells on New Year's Eve.
Truly, whether it was the fox procession or bell-ringing, it carried a strong sense of ritual.
Everyone dressed in traditional attire, celebrating the New Year in this strange yet romantic and traditional atmosphere, was perfectly fitting.
…
After the bell-ringing ended, it was already past 2 a.m.
Kiyoshi Yuuma still felt reluctant to leave.
Holding Tsuda Nao's hand, they walked along the slope lined with blooming winter plum trees, feeling entirely enveloped in happiness.
Ah—
He wished he could join the fox procession with Tsuda Nao again next year.
"Let's come again next year," Kiyoshi Yuuma said.
Tsuda Nao paused and glanced back at him.
"Who knows?" Tsuda Nao raised an eyebrow, eyes returning forward, speaking casually. "The future is too far away for anyone to predict. What I want most is to cherish the present."
Kiyoshi Yuuma frowned, seemingly unsatisfied with her answer.
"Kiyoshi-san, what do you think?"
"I…" Kiyoshi Yuuma blinked. "The present is important, of course, but without hope for tomorrow, the present loses its meaning. Isn't hope beautiful precisely because it exists in the future?"
Tsuda Nao smiled ambiguously.
Whether it was his imagination or not, he thought he saw a fleeting hint of melancholy on the fox woman's face.
…
After escorting Tsuda Nao down to the apartment building, Kiyoshi Yuuma waved goodbye.
"Good night."
He was about to turn and leave when a hand reached out and grabbed him.
Kiyoshi Yuuma turned around.
Tsuda Nao's delicate, cute face was facing him, her large eyes accentuated by the fox makeup, exuding extreme charm.
"Are you going back tonight?" Tsuda Nao's eyes flickered.
"Hmm?" Kiyoshi Yuuma felt momentarily flustered.
What else could he do?
"Not convenient, right? There are two girls at your place," Tsuda Nao hesitated, then said, "Sleep at my place."
"Eh?"
…
"Is this really okay?"
Kiyoshi Yuuma asked in disbelief as he stepped inside.
Not just this door—he had never even stepped past the main entrance of her apartment before.
It felt like a forbidden zone, one he had respected for so long that Kiyoshi Yuuma thought it was a line he could never cross.
Yet now, here he was, standing normally inside Tsuda Nao's home.
Oh, that's right!
It was because there were women at his place.
Ah!
Thanks to Mika Ishino and Ayase Akane—without them, he never would have been here.
Thinking like this—
Even this fox has moments of jealousy?
If she weren't worried something might happen when he returned home, she probably wouldn't have brought him upstairs.
"It's fine," Tsuda Nao smiled, pulling out a pair of slippers from the shoe cabinet. "Kiyoshi-san, there aren't any men's slippers here, so feel free to just go barefoot."
"Alright," Kiyoshi Yuuma nodded.
At the same time, his eyes swept over the apartment.
This was one of the finest apartments in Tokyo, around 100 square meters, luxuriously decorated in Japanese style, with smooth wooden floors and a faint pleasant fragrance lingering in the air.
…
After preparing hot water for Kiyoshi Yuuma, Tsuda Nao went to remove her makeup.
By the time he finished his shower, she had laid out two beds on the floor, each about an arm's length apart.
Seeing this, Kiyoshi Yuuma's eyes betrayed a hint of disappointment.
Ah—
Even after coming into her home, they still had to sleep separately.
Kiyoshi Yuuma disliked the Japanese habit of floor bedding. If there had been just one bed, wouldn't it have been natural for him to lie down there?
No, not necessarily.
Maybe she would still make him sleep on the sofa.
There was no choice—Kiyoshi Yuuma wasn't the type to force things. He'd just wait and see when Tsuda Nao would unlock that boundary.
He didn't dwell on it, crawling into his futon.
Inhaling the faint fragrance drifting from above, Kiyoshi Yuuma drifted into sleep.
He didn't know how long had passed before Tsuda Nao finished washing up and blow-drying her hair, then slipped into the futon next to him.
Kiyoshi Yuuma turned onto his side, placing his hand under his pillow, casually watching her.
She, too, looked at him with a gentle smile.
"Good night, Kiyoshi-san," Tsuda Nao whispered.
"Good night," Kiyoshi Yuuma replied.
He closed his eyes, letting sleepiness wash over him.
His mind was filled with images of Tsuda Nao in her fox makeup from earlier.
…
After a while, Kiyoshi Yuuma heard the soft rustle of movement as Tsuda Nao crawled into his futon.
A woman's arms wrapped around him.
The atmosphere instantly became heated.
Soft lips pressed against his.
Kiyoshi Yuuma kissed back greedily.
"Kiyoshi-san."
"Call me Yuuma."
"Yuuma-san… believe it or not, this is my first time," Tsuda Nao said seriously.
"Eh?"