Chapter 426

Chapter 426: New Year’s Visit in January

In this world, a December holiday akin to Christmas exists but goes by a different name. The name isn’t significant—what matters is the sentiment. While Christmas originated from religion, the Alliance has no unified faith. Beliefs are scattered among races: the witches’ Golden Faith, the Earth Dragon’s Ancient Dragon Faith, the Bloodline’s Blood Saint Faith, and others.

The Natural Alliance doesn’t observe Christmas, which spares Bai Wei the ordeal of splitting himself into pieces on that day. Yingzhou, still inching toward modernization, has neither fully industrialized nor embraced foreign holidays. However, Bai Wei’s relief was fleeting.

December 31st arrived, ushering in the New Year. Regardless of culture, humanity shares the tradition of marking this transition. In Ming Country, it’s called New Year’s Day, a term first recorded in the ancient text Jin Shu. Ming Country observes it modestly, with one or two days off.

In Yingzhou, it’s the Lunar New Year, celebrated with January visits. Europa calls it New Year’s, with varied regional traditions: drinking until dawn, planting trees, lighting firecrackers, or dancing around bonfires. Each culture reveres this day as an end and a beginning.

For Bai Wei, it also meant doubling his efforts. With a twelve-hour time difference between Edo and the Tulip Academy, January 1st in Edo overlaps with December 31st in Europa. “It’s like celebrating two festivals at once,” he mused.

Preparations Begin

The Spring Festival in Yingzhou required meticulous preparation. Bai Wei, unable to return to Ming Country due to the ash tide, adapted to local customs. From December 31st onward, he prepared decorations and a feast.

He first fetched Sakurai Shiru from the hospital, bringing her home and spending half a day arranging her room. Shiru, her cheeks flushed with happiness, had only one small request: a memorial tablet for her father. Bai Wei had anticipated this, placing a shrine and memorial tablet in a cabinet.

This day was one of familial warmth. At the Yagyū residence, Bai Wei and Yagyū Simozi cooked a feast inspired by Ming Country. Despite their efforts, they prepared too much food, leaving leftovers from lunch and dinner. Dinner featured buckwheat noodles, a traditional dish for this occasion.

A Festive Evening

As night fell, the three of them gathered on the sofa to watch the Red and White Song Battle on TV—a program akin to the Spring Festival Gala but solely focused on music. Performers sang classics, with newcomers and veterans sharing the stage.

Hatsurai Wagaizuma, a rising star, captivated the audience with four songs: two covers and two originals. While Yagyū Simozi and Shiru were mesmerized by her performance, Bai Wei preferred comedy acts but endured the program for their sake.

As the girls indulged in the show, Bai Wei peeled oranges—a rare treat due to shipping disruptions. Yagyū Simozi expressed a craving for seedless watermelon, and Bai Wei promised to bring some back from Ming Country in the summer.

Dressing for New Year’s Visit

An hour before midnight, Simozi and Shiru began dressing in traditional kimonos. Unlike casual yukatas, kimonos require assistance to don and are often rented due to their cost.

Simozi selected two furisode kimonos: a medium-length one for herself and a Yoshino Sakura-themed one for Shiru. It took forty minutes to dress and style their hair, with each helping the other. Ornamental combs and golden accents completed their elegant looks.

Bai Wei applied makeup,

enhancing Shiru’s delicate

features with a playful lotus

mark on her forehead. Seeing

her reflection, Shiru beamed

with newfound confidence. Bai

Wei reassured her, “You’re

beautiful, and you’ll grow even

more radiant. Have faith in

yourself.”

Setting Out

Before leaving, they adorned

the doorway with peach

charms and gate pines,

blending Ming and Yingzhou

traditions. Bai Wei dressed

simply in Ming Country attire,

his focus on ensuring the girls

shone.

As dawn approached, the

streets buzzed with activity.

Bai Wei linked arms with Shiru

and Simozi, pondering where

to go for their New Year’s

prayers.

However, their plans took an

unexpected turn. A familiar car

pulled up at the alley’s end.

The door opened, revealing

Hokusinn Kichyō in a stunning

“Yaezakura” kimono. Bowing

gracefully, she greeted them

with a cheerful, “明けましてお

めでとうございます~!” (Happy

New Year).

Gesturing to the car’s back

seat, she smiled at Bai Wei.

“Would you care to join me for

a New Year’s visit?”