Chapter 306 Do You Want To
After washing up and returning to the bedroom, Eriri finally slowly put on her clothes—not the kimono, which she would change into just before leaving.
Seeing Kaede enter, Eriri yawned again and said with a smile, "Kaede-kun, are Mom and Dad awake?"
"They've been up for a while, just waiting for us. Hurry up and wash up."
"Mhm mhm!" Eriri nodded, "Then Kaede-kun, wait for me. We'll go down together, otherwise Mom will only scold me."
"...Alright."
After waiting for about ten minutes, Eriri quickly finished washing up, and then the two went downstairs.
In the living room on the first floor, both sets of parents were already up and had finished breakfast.
Sawamura Sayuri and Asakura Reiko were petting the Cats they had brought over last night. Seeing the two come down, Sawamura Sayuri said, "You're up? Hurry and eat breakfast. It's getting late for the blessings."
Looking around, Kaede asked, "Where are my dad and Uncle Spencer?"
Sawamura Sayuri pointed towards the study upstairs and said, "After breakfast, they went upstairs to play chess. Since they're not going for the blessings today, just let them be."
Well, those two bad chess players had gotten addicted.
Kaede shrugged and went to the dining room with Eriri for breakfast.
After eating, it was time to head out. Aside from Kaede, who was still in his casual clothes, the other three had changed into splendid kimonos, outfits reserved for special holidays.
Looking at Eriri, who was wearing a cherry blossom-colored kimono, Kaede smiled and asked, "Are you cold? Do you want to bring a scarf?"
"I'm not cold! This kimono is very thick, and I even added an inner lining!"
Eriri helped tug the scarf Kaede was wearing and said, "Alright, let's go!"
Most people who go to the shrine on New Year's Day to pray for good fortune choose to leave very early in the morning. People like Kaede and his group, who only left at eight o'clock, were destined not to be at the front of the line.
However, they were never in a rush. They were just soaking up the atmosphere of the first day of the New Year and had no intention of pushing to the front.
In fact, in the previous two years, neither Kaede's family nor Eriri's family chose to come on New Year's Day because they couldn't wake up early enough. Waking up this early this year was purely a whim, the result of a group discussion.
They drove near Asakusa Shrine, and after finally finding a parking spot, they got out and saw the extremely lively scene.
"Oh! So many people!"
Eriri saw the crowd ahead and strained to stand on her tiptoes, but the distant view remained an endless sea of people.
After thinking for a moment, Eriri said, "It's a good thing I didn't wear contact lenses today. With so many people, if I accidentally bump into someone, my contacts might fall out. Regular glasses are safer."
After fixing her hairstyle, Sawamura Sayuri smiled and said, "Alright, let's go. Although there are many people, it's not completely packed shoulder-to-shoulder, and the process of praying and drawing lots is quite fast. Let's queue up slowly; there's no rush."
That was true. They were only here to stroll around and enjoy themselves, and watching so many people packed together in front was strangely amusing.
Idly queuing at the back, Eriri whispered, "Kaede-kun, this strangely reminds me of the queueing scenes I used to see at doujin conventions."
"Queueing for a doujin convention?" Kaede was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh, "Hahaha, it does look a bit like that, but those queues seem even more exaggerated."
"Mhm, exactly. The crowds at doujin conventions are much more extreme."
As she spoke, Eriri hugged Kaede's arm and snuggled into his embrace: "Hehe, this way I feel much safer."
"..."
The two mothers walking behind them both showed helpless smiles when they saw this.
Asakura Reiko watched the two children chatting and laughing, and quietly said to Sawamura Sayuri, "Sayuri, over the past six months, the relationship between the two children has become much better."
"Yes, that's right." Sawamura Sayuri nodded and said, "Originally, I was worried that after the two children moved in together, conflicts might arise.
After all, as you know, many problems between two people only gradually emerge after they start living together.
But now, it seems there are no issues at all. These two children are like they were destined to be together.
I think in a few more years, we can comfortably wait to babysit the grandchildren."
"I'm suddenly looking forward to it."
Asakura Reiko narrowed her eyes, suddenly thought of something, and said, "What do you say about finding a time to arrange for the two children to get engaged first?"
"An engagement?"
Sawamura Sayuri showed no surprise upon hearing this; instead, she pondered it seriously: "Hmm... that could certainly work.
Putting aside everything else, after they are engaged, even if others at school find out they are living together, we'll have a legitimate reason, won't we?
To be honest, I was quite worried before that the teachers at school might discover the two children are cohabiting, which would inevitably lead to nagging.
How about this: after the prayers are finished and we get home, we'll discuss this matter with the two children."
As for what Eriri mentioned to her before—having Kaede plan a proposal—the two things don't conflict, do they?
Suddenly, the two people walking ahead felt a chill down their spines simultaneously. They turned around to look at the two mothers behind them, but were only met with two smiling faces.
Turning back around, Eriri leaned on Kaede's shoulder and whispered, "Kaede-kun, I feel like something fishy is going on..."
"Hmm... it shouldn't be that dramatic, but Mom and Sayuri definitely are discussing something.
But none of that matters. The line is moving, and I think it will be our turn soon."
"You're right, this is more important now. My legs are starting to ache from waiting."
After queuing for another ten minutes or so, it was finally their turn.
Although it was New Year's prayer, it wasn't much different from regular prayers; the main distinction was the special timing of the New Year.
After finishing the prayers, they went to draw lots.
Kaede drew a Minor Luck, and Eriri also drew a Minor Luck. In contrast, both mothers drew Great Luck.
If Eriri hadn't seen other people nearby drawing bad luck fortunes, she would have thought all the fortunes for New Year's Day had been switched to good ones.
As for having the fortunes interpreted, none of them bothered. This was good enough for now.
After buying some takoyaki, they were finally able to start their journey back.
Sitting in the driver's seat, Sawamura Sayuri exchanged a meaningful glance with Asakura Reiko. Asakura Reiko immediately nodded slightly, took out her phone, and sent a message to her husband who hadn't come, informing him of the matter she and Sawamura Sayuri had just discussed.