In a World of Reversed Chastity, I’m Surrounded by a Clingy Older Woman, a Walking Red Flag, and an Exhausted Office Lady - 34-35

Chapter 34: New Year’s with the Four of Us

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“Yua-san. The New Year’s soba is ready, so could you take it to everyone?”

“Okay. Thank you, Aoi-kun.”

“No problem. I wanted to eat it too.”

Today was New Year’s Eve, the final day of the year. Last year, I went back to my family home and spent it quietly with Mom and Hina. But this year, Kaoruko-san suggested that the four of us, Renka, Yua-san, and I, spend it together. So as usual, we gathered at Kaoruko-san’s house.

At the birthday party the other day, there had been a slightly awkward atmosphere, but apparently they had gotten much closer when I wasn’t around. Yua-san, Renka, and Kaoruko-san were now chatting casually with each other. Since I’m close with all three of them, it made me really happy.

In exchange, Mom and Hina at home gave me truly sad looks. But since I prioritized family on my birthday, I begged them to let me prioritize this side this time, and somehow managed to come here.

…Well, in the end, I was just not going home on New Year’s Eve. I had promised to go over there on the second or third, so I would still visit home anyway. Otherwise, Hina might start saying she was going to move into my room.

“Aoi really can do anything, can’t you? You’re the only one who can make food that looks this delicious.”

“Thanks, Renka. If you tried, you could learn to make something like this too.”

“I think I’ll stick to being the one who eats. I want to live just eating Aoi’s cooking.”

“Hahaha. That’s a bit exaggerated.”

“It’s not exaggerated. I’m serious.”

Renka puffed her cheeks while munching on the shrimp tempura on top of her soba. I gave her a wry smile and then slurped my own soba.

“Kaoruko-san, sorry for relaxing so much while visiting your home.”

“It’s fine. I was the one who suggested this, and if it means I can spend the New Year with Aoi-kun, you can do anything you want.”

Both Renka and Kaoruko-san reacted so dramatically to everything. They were probably just joking though. While chatting, we finished eating the soba. As I washed the dishes, it was almost time for the day to change.

“Aoi-kun. This year is almost over.”

“Yeah. But it was a good year because I got to meet the three of you.”

“””!!!”””

I was worried whether I would make friends after entering university, so I was glad the one who sat next to me was Renka. I was glad the person living next door was Yua-san. I was glad the person who often came to my part-time workplace was Kaoruko-san.

“I’m glad I met you too, Aoi-kun. I’m glad I lived in that apartment. I’m glad it was you who helped me. This year was probably the most blessed year of my life.”

“I’m glad Aoi sat in the seat next to me. I’m glad Aoi talked to me. Because Aoi was there, this year was really fun.”

“It was a year filled with Aoi-kun’s kindness. I was able to work hard thanks to Aoi-kun, and you were my motivation. I’m glad I met you too.”

The three of them were as dramatic as ever, but since they were saying such nice things, my cheeks loosened into a smile. When I looked at the clock, there were only a few seconds left before the date changed.

“Thank you for this year. I look forward to next year as well.”

“Looking forward to it.”

“Not just next year, but the years after that too.”

And then the date changed.

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Chapter 35: Alicia’s Arrival

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“Hey, Nii-san. I got Great Fortune. Isn’t that amazing?”

“Nice. I got Good Fortune.”

So today, right after returning to my family home, I went with Mom and Hina to the shrine we visit almost every year and drew our fortunes. Last year I got Great Fortune, but this year it was Good Fortune. When I looked at the contents written on the fortune I drew, it basically said that things would be fine if I kept working hard in both my job and my studies. But there was one part that caught my attention.

It was the section about love.

『Your existence can be both poison and medicine. Have confidence and resolve. If you do, everyone will be able to find happiness.』

That was what it said. I kind of understood the part about having confidence and resolve, but what did it mean that my existence could be both poison and medicine?

Well, fortunes like these probably just contain vague things that could apply to anyone. Thinking too much about it probably isn’t good either, so I should just tie it up already.

After tying the fortune, we walked around looking at the festival stalls when suddenly someone tapped my shoulder from behind. When I turned around, the person standing there was Shizuku wearing shrine maiden clothes with an exhausted look on her face, and…

“Aoi!! Long time no see. I’ve been wanting to see you for so long.”

“Eh!? Alicia?”

The blonde girl with delicate, well-defined features confirmed my face and then threw herself at me with great momentum. She came at me so forcefully that I almost fell over, but because I couldn’t show something uncool during such a reunion, my pride as a man somehow helped me barely manage to stay on my feet.

Alicia Sinclair. She was the other one of the two friends I had in high school. Alicia was the one who had tearfully returned to her hometown and now she was standing right there.

“Ugh. Why is Alicia-san here? Weren’t you supposed to have returned to your hometown and parted with Nii-san forever in this lifetime?”

“Aoi-sama, I sincerely apologize. This woman called Alicia somehow managed to infiltrate Japan. Honestly, what are customs even doing?”

Both Hina and Shizuku said some pretty harsh things to Alicia, but somehow this atmosphere felt nostalgic, and it made me happy.

“Ah, Aoi is smiling. See? I knew it would be better if I were here.”

“That is incorrect, foolish Alicia. That smile means, ‘Why did she come here? I wish she would go home already.’ It is a bitter smile. It definitely does not mean he is happy that you came.”

“I-is that so? Was I not supposed to come? Aoi, do you not want me to be here?”

Alicia’s perfectly sculpted face, like a delicate Western doll, twisted as she looked like she was about to cry. I gently rubbed her back.

“It’s okay. I don’t think that at all. I’m really happy to see you again after so long, Alicia.”

“!! This. This is it. I have wanted to hear these words from Aoi all this time. I was so lonely I thought I might die.”

She broke into a radiant smile and tightened her hug even more, making it a little hard to breathe. Seeing that, Shizuku smacked Alicia on the head with a sharp smack and forcibly pulled her away from me since she refused to let go.

“Thanks, Shizuku.”

“Not at all.”

“And your shrine maiden outfit really suits you. You look very beautiful.”

Because of her family’s connection, Shizuku worked part-time as a shrine maiden here almost every year. So since high school, I saw her wearing shrine maiden clothes once a year. No matter how many times I saw it, traditional Japanese clothing suited Shizuku perfectly. Her long, glossy black hair and well-shaped face. On top of that, her refined demeanor. There was no way shrine maiden clothes wouldn’t suit her.

“Ufufu. Thank you very much. If it makes you happy, Aoi-sama, I will wear it as much as you like.”

“Ah, that’s unfair. Aoi, if I wore shrine maiden clothes, would you say I’m beautiful too?”

“Yeah. Of course.”

Alicia wearing shrine maiden clothes, huh. She would probably look beautiful, but it would still feel a bit like cosplay somehow.

“By the way, Alicia, why are you here in Japan? Is it for sightseeing?”

“Ah, I almost forgot to tell you!!”

Alicia smiled brightly and looked at me with straight, unwavering eyes.

“I will be attending the same university as Aoi!! Please take care of me starting this spring.”

It was a shocking revelation.

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