The Kansai Villain’s Rebirth: I Accidentally Ended Up With a Harem. - Chapter 96: A Kansai Guy Goes Hatsumoude.

A Kansai Guy Goes Hatsumoude.

The new year had arrived.

This would be the first full year I’d live as Tennouji Daiki.

No longer the awkward three-month trial run; this was the real thing.

And if this really was still the world of Netorase no Hazama, storms were definitely coming.

But no matter what, I’d protect Shina, Mio, and Rinko.

I’d spend the entire year watching their happy smiles, and I’d make damn sure those smiles never faded.

Da-chan’s Family ♡:

Daiki: Happy New Year, everyone!

Please continue to take care of me this year too.

si-na: Happy New Year—! New Year to everybody!

Rin: Happy New Year. Looking forward to another year together.

The moment the clock hit midnight, I sent the standard greeting to the group chat.

…It ended up sounding like a corporate New Year’s email.

I really need to shake off the salaryman soul already.

si-na: Huh? Where’s Mio-chan?

Daiki: Probably sleeping.

Rin: Mio always sleeps through this hour every year.

Daiki: She’s an early sleeper, huh. I feel bad for keeping her up so late when she stayed over before.

Rin: She’d stay up all night if she’s in bed talking with Dai-kun. I’d do the same.

Daiki: Says the girl who passed out cold and showed me the cutest sleeping face ever.

Rin: [　　　　　]

si-na: Rin-chan, what’s with the blank message!?

Mio-chan can just greet me tomorrow in person.

Tomorrow the four of us are going for hatsumōde.

I still can’t believe it: New Year’s shrine visit with my three favorite heroines.

I was planning to take it easy and enjoy the moment… or so I thought.

***

Morning came. Mio wanted to leave a little later, so we settled on a relaxed afternoon visit.

I figured high-schoolers would normally drag themselves to the midnight countdown no matter how sleepy, but these three are surprisingly chill.

I arrived at the meeting spot first.

“Dai-chaaaaaan!!”

Shina came sprinting full-speed and leapt straight into my arms like always, then started rubbing her cheek against my chest.

So damn cute. Every single time.

“Morning, Shina. Happy New Year.”

“Happy New Year! Yoroshiku this year too~! Love me lots and lots, like, forever, okay? ♡”

“Of course. Let’s go on tons of dates.”

“Yay ♡”

A new year that starts with my ultimate bias hugging me.

This is sacred. Truly sacred.

…Wait, hold on.

“Where’re Mio-chan and Rinko?”

That’s when I got me worried.

Normally those two are thirty minutes early no matter what.

But today only Shina was here, looking way too relaxed for someone whose friends were late.

Which could only mean… they’re planning something.

Just like the time Rinko ambushed me with that “Who is it~?” prank.

Heh. Bring it.

“Nihihi ♪”

Shina flashed a mischievous grin.

Oh, they’re definitely up to something.

“Daiki-kun, Shina-chan, sorry to keep you waiting!”

“Sorry for being late.”

Familiar voices came from behind me.

Here we go. What kind of attack are they—

***

My brain blue-screened.

Standing there were… a goddess in a pale crimson kimono embroidered with fluttering butterflies—Mio-chan…

and a celestial maiden in deep green silk blooming with white peonies—Rinko.

“Uh… w-what… huh?”

“Daiki-kun?”

“F-Furisode…?”

“Yep! We got up super early for hair and dressing, so we went to bed early last night. Sorry the greeting was late.”

“I-It took longer than expected; we barely made it in time.”

“An acquaintance who’s a hairdresser gave us priority, thank goodness~

Hey, hey, Daiki-kun… does the furisode look weird?”

“How about mine?”

“You’re both… absolutely stunning. Insanely, breathtakingly beautiful.”

“Daiki-chaaan’s broken~!”

“Dai-kun! Say it properly!”

“Y-Yes, ma’am! Mio-chan, you look so delicate and ethereal that the makeup makes you look like a completely different person! The kimono is gorgeous, but you’re even more gorgeous and I lost the ability to speak! Mio-chan is beautiful!”

“R-Really!? Thank goodness… I was terrified you’d think it didn’t suit me… I’m so happy you noticed the makeup too ♪ They used to call me a zashiki-warashi when I was little…”

“That bastard said what!? Gross! Forget him! Dai-chan says you’re beautiful!”

“Mhm ♪”

“And Rinko! Your usual cool aura combined with the kimono is devastatingly elegant! The peonies only make you shine brighter! And I’ve never seen your hair up before—so your nape is this pretty!”

“N-Nape!? W-Where are you looking!?”

“Rin-chan’s neck is so slender~! This is my first time seeing your hair up too!”

“U-Uhh…”

“And that camellia kanzashi is perfect. It’s like a beautiful camellia bloomed on Rinko.”

“T-Thank you…”

Rinko tried to fiddle with her hair out of embarrassment, realized it was all pinned up, and dropped her hand with lightning speed.

Adorable.

“Mio-chan, the cherry-blossom hair ornament is super cute too. Cherry blossoms really suit you.”

“Really? Ehehe, thank you ♪”

“I’m jealous~ Mama says she’ll prepare one for me next year. Look forward to it, Dai-chan!”

“Can’t wait.”

“Fufu, Mom and Dad picked this one out—it’s a total success ♪”

“Mine too. I nearly fainted when I heard the price, though…”

“Those… aren’t rentals…?”

“Of course not. They said we should be able to wear them for coming-of-age ceremony too, so they bought them. Mine’s Kyō-yūzen.”

“Mine’s Kaga-yuzen.”

“Wooow, so pretty, Rin-chan!”

“You look wonderful too, Mio.”

…Furisode.

Not just any furisode—top-class, hand-painted, probably-over-a-million-yen-each furisode.

Bought, not rented.

The Akitani and Fuyuki families are terrifying.

Shina’s mom will probably do the same next year…

Three heroines walking around in near-top-tier kimono, and I’m the boyfriend.

I feel like a massive class gap here… Is this really okay…?

“Come on, we’re going to your house later too, right? Let’s get going!”

“Yep! Let’s go~!”

“Departure~!”

Even at the local station, three breathtaking beauties in exquisite furisode drew every eye in the prefecture.

The soft clack-clack of their geta on the pavement, the graceful sway of their walk… they really looked like refined young ladies from good families.

“So pretty…”

“Those aren’t rentals…”

“Pretty ladies~!”

“Damn, that boyfriend’s scary strong…”

Who’s scary? I’m just a wholesome high-schooler.

On the train we still got stared at, but no creepy guys tried anything because I kept stroking their heads and Rinko clung to my arm the whole time.

We arrived at the shrine famous for matchmaking and marital harmony—Shina’s choice.

“‘Cause someday we’re all gonna be Dai-chan’s wives, right? So I want our first shrine visit of the year to bless us with a happy marriage!”

Mio and Rinko instantly agreed.

Rinko already acts like we’re married for life, Mio unconsciously relies on me for everything, and Shina’s glued to me 24/7.

I want these three as my wives more than anything.

I’m never letting go.

They don’t even glance at other guys, but just in case someone tries drugging them or whatever—I’ll never allow it.

“Crowd’s insane…”

“Shina, don’t get lost.”

“Got it! I’m holding Dai-chan’s jacket tight!”

“I-I’m small, so I’m clinging to Daiki-kun’s arm!”

“Mio-chan, hold my hand too.”

“I’m not good with crowds…”

“Rinko, take this hand. Now we’re all connected.”

The four of us formed a perfect circle, hands linked so no one would drift away.

After a short wait, we tossed our coins into the offering box.

I pressed my palms together and prayed with all my heart.

(Thank you for letting me reincarnate into this world…

Please, please let me stay in this world forever with these three heroines…

I swear I’ll make them happy…!)

That wish burned in my chest.

There has to be a reason I was reborn as Tennouji Daiki.

I believe that with everything I am.

And I’ll protect this miracle to my last breath.