Chapter 306: The Last New Year (Part )

The Matsumae family is located on the plain at the foot of Mt. Teine, surrounded by an artificial moat that is three meters wide. The high walls of the courtyard extend to the left and right, hidden by evergreen trees, and the ends are nowhere to be seen.

The Matsumae Shrine is on the hill behind the Matsumae family.

From a distance, you can see the tall cedar forest on the mountain. On the top of the mountain is the most magnificent Matsumae Main Hall and the iconic Torii gate of the Japanese shrine.

In the heavy snow, the entire hill was dyed white, and the red shrine building was naturally particularly eye-catching.

On the day of the festival, the gate of the shrine was hung with rice ears and paper strips symbolizing harvest and happiness. As the morning bell rang, the shrine gradually became crowded with people, and people who came to worship and pray for new year blessings began to come in an endless stream.

Yang Kui Chitose stood on a high place and looked up, from the main hall gate towards the entrance steps, all she saw were human heads.

She felt like she was attending the Jade Fox Festival last time. There were too many people and she couldn't even squeeze out.

“There are so many people!”

"After all, Matsumae Shrine is not far from the city, and it is the shrine with the best scenery and the most incense in Sapporo."

"Jiuka! How about we go over there and take a look?"

Jiuhuayue looked in the direction that Yangkui Chitose pointed and found that she was referring to the New Year's amulets sold by the shrine maidens next to the shrine.

"Didn't Xinchun write it to you?"

"Oh, today is New Year's Day! Maybe it will be different. Anyway, Brother Shu won't be here for long, so let's go and take a look."

After finally squeezing into the crowd, Yang Kui Chitose stretched her neck and squeezed her head to take a look.

"Why are there so many luck-bringing charms, health-longevity charms, academic success charms, love-making charms, wealth-attracting charms, and safe childbirth-praying charms?"

"Matsumae Shrine needs to make money."

"But these are different from the ones Xinchun gave us! I think ours are prettier!"

Yang Kui Chitose was happy when she talked about this. She grabbed a small amulet from her waist and put it in front of her eyes, looking left and right. "By the way, Xinchun is the chief shrine maiden of the shrine. Isn't she the most effective one?"

"It stands to reason."

Jiuhuayue took Qiansui's small amulet and saw the words "good luck" written by Xinchun for her on it.

"Chitose, why did you ask Xinchun to write good luck?"

"I want to be lucky."

"for example?"

"For example." Yang Kui Qiansui thought about it carefully, "When I take over the hot spring shop in the future, there will be many customers coming to the shop, and I will make a lot of money!"

"Then?"

"Then I can buy lots and lots of birthday presents for Brother Shu!"

Jiuhuayue was a little stunned by Yang Kui Chitose's words, but then she thought about the fact that she was Chitose and everything made sense.

"It seems that you are still a little concerned about the gift Xinchun gave to uncle last time."

".Who told me that I can't afford such a valuable gift in my lifetime. Jiuhuayue, what do you think?"

"For a car of my price range, if I work hard, it should be OK."

Yang Kui Chitose was a little unhappy, "It's as if I'm the only useless one."

"Don't say that. Chitose, you're not bad looking. I can recommend you to be a model with me and take some photos."

"What?" Yang Kui Chitose looked surprised, "Is it true? Take me there, take me there! Don't lie!"

Jiu Huayue was a little frightened by her appearance, "Qian Sui, are you so short of money? Uncle also said that you should just do your best."

"That's what Brother Shu said," Yang Kui Chitose muttered, "but I will definitely still care about it in my heart. And, even if the Matsumae family managed by Brother Shu accidentally goes bankrupt in the future, I will have the money to support Brother Shu, right?

"Brother Shu has been good to me for the first half of my life, so I will be good to him for the rest of my life!"

Jiuhuayue listened to Qiansui's words and felt a deep sense of identification with her for the first time.

"Also, when I have money, I will buy a big villa in the city for my parents! They paid for my heart disease to be cured! They also took care of me for so long!"

".Compared to the big villa you mentioned, I'm afraid your uncle and aunt would prefer the hot spring hotel you are staying in now."

Yang Kui Chitose pinched her chin and nodded, "That's true."

She suddenly remembered something, "Oh right! I still don't know what you asked Xinchun to write, Xiao Jiuhua! Let me see!"

Jiuhuayue was slightly stunned, then took out the key chain, turned over the amulet hanging on it and showed it to her.

On the back of the amulet, there are also words written by Matsumae Shinharu.

However, unlike Qiansui's "Dayun", the word "guard" is written on Jiuhuayue's amulet, with vigorous and powerful strokes and deep ink color.

"You asked Xinchun to write 'protect'?" Yang Kui Chitose blinked, obviously a little surprised, "Do you want her to bless you with everything?"

"Not exactly."

"What else do you mean?"

"It means to keep everything."

Yang Kui Qiansui obviously noticed the small changes in Jiuhuayue's expression in the past few days, and her eyes couldn't help but soften. She smiled and said:
"Xiao Jiuhua, do you feel a little lonely? Do you want to find something to rely on?"

A hint of surprise flashed across Jiuhuayue's eyes, but she quickly reacted and suppressed it.

The girl coughed lightly, raised her chin and retorted:
"certainly not!"

"Hehe~ Then you are~~"

Yang Kui Qiansui deliberately sighed, shook his head, and then patted Jiuhuayue on the shoulder, as if she were her elder, and said earnestly:
"I know~ I know~ Jiuhua, I know even if you don't say it, you have always been stronger than anyone else. But being strong doesn't mean you don't need support, except for Brother Shu. If you feel lonely, you can come to me and act like a spoiled child occasionally~"

Jiuhuayue's expression gradually became unfriendly.

Yang Kui Qiansui saw that something was wrong, and immediately adjusted her state, coughed twice to ease the embarrassment, and then continued:

".Just now, I was joking! Just joking!"

".I now understand why uncle likes to use his fist to punch your head."

"That's Brother Shu's reward to me! But Xiao Jiuhua, I really understand your feelings!"

Jiu Huayue did not answer, which was considered as her consent to wait for her to continue.

"That's right. That's right. Sometimes I feel a little anxious. You know what I mean? I always feel like I'm not with Brother Shu anymore, or maybe Brother Shu doesn't want me anymore. He's gone far away, and I can't find him or see him anymore.
"But I miss him so much! I miss his eyes, his nose, his mouth, and his smile!
"Then. Then I cried so sadly in my dream.

"When I wake up and find out it was just a dream, I feel relieved, but I am also a little scared."

Jiuhuayue didn't answer, but her expression softened.

Yang Kui Chitose looked at her like this and smiled softly:
"See, I know you understand!"

".Then, how did you solve it?"

"Go and act cute to Brother Shu! Brother Shu will say nice things to you, hug you and coax you. If you are really unhappy, he can even make delicious food for you. He is so nice to people!"

As Yang Kui Chitose spoke, a light appeared in her eyes.

"Hey! Don't tell me Jiuhua you didn't do this!"

After Qiansui said this, Jiuhuayue remembered the time when she went to the uncle to act coquettishly.

"Hey, hey! I guessed it all right, didn't I? It's okay, it's okay!"

Yang Kui Qiansui supported himself with one hand and waved his hand gently, "Now that Xiao Jiuhua and Xinchun have completely reconciled, I also understand you a little better, so if you are bored and have no one to accompany you, it is not impossible for you to find me besides Brother Shu!"

"."

"Ok?"

Jiu Huayue smiled, "Nothing, it's just that I never thought you were so easy to get along with before, Qiansui."

"What are you talking about? It's as if I was a bad person in the past," Yang Kui Qiansui muttered, her little face turning a little dark, "It's all because of you, Jiuhuayue! It wasn't your fault before, who told you to steal my brother Tree as soon as you came here! But now, these things don't matter. I, Sister Muzi, won't say anything, as long as everyone is happy.

"And the fact is, everyone is very happy now~"

As she was speaking, Yang Kui Chitose's eyes suddenly lit up, as if she had discovered something. She turned around and looked at the crowd, and saw Fujii Itsuki and Akai Muko who had just walked in at the entrance of the shrine. Chitose immediately raised her hands excitedly, waving them like a little girl, and shouted excitedly:

"Brother Shu! Sister Muzi! Over here!"

Fujii Itsuki and Akai Muko heard Chitose's voice and looked over.

The two walked closer, and Qiansui ran forward happily, smiling: "Happy New Year! Brother Shu! Sister Muzi! Why did you come just now? Xiao Jiuhua and I have been waiting for a while!"

"Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year, Chitose and Satsuki."

The two responded one after another. Fujii Itsuki looked at Qiansui gently, then looked at Jiuhuayue, and said softly: "Sorry, we were delayed on the way."

Akai Muzi then added with a smile: "There are quite a lot of people at the shrine today, so we walked a little slower."

Yang Kui Chitose didn't care and continued to say with a smile:

"It's okay, it's okay. We were just chatting anyway! Right, Xiao Jiuhua?"

She turned to look at Jiu Huayue, who was standing beside her and nodded slightly.

The four of them walked inside together, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed in the festive mood.

It’s New Year’s Day, so everyone gets up so early to come here to pay homage to the New Year.

After waiting for a while, Matsumae Shinharu came over. She was wearing a white shrine maiden costume and walked briskly.

"Sorry to keep everyone waiting!"

Xinchun's voice was a little breathless, obviously she had rushed over.

"Today's preparations were a bit hasty."

"Xinchun!" Yang Kui Qiansui's eyes lit up and he immediately went to greet her, "You're finally here! We've all been waiting for you! Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year!"

Matsumae Shinchun smiled and nodded.

Fujii Itsuki: "Since everyone is here, let's go to the shrine first."

Several people followed him into the long queue for worship.

The queue moved forward a little bit every now and then.

When it was someone's turn, they all stood on the wooden steps in a row and threw a 5 yen coin into the money box.

Then ring the bells together, clap your hands, and make a wish together.

clap clap!

The sound of clapping was quite crisp.

The worship was over soon.

"What did Xinchun wish for?"

Akai Muzi scolded, "Chitose, your wish won't work if you say it out loud!"

"But Xinchun is the chief priestess of the shrine! The Jade Fox God would definitely not do this to her! I'm just curious."

"This is a secret," Matsumae Shinchun smiled gently, "I still have to rush to the stage to prepare for the festival. How about Chitose come with me?"

"Yes, yes, yes! I'm going to perform with Xinchun during the New Year!"

Fujii Itsuki smiled and motioned for the two to hurry up and not waste time.

"Brother Shu, Brother Shu! Remember to come on time!"

"I know, I know. I repeated it at least five times today when I woke up! Go now."

"Then Brother Shu, Xinchun and I will go over first. See you later!"

"Uh-huh."

Fujii Itsuki watched the two of them leave the main hall and walk down the mountain, then turned to Akai Muko and Jiuhuayue:

"So what should we do next——"

Akai Muzi smiled and said, "Let's go to the festival at the foot of the mountain. There are a lot of stalls today."

"Alright."

After the worship was completed, the group walked along the mountain steps all the way to the festival market below.

There is a small town at the foot of the mountain where Matsumae Shrine is located. The approach to the shrine runs through the entire street, with a wide variety of shops on both sides.

Fujii Itsuki took the two of them into the gift shop and wanted to buy some small accessories for them as New Year gifts.

He was accompanying Akai Muzi in choosing jewelry. When he turned around, he found Jiuhuayue standing next to the cartoon accessories.

When Fujii Itsuki walked in, he saw rows of various small ceramic sharks.

The girl's eyes were shining.
Fujii Itsuki couldn't help but laugh:
"Why do you still like this so much?"

He took another look, picked out the biggest one and put it in Jiu Huayue's hand.

The girl looked at him with bright eyes, "For me?"

"Well, what else?" Fujii Itsuki asked back.

Jiuhuayue was sure of these words. She was like a little girl who had received a beloved gift. She couldn't help but start to appreciate and watch it in her hands.

She stroked the fin of the little ceramic shark and couldn't let it go.

"Thank you, thank you!"

Fujii Itsuki smiled and said, "It's just a small gift. Besides, you can afford it."

“That’s also very valuable!”

Jiu Huayue directly hugged the ceramic shark into her arms, and kept looking at him with her bright purple eyes. "Besides, buying it for myself is completely different from you giving it to me. Don't say I'm hypocritical! I... I just think that you always remember what I like, and I will be very happy. That's all.

"Don't say this is unimportant, because others won't remember this and give it to me personally."

"How about I give you a few every year? There's nothing new here, so I'll just make them for you by hand."

"Okay! But, do you think it's too much trouble?"

Fujii Itsuki stroked her hair all the way down until it touched her slender waist.

This feeling just perfectly reflects the girl's slenderness.

"How could that be? Seeing you receiving the gift, I am also very happy."

"Also, why are you so nice to me?"

"I like you."

"Really? Isn't it because I forced you in the beginning and then..."

"I don't deny that this is what brought us to where we are now. But we have been together for so long, and you have been so attached to me and loved me, and you openly said that you liked me. When I heard this, it is impossible for me not to have any feelings. I have thought about it before. If one day I moved out and there was no trace of you in my life, I would definitely feel that something was missing."

".So.That's why you kept contacting me when I went to Tokyo."

"Correct."

"That's great. I don't know what to say, but it's great."

Girls are sentimental. Fujii Itsuki saw that she was a little tearful, so he quickly reached out to wipe the corners of her eyes and said with a smile:
"Hey, this is in the store. You're going to make others think I'm bullying you."

"Anyway, you're going to bully me for the rest of my life! Then, then go ahead and bully me!"

Fujii Itsuki looked at Jiuhuayue's pretty little face with a hint of tears, and really thought that she was so cute.

(End of this chapter)