Chapter 307: The Last New Year (Part )

Xiao Jiuhua is easily sentimental, so in order to take care of her emotions, after leaving the jewelry store, Fujii Itsuki took her around the festival and bought some delicious food.

Buy her some octopus balls, barbecued pork, okonomiyaki, taiyaki, and chicken yakitori.

When she is sad, she gets hungry, and when she is hungry, she eats a lot.

Fujii Itsuki felt that watching her eat was a pleasure, because he had never seen anyone so beautiful and able to eat so much.

Akai Muzi followed all the way, laughing the whole time.

"Eat so much."

“Being able to eat is healthy! That’s right.”

Jiuhuayue suddenly looked at Fujii Itsuki and mumbled, still eating, "If I get fat in the future, will you like me less?"

Fujii Itsuki glanced at Akai Muzi, and Akai Muzi indicated with a helpless look that she had not asked these questions yet.

".Why do you girls like to ask this question?"

"Muzi also asked?" Jiuhuayue noticed his eyes.

"Yeah. Don't worry, it won't happen."

"But, but I think there will definitely be some impact, and I can't imagine myself getting fat. No, no! I have to eat less."

As she said this, she was about to push all the food she was eating to Fujii Itsuki.

Fujii Itsuki: “.?”

Fujii Itsuki: "You don't want to get fat, but you want me to get fat? Why didn't I realize that you are such a bad guy, Xiaoyue?"

"I'm not bad!"

Jiuhua Yue couldn't help laughing when she heard Fujii Itsuki say that. She almost choked herself with half of the Taiyaki in her mouth. She coughed and covered her mouth with her hand, saying in an unclear voice:

"Besides, you're different!"

"Why am I different?"

"You can't get fat!"

She then added: "Besides, even if you get fat, don't worry, I will never dislike you!"

"I'm afraid it's just talk."

"I won't! I'm serious!"

Fujii Itsuki smiled and shook his head, then took the food she handed over:
"But it will have some impact, right?"

"No! Absolutely not! Not at all!"

Jiu Huayue looked up and down at the skewers in his hands, frowning:

"But seriously, if girls eat too much, they really worry about getting fat. You guys probably don't understand this kind of worry, so I'll let you eat anyway."

As soon as she finished speaking, she glanced at the yakitori in Fujii Itsuki's hand and seemed a little hesitant.

Fujii Itsuki couldn't help laughing when he saw her like this, and returned the yakitori to her.

"No, no!" Jiu Huayue quickly shook her head.

"Okay, okay, Xiaoyue, don't think too much, just enjoy the food when you are happy."

".What if I really gain weight?"

"Don't you come to see me every night and morning? How can you lose weight with this amount of exercise?"

"Oh, that's right."

Jiuhuayue agreed and secretly looked at Akai Muzi, only to find that she didn't have any big reaction.

The shrine's festival performance begins at ten o'clock in the morning.

The closer you get to the big stage built in the center of the town, the more people there are.

The lively atmosphere of the festival gathered in the center of the town.

The hustle and bustle all around, the fragrant food stalls, and people's various New Year's greetings are all mixed together.

Fujii Itsuki and Akai Muzi brought Jiuhuayue to squeeze into the front row of the crowd. After a lot of effort, they finally found a good seat in the front row close to the stage.

The three of them sat down immediately.

Jiu Huayue glanced at the time on her phone and looked up at the big stage.

It was decorated with colorful draperies and delicate flowers, and the lanterns floating above the stage swayed gently in the breeze.

A small area in the center of the stage looks particularly gorgeous.

During the last Jade Fox Festival, it seemed that Xinchun appeared from here.

A few of them chatted until ten o'clock arrived, until the distant bells of the festival rang softly and the paper lanterns in front of the stage slowly lit up.

The noise around gradually died down, the ceremony began, and people spontaneously quieted down.

Jiuhuayue looked intently and saw a slender figure quietly emerging from behind the stage - it was Matsumae Shinharu.

She was dressed in a pure white shrine maiden's costume, with a scarlet robe on the outside that symbolized nobility. Green bamboo branches hung quietly in her hands, swaying gently with her steps.

The contrast between white and scarlet appears particularly vivid in the snowy night.

She closed her eyes slightly, clasped her hands in front of her, and walked barefoot, with light and solemn steps.

Every step she took seemed to be in the void, and every step activated the small bell on her ankle, but she was as cautious as walking on thin ice.

nice.

Jiuhuayue watched silently and couldn't help but sigh in her heart.

She had never taken Jiuhuayue standing on the stage seriously before, so she had never felt the beauty of Matsumae Xinchun so clearly. This was a beauty that combined tranquility, purity and solemnity.

Against the backdrop of the falling snow, it seemed as if he was not a mortal, but a god descended from the sky, bringing the coldness and tenderness of the snowy day, embellishing the night sky with incomparable tranquility.

Against the backdrop of the snowy day, driven by the festival stage.

The beauty of tranquility, the beauty of a snowy day, the beauty of solemnity, and the beauty of a young girl are all integrated into one person at the same time.
".I remember it." Jiuhuayue whispered softly, her eyes still fixed on Xinchun on the stage.

"What?" Fujii Itsuki, who was standing next to her, heard her whisper and turned his head slightly to look at her, with a hint of curiosity in his tone.

"When I was a child, Xinchun taught me how to walk this way."

"When you guys were playing together?"

"Well, at that time I thought she was just playing with me. She didn't say it was a family dance or its significance. I had no idea she was teaching me something so important."

Jiu Huayue's voice became soft and a little melancholy as she recalled the past, but her eyes were still firmly fixed on the stage.

"At that time, Xinchun just smiled and didn't say anything. We walked on the bluestone slabs in the yard. She smiled while teaching me how to walk, and she deliberately walked very slowly. I thought she was afraid that I couldn't keep up."

Fujii Itsuki looked at Jiuhuayue at this time and did not interrupt her.

Her eyes shone slightly in the lively snow, with some indescribable emotion.

Xiaoyue's words were a bit heavy.

The reason was that she had always blamed Xinchun but never thought that Xinchun had always valued her as a friend very, very much.

Fujii Itsuki silently placed his hand on Jiuhuayue's shoulder and looked back at the stage. The first act of the New Year's Festival was Matsumae Shinharu's solo dance.

She is the eldest daughter of the Matsumae family, the future heir of the family, and the symbol of the shrine - a shrine maiden favored by the Jade Fox God.

Her pure white shrine maiden costume and the scarlet robe that symbolizes holiness are particularly dazzling among the white snow.

The green bamboo branch in his hand swayed gently with his steps, like a green bamboo in the wind, light and powerful.

The dance steps gradually quicken, and the girl's posture changes from lightness to strength and determination, symbolizing that the call of the gods is gradually becoming clearer and more powerful.

When it came to the "Homecoming Dance", Xinchun's movements gradually slowed down, and with a hint of reluctance and respect, her dance steps floated like the wind.

At the finale, all the shrine maidens from Matsumae Shrine appeared, including Chitose Haruki, who was dressed in shrine maiden costume.

Fujii Itsuki also saw this girl making eye contact with him on the stage, being very naughty.

The priestesses danced with the daughters of the gods, and together they raised the pure wine in white porcelain to offer the most important sacrifice of the year to the huge jade fox god.

The festival dance finally ended, and Matsumae Shinharu stood in the center of the stage, slowly putting down the green bamboo branch in her hand.

She seemed to blend in with the snowy surroundings.

The paper lanterns on the stage swayed slightly, and the light illuminated her pure white shrine maiden costume and the scarlet robe that symbolized holiness, casting a warm halo.

Until she suddenly walked forward barefoot.

Matsumae Shinchun's eyes were still slightly closed, as if she had walked out of the world of gods, with a sense of solemnity and mystery.

The girl took a breath, stood in the center of the stage, and slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze passed through the crowd and finally fell on Jiu Huayue.

Her expression was as calm as water. She paused for a moment, then looked at all the people who came to participate in the New Year's festival, all the tourists, and all the people from the Matsumae family, including her father, aunt, grandparents.

Matsumae Shinchun first bowed gently to everyone, then faced everyone and straightened her back.

"I'm sorry to bother you all. Thank you for participating in the New Year Festival held at Matsumae Shrine as always. Now, such days have passed by unknowingly for many years."

Matsumae Shinharu's voice was low and clear. As she spoke, snowflakes on the stage fell quietly and a strange sense of solidification filled the air, as if everything was waiting for her next words.

Her eyes swept across every relative present, and then returned to Jiu Huayue.

Xinchun stood on the stage where snowflakes were dancing, quietly gazing at Jiuhuayue through layers of memories and the river of time.

Suddenly, she raised her hand slightly and gently pointed at the snow scene in the distance, at the open snowfield, as if using a symbolic gesture to guide a certain future direction, a vision that she hoped to realize.

"Today is a special day." She paused for a moment and took a deep breath. "As the eldest daughter of the Matsumae family and the heir of the Matsumae Shrine, the responsibility I shoulder is not only the continuation of the family, but also the endless respect for our ancestors and all those who have protected us."

"But," Matsumae Shinchun's tone suddenly lowered a little, "I must admit that many times, the burden of tradition and responsibility makes us ignore the truly important things around us. As a family that has been passed down for thousands of years, we often put our own identity first.

"I'm sure many people here know that nine years ago, our family lost contact with the Jiuhua family, with whom we had always had a close relationship.

"Everyone is saying that it's because the Jiuhua family made a mistake and violated the oath our two families made many years ago, but today, I want to truly tell everyone for the first time that this is not the case."

Her eyes were deep and calm as she continued, "The real reason is my family's stubbornness and bigotry. We put the family's honor and responsibility above everything else, neglected the trust and emotions between 'friends', and forgot the friendship and help in the past. We took the initiative to sever relations with the Jiuhua family and gave up the thousand-year friendship between our two families.

"I am here, on behalf of the Matsumae family, to formally and solemnly apologize to the Kuka family and those who lost their jobs and were hurt because of this incident. I am really sorry."

Jiuhuayue watched carefully.

On the other side, Matsumae Shinchun's grandfather looked a little unhappy.

He turned to look at Matsumae Yoshiko and asked, "What happened? Did you arrange this?"

Yoshiko Matsumae did not answer immediately. She glanced at the other members of the Matsumae family. She was calm, but she knew that the family tradition and dignity would always be the most important in Grandpa Matsumae's heart. Any changes, especially such a major decision, would inevitably cause an uproar.

Finally, she responded in a low voice: "Dad, Xinchun has her own ideas."

"Her own ideas? Humph, do you know that this is her opposition to the decision made by her father?"

"Dad, Xinchun is not against anything." Matsumae Yoshiko tried to explain, "She just felt that the past practices might have been wrong."

"The past is the past! Why bring it up again! Although Bei Guang's actions were abrupt and hasty, is there any need for cooperation with the Jiuhua family now? I think you are out of your mind! Repair? The Matsumae family never does this kind of 'repair'!"

Yoshiko Matsumae took a deep breath, raised her head and looked at her father, trying her best not to sound weak.

"Dad, I understand what you mean. But Xinchun is the eldest daughter of the Matsumae family. As the heir, she has the right to express her own opinions and positions. Isn't that right?"

"You say that so easily. Xinchun has her own ideas. Haven't you ever thought about what consequences such a change will bring? Do you think that the interests of the family can be protected in this way?"

"You were against your brother's decision to sever ties with the Jiuhua Family, but now you agree with it, don't you?"

"You are right, but now, Xinchun is still young and doesn't know the world. How can she easily change a decision that has already been made?"

"Dad, it's time. Xinchun is the future of the Matsumae family, and don't you think that brother has protected Xinchun too well? She still knows very little. Even if there are some problems in the family because of this incident and there is no way to solve it, this is also a test for Xinchun, right?
"If she can't even do this kind of thing well, how can you trust her with half of the Matsumae family in the future?"

Grandpa Matsumae narrowed his eyes slightly, but he was no longer angry. He shook his sleeves angrily and said, "You have always had many ideas since you were a child!"

He snorted twice and stopped talking.

At this time, Xinchun on the stage had already said what she wanted to say, as well as the various compensatory measures for the Kuka family that she had discussed in advance with Matsumae Yoshiko.

Fujii Itsuki heard Xinchun's sincerity. As for Jiuhuayue beside him, Fujii Itsuki saw that her eyes were tearful again.

Because just now Xinchun directly called her a forever friend on the stage, and exposed the shortcomings of the Matsumae family in front of everyone, so she came to apologize to her.

Matsumae Shinchun slowly walked to the edge of the stage, bowed deeply, and bowed to Jiuhuayue and all the guests in the audience.

"On behalf of the Matsumae family, I once again express my sincere apologies to the Kuka family and to all those who have been hurt by our family's decisions. We have lost too much, and today, on behalf of the Matsumae family, we are willing to start over with the Kuka family, repair past mistakes, and move towards a broader future together!"

The applause from the audience gradually rose, warm and sincere, as if Matsumae Shinchun's words resonated with many people. She stood on the stage, bowed slightly to the guests, and her expression remained firm and calm.

Fujii Itsuki echoed, and suddenly put his head close to Jiuhuayue's ear:
"Xiaoyue, are you afraid or don't you know?"

Jiu Huayue was slightly stunned, then turned her head to look at him: ".What?"

"Your father is Xinchun's mother's brother, which means you are her blood-related sister."

Jiu Huayue was startled, a trace of confusion instantly appeared in her eyes, "Uncle, what nonsense are you talking about?"

"Do not believe?"

Fujii Itsuki looked towards the stage again, smiling as he stared at Matsumae Shinharu above him, "When Shinharu comes down later, you can ask her. She must have known the truth since she can apologize to you now."

Jiu Huayue's heart beat violently, and the world in front of her seemed to suddenly become blurry.

She subconsciously looked towards the stage, where Matsumae Shinchun was standing, facing everyone, her expression still firm.

That familiar face was redefined by Fujii Itsuki's words as an existence she had never expected - she and Xinchun actually had such a deep connection for a long time.

At this moment, she felt that she was vaguely connected with Xinchun.

"You knew that a long time ago, didn't you?"

"Well, that's true."

"Then why didn't you tell me earlier!"

"Haha~"

"Don't act stupid!"

"Don't twist my waist. Whether it's the Kuka family or the Matsumae family, this is something we don't want to talk about again."

"But you didn't tell me! I. I. Beat you, beat you, beat you, beat you!"

"I was wrong, stop! If you hit me again, I'll break it!"

(End of this chapter)