New Year Celebration~

It was quite strange to not celebrate the New Year like I usually did, waiting for the fireworks to be launched, occasionally dancing and singing because someone in your family was watching a concert on TV being streamed live from another city,  once midnight hit you would drink the champagne or at specific years go out to blast some fireworks yourself.

Yet there were no fireworks to watch unless you deliberately rode out to designated areas that specifically announced they would hold a show. Yet it seemed like a hassle since my family wanted to wake up early to specifically visit the temple early.

So as I was sharing my experience during breakfast time, how weird it was to miss all that Kazutora looked to be in shock.

"Were your celebrations similar to what I have seen in movies before?" Of course, I didn't know which movies, in particular, he was referring to, probably American ones, but I didn't think the celebrations in my country were any different.

"Kind of, yes." 

"And you never been to a temple before?" I nodded my head, admitting to it being the case, I was so busy performing the system's missions, I never got the chance to visit one. There was no time to act like a tourist.

"If you want we could travel out the next year, to Europe perhaps so you could experience the New Year from my perspective?" My brother seemed to have loved the idea.

"With Baji?" He questioned.

"If you pay for his share." 

"You will not?" Kazutora gasped, betrayal written all over his face, because how dare I spend some time away from my boyfriend.

"I mean we don't even know if he would want to go, besides if his grades flop again... his mother will never allow him to go with us." Kazutora nodded his head understanding that I wanted his input so I wouldn't be making a decision in his stead.

"You do have a point." Was his response.

After breakfast, I retreated to my room and tried to put on the kimono mom picked out for me, by myself. However because I wore this piece of clothing only once, I had a hard time understanding which piece of cloth should go where, so I had to call mom for backup.

"So pretty." She expressed once I was ready to head out.

"Thank you, mom." I kissed her cheek to express my gratitude.

Five minutes later we headed out, and we met most of the crowd at the temple's location just as we established would happen.

"He came as well... even if I didn't want him to." Yuzuha pointed at the giant that was standing out of the crowd like a sore thumb looking somehow not in the mood for jokes, despite I couldn't stop myself from elbowing Taiju.

"Awww you attended with your family, how sweet."

"Knock it off." I guess his attitude somehow changed towards me, but it was bearable, then suddenly a small kid approached us two, he looked innocently at Taiju and his tall physique before asking.

"Daddy?" I tried to hold back my laugh, while Taiju scoffed angrily.

"Try to say that again, kid." With an intimidating voice, his mother saved the poor child from his wrath, while calmly explaining that this wasn't in fact his dad.

"I told you, even in this kid's eyes you probably look like you're thirty." And then I ran before he could express his fury. After making my escape, losing the giant in a sea of the crowd I caught another two people I definitely didn't invite.

"Michi! Here you are!" Ran approached me, with a tired Rindou tailing behind him.

"So how did it go yesterday...did you reach enlightenment or did you perhaps get pregnant?" He shook his head.

"You never believe what he tried to do." It looked like Rindou wanted to share the burden he needed to deal with, I gave him a signal to continue since I wanted to hear the tea.

"He tried to seduce Izana." He what? I stood there with my mouth open.

"He's still not over you... waiting for that deal to reach a conclusion so he can get together with you." Ran said in a quite disappointing tone. I wasn't even sure what was happening anymore.

"Shion tried to offer himself to me... but I didn't take his offer." I felt like I was dealing with one of the popular gals in high school.

"I also explained to Izana who I was... he didn't seem to believe at first... but that was easily fixable." This guy left me speechless why would he share this information, after trying to flirt with him?

"If you have any more potions I will take them off your hand." He stretched out his palm, smiling in my direction.

"You broke her brother," Rindou stated which could be considered true and that's when I felt a hand wrapping around my waist, a wild Keisuke appeared.

"He's not flirting with you is he?" My boyfriend asked, but I shook my head.

"Just makes me dizzy with his presence."

"Because he is so handsome?" Keisuke asked as I rolled my eyes.

"No, with the amount of bull-crap, he is spouting. I may as well faint and never wake up." 

"Let's leave the crowd, so you can breathe in some fresh air... this crowd must be suffocating." And I was guided away by my boyfriend still shell-shocked by what I just heard.

An hour later we finally rang the bell and said our prayers however, some nosy people wanted to learn what I asked the gods for.

"That's easy... I wished for Keisuke to stay this height for the rest of his life, so I wouldn't have to worry about neck problems later down the line." He just stood there frozen in place, probably trying to figure out if I was serious or not.

"Are you messing with me again?" He questioned.

"But listen that is also a good thing, you will never shrink as an elderly man if her wish does come true." Chifuyu must have searched every nook and cranny to find this positive side to my desire.

"I don't know how to tell you this bro, but with her luck, this wish may just become true," Kazutora admitted.

"No, I thought I still had a chance to surpass Draken." I didn't know Keisuke would be so devastated by the news.

"Interesting reaction," I muttered to myself and then was presented with this mission.

'Would you rather invite Taiju Shiba and Haitani siblings to your house or tell them to stay away?' Since it was a joyful celebration I couldn't just kick them out from our group into the cold streets, so I let them tag along with our huge group once everyone finished saying their prayers.

On the way there because I was ambushed by Luna and Mana I suggested carrying them to our house, some people seemed surprised at my showcasing of strength.

"You don't really have to do it," Mitsuya said, in a rather worried tone.

"Oh but I want to, look how cute they both are." They were basically sitting in my arms giggling like there was no tomorrow.

"But won't you get tired?" Their mother asked confused Mitsuya sharing her sentiment.

"My daughter is really healthy and strong, so there is nothing to worry about." 

"But wasn't it only recently that she was frail and sick?" Mitsuya asked being so confused about how the change happened so quickly.

"I have been eating a lot of protein powder to gain muscles, testosterone!" 

"And now you're pulling my leg." Was his response to my outburst. Then I heard Wakasa's tired voice mention.

"I shouldn't have come." Maybe it was time for him to seek retirement, his mind was that of an elderly man.

When we reached our residence we just heated up most of the food that we cooked beforehand yesterday, and since our table couldn't hold so many people, we pulled out other furniture, or people just followed my example and took a seat on the floor. After food, I pulled out some board games, having a lot of fun in the process. 

Takeomi, Wakasa, and Benkei were hanging with the adults rather than us teenagers, and while watching them, that's when I got an amazing idea. There were three of them, and I invited three single moms to our hangout, could I possibly do some matchmaking.

So I crept towards the three of them when they temporarily pulled away from the group, suggesting this wild concept.

"So what do you guys think about Keisukes, Chifuyu's, and Mitsuya's moms? All of them are single." Wakasa spat out the beer he was drinking, shocked by my daring suggestion.

"Are you out of your mind?" Was his response, and Chifuyu that eavesdropped on this crazy idea of mine was against one specific person.

"Don't even think about suggesting Senju's brother to my mom, you know how awkward things will get if my relationship with Senju lasts for a couple of years?" He did have a solid point.

'Would you rather suggest Wakasa or Takeomi give a shot at dating Keisuke's mom?' So who would I want more as my father-in-law was the question?

"So Wakasa it never crossed your mind that Keisuke's mom was hot?" 

"Would you want to partake in a rough workout session, right about now?" I pouted and crossed my arms, he could at least think thru the suggestion.

Suddenly Ran barged in on our conversation.

"Wait Keisuke's mom is single? Let me try my chances!" What the hell was this guy thinking right now? Was he secretly brainwashed by the system once more? Did he get chaos energy injected into his veins like what was going on?

"No, why would you?"

"If I can't be your partner at least I can try for the position of being your father-in-law." And he freaking went for it. So I ran for some backup.

"Keisuke, Keisuke, stop Ran, he's trying to become your new stepdad!" I ran into Kazutora's room where he was residing petting Cupid, being a real cat magnet for sure.

"He what?" We ran downstairs and Keisuke intervened in Ran's multiple attempts. But soon I realized someone took my advice to heart, Benkei was chatting up Chifuyu's mom, and they were totally laughing and getting along. Takeomi must have seen his buddy's attempt so he went for the next person which was Mitsuya's mom, but it seemed like Chifuyu let my plans be known to the other guys and that's why I was later dragged in for an interrogation.

"I heard you were the reason behind Ran's idea, care to explain?" Keisuke didn't seem happy, perhaps because he wasted a lot of his time on this.

"In my defense, I was proposing it to Wakasa and he eavesdropped on our conversation." Now I noticed Keisuke's resolve on how to deal with the Haitani guy was to tie him up and throw him into my room.

As these three people were sharing their complaints, unexpectedly Kazutora appeared while announcing happily.

"Guys, we're dating." He held Yuzuha's hand in his, and next, we saw Taiju fuming somehow having the nerve to disapprove of my brother? I believe he had a problem with him not being a devoted Christian. 

Chaos was everywhere that day, I couldn't even belive that I managed to survive, somehow, barely.