The morning of January 1st was bitingly cold, the kind of deep, dry chill that turned breath into thick clouds of steam. Rika stood at the bus stop, wrapped in a long wool coat that Rentaro hadn't seen before. Tucked beneath her scarf, the silver star necklace he had given her caught the pale morning light.
"You're late, Hanamachi-kun," she said as he approached, though her eyes were crinkling at the corners. "Three minutes. That’s a point deduction for 'Punctuality.'"
Rentaro adjusted his scarf, a small grin tugging at his lips. "The bus was running on 'Holiday Time.' Besides, I had to make sure I had enough coins for the offering. You can't start the year being stingy with the gods."
The shrine was a sea of winter coats and the rhythmic sound of wooden clogs on gravel. The scent of burning incense and sweet amazake filled the air. Usually, Rika would have been here with her parents, standing in a stiff, silent line, dressed in a kimono that felt more like a cage than a garment. Today, standing in her own clothes, her hand occasionally brushing against Rentaro’s as they navigated the crowd, she felt a strange, intoxicating sense of freedom.
When they finally reached the front of the Great Hall, they tossed their coins into the slatted wooden box. Two bows, two claps, and then a long, silent moment of prayer.
Rika closed her eyes. For the first time, she didn't pray for a specific rank or a trophy. Please, she thought. Just let us stay like this. Whatever the results, don't let the distance pull us apart.
She opened her eyes and saw Rentaro still deep in thought, his expression more serious than she had ever seen it. When he finally looked up, his gaze was intense.
"What did you wish for?" he asked as they moved toward the Omikuji booth.
"To maintain my lead over you, obviously," she teased, though her voice lacked its usual sharp edge. "And you?"
"To survive the next three months without drinking my weight in convenience store espresso," he replied, though the way he looked at her suggested his prayer was much more personal.
They each shook a hexagonal wooden box until a bamboo stick slid out. Rika exchanged hers for a slip of paper.
Fortune: Excellent Luck.
Academic: Success is certain if you do not lose sight of the path. Travel: The journey ahead is clouded; choose your destination with your heart, not your head.
Rika’s grip on the paper tightened. Clouded travel.
"What’d you get?" Rentaro asked, showing his slip.
Fortune: Good Luck.
Academic: Your efforts will bear fruit through perseverance. Relationships: A bond forged in hardship will endure the changing seasons.
"A bond that endures," Rika whispered, feeling a sudden, sharp pang in her chest.
They walked toward the "wish plaques" where hundreds of students had written their university goals. Rika saw "T-University" written on dozens of them. It was the top school in the country, the place where she was expected to go—and the place her father had used as a bargaining chip.
"Rentaro," Rika said suddenly, stopping by a quiet cedar tree. "We haven't actually talked about it. The 'First Choice' forms are due on Monday."
Rentaro went quiet, the playful energy of the morning vanishing. He looked at the fluttering white fortune slips tied to the nearby branches.
"I'm applying for the T-University scholarship," he said, his voice level. "It’s the only way I can stay in the city and afford the tuition. But the engineering department there... they only take the top two applicants for the full ride. If I don't get the top spot, I’ve been scouted by a technical institute in the north. It’s a full scholarship, but..."
"But it’s three hours away by bullet train," Rika finished for him.
The reality of the "Final Threshold" hit them both in the cold morning air. They had spent the last few months becoming a pair, but the world was about to ask them to be individuals again.
Rentaro took her hand, his glove rough against her skin. "I'm not going to let a train ticket decide our future, Rika. But we both know how high the wall is."
"Then we just have to climb it together," Rika said, her voice firm. "No more 'rivalry' for the sake of a rank. We study to ensure we both get into the same room. Understood?"
Rentaro squeezed her hand, a look of fierce determination returning to his eyes. "Understood, Shinozaki. But don't expect me to go easy on the mock exams just because we’re dating."
"I’d be disappointed if you did."
As they walked out of the shrine, the sun finally broke through the clouds, lighting up the path ahead. The "New Year" had begun, and with it, the most difficult shift of their lives.20Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WO7iOGo33
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