I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

Page 285

I hope it can stay this way forever.

With her eyes closed, Asuka made a wish as if to a deity.

Not wanting to inconvenience the tourists queuing behind them, the two left after making their wishes to find Aso, who had finished praying earlier. The three of them then made amulets and wrote ema (votive plaques) together.

Finally, I drew a fortune stick.

It is said that shrines deliberately remove "bad luck" fortune slips to avoid making people who come to pray for blessings feel happy in the new year.

This is probably some kind of marketing tactic.

Asuka unfolded the fortune slip in her hand, which clearly read "Minor Blessing".

As expected, Asuka glanced casually at the fortune slip, but then paused, unnaturally holding the slip in her hand with a calm expression.

"What did Kaori ask for?"

"Nakayoshi." Kaori's expression was somewhat evasive, as if she was shy. Asuka peeked out to look, but Kaori dodged away. "Where's Asuka?"

"Little Lucky".

Asuka shrugged, showing no intention of sharing the fortune slip. "Where's Mom?"

Aso generously showed the fortune slip to the two of them. The red "Great Fortune" was quite eye-catching, and the fortune slip seemed to imply a happy event that was about to happen in the family. Kaori's cheeks turned a little redder.

Aso, recalling the fortune slip Kaori had inadvertently glimpsed earlier, smiled knowingly at Asuka.

"It seems Asuka still needs to work harder this year."

The seemingly random sentence left even Asuka completely bewildered.

"Should we hang the sign up?"

Asuka asked the two of them.

“No,” Aso carefully folded the fortune slip and put it into a compartment in his handbag, “I’m taking it home.”

A good fortune slip can be brought home to bring good luck.

"I want to hang it up."

Kaori awkwardly twirled her short hair around her ears with her hand.

Another theory suggests that tying the "auspicious" symbol to a shrine can remind the gods to help fulfill one's wishes.

"Then I'll go with Kaori."

If you draw the "inauspicious" character, you can tie it to a shrine to ward off disaster and misfortune.

With almost no space available, Asuka could only try to find a high spot to tie her and Kaori's divination slips.

"I wish it could be possible."

Kaori whispered.

Asuka paused for a moment before answering, "Hmm..."

Please, please don't let it come true.

Just thinking about those few words made Asuka feel like she was drowning.

A very bitter taste of alcohol seemed to hit her taste buds and even fill her nasal cavity, making it hard for her to breathe.

........................................................................

"Asuka."

It looked like someone was pushing her shoulder.

"Asuka!"

Alcohol is surprisingly a good thing.

P.S.: Writing side stories feels like I'm not updating anymore, and I've lost a lot of favorites. Oh well, I'm doing this out of love anyway, and there's only one chapter left. From now on, I won't be writing any more pure side stories until the main story ends.

Extra - New Year's Day 13

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"Asuka."

It looked like someone was pushing her shoulder.

"Asuka!"

My head is spinning and I can't hear clearly.

Asuka blinked hard before she could find a familiar figure in her blurry vision. The figure's outline was still blurry and difficult to see clearly.

"Kiyo...?"

Her voice was unusually hoarse, and the heavy, grainy texture made her cough uncontrollably. Instinctively, she picked up a glass of liquid and gulped it down. Caught off guard by the spiciness, Asuka covered her mouth and coughed violently. The strong taste of alcohol quickly spread in her mouth, burning her throat.

"here it is……?"

The dim lighting and elegant blue tones created a slightly melancholic atmosphere.

"How much did you drink...?"

The wine glass was snatched away, and only then did Asuka's face gradually become clear.

Kiyora seemed to have grown up a lot overnight. She was no longer the girl in my memory. Now she was a mature woman. She wore a black dress with a backless design that was cold and contrasted sharply with the season. Her exposed white skin made Asuka dizzy.

"What's Kiyoyori doing here?"

Asuka was slurring her words, probably because she had drunk too much.

"Of course I came to see you."

Kiyoshi sat down next to the drunk woman and gestured to the bartender. Soon, the bartender brought him a drink with ice.

Asuka watched Kiyora's practiced ordering of drinks, lowered her head and smiled, "Kiyora has finally gone astray~"

"Whose problem do you think that is?"

Kiyoshi took a sip of wine and glanced sideways at the woman who was about to collapse onto the table. Her long black hair was scattered all over the table, and she was wearing a white shirt with the collar open, looking rather sloppy.

"I'm so sorry," came the insincere apology. "By the way, won't Ms. Yukinoshita be angry?"

"Who knows?"

Kiyoshi snorted through his nose.

"I never thought that Kiyoyori would ever give in."

Asuka, her hand unsteady, poured herself another glass of sake, spilling it and wetting the table.

The original water stains have become even larger.

“Asuka is the one,” Kiyoyori said, clinking glasses with the other person and glancing casually at his childhood friend who was drinking gracefully, “Still can’t let go of Kaori-senpai?”

"Bang!"

The glass was slammed heavily onto the table, making a loud noise, and everyone in the bar turned to look at them at once.

Asuka's expression was indifferent, her eyes lifeless. She looked coldly at Kiyora, and suddenly revealed a heartbreaking smile.

"She's getting married..."

Kiyoshi swirled the wine glass in his hand. "I know."

"In the end, it was all just a dream of mine."

A piece of paper was slammed heavily onto the table; it was a fortune slip that read "Minor Good Fortune".

Huang Liang is a dream.

So eye-catching.

Kiyoshi sighed, reluctantly turning the side with the fortune slip over and placing it face down on the table.

Out of sight, out of mind.

"She wants me, wants me..." Asuka's voice trembled uncontrollably, her knuckles turned white as she gripped the wine glass, and finally even her entire back trembled.

"I want you..."

"Asuka..."

do not talk.

"I wish her happiness..."

A few whimpers still escaped from his lips despite being swallowed, and the pain, as if being torn apart by sharp claws, made Kiyoshi unable to resist using alcohol to numb the pain.

She placed her hand on Asuka's back, gently comforting her.

"Forget about her..."

Kiyoshi murmured softly, seemingly to no one.

"And what about Qinglai? Can you do it? Forget about that person."

"Who knows..."

At least, your Kaori is a real entity, while that beautiful figure that only appears in dreams is just an elusive ghost.

"I never expected that Kiyori would end up marrying that Yukinoshita-san."

"Family marriages and such."

"This is really not Kiyori's style..."

After a long silence, Kiyoyori finished the rest of his wine in one gulp.

"I should go back now."

"That's true, Kiyoyori is already married."