Chapter 75

New Year is a time when Yugen and the Takasegawa family cannot afford to relax.

This is because many relatives and people who do business with the Takasegawa family come to pay their respects.

Of course, there are banquets and New Year’s gifts, so it’s not all bad.

Now, as a matter of course,

People who have the potential to become family in the future also visit the Takasegawa household.

"Happy New Year, Takasegawa-san. I hope this year will be a good one for us."

"Likewise, Amakusa-san. Happy New Year. I hope this year will be a good one for us."

Takasegawa Kazuya.

Takasegawa Yugen.

Amakusa Naoki.

Yukise Airi.

They face each other, sit in seiza, and exchange greetings.

The atmosphere in the old-fashioned Takasegawa residence is very solemn.

However...

The formal exchange and atmosphere soon ended.

"Here... Airi, this is just a small token."

Kazuya, with a gentle smile, handed the New Year’s gift to Airi.

Airi bowed deeply.

"Thank you."

After Airi received the New Year’s gift, this time Naoki took out a New Year’s gift from his bag and offered it to Yugen.

"Then, Yugen, here is mine... please accept it."

"Thank you."

Yugen also received the New Year’s gift.

Then, Kazuya and Naoki exchanged a glance.

"Then... Yugen, please show Airi around."

"Airi, be on your best behavior."

Both were instructed by their fathers and nodded in unison.

"Yes."

---

Once they left the room and closed the shoji, Yugen sighed deeply.

"Phew..."

Airi, looking worried, asked Yugen.

"You seem tired. ...Is it because many people come to pay their respects?"

"...Yeah, I guess."

Yugen nodded while holding his head.

Actually, yesterday, there was a party among the Takasegawa family relatives, and he drank too much.

As a result, he was slightly hungover.

This was about half the reason for his fatigue.

"Well... let’s go collect Airi’s New Year’s gifts first."

"Hehe..."

Airi chuckled.

Collecting New Year’s gifts means Yugen will go greet his (other than Kazuya) family members.

"After that... how about we go for a walk?"

Yugen wanted to get some fresh, cold air.

Also... he wanted to take a walk around the neighborhood with Airi.

During the summer festival, it was too crowded to properly show her around.

Also...

(This will be our first date since I clearly realized I like Airi.)

Until recently, proposing a date wasn’t a big deal.

Now, even suggesting a walk makes his heart race.

"Sure, that’s fine."

Airi smiled gently.

It was a very beautiful expression.

---

After collecting Airi’s New Year’s gifts, the two of them went outside the residence.

Airi squinted her eyes and sighed.

"Your family’s garden is so beautiful, Yugen. It looks different in the winter, doesn’t it?"

"Yeah..."

Maintaining the garden is very important.

The garden is a tool to demonstrate and intimidate the Takasegawa family’s power to visitors.

Therefore, a considerable amount of money is spent on it.

It’s beautiful, of course.

But...

"I think you’re more beautiful."

"Wh-What are you saying!"

When Yugen muttered this, Airi’s white skin turned rosy.

Then she glared at Yugen lightly.

"W-We were talking about the garden. M-My... appearance has nothing to do with it!"

"N-No... sorry. That was a bit out of context. But... I really think you’re beautiful. ...The kimono suits you well, too."

Her beautiful flaxen hair.

Her emerald eyes.

Her long lashes and wide, open eyes.

Her straight nose and plump, lustrous lips.

Her skin, as white and smooth as porcelain, and as soft as a marshmallow.

She was wearing a crimson kimono with auspicious patterns, her beautiful hair tied up and secured with a hairpin.

She was truly beautiful.

Yugen genuinely wanted her to be his.

Airi lowered her eyes shyly.

Then, blushing, she nodded slightly.

"Thank you. ...This kimono is a memento from my mother. I’m very happy to receive your compliment, Yugen."

"I see. No wonder it suits you so well."

Thinking about greeting Airi’s parents when they formally become engaged,

Yugen slowly reached out his hand to Airi.

"Yugen?"

"No, it’s just... it might be hard to walk in geta. Do you want to hold hands?"

Yugen’s heart was pounding.

His face felt hot.

Airi, perhaps affected by Yugen, was blushing from ear to ear.

Then, hesitantly, she reached out her hand.

"S-So... please?"

"Sure... leave it to me."

Yugen took Airi’s white hand.

Her hand was very soft and warm.

Determined not to let go, Yugen intertwined his fingers with hers, forming a lover’s grip.

They closed the distance until their shoulders touched.

"Um... Yugen?"

Airi, confused, looked up at Yugen, who was right next to her.

Yugen, in response to her...

Replied with a casual expression and tone.

"What’s wrong?"

"N-No, nothing."

Airi, blushing, lowered her head.

Yugen wanted to put their intertwined hands in his pocket, but unfortunately, both were wearing kimonos, which don’t have pockets, so he gave up.

Airi: "Yugen, I love you..."

Yugen: "...Alright, time to get serious."

Airi: "!?"

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Airi’s New Dere Level: 0% → 5%

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