Chapter 33

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---

Ignoring the majority of my classmates who were buzzing about going to the dungeon during winter break, we finished our preparations to go home early and left the school. In April, when the dungeon appeared, I had expressed opinions different from most of my classmates, and by the time I realized it, the groups had already been formed, and I ended up in the minority, with few close friends.

"Well, that's the result of differing opinions, I guess, but it still feels a bit lonely."

"See you, Daisuke. Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year."

I exchanged New Year's greetings with Yūji, who also belonged to the minority, and parted ways. After parting with Yūji, I walked alone down a sparsely populated street, where the cold wind was blowing fiercely, and I thought to myself... it's lonely.

Last year, even though we had exams coming up, I used to go home with friends.

"...Sigh. Let's go home."

The more I thought about the topic that only made me feel empty, the more I hurried home.

---

The countdown to the New Year was about to begin. Sitting on a bean bag in the living room, I was waiting for the TV countdown with my sister.

"Only a few minutes left in the year..."

"Yeah. Time really flies, doesn't it?"

"Yeah. This year, the dungeon appeared, and the world went crazy. It probably feels like the year passed by even faster, right?"

This year, each day was quite intense. After the dungeon appeared, I was sprinkling salt on slimes every day, practicing with Zōzō, and exploring the dungeon.

If the dungeon hadn't appeared, how would I have spent this year? Would I have been playing with friends and struggling with tests, or participating in club activities and sweating out my youth?

"By the way, Onii-chan. You haven't been going to the dungeon during winter break, have you... Are you not going during the break?"

"Yeah. Yūji and Hōjō are busy during the New Year, so I don't think I'll go to the dungeon alone during the break."

"Got it. Then, if I ask you to go to the shrine with me, will you come?"

Huh? Shrine?

...Shrine, huh. Well, I don't have any particular plans, so it's fine. But, saying that makes me feel a bit sad.

"Sure."

"Really!?"

"Yeah. Where are we going?"

"The usual one, the shrine on the mountain. I was planning to go with Sae, but is it okay if you come too?"

Sae, huh. She's Mika's friend.

Come to think of it, I haven't seen her in a while. Recently, I've been practicing with Yūji until late in the evening after school. It might be good to meet Sae and greet her for the New Year.

But...

"I'm fine, but is it okay if I come along?"

"Of course. I'll check with Sae while sending her a New Year's message, but I don't think she'll mind."

"Got it."

Well, if that's the case, it should be fine.

While talking with Mika about the shrine visit, I realized the TV countdown had already started. A digital clock was displayed, and comedians who had broken through this year were trying to get the audience excited. The countdown was progressing, and finally, the ten-second countdown began.

"3, 2, 1, 0. Happy New Year, Onii-chan!"

"Yeah, Happy New Year."

Mika greeted me as soon as the countdown hit zero, and I returned the New Year's greeting. It's a comforting exchange, this.

Until last year, I didn't feel anything special and just treated it as a routine exchange, but now that I've explored the dungeon, I understand. I lacked humility. I should be grateful for the year that passed without incident and be happy to welcome the new year safely. Just that simple act is incredibly difficult.

Being able to see the New Year in good health is a wonderful thing, and now I can truly feel that.

"Oh, it's from Sae."

While I was lost in thought, Mika's smartphone rang. It seems Sae had sent a New Year's message. Mika quickly read the message and sent a reply.

After a few exchanges, Mika told me with a delighted voice that Sae had agreed to the shrine visit.

"Onii-chan, Sae said it's okay for you to come. She'll meet us at the stairs leading to the shrine's approach around 9:00 AM tomorrow. Yay!"

"Got it. I'll make sure not to be late."

"Okay. I'll wear a kimono, so let's go a bit early."

Huh? Kimono?

"Kimono? Do you have one?"

"It's a one-touch, Velcro-style one, but I have it because Mom bought it for me."

...Oh, that kind? A kimono version of a summer yukata. They have everything these days.

"Sae said she has a similar one, so she'll probably wear a kimono too."

"Got it. In that case, I should dress appropriately, but I don't have one."

I don't have a kimono. If you had told me earlier, I could have prepared one since I have some extra funds.

Well, you can't have what you don't have.

"I thought about that, so I had Mom buy one for you too."

"Huh?"

Eh... Mom?

I looked at Mom, who was drinking tea and chatting with Dad at the table. She was smiling mischievously, as if her prank had succeeded, and looking at me. Seeing Dad chuckling beside her, it seems the whole family, except me, had conspired.

"Occasionally, you should spend time with Mika. She's been feeling lonely because you haven't been spending time with her lately."

"Yeah, Daisuke. Well, spend time with Mika tomorrow."

I received these family-loving words from my parents. Sigh...

Looking back at Mika, she was beaming.

"Understood. I'll gratefully accept the kimono."

"Yay!"

When I told her I would accept the kimono, Mika smiled and gave a thumbs-up.

---

In front of me were five slimes in red, blue, green, yellow, and white. Each of them was wriggling their gelatinous bodies, trying to assert something, but I couldn't understand what they were trying to say. After watching the slimes for a while, the blue, green, yellow, and white slimes formed a symmetrical pose around the red slime.

It felt familiar... Ah, the Sunday morning show. So, this is... the Viscous Rangers? In that case, does that mean I'm the villain they're supposed to defeat? Well, from the slimes' perspective, I am their mortal enemy for continuously slaughtering them.

The slimes, having formed their poses, all jumped at me. I took a handful of salt from the bag I was holding and sprinkled it on them, just like a sumo wrestler entering the ring. The slimes, as usual, writhed in agony upon contact with the salt. I thought that would be the end, but this time, they reacted differently. The writhing slimes gathered in one spot, merged, and transformed into a giant rainbow slime.

...What?

Stunned by the bizarre sight, I watched as the giant rainbow slime spread its body and enveloped me. Unable to react, I was swallowed by the rainbow slime... and woke up.

---

I sat up in bed, shook my head, and glared at my desk with bleary eyes.

What a terrible way to wake up. What kind of dream was that for my first dream of the year?

I got out of bed and washed my face in the bathroom. My reflection in the mirror looked extremely tired. I went to the living room in my pajamas, and Mom was preparing breakfast.

"Oh? You're up early, Daisuke."

"Yeah, I didn't sleep well. Can I have some tea?"

"Sure."

After receiving tea from Mom, I watched TV for a while. Dad and Mika then appeared in the living room. After a quick breakfast, Mika and I changed into our kimonos and left the house. I wore a dark blue kimono with a dark blue haori. Mika wore a black kimono with colorful polka dots, a black modern shawl, and a black bag with flower embroidery. Mika, unaccustomed to the range of movement in a kimono, walked slowly in small steps, so I matched her pace.

The sun was shining, but my breath was white, emphasizing the cold of New Year's morning. It's really cold! Even with thermal wear under my clothes, it's still cold... As we walked to the shrine, we began to see people heading for their first shrine visit of the year. The number of visitors increased as we approached the shrine, and by the time we reached the foot of the mountain, a small crowd had gathered.

Yeah, finding Sae in this crowd will be a challenge.

"Mika, where is Sae now? Have you been in touch?"

Mika took out her smartphone from her bag and contacted Sae.

"Yeah. She's at the nearby convenience store."

"Got it. Should we move to the stairs and wait?"

"Okay."

We walked a bit along the foot of the mountain with the flow of people and saw the nearly 100 stone steps leading to the shrine at the top. People were already lining up on the upper steps, forming a decent queue.

Ignoring the people climbing the stairs, Mika and I stopped at the side of the stairs.

"Well, where is Sae?"

"Wait a moment, let me check..."

Just as Mika was about to send a message to Sae, a loud voice called out from behind us.

"Sorry to keep you waiting!"

"Ah!"

"Kyaa!"

"Hehe, surprised?"

"Sae!"

It was Sae, wearing a light cherry blossom-patterned kimono. Seriously, I wish she would stop doing that. Due to my recent training with Zōzō, I almost punched her with a backhand. Fortunately, I stopped myself before my arm moved.

Sae's mischievous, smug smile was truly annoying.

"You really scared me!"

"Sorry, sorry. Oh, Happy New Year."

"...Happy New Year."

Mika, with a pout, returned Sae's New Year's greeting, though she quickly resumed a normal conversation.

Well, I should greet her too.

"Happy New Year, Sae. You really gave us a shock at the start of the year."

"Ah, Onii-san. Happy New Year. Hehe, it was just a little prank."

Yeah, for Sae, it was just a prank, but I almost spent New Year's in the hospital. I've been learning proper punching techniques from Zōzō, and even a casual backhand could pack quite a punch.

"Next time, it would be nice if you could greet us normally."

"Sure."

Her response was sincere, but from the look on her face, I'm sure she'll do it again if she gets the chance.

"So, what should we do? Should we go pray now? The line of visitors seems to be getting longer."

I looked up the stairs and sighed at the longer line of visitors compared to earlier. Mika and Sae followed my gaze and sighed as well.

"Really. But since we came for the first shrine visit, we should wait in line..."

"Yeah. It's annoying, but it's New Year's, so it can't be helped, right?"

"Let's go before more people join the line."

"Okay."

"Sure."

Mika and Sae started up the stone steps, and I followed. About 20 people were neatly lined up on the left side of the steps, slowly moving forward toward the main hall.

After waiting for about 10 minutes, we climbed the steps, passed through the torii gate, and entered the shrine grounds. The approach was crowded with visitors, forming a long line. Others were drawing omikuji, writing ema, and buying amulets, making the shrine grounds lively.

"Um, I think the proper way to pray is two bows, two claps, and one bow... right?"

"Yeah. I think I saw that on TV somewhere..."

Mika asked me about the proper way to pray, so I recalled my vague knowledge and vaguely confirmed it.

Sae then joined our conversation.

"Two bows, two claps, and one bow is correct. Ideally, you should visit the hand-washing basin first, but it's a bit difficult with this flow."

"Huh? You know about this, Sae?"

"Yeah. I have a bit of interest in it, so I learned a little. Ideally, you should bow at the torii gate as well. There are other things too..."

While listening to Sae's impromptu shrine visit lecture, our turn finally came.

Following Sae's instructions, I first rang the bell. Apparently, the bell is a signal to the gods that a visitor has arrived. Next, I quietly placed the offering in the offering box, bowed twice with a 90-degree bend, and then clapped twice, holding my hands slightly apart at shoulder width.

Then, I closed my eyes and prayed with my hands still together.

"(May this year be peaceful and uneventful!)"

Last year was a tumultuous year with the appearance of the dungeon worldwide. Therefore, my prayer was for a peaceful and uneventful year.

After praying with deep emotion, I lowered my hands and bowed with a 90-degree bend.

---

If I had to give a title to my first dream, it would probably be "The Slimes' Revenge."