Chapter 13

Opening his eyes, he saw a ceiling that was both unfamiliar and familiar.

This room was even smaller than the one at Makino's house, only large enough for a desk and a bed, but things could still be stored in the storage boxes in the wall closet.

His old clothes no longer fit, so he took out some casual autumn and winter home wear from his suitcase, including a warm fleece-lined jacket and a loose-knit cardigan.

He had to go downstairs to wash up, and when Eiyama Tsuruko saw him, she said, "I always think your style is so trendy. Is this the latest fashion among celebrities?"

"Not really, this is the fashion trend from 30 years in the future!"

"Hmph, what a boastful claim~" No one believes the truth...

Eiyama Aoki, however, said, "That's too plain, no color at all. It's the New Year, shouldn't it be more lively?"

So you're wearing mismatched socks, huh...

Today was the last day. To prepare for the New Year's dinner at the Eiyama household, they started busy work early in the morning. Since they ran a izakaya, the father also helped in the kitchen, while the children could only assist.

Preparing New Year's dinner for five people over three days was no small task. Even with the whole family working together, it wasn't until around 3 PM that everything was ready, and they only had a quick lunch.

The time waiting for dinner was always quite boring. There were no particularly interesting programs before the NHK Red and White Song Contest. The three siblings decided to go for a walk.

At this hour, most shops on the street were already closed. The three of them strolled along the road with residual snow.

After a short while, Eiyama Tsuruko started to grumble, "This is so boring. All the shops are closed, and there's no one around... It's so cold, I might as well stay home and watch TV..."

"It's not easy to see such a quiet scene normally," Aoki added.

"Ni-san, is Tokyo usually this empty? Do they celebrate the New Year there?" Tsuruko looked at Naoki.

"Tokyo? I've never actually celebrated the New Year in Tokyo."

"So you don't know anything..." Tsuruko mocked in her Osaka accent.

"At least I know more than someone who has never left Shizuoka." "Hmph~"

"Speaking of Tokyo now, the streets should still be quite lively. The big malls are always open, and many have year-end events.

If you were to walk around in the city center of Tokyo, there would definitely be a lot of people. You could even go play pachinko if you wanted."

Eiyama Tsuruko clearly became envious: "I will definitely go to a university in Tokyo in the future! I want to be a white-collar worker in a big city!"

"Are you planning to be a salaryman? That's quite tough~"

"What are you saying? As an older brother, shouldn't you encourage your sister to work hard?"

"Hehe, you should work hard, Tsuruko~"

Eiyama Naoki calmed down his about-to-explode sister, and then the older brother suddenly said, "Naoki has changed a lot this year!"

"Haha, I've learned a lot about styling and started working out."

"It's not just that, it's in other ways." I always thought Eiyama Aoki was a bit slow, but he's actually quite wise.

Tsuruko chimed in, "Yeah, you used to be so boring~"

"Well, living alone in a big city, you go through a lot. With how fast things change these days, you have to change too~" Eiyama Naoki was no longer afraid of being discovered as a different person.

"You sound so confident," Tsuruko said with a hint of disdain, "What are these styling tips? I want to learn!"

"Not telling you~ hahaha"

"Annoying... You have to tell me!"

When they got home, the mother had already set the New Year's dinner on the table. The family gathered around and started eating, while also waiting for the Red and White Song Contest to begin. Suddenly, Tsuruko pointed at the TV and said, "Ni-san, is that you?"

"Huh?" Naoki was taken aback, then he saw the commercial for the soda GG, where a fresh and handsome young man was chasing a plum from seed to fruit, picking a bottle of plum-flavored soda from the tree, taking a sip, and saying with a bright smile, "This is the taste of plum I like~"

The GG commercial had been running for a while, but this was the first time Eiyama Naoki saw it on TV.

Watching the commercial with the family was a major embarrassment. Eiyama Nanako laughed and said, "Naoki is really handsome!" The others also chuckled.

The happy atmosphere continued until the Red and White Song Contest, where everyone held their tea and snacks...

Seeing Matsuda Seiko appear on the show, Eiyama Naoki couldn't help but think about the song he had sold, which should be released by the end of January, bringing in some extra money~

As they watched, the Red and White Song Contest ended, and the TV switched to the sound of temple bells.

With the 108 tolls of the temple bell, the first year of the 1980s officially passed.

The following years in RB would continue to be a time of rapid development, entering the bubble economy in 1986, peaking in 1991, and then falling into a deep abyss...

...

The morning of 1981 (Showa 56) was no different from usual.

Despite staying up until the early hours of the morning, the young body of Eiyama Naoki felt no fatigue, and the cold air outside the window invigorated him.

Eiyama Nanako had already prepared breakfast, which was the leftover New Year's dinner, reheated with hot water. "Good morning, Naoki-kun~"

"Good morning, Mother. You're up so early?"

"Hehe, couldn't sleep."

"Any New Year's plans?"

"Nothing special." He couldn't say that he just wanted to stay home until the end of January, "Ah, right, New Year's gifts. I brought New Year's gifts for everyone."

"Really?"

"Nani nani? I heard New Year's gifts~"

Tsuruko had been eagerly waiting for the New Year's gifts, which were usually prepared by the parents, such as new clothes, shoes, and scarves. This year, since Naoki was living independently, he brought back the gifts.

Eiyama Naoki went back to his room and fetched a few gifts: the latest skincare set for his mother, the latest cosmetics for Tsuruko. Naoki wasn't very familiar with these, but he followed the recommendations of the salesgirls, who smiled broadly when he left, presumably due to the commission.

For his father and older brother, who had few hobbies, the father liked to drink tea after a busy day, so Naoki gave him a set of purple clay teaware. The impatient older brother, who surprisingly liked sea fishing, received a new fishing rod.

Upon receiving the gifts, Tsuruko and her mother happily discussed the use of the cosmetics.

The father quietly put the teaware in his usual cabinet, while the older brother couldn't wait to try out the new fishing rod.

On the first day of the New Year, the whole house was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

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