Chapter 291

And then... the time for the New Year arrived.

Clael and Reina were relaxing through the end of the year, sitting at a table modified to resemble a kotatsu in the living room.

"A lot happened this year... really."

Clael said with feeling as he ate his New Year's soba.

Sitting across the kotatsu from him, Reina was also slurping soba just like Clael.

Truly, this year had been incredibly eventful.

The main scenario had begun, Reina had been invited to the Grand Shrine, enrolled in the academy, met the main characters—and yet, for some reason, there was no sign of romance.

Clael had failed at an arranged marriage. After many twists and turns, he ended up working as a teacher at the academy.

To the beach in summer, ski in winter.

They fought with a gang, and even had his own older brother try to kill him.

It had truly been such an intense year that he couldn't help but be impressed.

(I thought I'd send Reina off to the academy and be done with it... I never imagined that a background character like me would end up so deeply involved in the story.)

"Sir Clael. This soba is delicious. Haven't you gotten even better at it?"

"Yes, well, making soba is one of my few hobbies."

As he spoke, Clael checked the clock.

Only five minutes left until the date changed. The new year was about to begin.

"Sir Clael, do you have any goals for next year?"

"Hmm... I'm done with marriage hunting, I think..."

Honestly, he had given up on marriage.

Getting married and building a family isn't the only way to live. From now on, he intended to devote his life to work and watching over Reina.

"That's... a bit of a relief, but also a bit troubling... it's a complicated feeling..."

"Huh? What do you mean by that?"

"It means I'll have to work even harder than before... Next year, I'll be even more aggressive!"

"...Is that so."

It's good for young people to take on challenges with an aggressive attitude.

It's a good thing... but for some reason, he felt a slight chill down his spine.

"There's studying and shrine duties... there's a lot to do. Please don't overdo it, okay?"

"Yes! I'll do my best!"

"...Just one more minute?"

Once the second hand made one more revolution, it would be the new year.

In his previous life, he used to do silly things at the moment the year changed—like jumping and saying "I wasn't on Earth!" or doing a handstand and saying "I lifted the Earth!"

This was his second life. Having become an adult twice, he couldn't quite get that excited anymore.

"Yeah. I guess we should start getting ready."

"Getting ready... Reina?"

"Excuse me."

Reina stood up once and then sat back down next to Clael.

Thanks to that, they ended up sitting quite close together at the kotatsu... but what was she suddenly up to?

"Sir Clael, you said this before, didn't you...'Plans for the year begin on New Year's Day', was it?"

"Ah, yes, I did say something like that. Why?"

"If we stay close like this while seeing in the new year, I feel like we'll be together for the whole year too."

As she said that, Reina gently rested her head against Clael's shoulder.

It was a gesture more fitting for lovers. Even for family, wasn't this a bit too clingy?

"Well, being with family is a good thing..."

"Yes, being with someone important is a good thing."

Like a cat snuggling up to its owner, Reina rubbed her head against him.

And just like that, the countdown began.

Five seconds left. Four, three, two, one... the year changed.

"It's the New Year. Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year... Let's get along this year too, okay?"

"Yes, let's get along well."

Smiling at each other like that, Clael and Reina welcomed the new year.

Hopes and anxieties for the new year.

The game's scenario had already collapsed, and no one knew what would happen next.

Clael and Reina were walking their own story—a story called life, whose future was still unknown.