The morning of New Year's Day arrived, and I woke to find frost patterns on the window, though I knew I hadn't created them in my sleep. Something about that felt peaceful, like the world was reminding me I wasn't the only source of cold in existence.
Bobby was curled against my side, snoring softly. I petted him gently, feeling the warmth of his small body, before removing myself from the futon.
The house was already alive with activity. I could hear Grandmother in the kitchen, the clatter of pots and the sizzle of something cooking. Voices drifted down the hallway, my parents, already awake and helping with preparations.
I got dressed in the hakama my mother had packed; the traditional clothing felt strange but not uncomfortable. The fabric was stiff and formal, nothing like the baggy jeans and hoodies I preferred.
When I emerged from my room, Grandmother was waiting in the hallway with a bright smile.
"Well now, don't ya look handsome! A proper young man!" She adjusted my collar, fussing over the details. "Breakfast first, then we head to the shrine. Whole town'll be there."
"Whole town?"
"Course! New Year's is important around here. Everyone comes to pray for good fortune, see neighbors, pay respects." She paused, studying my face. "Ya been to a shrine before?"
"Not really. Not that I remember."
"Well, stick close to yer folks. There's a way things are done, washin' yer hands, tossin' the coin, bowin' proper. Grandpa'll show ya."
Breakfast was a formal affair. Traditional New Year's food, ozoni soup with mochi, black beans for good luck, fish, and pickled vegetables. Everything had meaning, Grandmother explained as she served. The beans for health, the fish for prosperity, the mochi for strength.
Grandfather ate in silence, occasionally nodding approval at the food. My parents seemed more relaxed than yesterday, the sake and familiar comfort of this place having eased some tension.
Shouko appeared halfway through breakfast, stumbling in wearing her own formal kimono, hair slightly messy.
"Mornin'," she mumbled, sitting down and immediately reaching for tea.
"Did ya just wake up?" Grandmother asked, disapproving.
"Maybe."
"Shouko, it's New Year's Day! Ya should've been up an hour ago!"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm up now, aren't I?" She took a long sip of tea, then noticed me staring. "What?"
"Your kimono's on backwards."
She looked down, swore under her breath, then stood and walked back to her room without a word.
Grandmother sighed. "That girl..."
Shouko returned ten minutes later, properly dressed, hair brushed and pulled back. She looked more mature in traditional clothing. But the moment she sat down and started shoveling food into her mouth, the illusion shattered.
"Shouko, manners," Grandfather said quietly.
"Sorry, Gramps." She slowed down marginally.
After breakfast, we prepared to leave. The shrine was apparently within walking distance, though Grandmother warned it would be crowded.
"Everyone goes," she repeated. "Young folks, old folks, families with new babies. It's tradition."
We set out as a group, my parents, my grandparents, Shouko, and me. Bobby had to stay behind, which he protested with sad whining until I promised we'd play when I got back.
People were already out, dressed in formal clothing, heading in the same direction we were.
"Mornin', Takeda-san!" someone called to Grandfather.
"Mornin', Haruto."
"Happy New Year!"
"And to you."
The same exchange was repeated a dozen times as we walked. Everyone knew Grandfather and greeted him with respect. The shrine came into view as we crested a small hill. It was beautiful in its simplicity, a traditional Shinto structure with a torii gate, stone steps leading up, and snow-covered grounds that made everything look even better.
And Grandfather had been right, literally everyone was here. Families clustered around the grounds. Children ran between adults, excitedly. Elderly couples moved slowly, arm in arm. Teenagers gathered in groups, trying to look cool while wearing formal kimonos and hakama.
"There's a line," my mother noted, pointing at the long queue of people waiting to approach the main shrine.
"Always is," Grandfather said. "We'll wait our turn properly."
We joined the end of the line. The wait gave me time to observe.
The shrine itself was modest but well-maintained. Someone had clearly worked hard to clear the snow from the paths while leaving the aesthetic winter coverage on trees and structures. Paper fortunes hung from branches, fluttering in the cold breeze.
"Shouko!"
A voice called out, young and male. I turned to see three people approaching, two guys and a girl, they looked to be around the same age as Shouko."
Shouko's face lit up. "Oh hey! You guys made it!"
The first to reach us was a tall guy with messy brown hair. He looked like the oldest in the group.
"Course we made it," he said. "Can't skip New Year's."
Behind him came a girl with long dark hair and glasses; she was pretty. She smiled at Shouko but seemed more reserved, hanging back slightly.
The third looked to be the youngest; he had blonde hair and was filled with enthusiasm.
"Shouko! Happy New Year!" He noticed us and immediately bowed. "Oh, sorry! Happy New Year to you, too, Takeda-san, ma'am!"
Grandfather nodded acknowledgment, with Grandmother smiling.
"These are my friends," Shouko said, gesturing. "This is Shoya, Miki, and Kazuki. Guys, And Ayumi-san is obaasan kid, she said, pointing to my mother. And Hiroshi-san is her husband and..." she paused, grinning at me. "This is Ayumi-san, kid, Kori.
Kazuki crouched down to my level, grinning. "So you're the famous little kid! Shouko's been talkin' about you!"
"She has?"
"Said you're smart for a kid. And that you've got a dog. What kind?"
"Siberian Husky. His name's Bobby."
"Cool! I love dogs!" Kazuki's enthusiasm was infectious despite my general wariness of strangers.
Miki stepped forward, adjusting her glasses. Her voice was soft when she spoke. "It's nice to meet you, Kori-kun. Shouko mentioned you arrived yesterday."
"Nice to meet you too."
The line moved forward, and we shuffled along with it. Shouko's friends naturally integrated into our group, chatting with my grandparents about how school was going, what they'd been up to.
"Still workin' at the shop?" Grandmother asked Shoya.
"Yes ma'am. Part-time at my uncle's hardware store, I'm saving up for after graduation."
"Good boy. Honest work's important."
Kazuki was bouncing slightly, "Did you see the new decorations they put up? The paper cranes are so cool!"
"Ya always get excited about the decorations," Shouko teased.
"Because they're cool! Right, Kori? Don't you think the cranes are cool?"
I looked at the paper cranes hanging from nearby trees. "They're nice."
"See? The kid gets it!"
Miki smiled softly, watching Kazuki with a fond expression.
"So Kori," Shoya said, falling into step beside me as the line moved again. "What do you think of the countryside? Big change from the city, I bet."
"It's quieter and different."
"In a good way?"
"I think so. Haven't decided yet."
He laughed. "Fair enough. Give it a few more days."
Kazuki leaned over. "Hey, hey, you should come to the shopping district with us tomorrow! There's this awesome candy shop, and the owner gives out free samples!"
"Kazuki, he's six," Miki said quietly. "He probably can't just go wandering around town with teenagers."
"Oh. Right." Kazuki deflated slightly.
"But maybe with permission?" Shouko suggested, glancing at my parents.
My mother and father exchanged a look. My father smiled. "If Kori wants to go, and your parents approve, I don't see why not. You kids seem responsible."
"We'll take good care of him!" Kazuki promised immediately.
The line moved steadily, and as we got closer to the shrine, people started talking in a hushed tone.
Grandfather explained the process to me in low tones. "First, ya wash yer hands at the purification fountain, left hand, right hand, rinse yer mouth but don't swallow. Then ya approach the shrine, bow twice, clap twice, make yer prayer, bow once more. Toss yer coin in the offering box first. Five-yen coins are traditional for good luck."
"What do I pray for?"
"Whatever matters to ya. Health, happiness, success. Or just thanks for what ya have."
When it was finally our turn, I followed the ritual carefully by watching my parents go first and copying their movements.
Bow. Bow. Clap. Clap. Prayer. Bow.
What do I pray for?
I thought about the truck driver and the guilt, also about Bobby and my parents, whom I was slowly learning to love.
Let me become strong enough to protect the people I care about, and let me learn to live with what I've done.
When I opened my eyes, Shouko was watching me with an odd expression. But she looked away when I noticed, focusing on her own prayer.
After the shrine visit, people dispersed into smaller groups. Some headed home, others lingered to socialize, Shouko's friends stuck around, and somehow I found myself included in their circle.
"You guys eaten yet?" Kazuki asked. "There are food stalls set up!"
"I could eat," Shoya agreed.
We wandered toward the stalls that had been set up near the shrine grounds. Takoyaki, yakitori, sweet potato, and amazake. The smells were incredible.
Grandmother gave me some money. "Get whatever ya want and stay with Shouko and her friends."
And just like that, I was released into the supervision of four teenagers who seemed bemused by the responsibility of watching a six-year-old.
"So," Shoya said as we walked toward the stalls. "What do six-year-olds like to eat?"
"I'm not a baby," I said. "I can eat normal food."
"Oh, he's got attitude," Kazuki laughed. "I like this kid!"
"Don't encourage him," Miki said softly, but she was smiling.
We got food, and I chose takoyaki, and found a spot to sit on some stone steps away from the main crowd. Shouko sat next to me, her friends arrayed around us in a loose circle.
"So Kori," Shoya said, biting into his yakitori. "Shouko says you're pretty smart. That true, or is she just being nice?"
"I'm smart enough."
"What grade you in?"
"First."
"Like it?"
"It's fine. Kind of boring."
Kazuki snorted. "Boring! Kid's callin' school boring at six. What were you doin' at six, Miki?"
"Eatin' dirt, probably," Shoya said.
"I wasn't eating dirt," Miki said quietly. "I was reading."
"Yeah, but you're a nerd," Kazuki teased.
"Takes one to know one."
They bickered with the kind of teasing that came from a long friendship. I ate my takoyaki and observed.
Shoya kept glancing at Shouko when he thought no one was looking. Protective, maybe something more. And Shouko seemed more relaxed here than I'd seen her. Like these people were safe in a way that was rare for her.
Shouko's expression suddenly changed, and her entire body went rigid. She quickly looked behind her and was looking at someone.
A man was walking past the food stalls. Middle-aged, maybe mid-forties, dressed in a nice kimono. He had a kind face like the kind that smiled easily. He was chatting with someone, laughing at something they'd said. It was something completely ordinary except that Shouko was staring at him like she'd seen a ghost.
"Shouko?" Miki's voice was soft, concerned. "You okay?"
"I..." Shouko's voice came out strange, tight. "Yeah. I'm fine."
But she wasn't, I could see it in the way her hands had clenched, and the sudden whiteness of her face.
Shoya noticed too. "You want to leave?"
"No. No, I'm fine. Just..." She took a shaky breath. "Thought I recognized someone but I was wrong."
The man walked away, disappearing into the crowd. Shouko tracked him with her eyes until he was gone.
"You sure?" Shoya pressed gently.
"Yeah. I'm sure." She forced a smile. "Sorry, just being weird."
But the atmosphere had shifted. The easy comfort was gone, replaced by tension none of them acknowledged directly.
Kazuki tried to restart the conversation. "So, uh, Kori! Have you ever been to a shrine before?"
"No. First time."
"Cool! Did you make a wish? What'd you wish for?"
"Aren't you not supposed to tell?"
"Oh, right, sorry."
The conversation limped along for a few more minutes before Miki quietly suggested they should probably head home.
"My parents wanted me back by noon," she said, though I suspected it was an excuse to give Shouko space.
We said our goodbyes. Shoya gave Shouko a meaningful look that she ignored and Kazuki waved goodbye with Miki doing the same, smiling.
Then it was just Shouko and me, sitting on the stone steps.
"You gonna tell me what that was about?" I asked.
"About what?"
"The man you saw. You looked like you'd seen something bad."
"I told you, I thought I recognized someone. I was wrong."
"You're lying."
She turned to look at me, and for a moment, I thought she might actually tell me. But then she shook her head.
"Some things aren't your business."
"I'm not stupid. I saw how you reacted."
"I know you're not stupid. But this... this is complicated." She stood up, brushing off her kimono. "Come on. We should find Grandma and Grandpa."
I stood too, but I didn't drop it. "If something's wrong—"
"Nothing's wrong. Just leave it alone, okay?"
Her voice had an edge to it now, but she didn't sound angry, but scared, so I let it drop for now.
But as we walked back to find my family, I kept thinking about that man; something must have happened, and whatever it was, it was bad.
I filed the observation away, adding it to the growing list of things that didn't quite fit about Shouko's situation.
Foster child at sixteen, "Long story" about her past. Now this reaction to a stranger.
There was a mystery here, and despite having my own trauma to process, I found myself curious.
What was Shouko hiding?
And why did that man make her look so afraid?
That evening, after we'd returned home and changed out of our formal clothes, I found Shouko in her room.
She was lying on her futon, staring at the ceiling, earbuds in. She didn't notice me in the doorway at first.
When she finally saw me, she pulled out one earbud. "Need something?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Depends what it is."
"Why are you in foster care?"
Her expression shuttered immediately. "I told you. Long story."
"I've got time."
"Kori—"
"You don't have to tell me. But... something's bothering you. I saw it at the shrine. Your friends saw it too."
She sat up, regarding me with those sharp eyes. "You're really perceptive for a six-year-old. It's kind of annoying."
"Sorry."
"No, you're not." She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Look. My situation is... complicated, and I'm not ready to talk about it. Especially not with a kid I just met."
"That's reasonable, I guess."
"But..." She hesitated. "If I did want to talk about it, hypothetically. You'd keep it to yourself?"
"Yeah."
"Why should I trust you?"
"Because I'm carrying stuff too. Stuff I can't talk about, so I get it."
She studied me for a while, then to my surprise, she patted the space next to her on the futon.
"Sit."
I quickly went and sat.
"I'm not gonna tell you everything," she started. "But I'll tell you this much. Four years ago, my mom died, she was killed, and the person who did it was never caught."
The words hung in the air between us.
"I'm sorry," I said quietly.
"Yeah. Me too." She picked at the edge of her blanket. "I bounced around foster homes and orphanages for years after that. Nobody wanted a twelve-year-old with trauma and attitude problems. Then your Grandma and Grandpa found me six months ago, and they actually... they're good people. They care."
"They do."
"So I'm trying. Trying to move on, trying to let go, trying to just... be normal." She laughed bitterly. "Not working out so great."
"Because you saw something today. Someone."
Her hands clenched. "I don't know. Maybe. I..." She took a shaky breath. "There was a smell."
"A smell?"
"I've got this quirk. Enhanced smell. It's not flashy or cool, but I can detect stuff most people can't. And today, at the shrine, I smelled something. Something I haven't smelled in four years."
"From when your mom..."
"From that day. Yeah." She looked at me, and her eyes were haunted. "But that's impossible. The person who killed my mom wasn't caught. They could be anywhere. Why would they be here, at a New Year's shrine visit in my tiny hometown?"
"Maybe they live here."
"That's what scares me." She wrapped her arms around herself. "If they're here. If they've been here this whole time. If I've been living in the same town as the person who killed my mom..."
I didn't know what to say to that. What comfort could I offer?
So I just sat there with her while she processed.
After a long silence, she spoke again. "I could be wrong. It could be nothing. Smells aren't perfect identification."
"But you don't think you're wrong."
"No. I don't." She looked at me. "What would you do? If you were me?"
"I don't know. Try to find out for sure, I guess."
"How?"
"Gather information and figure out who that person was."
"Like a detective?"
"Kind of."
She considered that. "You're a weird kid, Kori."
"I know."
"But... thanks. For listening."
"Anytime."
She smiled, small but genuine. "Wanna help me figure this out? Could use someone with a brain." She held out her hand. "Partners?"
I looked at her offered hand, thought about the implications of getting involved in what might be a murder investigation, and this was supposed to be a family visit for healing, but I shook her hand anyway.
"Partners."
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
A/N: After this arc, there's going to be a timeskip, but there's going to be another arc, and it's basically a training arc, but it's not at the same time cause there's a plot to it, but after that we're going to start canon and we're prolly going to get there around chapter 25 or 26. I'm also going to start adding chapters to my Patreon today, but don't subscribe yet, as I'm probably only going to have 5 chapters out today, and not 10, as that's a lot of writing, which I don't have the time for, but still check it out if you want, it's [email protected]/keyblast.
300 Powerstones: Complete
450 Powerstones: Incomplete