Hibi Chouchou [Chapter 40]

Kawasumi asks Suiren if she wants to go to the hatsumode [/first shrine visit] right now. Suiren nods. Kawasumi turns to leave and Suiren grabs his hand. He tells her to tell her parents that she’ll be going out in the middle of the night. Suiren tells him that if she did, they won’t let her go. She lets go of his hand. After a long pause, she heads towards the door and tells him that she’ll go get ready. Suiren goes in her room to find her friends still sleeping. She crawls inside to get her wallet and other things. She feels like a thief in her own room and her heart is beating so loudly. Then, she drops a book. After putting on her cap, she heads out. And, there’s a scene of Aya asking her where she is going. She tells Aya that she’s going to the hatsumode with Kawasumi. Aya refuses to let her go since it is the middle of the night. And, that turns out to be Aya wanted to say but didn’t. Aya peeks out the window to see Suiren going towards Kawasumi at the gate. She decides to put a Suiren dummy made of folded blanket and rounded pillow in Suiren’s bed. Then, when Suiren’s mother asks if only Suiren is sleeping, Aya says yes and she plans to sleep until she wakes up. Walking with Kawasumi, Aya thinks that this is the first time she did this – secretly going out. She wonders what Kawasumi is thinking. She thinks that she is really happy about going to the hatsumode but right now, she’s happier that he’s at her side. Kawasumi asks her if those shoes won’t hurt her feet. She nods. He tells her that they go there quick so that they can go back fast since he’ll be bring her back home safely. Just when she is glad over that, Suiren is surprised when Kawasumi is walking really fast and says that there are a lot of people in a big shrine, so they go to a smaller one around here. Suiren walks fast and then, runs to catch up to him. Kawasumi looks back and asks if she is alright. Suiren nods. Grabbing her hand and walks fast with her, Kawasumi apologizes but then, they have to quickly go.

And, they arrive at the shrine. They wash their hands and head for the altar. Suiren is glad that they are standing together. He asks if she is tired. She shakes her head. Suiren thinks that the New Year has just started and she’s so happy. Suiren holds his hand that Kawasumi asks if she isn’t feeling well. After a pause, Suiren thanks him. Then, they pray. Suiren hopes that their relationship would become better. She wonders what Kawasumi wished for. Then, while walking back, Suiren sees some fortune telling [O-mikuji; random fortunes written on strips of paper at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan. Source: Wiki] Suiren decides to get one and she got ‘small blessing’. She is speechless about that and asks Kawasumi to go try it too. He also got ‘small blessing’. They tied the fortune on the tree branches. Suiren is quite happy even if it is only ‘small blessing’. She tells herself that she’ll do her best so that she can make Kawasumi become a ‘great blessing’ luck. Suiren is a bit sad and lonely that they are heading back but still, he has something to do tomorrow and he accompanied her together for the hatsumode. She thinks that she has come to like him even more. While they walk, Kawasumi would stop and ask her if her feet are okay, she’s tired, is she feeling alright. And, as they almost arrive home, they are walking slower compared earlier and the ‘going back quick’ has lost its meaning but he still has to wake up early. In front of her house, Suiren goes ahead a bit. They bow at each other. Kawasumi bids her goodbye. After removing her hat, Suiren tells him to be careful on his way home and don’t catch a cold. He says okay and leaves. Thinking of his soft answer, Suiren waves back to him and smiles.

Comment: It turns out that it was Aya who helped Suiren cover up her ‘midnight escape’. So, it’s more on cute and amusing scenes here. I guess the bit of progress here is Kawasumi being more considerate that he would always ask her if she is okay and her feet don’t hurt. I think maybe Suiren ought to exercise more to keep up with Kawasumi who tends to walk really fast. Of course, in this case, they have to hurry back. It is nice that they got the same kind of fortune and a bit favorable one. And, it is nice that she isn’t just depending on luck, she is going to strive hard to change it into something better. ^^ Scans by all★wink汉化组

Quote of the day:

Whether we want them or not, the New Year will bring new challenges; whether we seize them or not, the New Year will bring new opportunities. ~ Michael Josephson, whatwillmatter.com