The First Shrine Visit

December 31st, New Year’s Eve.

In the end, like last year, I spent the turn of the year at the season’s first shrine visit with Ishida.

Last year Ishida and I had gone to Meiji Jingu to pray for success on our entrance exams, but the crowds had completely overwhelmed us.

Because of that, Ishida suggested, “Let’s go to Naritasan this year.”

I figured Naritasan would be just as crowded, but Meiji Jingu attracted more couples—something that would annoy me—so I agreed to Ishida’s plan.

It was 10:00 PM, and I waited in the biting cold in front of Keisei Makuhari Station.

From Makuhari it was faster to take the Keisei line to Tsudanuma and then on to Narita.

Toko-senpai was probably in Hawaii right about then…

Even though we’d officially started dating, I hadn’t seen her since the night of December 24.

I wondered what Toko-senpai would look like in a swimsuit. I was sure she’d look incredible…

As I pictured her in a bikini, a blond foreigner popped into my head—sliding an arm over her shoulders and calling out to her.

No—Toko-senpai wouldn’t fall for some flashy foreign flirt!

“Sorry, Yu. Kept you waiting.”

Ishida’s voice snapped me back to the moment.

“I hadn’t been waiting that long—”

My response cut off abruptly.

Behind Ishida stood a girl.

Noticing me staring, Ishida turned to explain.

“See, my parents said they were going to Inage Sengen Shrine with some locals for the first visit. I thought it’d be a pity to leave my sister home alone, so when I asked if she wanted to come, she said ‘yes.’”

Ishida’s younger sister, Meika-chan, gave a small, polite bow.

Meika-chan. Had it really been about a year since I’d seen her up close?

I remembered Ishida bringing her along once, right after we started high school, when he suggested we grab lunch.

It had been that long, but she’d become noticeably cuter over the past year.

She’d always had a lovely face—unlike rugged Ishida—but she’d added a touch of womanly charm.

“Sorry, I didn’t tell you beforehand, Yu,” Ishida said, making an awkward face when he saw mine.

“No, I don’t mind at all. It’s been a while, Meika-chan.” Did I look that annoyed? I hadn’t meant to. I forced a smile and spoke to her to smooth things over.

“It’s been a long time… Yu-san,” Meika-chan said softly, half-hiding behind Ishida.

Ishida, mindful of her shyness, called out energetically.

“Right, let’s head to Naritasan for the New Year’s visit!”

The Keisei train to Narita was damn crowded.

It had been a while since I’d been on such a packed train.

“Maybe we should have come by car,” Ishida muttered.

I’d heard that at Naritasan on New Year’s all the parking lots fill up and there’s nowhere to park.

That’s why we’d chosen the train, but…

“Meika-chan, you okay? Is it hard to breathe?” I asked.

Since she wasn’t very tall, I worried she might be getting crushed and struggling to breathe.

“I’m fine… I’m okay,” Meika-chan replied softly.

She stood between Ishida and me; though we both braced our arms to give her space, she still looked low on energy.

I remembered her being much more vivacious in middle school.

Well, I guess she was a high school girl now.

We arrived at Keisei Narita Station.

Finally, we were free of that crush of bodies…

Or so I thought, but the approach to Naritasan was overflowing with people too.

And in front of the mountain gate, a massive line had already formed.

I laughed at Ishida’s comment. “Whoa—it’s backed up this far?”

“Still better than Meiji Jingu last year. At least people can actually move on the path here.”

“I guess. But standing still in this freezing air is a bit much.”

I glanced at Meika-chan. “How about you? Are you cold?”

Again, she simply replied with a small, “I’m fine.”

At midnight, the mountain gate opened.

The queue surged forward like a giant, winding snake through the gate.

Just past the gate, gift shops lined both sides.

We passed them, crossed an arched bridge over a pond, and climbed a steep flight of stone steps.

“Ah!” Meika-chan let out a small cry on the steps.

I instinctively reached out my hand.

She grabbed my arm reflexively.

It looked like the crowd had jostled her or she’d caught the hem of her coat.

“Th-thank you,” Meika-chan said, bashfully averting her eyes.

The stairs were steep and the crowd thick; it couldn’t be helped.

I looked up the stone steps.

That jerk Ishida had already hurried ahead by himself.

…That jerk—just leaving his sister behind…

I felt irritated; Meika-chan still gripped my arm with both hands as if clinging.

“Just hold onto my arm for now.”

I let her keep her grip and we continued up the stone steps together.

We reached the top where the main hall stood.

The ground was covered in gravel, and a three-story pagoda rose to the right.

Directly ahead was the main hall.

This area, too, was a sea of people.

I looked around but couldn’t see Ishida anywhere.

I stood on tiptoe and scanned, but still no sign of him.

“Don’t just stand there! Keep moving!” an elderly man behind me snapped and gave me a nudge.

I had no choice.

“Meika-chan, let’s just finish our prayers first, then find Ishida once we’re out of the crowd. Don’t let go of me.”

When I said that, Meika-chan clung to my arm even tighter than before.

Following the flow of the crowd, we reached the front of the main hall.

We still couldn’t get close enough to the offertory box.

With no other option, I tossed my coin over the people in front of us.

Then I put my hands together and prayed.

Please let me keep dating Toko-senpai from here on out…

Suddenly I realized Meika-chan had linked her arm with mine and was praying right beside me.

To anyone else, we surely looked like a couple.

Praying like this with Meika-chan in the middle of all these people—maybe the gods wouldn’t grant my wish…

The thought crossed my mind, but there was no way I could shake off her arm in this crowd.

I wondered what Meika-chan was praying for; she stayed in that position for a very long time.