SS 5 The Two on New Year's Day (1)

The Two on New Year’s Day (1)

Kitchen Aono

On New Year’s Day, we were sitting in seiza, being interrogated by Mom.

“So, the two of you ate New Year’s Eve soba together, listened to the temple bell, got caught up chatting, and ended up falling asleep on the sofa?”

Because of that, I didn’t make it home until morning. Today, we’d planned to eat New Year’s food together as a family of four, so Ai-san had come along to my house. But still, as a high schooler returning home in the morning—after spending the night at the house of a girl (a beautiful girl) who also happens to be my girlfriend—it’s no wonder Mom was upset.

““Yes.””

Embarrassed, we both replied in unison, carefully hiding the fact that we had kissed.

“You’re lying, right?”

We both shook our heads at the same time. Seeing us move so in sync, Mom let out a long, deep sigh.

“I wish you’d just say you were lying… Ai-chan, I’m sorry.”

Like she was looking at a child with bad grades, Mom held her head in her hands and let out a deep sigh.

“Well, fine. Let’s put my spineless son aside for now and eat some osechi. I’ll get the ozoni ready.”

Enduring Mom’s cold glare, I got up to help.

When Ai-san tried to stand, saying, “I’ll help too,” Mom stopped her immediately with, “Ai-chan, just relax,” to which Ai-san, looking a little apologetic, replied softly, “Thank you.”

“Eiji, take this to the table!”

I carried the osechi boxes and drinks back and forth several times, setting them on the kotatsu. My brother seemed ready to open a special bottle of whiskey. With “21 years” written on the label, it was probably an expensive bottle.

The Yamanashi-style ozoni, a recipe from Mom’s hometown, was finally ready.

It was a gentle, comforting soup filled with mushrooms, taro, and root vegetables. It even had aburaage in it, with katsuobushi sprinkled on top at the very end.

“Wow, this looks amazing!”

Ai-san’s face lit up as she admired the slightly unique ozoni. Speaking of which, yesterday, she told me that at her house, they use a clear broth with a subtle hint of yuzu as a hidden flavor. That sounded delicious too.

“Taro is so unusual, isn’t it? It’s really tasty!”

Seeing Ai-san’s cheerful reaction, Mom smiled in a way I’d never seen before.

“Eat as much as you like. I’ve heard that taro is commonly used in Kansai, but in Yamanashi, unlike Kansai, we use soy sauce instead of miso. It must depend on the region.”

Chatting like that, we enjoyed our meal together. A happy New Year had begun.

“Oh, that’s right. Ai-chan, after you finish eating, you and Eiji should go to the shrine for Hatsumode. I even prepared a kimono for you.”

Now that I think about it, not long ago, Mom had enthusiastically gone to a department store and returned carrying a large bag. Could it have been for this…?

“Really? Are you sure?!”

“Of course! I knew it would look perfect on you, Ai-chan.”

No, I take back what I was thinking earlier—this was shaping up to be the best start to the New Year.

While Ai-san was getting dressed, I lazed around with my brother, watching New Year’s TV shows.

“It’s done.”

Hearing Mom’s voice, I turned toward the sound of two sets of footsteps approaching. And there she was, dressed in a pink floral kimono, holding a chic red bag, with a blue flower-shaped hair ornament in her hair. She looked so elegant and beautiful that it felt as though her presence alone brightened the entire atmosphere.

Nervously, she asked,

“How do I look?”

I was so captivated that I hesitated for a moment before finally managing to say, “It suits you perfectly.” That was all I could get out. (To be continued?)