December 31
Finally, the last day of the year has arrived.
The weather on New Year’s Eve is snowy.
Since Christmas, it’s getting more frequent.
Although, the amount is just a few, and it’s not piling up…
In short, it’s just a cold shithole and we can’t play in the snow.
After dinner, we gathered at the bonfire.
「 The year’s gonna end in a few hours 」
Arisa says while arranging her box of cosmetics.
「 If we were in Japan, we would be watching the TV special by now 」
Mana hugs the perv monkey Rita who’s groping her breasts.
「 What do they show on Specials? I don’t watch TV 」
Karin taps her phone.
She has a folder of photos and videos taken on this island.
「 What a coincidence, Niimi Karin. I don’t watch TV either 」
Amane’s on seiza for some reason.
I wonder if it hurts to sit on the rock face.
「 If you don’t watch TV, what do you do? Usually, I sit on my PC or phone 」
「 I sleep. I need to make sure I get to protect Ojou-sama 」
「 That’s an Amane-like answer 」
I listened to everyone’s conversation for a while.
We’re reflecting on our life on the island, so we’re talking more than usual.
「 I think it’s about time 」
Our conversation settled down, so I decided to cut to the chase.
Everyone closed their lips and turned their gaze on us.
「 Tomorrow, we’re switching to a winter retreat 」
「 Huh, already? Isn’t that a bit too early? 」Mana asks.
「 That’s right, there’s not much snow so we should still be okay 」
Arisa continued.
From the looks on everyone’s faces, they seem to agree with Arisa.
I replied, saying “I didn’t mean it that way”
「 I don’t mean it as hibernation. Arisa’s right, the snowfall isn’t a big deal right now. But that’s why we’re trying to get used to it now. Recently, the temperature has been on a decline 」
「 In short, it’s the transition period 」
Shiori supplements.
Everyone then agreed.
「 I think it’s going to be a stressful situation if we’re suddenly going on a lockdown 」
Mana said. Arisa nodded, saying “I get that”
「 And so we need to get accustomed in a few days 」
「 Transition, getting used to it? 」
「 What are you saying, Arisa? 」
「 Hey, retort on that! 」
「 No, it’s just so bad… 」
Arisa got sulky.
We laughed it off.
「 I don’t see any objections, then I’ll be counting on you guys tomorrow 」
「 「 Roger!! 」 」
「 Then, let’s go take a bath 」
Everyone’s surprised.
「 Shionomiya-kun, you’re not staying up for New Year’s? 」
Meiko asks.
「 Usually, I just go to sleep. I’m not interested in the TV specials
「 Right… 」
Everyone’s dumbfounded for some reason
「 Goodnight 」
I stood up and headed to the bathroom to take a dip.
「 You’re a grandpa spending New Year’s in bed! 」
Arisa said ridiculously loud.
The next moment, everyone burst into laughter.
I wanted to retort, but it’d only be uncalled for, so I stopped.
◇
The next day, January 1st, Wednesday
On this day, the start of the New Year, I was the first to wake up.
Even Amane who usually is the first to wake up, is still asleep.
Everyone seemed to have a merry night while I was asleep.
「 We’re on an uninhabited island in another world, and yet these guys are too easygoing 」
I laughed, stood up, and folded my bed
I picked up the bed cover that was lying far out and covered Arisa
「 It’s snowing today too 」
I muttered as I looked outside the hideout.
I washed my face, got dressed, and went outside.
「 Let’s have a good year 」
I talked to the livestock in the pasture.
The cows and chickens are all energetic,.
「 Moo 」1
One of the cows whimpered sweetly.
I don’t think it’s responding to me, but I’m happy
「 I never thought I’d be greeting livestock for my first of-the-year act 」
I laugh to myself as I collect the chicken eggs.
I returned to the hideout thinking that this was unique to this world.
◇
「 The truth is, we’ve been working on this for a few days now! 」
As soon as breakfast was over, Arisa took out a bamboo tube.
There are long and thin wooden sticks inside.
There were several sticks enough for our number.
「 Are we doing fortune slips? 」
Sofia asks curiously.
「 Yes, That’s right! We can’t go to our first shrine visit, so I thought we should do some fortune slips instead! 」
「 That’s smart! Arisa! 」
Mana’s voice is bubbly.
I also praised Arisa.
「 Line up and pull! 」
Arisa had everyone draw lots.
The girls went first, and then the boys.
Arisa drew the last one to finish.
The raffle had numbers written on it.
Arisa then gave papers with that number.
I looked at the paper and wondered.
I wonder if she could remember the numbers of more than ten sheets of paper.
At a glance, the papers weren’t numbered.
「 This is authentic 」
「 Actually, it’s elaborate! 」
「 You’re the type who gets fired up when it comes to the things you love 」
Karin pokes fun at her.
Arisa admitted, saying “Well yeah”
「 Then, everyone can check their papers 」
The order in which the lots were drawn was checked first.
「 Yay! Mine’s Excellent Luck(Daikichi) 」
「 Mine’s too 」
「 I also had excellent luck! 」
「 Congratulations, Ojou-sama! I also had excellent luck! 」
The girls were getting excellent luck papers.
Every time another one announces Daikichi, I feel like everyone’s getting excellent luck but me.
「 Boys next. Hokage, show yours! 」
I followed Arisa and checked my fortune.
「 Oh, excellent luck 」
I didn’t expect that.
The paper read: I hope you have a full and healthy year.
I laughed, she’s really elaborate.
「 I also got Excellent luck! 」
「 Me too! 」
More and more Excellent Lucks.
「 Oh! Everyone had excellent luck! I’m happy for you all! 」
Mana said what everyone thought
「 Arisa’s kindness backfired 」
Shiori followed up
「 Well, well, wait a second I still have mine left! 」
「 It’s going to be Excellent luck too, so open it up 」
Mana said, losing interest.
「 I’m getting more impatient when you put it that way 」
Tanaka opens the paper as fast as a turtle.
「 What’s the plan after this, Hokage? 」
「 For now, move on with Yoshiokada’s blueprint 」
「 Wait! I still have mine to open! 」
Tanaka speeds up saying “It can’t be helped then,”
He opened up, and then he told us the result.
「 I-I got terrible luck! 」
「 「 「 No way!!! 」 」 」
We’re surprised.
「 It’s your usual “that was a joke” right? 」
Eri asks with a fed-up tone.
Tanaka’s recently been joking like that.
It’s a bad habit of his to repeat something once it works.
「 No, it’s real 」
Tanaka shows his fortunes.
Yep, there it is, “terrible luck”
Arisa laughed.
「 What’s the comment on the “terrible luck”? 」 She asks
「 Everyone’s got excellent luck. Another year of perfect health 」
Everyone but Tanaka agreed with Tanaka.
「 Take a look, it’s actually Tanaka-san who got the jackpot! 」
Sofia said gently.
「 Thanks, Sofia-dono. As for the contents… 」
Tanaka reads the paper close to his face.
「 Tanaka’s going to remain a virgin from here on 」
「 「 「 ……………… 」 」 」
We all got stiff, and then blew out laughing.
「 Arisa-dono!! Why is my name specifically called out! 」
「 At first, I thought of setting everyone as excellent luck, but that was boring 」
「 So why me! I mean, how did you get me to draw this one! 」
「 This is just for form’s sake you know? There were no numbers on the paper 」
「 Hokage’s right! 」
「 I see. That’s clever! Wait, now’s not the time to be impressed! 」
Arisa giggled in satisfaction, watching Tanaka shout.
「 I see… Tanaka-kun will remain a virgin. Poor guy 」
「 Eri-dono!!!! 」
Everyone made fun of Tanaka, and that made our New Year’s comedy special
- Translator’s Note: Moo means Moo ↩