"Oni-chan! Oni-chan, wake up!"

  A pair of small, energetic hands shook my shoulder with the persistence of a jackhammer. I groaned, pulling the blanket over my head to escape the morning light, but the sunlight filtering through our Kyoto home was unforgiving.

  I rubbed my eyes, squinting at the blurry figure hovering over my futon. It was Mei, her pigtails already slightly lopsided from her morning excitement.

  "Hey... what’s the deal?" I managed to croak out.

  "Oni-chan, it’s already 8:00 AM! The sun is super high! You need to get up and make us breakfast!"

  I sighed, a small smile tugging at my lips. In this house, the six-year-old was definitely the commanding officer.

  "Okay, okay. I’m up," I said, sitting up and stretching until my spine popped. "What does the Princess want to eat today?"

  Mei’s eyes lit up instantly. "Mei wants pancakes! With lots of syrup!"

  "Pancakes it is. Go brush your teeth while I get the batter ready. If you don't scrub well, no syrup."

  The Morning Routine

  I walked into the kitchen, the old floorboards creaking familiarly under my feet. It was a small house, but it was ours.

  Name: Akira Yoshito

  Age: 14

  Height: 5’7” (Growing, but not fast enough)

  "Good morning, Grandma," I said as I entered. She was already at the table, her hands wrapped around a warm mug.

  "Good morning, Yoshito," Grandma smiled. It was a gentle, fragile expression that always made the house feel more like a home. "I’ll just have some omelet and rice today, dear."

  "Grandma, you should really eat more healthy food," I lectured playfully as I cracked an egg. "I’ll make a fresh salad for you. Until then, drink this herbal tea ??. It’s good for your circulation."

  I set the cup down, and she took a slow, appreciative sip. "It’s good. Thank you, Yoshito. You’re becoming quite the caretaker."

  As the smell of sizzling pancakes filled the room, Grandma looked out the window. "You should take Mei to the festival tonight. It’s December 31st. The transition into the New Year is important."

  I paused, the spatula mid-air. "But Grandma... what about you? I don't want to leave you alone on New Year's Eve."

  "I’ll be fine," she insisted, waving her hand dismissively. "Mei is still a kid. Let her enjoy the lights and the noise while she’s small. Go on. It’s a request from your Grandma."

  I looked over at Mei, who was currently "helping" by setting out the forks. "Okay, Grandma. As you wish."

  The Great Pudding Crisis

  Breakfast was a victory. The pancakes were fluffy, the syrup was sticky, and everyone was happy—until the dessert realization hit.

  "Oni-chan! I want pudding!"

  I opened the fridge and felt a cold sweat. Empty. "Sorry, Mei. We’re out. I forgot to restock yesterday."

  Mei’s face transformed. Her cheeks puffed out like a blowfish—the universal sign of a Level 5 Meltdown. "Mei wants pudding!" she insisted, stomping a tiny foot.

  I chuckled, reaching out to poke one of those puffed-up cheeks. Squish. "Okay, okay! Stop being a grumpy pufferfish. I’ll go buy some from the convenience store. Do you wanna come?"

  She nodded vigorously, her anger vanishing instantly.

  "We’re buying four puddings," I warned as we grabbed our coats. "Two for you, one for me, one for Grandma. No more, okay?"

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Mei gave a reluctant, slightly grumpy nod. "Okay... but Mei gets the biggest one."

  Somewhere in Nara...

  While the streets of Kyoto were bustling, the atmosphere in Nara felt a little more refined—though just as crowded for the New Year.

  Name: Suzuki Aiko

  Age: 14

  Height: 5’3” (And still waiting for a growth spurt that seemed to be late)

  Aiko checked herself in the mirror, adjusting the sleeve of her sweater. She wasn't as tall as some of the girls in her class, but she carried herself with a quiet, focused energy.

  "Mom, where’s Dad?" Aiko asked, her voice echoing through the hallway.

  "Oh, he went to Kyoto with Arata. They’ll be back by 2:00 PM," her mother replied, poking her head into the room. "Is your kimono ready for the festival tonight? You’ve been looking forward to this for weeks."

  Aiko felt a small spark of excitement. "Ahm... I'll go get it out."

  But as the clock struck 3:00 PM, that spark was doused with cold water. The phone rang. It was the call every holiday traveler hates.

  "I’m really sorry," Aiko’s dad said over the speaker, his voice crackling with static. "We’re stuck in Kyoto. The traffic is a nightmare, and it looks like we’ll have to stay here for the night."

  Aiko felt a heavy pang of disappointment in her chest. She looked at the beautiful fabric of her kimono laid out on the bed. "But Dad... it’s New Year's Eve. We were all supposed to go together."

  "I know, honey. I’m truly sorry. But don't stay behind because of us. You and Mom go to the festival. We’ll be back tomorrow afternoon, okay? I'll make it up to you."

  Aiko sighed, her shoulders drooping. "Okay. Bye, Dad."

  Later that night, the Nara festival was a sea of glowing lanterns and the smell of roasting dango. Usually, Aiko loved the festive atmosphere, but tonight, everything felt a little "off" without the full family.

  She stood before the great shrine, the cold air nipping at her nose. She reached for the thick braided rope and gave it a firm tug.

  Gong.

  I wish for a good year, she thought, closing her eyes tight. I wish my family can stay safe and playful for the whole year. And... I wish for a year where we don't have to be apart.

  The fireworks began to bloom in the sky like giant, glowing chrysanthemums.

  "It’s okay, Aiko," her mother said softly, noticing the distant look in her daughter's eyes. "They’re enjoying the fireworks in Kyoto, too. Sometimes things don't go as planned, but they'll be home soon."

  Aiko noded, forcing a small, determined smile. "Yes. You're right. As long as they're safe."

  But as she watched the last spark of a golden firework fade into the black sky, she couldn't help but feel that this New Year was starting with a very strange coincidence.

  Back in Kyoto: The Night of a Thousand Lights

  The festival in Kyoto was a chaotic symphony of smells and sounds. Steam rose from takoyaki stands, and the air smelled like burnt sugar and grilled squid.

  "Oni-chan! Look! I want that cat!"

  Mei was pointing at a fluffy white plushie sitting on a shelf at a game stall. It looked back at us with big, glass eyes.

  "That one? It looks a bit like you when you're sleepy," I teased.

  "Does not! It’s cute!"

  I checked the price. 400 Yen. "One cat, please," I said to the vendor, handing over the coins.

  Mei hugged the plushie like it was made of gold. "Yay! Now I want to eat takoyaki! Let's go, let's go! Oni-chan is the best!"

  We spent hours wandering through the crowds. My legs were starting to ache, and my wallet was significantly lighter, but seeing Mei’s face light up at every lantern made it worth it. Finally, we reached the great shrine.

  The air here was cooler, heavy with the scent of incense. We stood before the bell, the rope thick in our hands.

  I wish for the happiness of the three of us, I thought. I wish that we can keep smiling, even when things get hard.

  Beside me, Mei squeezed her eyes shut. "Mei wishes that Grandma and Oni-chan stay with Mei forever! Hehe!"

  GONG.

  The sound echoed through our bones. As we stepped back, a whistling sound cut through the air.

  BOOM!

  The sky exploded. A massive fountain of purple and gold sparks rained down over the Kyoto skyline. It was beautiful—breathtaking, even.

  But as I watched the colors bleed into the darkness, a sudden, sharp memory pierced through my chest. I remembered being six years old. I remembered the feeling of my father’s strong grip as he lifted me onto his shoulders so I could see over the crowd. I remembered my mother’s hand in mine, warm and safe.

  A single tear escaped, tracing a hot path down my cold cheek.

  "Oni-chan? Why are you crying?" Mei’s voice was small, her big eyes reflecting the purple light of the fireworks.

  I wiped my face quickly with my sleeve, forcing a shaky laugh. "It’s nothing, Mei. Something just went into my eyes. The smoke, probably."

  Mei didn't look like she believed me, but she reached out and grabbed my hand, giving it a squeeze. "It’s ok, Oni-chan! I'm here!"

  I looked down at her. She was so small, yet she was trying to comfort me.

  After the finale, we walked home in the quiet, freezing night. I carried Mei the last few blocks as she fell asleep against my shoulder, clutching her new cat plushie. I tucked her into bed, kissed her forehead, and finally retreated to my own room.

  I lay there in the dark, staring at the ceiling. My mind drifted back four years. Back to the day the world changed—the day our parents were taken from us. I remembered how they used to pamper us, how my dad would always have a candy in his pocket to "coax" me when I was angry.

  The house felt very big and very quiet. I didn't realize I was crying again until I felt the pillow getting damp. Amidst the fading echoes of the New Year's celebration, I finally fell into a heavy, dreamless sleep

  Hi this my first light novel ever hope you like it the other part will come out in a few weeks thanks for reading