New Year's Eve with the Angel

　By the time the sun went down, Midday, who had finished making all the items and packed them in a multi-tiered box, had started preparing for dinner.

　However, since it's New Year's Eve Soba, I just purchased the soba that was already made before it was boiled, and all I had to do was boil the noodles and prepare the ingredients.

　I have leftover kamaboko from New Year's, so it would be perfect. Just boil the spinach and chop the green onions.

　Shrimp tempura is the most time-consuming, but in the middle of the day, I'm frying fried foods that would be troublesome without a single disgusted face.

"Also, I had leftover pumpkins, so I'll make them into tempura while I'm at it."

"Oh... it's a gorgeous New Year's Eve soba."

"Sometimes it's okay to do something like this."

　The New Year's Eve soba, which is completed by midday, is still more luxurious than what you eat at your parents' house.

　Two large shrimp tempura are provided for each person, and the complimentary pumpkin tempura is also crispy. There was plenty of spinach and green onions, and the kamaboko was cut into fan shapes.

　By the way, in the middle of the day, the tempura seems to be served crispy afterwards, and the tempura for Shu was not placed directly on the soba noodles, but was divided among the plates, which I appreciated.

"oh"

"Please have your meal."

　Zhou said that it wouldn't be enough, so the leftovers of the New Year's dish were served on a small plate.

　After seeing Mahiru take a seat, we asked each other to join hands and thanked each other for the food, and then began to eat the soba noodles.

　Although I was told that it was a store-bought product, when I bit into it, I could smell the aroma of soba, as if I had bought expensive soba.

　The soup is neither too thick nor too thin, giving it a refreshing taste. It's a perfect flavor for a cold day that warms you from the inside out.

"Huh... this feels like the end of the year..."

　Drink the soup, huh... and exhale, muttering earnestly.

　It was definitely nice to relax and eat soba while watching TV and waiting for the New Year.

　Even at my parents' house, it was customary to eat New Year's Eve soba every year and watch the year-end special program to watch the year's first song program, so I'm grateful that I was able to spend the same way this year. The one who is by his side is not a family member, but a worthwhile girl from another person.

"When you eat toshikoshi soba, you really feel like the year is over."

"Really. A lot has happened this year."

　Even so, it is the interaction with midday that occupies most of the various things.

　When I started living alone, I never thought that such a beautiful girl would cook for me.

"Since it was the year Zhou-kun started living alone, it must have been difficult."

"You're so used to it"

"Well, you can do anything. Zhou-kun, who tries to live alone even though he can't do anything, is useless, isn't he?"

"Guh. … That's right, but come on."

"Really, you're a helpless person, aren't you?"

　Mahiru's expression was soft, looking more like she was smiling than shocked.

　It seems like she doesn't feel bad about taking care of Zhou, and she has a calm expression on her face.

"... You really took care of me this year."

"Absolutely"

　His affirmation with a small smile stung a little in my chest, but it's a relief that he doesn't seem to hate it in the middle of the day.

"... I look forward to working with you next year."

"I know. Without me, Shuu-kun would be heading straight into a life of insolence and self-indulgence."

"Undeniable"

"…If you know, you should be careful, right?"

"I'll make it my resolution for next year."

　Even if I try, I have a feeling that my determination will be melted because I will be taken care of in the middle of the day, but I will keep it in my heart without saying it to the person himself.

　Of course I'll do things like tidy up my surroundings, but there's no doubt that I'll depend on her for food.

　I knew I was completely captivated, but I couldn't help it.

　Even when I declared that it would improve at noon, I was laughed at, so I stiffened my expression, but at noon all I could do was smile happily.

"The new year is almost here."

"That's right."

　When I finished eating toshikoshi soba and watched a song program on the sofa, the time passed quickly and it was just before the date change.

　Maybe I don't watch TV more than necessary, but when I was watching Midday, who didn't seem to know much about modern songs, quietly and happily watching a song program, the time passed faster than I thought.

　The screen changes to the scenery of the New Year's bell ringing on the relay, and I feel that the year is changing again.

　Mahiru was sitting next to her, her eyes lowered as she quietly listened to the ringing of the New Year's Eve bell.

　While I was doing this, I heard the bell ringing for the 107th time.

"happy new year"

　The moment the date changed, Midday looked at me, straightened my back, and then bent down, and Amane was pulled to straighten up and say New Year's greetings in the same way.

"Happy New Year.…It feels kind of weird, New Year's Eve together."

"Hehe, that's right. I look forward to working with you again this year."

"This is me…or rather, I'm in the position to ask."

"You can't deny that."

　Mahiru chuckled, and Amou gave a wry smile when he noticed his smartphone shaking in his lap.

　Apparently, New Year's greetings were coming from Itsuki, Chitose, and the others, and there were some numbers on the app icon.

　It's the same with Mahiru... or perhaps more so with Mahiru, but Mahiru's smartphone is also shaking.

　Nowadays, it has become easier to send New Year's greetings just by sending a message.

"I'll reply in a bit."

"I'll do it too"

　There will probably be a lot of greetings in the middle of the day. For some reason, I feel like I haven't given my contact information to the boys.

　Mahiru typed in her reply with a familiar flick of her hand, and I was impressed, thinking, ``She's a high school girl at this kind of thing,'' as she sent her reply to Itsuki and Chitose.

　The message is usually "Happy New Year" and "Did you get along well with Shiina-san?" ', so I sent a message of denial, although it was a star.

　Immediately, I received a teasing reply from Itsuki, saying, ``See you later,'' so I enjoyed the conversation, repeating a series of jokes and denials for a while.

　A weight is placed on Posu and both arms. Then, a sweet scent wafts out.

　When I timidly looked to the side, I saw Mahiru leaning towards me with her eyes closed.

(――Wait wait wait)

　Although he didn't say it out loud, Zhou was quite upset.

　I've been napping before, but who would have imagined sleeping next to me, leaning against it?

　I don't even have to think about why midday fell asleep.

　The current time is past midnight.

　Mahiru, who seemed to lead a regular life, was unlikely to stay up too late, and although she didn't show it publicly, she was probably exhausted after spending all day making osechi.

　He must not have had the stamina to resist the sleepiness.

　I understand the reason.

　I understand, but I didn't expect to fall asleep at this timing.

　Mahiru, who was sleeping leaning against Shu, looked so peaceful as if she was unaware of Shu's confusion and dismay. Her long eyelashes, well-proportioned nose bridge, and her cherry-colored lips are all exposed.

　It's not the first time I've seen her sleeping face, but I've never seen her from such a close distance, and my body stiffened.

"Midday, wake up."

　Even if I call out to him timidly, there is no reaction.

　Perhaps he was so tired that he seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep, and even when I called out to him and shook his shoulder a little, there was no sign of him waking up.

　Even if I lightly tap his thigh or shake his body, he won't wake up.

　When I was doing that, the part I was leaning on shifted and I started to lean forward, so Zhou hurriedly caught midday and pulled me in. I panicked even more.

(...it smells amazing)

　After dinner, I went home and took a bath or something like that, but in addition to the floral scent of the hair wash, I could smell the scent of the person himself, and it was incredibly uncomfortable.

　What's more, I couldn't help but feel like something soft was hitting me, so I wasn't worried.

　I don't want to wake him up, but he's sleeping so soundly that I can't bear to wake him up, and I feel like he won't wake me up unless I wake him up in the first place.

(What should I do)

　An incident like this occurred early in the new year, and Zhou was puzzled.