Fourth Period Is Modern Chinese (Continued)

"Yeah."

"Yeah, good night."

I raised a hand slightly in response to the two of them and left the building. Passing through the automatic doors in the lobby, I once again threw myself into the night and looked up at the brilliant lights of the high-rises.

It had been a truly unexpected New Year's Day.

They said the plans of a year began on New Year's Day. Thinking of that, I felt this year might be full of upheavals. But I didn't dislike that.

The New Year was a milestone leading to the other world, something worth celebrating and not worth celebrating at the same time.

I remembered Ikkyū Sōjun saying that. It made me feel that everything had two sides, and different perspectives gave things different meanings. The troublesome part was that, being good at reading between the lines, I could only ever notice the negative meanings.

Lost in thought, I left the apartment building.

Then I heard the automatic doors open behind me, followed by the pattering sound of footsteps drawing closer. When I turned around, Yuihama was standing there.

"Shut-in boy."

"What?"

When I asked what she wanted, Yuihama touched her bun, shifted slightly, and took a soft breath.

"Um... see you tomorrow."

She lifted her gaze, as if watching for my reaction.

Having such an ordinary conversation on a special New Year's Eve somehow felt a little amusing, and I couldn't help smiling.

"...Yeah, see you tomorrow."

I answered while looking into her eyes. Yuihama waved, then went back into the building. After watching her leave, I took a step into the new year, which had changed nothing at all.

I looked up at the clear winter sky as the monorail passed overhead.

Watching it, I sighed. My faint white breath drifted into the air before