...which is why I decided to buy these things for playing competitive Hanetsuki.

And now, we're looking at what other New Year's games this toy store has to offer.

<Yes, that's excellent!

Not only would it make for a new and fun stream, you could form teams and play against each other.>

<Oh, and since you're going to play Hanetsuki, it might be good to let the winners draw on the losers, as is tradition.>

<If you're worried about the ink, you could substitute it with skin-safe stickers instead.>

Oh, good point...!

It'd be really cute if we got plastered with stickers every time we make a mistake. Lemme take a look...

Why are you muttering like that?

U-Uhh...!

I-I'm recording ideas for our stream on my phone! So that I don't forget!

Oh, I didn't realize you took notes like that. I guess I shouldn't expect anything less from you, Airi.

Y-Yeah!

Anyway, I'm just glad that we have everything we need for playing competitive Hanetsuki now!

We sorta got lucky, huh? They were running surprisingly low.

Yes, we managed to secure our own sets, too.

...

...?

What's wrong, Toya?

Oh, it's just... I've never actually spent this much time in a toy store before...

It's been an interesting experience, since I'm seeing most of these toys for the very first time. Even the ones that look familiar are ones that I'd never played with.

Hm...?

What's up?

Oh, so...

I noticed that they have an interactive corner for their New Year's products.

An interactive corner?

Yes, where you can test out some of the toys they have on this floor.

Wow, I didn't know about that...

Hey, it sounds like fun, so wanna go check it out?

Huh?

It might help me come up with more ideas for our stream, so I wanna try what they have! Also, it's not every day that you get to play with spinning tops or Kendama.

Kendama...?!

Ah... You wanna give it a try?

Well, we don't have anything else planned, so I guess it wouldn't hurt to check it out.

Cool!

Then, let's go see what they have!

N-Now...!

Th-This is very difficult...

I'm struggling to get the ball to land in even the biggest cup...

I mean, everyone has a hard time in the beginning.

But you had no trouble getting it to land in the smallest cup, Akito. Is there some sort of trick involved?

Oh, I don't know if I'd call it a trick...

Instead of just using your arm, you want to bend your knees like this to basically cushion the fall...

These look like the spinning tops.

Hehe. I remember playing with these over at my grandma's house.

If I recall, you're supposed to wrap the string around like this and...

Spin...!

Hey, not bad! There it goes!

Oh, that doesn't seem too hard.

I might be able to do that.

So, you wrap it around like this and... Spin?

Hey, it's not spinning at all! Why?!

There...!

You've improved so much!

Look at it spin round and round.

Hehe. That's only natural, after you did such a good job of teaching me, Airi.

Then, I'm gonna have mine spin next to yours.

Go...!

You're so good at this, Airi...

My little sister and I used to play a lot together when we were kids. We even drew pictures on them and stuff!

Really...?

Oh...

Huh? What are you doing, Ena?

I feel like drawing a sketch of our tops spinning.

A sketch?

Yeah, because they're spinning so beautifully together. I don't get many opportunities to draw many dynamic scenes like this.

But to be fair, all I'm gonna do is draw a quick sketch in my notebook.

Okay...

Hehe...

You've improved so much since junior high.

Well, duh.

It's been like an eternity since then.

Also, I've gotta be at least this good if I'm actually gonna get into art school somewhere.

Then, can you show me once you're done?

I'm gonna go see if there's anything we can use for our stream.

Hm? Okay, we can meet back up later.

Sounds good!

(A lot happened between then and now...)

(But thank goodness.

It's great to see that she's still serious about art.)

<Airi.>

Oh...

I'm really sorry about earlier, KAITO!

I didn't mean to force you to hide like that.

<That's okay! You don't need to apologize.>

<Anyway, was that your friend you were talking to just now?>

Yes, she's my best friend from junior high.

That boy's her little brother, and that's his friend.

<Really! It sounds like you're having a very lively New Year's Day.>

<And Airi, you have such a big smile on your face.>

Huh? Oh...

Yeah...

I am feeling pretty happy right now.

<Happy?>

Yes.

Because my friend hasn't turned her back on her dream.

Even though she loves to draw, there was a period in Ena's life when that became too painful...

But she managed to overcome all that, and is back to pursuing her dream.

Seeing her draw like this again makes me really happy.

<I see...

Your friend must be a very hard-working person.>

Yes, she is!

And her brother, Akito, is no different.

He and his team are apparently going over to the United States as a part of making their dream come true.

<Wow...!

He's going overseas in pursuit of his dream! He also sounds like an incredible person.>

Hehe. I know, right?!

Akito's also been a huge source of support for Ena.

<He has...?>

Yes, he helped her when she was really down in the dumps.

After I asked him to look after her for me.

It sounds like he's been doing it faithfully, ever since I asked.

I really appreciate him.

He was there for Ena when she really needed him.

<I see...

That must've been very hard...>

Yeah...

This may sound strange, but I still feel a little guilty for asking Akito to do that.

I'm sure what I said put a burden on him...

<A burden?>

It was super selfish of me to ask him that, you know?

I didn't want Ena to be all alone, but I ended up asking someone to be there for her. Because I couldn't.

<Oh...>

So, I feel that I should apologize to him, as well as thank him...

<Then, why don't you do that today?>

Huh?

<You're all here together like this, so you may get a chance to do so today.>

Yes, KAITO, you're absolutely right.

This is a golden opportunity, so if I find the right time, I'll talk to him!

<Wonderful. Good luck, Airi!>