New Year's had arrived, and Okinawa's shrine grounds were glowing beneath rows of lanterns. Food stalls lined the pathways, the scent of grilled yakitori, sweet taiyaki, and fresh takoyaki filling the cool evening air. Families, couples, and groups of friends wandered through the festival, laughing as fireworks occasionally lit up the winter sky.

Reki had convinced everyone to spend the evening together before the first sunrise of the year. Surprisingly, almost everyone agreed. Even Adam had somehow heard about it and declared he would be attending as well. No one had invited him. Naturally, Tadashi came along to keep an eye on him and prevent him from causing too much trouble. Everyone had traded their usual clothes for yukata, including Aki. Whether the night would end in complete chaos—or become a rare, peaceful memory—remained to be seen.

Reki: "This place is awesome!" His eyes sparkled as he looked around at all the game booths. "We've gotta try every stall before we head home!" He wore a bright red yukata with blue and gold patterns, already halfway toward the nearest prize game.

Langa: Dressed in a deep blue yukata decorated with subtle snowflake patterns, he quietly took in the atmosphere. This was his first New Year's festival in Japan. "...It smells really good." After a short pause, he glanced at Reki. "Can we eat first?"

Miya: Wearing a green yukata with dark purple accents, he folded his arms and sighed dramatically. "We're supposed to meet up together, and Aki's the only one who's still missing." He checked his phone. "Late. Again. What a surprise."

Cherry: In a crisp white yukata patterned with pale pink cherry blossoms, Kaoru adjusted his sleeves before noticing Kojiro across the path. "...Unbelievable." He sighed through his nose. "That idiot's already flirting."

Joe: Kojiro, wearing a dark green yukata, flashed his trademark grin as he chatted with a small group of women near one of the food stalls. "Come on, you've gotta try the yakisoba here! It's the best on the island.

Shadow: Dressed in a black yukata with bold orange accents, he balanced several bags of snacks in one hand while pretending not to be interested in the cute festival decorations around him. "Don't expect me to carry everyone else's food."

Adam: He was standing to the side, away from the group as he looked at a stall. True to form, Adam arrived in an elegant purple-and-gold yukata that looked far more extravagant than anyone else's attire, along with a berlesk mask that covered his face.

Tadashi: Standing quietly a respectful distance behind Adam in a simple dark yukata.