The dinner had been a grand success.
「Sui-fuh, this is sooo good. I love your usual karaage, but this… gulp… the spices smell amazing. It’s spicy, but I can’t stop eating.」
Karen beamed as she bit into a piece of fried chicken.
「UUuuuu meat sooo soft! Mint love!」
Mint exclaimed happily as Grandma fed her a spoonful of carnitas.
「It’s quite filling when you eat it with bread. The sauce has such depth of flavor.」
Grandma was enjoying her homemade sandwich, made from carnitas, bread, vegetables, and dressing.
「This seafood dish is lovely. It pairs so well with the wine.」
Mother, slightly tipsy, was engrossed in her bouillabaisse.
「Bark bark! Chomp!」
「Kyururuu!」
Chocola and Pochi were both delighted with their meals as well.
「Karen, you can’t just eat meat. Have some salad. And the sauerkraut makes a great side dish, too.」
「Hmm, is this that sour thing you’ve been making all this time? It really cleanses the palate.」
Seeing the happiness on my lover’s face filled me with the same joy.
「Mint, how about some turnip potage? And there’s still milk porridge, too.」
「That, like! So good! So yummy!」
Mint’s tiny body swayed in excitement, brimming with joy.
「Grandma, that sautéed dish would go great with the bread too, I think.」
「My, thank you. The mushrooms and pumpkin have such wonderful colors.」
Her kind words of praise made me feel so warm inside.
「Mother, it’s a special night, but don’t just drink. Make sure you’re eating too.」
「Of course. There’s no way I’d miss out on Sui-kun’s cooking.」
Mother’s determination was clear as she focused on her meal, showing no signs of getting any more intoxicated.
「Chocola, Pochi, there’s plenty for seconds.」
「Bark!」
「Kyuu!」
The two large beasts, lying lazily on the terrace while eagerly devouring their meals, seemed relaxed and content.
As I observed this warm scene, everyone turned to look at me.
And then—
「Hmm. Sui, you need to eat some fried chicken too. Say ‘ahh.’」
「Sui, porridge, eat with me? Mint share you!」
「Here, let me make you a sandwich with the fillings you like. Just tell me what you want.」
「Sui-kun, shall I peel the shrimp for you?」
「Wait, I can’t handle all this at once!」
I fumbled, trying to keep up with the plates being offered to me from every direction.
Laughter filled the room as I smiled back at them.
Biting into the meat, fish, vegetables, and soup one after another, I shared meaningful glances with each of them.
Karen, despite her small mouth, steadily devoured the dishes within her reach.
Mint, her cheeks messy, leaned into Grandma as she wiped her face, sipping on her strawberry shake.
Grandma watched us all with such warmth, filled with love, her gaze filled with pride.
Mother, happily tipsy, beamed at me, nodding with contentment as she met my gaze.
「Bark… bark!」
「Kyuruuu.」
Chocola begged for more, and Pochi licked the salt from his muzzle contentedly.
As night fell and the forest darkened, the final meal of the year continued, shared in the warmth of family.
※※※
And then, despite preparing enough food to expect leftovers, most of it had been eaten. All that remained were a few salad scraps, some side dishes, and the dessert everyone was slowly nibbling at.
「Amazing. I made a mountain of food.」
「Fufu… mages tend to have hearty appetites.」
「But we don’t usually eat this much.」
「It was probably because tonight was so much more enjoyable than usual.」
Grandma smiled softly as she stroked Mint’s head, the little one now fast asleep on her lap.
From the kitchen, the sound of water running and the chatter of Karen and mother could be heard as they washed the dishes together.
「It’s all done, Sui-kun.」
「Thank you.」
Karen and mother returned to the living room and sank into the sofa. They both let out a content sigh as they forked into the remaining desserts.
「Mint must be exhausted, huh?」
「Hmm… probably because she’s full and warm.」
「I’ll wake her up in a bit. She needs to sleep in the garden. But let’s leave her for a little longer.」
「Pochi, don’t push yourself if you’re feeling sleepy.」
「Kyuuu…」
Pochi, lying lazily on the terrace, looked like he was about to doze off. Well, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to let him sleep here just for tonight.
「You’re so carefree, Chocola.」
「Kwuunn.」
Chocola, apparently tired of being outside, curled up on the sofa, leaving us a bit cramped for space.
「Gyuuu」
「Well, I suppose it’s fine.」
Because of the lack of space—or rather, using the lack of space as an excuse—Karen snuggled up next to me, clinging to my arm. Her face was flushed red. She must’ve gotten tipsy.
「I barely put any alcohol in your drink.」
「Fufuun.」
「Suspicious atmosphere.」
Mother chuckled as she watched us, picking up her wine glass with a smile.
「This reminds me of New Year’s when he was still here.」
「Was it like this back then too?」
To be honest, my memories are vague. I can recall a lot more about when our house used to be on the plains of Nertep, but how we spent New Year’s back then is a bit hazy.
「We didn’t have fancy feasts like tonight. You were still so little, so you’d always go to bed early. It was just like any other day, really. It’s no wonder you don’t remember… But, you know…」
She took a sip of her wine and sighed softly.
「Back then, I’d share a drink with him… with your father. Since our house was out on the plains, we couldn’t hear the city sounds. It was so quiet. And as the night grew late, when the conversation would die down, your father would always say the same thing.」
I knew the words she was about to say.
I spoke in sync with her, the words overlapping.
「……「‘Thank you for another year. Let’s make the next one just as good.’ 」 Right?」
「Sui-kun…」
「It was the same. Exactly the same, even in the other world.」
Mother’s eyes widened in surprise, and I smiled back at her.
It’s a common phrase—something you’d say without a second thought back in Japan. Father probably said it out of habit.
But that simple habit showed me that no matter where he was, in this world or the other, father was always the same.
「Mother.」
I straightened my back and looked around at my family.
「Karen, Mint, Grandma. Chocola, and Pochi too.」
「Munya… Sui?」
Mint, who had been dozing on Grandma’s lap, stirred as I called her name, barely opening her eyes. Chocola wagged his tail with a soft bark, and Pochi tilted his head slightly in confusion. Mother gazed at me, trying to hold back tears, while Karen released her hold on me and sat up straight. Grandma gently raised Mint’s upper body and stroked her back.
In the other world, father would say it after the new year had officially begun. I would always respond to him.
But now, I’ll be the one to say it.
「Everyone, thank you for another year. Let’s make the next one just as good.」
One year had ended—an eventful, whirlwind year for me.
And a new year was beginning—one that would bring new happiness for all of us, my family.
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