In the crowded Japanese-style room due to the large number of people, Iwahashi Shinichi was surrounded.
The Kiyose Nakamori family's food boxes are always carefully prepared by Chieko in advance, and there are absolutely no finished products bought from department stores to top up.
When the daughters at home are old enough to help in the kitchen, as soon as the end of the year comes, they happily roll up their sleeves, put on their aprons, and huddle in the small kitchen, no matter whether they are getting busier or not.
Of course, this year's food box was prepared by Chieko herself without anyone else's help.
Shinichi Iwahashi and Akina Nakamori came over after the Kohaku Utakara concert. Although they had lunch backstage in the evening, their stomachs were already empty by now.
The eldest sister Akie acted as the host, picking up the egg rolls from the food box and placing them on the plates in front of Shinichi Iwahashi and Akina Nakamori. Akina Nakamori showed a slightly exaggerated kindness and carefully accepted the kindness of the eldest sister with excessive politeness.
Iwahashi Shinichi saw her reaction, but he joked with Chieko, "It seems that he ate the first month's food box."
Chieko cooperated with him tacitly, "It's already past twelve o'clock, and it's already New Year's Day. So, it doesn't matter."
"Really?" Iwahashi Shinichi smiled and nodded, replying: "Then I have to say 'Happy New Year' to you again."
Compared with the bad jokes that are not funny, Akina Nakamori finds it more funny that her boyfriend and her mother tell bad jokes together. However, Chieko is quite happy with this, especially the fact that Shinichi Iwahashi is willing to accompany her to tell bad jokes.
Feeling happy about things.
Nakamori Akie waved her chopsticks again and greeted Iwahashi Shinichi, "Please don't be polite. Eat more." She was like a restaurant owner who entertained guests. In fact, she did run a restaurant in that Nakamori building with the help of her sister.
...A restaurant with a lackluster business. After the restaurant closed down and the Nakamori Building was sold, Nakamori Akie was temporarily unemployed, but she did not give up her desire to start another career.
Iwahashi Shinichi and Chieko joked together, and he was obviously an easy-going young man. Nakamori Akie was also suspicious that Iwahashi Shinichi, who got along so naturally with his mother, had actually met his mother many times.
If that's the case, my mother has been hiding it from everyone... In the end, she prefers Akina and is on her side.
But Akie Nakamori is very realistic and does not think that her mother's favoritism is something that requires dissatisfaction. In other words, it is not important. She is realistic. Since the whole family relies on Akina Nakamori, it is natural to give her some preferential treatment.
of.
This is different from the idea of her father and several younger siblings who think it is natural for Akina to take care of the family.
…
The brothers and sisters of the Nakamori family were quite enthusiastic towards Shinichi Iwahashi, a newcomer. Being in this lively Japanese room and being treated so hospitably made people feel happy and happy for a while.
However, the enthusiasm of Nakamori Akina's brothers and sisters more or less made Iwahashi Shinichi feel like oil floating on the water.
It is normal to treat people you meet for the first time while maintaining sufficient restraint while providing warm hospitality. However, in the restraint of the brothers and sisters of the Nakamori family, there is also a slightly timid temptation.
The reason for this is because the man Akina Nakamori brought back was not an office worker or an artist in the entertainment industry, but a man in black behind the scenes who discovered, produced singers, and ran a record company.
It reminds them of the examiner who decides the fate of the boys and girls participating in the competition in the program "STAR! Birth", or the person in charge of the company who came to lobby Nakamori Akina with generous offers before her debut.
people.
The Nakamori family, relying on Akina Nakamori's debut and popularity, allowed the brothers and sisters to have something they did not have in the past. Although the Nakamori Building is now sold, and the relationship between the family and Akina Nakamori is somewhat delicate, the glory of the big star still remains
, still makes Nakamori Akina’s brothers and sisters unable to open their eyes at certain times.
It is true that Nakamori Akina's success depends on her own talent, but it is more related to the full cultivation of the agency and the record company. And Shinichi Iwahashi, the man in black behind the scenes, did the thing of turning Cinderella into a princess.
Even if Akina Nakamori brings home a successful outsider president, they may not be allowed to behave like this.
In the final analysis, the real reason why Nakamori Akina's brothers and sisters showed such an attitude towards Shinichi Iwahashi was that they had yearning and awe for the glory of Nakamori Akina, a big star.
Precisely because they got something they couldn't get due to Nakamori Akina's light, so when faced with someone who has such an honor to be awarded, so that Cinderella can also wear glass slippers, Iwahashi Shinichi, who has such ability,
will behave like this.
There was laughter and laughter in the small Japanese-style room, and Shinichi Iwahashi and Akina Nakamori's brother-in-law were both drinking. However, despite the lively atmosphere, Shinichi Iwahashi seemed to be making fun of the situation through a piece of window paper that could be broken with a poke.
Feel.
Iwahashi Shinichi thought so and couldn't help but cast his eyes on Akina Nakamori who was clinking glasses with her eldest sister Akie. If Akina Nakamori returned to her hometown after finishing work every New Year's Eve, such a bustle would be waiting for her. He picked up the
Putting a soft red bean into his mouth, looking at Akina Nakamori with a smile on his face, he felt that it was too hard to be in such a family.
The adults raised their glasses together, and the family karaoke that had been interrupted just now due to the arrival of Shinichi Iwahashi and Akina Nakamori started again at someone's suggestion.
The eldest brother Akihiro talked about Iwahashi Shinichi's status as a producer, "Next, I have to sing in front of a famous producer... Iwahashi-kun, please don't say complimentary words casually, lest someone take it seriously and think that you can also be a singer."
.”
He insinuated that his eldest sister Ming Hui also participated in "STAR! Birth" but failed.
Iwahashi Shinichi didn't know what was going on, so he just smiled politely. Nakamori Akina felt uncomfortable when she was next to him, but in front of Iwahashi Shinichi, it was even more impossible to show anything. She lowered her eyelids and pretended not to hear anything.
At this time, Chieko had to step in and change the topic.
But before she spoke, there was a loud running sound in the corridor outside. It goes without saying that in this house, such a big noise would be made.
The paper sliding door opened with a bang, and Akihiro's eldest son Shouta took the lead like a king of children. The children who had stayed up late and couldn't fall asleep immediately ran over full of energy after replenishing their energy.
The originally crowded Japanese-style room was now even more packed, and there was no room for an extra adult. The children were overjoyed to see their long-lost aunt or uncle. At the same time, they really wanted to see this beautiful girl they often see on TV.
Relatives, on the other hand, have also remembered that Akina-chan always brings large gifts when she comes back.
Surrounded by children, Nakamori Akina smiled and waved to them, touching the children's heads one by one. Her smile at this moment was much more sincere than before.
The appearance of children is like a lubricant. When they become the protagonists in the Japanese room, the atmosphere suddenly takes on a new look.
The first person to turn her attention to Iwahashi Shinichi was Akie's daughter Minae. She said "Ah!" and pointed at Iwahashi Shinichi, "We have guests here!"
"I know, I know! My father and mother said that Akina-chan's boyfriend will be a guest!"
In order to show off how much he knew, Minghong's son started talking about what his parents were talking about at home. Minghong broke out in a cold sweat and said "Hey, hey" to stop his son, as if he was afraid that he would say something wrong.
Nakamori Akina made the children laugh out loud, "Yes, it's her boyfriend~" She leaned forward and said with a smile: "This one's name is 'Iwabashi'."
"Iwabashi?"
Heita blinked, "Isn't it a snack?"
"What are you talking about!" Shouta pretended to be an older brother and asked him as if he was scolding an idiot, "Don't you want to eat snacks?"
Heita hesitated, "But..." He cast his innocent eyes at his grandmother Chieko next to him, as if asking her for help, asking her to tell him the correct answer.
Chieko couldn't help laughing.
Nakamori Akina looked at her little nephew's confused expression, thought about it, and understood, she couldn't help laughing, and touched Heita's head, "Next time, let Iwahashi-san treat me to delicious snacks."
As Nakamori Akina spoke, she raised her head and glanced at the faces of the other children, "Everyone has a share." After Xu Nuo's words came out, he turned to ask Iwahashi Shinichi for his opinion, "right?"
Iwahashi Shinichi didn't know what was going on, but he still nodded and agreed, "Of course."
In addition to the generous and kind Akina-chan, there was also Iwahashi-san who knew how to buy delicious snacks. The children were really happy. One by one, they gathered around Nakamori Akina and chatted to her with undisguised curiosity.
Heart, look at Shinichi Iwahashi.
I don’t know why, but only then did I feel like I had been blessed.
…
Akihiro looked at the time and suggested going to Asakusa. The children who liked the excitement were reminded, and they immediately put all their energy into this annual New Year's event that they look forward to.
We started from Chieko and went to Asakusa, then came out from Asakusa and then went to Meiji Jingu Shrine. After walking around in this big circle, we went home. To be precise, from the moment we walked out of this door, we started to act as a family unit.
The Japanese-style room that had been crowded all night finally relaxed. Chieko encouraged Nakamori Akina, "Akina-chan and Shinichi-kun, do you want to go for a walk together?"
Nakamori Akina looked at Iwahashi Shinichi, and it turned out that Iwahashi Shinichi was also looking at her, as if he was waiting for her to make a decision.
He had it easy.
Nakamori Akina was a little hesitant and discussed with Chieko, "How about my mother also goes to play together?"
"Me?" Chieko seemed to be amused by her daughter's thoughts. She picked up an orange and peeled off the skin, "You two go out, I'll stay at home. There are so many people on New Year's Eve, I feel tired just thinking about it."
Shinichi Iwahashi answered, "After Akina and I take a walk, can we come back to Chieko-san's place again?" He half-joked and half-seriously said, "I want to drink a cup of Tusu wine prepared by Chieko-san."
Chieko smiled broadly and felt warmed by Iwahashi Shinichi's thoughtfulness, "Then I have to be well prepared."
The two of them packed their coats in front of the entrance and said goodbye to Chieko for the time being. The moment they came out of the warm room at home, they felt the most wintery.
Although in fact, this winter is not very cold.
Iwahashi Shinichi stretched out his hand to shake Nakamori Akina's hand. She dodged for a moment, took off the glove on her right hand, and held his hand with her fingers.
She was enjoying herself, "like a fool." The glove was only on one hand.
Iwahashi Shinichi raised her hand, and the light and shadow of the street also illuminated the aquamarine ring on her finger. He felt warm in his heart, and he mentioned it knowingly, "I'm wearing it today too."
Nakamori Akina said "Yeah", "Of course." Turning his head, he saw a smiling face and teased him, "A proud expression."
Iwahashi Shinichi answered her, "Of course." His tone was serious, but he seemed to be deliberately imitating her speech.
This is the cunning point of Shinichi Iwahashi.
Normally, she would have started to quarrel with him. However, Akina Nakamori just looked ahead and held his hand, "Because it was given to you by Shinichi, so this is more important than anything else."
When the words came out of her mouth, as if she was worried that they would be too direct and that he would not be able to respond, she turned to smile and said, "Isn't it a bit exaggerated?"
Iwahashi Shinichi shook his head, "Thanks to you, if it's ten times more disgusting than this, I can accept it without changing my expression."
"Then you have to work harder." Akina Nakamori laughed loudly, walked up to him and announced, "I have something a hundred times more disgusting than this waiting to be said to you."
Iwahashi Shinichi couldn't help but sigh, "A hundred times?"
"I am a woman who always thinks about things that I have and don't have..." When Nakamori Akina said this, her tone suddenly softened, "Besides, when you are by my side, Shinichi, I have some dreams that I have never had before, and I always have them now.
It’s endless.”
She seemed to be raking the beans, "It's all because of this that I have a lot of disgusting things to say."
"It makes no sense." Shinichi Iwahashi couldn't help but laugh at her nonsense.
But the two people's hands were tightly held together.
The two people came out from home to join in the fun on New Year's Eve, but they walked forward leisurely. Shinichi Iwahashi did not forget this and discussed with her, "Should we also go to Asakusa?"
He has never had such a sense of ritual on New Year's Eve.
Nakamori Akina laughed at his question and complained, "What a strange way to ask."
"It's okay." Iwahashi Shinichi said with a thick skin that was tempered by her.
However, Akina Nakamori did not answer his question, but instead said, "Follow me... no problem." She said in a mysterious tone, as if there was some way to take a shortcut, or there was simply an arbitrary door leading to Asakusa.
Iwahashi Shinichi was not familiar with this area, so it was entirely up to her.
As a result, the two of them didn't go to the station. Instead, they asked her to hold them and take a walk slowly on this New Year's Eve. Iwahashi Shinichi was a little confused, but seeing her relaxed and leisurely look, he didn't say anything after all, and just talked with her.
She walked.
It has been sunny since Christmas Eve, the night sky is clear, and the round full moon hangs overhead. The buildings in the old-fashioned residential area are low, and the shadow of the moon can watch the man and woman walking on the street.
Occasionally, passing through the noise of play from a distance, or not that far away, Shinichi Iwahashi was listening attentively. Suddenly, a voice sounded in his ear from the place closest to him.
