The year 3901 dawned clear and bright over Hourai Island.
"Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year!"
With the exception of actively deployed members like Sion, the Jin Family had gathered together on Hourai Island.
Today was New Year's Day.
As was customary, after paying their respects to the first sunrise of the year, they all went to draw the first fresh water from the well. This water would be used to prepare zoni... cooked by Reiko and her assistant automata, Soleil and Luna.
While the zoni was being prepared, everyone went to make their first shrine visit of the year—or rather, they gathered to pay their respects at the hokora dedicated to Magus Shuuki Tsetse, nestled between the laboratory and the Mansion.
"Please continue to watch over us."
Once the prayers were finished, they toasted with ginjo sake in place of otoso.
The gathering took place at Jin's house. It was a cozy New Year's spent around the kotatsu.
"Here's to a great year!"
"Likewise!"
The osechi cooking was a bountiful feast: kuromame made from black round beans (black soybeans), tazukuri (candied dried sardines), kamaboko, nishiki tamago, small shrimp grilled in their shells, spiny lobster copy, horsehair crab, kurumu (short-neck clam) tsukudani, maruon chestnut paste, kinpira burdock root, simmered bamboo shoots and shiitake mushrooms, and on and on.
There was also a spread of fresh sashimi and salt-grilled fish that looked remarkably like red sea bream.
"Mmm, this mochi stretches so well."
"This sashimi is delicious."
"So this is called nishiki tamago? It's nice and sweet."
"The simmered dishes soaked up the broth beautifully. Very tasty."
"I love how sweet the kuromame and maruon chestnut paste are."
"Could I get another cup of sake, please?"
It was a warm, lively New Year's Day.
The following day, on the second, everyone headed to Tsetse Island, where the Predecessor and Magus lay at rest.
While the hokora beside the Mansion had been built in a Shinto style, this one was a Buddhist-style facility.
The gravekeeper automata, Nagi and Nami, stepped forward to greet the group.
"Welcome. We are glad to see you all."
"Big Brother Nagi, Big Sister Nami, it has been a long time."
To Reiko, the two were her older brother and older sister units.
"You two look well."
"Yes, thank you."
The entire Jin Family offered the bouquets they had brought, paying their respects together in quiet reverence.
Incidentally, no incense was burned.
Afterward, they crossed over to the mainland to clean the grounds surrounding the stone monument at Magus Cape.
This task was handled solely by Jin and Reiko.
Elsa refrained from stepping in this time, quietly watching over them from a short distance away.
Once the monument was scrubbed clean, they poured fresh water over it, and everyone bowed their heads in silent prayer once more.
"Well then," Jin said, turning to the group. "Elsa and I are planning to head over to the Shouro Empire after this to visit the grave of the Empress... the Great Bright Merciful Mother Empress."
"In that case, I'll go too," Reinhard spoke up.
"Kufu, count me in as well."
"I will come along too."
Saki and Berche raised their hands.
"I'd like to come too."
"Me too!"
One after another, the rest of the group joined in.
With everyone coming along, they arranged to have Hurricane sent over via the transporter. Hope took the controls as pilot.
Laojun had thoughtfully loaded bouquets of flowers for them to offer at the grave.
Taking the time difference into account, Hurricane cruised along at a relaxed pace of around 100 kilometers per hour.
Along the way, Jin and the others enjoyed a light meal inside.
It was exactly 9:00 a.m. when they arrived in the Shouro Empire.
After parking Hurricane at the shores of Lake Tosmo airfield, the group proceeded toward the gravesite.
With Jin and Elsa leading the way, they passed through security without issue and reached the tomb of the Great Bright Merciful Mother Empress—Gerhardt Hilde von Rubis Shouro.
Standing before the mausoleum, a familiar figure greeted them.
"Welcome, Jin-sama, Elsa-sama, and everyone."
Kikuhime, the gravekeeper automata Jin had presented roughly 350 years ago, stepped forward to welcome the party.
Her long black hair, which reached all the way to her waist, was bound neatly behind her head, and she wore attire practically identical to miko vestments.
However, her garments differed in that she wore a pure white kimono paired with matching white hakama.
"Kikuhime, we've come to pay our respects."
Jin placed his bouquet onto the flower altar.
Elsa, Reinhard, Berche, and the others followed suit, offering their flowers in turn.
Then, placing their hands over their chests, everyone observed a moment of silent prayer.
After about a minute, Jin opened his eyes and turned to Kikuhime.
"Are you functioning well? Any issues?"
"None, Jin-sama."
"Good to hear. Please continue to look after this place."
"Yes, leave it in my hands."
With their respects paid, the group took their leave of the gravesite.
Next, they stopped by the mansion in the royal capital of Loizart to exchange New Year's greetings with the married couple Daiki and Cocona. Afterward, they boarded Hurricane and made a leisurely return to Hourai Island.
And so, the second day of the new year came to a gentle close.
Then, on the third, Jin and Elsa set out on their own to visit Onogoro Island.
Here as well, the islanders observed the traditions Jin had passed down, spending the first three days of the new year relaxing.
However, since the island lay in the Southern Hemisphere, it was currently summer. It was also late at night.
"Well, I suppose we can't expect a kotatsu in this heat."
At the home of the stewards, Trihart and Susanne, Jin and Elsa were greeted by the island's leading figures.
Exchanging formal pleasantries with everyone took quite some time, keeping them tied up for nearly four hours.
Afterward, Jin offered his parting words.
"This was just a quick visit to give our New Year's greetings, so we'll come back another time when we can stay and relax properly."
With that, they returned to Hourai Island for the night.
Thus, the year 3901 began.
What kind of year would it turn out to be...?