Faced with Sawamura Sayuri's inquiry, Eiri shook her head from side to side.

"It's nothing, just asking..."

As she spoke, she glanced to the side and accused Kato Yusuke:

"And you too, why are you still wearing this outfit? Isn't it going to be a New Year's shrine visit soon? Are you going to go dressed like this?"

Kato Yusuke did not argue with her, nodded and said: "I understand, then I will go change now, excuse me."

After greeting the two of them, he turned and left.

After deliberately taking a long time, he changed his clothes and returned to the living room.

Sayuri Sawamura and Eri are sitting on the sofa chatting.

"Yusuke, you are so slow!"

"Sorry, I just responded to someone else's message, which delayed me for a while."

Kato Yusuke responded casually and walked over.

I don’t know what the mother and daughter talked about during these twenty minutes.

Although Yinglili hid it well, he still caught a hint of residual shyness on that face.

Before he could think more about the meaning behind this, the other party asked.

"Are you replying to Kasumigaoka Shiyu?"

"No, it's Xiao Xi and the others who asked me where I'm going to pay homage next time."

"Xiao Xi...is she and Shinjou-san?"

"Um."

"Is that so? Have they decided where to go?"

"It seems to be Meiji Jingu Shrine."

"Why did you choose that place? It would be super crowded on a day like this."

"I don't know the specifics. They probably have their own considerations."

When Yusuke Kato said this, Sayuri Sawamura seemed to think of something and clapped her hands together.

"If that's the case, then you can go to Meiji Shrine as well~"

""Huh?""

"Isn't it right? It would be more lively this way, right?"

"But..." Yinglili asked in confusion: "Mom, didn't you originally say that our family was going to visit a nearby shrine?"

"It was originally the same, but the situation is different now."

Sayuri Sawamura sighed and said: "After all, your father and Uncle Sakaki don't know when it will end, so you and Kato-kun go first."

After she finished speaking, she turned to look at Kato Yusuke.

"Besides, Kato-kun should also go see the girl named Xiao Xi, right? Isn't this just right~~"

Kato Yusuke hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly.

He originally planned to wait until this time was over before looking for Xiao Xi, but now that they could be together, he naturally wouldn't refuse.

With this thought in mind, he cast a questioning look at Ying Lili.

When he saw her like this, the girl couldn't help but panic.

"Wait a minute, why are you looking at me? Do I have to make the decision here?"

"Well, after all, we have an appointment first. If you find it inconvenient, I can make arrangements later."

"Otherwise it would be better~"

Hearing this, Sayuri Sawamura spoke again.

"Kato-kun, didn't you say that Mina-san won't be in Tokyo this year? You can bring Xiaoxi and the others here after paying homage to the shrine~"

"Bring Xiao Xi and the others here... won't this disturb you?"

"There's no such thing~ Rather, mom thinks it would be more lively if there are more people, right, Yinglili?"

"...?"

Looking at her mother who kept winking at her, Yinglili couldn't help but tilt her head in confusion, unable to understand what the look meant.

"Even if you say so..."

She hummed and turned away, muttering: "I didn't say I wanted to refuse..."

"Yeah~ That's right~~!"

Seeing that the matter was finalized, Sayuri Sawamura stood up immediately and pulled her daughter up.

"Then without further ado, Yinglili, hurry up and change your clothes and get ready to go, otherwise you won't be able to catch the train~~~"

"Wait a minute, Mom, don't push me, I'll just leave...!"

◇

Under the direct control of Sayuri Sawamura, Yusuke Kato and Eiri embarked on a journey to Meiji Shrine.

The crowded tram swayed all the way to Yoyogi Station a few stops away.

Following the endless flow of people through the ticket gate, we walked along the snow-covered gravel road for a while, and finally arrived at the large torii gate of Meiji Jingu Shrine.

This is located at the intersection of the North and South Sanddos.

The entire torii is 12 meters high, 17 meters wide and weighs 13 tons.

It is said that this is the largest wooden torii in Japan, and a person standing under it would be as small as an ant.

"There are so many people..."

Kato Yusuke mentioned it casually.

"Because this is the largest shrine, of course everyone will come here to worship. I've told you this before."

Just like Yinglili said.

As the most popular shrine in Tokyo, there were so many people visiting Meiji Shrine today that it is hard to imagine what this scene should be like in the early morning.

Kato Yusuke shrugged helplessly and said: "That's right, let's go back after paying homage to the shrine as soon as possible."

"With your careless attitude, don't you think you will be abandoned by the gods?" Ying Lili said with squinting eyes.

Kato Yusuke smiled and said nothing.

The two of them continued to move forward with the crowd, and finally saw a familiar face by the hand-washing pool in front of the guest hall.

"Wow - Happy New Year both of you!"

Accompanied by energetic greetings, Serizawa Yuu, who was wearing a high ponytail, rushed straight towards Kato Yusuke and gave him a big bear hug.

"Happy New Year, Xiao Xi."

Kato Yusuke was hit and staggered back twice, and then gently touched the head of the person in his arms. His hair was smooth and cold.

Today, Serizawa Yui is wearing a thickened wool coat, her neck is wrapped in layers of scarves, and her hands are completely wrapped in mittens.

"Hello~President, Sawamura-san."

Shintiao Xiang walked up slowly, with his hands in the pockets of his light gray cashmere coat, and a cream scarf also wrapped around his neck.

"Good evening you two, and Happy New Year~~"

"Well, Happy New Year."

Following Kato Yusuke, Eiri also pulled down the goose-yellow scarf that covered half of her face.

"Happy New Year, Shinjo-san, Serizawa-san."

After the simple greetings, the four of them got back into the crowd.

The three girls were walking in front. Kato Yusuke deliberately lagged half a step behind and stretched out his arms to protect them as they moved forward.

The people around him couldn't help but look a little weird when they looked at the different girls around him, but no one said anything.

Climb the stone steps.

Entering the main hall from the Nanshen Gate, the view suddenly becomes wider and the congestion level is somewhat improved.

There are no vendors or merchants here, and there is only an antique shrine in front of it, allowing everyone to worship without any distractions.

They followed the crowd and came to the shrine.

Serizawa Yu, who couldn't bear the loneliness, was the first to ask: "Hey, what do you want to wish for?"

"As long as you know that kind of thing, there's no need to tell others, right?" Shinjoka replied casually.

"Sorry... I haven't thought about it yet." Ying Lili said softly.

"What about Brother Yu?"
To be continued...