3 Thank You for Letting Me Off

In fact, there was not much to prepare for the New Year's shrine visit. To most, the gods in the shrine would be there once they prepared their offering money.

Kitagawa Eri naturally understood this logic.

However…

Kitagawa Eri glanced at her deflated purse and expressed helplessness to her pitiful financial resources.

Her mother had always handed the finances over to the elder Kitagawa Tera to manage.

Moreover, Kitagawa Tera used to be gloomy and silent. Kitagawa Eri was already very afraid of him, so it was almost impossible for her to get any money from him.

But…

I really really want itttt, really want New Year's gift money!!!

I want to buy some new clothes. Kitagawa Eri wanted to sigh, but when she thought of the saying 'happiness slips away from the sigh', she patted her face and cheered herself up.

Speaking of which, why is Tera-niisan suddenly thinking of going for the New Year's shrine visit?

While thinking about this, she wrapped a thin coat around herself, rubbed her hands, made herself snug, and pitter-pattered downstairs.

She was stopped by Kitagawa Tera before she reached the living room.

"It might be a bit late, but Happy New Year." Kitagawa Tera gave Kitagawa Eri her New Year's gift money in an envelope and his blessing calmly.

Eh?Can I really accept it? Kitagawa Eri was full of surprise. She was just whining about it upstairs and did not think that Kitagawa Tera would give it to her once she reached the bottom of the stairs.

The thickness of the envelope did not feel like it was just casually stuffed with a few coins or even one or two thousand yen.

"This is for you. Use it however you want." Kitagawa Tera nodded.

He personally did not understand Japanese customs, but money was always powerful.

At least, he felt that a little girl like Kitagawa Eri would have things she wanted to buy, such as clothes. Although he could not control how the original Kitagawa Tera was, he had to give the New Year's gift money.

Looking at Kitagawa Eri's excitement, he felt as though there were no problems with his actions.

Kitagawa Tera withdrew his gaze, got up, and walked to the living room.

Kitagawa Eri naturally felt the indifference in Kitagawa Tera's eyes, and her excitement of obtaining New Year's gift money was immediately suppressed. Uneasiness pervaded her entire body.

Is his huge change in character these few days him trying to act tough? Like the first few months after Father passed away. Kitagawa Eri's face changed with this thought.

In that case… Kitagawa Eri gritted her teeth and clenched the New Year's money envelope tightly in her hands. Finally…

"T-Tera-niisan!" Kitagawa Eri clasped the envelope and returned it to Kitagawa Tera with her head lowered.

"…" Kitagawa Tera.

Kitagawa Tera's gaze was as calm as ever. He turned his head and said, "Not enough?"

Eh? Kitagawa Eri's snow-white complexion flushed red in an instant. She knew that Kitagawa Tera misunderstood, so she was at a loss.

"It-it isn't like that! It-it's just that… Tera-niisan has been working very hard, and I can't fall behind. That is… that is to say…" Her voice became tinier as she continued.

Pa

Kitagawa Tera put his down jacket on Kitagawa Eri.

"Leave it for the time being. Go wash up and change your clothes first. Breakfast is ready. We'll set off soon." Kitagawa Tera's voice still sounded very rigid, but Kitagawa Eri relaxed subconsciously.

She saw it secretly just now. Kitagawa Tera had deliberately gone to the living room's sofa to get the down jacket for her.

Haaa…

Kitagawa Eri blew at her hands, red from the cold, and rubbed her feet together as she watched Kitagawa Tera's busy figure from behind.

It's still so cold!

The scene where 'warmth flows out from my heart' from novels did not appear at all!

Kitagawa Eri hurried over to the bathroom.

…

After a simple toast and milk breakfast, Kitagawa Tera and Kitagawa Eri took cautious steps on the frozen ground as they walked to the shrine.

It had snowed last night. Both sides of the house had been completely dyed white by the snow.

The snow plow had piled a thick layer of snow on both sides of the road, making a path for people to walk.

The cold air roared over the top of their heads, causing people to bury their necks into their collars.

There were actually quite a number of people going for the New Year's shrine visit like Kitagawa Tera and Kitagawa Eri. After all, not everyone could make time to go to the shrine on January 1st.

However, the number of people heading there did not matter to Kitagawa Tera. He was going to take Kitagawa Eri to the shrine either way.

Kitagawa Tera turned around and persuaded patiently, "If it's too cold, how about going back to put on some pants?"

He could not figure out what Kitagawa Eri was thinking. She was wearing only a short skirt and stockings in such cold weather.

Although the stockings looked quite thick, Kitagawa Tera did not think it would be warm enough.

"Don't worry, Tera-niisan. See, there are a few girls in front that are the same as me."

Kitagawa Tera did see some girls in front of them, walking and laughing happily in their short skirts and stockings.

However…

The three girls obviously felt Kitagawa Tera's gaze on them after a while. They turned and walked toward him.

"T-Tera-niisan." Kitagawa Eri tugged at Kitagawa Tera's palm and swallowed.

"Don't worry. Seems like I know them."

Kitagawa Tera's heart thumped, feeling the teasing familiarity from the gaze of the girl in front.

Are they people Kitagawa Tera knew from school?

But that posture…

Kitagawa Tera steadied his breathing and raised his head without hurry.

The three girls were in front of him at this point.

These three girls were, of course, acquaintances of Kitagawa Tera. Hoshino Nana, the girl with long hair, was even the object of Kitagawa Tera's unrequited love in the first grade of high school. However, after becoming her target for bullying for all sorts of reasons, Kitagawa Tera basically detoured whenever he saw her.

Hoshino Nana's feet sped up when she saw Kitagawa Tera's indifference to her. Heavy nasal sounds followed. "Kitagawa, you think you're some big shot just because we're on winter break? How dare you not scram the moment you see me?"

Kitagawa Tera seemed to be a different person with his current indifference, making her particularly uncomfortable.

Kitagawa Tera frowned at her crossed look and asked calmly, "Who are you?"

Kitagawa Tera did not have any impression of this voice. She was probably not one of the friends that gave him valuable information in his phone, so he did not even want to care about her.

Hoshino Nana stepped forward when she heard Kitagawa Tera's words. She really did not expect that Kitagawa Tera would dare to talk to her like that. "Who am I? I am Hoshino Nana. Do you have any impression now?"

"Not much impression." Kitagawa Tera shook his head calmly.

Seeing Kitagawa Tera having an attitude like this, Hoshino Nana's expression changed. She was about to throw a fit when she saw the shrunken Kitagawa Eri hiding behind Kitagawa Tera.

Kitagawa Eri was wearing a navy blue short skirt and a beige lady's windbreaker, looking cute and pure.

"Wow! Kitagawa, I was thinking why you were so courageous. Turns out that the good-for-nothing has a new girlfriend."

This little girl's emotions exploded, and Hoshino Nana reached out to claw at Kitagawa Eri's face.

But somehow, the hand was caught firmly by Kitagawa Tera.

Pa!!!

A slap landed on Hoshino Nana's face.

Not only were Hoshino Nana and her friends shocked, but even Kitagawa Eri's eyes nearly popped out.

"You slapped me?… Blood… I…" Hoshino Nana opened her mouth, and blood leaked out from the side. She was so angry that she was incoherent

I was actually slapped? Slapped by that good-for-nothing Kitagawa Tera that I humiliated before?

Kitagawa Tera let go of Hoshino Nana's hand and said in a cold voice, "Subconscious action."

He looked up, and the coldness in his eyes made even the two other girls beside Hoshino Nana wonder if they had the wrong person.

How could the autistic Kitagawa Tera at school be like this? It was impossible no matter how they thought about it.

"I don't have any impression of you, Hoshino. Moreover, don't you think it's rude of you to hit my sister the moment you meet?"

"You confessed to me before!!!" Hoshino Nana simply screamed at the indifferent Kitagawa Tera.

Why did she have a strange feeling that she was being slapped verbally as well?

"Did you agree to go out with me?" Kitagawa Tera said lightly.

"Who would agree to go out with a good-for-nothing like you?" Hoshino Nana said angrily and anxiously.

"In that case, I want to thank you for letting off a kid who is not deeply involved in this world."

Kitagawa Tera slowly brushed past Hoshino Nana with Kitagawa Eri

That composure left all three of Hoshino's group dazed.

Was this person… really Kitagawa Tera?