振り返り：落とし穴１６２堀～落とし穴１６５堀＋α (Part1)
Retrospective: Pitfalls 162–165 + α
Sorry to keep you waiting.
Here is the continuation of last year’s first dream!
I’ve compiled everything together, so it might be a substantial read.
Pitfall 162: The First Dream
Side: Yuki
" " "Happy New Year." " "
With those greetings, we welcomed the new year.
As always, we made our rounds to Lilishe’s church, took a moment to stop Hairen’s rowdiness, handed out New Year’s money to the children, and joined the first sales of the year. We spent that once-a-year, special, and joyful season in a flurry of busy but fulfilling activity.
That fun and hectic time passed in the blink of an eye. Night fell, and we men gathered at the inn to talk quietly among ourselves.
"Phew... I know the year-end and New Year holidays are supposed to be a break, but I’m always so exhausted..."
"Yeah. Are those 'lucky bags' really worth all that trouble?"
We had been drafted as foot soldiers into the battlefield known as the "First Sale Venue," and we were completely drained of spirit and energy.
Fortunately, for this day at least, our wives were too busy checking their spoils to pay us any mind, so we were left to our own devices.
"Well, there must be something about them that draws people in—something beyond the understanding of men like us."
"I suppose so. Besides, I never imagined I’d be dragged out to a first sale at my age."
Incidentally, Taizo and Sota were no exception; they too had been pressed into service.
Even so, they didn’t let a hint of weariness show, serving their wives diligently despite being worn out. Perhaps that’s the wisdom of age.
No, in my case, I’ll probably be complaining about the first sales every year no matter how old I get.
"I just want to sleep today."
"I feel the same."
"Shall we head to the bath and then turn in?"
"Agreed. I’m truly exhausted. The holidays are still ongoing, so let’s save the rest of our talk for tomorrow."
And so, we quickly hit the hot springs to heal the damage sustained at the sales, laid out our futons, and just as we were about to drift off, I suddenly remembered something.
"Come to think of it, what about the first dream of the year?"
"Ah, that’s right."
"Indeed."
"True."
It just popped into my head.
Well, it was just idle chatter before sleep, typical of the New Year season.
"Is it 'Mount Fuji, a hawk, and an eggplant'?"
"I believe that’s correct. Right, Taizo, Sota?"
"Indeed. You are not mistaken."
"Yes, that is correct. It’s a custom born in the Edo period. A form of Mount Fuji worship."
"And there was that thing about putting a picture of a treasure ship under your pillow, right?"
"Is that a thing? I wasn’t aware of that one. How about you two?"
"Of course, we are familiar with that as well."
"Yes, I’ve heard of that too. Both are meant to divine one’s fortune for the coming year."
As Sota said, the "first dream" refers to the dream you have at the start of the year. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the one you have on the night of January 1st.
"Did you have any dreams last night?"
"Hmm, I don’t recall."
"Neither do I."
"Well, dreams are fleeting things. Perhaps we’ll have one tonight."
From that idle conversation, we decided, for the sake of good luck, to print out an illustration of the Seven Lucky Gods’ treasure ship and tuck it under our pillows before sleeping.
Well, relying on the gods might be a bit much, but since they’re always causing us trouble anyway, it wouldn’t hurt to lean on them for once.
Thinking such trivial thoughts, I crawled into my futon. Perhaps because I was so exhausted, sleep overcame me instantly, and my consciousness snapped into darkness.
"Hm?"
I felt light filtering in, and my consciousness began to sharpen.
But I was certain I had turned the lights off before going to sleep.
Hmm, did someone turn them on?
No, this light is natural.
In other words, it’s already morning...
"...Nngh. Man, that was a good sleep."
Usually, I’d wake up while it was still dark to prepare breakfast, but perhaps because I was so tired, it was a rare occasion where the sun was already up when I opened my eyes.
Well, today is a day where I don’t have to worry about breakfast, so I hadn’t set an alarm.
Still, my body feels great. I must have slept soundly.
"...Wait, where am I?"
It was only after thinking that far that I realized this wasn’t the room I knew.
Furthermore, Taiki, Taizo, and Sota, who should have been sleeping right next to me, were nowhere to be found.
"Judging by the look of it, it seems to be a student’s room..."
It was smaller than the large room where we had been chatting last night, but it was still easily eight tatami mats in size.
In the room, besides the bed I was sleeping in, there was a table, a sofa, and a computer on a desk.
Yes, it looked exactly like the room of a modern Japanese student.
"To be given an eight-mat room, this is incredibly luxurious. Not that I’m certain it’s a student’s room, of course."
Regardless, staying here wouldn’t help me understand the situation, so I moved to leave the room—only to notice my own appearance.
"...I’m still in my yukata from the bath. It’s definitely a problem to be wandering around in this getup, even if it’s not an inn."
If this were a hot spring town, it might be forgiven, but it’s rare for a student in a regular household to wear a yukata as pajamas. Especially if a stranger suddenly appeared in one.
I’d like to avoid being reported. Or, perhaps it would be better if I were?
It might be faster to consult with the authorities.
Well, if things go poorly, I’d just be arrested and detained without a word, so that’s probably not the best strategy.
"...It can’t be helped. My apologies to the owner of this room, but it’s clearly a man’s room. I’ll have to borrow some clothes."
I really don’t want to be caught and labeled as some kind of pervert or deviant.