落とし穴外伝：２０２６年 年始スペシャル
Pitfall Gaiden: 2026 New Year's Special
Side: Yuki
The clock's hands had already passed midnight, now nearing forty minutes past. In other words, it was the New Year.
“It’s the same every time, but after doing it so many times, you get used to it, huh?”
“Well, I suppose so.”
“Indeed. And yet, that is what peace means.”
“Yes, it's a blessing to be able to gather around a kotatsu like this.”
In this room, four men had their legs tucked into a kotatsu, leisurely enjoying the New Year's arrival in warmth. Their wives, meanwhile, were also relaxing in their own ways. Ah, of course, they had spent New Year's Eve together. After that, everyone had scattered, moving according to their upcoming plans. Members with early morning plans were asleep, while others intended to visit churches or shrines. Some went out to feel the immediate post-New Year's Eve bustle, others went shopping. And some, like them, were taking it easy, chatting.
“In the old days, our wives would surround us. Well, we didn't know anything back then.”
“It means Weed has become that stable.”
“And, I suppose, trust has grown between spouses.”
“Yes. Even without being constantly together, a couple is always a couple. Enora, for example, is helping out at the church today.”
Indeed, the fact that their wives could freely go about Weed meant it had developed peacefully, without strife. And the fact that he had no worries also meant they trusted him that much. Wow, not just time, but Weed had developed too, huh? It made all the effort worth it.
“So, what shall we do this year? Sleep now? Or move once the sun rises?”
“Hmm, I vote for sleeping. There's always so much to do after New Year's anyway.”
“True. We've all become busy men.”
“Yes. Though, Seraria mentioned something about a gift exchange.”
“Ah, that. Specifically…”
Yuki explained his recent concerns regarding gifts and the proposed solutions.
“I see. That's a common problem when you have a lot of family and such.”
“Certainly. As you accumulate more acquaintances' birthdays, deciding what to give becomes a dilemma. If I had a territory, I'd consider local specialties.”
“That's true. Weed doesn't have such developed territories. Well, that makes governance easier, but it does have its downsides. Oh, by the way, as a member of the Kamishiro family, I received a territory, so I often settled on local specialties.”
Hmm. Indeed, territories with their local specialties make for safe gift choices. Though, having a territory comes with its own set of difficulties, so it's not all good.
“So, since this is the first time they're trying this, they're probably calling on various people. They might want to see the reactions of Taiki, Taizo, and Souta.”
“It's enjoyable even beyond close family. If it's a gift exchange, receiving the same item isn't an issue, and having a theme and a budget makes it accessible to everyone.”
“Yes. Still, it's probably limited to close acquaintances. For those who want to curry favor with gifts, it's an unnecessary rule.”
“Well, it's a method that arose from our own struggles within the family.”
Restricting gifts for outsiders would certainly invite disdain. However, there are restrictions on the joint budget of the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance. Otherwise, major powers would pour in money relentlessly. It would become a power struggle, and smaller nations might face unaffordable sums. On the other hand, having someone make a big deal out of a small amount was also an issue, so they set minimum and maximum amounts. In other words, it was a matter of time and circumstance.
“I'm looking forward to it. I'm excited about what I'll buy tomorrow.”
“That's true. It's a challenge to find something good within a limited budget. And that's the fun part.”
“And there might be various discoveries too.”
Exactly. By setting these conditions, there's a chance they might notice things they'd never paid attention to before. So, the searching itself is enjoyable.
“Right. Well, for tomorrow's plans, shall we go to sleep soon? Luxuriously, with our bodies still tucked into the kotatsu.”
“Sounds good~. Sleeping in a kotatsu usually gets you scolded. But today, it's ostensibly a men's gathering~.”
“Hahaha, you might catch a cold if you're not careful. It's so comfortable, yet forbidden, which makes you want to do it even more.”
“Indeed~. And you could get dehydrated, so we have tea and drinks fully stocked on the table.”
Yes, preparations for sleeping had been made in advance. There were cushions for pillows, and the kotatsu was large enough for four people to tuck their legs in from all sides without bumping. In other words, everything was perfect.
“We told our wives not to sleep in the kotatsu, you see. This is a luxury we can only enjoy at times like these.”
“Ahaha, well, since we're promoting this culture, we can't break the rules ourselves, can we?”
“True. It would lack credibility. Well, even if we're caught here, we'll just say we accidentally fell asleep.”
“Right. I've also told Enol not to sleep in the kotatsu. That excuse is perfect.”
And their sophistry was perfect. With this, even if they were caught sleeping in the kotatsu, their wives wouldn't be able to complain. However…
“There's also the question of whether we can actually just go to sleep.”
“Indeed, I know we should probably sleep soon, but it also feels like a waste somehow~.”
“It's a rare, free night to stay up late, after all.”
“Right~, it's a special day, so I understand wanting to do something. But then, should we go outside?”
When Souta asked that, they exchanged glances and shook their heads.
“It's too cold, and changing clothes now is a bit…”
“That's true. After warming up comfortably in the kotatsu, going out into the cold is a bit…”
“Hmm. Well, it's only a little over forty minutes since the New Year began. Thinking about that, it does feel like a waste. But we have tomorrow, so no heavy drinking.”
“I'd like to refrain from alcohol too. Though, a little sipping would be fine. So, what else? Want to snack on something?”
“We just had New Year's Eve soba.”
“The tangerines on the kotatsu might be just right, no? Or how about a game?”
“A game, huh? Depending on the game, I might end up playing all night without sleeping. Like Nobunaga's Ambition.”
“No, no, that's not something you finish in a few hours. And Taizo, you've been adding restrictions lately, haven't you? Like playing as a minor faction.”
“I have.”
Wow, so Taizo had started playing challenge runs without him noticing. And starting with a minor faction, no less. No, overturning such odds was the fun part, though. But as Souta said, those kinds of strategy games couldn't be finished quickly. He had thought so, but…
“That's precisely why it's good. We'll get sleepy while strategizing anyway, and it won't end. And, thinking about the gift discussion earlier, it might be fun to randomize the game conditions too.”
“Ah~, randomize which faction we play as?”
“Taiki, you've hit the nail on the head.”
“That's a great idea. So, the four of us will strategize and aim for world domination, then?”
“Sounds interesting.”
And so, putting sleep aside for a bit, they began a lively New Year's game. Playing these strategy games together, chatting and having fun, was enjoyable. Of course, games like Momotetsu were fun too.
And, Happy New Year!