Mahiro Rings in the New Year (manga)

Mahiro Rings in the New Year (まひろと行く年来る年, Mahiro To Ikutoshikurutoshi) is Chapter 30 of Onimai: I'm Now Your Sister!. It was originally published on Pixiv on July 27, 2019.

Summary
It's the start of a new year, so Mahiro and Mihari visit a shrine.

Plot
On New Year's Eve, Mahiro and Mihari listen as the bell rings, watching it on TV. Mihari remarks that it is just a few minutes left for the year and says that she finished the soba noodles. Mahiro cheers for this, calling it forward thinking. She also cheers for the fact that they set up the kotatsu again. Mihari says that that'll be for the week of New Year's at least, and tells Mahiro to eat her soba noodles before they get soggy. She adds that it is said that one will have bad luck for the whole year if they don't finish them by midnight. Mahiro panics as there is only five minutes until midnight, and begins slurping them up in a hurry while Mihari smiles at her.

Mahiro finishes just in time as Mihari notes that the date has changed and the start of a new year has begun. As two wish each other a happy new year, Mahiro decides to ask Mihari for her New Year's allowance, even buttering her up by referring to Mihari as her wonderful "onee-chan". Mihari is immediately smitten with Mahiro calling her that and says of course to it, calling Mahiro a cutie in the process. Mahiro notes that that was a piece of cake, and Mihari puts a ¥500 coin in Mahiro's hand. Mahiro complains that there is one zero two few, saying that she is a middle schooler. Mihari points out that Mahiro is technically a full-grown adult, and Mahiro collapses on the ground after realizing the truth of that statement. Mihari thinks to herself how far Mahiro has fallen, and tells her to work hard to be an even better girl in the new year. This leads to Mahiro angrily insisting that she'll turn back to normal one day.

The next morning, Mahiro lies in bed relaxing, thinking what a wonderful New Year's holiday that this will be. Her stomach growls, and she goes downstairs saying that she is hungry. Mihari says good morning to her and announces that she has made ozoni soup. Mahiro is surprised that they are not doing osechi this year, with Mihari remarking that it is a lot of work to prepare. She asks Mahiro if she really wants it, but Mahiro says that she is good. Mahiro says that as long as she can eat enough to feel sick and the take an afternoon nap, that's a good enough holiday for her. Mihari says that she hoped that Mahiro would enjoy work as its own reward too, but decides that it is fine. She supposes that vegging out once in a while is pretty nice too. Mahiro is happy that Mihari understands and pets top of her head instinctively, calling her a good girl, and causing Mihari to recall something.

Mihari suddenly gets up and tells Mahiro to get dressed. Mahiro is confused, then realizes in horror what is happening. They are going to a shrine to welcome in the new year.

Sometime later, Mahiro and Mihari arrive at the shrine, with Mahiro wearing a kimono. Mahiro is not feeling good about being around so many people, feeling a great sense of dread. Mihari points out that they had to visit the shrine as it is New Year's, while Mahiro notes that this is the most crowded event of the whole year. Mahiro notices a miko, which snaps her out of her funk as she's allowed to escape reality for a second. Mihari just tells her to at least try to stay on task.

As Mihari tells Mahiro that she's prepared a little incentive for, they hear a voice calling for them. It turns out to be Momiji and Kaede who wish the two a happy new year. Mahiro beams, understanding that this was the incentive that Mihari was talking about. Mahiro notices that Kaede is wearing a beautiful flowery kimono and compliments her on it. Kaede blushes and remarks that she is renting it from a shop.

Mahiro sees that by contrast, Momiji is wearing a traditional samurai style kimono and has has a confident look on her face. Mahiro hides behind Kaede, asking Momiji if she is filming a period drama. Kaede says that Momiji said that that's the one that she wanted. Momiji asks if it is dashing, and Mahiro realizes that she's still recovering from what happened recently. She pats Momiji's head and tells her that she hopes she gets better soon, hoping that it's just a phase. Momiji is left confused by this. Kaede calls for everyone to go and line up, and Mahiro says that they are coming.

As they wait in line, Kaede is charmed by how cute Mahiro and Momiji look in their outfits and snaps a photo of the two together. Kaede notes to Mihari that she should've worn a kimono as well. Mahiro subsequently wonders angrily why Mihari gets to wear normal clothes while she can't. Mihari tries to say that it is because she wouldn't look good in one.

After awhile, the four finally make it to the shrine. Kaede tells them to pray hard so that all that standing in line was worth it. Momiji thinks to herself that Kaede sure is consumed by worldly desires.

Momiji prays that all of them will continue to be close friends, while Mihari prays that Mahiro becomes a good citizen. Mihari tells Mahiro to pray as well. Mahiro thinks about it for a few seconds before silently praying. Momiji asks Mahiro what she prayed for, but Mahiro says that she isn't telling.

Soon after, Miyo and Asahi show up behind the two, much to Mahiro's delight. Asahi is amazed to see "Momijiro" in the flesh, causing Mahiro to sigh. Miyo asks Momiji why she is in samurai clothes, and Momiji says that it is because it is dashing.

Kaede notices all of them, and playfully remarks that it's a whole munchkin convention. She suggests that since they're all there, they should all come over to her house afterwards, as she made way too much Osechi anyway. Mahiro is immediately on board, wanting to try Kaede's osechi, and tells everyone that they should go.

As they leave, Mihari wonders what Mahiro prayed for.

It is revealed that when Mihari was six, Mahiro petted her head and called her a good girl in the same way that she did earlier, and Mihari loved every second of it.

Characters

 * Mahiro Oyama
 * Mihari Oyama
 * Kaede Hozuki
 * Momiji Hozuki
 * Asahi Ōka
 * Miyo Murosaki

Trivia

 * The events of this chapter take place on December 31 and January 1.
 * As noted by the chapter, the new year is Japan is ushered in by the ringing of a temple bell 108 times.
 * As noted by the chapter, soba noodles are eaten in Japan on New Year's Eve because they break easily, representing breaking off hardships from the previous year.
 * Mahiro references the first time that she and Mihari set up the kotatsu in "Siblings Share the Kotatsu".
 * The ¥500 allowance that Mihari gave Mahiro is the equivalent of $3.72 USD.
 * As noted by the chapter, ozoni is a miso-soup containing mochi, eaten in Japan on New Year's Day.
 * As noted by the chapter, osechi is a set of box-lunch-like meals prepared in advance, as it's considered bad luck in Japan to cook for the first three days of the year.
 * As noted by the chapter, a miko is a young female shrine attendant.
 * Mahiro references how Momiji started to awaken a feeling of being "dashing" in the previous chapter "Mahiro's Double Date".
 * Asahi first mentioned calling Momiji "Momijiro" in elementary school due to her resembling a samurai in "Momiji's Nickname".

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