-pg115-

Tale #6

Before Sleeping late on New Year's Day

-pg116-

Alpha

Mm...
The last bath of the year...
On New Year's, every year I go to see the first day rise.
Ojisan repaired by beloved scooter for me..

-pg117-

Alpha

This year, Takahiro is coming along.

Takahiro

Alphaa!

Alpha

Ooh..!

-pg118-

Alpha

Erm, hello, Takahiro.

Takahiro

Happy New Year.

Alpha

Oh, you too; come on in.

Takahiro

Glad to.
Too early ?

Alpha

A little...well, a lot, actually..
Like he said, Ojisan isn't coming ?

Takahiro

He's at the New Year Town Meeting.

-pg119-

Alpha

Mm...that doesn't look warm enough...
I should lend you my jacket...

Takahiro

I'll be fine! This seems to be keeping me warm enough!

Alpha

Because you were on a bicycle; you get colder when you stop peddling...

Takahiro

But I'm behind you and out of the wind, Alpha.

-pg120-

Alpha

Oi, watch it! There's nothing to keep you on back there.
Put your arms round my waist; don't let go.

Takahiro

Mm.

Alpha

And...we're off!

-pg122-

Takahiro

What're...a coffee break ?

Alpha

Yes.

Takahiro

Thank you.
Haven't had canned coffee in a while!

-pg123-

Takahiro

Why...this is good.

Alpha

Isn't it ?
It's a cold night and we've been riding a bike; canned coffee just tastes
so much better like this.

Takahiro

Oh, this has milk in it!

Alpha

I can handle this much.
Cafe au Lait is painful, though.

-pg124-

Signs

Miso Soup
Sweet Sake

-pg125-

Alpha

There aren't many, but...
People gather here every year.
You cold ?

Takahiro

Eh ?
No, I'm fine!

Alpha

Oooh, suuure.
My face was kind of cold...

-pg126-

Alpha

Do you mind this, for a bit ?

Takahiro

Mm...no.

-pg127-

Alpha

It isn't usually so wintery.
But if we hadn't come to watch the sun rise, it wouldn't feel like the new
year.

-pg128-

Alpha

Everyone watches in their own way.

Bald

Can't see anything but clouds.

Chinu

Mm.

Alpha

There isn't as much difference between the seasons as there used to be...
However, I think we take greater pleasure in those differences.

-pg129-

Takahiro

Are you warmed up yet ?

Alpha

Eh ? Aa...Mm.
Shall we stay a bit more ?

Takahiro

Mm.

-pg130-

Takahiro

I'm starting to feel sleepy now.

Alpha

Yeah...
I guess we'd better hurry back so we can sleep.

Tale #6: Closing