January 1st. Jiro goes to a shrine with Kanade. Kanade’s working there this year instead of Shure who’s normally there, Shure has to study for overseas exchange. More trolling from Kanade on a phone call as Jiro got to the meeting time and place but not seeing Kanade, and she reveals her part-time job and goes to meet Jiro. Possible foreshadowing with a bit about how Subaru’s dad seems to have something against Jiro, back at the pool Kanade only gave instructions to ‘go easy on Subaru’s male friend’, not ‘beat the living daylights out of him’. There seem to be something more to this than going overboard being protective of his daughter like what Jiro is thinking.
(Kanade in Miko attire:
http://img170.poco.cn/mypoco/myphoto...129601_003.jpg )
More snarking, and Kanade began to take Jiro around the shrine. Kanade joked they might have to pray to cure Jiro’s gynophobia now, it’s been almost a month living together with herself, Subaru and Usami but he’s still not getting better. Kanade decides to use everything she has to cure Jiro today, and he better prepare himself; she was too shy to use this in front of Usami and Subaru, and she’s being more ‘dere’ than she usually is.
Praying in front of the money box, Jiro prayed to cure his gynophobia, while Kanade wished to be able to be with Jiro forever. After seeing a stunned Jiro she then further expanded that she wants to be with Subaru, Kureha, Usami, her family and her servants forever as well; her daily life right now is very good, and is something she wanted for a long time now.
As Jiro considered this daily life won’t be around for much longer, Kanade dragged him to the luck raffle thing. Jiro remembered what happened throughout the past year: April, he got beaten half dead by Subaru’s father; May, hospitalised by the truck; June, collided with Usami’s moped… he’s been through a lot, he thinks not even Jack Sparrow got into as much trouble as him.
His raffle says ‘Worst Luck’, going on about how his life will suck. He then read to the end and found it was Kanade trolling him by writing that one. His real one is ‘Best Luck’. Jiro and Kanade exchanged more snarking, and Jiro thinks he really does have the best luck – he is seeing Kanade’s sincere smile right at the start of the year, and he wishes she would be able to keep on smiling. Kanade asked him why is his face red, and he turned away in embarassment.
Jiro thought about how soon this daily life will end after he give them his reply to their confessions, and Kanade held onto his hand and told him to not think too much. All she wants is for him to move ahead without doubts, and be honest with himself. That’s the person she fell in love with.
Kanade took him to the back gates of the shrine, and explained how Usami has became more trusting, and as a result no longer to discern Kanade’s lies from the truths she tell. Kanade reflected onto how trusting others is dangerous, as nobody is perfect forever, you might be taken advantaged of… but trusting nobody is also difficult, it would be hard and lonely. Jiro felt she’s talking as much about herself as she is about Usami. Jiro then said Kanade don’t have to be worried anymore, he’s friends with Usami and Kanade and they all trust each other. Everyone needs to have someone they can confide in, not just Kanade or Usami but people like Kureha and Subaru as well.
Kanade felt Jiro might get cold in this weather and embraced him. Jiro can feel her warmth and her heartbeat too. He comments he doesn’t have to worry about her with how cheerful she is, and Kanade replies the days they have right now are good, she’s doing this to help curing his gynophobia, and Jiro is warm as well – she’s happy like this.
Kanade asks him if his gynophobia is cured then give her a reply. Jiro promises to do that. He knows these days are numbered and the four of them need to cherish these peaceful days, while Kanade comments:
“Nobody knows – if this can be settled using ordinary methods.”
Kanade said Subaru rejected Jiro’s confession may have been due to consideration of Kanade’s feelings… but things might not be as simple as that. Kanade then tried to play down the issue, telling Jiro she might just be setting him up for another trick – Jiro replied that doesn’t matter, he trusts her. Kanade said he’s too kind for his own good, and he says that might be the case. Kanade then said she’ll hold on to him for a while longer then since he won’t mind, and Jiro lets her.
The chapter ends with Kanade burying her face into Jiro’s chest, and Jiro thinking the vacation will end on January 5th, and the winter they all went through together will soon be over.