I don't know who said this, but time waits for no one.
No matter what happens, no matter what people’s subjective will is, time just flows by bit, passing through 1998 and coming to 1999 - the end of the 20th century, the last year.
In the past year, Shinji encountered many things and met many people. Some were good, some were bad, some were good people, and some were bad. These people and things eventually became his motivation, supporting his continuous growth.
It can be said that without them, there would be no Shinji today.
In the new year, Shinji will continue to work hard and do more. For Sakura, Fujino, Touko, the Matou family, and everyone he cares about and who cares about him, he will become stronger and gain more power.
I am Shinji Matou, and I will protect everything that I cherish - the awareness I have held since traveling through time has never changed, and will not change in the future.
In Fuyuki City, in the Matou mansion, in his own room, Shinji opened the curtains and greeted the first rays of dawn in 1999.
"Shinji, are you up yet? If you are, change your clothes quickly because we are about to set off." Tsuruya's urging voice came from outside the door.
Because of the morning exercises, Shinji has always been the first one to get up in the family, and his father Tsuru is always the last one to get up, even if he is not the last one, with the only exception being the first day of the new year.
Similar to the Chinese custom of staying up all night on New Year's Eve, Japan also has the custom of celebrating the New Year.
Hatsumode refers to the first visit to a shrine or temple in a year to pray for peace. Most traditional Japanese people would start queuing up to prepare for the visit on the night of December 31st, but the Matou family was an alien family after all, and they were not so strict in observing the local customs of Japan, so they finally set the time for Hatsumode in the early morning of January 1st. This way, they could avoid the first wave of people at midnight and the second wave of people in the morning.
On this day, all members of the Matou family will get up at six in the morning, and Tsuru, as the head of the family, will get up earlier than others to prepare for the most important shrine visit of the year.
According to Japanese etiquette, the first day of the ceremony requires formal attire. The so-called formal attire is the "Kimono", a traditional Japanese dress that is very troublesome to put on. The reason why the members of the Matou family got up so early was that half of their time was spent on dressing up.
During this time, Shinji pretended to be asleep in order to avoid wearing a kimono.
Yes, Shinji doesn't want to wear a kimono.
Kimono originated from the traditional Chinese clothing Hanfu, which was introduced to Japan and evolved into the current kimono after local evolution. Whenever he sees this kind of clothing, he will think of his past life.
Despite all the bad things that happened in that country in his previous life, and despite the fact that he traveled to Japan in this life and had a Japanese name, he still loved that ancient country and was proud of it. So he chose to remember his previous life in this way, no matter where he was, no matter what blood flowed in this body, his heart would not change.
Some people may say that this is hypocrisy, a kind of self-satisfaction, and that it is like being a bitch and still trying to be a saint. Shinji will not deny this, but people always have to be a little persistent, even if it seems stupid.
"Here I am."
Shinji responded listlessly, opened the closet, picked out a suit at random, put it on, and walked out of the room.
"Happy New Year, Dad."
"Happy New Year."
Seeing his son's outfit, Tsuruya sighed, "A western suit again. Why don't you want to wear a kimono? You weren't like this when you were a kid."
In Tsuruya's memory, his son was no different from other Japanese children until he was 6 years old. But after that incident, his son changed. Generally speaking, he changed for the better, but he would be incomprehensiblely stubborn in many small matters, just like now.
"Aren't you tired of saying the same thing every year? If you don't like it, then you don't like it. Anyway, my ancestors are from Europe, and no one will say anything about me with this mixed-race face." At this moment, Shinji was extremely glad that he traveled through time and space and became Matou Shinji instead of a pure-blooded Japanese, otherwise he wouldn't even be able to use such an excuse.
"It's up to you." Heye looked helpless. He could no longer control his son after he turned six years old.
"Sorry." Shinji lowered his eyelids.
"It's nothing, not a big deal." Tsuruya waved his hand, "Let's go down, Sakura and Fujino are waiting for you downstairs."
In the living room of the Matou family, several other family members were already getting ready.
Seeing Shinji coming down the stairs, Sakura and Fujino hurried over to greet him.
"Happy New Year, bro."
"Happy New Year, Shinji."
Shinji responded one by one:
"Happy New Year, Sakura. Happy New Year, Fujino. Happy New Year, Mother. Happy New Year, Uncle."
The last two sentences were addressed to stepmother Elsa and uncle Kariya. Since it was the first visit, naturally the whole family should be present.
"Shinji, Happy New Year." The two elders responded with a smile.
No matter which country you are in, saying Happy New Year to each other is an indispensable etiquette and a way to offer good wishes for the new year.
When the greetings were over, Sakura couldn't wait to spin around in front of Shinji, asking:
"Brother, do you think my new clothes look good?"
Sakura was wearing a newly made kimono. The color of the kimono was the same as her name, with a pink background dotted with white petals, just like the colorful falling cherry blossoms in spring, which was eye-catching.
"It's beautiful, really beautiful." Shinji smiled and stretched out his hand, rubbing Sakura's head as usual.
But this time, Ying did not enjoy her brother's touch like before, but stepped back a few steps and pouted: "Don't touch me, my hair will be messy."
In order to match the cherry blossom kimono, Sakura specially tied up her long hair and inserted a cherry blossom hair accessory, which alternated between pink, purple and blue. The red was more delicate and the purple was more pure.
Shinji withdrew his hand awkwardly and touched his nose sheepishly.
Fujino noticed Shinji's embarrassment, walked over to where Sakura used to be, and said:
"I changed into new clothes, too."
"I see. It suits you very well." Shinji narrowed his eyes to hide the strange light in them.
Fujino in front of him made his heart beat fast. Fujino's kimono was the opposite of Sakura's sky blue, a little lighter than her hair color. There were no other extra decorations on the kimono, but the changes in the shades of blue gave people a pleasing feeling.
What’s even more wonderful is that the natural layering between the color of the kimono and Fujino’s long hair makes the naturally beautiful Fujino look even more radiant and charming.
The unique charm of a girl brought by the fluttering hair inadvertently touched Shinji's heart.
Should we say that our daughter has grown up? Or that Project H has been a great success
Although the age of the person who said this is a bit inappropriate.
PS: The so-called H Plan is the Genji Plan, which comes from the end of Type-Moon's official sick series "Fantasy Carnival" EX01. Aoko helped Shiki in order to play the young version of Genji's training.