The second day of the New Year.
The cold rain, the temperature a bit low.
On the streets of Arakawa, decorations like large New Year's posters, shuttlecocks, and kites still hung, their red and green colors vibrant, and shops were adorned with red and white cocoon-like decorations resembling glutinous rice dumplings.
It should have been quite festive, but the drizzling rain in the morning had diluted the New Year's atmosphere.
Kamiyagawa sat in the warm living room, having lunch with Hannya and Zashiki.
Mary, who had no appetite, sat next to Kamiya, expressionlessly moving her fingers to fiddle with a folded paper bird.
Today's lunch was red bean rice cake soup, which little Zashiki enjoyed very much.
On the other side of the room, in front of the television, members of the Hearse Procession were watching a replay of last night's Red and White Song Battle together with little Huajing.