New Year's Festival
One morning.
I woke up to the sound of someone knocking on my door.
Who is it?
Asherah...?
Hello, Captain!
What's up...?
I knew it. You don't know what day it is today, do you?
You're oddly clueless about NOA, you know?
Today is—
...New Year's festival?
It feels like I just got here yesterday, and it's already the New Year.
But a lot happened in that time.
Time flies when I spend it with you, Captain.
I wandered through the city with Asherah, taking in the sights of the festival.
The streets were full of life, lined with pop-up stalls and shops hosting New Year events, and restaurants opening their doors for all the sightseers.
Everywhere we went was packed with people enjoying the festival, and Asherah pulled me along as she excitedly showed me around all the different spots.
Oh! Cafe Strega is selling festival-limited desserts! Want to try it, Captain?
You can play darts there. Are you any good at darts, Captain?
As I was enjoying the festival with Asherah, night had fallen before I even realized it.
Let's see... the event should be starting soon.
I think we'll get a good view from here...
What kind of event is it?
...The event guide says it's a rocket launch.
It appears to be a ceremony where a large steel cylinder is filled with chemicals and ignited to launch it into the sky.
They say it's how people in the distant past used to get to space.
To think you can reach the stars by igniting a steel cylinder...
Is that really possible? That's surprising...
Anyway, it sounds like an incredibly dazzling event.
Even [Travel Times] listed it as the number one must-see event when visiting NOA.
It's starting!
Good evening, dear citizens.
On behalf of the Observation Council [Polaris], I welcome you to today's New Year's festival.
We will soon begin the countdown for the launch of the [Saturn V] rocket.
Please join us in wishing for a happy new year as the rocket soars into space.
...Here in NOA, it is customary to make a wish upon the rocket's flames.
To anyone with a wish they want to see come true, we hope you don't miss this chance.
Five... four... three...
Everyone gathered to see the rocket began counting down together.
Two... one!
Ignition!
With a thunderous roar, a massive burst of flames erupted.
And just a few seconds later, the massive rocket soared into the sky.
It felt nostalgic... yet beautiful.
...Captain. Did you make a wish?
I was too caught up watching the rocket that I forgot. But it shouldn't be too late to make a wish now.
...Uh, yeah. I made one.
May Asherah make it through the Journey safely.
And may she achieve her dream.
What wish did you make? Oh, would I jinx it if you told me?
Haha, I also made one.
Smiling, Asherah whispered into my ear, but a gust of wind carried her words away.
...With you... together...
Hmm? What did you say?
Ahaha, it's nothing!
At that moment, the rocket's beautiful arc burst into a brilliant display.
Fireworks of wonderful shapes and colors began to light up the night sky.
So pretty...
We stood there, gazing at the fireworks in a daze.
As the fireworks came to an end, the festival's events wrapped up and people began heading back to their homes, chattering about the good times they had.
But Asherah and I continued to gaze at the starry night sky.
...The Star Savior once described his path as a road that reaches the stars.
When I was a kid, I just thought it was a cool expression...
But now, I think it was just a roundabout way of saying just how difficult and challenging that path really is.
Looking from here, the stars really do feel so far away.
...But no matter how far away they are...
I will get there.
Ahaha, yep! I will!
Yeah. Someday I'll meet him.
But...
It's okay even if I don't.
Dreaming of meeting the Star Savior... that was the young me's dream.
But my dream now... is a little different.
Afterwards, we stood together for a while, gazing up at the stars in the night sky.