Monthly Extra: New Year Rin Bonus Story (nonbinary Rin)

A little alternate-universe story where MC and Rin attend a new year's eve party in our world.

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It's a loud, busy night in the tavern. The band is playing, people are dancing, and the place is so packed I'm starting to wonder if we should just call it a night and ring in the new year somewhere with more breathing room. It's a nice venue, and the decorations are gorgeous - it's just so crowded.

I bet Rin's just loving it, I think as I look vainly into the crowd for them. They said they were going to find a quieter spot an hour ago. I just laughed and wished them luck - a sentiment I can see didn't go far when they push their way through a tightly-packed group. Their black jacket now sports a long rip, and Rin themself looks practically winded by the short walk from the counter back to where I'm standing near the door.

"Oh, thank gods," they say as they find me.

"Rough night?" I ask, raising a brow as I take in their disheveled state. "It's definitely not the best one for your clothing, anyway."

"It's my favorite jacket," they sigh.

"My condolences." 

"No, it's fine," they shake their head. "It's just stuff; I'll patch it. Been meaning to do something more interesting with it for awhile, anyway."

"I'm glad to see you're starting off the new year with a positive attitude," I chuckle. "How charmingly out of character."

"I'm plenty positive," they protest, shooting someone an annoyed look as they accidentally bump into them. "I'm just also a realist."

"How many times have you said we're going to die on our jobs?"

"Realistically we were going to."

"So you admit your realism gives inaccurate predictions."

"You-" they stop, clearly biting their tongue. "Look, if you're done messing with me-"

"Done with you? Never," I tease.

"You're lucky you're hot," they mutter under their breath. "If you're done, then do me a favor and stick around until midnight. We just have to get through till then and we can go, right?"

​"That should satisfy Kina," I nod. "She wanted us to stop by, but she's going to be too busy running the place to talk to us any more tonight."

"Good."

"Why'd you come find me all of the sudden, anyway?"

"Someone started telling me about that weird tradition you have here. I thought they were messing with me but a few other people said it was true," they shrug. "Figured I'd better find you."

"And you need me for that?" I reply, not totally following what they mean by 'weird.' Are they talking about the fireworks? Maybe they don't set them off where they're from. Or the tradition where everyone jumps into the freezing-cold pool outside? Because I am not doing that this year...

"Well I'm not going to kiss anyone else at midnight, am I?"