Regarding Diablo's gender:
In Diablo I and Diablo II, Diablo leaned towards a more fearsome, towering, and masculine form.
Baal has a famous line: "My brothers will not have died in vain." From this perspective, it could be argued that Diablo should be male.
However, in Diablo III, Diablo is transformed from Leah, introducing more feminine elements to his appearance.
As a result, players have long been uncertain about Diablo's true gender.
In Western mythology, demons and angels are often considered genderless, their form determined by their own will.
If Tyrael can transform into a woman, why can't Diablo exist as one?
Aoki Haruhi pondered Tsuda Nao's suggestion. From a certain perspective, it was actually feasible.
Hmm...
Just as Aoki Haruhi was lost in thought, Tsuda Nao excitedly patted his arm.
"Wow, we're almost there! Look at those adorable pandas!"
Although they were still some distance away, they could already see the endearing giant pandas through the distant glass walls of the exhibit.
Aoki Haruhi felt a wave of bewilderment.
"Ah~ that's Huan Huan, that's Tong Tong, and that's Xing Xing! Ah~ so cute, they're all so cute!" Tsuda Nao exclaimed, practically bouncing with excitement like a child.
Aoki Haruhi glanced at her, his confusion growing:
How do you even tell them apart?
To me, they all look exactly the same!
After dinner, it was back home as usual.
This time, Tsuda drove, and after parking in the underground garage, the two shared a long kiss goodbye.
Unconsciously, these lingering kisses had become routine.
Yet beyond these kisses, there was no deeper intimacy.
December 28, 1990.
The company officially closed for the holiday.
Everyone was preparing to celebrate the New Year.
Japan's New Year's celebration differs somewhat from China's Spring Festival.
Before the Meiji Restoration, Japan actually followed the Chinese lunar calendar for celebrating the New Year.
After the Meiji Restoration, Japan adopted the Gregorian calendar, and the period from January 1 to January 31 came to be known as the "New Year" or "Matsubegi."
January 1 marked the beginning of the year.
December 31, on the other hand, was Japan's New Year's Eve, called "Omisoka."
Knock, knock, knock!
Early that morning, Aoki Haruhi was rudely awakened by knocking at his door.
He groaned and struggled to get out of bed.
He was secretly grateful that cell phones hadn't yet become widespread in this era; otherwise, his phone would have been ringing incessantly.
When he opened the door, he found two young women standing outside: Ishino Mika and Ayase Akane.
"Happy New Year, President!" Ayase Akane bowed.
"Happy New Year, President!" Ishino Mika followed suit, mirroring her.
Today, both young women were dressed in traditional Japanese kimonos, causing Aoki Haruhi to pause slightly in surprise.
Ishino Mika wore a white kimono, her pale, slender neck visible above the collar like a pristine snowflake.
Ayase Akane, on the other hand, was adorned in a pink kimono patterned with blossoms, her cheeks flushed like blooming peach blossoms, giving her an endearingly charming appearance.
"But it's not even New Year's yet," Aoki Haruhi remarked, glancing at his watch. "It's still 1990 today."
Damn it...
"Do you two know what time it is?" he asked.
"It's six o'clock," Ayase Akane replied cheerfully, smiling.
This idiot!
Aoki Haruhi felt an urge to reach out and smack her forehead.
Noticing the President's glare, Ayase Akane instinctively took a step back.
Seeing her cower like a frightened kitten, Aoki Haruhi felt both exasperated and amused.
"Why are you two here? Shouldn't you be at home celebrating the New Year?"
"Um..." Ishino Mika stammered, her cheeks flushing crimson as she struggled to find the words.
Ayase Akane, sitting beside him, asked bluntly, "President, your parents are already deceased, aren't they?"
Heh...
Aoki Haruhi let out two cold laughs. Seriously? Asking about my dead parents during the New Year? You want to get fired, HR girl?
But she was right. Aoki Haruhi was the epitome of a standard male protagonist: no parents, no siblings, and no cute little sister to bathe him in a foot spa, wash his clothes, or cook for him every night.
"No parents. How very sorry of me," Aoki Haruhi said through gritted teeth.
Hearing his words, Ishino Mika's delicate frame trembled, and she quickly tugged at the hem of Ayase Akane's sleeve beside her.
"So?" Ayase Akane said earnestly. "We were worried that you'd be all alone in such a big place like Tokyo during the New Year, and that you might feel lonely at night. So we thought we'd just... spend the holiday with you this year."
"Huh?"
Aoki Haruhi froze, stunned by her words.
The anger that had been burning in his chest vanished in an instant, replaced by an inexplicable wave of emotion.
"Ayase-san, Ishino-san... Arigato..." Aoki Haruhi pursed his lips, preparing to say, "I can manage just fine on my own."
You don't understand the joys of being single.
With you two here, Tsuda Nao won't be able to come over tonight.
But Ayase Akane was faster.
"Yoshi!"
"Let's help the President clean up first!"
With that, she flung open the door, kicked off her shoes, and dashed upstairs.
"Hai!"
"Thank you for everything this past year. We've been well taken care of."
Ishino Mika nodded at Aoki Haruhi, quickly removed her shoes, and followed.
Huh?
These two really...
They don't even act like guests at all, do they?
They didn't even ask for my permission.
The two women entered Aoki Haruhi's home, laden with bags and boxes, as if they didn't consider themselves guests at all.
To make cleaning easier, they rolled up their sleeves.
Aoki Haruhi stood in the doorway, gazing at the girls' slender, pale arms, momentarily lost in thought.
Damn, it's still the middle of winter in December.
Although Aoki Haruhi wasn't particularly fond of having others in his home—after all, his living space was a very private environment—upon reflection, he realized he rarely had time for thorough cleaning himself.
Having this free cleaning service didn't seem so bad after all.
In Japan, a thorough cleaning is an essential New Year's tradition.
The first and most important step in bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new is a thorough cleaning, ensuring the house is spotless, without a speck of dust.
Cleaning until the windows gleamed and the floor reflected light—that would be the ultimate achievement.
Fortunately, Aoki Haruhi's apartment wasn't large—just over 60 square meters—making it easy to clean.
Before long, the tatami mats shone with a clean, polished sheen.
"Huh? President, you don't even have a single cover or case?" Ayase Akane remarked, surprised.
Aoki Haruhi rolled his eyes. Did you drink this early in the morning?
Beside them, Ishino Mika flushed crimson.
"Also, President, don't you play any adult games?" Ayase Akane asked, organizing his belongings as she spoke, her tone puzzled.
"I'm not that kind of person, okay?" Aoki Haruhi replied, sitting comfortably on the tatami mats and sipping his tea.
The reason he'd let them in so easily was because he genuinely had no "nightlife" to speak of!
It was all Tsuda Nao's fault!
"Huh! No adult magazines at all!" Ayase Akane exclaimed after tidying the bed and desk, her voice incredulous. "President! Don't tell me you're... a virgin?"
Pfft! Aoki Haruhi spat out a mouthful of tea.
"Jeez! President, can you show some respect for other people's hard work once in a while?" Ayase Akane exclaimed, rushing out of the bedroom to wipe the tea stains off the low table and tatami mats.
As she bent over to clean, Aoki Haruhi suddenly felt an urge to stand up and give her a good kick from behind.
Kick this little HR's butt hard!
If it wasn't for you, would I have sprayed my tea like that?!
Just then, Ishino Mika opened the balcony door and began stuffing the folded clothes into the washing machine, one by one.
After a moment, she picked up a triangle-shaped undergarment and held it up to the sunlight.
In this era, the trend was for triangles, not briefs, for both men and women.
The moment she glanced at it, Ishino Mika's cheeks flushed crimson.
"Wait. I'll do this myself." Aoki Haruhi quickly stepped forward and snatched the garment from her grasp.
"Ah~ sorry."
Now Ishino Mika's face burned even hotter.
"Wow! That looks great!"
After the thorough cleaning, Aoki Haruhi's home felt completely refreshed.
Even the light inside seemed brighter and clearer.
Haruhi wasn't particularly messy by nature; it was just that his busy work schedule sometimes prevented him from cleaning daily.
Now that the house had been properly tidied up, it was like a disheveled beggar who, after a bath and change of clothes, transformed into a beautiful lady. The home now felt warm and inviting.
"Mm, not bad at all~" Haruhi nodded appreciatively, sipping his tea.
Perhaps... having a woman around the house isn't such a bad idea after all?
Meanwhile, Ayase Akane was pulling up a chair outside, helping Ishino Mika hang a Shimenawa.
This straw rope, used in Shinto rituals, resembled a Chinese unity knot. It was adorned with small ornaments and a paper strip inscribed with the words "Happy New Year."
The shimenawa is another symbol used to welcome the Toshigami, the New Year's deity. It is believed to ward off evil spirits. The shimenawa serves as a Barrier between the Divine Realm and the human world, preventing impurities from entering.
Typically hung on doors alongside shimekazari, it symbolizes the removal of the previous year's misfortunes and the prevention of bad luck in the new year.
"Mika, are you okay? Can you reach?" Ayase Akane asked, steadying the chair beneath her.
"Yeah, no problem," Ishino Mika replied, shifting her weight to reach and hang the shimenawa above the doorframe.
She smiled with satisfaction.
But as she stepped down, she lost her balance. With a startled cry of "Ah~ Tanya~," she crashed to the floor.
Before the sound had even faded, there was a thud.
Ishino, the great beast, had crushed Ayase Akane beneath her.
Aoki Haruhi stood inside the room, covering his eyes with his hands, refusing to witness the spectacle.
After offering the kagami mochi at home...
"Alright, let's go to the supermarket and buy some ingredients to cook dinner when we get back," Ayase Akane suggested, clapping her hands.
"Yes, let's!" Ishino Mika agreed cheerfully.
Ah~ Damn it, are you planning to stay here all day?
Aoki Haruhi desperately wanted to kick them out, but then she remembered they had just finished cleaning the house for her. Wouldn't it be a bit heartless to send them away right after they helped me?
Fine, since that's the case, I'll let them stay for a meal. They can leave after they eat.
The group went to the supermarket and bought a variety of fresh ingredients.
Buckwheat noodles were a must-have.
New Year's buckwheat noodles—both in China and Japan—symbolize longevity, making them perfect for the New Year. The green onions in the seasoning, pronounced similarly to "comforting fatigue," also carry wishes for happiness in the coming year.
Fresh fish, shrimp, and flour...
"We'll fry tempura tonight. It's definitely going to be delicious," Ayase Akane sighed appreciatively.
"Hee hee," Ishino Mika giggled, covering her mouth.
The two girls wore expressions of inexplicable excitement.
Aoki Haruhi didn't think this was the excitement of first-time cooks.
Unlike Chinese girls, Japanese girls don't seem to worry much about cooking. They start home economics classes from elementary school.
Moreover, most girls' dreams are to get married someday.
Even a superstar like Nakamori Akina isn't an exception.
She often said on shows: "Compared to singing and being a star, y'know, I still hope to get married soon and become a full-time wife."
So, being able to cook has practically become a standard for every girl.
Wait a minute.
Just then, a face flashed through Aoki Haruhi's mind—a girl with a sweet yet mischievous smile.
Could Tsuda also be good at cooking?
It's hard to imagine what he'd look like in the kitchen.
Before he knew it, Aoki Haruhi had filled his shopping cart with ingredients.
Just then, he spotted Ayase Akane lingering in the liquor section.
"Ah~ Toothache!"
He hurried over and tried to persuade her, "Ayase-san, why don't we skip the alcohol tonight?"
Ishino Mika, also pushing a cart, joined them.
"It's fine. New Year's Eve wouldn't be the same without a little drink. It'd feel a bit dull otherwise," Ayase Akane said.
"Mm-hmm!" Ishino Mika nodded vigorously.
Damn it!
Drinking wasn't the problem—it was...
Neither of you can hold your liquor!
"It's fine. We'll just have a little bit," Ayase Akane said, shrinking her shoulders and making a cute, exaggerated gesture to indicate "just a little."
Toothache!
Aoki Haruhi felt his entire body tense up.
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