"Well well, Mr. Comedy Sword! You wanna drink, huh? Don’t be shy now~"

  Kana had completely gone off the rails. Wielding two sake bottles like twin swords, she loomed over Kanikichi.

  "I-I must decline... And who are you calling 'comedy sword'!?"

  Meanwhile, the ruckus caught Taisuke’s attention, who quickly dove into the fray.

  "Bwahahaha! Comedy sword! That suits you way too well!"

  "Silence! You’re the real clown here, you so-called masterless samurai!"

  "Says the dull-witted antique butter-knife!"

  "Watch your tongue, you disgrace of a ronin!"

  "Keep yappin' and I’ll toss you in the harbor, you rusty relic!"

  Just then, Kana jumped in, not to be left out.

  "Hey! You two having fun without me?! I’m a *lady* serving drinks here, you know!"

  ""Shut it, rookie!""

  Their synchronized sass was met with a mix of horror and amusement. Siebold watched with warm curiosity. Gogyuu, on the other hand, had his head in his hands.

  "My, my... Gogyuu-san, this year’s party is livelier than ever."

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  "...This is mortifying."

  Kana, undeterred by common sense, decided to take things up a notch.

  "WHO are you calling a rookie, huh?!"

  With a warrior’s yell, she charged Taisuke with twin sake bottles.

  "Wait, not again—GAK! Stop shoving bottles into people’s mouths, you maniac!"

  "What?! You refuse MY sake!? From ME?!"

  "You’re the last person I’d drink from, drunken disciple!"

  "Excuse me?! I was *top of my class* in temple school!"

  "Temple school!? What century are you living in?!"

  "You nasty, low-grade, stinky ronin!"

  "STOP ADDING INSULTS!"

  Before long, they were force-feeding each other sake like it was a contact sport.

  "Hey! That’s inappropriate for a gentleman!"

  "You calling *me* a pervert?! You lunatic!"

  "Says the walking disaster in a dress!"

  Thanks to their drunken antics, the entire celebration teetered on the edge of collapse.

  "Don’t break anything! Everything here is imported and priceless!"

  "Truly delightful festivities, HAHAHAHA!"

  Gogyuu and Siebold had resigned themselves to spectator status.

  "Oi! What about me?! I want some sake too!" Kanikichi interjected.

  Meanwhile, little Ine watched with sparkly eyes.

  "So this is... Dutch New Year...!"

  Someone, *please* give that child proper cultural education.

  "Omitsu-chan, are you okay? Here, drink some water!"

  "...kyuu~..."

  Omitsu had gracefully fainted, and now lay resting peacefully under a futon, lovingly cared for by Taki.

  ---

  **Later that evening...**

  The chaos faded. The crescent moon quietly peeked over the city.

  Siebold and his family offered thanks and took their leave.

  In the tatami room remained:

  * Taisuke and Kana, snoring in harmony among empty sake bottles

  * Kanikichi, lying forgotten and unsheathed on the floor

  * Omitsu, peacefully napping under a cozy futon

  * And Gogyuu, by the window, quietly sipping brandy as he gazed at the evening sky

  "Yep... called it. But I guess it means this year will be just as noisy as ever. Looking forward to it, everyone."

  ---

  Thus concludes:

  **"Tales of Nagasaki's Enchanted Steel: Dutch New Year Arc"**

  To our beloved readers: thank you again for joining us on this festive chaos.

  We wish you a year filled with laughter, sake, and just enough mischief to keep things interesting.

  **- The End -**