Teikoku Kagekidan

Another winter festival has come to an end, and I won't hesitate to say that it was successful once again – for this, I thank everyone who participated and showed activity; this event wouldn't be possible without our collective efforts.
Along with this, I also want to congratulate everyone in our section on the upcoming New Year, but before that, I'll allow myself to philosophize once more about what this place represents. Someone, jokingly or not, might call the Hive a branch of a mental hospital, someone else might call it a toxic trash heap, and someone else might call it something else entirely, but in my opinion, such epithets are far from the truth and do not reflect its true essence. Many of us have known each other for over a decade, but how many communities last for such a long period? How many other places are there where people can have such casual conversations as here? How many places are there where you can be as open about your preferences and thoughts as here? Yes, perhaps sometimes someone will annoy you: painfully prick you with the point of a saber or hit you with a thick club, you may sometimes be at odds with someone, or even dislike them, but all of this is the foundation of human relationships, and without it, few can coexist peacefully. And in the end, we are not classmates or colleagues who have been forcibly crammed into a concrete box with no way out, which suggests that such a long acquaintance is the result of a free will, free from obligations, and therefore, despite various misunderstandings and even conflicts, being here has value for each of us. And what about the expeditions, persimmon-eating contests, Mafia games, and other events? These are memories, and in my opinion, they are no less valuable than gatherings on pipes, student days, and corporate events. The truth is that most people are lonely and do not have true friends, but only acquaintances. The Hive won't help you financially, and it's not even a fact that they will take your problems seriously; who knows, they might even laugh or make fun of you, but whatever the case, you always have a place where you can complain, chat about something, and occasionally find something to do, which is valuable in itself. Of course, there are those among us who have not spent as much time here or are a kind of "seasonal Hive member," appearing only occasionally or for specific events, but this in no way makes you less important, and you will always be welcome here.
In conclusion of this monologue, I wish all of us that the 21st year, and indeed the entire 21st century, will be better than its predecessors.