Chapter 49.9: The Turning of the Wheels

Release date: January 1st, 2007

Word count: 21,955

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Thoughts: In CCS canon, Tomoyo does have feelings for Sakura but in NT, Wish-chan writes her with just as much devotion and leaves out the romantic aspect. I do like how Tomoyo is still envious of the relationship that S&S have, though.

Eriol recognizing Clow's sadistic humour in Fujitaka is actually pretty great.

Syaoran asking what Sakura was doing on New Year's Eve reminds me of a line from my favourite movie, The Holiday.

Even though Miho and Sakura's fantasies were in a fairy tale-esque realm, I love how NadeRyuu's was in modern-day New York. 

Wish-chan's line during Ryuuren's performance about how his carefully gelled back hair was falling into his eyes was a head scratcher. So basically the gel isn't doing its job?

Nadeshiko only ran into Ryuuren because she stepped out to buy potato chips. I guess a Japanese model's diet is more lax? 

I wonder how the string quarter feels about performing in front of Li Ryuuren, the famous violinist. At first I thought that anything but strings would be suitable to entertain them but then it made sense because they had to play Star Crossed together.

The commercial shoot was fun! Ryuuren's description of Nadeshiko rivals Syaoran's description of Sakura in Chapter 73.5. 

There's something so poignant in that moment Nadeshiko, Ryuuren, Miara, Keisuke and Reiji all met up at the museum. Just one Reed away from assembling the circle. 

NadeRyuu's New Year's Eve was so bittersweet. It was touching to see them milk every second of the experience but at the end of the day a fantasy is a fantasy. 

Ryuuren: "For someone like you who always has hope in her heart, you will never be able to seal the Fantasy". Well, something must have changed because Sakura definitely seals the Fantasy in Arc 4 and that girl's always hopeful.

It wasn't until Miho started to gush about winning something at every booth that I remembered that the Fortune was out an about. 

I wonder why Rika calls Terada, "Terada-sensei" despite the fact that they're dating. 

Eriol piggybacks on Takashi's story about New Years Eve kisses and tells a tale about how a couple's kiss on the cheek led them to successful lives but as friends. Now that S&S have pretty much earned their spots in the magical world as of Ch 73.5, can they be together? 

Fanart spotlight: Wish-chan used this Sakura in a Kimono and Syaoran fanart as a panel in her New Year's omake, I'm so glad it's also a stand alone drawing. Sakura's yutaka is so pretty and it's not often we see her dress in traditional clothes in NT. I'm glad that Wish-chan captured this sweet moment when Syaoran kissed her on the cheek... even if it was to capture the Fortune.

Chapter 49.75: New Trials Christmas Special

Release date: February 29th, 2004

Word count: 32.591

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Thoughts: I still can't believe this chapter came out before Ch 48! When I was looking at my Chapter Release Date timeline I thought it was a mistake until I cross referenced the dates. 

It's Winter Wonderland time again! Do S&S go together? I really don't remember. I just remember their gifts. His failed attempts at asking her are pretty funny, though.

Wolfie-chan is making so many appearances in these last couple of chapters. I remember why. Things are going to get so dark after Ch 50.

Ahhh, this is the chapter with Sakura's Love-Love Action plan for E&T!! For the whole list, check out my annex!

Subaru's in this chapter too! He meets Nina and it's amusing to see these two brats meeting their match (haha, that's exactly what Miho said).

Wow, is this the first direct mention of Rika and Terada-sensei's relationship?! I never know how CCS authors would approach this. Personally, in my Destined Love series I broke them apart and in my Before They Remembered series I paired them together.

I'm going to take a moment to appreciate Syaoran holding Sakura's hand and announcing that he needs alone time with her to leave E&T alone. And then they continued holding hands!! There's not enough of that in NT or CC for that matter.

Oh, I forgot that Syaoran asked Sakura by stopping her from saying yes to Eron! At least he did it.

For a fluffy chapter, we have the twins' first real fight. Despite the contant "we'll never leave each others' side" there's foreshadowing about the schism between the Changs.

Kai going all the way to Hong Kong to ask Meilin to the dance was amazing!

It's cute that Miho was Aki's date for the Winter Wonderland. Too bad that didn't develop into something more. She would have done a great job in keeping his ego in check. 

Such a great chapter for hand holding! S&S do it again when they run away from the dance floor instead of dancing on it. But they do get to dance outside, which is something that I love seeing my OTPs do. 

I can't believe I forgot the entire amusement park plot in this chapter! The adventures were a lot of fun but my favourite part was Syaoran refusing to put Sakura down after their roller coaster escape. 

Fanart spotlight: The couples' watches that S&S give each other are probably my favourite gifts in NT and designing them with Paint was a lot of fun. I used to have interchangeable watch bands to match with my outfits but I never owned anything that elaborate.

Chapter 49.5: Words We Couldn’t Say

Release date: January 26th, 2006

Word count: 26,300

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Thoughts: There's a two year gap between this chapter's release date and the last one! 

This chapter is an absolute delight. Syaoran's job hunt is pure fluffy fun and it was hilarious seeing him run into people he knew at every turn.

Lol, I love the running gag of the restaurant manager always getting Syaoran's name wrong.

Even though he didn't have to, I appreciate the way Touya came to Syaoran's rescue when they had to deal with the difficult client.

I love how Syaoran's sword training overlaps onto his dexterity with kitchen knives and chopping food.

Oh, I remember that the Age was used on Kai, but I forgot that it was in this chapter. Getting a peak of Mikai was a lot of fun, especially when he loses his memory as Kai.

Sakura lets an "hanyaan" slip while Mikai was being charming. The fact that Kero-chan mentions that he hasn't heard her say that in a while falls in step with CC Sakura consciously doing the same thing.  

The Riddle's "On the night the lone wolf calls" poem is so gorgeous and I love how I'm able to understand the meaning of certain parts since this is a re-read. 

I've always loved the scene where Syaoran cooked dinner for Sakura in secret. That pink Sakura chiffon cake sounds divine. I can only think of a handful of restaurants where I had the same experience that La Seine offers. 

Now the chapter shifts to Miho and although this NT special is pretty light, we are privy to the fact that when she was young, she had suicidal thoughts. Eriol truly saved her.

Wish-chan says that this chapter is a better read after reading Ch 50, but I like an in-depth origin story behind Miho's poem, which is probably my favourite poem in New Trials. I wish I thought about incorporating it my wedding like how Melanie did!

When Wish-chan comes back to edit this chapter, the main thing to change is that it ends with Miho at the ski resort instead of it being closer to Christmas. Unless that slight flash forward was intentional? First time readers will be confused!

Hazuki Goldair covered Kristen Chenoweth's "Taylor the Latte Boy" and added her own NT twist with "Syaoran the Waiter Boy". Wish-chan was so enamoured with the song that she made an AMV to go with it. 

Fanart spotlight: I'm so happy that I did Fanart100 for NT over a decade ago because now I have drawings of such random things. Here's the dinner that Syaoran made for Sakura. In my early MS Paint days I could not draw people at all so this was more up my alley.

Chapter 49: Venomous Minds

Release date: September 8th, 2004

Word count: 47,379

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Thoughts: Come to think of it, the Obedience is one of the HP unforgivable curses, which makes it all the more scarier.

Eron weakly protesting the fact that Syaoran didn't beat him up while Erika was torturing Sakura ended up being funnier than I thought it would be. 

Eriol draining out Syaoran's power so he can't help Sakura against Erika's wrath is the most CCS-Eriol ploy that we've ever seen in NT.

While this isn't the first time Syaoran drains his power (we saw this when he converted the Werewolf), this is the first time Wish-chan delves into the nitty gritty of it through Eriol's explanation, which includes life supply. More foreshadowing.

After Syaoran brings Sakura home and Touya gives him a horrible time about it, Syaoran privately calls him a wicked, evil ogre. Usually this wouldn't be noteworthy but it negates the Ch 73 assumption of Syaoran believing that ogres are cute. Speaking of Touya, I always thought that NT takes his sister complex way too far, but it's amended in the next arc. When it comes to Touya, I think about the quote from Father of the Bride: "You worry about her meeting the wrong kind of guy who only wants one thing [...]. Then, you stop worrying about her meeting the wrong guy, and you worry about her meeting the right guy."

Sakura is incredibly brave to train with the Phantom. While Syaoran pushed the force away, Tomoyo and her father were the true victims and Sakura never experienced it herself.

Oh my gosh, scratch my last thought. Sakura was able to capture the Obedience because she used the Phantom on herself!!! I'm so shocked. It's like reading it for the first time. And I don't know whether to laugh or cry when Syaoran thinks that this was Sakura's craziest and most dangerous plan that she ever came up with.

Sakura plays with the idea of maybe forgetting about Syaoran after he left for Hong Kong the first time would have been better than having the pain. I can't believe the Memory was teased so soon.

When Nadeshiko says, "Maybe I should just have disappeared with that dark force—it wouldn’t have made a difference and would have been less painful than this" when Ryuuren was pushing her away, what Dark Force is she referring to? The Despair?