New Year Under One Sky

The events take place in the last hours before the arrival of New Year 2026. For Ellie and Carter, it’s their first meeting with the holiday as spouses, but their usual rhythm hasn’t changed: «an argument, sex, laughter—and then again in a circle». Ksyu celebrates with them in Moscow, yet in her thoughts and feelings she is in Canada—near Kurt.

Lera Strizhenova, Ksyu’s friend, meets the New Year among company, but inside she feels a painful loneliness. She looks at the star-strewn sky and is sure she’s the only one in the whole world—unaware that somewhere on the other end of the planet there is a guy going through the same thing. Max, Lera’s brother, stayed in Canada: instead of noisy fun, he goes to a derelict plant in Montreal. Why is he going there? More precisely—toward whom?

And there is yet another unexpected couple. Very soon you’ll read about them in a separate story, but for now let’s peek ahead: how did the main university flirt and a bold barista end up celebrating New Year together in a locked coffee shop?