CH 16

Finally, Kaede’s birthday, November 27th, arrived. We had Chinatsu hang out with Kaede in the morning to buy some time.

Takuto was in my room now, and I wanted to finish the decorations before Kaede came back.

I often saw this in fashionable girls’ magazines.

I was decorating the wall with the words [Happy Birthday] on the balloons.

“I hope she’ll be happy. …”

“Even if it’s fake, she’ll be happy, she’s an angel, you know?”

“I don’t want her to fake it, I want her to be happy from the bottom of her heart.”

Takuto, who was admonishing me that I should do my best then, started silently moving his hands.

Not one to be discouraged, I followed Takuto’s lead and moved my hand.

The walls were also decorated with origami loops and connected, albeit in an elementary school-like manner.

I was decorating and before I knew it, an hour had passed.

Then I received a text message from Chinatsu saying, ‘We might be home soon.’

The time now was almost 2:30 p.m.

“Oh no, both of them are coming back.”

“Yeah… I told Chinatsu to go watch a movie and stall time.”

I was really impressed with how quickly he responded. At the same time, a movie usually lasts two hours at most, and the decorations have to be finished by then.

However, it didn’t change the fact that I had more time to spare, so I took a break. Takuto and I had a cup of cocoa together.

“Hey, what do you think?”

“What?”

“It’s how you feel, do you like her?”

“No way. There’s no way she and I are compatible.”

“You know….”

“Besides, I still don’t like girls.”

He looked a little taken aback, but Takuto looked at me, said nothing, and took a sip of his coffee.

“Okay, that’s about right, isn’t it?”

“Right, now let’s just wait for them to come home.”

So saying, we both sat in the living room waiting for Chinatsu’s text.

–We’re coming back soon!

And we started to prepare the crackers after receiving the text message.

The plan was to turn off the lights, and when Kaede arrives, we’ll pop the cracker.

With a clank.

“I’m home, I’m sorry I’m late… Huh? Are you out?”

She opened the living room door and turned on the light, and then

Poof! Pow!

“Hee!”

I heard a cute voice.

“Happy birthday Kaede!”

Said the three of us, including Chinatsu. Kaede looked at me and seemed to have no idea what had just happened.

Then she looked at me and gave me the feeling that she wanted me to explain the situation.

“Today is your birthday, right? That’s why a birthday party. You’re the star of the party.”

“He worked very hard for you, Shimizu-san.”

“Hey! Takuto …”

When I looked at Kaede, she smiled softly and said,

“Fufu, I’m so happy!”

Just hearing her say that, I was glad that I had thrown a birthday party.

After that, we all enjoyed playing games and exchanging gifts.

I gave Kaede an apron for always taking care of me.

Chinatsu ate too much cake and everyone burst into laughter when she couldn’t move, so it was a really good day.

“Thanks to all of you, it was a wonderful day. I have never had such a wonderful birthday.”

Saying that, Kaede smiled softly and showed a somewhat lonely expression.

“Look forward to your next birthday, because it will be even better than today.”

“I’ll wait in anticipation, then?”

“Yeah!”

As the two of us were talking about such things, Takuto and Chinatsu looked at us with a smirk on their faces.

But this time, without the two of them, it would not have been such a good birthday party, so I also bowed my head.

“Thank you both.”

Perhaps surprised by my words, He was a little slow to reply. After that, Takuto laughed and said to me,

“Noo…Umm, when you say thank you so earnestly, my whole body itches….”

“I won’t say it again.””

With that, I turned away. And another day came to an end.

“We’re leaving then, but let me know how it went tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay, okay, be careful on your way home.”

With that, they left. I went back to the living room to be alone with Kaede.

I had bought Kaede’s favorite uncle cushion in addition to the apron, but I missed the timing to give it to her.

However, I decided to give her the present in my room, which had become quiet, thinking that this was the only place I could do it.