The Day of Tragedy: Preparation

In the kitchen, Yasu's mother Kasumi was humming as she prepared breakfast, her cheerful mood evident in every action. The delicious aroma of bacon and eggs filled the air, wafting through the house and making Yasu's stomach rumble in anticipation. 

As he entered the kitchen, Kasumi greeted him with a bright smile, "Good morning, sleepyhead! Breakfast is almost ready. How did you sleep?"

Yasu smiled back as he took a seat at the table, his stomach still grumbling despite the mouth-watering smell of food in front of him. "It was fine," he said with a shrug, suppressing a yawn. "No dreams this time."

His mother chuckled, placing a loaded plate of eggs and bacon in front of him. "That's good news," she said, taking a seat across from him. "No more nightmares to keep you up at night. You've seemed much happier lately, you know?"

Yasu nodded in agreement, the delicious food doing wonders for his energy levels. "Yeah, it's like a weight's been lifted off my shoulders," he said between bites, savoring the salty taste of the bacon and the rich yolks of the eggs. "No more restless sleep, no more worrying about the nightmare returning. Just peace and quiet."

His mother reached across the table, patting his hand gently. "I'm glad," she said, her voice filled with motherly concern. "You deserve to be happy and content."

The two continued chatting over their breakfast, enjoying the peaceful and comfortable atmosphere that surrounded them. The sun streamed in through the window, casting a warm glow over the kitchen and bathing everything in a soft, golden light. 

As Yasu finished his food, he pushed his plate away, leaning back in his chair with a contented sigh. "That was so good," he said, patting his full stomach. "I feel like I could take on the world today."

Kasumi chuckled, gathering up the empty dishes. "Don't get too carried away," she teased, giving him a playful swat on the head. "Just remember to keep your feet on the ground. You may be feeling good now, but don't get too cocky. "

Yasu laughed, standing up and stretching. "Don't worry, Mom," he said with a grin. "With you to keep me grounded, I'll always stay humble."

Kasumi smiled, clearly amused by her son's confidence. "Alright, alright," she said, waving a hand at him. "But just remember, overconfidence can be your downfall. Don't let success go to your head."

Yasu laughed again, his smile widening. "I won't," he promised, crossing his heart with a flourish. "And if I do start thinking too much of myself, you better be there to knock me back down to earth, okay?"

Kasumi's eyes sparkled with affection, her motherly instincts coming out in full force. "You know I always will," she said, a hint of pride in her voice. "Someone has to keep you humble and grounded, after all."

With that, she playfully ruffled his hair, causing Yasu to let out a dramatic groan. "Hey, hey, not the hair, mom!" he protested, trying to swat away her hand.

Kasumi laughed, unable to resist teasing her son. "Oh come on, I'm just showing some love!" she teased, ruffling his hair even more. "You look so cute when you pout."

Yasu huffed, ducking away from her hands. "Mom, stop it! I'm not a kid anymore!" he protested, unable to suppress a small grin at her playful antics.

Kasumi's laughter subsided, replaced by a thoughtful expression. She placed a hand on her hip and said, "Speaking of keeping grounded, there is something I wanted to ask of you, Yasu."

Yasu, who had been smoothing down his ruffled hair, turned to her with a curious expression. "Sure, Mom. What is it?" he replied, his eyes meeting hers expectantly.

Kasumi's smile widened, and she gestured towards the back door. "I was wondering if you could do me a favor and water the plants in the garden," she said, her tone casual. "It's such a beautiful day out, and the plants could use a little bit of extra care."

Yasu thought for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Sure, sounds easy enough," he replied, already planning to put on his gardening gloves. "I won't let the little green buddies down."

Kasumi chuckled, clearly pleased with his enthusiasm. "Great! I knew I could count on you," she said, patting him on the shoulder affectionately. "Just be careful not to overwater them. Too much water can be just as bad as not enough, you know."

Yasu, now fully prepared to go outside, gave her a playful salute. "I know, I know," he said with a grin. "I've got this, Mom. I've got a green thumb, remember?"

Kasumi rolled her eyes, clearly amused by his overconfidence. "Don't get too cocky," she warned, a twinkle of humor in her eyes. "Plants have a mind of their own, and they don't appreciate being told what to do by an overly eager gardener."

Yasu chuckled, pushing open the back door. "I'll be careful, I promise," he said, turning to look at her before stepping outside. "And if the plants start giving me trouble, I'll just tell them who's boss."

Kasumi shook her head in mock despair, the smile never leaving her face. "Arrogant, aren't you?" she said with a laugh. "Go on then, show those plants who's boss."

With a final nod of determination, Yasu stepped outside and headed towards the garden, ready to give the plants a much-needed drink, and hoping they would cooperate with him.

Yasu was happily humming to himself as he sprayed water over the thirsty plants, feeling a sense of contentment in the simple task. The sun shone warmly on his back, the garden bathed in soft, golden light as he moved down each row, making sure every single flower got its fair share of water. 

As he hummed, the nearby birds seemed to respond, their songs blending with his melody to create a peaceful soundtrack to the moment.

After completing the task of watering the plants, Yasu dedicated himself to tending to the garden, a labor of love that consumed the better part of the day.

Yasu, blissfully unaware of the secret activities unfolding behind the scenes, played in the garden, his laughter echoing through the air. Meanwhile, his father, Raeleanore, precisely adorned the outdoor table with an array of festive decorations, each piece carefully chosen to create a perfect ambiance for the impending celebration. The table was soon transformed into a vibrant display of color and joy, a stark contrast to the secretive undertakings that were taking place just out of sight.

As Raeleanore finished his work, Kasumi emerged from the house, her arms carefully cradling a magnificent three-layer cake. The cake was a masterpiece, a decadent fusion of rich chocolate and velvety cream, each layer meticulously crafted to perfection. With a gentle touch, she placed the cake atop the table, nestled between the gifts and the festive decorations. A warm smile spread across her face as she admired the table, her heart swelling with love and anticipation.

"Will he like it?" she mused aloud, her voice tinged with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. "I feel like it needs something more, a little extra touch to make it truly special." Her eyes scanned the table, searching for that elusive element that would make this celebration unforgettable.

Raeleanore chuckled, before replying. "He's going to love it, trust me," he said, giving her hand an affectionate squeeze. "You know our son, he's never been one to turn down cake... or presents."

Kasumi fidgeted with the gift ribbons, her nerves visible. "But what if he doesn't like the gifts? What if I didn't get the right thing?"

Raeleanore wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer. "Just stop worrying. You've got every right to be nervous, it's his birthday."

Kasumi sighed, resting her head against his shoulder for a moment. "I just want everything to be perfect, you know? He deserves the best."

Raeleanore laughed softly, the sound rumbling through his chest. "You're so dramatic," he teased, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead. "He'll appreciate whatever we have to give him, you'll see. He's a good kid."

Kasumi couldn't help but smile, her anxiety dissipating at his comforting words. "I know, I know," she murmured, lifting her head to meet his gaze. "I'm probably overthinking things as usual."

Raeleanore chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Probably," he said, squeezing her shoulder. "But that's just how you are. You get so worked up about every little thing, always worried about everything going perfectly."

Kasumi swatted his arm playfully, rolling her eyes at his words. "Hey, I have the right to worry," she protested, although there was no real anger behind her words. "I'm his mother, that's my job."

Raeleanore smirked, clearly enjoying the banter. "And I'm his father, which means it's my job to keep you from overthinking."

Kasumi scoffed, unable to hold back a smile. "You're useless at that, you know," she teased, poking him in the chest. "You let me worry about everything."

Raeleanore feigned offense, placing a hand over his heart dramatically. "I am not useless," he protested. "I'm the one who keeps things balanced. I'm the calm to your chaos. We complement each other perfectly."

Kasumi rolled her eyes, her expression a mix of amusement and resignation. "Oh, please," she said, unable to suppress a chuckle. "You love stirring up trouble just as much as I love overthinking. We're a mess, you know that?"

Raeleanore, his smile widening, pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her waist. "But we're a mess that works, right?" he murmured, looking down at her with affection.

Kasumi couldn't maintain her mock irritation, melting into his embrace. "Against all odds, yes, we work," she replied, leaning into his touch with a sigh. "I don't know how, but we always manage."

Raeleanore kissed her forehead again, the two of them finding comfort in each other's arms. "Maybe because we're made for each other," he said, a hint of seriousness in his voice. "Our chaos and worry and drama... it just works, somehow."

Kasumi chuckled, finally feeling some of her anxiety melting away. "You might be onto something there," she said, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Our mess is our power."

With that, she pulled back from the hug and glanced towards the conservatory, where Yasu was still humming and watering the plants. "I should probably bring Yasu in before he overdoes it," she said, gently extracting herself from Raeleanore's arms, "and get this party started."

Raeleanore laughed and nodded. "Go on, get the birthday boy before he drowns the garden," he said, waving her off with a smile. "I'll finish setting up out here."

Kasumi smiled back, giving him a wink before turning and heading towards the garden. She called out to Yasu as she approached, her voice light and cheerful. "Hey kiddo, time to take a break from the garden! We've got something special waiting for you inside."