Birthday

And in time, it was time for my birthday. This would be an event that did break the steady routine for a day.
Time had passed more, and we ended up near the end of April, my birthday. It was now about two months since I had picked up my new position. The large company festival had been in the end of February, so everyone could keep their focus in March to finish the financial reports needed for the new fiscal year.
With the passing of the month, it also marked my first full year working for Bragidion Corp. Nothing special had happened. Other fresh recruits had been shifted in position for further training. One such example was Hanami, as she would transfer to a position more in line of organizing our troops, as Smith had told her. I only knew about it since she would write me from time to time to keep me updated. Due to my new position being further away from the others, most informations I got were only the general things during our monthly meetings. Sure, I could ask Seiko about the going ons when I met her in private, but understandably she never wanted to talk about work.
And so, a few more weeks went on, and we arrived at the birthday. I preferred to keep it low profile, not wishing for any large scale parties, so I hadn’t told anyone at work about it. So I didn’t expect anything on the day, only to be proved wrong…

In the morning, waking up, I had messages from my sister, Master, and Seiko. The years before they would show up at home, but since I live on my own now, it wasn't possible anymore. There was a bit of talk about preparing a party, but it was put on the back burner, for we had all things to before Golden Week came around. Even I had by now proper work to do. Still, I liked their sentiment, and started the day in a good mood.
Then, at work, things went as usual, until midday and lunchtime came.
Intending on going to the mess hall, I was surprised when the girls grabbed me, and dragged me the few steps into the break room. There, they presented me with a small cake.
“““““Happy birthday!”””””
“…” As it was totally unexpected, I was stunned into silence for several seconds. Then, regaining my wits, I asked them “How-?”
“Someone blabbered,” Takeshi spoke. “about how they could soon invite someone to go drinking with them for real.” ‘So, Seiko had been prattling in the security devisions, and he caught wind of it…’
“That’s mean of you! Not telling us about your birthday!”
“Yes yes!”
Nodding.
And a cold stare behind glasses.
“Hey, I mean… you didn’t tell me your’s either.”
“Well…”
“That’s beside the point!”
“Now, enjoy, and eat.”
“Yes. We went through the trouble to procure it, so enjoy it.”
We went through our small play, when we were joined by the final person. Hanekawa came in, looking surprised into the crowd.
“You told me to come meet you here, but… what is that about?”
“Ah-”
“Can you imagine it? This guy here has his birthday, but didn’t tell us about it.”
“Huh.” I gaged her expression. It looked slightly uncomfortable, and at the same time, understanding. ‘I guess we might be the same type.’ Wishing for a birthday to simply pass in peace.

Now, the celebration — if it could be called that — was fully underway. Everyone had a piece of cake, and something to drink. And I had to admit, even if it was a bit boisterous, I could enjoy their kindness and goodwill.
After the girls went back, Takeshi and Megumi opted to clean up, saying it wouldn't sit well with them if I were to do it. I had nothing to do, so Hanekawa took me aside for a moment before heading back to her station.
“Sorry if I intruded.”
Answering with a joke would be bad, so I answered sincerely. “You didn’t. If anything, I should thank you. I sensed your sentiment. Do you also prefer a quiet party?”
She contemplated for a moment. Perhaps I overstepped my bounds, as we didn't know each other so good yet. I wanted to take it back, but she answered a split second before. “Yes. I can’t stand large gatherings of people. Especially if they fake it. So, I always chose to keep it in a small circle. But, this now should have been alright, no? I mean, it wasn’t fake, you could tell. They actually cared.”
“I really enjoyed it. Well, after the sudden surprise in the first moment.”
“Ugh, I get that.” We shared a quick laugh. “Well then, I am heading back.”
“Sure. And thank you for showing up.” A quick wave from each, and she was gone.

Later that evening, I got drummed up by a trio of grown ups, and brought to Master’s bar. My objections about all of us having work the next day weren’t met with anything, simply ignored.

It had been a while since I was last here. Sure, I did visit from time to time, but not as regularly as when I had been working in the kitchen. While there were several regulations to follow for a minor to work in what was technically a bar, it had worked out. They wouldn’t let me work if it were illegal, more for my care than their’s. And even though I called it a bar, we had an actual menu here, that wasn’t worse compared to many eateries around.
As to why I had been working there specifically, that was a long story. Summed up shortly, I was in high-school, wanted to work, and got this offer from an acquaintance. And this acquaintance was the owner of the business. Not only that, she was friends with my sister and Seiko years before I was in the picture. So, having someone trustworthy and not far away from home led my sister to allow me to work here. She hadn’t been thrilled by the prospect of me stepping out too much, but at the time I had felt that it was necessary. This was where the long story started.

Anyways, right now, the past didn’t account to much, as everyone was focused on the present. Glasses where handed out to toast me finally reaching drinking age.
“““Cheers!””” “Cheers…”
I wasn’t as full of spirit as them, which earned me a hard slap on the back from Seiko. “What is up with that? Come on, we are celebrating!”
“Sorry, but this is bringing up bad memories for me.”
“Wha-” She got shocked. No one knew of me having any bad memories with alcohol. In fact, there was no such thing.
The three exchanged glances. I didn’t want to worry them too much, and decided to reveal it. “After all, whenever you partied hard like this, I had more work the next morning.” I managed to finish my sentence before I got pulled into a choke-hold.
“Do you know how bad I felt just now?!” Seemed like the joke had been too dark.
Goofing of like the always, Sis intervened to help me. “Let him have his fun.”
“But!”
“We can be lucky he agreed to come out here. Shuuichi doesn’t like parties after all.” Upon the soothing words of my sister, Seiko let go of me. I could always count on her to have my back. Despite her not being my real sister.

During my childhood, my parents died in an accident. There weren't many relatives that had wanted to take me in. Either they didn’t want the financial and timely responsibility, or they viewed me as a source of bad luck. And so, without a place to go to, I had been destined to end up in an orphanage.
Until Kayoko showed up. She had just finished high school a few years prior, and was still learning to stand on her own two feet. Despite this, she took me in.
Often she was out for work for long hours. But whenever she had been home, she talked to me, tried to draw me out of my shell. It is no exaggeration when I say that she had saved me.
I knew that it was pressure on her, so I did all I could to support her. Which was how I ended up with housework. I wasn't forced to do it, I wanted to, since it was the only way I knew of assisting her.
And so, I came to view her as my older, somewhat reliable sister.
Now, there might be trouble in explaining how she had gotten custody of me if she was distantly related to me and other relatives were technically available. Who were full grown adults to boot. Well, that tied in with her work and her relationship with Misato: the owner of the bar we were currently at. And the daughter of an influential yakuza boss.
I didn't know the details, as Sis always kept me as far away from the darker aspects of her work as possible, but just knew they had helped out with the paperwork. Apparently they had their own reasons. And these reasons meant I would show my face from time to time. As a child, I hadn’t understood much of it, and just thought I was visiting my sisters’s workplace or friends. This had made me an unofficial regular in certain circles.

And so, despite her measures to prevent me from getting exposed to it, it had had an influence on me. It made me pick up martial arts, which she actually supported so I could fend for myself when needed. Not only that, I had also developed a weird personal system of honor, and gotten an insight in the darker sides of society, with contacts to back it up.
I knew she hated the fact, so I tried to keep my distance from it. We even had a fight while i was still in school. It only got broken up after Master and Seiko intervened. Master gave me a job at her place during my school years, and Seiko got me my current job.

Which in turn brought me back to here, and the rest of the people around us.
Due to reasons, Master did not work in the ‘family business’. She had opened her own shop, and was content with it. But, in parts belonging to her familial ties, a lot of the customers here were in fact part of said yakuza group.
We were not the only customers, but everyone else stayed mostly quiet. While Master didn’t work in the group, my sister did. And it looked like she had a higher rank, as she was allowed to command quite a few people. Which tied into the past.
During their high-school years, Seiko, Misato and Kayoko were fast friends, and the de-facto heads of a group of delinquents. They still held together after school, but parted ways when it came to careers. They hadn’t told me much about it, as they didn't want me to know. But I got a few details from Seiko’s drunken ramblings at times.
One fact I knew was that Master and Sis had decided to dye their hair together. While they were younger, in fights they were known as the oni sisters. And to live up to the name, Master died her hair red, and Sis died hers blue, to match an old folktale. Both of them wore it in a ponytail. Sis practically always, but Master only really when she worked. Often outside of work I had seen her with her hair down. They kept it up to this day.

I continued to reminisce about the past, until another slap on my back called be back. “What are you spacing out for?” Seiko wore her usual hearty grin.
“Nothing, just… thinking about things.”
Master gave a quiet laugh. “That’s fine. On our birthdays we should reminisce about the past, and be thankful for the good things that happened to us.”
“Yes yes. He had enough of the day to do that, now we party!”
My sister joined her. “Well, I guess you are right. Let’s get the mood more cheerful, shall we?” She rose her glass, and we clanged them together once more.
I took a large gulp, and turned back to Seiko. “You mentioned the rest of the day, right? Well, I did have kind of party all right. And if I got it correctly, the one who-”
“Ah!” She acted all shocked. “I am getting a call! And need to go to the toilet! Excuse me for a moment!” She darted away.
“What was that about?” Sis asked me. I gave her a quick rundown of the events a few hours prior. She started smiling. “Isn’t that nice? Your colleagues must really like you.”
“I mean, yes, but… shouldn’t I be more professional?”
“Let me tell you,” Master began talking “At times it is more professional to act close with your customers, or in your case charges, than being distant. Knowing when to act how is what real professionalism is about.” Her words reminded me of Takeshi’s instructions.
She felt her gaze fall over the room. Then, she left the counter, and walked around, picking up empty glasses and taking more orders. Alone with Sis, she continued her point. “I probably don’t need to tell you, but Seiko only meant well with it. So don’t be too hard on her.”
“I won’t.” And I had never planned. At this point, Seiko attempted to sneakily get back to her place. “And for you,” she froze stock still “I hope to continue getting along with you.”
The initial shock passed, and cheer erupted. “You can count on me for that!” I got pulled in for a hug, and laughter erupted around us. Sis joined in on the hug. In the end, I had two arms around my shoulders, each person on one of my sides. Master also got back behind the counter, continued fixing drinks, all the while gazing at us with warm eyes.
And thus, I spent my birthday with the people who were in essence my three older sisters.